Everton banter 5

09 Jul 2026 09:14:31
I know you shouldn't judge by clips on YouTube, but Christian Kofane looks a decent prospect and so mature for a 19-year-old. Holds up play well, brings other players into the game, some pace, good touch, puts himself about a bit, a decent number 9. Looks 10 times better than Barry. Would be happy if he chooses us.

09 Jul 2026 10:30:59
Most importantly, does he score goals?

09 Jul 2026 11:26:04
Really surprised but delighted if we are really after him. Can't really see this being a Moyes pick. We have resigned two young players and recruited another, so the recruitment team, whoever they are, seem to be focusing on youth at least for now. Will they get game time, that is the question?

09 Jul 2026 16:00:05
I said on another thread that it's how Beto and Barry would be if their legs and brain were attached and coordinated in some way.

09 Jul 2026 08:08:44
Is that right if Andy Burnham gets the PM job then all Everton supporters will be exempt from tax?

09 Jul 2026 10:15:05
Does that apply to the US also? Trump will be pleased!

09 Jul 2026 16:59:17
I can see it now all the Labour front bench sitting in Everton training kits while the Tories sing along to the Z cars theme tune. The Greens will deny football even exists.

09 Jul 2026 07:52:01
We don't need a right back. Imo we need 2 plus another left back. Moyes clearly doesn't trust Patterson or Aznou so both should be sold.

08 Jul 2026 19:21:14
Dm has said many times if Dibling wants to play he has to get his finger out, at the mo he is nowhere near good enough.

08 Jul 2026 20:25:52
Absolute rubbish. Moyes needs to play him in his best position, not stuck out on the wing with zero support from the full back.
Plus the fact he was playing McNeil shows what rot that is. The guy doesn't trust young players, just ask Aznou.

08 Jul 2026 21:04:00
Moyes should be a pundit at the World Cup coz he talks rubbish just like the rest of them.

09 Jul 2026 06:17:26
I think he is Skylark with Talksport.

09 Jul 2026 10:34:34
So you pay 40M for some kid and then you tell him that he needs to get his finger out! He is away from home for the first time, probably overwhelmed by the transfer fee and his new surroundings, and you tell him that. Come on, GB, your love-fest with Moyes knows no bounds. If he actually said that, he needs to be fired.


Dibling and his talents need to be nurtured, he needs good coaching, he needs to be played in his best position, and he needs playing time.
If Moyes is not willing to do that, then Dibling has to go out on loan to a club that treat young players better than we do.
.

09 Jul 2026 10:40:37
If I remember correctly, it's not actually his first time away from home, Mike.

When he was younger, he went to Chelsea but got homesick so moved back.

09 Jul 2026 11:18:43
Yes, he sounds as if he is a little immature, but telling him to get his finger out over and over is not going to help him in that respect. Presumably, we knew his background when we paid 40M for him, and so the club have a responsibility to help him to be the best player that he can be.

Sitting on the bench is not going to do it.

09 Jul 2026 17:06:10
The way we played at the back end of the season meant that there were ample opportunities for Moyes to have played the lad; ten minutes here or there is bloody pointless.
As for being homesick, well, the first time I went away as a young apprentice was to an oil refinery in Wales.

I was a similar age to this lad and I missed home terribly, difference is, I didn't have a 40m chain around my neck. So give the lad some slack and let's see if Moyes actually gives him a go in his best position.

07 Jul 2026 22:32:36
The FIFA decision to suspend Balogun's red card is not their first big stinking decision. What about Ronaldo, but a young Irish player gets a straight red, can't play any World Cup group games. Trump then gets in touch with Infantino. We need all the big names to play to sell the tickets. They suspend it for 2 years knowing Ronaldo is never playing World Cup matches after these finals
Only Wayne Rooney brought this up about Balogun's 1 year suspended card.

The next qualifiers are 18 months away so a friendly game after 1 year will allow him to play it. It makes me sick. I am 70 years old and can't stand much more of this corruption in football. Put them all in jail and give the game back to the people it belongs to us football fans

08 Jul 2026 00:50:12
Sport should be a place to escape politics. Football can unite families, communities, and peoples.

I would prefer politicians and cause-of-the-day celebrities remain supporters and not enter the "pitch". I want my football politics free, please.

Does FIFA need to have a process, like the EPL, to review red cards? Yes. But it will always be a game played by imperfect people and imperfect players.

As I grow older, I become a little more forgiving of human frailties.

Was the Balagun foul a red card? Possibly, certainly a yellow.

Was the Quansah foul a red card? Possibly, certainly a yellow.

Would I prefer the call to be made on the field as opposed to VAR? Yes.

Let not the noise dampen your spirit, Alanc.

Enjoy the spectacle.

