Season › 2024-25 › Opinion › Talking Points Talking points ahead of Wolves vs Everton by Anjishnu Roy | 29/08/2025 65 Comments [Jump to last] Everton will look to build momentum in the league with a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on Saturday. The Toffees won their last two home matches with a 2-0 scoreline, beating Brighton in the Premier League and Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup, respectively. Performance in both matches, historic firsts at Hill Dickinson Stadium, is bound to restore confidence after the Blues began the league season with a 1-0 loss to Leeds United at Elland Road. Iliman Ndiaye continued his tryst with Everton folklore by becoming the first to score an official goal at their new waterfront stadium. James Garner, filling in at left-back, secured the three points with a spectacular strike against the Seagulls. David Moyes will be looking to capitalise on the positive feeling and give his side the best possible platform as the club braces for a busy end to the transfer window. Here are the major talking points before Everton face Wolves away from home: All eyes on Tyler Dibling Tyler Dibling is the name on the lips of most Evertonians since the highly-rated teenager completed his move before making his first appearance in Blue off the bench against Mansfield Town. With the acquisition of Dibling, the Everton squad has a natural right winger for the first time since the departures of Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom. The 19-year-old Dibling was unfazed by the occasion of his debut, and all eyes will be on Moyes’s team sheet to ascertain whether he will start at Molineux. Dibling brings a lot more balance to the starting XI, which had been lopsided until now. It will also be interesting to see how Moyes manages Jack Grealish and Ndiaye now with Dibling in the XI. Against Brighton, Grealish started on the left while Ndiaye was forced to the right flank, away from his natural position on the left of the attack. Grealish, off the back of two great performances, could be deployed as a Number 10, with Ndiaye and Dibling to his left and right, respectively. Seamus Coleman to start his first league game since May? Seamus Coleman famously led the Toffees out onto the pitch for one final time at Goodison Park’s farewell in May before sustaining an injury a few minutes into the game. The Everton captain returned to the starting lineup for the cup game against Mansfield Town and lasted the full 90 minutes for the first time since last August. Coleman’s display at right-back was marked by intelligence and grit as he snuffed out chances and found solutions to problems. He also looked at ease going forward, contributing to the buildup and making passes into the final third. The 36-year-old also had a 100% tackle success rate against Mansfield Town, won all his aerial duels, and won six of his eight ground duels. It won’t be surprising to see the Everton skipper make his first league start this season against Wolves on the back of a commanding performance in the last game. More vital minutes for Harrison Armstrong There has been much speculation about Harrison Armstrong’s future after the 18-year-old returned from his loan spell at Derby County last season. He had a successful pre-season and, after getting a few minutes in the dying embers of the league game against Brighton, Armstrong started against Mansfield Town. He was probably the best player on the pitch that night and assisted both of Everton’s goals. The teenager had a passing accuracy of over 90%, created two big chances and also tested the opposition keeper with a shot from a tight angle. Armstrong also played a lovely through ball to Ndiaye late in the game and was unselfish in setting up Beto for the second goal. The performance is bound to have left a strong impression on the manager and the midfielder deserves more than a handful of minutes against Wolves to prove that he can be a reliable option off the bench for Everton this season. Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments » Reader Comments (65) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Olalekan Taofik 1 Posted 29/08/2025 at 08:17:44 Good day fellow evertonians,.I believe #Tyler and #harrison,are still youngsters still learning the rope. Playing as Subs will be okay for them at least for the new few games.I have the faith the games will be in our favour satris paribus.COYB. Alan J Thompson 2 Posted 29/08/2025 at 08:20:05 Probably just splitting hairs but isn't Dibling a natural left footed right winger? Anjishnu Roy 3 Posted 29/08/2025 at 08:46:28 Yes Alan, he is Iain Love 4 Posted 29/08/2025 at 08:52:54 Dibling has potential as a 10, the same as Jack & Ndiaye, this gives us more fluidity in formation. I do expect him to be on the bench and used when needed. Mark Murphy 5 Posted 29/08/2025 at 08:55:32 I’m delighted we signed Dibling but Ndiaye, for me, is the 2nd name on the team sheet after Pickford and must be kept happy.Then Grealish next - those two are so creative we’ve got to include them as much as possible.I was very very impressed with Charly Alcaraz the other night as well, so I’d be happy to bring in Dibling slowly rather than demotivate any of those three.Great to have options but we must cosset Ilyman Ndiaye - he’s fcuking magic he’s the one that we adore! Colin Glassar 6 Posted 29/08/2025 at 09:03:39 Once Branthwaite is back and we have a proper RB (no disrespect to O’Brien who’s been ace) we’ll be shooting up the league as our squad now has improved our Xg exponentially.I hate that term (Xg) but it’s true. Happy days are here again. Duncan McDine 7 Posted 29/08/2025 at 09:29:23 Mark (5) I completely agree about Ndiaye. What an odd feeling to have options in the creative positions. As Colin said, once we get a balanced and settled back 4, we could look like a decent team. Laurie Hartley 8 Posted 29/08/2025 at 09:38:16 Mark # 5 Ndiaye “must be kept happy” - yes indeed. He has done some hard yards with us and deserves his place either on the left or #10 full stop.I was disappointed with Alcaraz against Leeds and then he goes and scores a goal like that. I am struggling to remember the last Everton player to bend a ball like that.Things are looking up. Mike Allison 9 Posted 29/08/2025 at 09:45:19 I can’t understand why Moyes has played Alcaraz on the right so much, he simply can’t do it. In the centre, he’s a very, very good player and will always affect games. In the wider position, he becomes a nothing player.Dibling, McNeil and N’Diaye should be the options on the right (I think we actually need to bring another one in), but never Alcaraz. Rob Dolby 10 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:00:11 PickfordO'Brien tarks Keane mykoNdiaye Garner Gana GrealishKdhBetoI agree with the above about Alcaraz. He looks a totally different player down the middle but Moyes just spent £30m on kdh so he will play in that spot. Christine Foster 11 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:08:21 I mean, we wouldn't would we? The chosen one leaves Fenerbahce, I wonder where he will go... would we have him? Would we want him? it would be a hell of a ride though.. the odd trophy along the way.. Ajay Gopal 12 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:09:14 Rob, if players were to be selected based on how much they have cost the club, then Coleman would never have played a PL game!But, I more or less agree with your team selection, but with these players, the formation will most likely be a 4-3-3:PickfordO'Brien Tarkowski Keane MykolenkoGarner KDH GueyeNdiaye Barry GrealishSubs: Travers, Aznou, Coleman, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, Alcaraz, Dibling, BetoLooks like a squad is slowly emerging! Jeff Armstrong 13 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:11:49 Christine#11, The Freidkins have already sacked Mourinho once.He ain’t coming here, and the owners will feel Moyes is doing a good job anyway. Christine Foster 14 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:13:42 Very much tongue in cheek Jeff, we might get to be first on MOTD though.. Colin Glassar 15 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:16:23 Christine, Jose, like Pep, is coming to the end of a brilliant career. They’ve both contributed so much to football but they are now yesterdays men.Thomas Frank is the one I wanted. Tony Abrahams 16 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:16:32 I’d just like to say I’d prefer to keep Moyes, rather than bring in Jose Mouriniho, Christine, to all those people who don’t digest what I write properly and think I have it in for our manager!Football is now a squad game for the most successful teams, so when I look at the teams that people pick, I can’t wait for the days when I’m thinking that, we have also got game changers and match winners on the bench🍀 Jeff Armstrong 17 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:17:06 Only for the first week Chritine, after that the 1-0 wins would definitely push us back down the pecking order🥴 Jake FitzGerald 18 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:18:59 The Friedkins have already sacked him once Christine. I’d love to see Seamus start, he still offers much more than O’Brien, his scittery overlaps are a joy to watch. Of