2025/26 David Moyes

[Sharpies volley]

He doesn't seem to be able to change things tactically. We were getting beat 2 - 0 and he just brings a striker on to replace the one who's already on. I'm no tactical genius but I think I would maybe have gone 2 up top. Changed the midfield and tried to get the ball forward earlier. But it's just like for like.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

People will rubbish it but really wouldn’t mind seeing us go for broke in one of these away games and play Rohl Iroegbunam and Alcaraz in a 3. Yes it’s bold but would be nice for once to see an Everton midfield that isn’t automatically slower and weaker than its opponents.

I don’t know why we have a never ending proclivity to buy or develop central midfielders who can’t shift. Since Moyes arrived the fist time:

Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Bily, Gibson Barry Cleverley Davies Klaasen Siggurdson Rooney Schneiderlin Gueye Gomes Bernard Allan Van de Beek Garner Mangala KDH - some of them are good players but not an ounce of pace between them.

That’s before you get to the plethora of wide players we’ve paired with them that have no pace which include all of the current wide options.

The exceptions like McCarthy Barkley Rodwell Doucoure Onana are few and far between. When was the last time you saw an Everton mdifield really put it on an opposition midfield and bully them all over the pitch? Perhaps once or twice when we paired Onana and Doucoure with Garner, a good few times in 13/14 with Barkley and McCarthy. It just hardly ever happens though.

We’re always a yard behind even bang average premier league teams, even some champions ship teams in the centre of the pitch.

You look at Arsenal and the pace and power they have in every position across the park and on the bench. That’s the level the elite are at. We continue to spend money on slower and slower players and packing the team with them every week.

It’s almost like the amount you spend dictates the quality of player you end up with.

 

[Saint Domingo]

It’s almost like the amount you spend dictates the quality of player you end up with.

Plenty of quick players across different teams who haven’t spent a fortune. Almost every team in the PL has a pace threat on the wings. We have none anywhere.

 

[Rita_Poon]

. Seen that we have the oldest average XI in the league. Why we have the likes of Gana starting, with dynamic players like Alcaraz warming the bench, I’ll never know.

Travers 26
Patterson 24
O'Brien 24
Branthwaite 23
Aznou 19
Dibling 19
Rohl 23
Garner 24
N'diaye 25
Alcaraz 22
Barry 23

How does that fit vs average now? ^^ 22.9

 

[davek]

Someone else has been banging the Doucoure drum as well.

Alcaraz has a couple of problems, he's more light weight than Doucoure, won't challenge for headers like he did, and he has a temper. A couple of iffy challenges and he gets arsy, especially when he doesn't win the FK to go with them, so he either mouths off and gets booked or throws a revenge challenge in and gets booked. He isn't the battering ram Doucoure was, this has had a detrimental effect on Gana's game.
That we don't really have much option is a moot point.

N'diaye Garner D-Hall Grealish
Alcaraz
Beto
​

Tim Iroegbunam for Alcaraz either when he's gassed or booked. Barry for Beto around 60 minutes. That's all we've got. If we have a buffer, Dibling for Ili, McNeil for Grealish.

I wouldn't be playing KDH in the next few games tbh.

I think we have better quality where he's been played by Moyes, and further back I'd rather we played Rohl.

IMO KDH is a player you sub on to hold and recycle the ball and take the sting out of the opposition's attempts to get back on terms.

We now have the outfield MF players to be that specialised with them.

 

[Rita_Poon]

I wouldn't be playing KDH in the next few games tbh.

I think we have better quality where he's been played by Moyes, and further back I'd rather we played Rohl.

IMO KDH is a player you sub on to hold and recycle the ball and take the sting out of the opposition's attempts to get back on terms.

We now have the outfield MF players to be that specialised with them.

Seems to be on Grealish's wavelength, is a more natural fit for CM, Rohl is untested as yet, although Rohl for CM Garner to RB and O'Brien for Tarkowski is a fair call. It'd give JT time to recover from that hamstring injury he's not fully over.

 

[blueboy72]

Someone else has been banging the Doucoure drum as well.

Alcaraz has a couple of problems, he's more light weight than Doucoure, won't challenge for headers like he did, and he has a temper. A couple of iffy challenges and he gets arsy, especially when he doesn't win the FK to go with them, so he either mouths off and gets booked or throws a revenge challenge in and gets booked. He isn't the battering ram Doucoure was, this has had a detrimental effect on Gana's game.
That we don't really have much option is a moot point.

N'diaye Garner D-Hall Grealish
Alcaraz
Beto
​

Tim Iroegbunam for Alcaraz either when he's gassed or booked. Barry for Beto around 60 minutes. That's all we've got. If we have a buffer, Dibling for Ili, McNeil for Grealish.

Difference is Alcaraz can actually control ball, pass a ball and score goals. When doucoure couldn’t. If we want to move on as a team, doucoure was rightly moved on, as McNeil will as will Myko and Beto.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Difference is Alcaraz can actually control ball, pass a ball and score goals. When doucoure couldn’t. If we want to move on as a team, doucoure was rightly moved on, as McNeil will as will Myko and Beto.

I'd have 24 year old Fellaini in that role every 'kin minute. Of all the man utd cast offs we've had turn up, McTominay was the one. Desperate for that presence, physicality, ball winning.

 

[davek]

Seems to be on Grealish's wavelength, is a more natural fit for CM, Rohl is untested as yet, although Rohl for CM Garner to RB and O'Brien for Tarkowski is a fair call. It'd give JT time to recover from that hamstring injury he's not fully over.

Not for me.

KDH should be seen as the bit part player he should be for us. He lacks substance. Ok for the bench and doing a shift last 20, but that's it.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Not for me.

KDH should be seen as the bit part player he should be for us. He lacks substance. Ok for the bench and doing a shift last 20, but that's it.

£27m for bench only would see Moyes hoicked very quick.

 

[Gilbert..]

This season hasn't started too well defensively though.

Take away the 3 against Spurs and we're not that much different to anyone else in the league for conceding. Bar Arsenal of course.
Better than liverpool and chelsea. If dyche ever had a good defence it came at a massive price. Hardly crossing the halfway line. At least we're trying to score.

 

[MikeH72]

I do wonder what he does.
Our defence was great under Dyche, and now it’s been West Ham levels of not.
It isn’t even as if we’ve had any coherency to our attacks.
Players seem to be left to it but not event in a “pump the ball to catch them out’ kind of way.

It’s almost like missing your best defender makes a difference.

 

[zebedee]

Not for me.

KDH should be seen as the bit part player he should be for us. He lacks substance. Ok for the bench and doing a shift last 20, but that's it.

My brother's said the same when we signed him. Initially Chelsea thought hello... We've something here. Just didn't turn up to meet expectation. That said it could be the Chelsea thing and given time it'll be golden. Again he seems a favourite which now starting to wind me up a bit. Put him alongside gana and see what happens

 

[Saint Domingo]

It’s almost like missing your best defender makes a difference.

NO EXCUSES SEAN

 

[MikeH72]

NO EXCUSES SEAN

I agree. What an expensive team he’s got out there today.