Still no word on the condition of Branthwaite or Tarkowski

If it was simply because both players are out injured, then I don't understand why Moyes hasn't just said so; he normally does.

He was very defensive on Saturday after the match when asked about both players.

I think he was annoyed over the Grealish injury being leaked. I also thought it was rather strange that there were no pictures of the warm weather training in Portugal. Every week there are pictures of Everton on the training ground... maybe Moyes has put a stop to it?

I don't think Tarkowski has missed many games since he signed for us, and it's unusual to go so long without an injury.

Branthwaite is a different kettle of fish altogether. I had hoped the operation he had would have sorted his hamstring problem out, but I am surmising it's a hamstring injury and it might not be.

But he missed a lot of last season and this season and it becomes very hard to build a team round a key player who spends so much time on the treatment table. Hope whatever is wrong with Branthwaite gets resolved quickly because he is a special player.

I don't think either will be in the starting 11 for a while...

Mrs Moyes that exhausting?

Maybe he's targeted that game as the easier of the two (Arsenal or Chelsea), to secure 3 points. Whatever the reason, it's out of character for the Moyesiah.

According to Rosenior, his players are knackered.

And that Tarkowski, who wasn't even on the bench... or as far as I could see, in the stands (seen his arse?) may have been plain old dropped and the 'injury' is a face- saver for the manager if it back fired – which it didn't.

Nobody ever accused EFC of 'over transparency' or giving TMI… but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

I'm guessing something was said or done when they were away which annoyed him and Moyes has dropped 'em.

Something or someone has really pissed on Moyes's strawberries and I suspect it's Tarkowski.

Is Alcaraz still injured? Yes.

What was his injury? The exact nature of Alcaraz's injury hasn't been disclosed yet.

How long has he been out injured? Since we posted this story on 24 February

Has he been on the subs bench since his injury? Nope.

I also think Alcaraz has had enough of Moyes and will be on his way in the summer.

I hope the owners have a had enough of Moyes and send him on his way.

Do you?

Sorry to butt in

On the condition his mate doesn't batter the scouse sunbeds.

I am more interested in Harrison Armstrong who is homegrown, younger, and better than Alcaraz, and somebody who will play a central role in our club for years to come.

Look, we know there are many who don't like Moyes and want him gone, but I would love them to say who would have done a better job since he has come back. The nucleus of this side have had us in relegation trouble, so he hardly took over a very good squad.

I don't think he has been helped by our poor recruitment team, saddling him with players who aren't good enough at present.

But we now need to kick on -- and without Moyes -- but we need to be careful what we wish for and get the correct manager for next season.

And that's including the points deductions that threw us right back to where we had been the season before.

It is a matter of who could take us to a next level for me. I don't know football like the other names on this thread, and I'm not blessed with the ability to attend matches,

I think Moyes suits the more risk averse followers, Friedkin included, in that Moyes was a logical choice to build on the defensive fortress left by Dyche. Moyes made good on that early, and the new signings offered the risk-seeking followers a view to proper ambition. We just have different time frames for the development.

You will hear us whine about Alcaraz, George and Aznou because they represent the type of players that unsettle defences. Armstrong, as talented as he is, does not have that in his tool kit.

How many of our players would walk into a Top 4 team right now? We have some very good players but none of them would be a cert to be a first choice, one or two maybes, but that's it.

If you think just changing the manager will make us into a top team, you're kidding yourself.

Results were generally poor in 2024-25. Wins against Palace and Ipswich, and a gift from Wolves. Over a season, that is relegation form, and why the change was made.

Moyes turned that around in quick fashion. He will get another season. They won't be sacking him until he has used up that goodwill with the owners.

He's been around for 25 years and never come close/