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David Moyes’ use of his squad last season came under plenty of scrutiny, and for good reason.
He wasn’t trusting enough of enough players, and in the end, Everton suffered because of it, as fatigue and the general wear and tear after the rigours of a long Premier League season came back to bite key performers such as Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in that dismal run-in.
There’s two ways to look at it: Either it was all on Moyes, or some (or even most) of the players brought in last summer simply weren’t ready to make an impact. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but at the end of the day, it’s a manager’s job to get them ready over the course of a campaign.
Big pre-seasons are needed from the likes of Tyler Dibling, Merlin Röhl and Harrison Armstrong, while Adam Aznou needs to be sent out on loan as soon as possible to get regular minutes, but Everton’s two new additions suggest that for all the frustrations with Moyes’ squad management, promising young players are still open to working under the Scot.
Tyrique George was only given just over 200 minutes of gametime during his loan stint across the back half of the season, yet impressed enough for Everton to purchase him earlier this week. George did not score or assist, but he created some gilt-edged chances and showed plenty of positivity in attack.
Everton have done well to negotiate down the initial payment for the 20-year-old, who — according to The Athletic — has not asked for assurances over his gametime. However, the powers that be at the club ought to be making it abundantly clear to Moyes that this is a player that needs minutes to keep on improving. Thankfully, George does provide a point of difference to the other wingers currently in Everton’s fold, and that should result in opportunities.
George had experience of what it can be like to bide your time under Moyes, but the same cannot be said of Hayden Hackney.
However, the Championship’s Player of the Season only ever wanted to join Everton, which helped the club’s hand during their lengthy negotiations with Middlesbrough.
While the size and stature of the club were no doubt an attraction for Hackney, there will have been some element of working under Moyes that the 24-year-old valued.
With almost 200 senior games under his belt, Hackney has the experience of English football that Moyes craves, and it seems the midfielder has valued the 63-year-old’s track record of developing players from the Championship. Notable examples include Tim Cahill, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and, more recently, Jarrod Bowen.
Whatever their respective reasons, both George and Hackney were keen to come to the club, pledge their long-term futures to Everton and, at least in the short-term, work under Moyes.
While Evertonians have every right to be concerned and frustrated with how stubborn Moyes can be at times, especially with younger players, the fact both of the club’s latest signings are of that profile, and they were so willing to come and play for him, should be seen as a positive.
Now, Moyes has to repay the faith those players, and the likes of Dibling, have had in him, and give a bit back.
Read more - Tyrique George signs permanently, but can he break through Moyes’s Youth Barrier?
Reader Comments (35)
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2 Posted 08/07/2026 at 08:56:12
Young players' agents are being told Moyes's contract expires in a year and the club plans to bring in a young progressive replacement for next season.
3 Posted 08/07/2026 at 08:59:21
But haven't they said they want to play for Moyes?
4 Posted 08/07/2026 at 09:01:54
I have no issues with these players being on the bench, they probably would be at most Premier League clubs. The issue is the lack of minutes they get off the bench.
5 Posted 08/07/2026 at 09:19:27
I think the reality is like Eric's scenario 2 or Andrew's scenario 3. Most young players will get their head down and do whatever the present manager wants from them, and they will do the same when the new manager comes in.
6 Posted 08/07/2026 at 09:24:23
Smart business. Expect to see a few loans incoming.
7 Posted 08/07/2026 at 10:33:45
I don't want to see another season of O'Brien playing right-back, he is a central defender.
So, where is the strengthening of the squad depth and when is that taking place?
8 Posted 08/07/2026 at 10:54:01
Nothing wrong with that.
9 Posted 08/07/2026 at 11:46:16
He will keep the squad ticking over but doesn't have the ability to change tactics for the better.
I doubt that, even if Everton had the riches of say Man City or Liverpool, that Moyes could build a successful squad.
There is a lot of talent at his disposal but getting the best out of them is not what he is good at.
Playing a conservative game on the side of caution is all to prevalent under Moyes. He develops his players to do a lot of fetching and carrying but they lose possession far too easily especially when it reaches the vital area.
