Everton banter 7

29 May 2026 14:28:16
With the younger players we signed this season I believe Moyes is protecting them. They've all moved a significant distance and probably need protecting from us who demand perfection and if they mess up we will crucify them. I think next season we will see a lot more of them or they will go out on loan. Have faith in them.

29 May 2026 14:53:04
DM stated from when they signed that they would not get much game time, mate.

{Ed025's Note - i get that GB but do you really splash out £40m on someone who is not going to get much game time?, he may come good but thats a massive gamble in my book mate..

29 May 2026 15:10:44
He's protecting them by halting their development for a year and likely selling or loaning them for less than we paid this summer?

Okay, whatever helps people sleep at night, I guess.

29 May 2026 16:46:01
If you don't play the younger players you have signed, how will you ever know if they are going to make the grade at Premier League level?
Our "recruitment team" must have seen potential to sign them in the first place, but they have to be tried at some point, as those signed will not all make it, unfortunately.


If you are not going to bother trying them, youngsters will not have the incentive to come to the club, and Moyes will continue with a team of mainly 30+ year olds.

{Ed025's Note - i agree FG..

29 May 2026 16:51:28
Plenty of other Prem teams buy young talent and don't throw them in the team. Arsenal have disrupted the progress of plenty of young talent, and won the league. Perhaps Dibling will have a great season next year?

29 May 2026 16:53:12
40 million on a future player. I've never heard so much crap. A player who shone in the Premier League the season before needs protection. Ha ha ha. He needs protected from our useless, inept, dithering manager.

29 May 2026 16:06:06
I don't know Ed mate not sure if DM ever really wanted him, I remember him saying he wouldn't play him, just wished we had spend that £40 million on a top striker myself

{Ed025's Note - me too mate..

29 May 2026 17:20:59
Arsenal can afford to do that, JB. Everton cannot. Simple.

29 May 2026 17:21:03
What club has spent £40m on a player to purposely not play them to protect them, that's then shone next season under the same manager?

29 May 2026 17:59:01
Since when have we demanded perfection? All we want is for them to play football.

29 May 2026 18:41:35
Should have put that 40m with the 20m we got for Barry and got a proper striker.

29 May 2026 19:22:25
It's a curse that so many of our fans have 20/20 hindsight.

29 May 2026 19:46:51
Like Wissa or Strand Larsen Dev? Not having a pop there, btw, mate, but just stating, you can chuck double what we paid for Barry at a player and it still doesn't guarantee success.

That being said, there are plenty of strikers out there, a lot cheaper than the above, that would be less of a gamble, as they are simply better all round players.

Out and out goal scorers are in shorter supply than they used to be.

They come at a premium, and all the big clubs are probably in the mix. It is near impossible to find another Haaland these days. I would rather take less of a gamble and focus on getting a decent football player to lead the line for us, who can make goals by bringing others into play or draw fouls by clever IQ.

29 May 2026 19:47:43
Well, everyone makes mistakes. We seem to make a lot more than most teams. Right now we need to recruit players who can fit into the team right away, which means, in Moyes language, only those over 30 who have worked under him before.

29 May 2026 20:53:05
I don't think anyone is disagreeing with the concept of buying young players for the future. I don't think anyone is saying they don't want these youngsters doing well.

What I think is different between us and other teams is this: we are not there yet. We are not in the position to buy lots of expensive kids and never play them when we need at least three major positions upgraded with quality starting players. £40m+ for a prospect when we haven't got a starting XI worthy of the prem is daft. It's running before walking. Sort out the team, get us winning games and consistently in the top half, then buy these potential kids with the idea of developing them.



Given this season was for the taking, we should have planned better, recruited better and had cash spare for back ups. Instead, we put ourselves in the position of playing people out of position. We made poor substitutions as the manager didn't think the players are ready. That £40m could have paid for a half decent RB and LB. Both were needed this season.

As for the £30m spent on Barry, could have stuck with Beto and signed someone like Wilson as backup for a lot less.

