David Moyes didn’t mince his words when asked about the impact of Tyrique George’s signing on the club’s most expensive summer addition, Tyler Dibling. The Everton boss has urged the youngster "to pull his finger out" after a difficult start to life on Merseyside.
Despite carrying a lot of hype after his breakthrough with Southampton, Dibling has spent most of the season on the bench. The 19-year-old has been behind the likes of Jack Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil and has recorded only four starts so far, with his performances being lukewarm at best.
Everton signed youngster Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea with an option to buy on Deadline Day of the winter transfer window. George, capable of playing on either flank, is expected to shore up the frontline.
Asked how Dibling would react to this added competition in the pre-match press conference before facing Fulham, Moyes said, “I’d be thinking I better get my finger out and show the manager what I was really all about.
“The one thing is Tyler has got on his side is that he is young and he is a quite a quiet boy who might take more time to settle in. Might. But he needs to show when he gets the opportunities.
“I think there are just little glimpses of him just beginning to get angry, which I am enjoying, just beginning to be someone who might have to get angry in order to show what he wants to do.”
The Everton boss also added that Dibling needs to add more confidence to his game and have a greater impact in the final third of the pitch.
“What we want from him is being direct, taking people on, committing people, Jack Grealish does it in a way where he drags the ball and brings people to him and finds a way of not releasing.
“It doesn’t need to be all one way, but he needs to get a way of becoming that player who we bought that we thought would be creative. Are you going to get us some assists, are you going to score some goals? He is just showing little signs that he is heading towards that a bit better.
“I think Tyler is more angry with himself. He is quite a quiet boy, but I think he is angry with himself because I think he is realising that if I don’t get my finger out than I am going to get pushed aside here.
“He has more competition but that is what happens in football. If you want to be at the elite end of football, then the competition is stiff and you have to live with that.”
At the same time, Moyes believes that George’s signing will only help Dibling. The two players, part of the England U21 team, share a close bond and were photographed in training together at Finch Farm this week.
“They’re quite close and quite pally, they know each other. So, hopefully it helps Tyrique as well as Tyler,” added Moyes.
Reader Comments (10)
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 ()
2 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:33:31
It is unusual for the manager to be quite as critical in public, but he has been demanding of some his players Barry etc.
3 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:45:53
4 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:57:09
“He is a quiet boy and it is going to take a bit of time for him to come out of his shell.”
He said this in October. So perhaps he feels the need to now to give him the hurry up, after under whelming performances since.
5 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:57:16
If you are given the ball from a standing start its likely two defenders will be on you straight away.
He needs a ball to run onto that in turn gets defenders panicking, ie do I lunge in or back off.
I don't see Diblings fortunes improving until we utilize him better with counter attacks as he is not yet at his potential being 18.
Finally its good that the Manager is asking him to be more aggressive and direct but he needs help and lets not forget he is still just starting out, theres a top player in there, albeit in 2-3 years time.
6 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:58:30
7 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:13:48
At least George can give him some company...
8 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:17:30
9 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:18:47
Unravel that one if you can.
10 Posted 07/02/2026 at 13:48:56
5 mins here and there expecting assists and goals is a tad rich Moyesy.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
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
1 Posted 07/02/2026 at 12:28:42