What We've Noticed About James Tarkowski's Impact as Everton Captain

Everton's decision to appoint James Tarkowski as captain in the summer wasn't the most controversial, but it was perhaps met with some comments that suggested it was the wrong decision.

In reality, whether it was right or wrong, it was the obvious and most natural decision.

Jordan Pickford is probably another who is a vocal leader and has been at the club a long time, but it makes sense to have an outfield player wearing the armband. 

James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are perhaps younger, longer term options for Everton, but Tarkowski does have leadership qualities that are required to be a captain, so it does make a lot of sense.

It's always tricky to tell the impact that someone is having as a captain. During Seamus Coleman's tenure, there was plenty of time for supporters to discover the true impact he had, and it was obvious he was a fantastic captain.

For Tarkowski, right now, it's not so obvious. Of course, you can hear him barking orders on the pitch every now and then, but the average fan simply doesn't know the impact a captain can have behind the scenes.

All we can do as supporters is look out for little moments, interactions, and encounters that can give us a little idea of what he's about. So, what's been noticed?

There are some players Tarkowski will have minimal interaction with before and after games. For example, someone like Dewsbury-Hall doesn't appear to be the type of player that lacks confidence or needs an arm round him during a game.

Thierno Barry and Tyler Dibling are two players at the opposite end of the spectrum. It's very clear through Barry's interviews and even his YouTube channel, and commets from Dibling and the staff, that both players have lacked confidence at times over the last year. 

They are, perhaps, players that need that little confidence boost, that arm around them, the love from supporters and their team-mates.

With Barry, and this might be a meaningless or minor observation to some, Tarkowski does appear to be building a connection with the forward. There are moments before the games where the two share more of a smile and embrace than other players, with Tarkowski often appearing to offer words of wisdom for Barry. 

There's been moments after games too, when Tarkowski clearly makes an effort with Barry to praise him or try to pick up him. 

It's similar with Dibling. After the game against Ipswich, where Dibling came off the bench to make an impact, Tarkowski put his arm around Dibling and spoke to him as the two made their way down the tunnel. 

It's little moments like that, where we can only assume Tarkowski is praising him and/or offering positive advice, that could be exactly what Dibling needs after a game. 

It's fine for players to be that kind of character. Some need that arm around them, some don't. 

The observations made might be meaningless or have been read completely wrong, but from the outside looking in, Tarkowski does appear to be trying to have an impact on individual players, which can only be a positive.