Everton against West Ham Utd on Monday night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as the focus returns to the Premier League campaign.

This was expected to be a celebration for David Moyes of the great start he has given Everton in this season's Premier League after masterfully steering them away from the relegation zone since he replaced Sean Deyche in Janaury. 

But things have turned a little sour after it fell apart in what some thought should be a straight-forward game against Wolves in the Carabao Cup. The consensus view seems to be that he got it seriously wrong in making so many changes, that he should have played his strong side from the start, and then rotated in his fringe players after securing a victory — or at least making a decent fist of it.

But it's gone now. A long, long wait for success in the League Cup in all its weird guises continues for at least another season, leaving the FA Cup in the New Year the only possibility for winning a trophy this season. 

And so the focus returns to the Premier League, where a couple of good results on the back of inspiring performances from Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were thought to have set the tone for dramatic improvement in Everton's prospects this season as they finally had players who could be seen to bring both skill and attacking flair to Moyes's workmanlike crew.

But the range of tricks and taunts that comprise the playbook Jack Grealish has at his disposal seems both limited and vulnerable to him being crowded out. Combine this with his reluctance to go for goal himself instead of trying to set up the perfect feed for someone else to score, and you have the root of Everton's problem as those strikers are sadly nowhere to be seen.

Neither Beto nor Barry have produced anything like what is required up front so far this season, but it would be too radical surely to anticipate that David Moyes would adopt a different approach and possibly pair Iliman Ndaye with Grealish playing further forward so that he might feed the critical final ball to the Senegalese striker  in advanced positions that should increase his chances of scoring, 

Perhaps the test will come against his former charges at West Ham, who have won 1 and lost 4 of their 5 Premier League games so far his season and they now languish in the relegation zone, one place above Wolves. 

Reader Comments (20)

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Billy Shears
1 Posted 25/09/2025 at 21:34:27
Team for Monday night... 4-3-2-1:

Pickford

Patterson
O'Brien
Keane (Capt)
Aznou

Garner
Gana
Dewsbury-Hall

Dibling
Grealish

Beto

Fast start from the fucking off and attack the Hammers and we win comfortably... simples!

Jim Bennings
2 Posted 26/09/2025 at 13:47:17
Röhl and Branthwaite already ruled out by the look of it.

Didn't take Röhl long to catch on with the Everton injury curse and as for Branthwaite, no doubt be going into early November before he's even near full speed, something needs sorting out with him, for these kinds of injuries to be dragging on as much as they are.

In other news, the Scottish media have labelled Youseff Chermiti as "anonymous" last night playing for Rangers.

Another gem from the amazing world of Everton scouting.

Michael Bennet
3 Posted 26/09/2025 at 14:00:46
Just seen West Ham presser. Moyes starting with the defensive stance saying players he chose are all first-team players that he is happy with...

He was asked some awkward questions and he was getting prickly. We'd better fucking bounce back Monday or we will unravel, I think. What do you guys & girls think?

John Williams
4 Posted 26/09/2025 at 14:12:34
I think you are singing from the RS hymn book, ie, football is more than life and death.

I have news for you: it is not. Far more to worry about than winning or losing a football match.

Tom Bowers
5 Posted 26/09/2025 at 14:15:01
We all feel the same way after that Wolves game and only a decent winning performance against the Hammers will help erase the bad taste Moyes created.

We really have an inconsistent offense, if any offense at all, and that won't go away soon until January maybe.

With no goals in the last three games, one wonders if anything we have will end that.

Barry and Beto struggle and these guys were kept because Calvert-Lewin was no longer deemed good enough.

Moyes takes some blame because of his team selections and the man is so stubborn that it's unlikely to change.

The big bosses have a big problem if the results don't change.

Jake FitzGerald
6 Posted 26/09/2025 at 14:34:51
Pretty sure we scored in the derby, Tom.
I reckon Moyes took off the gloves in training this week, so we’ll see the effect of rockets in arses to start the game, but we need an early-ish goal to settle us. I’m going for a win a clean sheet and a solid performance. Would like to see Grealish and Ndiaye swapping wings throughout like they did against Wolves in the league game.
Tony Heron
7 Posted 26/09/2025 at 14:42:42
Much has been written about Moyes' selection for Monday. I found his defence lamentable and it illustrated his muddled logic. Yes they may all be regarded (by him) as first team players but they haven't featured much because of the way the team has been playing. But instead of building on the confidence within the team and the momentum it was generating he throws that away. Now we're back to square one, confidence dented and questions being asked. The team now goes into the next game under pressure and desperate to win, and win well. Well done the master tactician!
Paul Hewitt
8 Posted 26/09/2025 at 14:47:07
The thing I like about Moyes since his return is he's been very positive in his pre match interviews. Today he was very stand offish. I hope he doesn't return back to his negative self
Kevin Molloy
9 Posted 26/09/2025 at 15:11:05
the Female reporters aren't being intimidated or picking up on his prickliness, and so are asking. him some quite awkward questions. the blokes are all giving him underarm balls.
Michael Bennet
10 Posted 26/09/2025 at 15:14:58
That's defo what I got from him paul, and tony is spot on about the momentum its been flushed down the drain, I don't care what he said, sometimes I think these managers want the fucking sack, stubborn fucker
Jim Bennings
11 Posted 26/09/2025 at 15:46:29
Moyes will know deep down he fucked up on Tuesday night, he won't come out and admit as much but he'll know, trust me.

