The David Moyes Frustrations Continue at Everton

If you’re unhappy with what we’re being served under David Moyes, you’re often told to be grateful for what you’ve got. People will often point to the league table, or the fact that Everton aren’t in a relegation battle anymore. 

The reality is, Everton fans have a right to demand more, especially when the same issues continue to happen so often. 

A loss against Chelsea in isolation isn’t a disaster, at all. But the fact that it’s a result that’s been coming makes the concerns over the last few months justified. 

Although Everton were unbeaten heading into this game, there is context to that. The only sides Everton played during the opening six games that are in the current top half are Ipswich and Hull, two newly promoted teams.

One game required a freak 96th-minute equaliser from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and another required a James Tarkowski goal from a set-piece in the final minutes. Yes, we were unbeaten, but our performances didn’t match that, and it was a very favourable start. 

Moyes should be given some leeway due to the fact that he’s been shafted when it comes to the summer transfer window, leaving Everton with a depleted squad. But the same issues keep occurring regardless of which players he has at his disposal. 

Moyes has a strong set of players to work with, it’s just not a deep squad with quality in every single position. The club have two exciting young wingers who have shown promise, but Moyes is reluctant to use them too much. 

Against Chelsea, as soon as Everton went a goal down, he turned to Tyrique George to try to change things. Against Hull, it took 66 minutes of Brennan Johnson offering very little before George was introduced. 

The Merlin Rohl decision made some sense on the right-hand side against Chelsea, but it’s undoubtedly showing your hand early that you’re setting up to be a defensive side. Moyes’ words after suggested he’d have been happy with a draw, which is where a lot of the frustration is. 

Chelsea are a strong side, but Everton showed them too much respect. 

Everton struggle to create any kind of consistent, difficult to play against, attacking patterns of play. Whoever is on the pitch, the tactic seems to be get it wide, see what Jack Grealish can do, if not, he cuts back and finds Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who delivers.

That’s why 90% of Thierno Barry’s chances appear to be with his head, rather than his feet. In the Premier League this season, Barry has had nine shots with his right foot, but 14 with his head. Let's compare that to Haaland. Five with his head, 18 with his left foot. 

Moyes hasn’t adapted to become a better attacking side, and that’s a major frustration to many. In build-up, Everton struggle to play through the thirds and break lines, and if they do manage to play out the back, it’s immediately shifted out wide. 

Our method of attack means so many of our chances are created for Barry and nobody else, and he’s tasked with trying to score with his head the majority of the time, which he’s clearly struggling with at the moment. 

Barry has 4.7 expected goals, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is next with 1.4, then Brennan Johnson with 1.1, and then it’s Harrison Armstrong with 0.4. That’s next to nothing for the rest of the squad. Where’s the plan B?

Against Chelsea, when we needed a goal, Moyes brought on a clearly unfit Christian Norgaard, rather than someone like Hayden Hackney, who we know can progress the ball from deep, carry it, and get us in the final third.

Tyler Dibling was left on the bench. In the glimpses he’s shown, he’s shown more than Johnson has in a lot fewer minutes. Moyes just doesn’t take enough risks.

The lack of risk is another huge frustration. There’s too much safety, too much pragmatism. 

There’s a lot of talk about Moyes needing more backing, but I just don’t think he’s the manager you look to back.