course he’ll only play irregularly, but reassuring to know he’s still got it if and when he’s needed. Rob Dolby 19 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:23:28 Saudi becons for the special one.As much as I didn't think I would ever say this, I think we need to give Moyes some time to build a mid table prem team before looking to take the next step. James Marshall 20 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:24:14 Can we talk about Tyler Dibling's tiny little shinpads?And how his boots looked red from a distance against Mansfield?Detail is important. Raymond Fox 21 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:34:20 We are away from home and they are tough games whoever you play.I would start with Coleman, you cant beat experience and he's a proper full back,We have plenty elusive players now which is great but we still have to defend and put in the hard work especially away.Beto up front, Dewsbury-Hall midfield and perm any 4 from 6 or 7 other players for midfield and attack.I don't think Moyes will start Dibbling or Armstrong they will be on the bench. Tony Abrahams 22 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:37:10 I’d sooner be talking about his drag-backs, his cruyff-turns and his step-overs, James. He wants it to feet, but you could see Seamus Coleman, beckoning him to run, so yes those details are very important! Martin Berry 23 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:42:37 Cant believe that people even whisper Mourinho as a potential future manager.Moyes gets Everton, Mourinho gets into trouble, spends and need clubs with loads of money, if not theres nothing special about his record, other than to cause trouble and division everywhere he has been.Can we not give David Moyes the respect he deserves, he has brought in some excellent signings now that he doesnt have to root behind the sofa for spare cash, he also is sensible and pragmatic at a time when we need it the most.Personally when I look around at the Prem, I would not swap him for any other Manager, for us, he is the ideal fit.There is an excitement coming to Evertons play that we have not seen since 1985. Were going to have a great season. John Williams 24 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:42:50 Regarding Pep and Jose, yes they have been brilliant coaches, but really only when they have spent zillions on top quality players.Would they have been able to turn Brentford or Bournemouth into a global winning side with limited money ??Perhaps a bit harsh on Jose, as he did very well in Portugal, which put him on the world stage. Clive Rogers 25 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:48:05 Raymond, 21, I don’t think we should perm 6 or 7 of our players. We’d look like a team of Kevin Keegans. Clive Rogers 26 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:53:45 Now that we’ve got a squad with good young players on the bench, I’d like to see Moyes introducing them earlier than his usual 70th and 80th minute. The last ten minutes won’t give youngsters PL experience. James Marshall 27 Posted 29/08/2025 at 10:56:14 Tony@22Seamus loves nothing more than waving his arms about telling the winger in front of him to make a run. He's made a career out of it! James Fletcher 28 Posted 29/08/2025 at 11:03:27 Absolutely spot on Martin @23 Terry Murray 29 Posted 29/08/2025 at 11:10:31 Olalekan (no 1) satris paribus.? Ceteris paribus? James Marshall 30 Posted 29/08/2025 at 11:13:02 Tomorrow David Moyes will equal Howard Kendall's record as Everton manager - 542 games.He's also just confirmed that Chermiti is highly likely to go out on loan and that Armstrong might as well, but could also stay at Everton - he mentioned AfCon issues with players leaving when talking about Armstrong, intimating he might keep him to keep numbers up 'if' we don't make more midfield signings. Raymond Fox 31 Posted 29/08/2025 at 11:19:23 Clive @ 21, we could do worse.What I was trying to say was we now have several players that could cover for several positions. Class players should be able to do that ok, putting them into boxes is too restrictive.Obviously i'm not talking 5'6 forwards as centre halves, but some forwards and midfielders could and do play in both roles. Raymond Fox 32 Posted 29/08/2025 at 11:32:36 I'm dead against loaning Armstrong out, I suppose Moyes knows better than me how much first team play he might get.The lad has class and should get enough game time shouldn't he?Chermiti I also like what little we have seen, Moyes doesn't seem to be wild about him but he has not talked about selling him, so he must think he's ok. James Marshall 33 Posted 29/08/2025 