29 May 2026 22:44:00
What you say, BR, makes complete sense.
We need to get the full back position sorted once and for all, move OBrien to central defence and see how he performs, as he has not really had a chance yet in that position. Further, a decent central defender needs to be signed also, due to doubts over Branthwaite's fitness.

29 May 2026 14:22:02
Moyes often in the past quoted Whisky Nose as being a manager of whom he praised the most highly, but the 2 management styles couldn’t be quite different as if Moyes could learn a lot from his mentor if he homed in a little more as Fergie's title winning teams were also built on youngsters coming through from the academy set up and also played much more attractive football than the tosh we’ve all witnessed the last couple of months… Moyes never trusts youth, Fergie did and ended up with Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Butt to just name a few… My fear is that Moyes now being the age he is, is unable to change in his ways and has become truly Jurassic and a bit of a dinosaur type manager, I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am… For me we need a change of manager in time for pre-season to show ambition going forwards and a manager who trusts younger players and plays a more up to date attacking game whoever that might.

I expect what will happen is that the current owners will start with him as gaffer next season, but if things spiral fast then he will be replaced. One things for sure, what we have all witnessed on the pitch these past couple of months and also in Moyes' interviews afterward each match has been nothing less than unacceptable for this our beloved club.

29 May 2026 16:17:51
I think football has been overcomplicated with tipy tapy football and you need to play certain ways, yes, everything evolves, but set pieces and long throws have come back in the last couple of seasons. Can't wait for teams to play with 2 strikers again because it will come back. Centerbacks love it, just marking 1 guy between them, especially when it's us. Just stay organised and press together and defend together.

We have Beto closing down their keeper and we are all in our own half. They keep possession with ease and attack as they want. The opposition keep pressing us on the edge of their box and we end up back with Pickford, with them still pressing, and hoof we give it back to them. So either bad tactics by the manager or just bang average players we have.

29 May 2026 20:57:29
Even with world class players, hoofing the ball and gifting teams possession will never win you games. The occasional direct ball can create a chance, but only when unexpected. Teams know to double up in the forward and cut off the second-phase ball if it's your main line of attack.



As for Moyes and his tactics, he does himself no favours with terrible subs (or lack of) and flogging the dead horse of one lone striker with no support until the game is long gone and over.

30 May 2026 06:04:21
Spot on, RonMac.

29 May 2026 13:26:33
Right lads realistically which players do you think we could possibly sign? And I mean realistically. Senesi from Bournemouth would be my 1st pick but he is joining Spurs I believe because of the manager they have. Hayden Hackney would be a good edition but he will probably replace Anderson at Forest. BN I know you have good knowledge on the foreign league's something are scouts don't seem to have.

Who would you recommend that plays in this country. I like Muniz at Fulham but would be to small up front for us and has had a few injurys this season. I would offer Palace McNeil in a deal for there RB Munoz and realistically we couldn't get any of these so come on who will sign for us. Gonna be a long summer I think what with Moyes at the World Cup.

29 May 2026 15:13:28
Why would Palace sell their right back for a winger who doesn't fit their system?

I get Glasner is leaving, but they are still a good attacking team with pace. McNeil doesn't suit that. Also can't see Munoz leaving them for us.

As for Muniz, he's okay, not really an upgrade on what we have though imo.

Concerning that Fulham fans seem to prefer a 50 year old Jimenez over him.

If we are signing players from relegated teams or teams around our level, it has to be young, hungry, athletic players. No more cast offs desperate for a payday.

29 May 2026 15:36:06
Come on then Swan, not getting into an argument with you, but who do you want us to sign ????? Not saying Moyes will sign them, but who do you want that we could actually attract to our great club. And, can I just say, I agree with most of what you post as well.

29 May 2026 16:14:31
I already did a post about that

If we are signing anyone from West Ham, Bowen, Summerville, Fernandes or Diouf, in that order.

I'd love us to go for Acheampong at Chelsea, he's been frozen out, is very very talented, quick, strong, good on the ball and can play centre back, right back or in midfield (actually well) . I'd love Aiden Heaven on loan from United, but as someone said, very unlikely.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love Munoz, just don't see it happening. I'd love Mitchell from Palace too, but also not happening.

