Have been defending him against the nonsense but this is fair and don’t disagree. He’s looked good in a pair with Zouma and Mina - has struggled with Godfrey and Holgate or in a back 3.
Having said that, I think there is a certain amount of mitigation for all our defenders. As a centre back myself when I played, I look at this Everton team of the last 4/5 years and think I would hate to play centre back
As a centre half you’re looking for protection from your midfield. If the midfield in front of you gets overrun, doesn’t track runners, doesn’t put pressure on the ball etc. it makes defending a thousand times more difficult. You’re constantly having to make decisions, who to mark, which runner to follow, whether to move out of the line to close down the man with the ball or stay with your man.
Until they put together a more consistently competitive, combative, organised midfield, I think whoever plays in the back line will have problems.