Now just hope Jordan doesn't get hurt.

08 Jul 2026 08:07:46
Thanks Blues 770, nice response to my original post, but the technical side of the game, VAR electronic chips in balls so you can get snicker reviews, is going beyond the game we grew up loving. All this stuff was the brainchild of Platini, with his hate for English clubs dominating his European football when head of UEFA. He also wanted no contact on top players to improve the game, and he and Blatter were shown up for what they were, corrupt cheats who probably took brown envelopes to help the wealthier clubs get wealthier.

This became apparent when Terry was suspended for a Red Card offence, allowing him to pick up the European Cup kit, and all I remember, 1985 Andy Gray was suspended and not allowed on the pitch by the FA to celebrate. How times have changed for the worse.

08 Jul 2026 10:14:31
If the game continues to change the way it is at the moment, I'm not sure I will continue to watch it, a couple of my friends have already stopped and I'm finding the World Cup unbearable listening to the pundits. I for one won't be watching another World Cup game.

08 Jul 2026 12:41:55
They are flown halfway round the World all expenses to talk utter rubbish, and as for this equality BS, it is out of control.

07 Jul 2026 20:46:11
Where Tyler Dibling could rank in Everton record sales as RB Leipzig eye transfer. I think it would be wrong to cash in so early in his Everton career considering the lengths that we went through to obtain him.

07 Jul 2026 21:12:22
And then to rarely play him.

07 Jul 2026 21:39:36
See what they offer.

07 Jul 2026 22:27:58
If we aren't gonna play him, loan him to them to play, gain confidence again and come back when Moyes has left. Worked out well enough for De Bruyne.

Hefty loan fee, and bring him back.

07 Jul 2026 22:42:24
Dibling is one we should definitely keep. He'd shown at Southampton that he has the ability. All he needs is a manager that has faith in him, plays him in his best position and allows him to express himself, not be afraid to lose the ball occasionally and not be shackled by negative tactics and a desire for work rate and defensive duties above everything else.

08 Jul 2026 07:41:57
Make the decision after pre season and at the end of the window. Loan sounds the best option, at least he would get games.

08 Jul 2026 12:10:46
Loan move would be the best for all parties.

08 Jul 2026 12:49:54
What did he show at Southampton that was above what we have? I watch our youngsters; some are way ahead of this lad. As for Dibling getting in the first 11, Moyes is doing the same now with George, just bought him.

Comment: 'He's still young and there's plenty of development ahead of him, but we believe he's got the attitude and the ability to keep improving.' George is ahead of Dibling.

08 Jul 2026 13:12:39
He showed plenty of ability for Southampton. 19-year-old that was (until Moyes got hold of him) fearless. Running at experienced PL defenders and putting them to the sword, winning penalties away at Old Trafford and Anfield.

There was a reason why all the big teams were sniffing around him. If Saints didn't price him at stupid amounts of £80m, someone would have taken him.

He could not have been handled any worse and could not have come in under a worse manager for him.

His first minutes in an Everton shirt were away at Anfield when the game was done - he got 4 minutes. Then 9 against West Ham. Then he got his first start against Palace when we had no KDH. The whole side turned in one of the worst 45 minutes for the whole of last season. He then got another 4 minutes away at City when the game was done and didn't play again until 5 games later, with 10 minutes against Newcastle when we were 4-1 down.



He didn't get a real look in until we had a team that was missing the likes of Gana, Ndiaye and KDH, and instead had the likes of Iroegbunam, McNeil etc to play with.

It is ridiculous to judge the lad on last season's showing. Attacking players thrive off rhythm, repetition and confidence, and he was allowed to build up neither because the manager goes about things in entirely the wrong way.

I, for one, hope he goes out on loan to a RBL and absolutely destroys it and makes fools out of everyone who has slated him. It will be funny to see if people still want rid of him so quickly then.

The kid is 20 and has been treated like sh**e.

Best of luck to the lad this season to prove most people wrong.

08 Jul 2026 14:25:57
£80 million yet we paid £40 mill, why didn't these other 'big' clubs jump in at that price? I too watched him in the Championship, as I have watched others (nothing special) . I was, quite frankly, astonished that we paid out.

Putting PL defenders to the sword! Load of cobblers. Do you actually go to games? I ask out of respect because most of your comments have been knowledgeable. I too have researched those sites.

08 Jul 2026 15:55:36
It's not his fee. It's not his age. It's his work off the ball that Moyes has issue with. In the few minutes he's had, and I accept the argument that's not been enough, he literally stops dead where he is when he loses the ball. We all know Moyes won't risk that in games. He has to improve that and show it in training.



He's a very skill full player but is young and needs to improve that side of his game before he gets Moyes' trust.