Reality is we need some young hungry cheap players from lower divisions and other countries, that our scouts need to find, but apparently they don't watch anything but the Premier League.

Wolves just went down, I'd love Mane from them, can play behind the striker or out wide, quick, strong and technically decent at 18, he'd be great.



Maatsen on loan from Villa if he's fully fit, because Digne is first choice.

Chelsea have a billion attackers, we should be signing George, but won't because Moyes is a crab. Quenda just signed from Lisbon, he'd be good on loan (only if Moyes plays him) and I wouldn't even be mad about Marc Guiu, I don't think he's great, but physically he's solid and can still improve. Wouldn't want him on loan, but a cheap permanent who we could at least make our money back on.

We were linked with Ben Doak in the summer, I'm a fan.

If the Reds are sick of Connor Bradley I'd love him too (I know he's injury prone) . Business between us is very rare but like with Ben Doak or even Harry Wilson (too old for my liking but free and good) I don't actually care that he used to play for them.

29 May 2026 21:10:48
Could see Diouf from West Ham, not the others. Can't see evil Saka signing either. Mane too young for Moyes, but is quality. Mattessen will most probably be Villa LB next season.

Bradley and Doak, not a sniff. Achemenpong, not a clue and have never heard of Guiu. What league does he play in? Wilson would be a great addition, but that's dibling not playing again, Swan.

29 May 2026 13:12:57
Thankfully Trippier has signed for Wolves so at least we can put that one to bed!

29 May 2026 14:05:36
We will sign him on loan in January probably lol.

29 May 2026 15:33:25
Wouldn't shock me if Moyes plays O'Brien there until January, then bids £12m for Trippier.

29 May 2026 21:24:41
Swan, I almost choked on my coffee reading that haha.

29 May 2026 11:13:27
Hi Ed, just wondering if you or anyone else knows just how much the Friedkins are aware of what is happening at our club and the amount of frustration and anger that most of our fans are experiencing. As they have never attended a game and rely on the current board to keep them up to date, are they getting accurate information. I ask this as surely with results since the Chelsea game and numerous forum debates, not only on here, I find it hard to believe they are not taking action now being as they were quick to react at Roma.

There are so many Good or better managers available now, it is the perfect time to change. Give the incoming manager pre season to rate the younger squad members and get rid of the Moyeswood (Deadwood) and give them the summer transfer money.

{Ed001's Note - they did not really react quickly at AS Roma, they appointed Zlatan, who caused a lot of the issues, which were clear all season. It was Zlatan who then reacted by cleaning house.

They are not really heavily involved at all, they appoint people to run things and then step away. They are not really football people, so they bring in football people to deal with it. I would expect Moyes to stay, sorry. He is very respected at Everton and has a lot of friends in the media, who keep pointing out what happened at West Ham, like that was down to him leaving and not the mismanagement of Sullivan.}

28 May 2026 23:11:59
Dibling, Aznou, George, Barry, Rohl, Alcaraz

All of these signings have either:
1. Not played much
2. Been crap

All signed by Moyes, can someone give me a good reason he should be given another summer? An actual good reason, by the way, not some nonsense about “he would’ve learned his lesson” or “we have money to spend”.


And no, he hasn’t “earned” another summer window by keeping us up again.

We are stuck in mud while everyone else races past us and rather than trying to grab a branch to pull ourselves up and chase everyone else, we are happy to sink deeper, just so long as we are not deep enough to drown.

Quite sad really, we are supposedly a big club, yet we act smaller than Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

29 May 2026 10:26:12
I think your mind is well and truly made up, Swan. Very much looks like he will get another summer though, can only hope that quality additions come in regardless of who the manager is.

29 May 2026 11:25:55
Explanation not reason, it matters zilch!!!!

29 May 2026 11:43:14
Exactly JB, DM will get this window and probably the next to get some decent players in, doubt anyone could do better with some of this lot.

