2025/26 David Moyes

[JobForTheMoyes]

Not getting a win at a top six club for Moyes is the expected result.

But getting away wins at top clubs is the expected result for just about everyone. Even other top teams struggle to beat the others at their own ground.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

I think Moyes has done a great job in both his spells as manager but let's be honest , he's still safety first and always will be.

Unless we look to play defenders , particularly full backs , who are comfortable in possession we are never going to break into the top 6-8.

We have some very good footballers now ( the first time in ages ) and yes there is a huge improvement in the football played since last season but I still think this group of players are capable of even more.

I'm certainly not advocating to change the coach , that would be madness but I'd be interested to know who was available at the end of the season.

I’d only we had a manager who recently had been able to take a relegation contender to the top eight and had regular European qualifications on his resume.

 

[Cameron Manning]

Absolutely correct.

Liverpool are a very good side - not what they were under Klopp, but still one of the top six teams in Europe at the moment. Nobody expected us to rock up there and play them off the park. Nobody expected us to beat them - or even draw. What we did expect, however, was that we would at least rock up. But we only got off the bus after 30 minutes having gifted them a two-goal start. It's not too difficult to lift it when the pressure is off at that point, so being "the better side" in the second half is small change when the game has already gone.

Nobody demands we beat Liverpool or even draw with them right now. We demand our players do their best and our manager gets the most out of his players. That's all we can control. Control the controllables. We didn't do that yesterday. Had we done so, we might have got something from the game. We might have got nothing. But we would have known we'd done all we could. We didn't have even that consolation yesterday.

Everton fans waving the white flag in the derby might be understandable given the disparity of resources and how both clubs have been run in recent decades. But Everton fans defending that first half yesterday and talking of "progress" are in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

The Wolves game now is must win if Moyes is to maintain momentum. It's about time we had a cup run - and if we get a favourable draw, which we have so far, we must control what we can control and take advantage of it. We are a better side than Wolves right now. If we are "expected" to lose to Liverpool, Wolves - in their current state - must be "expected" to lose to us. Football isn't as simple as that, of course, but there is no reason at all that we can't go there with a strong side, give a proper account of ourselves from kick-off, and put on a performance that we can be proud of. If we do that, we have every chance of winning.

Nothing but pure common sense there Drico especially that “ Better second half” replacing a brilliant second half!

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

A lot is said about Moyes being too cautious and not taking off the hand brake. Been watching a lot of PL coverage today. They did a whole piece on Arsenal, but specifically Arteta. Said he’s way too cautious. They said he plays to be safe and needs to take off the hand brake. Similarly, I heard the same today about Pep needing to do the same thing. I agree we could be more aggressive. But other than one or two clubs, a lot of complaints and criticisms are similar. We just hyper focus on ours way more.

 

[Cameron Manning]

I agree the squad isn’t where it should be (not Moyes fault), and I agree we aren’t where we would all like us to be. But we have made progress on where we have been. I think that’s the only fair expectation we can have.

We are all entitled to our opinion on Moyes right now I’m happy with progress, I’ve sat through years of watching Everton and the last few have been some of the hardest I can remember. There are signs of recovery and loads to be positive about, but then guess maybe I’m more optimistic and that is really just a point of view!

No I think you believe what you are saying so stick with it, we just have different opinions about Moyes.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Will probably end the weekend 9th or 10th. Obviously it’s better than scrapping at the bottom clearly but after Wolves I was hoping we could keep in and around the top 5. The draw v Villa killed us, that was a terrible result.

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

Will probably end the weekend 9th or 10th. Obviously it’s better than scrapping at the bottom clearly but after Wolves I was hoping we could keep in and around the top 5. The draw v Villa killed us, that was a terrible result.

Agree, mate. These next few matches, though, are where we need to show improvement. This time last year, a few points would be thrilling. A few wins now should be the expectation. Let’s start putting space and downward pressure on the lower teams.

 

[Zatara]

I’ve got a season ticket mate and yeah I watched it yesterday too.

In context yes we should have beaten Villa but we can’t complain compared to previous years. We’ve started well enough and I believe we’ll kick on.

We wouldn’t have deserved a point there yesterday but it would have been nice to nick it.

I think if you’re saying they’re dropped points based on everything we’ve seen and experienced the last few years that’s testament to how well Moyes has done in 8 months.

Fair play, how do you find the stadium atmosphere compared to Goodison?

I think for people (like me) to be saying that we could have / should have got more points is indeed, "testamant to how well Moyes has done in 8 months".