Even in his first spell here it was always a love hate relationship but we had that understanding and he understood when the fans were mightily pissed off with something he'd done.

I recall, I think it was a home game on a Wednesday night in February 2007 against Spurs we lost 2-1 in injury time, he brought a striker sub on in the second half then subbed the same player for Tony Hibbert, to a chorus of boos, Moyesie ended up going back to the dugout and throwing his coat on the ground.

I think deep down he should be pissed off at Tuesday, I'd certainly hope so because we may not have won that Cup but think of the revenue now we are losing out on, a home tie in the next round 52,000 against Chelsea for a place in the quarter finals.

Donal Armani
12 Posted 26/09/2025 at 15:54:09
Fully agree with the comments regarding Moyes’s presser….body language was off from the get-go, very prickly responses to routine questions…one wonders if the Wolves mishandling elicited some heat from upstairs.
Andrew Ellams
13 Posted 26/09/2025 at 16:05:49
Moyes did mess up on Tuesday but when a professional footballer like McNeill or Barry is given the chance to go out and impress and he puts in a performance like they did, no manager can legislate for that.
Liam Mogan
14 Posted 26/09/2025 at 16:11:32
Moyes has always hated being questioned on his decisions. He is very thin skinned.
Steve Brown
15 Posted 26/09/2025 at 16:29:27
He looks tense, defensive and nervous.

Deservedly so given his decision-making over the last week.

I read posters claim that TFG are only interested in avoiding relegation and don’t care about a Cup run. I doubt that very much after a multi-million takeover.

His coat will be on a shaky peg if he loses against West Ham Utd.

Jon Atkinson
16 Posted 26/09/2025 at 16:31:44
nothing like making memories in your new home, full house, night game, cup game, big time Charlie’s in town. here we go !
Yeah nothing like that happening this year.
Christy Ring
17 Posted 26/09/2025 at 16:44:21
I completely agree with Paul, Moyes was back to his former self at his press conference today, total arrogance when he didn't like being questioned. I can understand being careful with Branthwaite, but he was supposedly back on grass before the last International break, but he's still not with the group which is disappointing, as for Rohl supposedly a minor injury last week and he's still out. Why do we buy injury prone players, should definitely have kept Armstrong.
Jay Harris
18 Posted 26/09/2025 at 16:49:16
His presser was the first time since his comeback that he was very defensive and smartassed in his comments.

And when he was asked about a possible 6 points from the next two home games, he dampened expectations again by saying when we were in the relegation positions, we wouldn't have expected 6 points.

Not good enough Davie. We need a confident positive attitude for Monday and some real inspiration. Although west Ham beat us in the American preseason farce that was a totally second-rate Everton 11. We have now made a number of quality additions and although we are still short both on goal scorers and full backs we should be expected to beat a poor West Ham side.

One other point I picked up he suggested he could have used Jarrad at left back. I hope to god he isn't planning on keeping Keane in the side once Jarrad is fit.

Jim Bennings
19 Posted 26/09/2025 at 17:33:27
I thought Moyes was the first one who said when he returned that he doesn't want to manage a team that's talking about relegation.

I'm tired of our club dumbing down expectations year in year out and sick of the jam tomorrow mentality.

West Ham and Palace at home, new stadium, 52,000, pair of them need sending home with nowt.

Then we can go into the international break with a genuine positive outlook and can say it's been a more than decent start.

As I say, you pick a team and a lineup on Tuesday night at Wolves that frankly I wouldn't have put free in the Cornflakes box, then you expect stick.

Two left backs sitting on the bench at Molineux and you play a 36 year old right back that can't run anymore, and leave out England's number one from the squad although baffled me not to mention the inclusion of a player Moyes clearly doesn't want in Dwight McNeil.

Chance to fix that on Monday.

Jack Convery
20 Posted 26/09/2025 at 17:40:05
Try something different for once. Play N'diaye as a CF and play Grealish left and Dibbling right. The definition of madness is yes you've all heard it.

Arrange 2, so called friendlies during the next international break. Play Travers / Tyrer, Patterson, Branthwaite, ( Tuchel won't pick him ), U21 CB, Aznou, Dibbling, Alcaraz, Tim, Rohl ( if fit ), McNeill, U21 CF / Barry / Beto. All other 1st team players who stay at Finch Farm on the bench. Play it at BMD and charge fans a tenner, kids £5. Give all gate receipts to EITC and keep the takings from the catering. It's the least those players, who played that 1st half at Wolves, can do. No time off, keep the players ticking over.

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