29 May 2026 12:00:12
Problem with Moyes is he wants experienced players, won't gamble on youth. The last player he signed from the lower leagues was Timmy Cahill in 2004. I can't be arsed with Tripper, Stones, Souchek, Callum Wilson n the likes.

Our back four are too easy to score against, we need proper full backs, not makeshift ones. Whoever thought to sell Digne to Villa and replace with Mikolenko needs removed from football, that's not strengthening the team.

29 May 2026 12:05:35
He signed a lot of 'this lot' and not played them.

DM - do you want to come and play for Everton?
Player - yes - will I get a game?
DM - doubtful - we play unique brand of football here - I stick with same players all season - I bring Barry on at 70 mins and all other subs on in injury time.

We hoof the ball up all game to one of our 7ft strikers and hope. Aim for 0-0, but will play with more urgency if we concede.
Player - think I'll give it a miss. Good luck finishing 14th - 16th every year and playing worst brand of football in league.
DM - thanks - that's what I aim for.

29 May 2026 12:06:11
The size of our club is becoming more historic than current, sadly. Having Moyes in charge is just accelerating the process.

29 May 2026 12:55:19
Not only has he signed a lot of "this lot" but he's given the rest of them new contracts.

So why is he blameless?

28 May 2026 21:54:23
It doesn't matter how much money the manager is given to spend because if Moyes is still here we will not improve and I can't see many players wanting to play for him. Moyes has been at our club for years and years and years and has won nothing, I for one are not looking forward to the transfer market starting if he is still here and I am dreading next season's football already.

Please find our club the right man in the summer and please please do not even think of offering him a job upstairs.

28 May 2026 23:05:53
"We will have to wait and see, exiting times up ahead COYB" and all the other stuff from people seemingly hoping for another season of failure.

29 May 2026 12:13:47
I'm struggling to foresee any exciting times for us. We don't do cup runs anymore. We don't do atmosphere under the lights anymore. We certainly don't do passing football anymore. Overlapping the wings is a thing of the past. No one's allowed to tackle.

We were great at that a few years back. VAR doesn't apply to us for positive changes, and we've got a bottle job for a manager, thinks having a 6'5" centre back for a right winger is a good idea. So yeah, nothing to shout about at all really!

28 May 2026 21:12:38
Moyes has won 1 trophy in a 30 year management career. Yet some people seem to think it's going to change. It's highly unlikely. He comes from the era of Pullis Allerdyce and Redknapp who all won next to nothing as well.

28 May 2026 22:02:38
Seriously? How many managers outside of the rich European clubs have won anything in that period.

29 May 2026 01:07:16
Newcastle, Palace, Portsmouth, Wigan, Leicester (League and FA Cup) , Blackburn, Spurs (League Cup and Europa) , Boro, Birmingham, Swansea.

29 May 2026 08:10:53
So, in that 30 years, there were roughly 150 trophies to be won and 10 managers outside the big clubs won a trophy. That suggests it is pretty tough to do.

29 May 2026 12:03:16
It's tough, yes, but these clubs show it's possible. They'll also prove that success is not exclusive to the top tier you talk of. Now, why can't we do it? Because we think small. Moyes thinks small. So we won't win anything with this guy in charge.

Now, if that's ok with some supporters, that, of course, is your right, but I want success. I also want tactics that make sense. This guy fails on all that in a grand way.

28 May 2026 12:15:53
I see we will get between £3, 5 million to £4, 5 million from the Gordon transfer, nice little bit for the transfer kitty, well done Everton.

28 May 2026 14:34:12
Think Newcastle will be happier.

28 May 2026 18:28:50
I don't think they really want to sell him, do they? Balancing the books.

28 May 2026 19:25:30
Like we had to.

28 May 2026 10:37:39
This upcoming window will determine what these new Everton FC owners are about. I'm not getting sucked in by the links in the rags. We see time and time again how wide of the mark they are.

