David Moyes has become a poor coach, but Everton are no longer at the stage where stability is the ceiling. New ownership and a new stadium shift the club's internal expectations, whether stated publicly or not.
Home form in 2025-26 ranked 14th, which is not what is expected of a side hoping to push into the top half, and the recent run of seven games without a win has heightened the criticism.
This becomes alarming when teams like Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, who have comparable resources (or even less), are breaking trophy droughts and chasing European places.
Everton spent €150.66M across the two seasons, yet only finished 13th with no major success to show for it. However, Crystal Palace spent far less, at €56.65M, yet won the FA Cup and UEFA Conference League during the same period. Bournemouth also outperformed Everton, by finishing 6th despite losing key players and operating with fewer resources.
Everton have leaned too heavily on directness, without the supporting structure that makes direct football sustainable against modern-day Premier League pressing and second-ball preparation.
At the same time, the squad have felt under-rotated and under-optimised, with match plans that appear to flatten the differences between players who can solve different problems.
The football is structurally incoherent against the way modern Premier League sides defend their own build-up and attack second phases. If Everton are to consider change, the selection criteria must match the moment.
A new head coach needs to deliver three things quickly:
- A clearer in-possession identity that raises the floor against low blocks and mid blocks at home.
- A transition and rest-defence framework that prevents the team from becoming weak when it tries to attack with more numbers.
- An improvement pathway for key assets, particularly the younger and higher-value players.
The current meta at the elite end is possession that preserves directness. It is the ability to access the final third through structured build-up and still execute fast once the advantage appears.
This tactical analysis explores Everton's two most credible next-step candidates in that mould: Claudio Giráldez and Iñigo Pérez. They are aligned in principle and different in their execution.
Most importantly, Everton need a model that fits their squad and a recruitment plan that closes the gaps without forcing a three-window overhaul before the football works.
Read the rast of this fasinating independent tactical analysis by Gillian Kasirye at the TFA website via the link below — sorry but you'll have to subscribe at a hefty £60 annual fee... although there is a 7-day free trial option.
» Read the full article at TFA — Total Football Analysis
Reader Comments (4)
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2 Posted 07/06/2026 at 13:34:52
3 Posted 07/06/2026 at 13:57:54
4 Posted 07/06/2026 at 14:02:47
Fair play if she is earning a decent shilling, but Paddy Boyle will be furious
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1 Posted 07/06/2026 at 12:59:24
A clearer in-possession identity that raises the floor against low blocks and mid blocks at home.
ie, with the ball, play proper attacking joined-up front-foot football.
A transition and rest-defence framework that prevents the team from becoming weak when it tries to attack with more numbers.
I guess this is focussing on the glaring weaknesses exposed when we try to do the above... but almost inevitably lose position and then have to resort to planic stations.
An improvement pathway for key assets, particularly the younger and higher-value players.
Oh goodness. No translation required. It's as plain as the nose on yer face, Davey!