We hope to see more striking power next season and if not we will end up the same as last season.
10 Posted 08/07/2026 at 16:30:24
Whichever, no point getting off on the wrong foot with him which is perhaps best left for your Agent to bring up while discussing terms.
11 Posted 08/07/2026 at 16:58:53
But when a few of those stand-in players, were left sitting on the bench towards the end of the season, it suddenly became a lack of depth.
12 Posted 08/07/2026 at 17:31:30
Everton were their best choice, and hopefully Moyes will let them show their potential. Good signings... now a right-back and striker please.
13 Posted 08/07/2026 at 19:45:14
players really do rate Moyes as a step up from where they are now and are only signing 'cos they've been assured by TFG that his contract is going to be renewed.
14 Posted 08/07/2026 at 20:07:22
TFG are refusing to buy older higher-earning players, not bringing back Grealish or extended Gana's deal. They are telling Moyes these are the types and profiles of emerging players they are going to sanction.
They don't mind not getting top 4, 5 or 6 this season, but we want to see these players progressing, integrated into the first team, improving a side with potential, a tactical identity that these young players can grow with and thrive.
That's the job, Davie!
Not getting 30-year-old players to get short-term gains at the expense of a younger players' development.
15 Posted 08/07/2026 at 20:15:53
Imagine the uproar if TFG actually came out and said that!
16 Posted 08/07/2026 at 20:24:33
17 Posted 08/07/2026 at 20:32:40
Moyes, the recruitment committee, TFG are all perfectly aligned.
We just can't see it cos we're on the outside trying to look in!
18 Posted 08/07/2026 at 22:20:26
19 Posted 08/07/2026 at 22:38:23
This board appear deluded enough to do just that
20 Posted 08/07/2026 at 00:01:56
That said, whilst Moyes might not be someone I think is good enough for our great club, I get the impression that he creates a decent team spirit which can mask some of his shortcomings.
But ultimately, I think TFG are doing a mini Chelsea and investing with a view to making a profit rather than the young signings being a true push for a better team. Of course, if the players do well the value goes up. My guess is the players agents see Everton as a shop window, an opportunity to make more money.
Kinda sad. But if football was about football, Rooney and Gordon would never have left
21 Posted 08/07/2026 at 00:28:49
McNeil will be given a chance first to play because he's helped the team to avoid relegation for seasons. Though his form dropped and some of you do not like him, I'm sure he's respected by his teammates and the coaches for his work rate and attitude. Unless he has a fallout with the manager or injured, why an un-tested newbie can walk-in the team ahead of him? What's the point of training hard in pre-season?
22 Posted 08/07/2026 at 00:48:27
23 Posted 09/07/2026 at 05:04:36
24 Posted 09/07/2026 at 09:10:11
It doesn't take much to lose games in the Prem. there's very little difference quality wise in the middle of the table teams, lose a few more extra and we will find ourselves battling relegation.
It's all very well asking for inexperienced players to start but that can go both ways.
I think ultimately you have to trust the manager to know if they are our best player for that position at that time, after all he's the one who should know he's watching them practically every day.
We all know the criticism of Moyes that he is too safety first and that's fair enough, but I think when he looks at our present squad he can see we are weak in too many positions.
25 Posted 09/07/2026 at 10:13:11
Whether he gives them a chance to play is a different story
26 Posted 09/07/2026 at 12:54:04
There are other things I've noticed is that Moyes is always there in training and even takes one or two of them each week. Also I have noticed that he talks to each player and even like with Barry -- he came in on a Sunday and did a one-to-one finishing session with him. There will be others that we have not heard or seen. The younger players and their agents will talk to others about Finch Farm etc and would have good reports.
Tyrique George has obviously had a better experience than at Chelsea and our friend Hayden Hackney would have spoken to James Garner, Branthwaite and Tyler Dibling from the U21s and they would have given great reports of Moyes and his coaching and training methods. They also talk about the project, the young squad, the new stadium and our passionate fans -- so give yourselves a pat on the back.
