2025/26 Tyler Dibling

[Tony Hibbert's Wife]

I don't understand the selection of McNeill over Dibling. When you're expecting to defend a lot you need players who can carry the ball up the field both to relieve pressure and as a threat to the opposition. I can't see how the replacement for Ndiaye, a player who can do that, can possibly be McNeill, a player who assuredly cannot do that. One of the few things we do know about Dibling from watching him play for Saints is that getting the ball in the middle and taking it forwards quickly is something he can definitely do.

The selection smacks of someone trying to avoid losing the game rather than trying to win the game as the only positive McNeill has over Dibling is that his defensive positioning is likely better (probably puts in a better set piece, but all the balls into the box on Saturday were pretty poor, including McNeill's efforts so he doesn't have that going for him on performance basis). If that's the only positive then that must be the only reason he's on the pitch.

So the decision from Moyes, either consciously or unconsciously, is that the team doesn't score many, we've lost both our main threats and the priority in that case isn't replacing goals, but minimising concessions.

Problem is with that tactic is you have to keep a clean sheet and against a team like this Arsenal that takes an enormous amount of luck. As soon as that Arsenal goal was scored Plan A - don't concede - had failed.

 

[hallamblue]

How much did you watch him at Southampton? Because he wasn’t racking up goals and assists there either. He might make it at Prem level or he might not at this point.

He took risks, was direct, dribbled past people and got shots off at Southampton, not seeing any of that at Everton so far

 

[Zatara]

He took risks, was direct, dribbled past people and got shots off at Southampton, not seeing any of that at Everton so far

Should have had more assists too but their players were so bad.

Hes being told to play safe by Moyes or his confidence has gone and hes afraid to make a mistake.

Hope he starts against Burnley and is given a run of starts to get up to speed.

 

[royvernon39]

Surely a young 40 million player needs a decent run of games. It doesn't seem that he is close to the transfer fee at present but his not playing against Arsenal was a chance missed. DM picked a bloke whose party trick is taking corners and what does Dwight do, overshot the first corner. DM signed him and it's his job to make the transfer a success.

 

[TheBigMan]

Surely a young 40 million player needs a decent run of games. It doesn't seem that he is close to the transfer fee at present but his not playing against Arsenal was a chance missed. DM picked a bloke whose party trick is taking corners and what does Dwight do, overshot the first corner. DM signed him and it's his job to make the transfer a success.

He should be given a run now V Burnley, Forest, Brentford, Wolves, Sunderland.

 

[Vaughan]

seems likd the type of wide player that would really benefit from a full back overlapping him. could pair well with garner but with kdh and gana unavailable it just won’t happen

 

[Swartzy]

My brother has heard a rubbish rumour - we swap Dibling for Middleborough star midfielder - hardly likely as we are buy him with instalments ....

if its on how many game he starts we are quids in .....

When are we going to meet your brother..
Iv'e heard quite alot about him.

Seems proper ITK

 

[hetion]

My brother has heard a rubbish rumour - we swap Dibling for Middleborough star midfielder - hardly likely as we are buy him with instalments ....

if its on how many game he starts we are quids in .....

I promise you this is not true Joey haha

 

[HalfTimeSayers]

I don't understand the selection of McNeill over Dibling. When you're expecting to defend a lot you need players who can carry the ball up the field both to relieve pressure and as a threat to the opposition. I can't see how the replacement for Ndiaye, a player who can do that, can possibly be McNeill, a player who assuredly cannot do that. One of the few things we do know about Dibling from watching him play for Saints is that getting the ball in the middle and taking it forwards quickly is something he can definitely do.

The selection smacks of someone trying to avoid losing the game rather than trying to win the game as the only positive McNeill has over Dibling is that his defensive positioning is likely better (probably puts in a better set piece, but all the balls into the box on Saturday were pretty poor, including McNeill's efforts so he doesn't have that going for him on performance basis). If that's the only positive then that must be the only reason he's on the pitch.

So the decision from Moyes, either consciously or unconsciously, is that the team doesn't score many, we've lost both our main threats and the priority in that case isn't replacing goals, but minimising concessions.

Problem is with that tactic is you have to keep a clean sheet and against a team like this Arsenal that takes an enormous amount of luck. As soon as that Arsenal goal was scored Plan A - don't concede - had failed.

All true. But the fact that Dibling hasn't, since August, made himself an automatic starter in that game with the first choice at AFCON is utterly damning of the player.

Yes Moyes is cautious, and like many managers puts a big weight on experience. Maybe too much. But regardless of any of that, Moyes would pick the best team most likely to win a game if a player was obviously the right choice. Not getting yourself ahead of one of, if not the most ineffective players in our entire squad is terrifying given how much of our budget went on him.

I can’t criticise him for yet another limp and scared looking cameo. He’s getting so few minutes, usually against teams just comfortably protecting the game. It’s what has been going on every single day at FF to not take any choice away from Moyes that is becoming a worry.

 

[Drico]

All true. But the fact that Dibling hasn't, since August, made himself an automatic starter in that game with the first choice at AFCON is utterly damning of the player.

Yes Moyes is cautious, and like many managers puts a big weight on experience. Maybe too much. But regardless of any of that, Moyes would pick the best team most likely to win a game if a player was obviously the right choice. Not getting yourself ahead of one of, if not the most ineffective players in our entire squad is terrifying given how much of our budget went on him.

I can’t criticise him for yet another limp and scared looking cameo. He’s getting so few minutes, usually against teams just comfortably protecting the game. It’s what has been going on every single day at FF to not take any choice away from Moyes that is becoming a worry.

Utterly damning of the player - but also an indictment of those who recruited him.

 

[Blue peter]

It’s not rocket science. He’s clearly not showing he up to it in training for Moyes. For those citing the selection of McNeill at time over him as being a farce, maybe McNeill is performing better in training than him. No one can say for sure without seeing them, however what is farcical is buying him, if he is that far away from being first team ready.

 

[Swartzy]

O'Brien is your answer..

 

[HalfTimeSayers]

Utterly damning of the player - but also an indictment of those who recruited him.

Totally. We are one or two seasons away from punting £30odd million on a player that doesn’t improve our starting lineup RIGHT NOW. If they brought him in with any doubts at all that would be ahead of McNeil then it’s a bizarre decision.

But people in football generally have fawned over him for a few years. He only has a couple of hundred minutes less than Alcaraz in PL games, yet he still has the “not ready” free pass!! If he genuinely has this latent talent everyone claims he has, then someone needs to work out how to make him respond, or he himself needs to grow up. A decent and perfectly admirable career making mazy runs in the Championship awaits if he doesn’t.

 

[Zatara]

Allardyce speaks

“I thought the young lad from Southampton might have made a bit of an impact, but he’s not sort of settled in yet, has he? Because he got rave reviews for Southampton last season in the Premier League,” said the former Everton manager.

“And I thought, you know, that’s a really good signing, but perhaps it’s being a young lad moving and all the way up here.

“It might not be a while before he settles in, but certainly look like he’s got the ability, but not managed to put that into an Everton shirt yet.”

 

[Tony Hibbert's Wife]

Allardyce speaks

“I thought the young lad from Southampton might have made a bit of an impact, but he’s not sort of settled in yet, has he? Because he got rave reviews for Southampton last season in the Premier League,” said the former Everton manager.

“And I thought, you know, that’s a really good signing, but perhaps it’s being a young lad moving and all the way up here.

“It might not be a while before he settles in, but certainly look like he’s got the ability, but not managed to put that into an Everton shirt yet.”

A blessed Christmas message. Verily this is the word of the Lord.