I'd like to see him have more minutes, but Moyes doesn't know how to get us two goals ahead for his addition to the game to be less of a risk.

08 Jul 2026 16:55:34
New poster after many years of reading comments. First game early 60s and hooked for life- too many heroes to mention but Alan Ball will always remain number one. Quickly became fed up Moyes the first time with his defeatist attitude, safety first football, obsession with one formation and slow footballers and his inability to give young players a chance.

Will support the team and want us to win always but Moyes makes it very difficult - didn't want him back and despite him and his supporters telling us we have improved don't see it myself. Always live in hope but can't see a lot until they get rid of Moyes.

{Ed025's Note - welcome aboard NAD..

08 Jul 2026 18:14:19
The 80m was around the winter transfer window and was hyper inflated.

I imagine many clubs still thought that 45m was too steep to spend on a player that wouldn't be an immediate starter for them, after all, the bigger sides tend to have the best players and a higher volume of them.

He didn't play in the Championship. He played in the PL.

"A load of cobblers", yet there is literal video evidence of him doing it on the internet. Andy Robertson at Anfield. Dalot at St Marys sorry, not Old Trafford.

Not sure what sites you are referring to tbh.

Yes, I had a season ticket at Goodison for 28 years. I also went most away games for a period of time throughout my younger years through to mid 30s. I have not got a ST at Hill Dickinson for a few reasons, not that going to the game has any bearing on being able to assess a footballer or not, than watching them on TV.

It is simply a different pov. 90min football games are available for all to see these days, so not quite sure what your point is.

You clearly watched a lot of him thinking that he played in the Championship.

The player that was at Southampton had the shackles off and the freedom to go and play. Every time he got the ball, he was looking to play or drive forward. As soon as Moyes has got hold of him, his first thing to do is to look backwards or sideways and retain possession for the sake of retaining possession.

He has also been stuck out on the wing, with a 6ft 6 CB behind him, that offers zero support. His best position is also a 10.

08 Jul 2026 18:50:53
A loan didn't do Branthwaite any harm, and no point him just sitting on the bench for another season if Moyes doesn't fancy him. Hope he stays and has a cracking pre season, so Moyes has to start him.

08 Jul 2026 19:07:16
It's the million dollar question of why he hasn't had much of a look in. I do agree with TA in regards to his work off the ball; he didn't seem to track back when the opposition were on attack. Reminiscent of Lookman for me, there is a player there but he needs to listen, and then produce the goods on the pitch, when he gets a chance, that is.

I think we will see more from him this season. He's had plenty of time to bed in, and he will have a full pre-season with us.

I've mentioned it before on these pages, we all blame DM for how things have gone, but is it a possibility that, being a young lad who has moved a few hundred miles away from his comfort zone, he could have been a bit homesick? Baines was similar when he first joined us, and that turned out ok in the end. Time will tell, I suppose. I wouldn't be loaning or selling him this summer, he needs to kick on and make himself hard to drop from the first 11.

08 Jul 2026 21:10:58
I think the opinion that he always loses the ball is exaggerated. He actually plays it too safe and keeps the ball too well at times, tending to go back or across.

His strength and what comes natural to him is being quelled by Moyes. He thrives on having the opportunity to run at his man and break the lines. He can't do that because our right side is targeted by every single team in the PL because they know that O'Brien is not gonna get up and offer an option on his outside, so they just double up and let the ba go back to O'Brien and then recycle inside. Ndiaye had the same issue himself for large portions of the season and he is far more experienced.

Dibling played a whopping 14 games last season in the PL. Sounds a lot but when you break it down, it equates to not even 4 games worth of football - 350 minutes.

You have to bear in mind that he was playing a huge portion of those minutes without the likes of Branthwaite, Gana, Ndiaye, Kdh and Grealish. Getting the dregs of a game away at tough grounds where they are just keeping the ball like City and Liverpool.

Last season

14 games
350 minutes (not 4 games worth of football)
Passes completed 106 with an 86% accuracy
27 dribbles with 48% success rate
7 tackles
6 interceptions
1 block
Duels won 33
Ariel duels won 2

Over 4 games they aren't particularly bad numbers and especially when you think he's got the likes of Tim, McNeil, Beto and Barry around him.

Not to mention the marauding 6ft 6 centre back we have, overlapping for him and drowning a man away.

Play him for 30 minutes at the end of a game instead of suffering the ordeal of watching Kdh stay on with absolutely nothing left in the tank and certainly not enough legs to give us an outlet. Let him play with other good players instead of fodder and give him more than 5 minutes to make an impact. If he doesn't, then fair enough, send him on loan or sell him but at least give the boy a chance.