Barry was just a woeful signing and whoever was mainly responsible for that, should be sacked. Dibling, I refuse to judge but fear that he will never recover that natural attacking intent he showed 2 seasons ago after having his confidence shattered by Moyes. Forward players that put defenders to the sword live of rhythm, repetition and confidence and once you lose that, it is hard to find it again.

Rohl, underused. I was happy when I heard we had got him. It is still hilarious that the Everton fans were unable to realise that the lad had some pace about him until April, April! - thanks to the manager. KDH and Grealish proved valuable signings.

I gave them a pass in the summer because we were still feeling the pain of FFP and we didn't have the new "best in class" team in for long and some even until after the window.

What I can't overlook though is the utter negligence shown in the winter window. We were positioned very well in the league before KDH did his hammy, Ndiaye and Gana left for Africa and then Grealish broke his foot in Jan.

Had we brought in 2 or 3 signings, we can be all but certain that we would have secured European football this season and the financial outlay would have been recouped as a result.

We didn't have to go silly and risky by spunking a load of cash. We could have made a couple of smart signings to continue and replicate the work we had already done.

A fullback or two are the obvious ones and maybe a central midfielder or a winger to freshen things up and provide new blood and energy.

I can't remember the exact statistic but we made the least amount of subs this season out of any side and we had the most amount of players that played over x amount of minutes. The players were understandably spent in the last third of the season and it cost us dearly.

It doesn't take a business or footballing genius to have worked that out but the fact that we failed to predict the inevitability is surely quite worrying. After all, we supposedly have the "best in class". Let's see what is done in the summer but if it is more of the same, then we may as well just pack it in altogether.

28 May 2026 11:41:14
Top post BN, can't argue with any of that, good to read a measured reflection. I suppose FFP will still have played a part in January. Can only hope that we’re well positioned to go again and that TFG are set to demand an improvement.

28 May 2026 11:56:16
Excellent post BN, this window will show exactly what TFG intentions are, I believe DM will secure a significant amount, as you say, two or three short for Europe, I can see several ins and hopefully several outs, exciting times, looking forward to it, window 18 days away mate.

28 May 2026 14:43:17
Good post BN.

As I've said on here loads, you can get as many players in as you want, but if the rotation isn't there then that's where the issues come in. My big worry with DM is he will not rotate enough and that means we fall away at the end of the season.

28 May 2026 16:11:59
I think it would have definitely still been on the agenda, JB, but not to the point where it stopped us bringing some bodies in mate.

Juanlu Sanchez, for example, would have cost us 10m. If we spread the cost over the length of his contract, it would have been minimal.

It is, of course, difficult to say that he would have got us an extra 5 points on the board, but given how restricted having a 6ft 5 CB at RB makes us, I would be fairly confident to say that it would have.

I think we still had a loan spot to utilise as well, so why we didn't choose to use it is beyond me.

Agree, GB, I am happy to give them the summer window until I make a decision on them, but if they mess this one up, I think any confidence will quickly disappear for us all.



We definitely need a lot of outs, mate, some of these players don't deserve to be playing PL football/to be part of a PL football team.

Spot on, Benny. You only have to look at the top clubs who have a first 11 that is lightyears ahead of ours, they still rotate. This is exactly where the "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" comes in, mate.

Fingers crossed that they do a job this summer and we can have something to look forward to. Still to be convinced, though.

28 May 2026 16:38:50
Our present team are just not good enough. With TFG on board and no more constraints from FFP, we can finally do something about it. Big window for DM, make or break time.

28 May 2026 18:35:24
Does anyone know why Roma fans have been protesting about TFG wanting them out???

28 May 2026 19:16:43
Maybe a couple on here joined the Roma forum????

28 May 2026 20:50:27
That was in 2024 I think. Not happy about De Rossi being sacked. Sure they're quite happy now they've qualified for the Champions League.

29 May 2026 04:45:50
Cheers. ??? I didn't have my glasses on and thought it was recent. ??????

29 May 2026 06:50:51
Top post as per, bn. Refreshing to read something on these pages that explains a point of view without resorting to rage baiting! Big summer window coming up mate, let's hope TFG don't screw this up.