at 11:36:44 My guess is Moyes will definitely keep Armstrong if we don't get another loan in. Colin Glassar 34 Posted 29/08/2025 at 12:17:44 Grealish not included in England squad (that’s ok with me) but Jordan Henderson is? Tuchel is another joke of a manager. Ray Said 35 Posted 29/08/2025 at 12:41:36 Raymond (31) you make a good point that I have always agreed with. Didnt Ajax used to make youth players rotate position-even GK--so, for example, a winger would rotate to FB and get experience of what the FB was coached in to defend against the winger? Steve Brown 36 Posted 29/08/2025 at 12:56:27 Colin, he picked Djed Spence.Comical. Joe John 37 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:32:45 If Moyes had signed Messi for us in his prime, he'd still have started him on the bench for the first few games until he'd bedded in. I can't wait to see Dibling, Ndiaye and Grealish start but it won't be this weekend. Ian Wilkins 38 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:36:25 Thomas Soucek incoming by sounds of it, Armstrong out on loan (personally I'd have kept him and given him more game time, MotM for me against Mansfield). Surely we a have plans to use up our loan options, 3 more available if I'm not mistaken. Squad depth still important, right-back, holding midfield, another forward… Colin Malone 39 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:40:45 A blind man can see, Gordon is light years behind Jack Grealish. Colin Glassar 40 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:43:31 Where’d you see that, Ian? Rob Halligan 41 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:43:38 Quite possibly the worst England squad ever picked. Tuchel is a fucking 🔔end! James Marshall 42 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:47:29 Grealish hasn't played enough to warrant an England place yet - Anthony Barry was at the game the other day to watch Grealish so give it time.Tuchel is trying players out, that's all. I don't understand why people freak out so easily.Managers don't just drop players and pick players off the back of one game. It's not a computer game.Oh and the Soucek rumours are on the 'I run this site from my bedroom and I'm 14' websites. I wouldn't go getting too excited just yet. Andrew Clare 43 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:49:37 Soucek for £19 million on Newsnow. Hopefully it’s just another rumour.Keep Harrison Armstrong and give him game time he will not let us down. James Marshall 44 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:56:24 All those sites on NewsNow are bullshit. Honestly, you're tormenting yourself by ever bothering to look at NewsNow.Legit transfers get announced as & when they're legit. Anything else is 9 times out of 10 just clickbait.NewsNow is quite literally a Clickbait website. Colin Glassar 45 Posted 29/08/2025 at 13:59:24 £19m for Soucek but still no RB? Mental if true Phil Sammon 46 Posted 29/08/2025 at 14:29:55 I really hate the thought of Armstrong on loan. He will fizzle out like Lundstram, Garbutt and a hundred others. For once, I would love us to put some faith in a homegrown player who is not the finished article. Don't mind Garner but I would happily shift him down the pecking order to give Armstrong minutes. Andrew Clare 47 Posted 29/08/2025 at 14:32:05 Thank you for the reassurance James. Rob Hooton 48 Posted 29/08/2025 at 14:53:29 I too would prefer to keep Harrison in the squad and I’m not excited about someone like Soucek coming in, though he would add experience to the midfield and he scores and assists at a reasonable rate. He’s 30 and we wouldn’t recoup any transfer fee laid out on him.Depends on where Harrison goes on loan too and how it might help him develop, he does need plenty of game time.Would be nice to see our tricky trio start, expect Dibling to be on the bench though. I’d start with Jake at RB, Coleman had a decent game but the opposition were vastly inferior and Jake has acquitted himself well (and been part of one of the best defences in the league last season). Seamus might need to be nursed back to match fitness for PL games.As for Henderson in the England squad, I doubt I’ll be wanting to tune in and watch whatever turgid shite Tuchel might put out if that’s his way of thinking! Tony McNulty 49 Posted 29/08/2025 at 15:12:12 Phil (46). The trouble is he won’t get game time. You probably remember how Moyes was keen on keeping Rooney wrapped in cotton wool, to the point I recall that Wayne was getting pissed off. Our manager likes to introduce younger players gradually Derek Taylor 50 Posted 29/08/2025 at 15:29:09 It staggers me that amongst all this