It's the same with Aznou. Schooled at Barcelona La Masia and Bayern Munich but not good enough to replace Mykolenko at 70 minutes. Look what happened when he did bring him on.

I haven't judged either of them as football players for Everton because neither of them have been given a chance and the approach and handling of both of them has been p*SS poor.

08 Jul 2026 21:50:26
Apologies.

Ball* not ba.
Draw a man away, not drowning a man away.

08 Jul 2026 22:07:59
Moyes did say he was going to work him hard in pre-season, but as others have said, he hasn't shown it so far. The young lad, Aznou, came on against Sunderland, and from his very first touch, all of us were up on our feet, and yet we haven't seen him since.

We have just bought George, and Moyes is making the same comments he made about Dibling. Are we building a squad, I wonder.

09 Jul 2026 14:09:09
When you break Dibling's time on the pitch for us down like that, it's a disgrace. He showed plenty for Southampton and unless he has failed to show for training he should've been given more opportunities.

I have watched loads of videos of him since we were interested and bought him. He's not a right winger, but all his minutes for us were on the right wing.

There have been multiple opportunities last season to give him a run out for a few games, but Moyes refused.

Instead, picking players that have continually underperformed. Especially towards the end of the season, it seemed the worse you perform, the more likely it is you'll start next game for our last 6 games.

07 Jul 2026 18:55:48
How many midfielders have we now?

07 Jul 2026 21:39:20
And how many will Moyes actually play?

07 Jul 2026
New image uploaded to the
Everton Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image

07 Jul 2026 13:45:35
Not strictly related to Everton, but imo, the attempt at political interference in the world cup, should be met with a ban on the us competing in the next competition, and the head of FIFA, should resign at his cowardly tolerance to entertain the requested orange ones atempt to influence the process.

07 Jul 2026 14:27:49
Right can of worms, mate.

07 Jul 2026 15:33:39
The whole thing just exposes how rotten the footballing system is. If a head of state can fire off a phone call or a text and suddenly a red card decision gets overturned, then what's the point of pretending FIFA or any of these governing bodies care about fairness.

What makes it even worse is Trump admitting afterwards he didn't even know what a red card meant until someone told him his "best player" wouldn't be able to play.

So we've got someone with zero understanding of the game influencing decisions at the highest level, and FIFA just rolls over for it.
It's corruption dressed up as "process".
That, to me, is the death of any credibility the World Cup has.

07 Jul 2026 15:40:04
Rotten to the core.

07 Jul 2026 17:45:31
Yes, a disgrace and I live in the US. Unfortunately, the game has changed, and not for the better. It's not just the US. What has happened to the Manchester City situation? Is it also political because of the City owners?

07 Jul 2026 18:10:01
Get rid of FIFA and leave football to the IFAB.

07 Jul 2026 18:12:05
Sorry to complete my post. Leave it to the IFAB without the FIFA part.

07 Jul 2026 16:55:04
Slugs not worms. What about the peace award and Trump presenting the World Cup - you think he is just going to present it without the 'Maga'.

07 Jul 2026 19:58:36
The buck stops with FIFA, Trump took a shot at asking for the card to be rescinded, other nations should follow suit after every red card.

How it was classed as suspended is shocking and totally on that little dictator from FIFA. Changing the rules is ridiculous and should result in him falling on his own sword. Stupid situation.

07 Jul 2026 21:44:16
I think they were already looking at it but the timing of Trump and the strange decision to suspend it for a year is very suspect.

Of course it's corruption. This new head of FIFA is as corrupt as any they have had. The whole peace thing summed up the situation. FIFA are not a political entity but create a farcical award for a man who has been heavily involved in two conflicts and threatened to invade Greenland you can't make this up it's that comical

08 Jul 2026 12:50:52
Bluemike, yes.

07 Jul 2026 13:37:20
Stop talking about bringing back Martinez.
He had the best team in Europe when he managed Belgium and still came nowhere close to winning anything.

07 Jul 2026 19:54:58
He is a bloody awful manager. Why on earth anyone rates him is beyond me. He plays good football, what a joke. He nearly got us relegated, and only did well in one season when he inherited Moyes team, who still had the defensive mind set. Once that went, we were shocking. At least want a manager that has something to brag about.

07 Jul 2026 20:34:01
Far worse than DM.

08 Jul 2026 01:14:00
Martinez is one of the poorest managers we have ever had, and boy did he talk s***.
I think we sacked Marco Silva far too soon. Anchelloti class.
Feel the worst, by far, have been Martinez, Koeman and Allardyce. I know Dyche wasnt everyones fav, but thankful he kept us up and a decent fella in my opinion, we have had managers that have served a purpose and I include the current one in that statement.

I think we are a top top manager away from becomming a top side again. Feel we missed a trick not going for Glasner.