The expectation of where we finish and how we play is one thing. The other is looking at past results against specifically Leeds, Villa and the RS. I'd say a mix of how we played and what we 'should have' or 'could have' on the play is a fair barometer of Villa & RS with the view of we should have beaten Leeds based on squad quality.

Clearly Moyes took a bath against Leeds. I dont imagine any metric pointing at and expecting how badly we played. He made mistakes and I think he cost us 3pts there based on his mistakes.

Against Villa, we had the chances to win the game so I'd also say thats 2 pts dropped. We could discuss / argue whether its on Moyes or the players misses but its neither here nor there as we 'should have' put them to the sword.

I agree that against the RS we were incredibly weak in the first half. The players came out just as they had done against Leeds. I dont know if thats on Moyes or the players but we should have scored another goal which again we can discuss / argue whether thats on Moyes or the players.

Thats why i'd say we've dropped 6pts so far. Past seasons are a separate discussion...were in the moment.

To be conservative I'd say perhaps 4pts as Leeds were of course on a major high and at home.

But the key here is to win the next 2 league games, both at home to get to P7 13pts.

Then we go into the City game on a high and we can all agree that a draw there would really start the FC SEXY vibes.

 

[WilliamBoo]

How is it a point dropped yesterday away at the champions and a team with 240m (in two players) on the bench?!

And Villa 2 points dropped? A side that I don’t think we’ve beaten in 13 games?

Look how far we’ve progressed if that’s your mentality.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, look at expectations already for this season. Anything above 12th is progress this year.

Talking about Roma constructed in one day, they changing in less than 1 year, the horrendous Juric dismissed, then hired Ranieri Who takes the team and becoming one of the best in the second half of the season, and finally signing Gasperini which is one of the best in Italy. Now they are a force and fight for championship. Same owners
May be Moyes should be like Ranieri, at the end of the day, not a bad coach but neither the one who will carry us to the next level. The future will tell

 

[Zatara]

A lot is said about Moyes being too cautious and not taking off the hand brake. Been watching a lot of PL coverage today. They did a whole piece on Arsenal, but specifically Arteta. Said he’s way too cautious. They said he plays to be safe and needs to take off the hand brake. Similarly, I heard the same today about Pep needing to do the same thing. I agree we could be more aggressive. But other than one or two clubs, a lot of complaints and criticisms are similar. We just hyper focus on ours way more.

Were at different levels and stages to those 2 of course.

Theyre aiming for top 4 and possibly the title so the conservative approach with elite players as a % on games gives them the edge most of the time.

With us, we have a chance to break into Europe. The defence is without Branthwaite and Mykolenko has been in/out while Tarkowski has been out of form and Keane of course is a worry.

Our X-Factor are the 3 behind the CF. If we play on the front foot and are 'nasty' the crowd get behind us and it spreads panic and fear into the opposition. Thats always been the best Everton, for decades.

Moyes is conservative, thats fine. But hes on a 2 year contract and we know the owners are trigger happy based on Roma. Surely at one point in his career he has to roll the dice?

 

[MaximusEvertonius]

Were at different levels and stages to those 2 of course.

Theyre aiming for top 4 and possibly the title so the conservative approach with elite players as a % on games gives them the edge most of the time.

With us, we have a chance to break into Europe. The defence is without Branthwaite and Mykolenko has been in/out while Tarkowski has been out of form and Keane of course is a worry.

Our X-Factor are the 3 behind the CF. If we play on the front foot and are 'nasty' the crowd get behind us and it spreads panic and fear into the opposition. Thats always been the best Everton, for decades.

Moyes is conservative, thats fine. But hes on a 2 year contract and we know the owners are trigger happy based on Roma. Surely at one point in his career he has to roll the dice?

That part about being on our front foot and nasty takes me back. I love reading that. We have the tools right now to be nasty and unpredictable again. We just need Moyes to unlock them from their cages.

 

[SuperKev91]

Fair play, how do you find the stadium atmosphere compared to Goodison?

I think for people (like me) to be saying that we could have / should have got more points is indeed, "testamant to how well Moyes has done in 8 months".

The expectation of where we finish and how we play is one thing. The other is looking at past results against specifically Leeds, Villa and the RS. I'd say a mix of how we played and what we 'should have' or 'could have' on the play is a fair barometer of Villa & RS with the view of we should have beaten Leeds based on squad quality.

Clearly Moyes took a bath against Leeds. I dont imagine any metric pointing at and expecting how badly we played. He made mistakes and I think he cost us 3pts there based on his mistakes.

Against Villa, we had the chances to win the game so I'd also say thats 2 pts dropped. We could discuss / argue whether its on Moyes or the players misses but its neither here nor there as we 'should have' put them to the sword.

I agree that against the RS we were incredibly weak in the first half. The players came out just as they had done against Leeds. I dont know if thats on Moyes or the players but we should have scored another goal which again we can discuss / argue whether thats on Moyes or the players.

Thats why i'd say we've dropped 6pts so far. Past seasons are a separate discussion...were in the moment.

To be conservative I'd say perhaps 4pts as Leeds were of course on a major high and at home.

But the key here is to win the next 2 league games, both at home to get to P7 13pts.

Then we go into the City game on a high and we can all agree that a draw there would really start the FC SEXY vibes.

When it’s loud it’s loud but it’s a bit weird at the moment, feels like everyone is still finding their feet.

No I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I think realistically to be having this chat and being disappointed shows how well Moyes has done.

Crucially now though we HAVE to be winning the ‘winnable’ ones.

No excuses.

 

[the golden visionary]

Fair play, how do you find the stadium atmosphere compared to Goodison?

I think for people (like me) to be saying that we could have / should have got more points is indeed, "testamant to how well Moyes has done in 8 months".

The expectation of where we finish and how we play is one thing. The other is looking at past results against specifically Leeds, Villa and the RS. I'd say a mix of how we played and what we 'should have' or 'could have' on the play is a fair barometer of Villa & RS with the view of we should have beaten Leeds based on squad quality.

Clearly Moyes took a bath against Leeds. I dont imagine any metric pointing at and expecting how badly we played. He made mistakes and I think he cost us 3pts there based on his mistakes.

Against Villa, we had the chances to win the game so I'd also say thats 2 pts dropped. We could discuss / argue whether its on Moyes or the players misses but its neither here nor there as we 'should have' put them to the sword.

I agree that against the RS we were incredibly weak in the first half. The players came out just as they had done against Leeds. I dont know if thats on Moyes or the players but we should have scored another goal which again we can discuss / argue whether thats on Moyes or the players.

Thats why i'd say we've dropped 6pts so far. Past seasons are a separate discussion...were in the moment.

To be conservative I'd say perhaps 4pts as Leeds were of course on a major high and at home.

But the key here is to win the next 2 league games, both at home to get to P7 13pts.

Then we go into the City game on a high and we can all agree that a draw there would really start the FC SEXY vibes.

We haven't dropped 6 points we've dropped 1 point against Leeds.

We wasn't winning the 2 matches at any point. So we didn't have the points anyway

 

[SuperKev91]

Talking about Roma constructed in one day, they changing in less than 1 year, the horrendous Juric dismissed, then hired Ranieri Who takes the team and becoming one of the best in the second half of the season, and finally signing Gasperini which is one of the best in Italy. Now they are a force and fight for championship. Same owners
May be Moyes should be like Ranieri, at the end of the day, not a bad coach but neither the one who will carry us to the next level. The future will tell

I think Moyes’ remit is to stabilise, build good foundations and hand it off to the next flavour of the month manager (see: Roberto Martinez in his first spell).

Hoping the next manager has more success than Bobby did with Moyes’ foundations.

 

[DualityNSNO]

I’d only we had a manager who recently had been able to take a relegation contender to the top eight and had regular European qualifications on his resume.

A relegation contender? Funny that the only times they finished below 11th/mid table was with David Moyes at the helm.

Winning that cup is a fantastic achievement, but it doesn't mean we can ignore the fact they were bottom 4-5 for the entirety of the season while doing so - they were right next to us and were 1 win away from being direct contenders for relegation, finishing on 40 points.

There's nuances to this and we all know his limitations and record against the top clubs, that won't change, ever. He's still proper turned us around and that's a great achievement which I'm very happy for, but he's also got his own issues that are quite clear/obvious and it's also why he's here as a stop gap - that's his strength. If we manage to finish anything above 10th this year he'll sing praises for it, which would be fair enough, but I doubt he's aimed for anything massively ambitions at any point of his career.

I know you won't agree (and that it's currently not a great time for criticism towards Moyes), given your name, but he's the definition of a stability stop gap at this point in time. The hiring after him is the actual crucial one. He might pull off some amazing run and get us to Europe somehow, or somehow get to a cup final, but I doubt it as it'll be "knife to a gunfight" as soon as the 1st actual challenge appears in any competition, and that's somewhat fine. As long as he leaves us in a great spot to progress in a year or two's time he's done his job and more.