talk of still needing to sign defenders and midfielders there is no mention of securing a regular goalscorer. Beto, Barry and Chermiti will struggle to net 20 between them ! Colin Glassar 51 Posted 29/08/2025 at 15:48:10 I think everyone wants a goalscorer, Derek. I just think our budget on that front is rather limited now. That’s why I thought Vardy could be a viable option. Jake FitzGerald 52 Posted 29/08/2025 at 15:55:05 We have a proven goal scorer aside from Beto and Barry. Iliman Ndiaye. He’ll probably be our top scorer again this season. Best to wait til January or next summer to think of another front man. Derek Taylor 53 Posted 29/08/2025 at 16:02:10 Colin and Jake; Then be it on your own heads. It certainly won't be on those three no-marks ! Jake FitzGerald 54 Posted 29/08/2025 at 16:10:01 Got a few suggestions for a regular goal scorer we should have gone for, Derek? Lee Courtliff 55 Posted 29/08/2025 at 16:39:23 Tony #49, its the biggest myth on ToffeeWeb that Moyes didn't play Rooney often enough. Wayne made 33 League appearances in his first season when he was only 16/17 years old. 34 in his second season, almost all were starting appearances, too.Anyway, I'm not too fussed over who plays tomorrow as out squad has improved exponentially since last season. A few weeks ago, Alcaraz and McNeil were nailed on starters and I would have been quite happy with that. I rate them both. Tomorrow, they'll both almost certainly be on the bench!! Crazy how quickly the mood can change, I'm very confident this season will be our best for many a year. And if it isn't, it'll still be a lot better than the garbage we've all had to sit through for the last 4 seasons. Colin Glassar 56 Posted 29/08/2025 at 17:00:28 Derek, you can always send your transfer targets to the club on the back of a stamp. Derek Taylor 57 Posted 29/08/2025 at 17:15:26 Colin, not my job to identify available strikers - that's what we have a five/six person panel for ! I'm just amazed that they apparently feel Beto and Barry will fit the bill when it's already obvious both are inferior in finishing skill and energy to even CDL. Tony McNulty 58 Posted 29/08/2025 at 17:56:01 Lee (55)"Wayne made 33 League appearances in his first season when he was only 16/17 years old."He only started 13 of those games and came on as substitute 20 times. Sounds a little bit like protecting him to me. And Rooney was on record as being pissed off. Lee Courtliff 59 Posted 29/08/2025 at 18:03:28 He was 16, Tony, you couldn't possibly expect him to play 90 minutes every week and Campbell/Radzinski were playing very well. And his second season was when he started almost every game. I think Moyes handled him well, and if he'd come through just a few years later we probably would have been able to hold on to him for a while longer than 2 seasons. Gavin Johnson 60 Posted 29/08/2025 at 18:26:44 I see Tom Fellows has gone to be Tyler Dibling's replacement at Saints. The fee is £10m...Absolute peanuts. Derek Taylor 61 Posted 29/08/2025 at 18:41:23 Gavin@60; are you suggesting we should have gone for Follows rather than Dibling ? Had we done so, we could have afforded to keep Armstrong at Hilly Dicko's rather than bin him off to Derby to never be heard of again ! Mike Gaynes 62 Posted 29/08/2025 at 18:49:45 Derek #57, I'm just "amazed" that it's "obvious" to you... Gavin Johnson 63 Posted 29/08/2025 at 18:59:49 Derek, I think the perfect scenario would have been to buy Dibling and Fellows. But I'll keep my fingers crossed we still bring in Juanlu Sanchez as our next RB, 2nd right wing option on Monday. Michael Bennet 64 Posted 30/08/2025 at 11:06:34 I've been very happy with the signings but teams with crap strikers ony go so far and I hope our play maker's don't get frustrated and want an exit from the club, it must be so heart breaking for grealish etc to put balls through to them two. Robert Tressell 65 Posted 30/08/2025 at 11:19:58 Lee # 55, and Moyes may well have been right to protect a teenager - given how many similar players then go on to have careers blighted by injury from being overplayed at a very young age.Rooney may be on record as complaining but it doesn’t mean he was right.As for our strikers hindering our progress - I think it’s more that too many mediocre players hinder our progress. Pickford, Branthwaite, Grealish and probably Ndiaye are Champions League quality. Dibling has the ability. Some of the others may get there but still have much to prove. Too many are nothing special at all in Premier League terms. Our strikers are good enough to get us into Europe if supported by a good team. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb