Exclusive Pat Nevin Interview: Everton, Moyes, Dibling, and George

It's been a bright start to the season for Everton as they sit in fifth position in the Premier League table after six games.

The Toffees are yet to be on the losing side in all competitions, advancing through two rounds of the Carabao Cup alongside their success in the Premier League.

Turning draws into wins is Everton's next task with four of their six Premier League matches this season ending in a stalemate. Questions are constantly being asked of manager David Moyes as fans want to see Everton making more progress.

Supporters will have hoped to have seen more from the likes of Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling so far this season, but Moyes has often preferred more experienced options in attack. 

We spoke to former Everton player Pat Nevin to get his thoughts on Moyes' future at the club, with his contract expiring next summer, and young duo George and Dibling.

Moyes' future has been a topic of discussion of late, with his contract set to expire next summer. With The Friedkin Group confirming that they are looking to complete a sale of the club, it remains to be seen where this will leave Moyes.

A new ownership group might be hoping to bring in their own manager if they complete a deal to take over Everton, and due to Moyes' contract situation, it will be easy to get the Scotsman out of the club. 

Everton Roundtable asked Nevin whether he believes that Moyes has done enough to earn himself a new contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"Absolutely. One hundred per cent. But his future is not entirely in his hands. If the ownership changes, new owners could arrive with completely different ideas. My concern is the support being given by the club. After David had done such a good job, it felt like the moment to build. You could see the areas that needed strengthening - probably another four players - but instead there were departures, talk of more sales and very little coming in. That is not Moyes’ fault," Nevin said.

The former Everton winger remembers a moment from Moyes where he reminded supporters that he is an Evertonian, sending a powerful message to fans that he understands their frustrations. Nevin believes that the Everton fans recognise that.

Nevin also suggests that it will be a seriously good job from Moyes just to keep Everton in the Premier League with the squad he has, and he's the right man to be in charge of the club. 

“There was a moment during all of that when he looked into the camera and reminded supporters, ‘I’m an Evertonian.’ That was a powerful message. As a fan, you knew what he meant: ‘I understand you. I am with you.’

“Everton supporters recognise that. He has helped the club move on from the worst of the relegation battles, but you cannot stand still in football. Unfortunately, that is what Everton have done.

“If he keeps them up with the squad he has, that will be a seriously good job. I am already thinking in terms of needing a point a game and making sure there is enough breathing space.

“These are concerning times, but there is nobody I would rather have in charge of Everton right now than David Moyes.”

"The raw talent is there in bucketloads," Nevin says, on former Southampton winger Dibling.

It's something we've seen in glimpses during his time at Everton, and mostly through no fault of his own. Moyes has been reluctant to give him too much game time since his move to the club, and it's undoubtedly been a difficult period for him. 

“Some players thrive when they are the main creative figure and everything goes through them. Think back to Matt Le Tissier at Southampton. When you are central to the team’s creativity, you get plenty of the ball, freedom to move and repeated opportunities to influence the match.

“Dibling had more of that at Southampton. He could come inside, play centrally and express himself.

“It is much harder when you are a peripheral player. You might only get the ball six, seven or eight times, often wide and with several opponents around you. Suddenly, you feel you have to do something special every time," says Nevin. 

Dibling is having to get used to playing a completely different role with Everton, but he's started to come into his own a little this season. Unfortunately, we haven't seen Moyes truly unleash him just yet.

Nevin does believe that Moyes is the right man to get the best out of the young winger.

“I know that feeling. When you are a core player, a mistake does not matter as much because you know the ball will come back to you. When you are not, you can start trying too hard - taking on five players when a simple pass would be the right decision.

“That is the difficulty for Dibling at Everton. Other players, such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, are more central to how the team plays.

“He is a good player. If anybody can help him develop and get the best from him, it is Moyes," adds Nevin. 

George's lack of game time so far this season might be a concern to some supporters. Moyes has opted to for Jack Grealish on the left-hand side and Brennan Johnson on the right-hand side when both are fit, but both players did struggle against Hull City last time out.

Nevin isn't worried about George, as he sees him as a player capable of playing in multiple different positions in attack.

“Do not worry about Tyrique, he will be fine.

“He has tricks and the ability to beat players out wide, but I see him as an attacker rather than just a winger. He is a goalscorer, and those are different things.

“Everton have only one established centre-forward in Thierno Barry. If he gets injured, I think George is an option through the middle."

Nevin also saw George play through the middle at times during his Chelsea career, and he has the goalscorer's instinct to play in the centre-forward position if needed.

“Everton supporters might not see that yet, but I watched him play more centrally at Chelsea. He is not the biggest or strongest at the moment, although he is filling out, and his style lends itself to that role.

“He can play on the right, on the left or centrally. What makes him different from a conventional winger is that he has a natural goalscorer’s instinct. If a chance falls to him, I think he is more likely to take it.

“He is a really good prospect for Everton, and he will get better," said Nevin. 

Thanks to NetBet Sport and Pat Nevin for kindly agreeing to this interview for Everton Roundtable.