David Moyes believes Everton could be better positioned in the Premier League had the club not lost several players late in the summer transfer window, but insists there is plenty to be positive about with the team’s performances this season.
Everton saw Iliman Ndiaye, Beto, Tim Iroegbunam, Nathan Patterson and Adam Aznou all depart in the final two days of the transfer window, with only Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles arriving as replacements. A failure to add further signings has left the Blues short of depth, frustrating Moyes.
Speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Coventry, Moyes feels his side have generally performed well, even in games where they have come away without a result.
However, he acknowledged the limitations of his current squad, suggesting Everton may not yet have the quality to match some of the Premier League’s stronger sides.
“I think there is a lot to be positive about because of how they have been doing generally. I feel as though we could have been doing better had we not lost some players in the summer. I think it would have kept us right amongst it.
“It is very hard to judge the league standings at the moment so I think all you can try and do is get as many wins as you possibly can and perform as well as we’ve done. I think in the main, the players even in the games we’ve lost have had good moments and we’ve been a bit unlucky. Maybe we just don’t have the quality to be at the level of some teams but hopefully we will give them all a good game.”
Moyes says in-form Dewsbury-Hall ‘knocking on the door’ for England
One player who has been important to Everton sitting seventh is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The midfielder has found form in recent fixtures, and is hoping for a maiden England call-up when Thomas Tuchel names his latest squad tomorrow. Moyes conceded that Tuchel has a wealth of options to choose from, but said the 28-year-old is ‘certainly knocking on the door’.
“As I have said many times, thank goodness I don’t have to pick the England team because England have so many good players to choose from. Kiernan is getting back to the levels of last year. In the last couple of games he has been very good.
“I hope he does [get called up]. He must certainly be knocking on the door. The position he plays in, there are so many good players. As long as he keeps doing well for Everton, we will be pleased, but if he gets recognised for England then that will be great.”
Read more – No Grealish, no problem: Dewsbury-Hall delivers as Everton’s main man