TFG and our CEO have spoken about buying young talent and mixing with expereince. They are investing in the academy structure, a data company, and I hope they will continue to do. So let's give Moyes, the new academy team, the recruitment committee and TFG a little space to get this plan working fully. We are totally different than 12 months ago when we had the likes of Lindstrom, Harrison and Broja stinking the place out.
27 Posted 09/07/2026 at 18:02:25
They want to play for Moyes because he is an established Manager, a safe pair of hands, someone who is mature and has handled so many different players. Players talk, meet up and know a great deal of what goes on behind the scenes at clubs, perhaps Moyes gives of good vibes as a decent bloke and they like that ?
Moving to another club with a younger and perhaps untested Manager in the Prem is a gamble for many players. Safety and security is paramount therefore Moyes is a safe option.
Yes some will say, and me included that we are not sure of his tactics at times and that a fancied player should be given more minutes, but the players know that they have to work in training to get those minutes if they want to get into the first team.
Lets not forget that some of the fringe players are young and still developing, Moyes sees them everyday in training and like he said to Rohl "you will get your chance" and he did. Its not going to be easy for any young player to break into the first 11 and thats not a bad thing for healthy competition.
28 Posted 09/07/2026 at 18:25:50
Pack it in lad, I nearly choked on me tea there
29 Posted 09/07/2026 at 19:32:25
I'm not asking for an all out under 23 side ray, we have experienced players in tarks,Keane, KDH, Ndiaye, Garner, Beto, Pickford.
Last year we could have pushed for the European qualification if the players who could impact games like Ndiaye, KDH & Garner were not run into the ground playing every minute, and given rest.
Yes it may not have worked out, but if George, Dibbling, Armstrong & rohl had had that experience last year, it may may well stood us in good stead for the coming season.
Fans may not be so disillusioned with Moyes if he'd given these players a chance to improve, instead week after week we got the same team doing the same things, and inevitably getting the same outcome.
30 Posted 10/07/2026 at 09:43:26
Sorry to ask Martin but how old are you and were you ever a putative star player?
I’m not sure why your average youthful first team recruit is particularly likely to crave security over getting to the very top in as short a time as possible.
I tend to believe a well influenced standout player will have immense self-confidence and be hyper-aware of how quickly a bad manager, an incompatible tactical system, or a chaotic club hierarchy can stall a career.
The big question is whether these players really believe the current manager is going to be here much longer.
31 Posted 10/07/2026 at 11:32:18
Top players ? can still have their potential ruined or put back with the wrong managerial appointment, Mainoo at Utd anyone before Carrick came in ? I am sure he feels safer and secure that if he puts it in he gets it out on the field.
Safety and security is paramount were talking about careers here not the finances, because you want someone to have your best interest at heart, help you develop, you need a safe pair of hands.. Do non of you understand why Pickford is still at Everton ? Branthewaite, Garner signed new contracts, Grealish appreciation the the Manager and so on. They all trust him
32 Posted 10/07/2026 at 14:07:51
Unfortunately you don't understand that there are things you don't actually know (unless you are able to say all those players made explicit statements to you whilst hooked up to a polygraph).
33 Posted 10/07/2026 at 14:32:53
😂😂😂
Pack it in lad. I near choked on my lunch there.
34 Posted 10/07/2026 at 15:17:07
How many people believe that Moyes can win us a trophy?
Would Grealish want to play for Moyes if he was managing Bournemouth or Brighton?
Does Grealish want to play for Moyes because he is managing Everton?
I can imagine some of the players in the Everton squad having conversations between themselves, talking about how good it would be to win a trophy for the incredible Evertonians -- something I've never really heard Moyes say in all the years he has managed Everton.
35 Posted 10/07/2026 at 16:44:12
Stability is their be all and end all.
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1 Posted 08/07/2026 at 08:46:19
Either Moyes liked George (he said so, didn't he) and thinks he can work with him, curb his enthusiasm, and teach him the defending side of the game, so he can become a good all-round player.
Or...
The recruitment team are ignoring Moyes and buying more players they know he won't put out on the pitch, knowing he'll be gone in a year and hoping Moyes can keep us in the Premier League until then.