Harry Diamond 04/09/2026 8comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

David Moyes has said Everton's threadbare squad will hand opportunities 'to some people who have not had them' this season.

Everton's nightmare end to the transfer window has left the Toffees' squad stretched this season, as Beto, Adam Aznou, Nathan Patterson, Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam all departed in the final days of the window.

Everton brought back Jack Grealish on loan and signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon, but a failed move for Folarin Balogun compounded a disastrous end to the club's summer business.

As a result, Blues have submitted only 19 senior players on their 25-man squad list for the Premier League campaign. A further three first-team options, Harrison Armstrong, Tyrique George, and Tyler Dibling, are part of the u-21 list.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Manchester United, Moyes conceded he has been left short of options. He said his squad will need to 'muck in' to cope with the schedule and suggested those on the fringes could be handed more minutes.

Moyes says Everton exits open door for fringe players ahead of Manchester United clash

"I know what I needed and I know what it’s like to build a squad for the Premier League," he said.

"I know the numbers you need. I’ve been around long enough to know that, but some things went against us and some things could have gone better. Ultimately, we didn’t want to lose a lot of the players, but for different reasons that had to happen.

"They’re all going to have to be able to muck in as we’ve got a real small squad now. It gives opportunities to some people who have not had them and sometimes in football you need to be given that chance so that you can show what you can do.

"Let’s see if some of them can do that. I have no concerns. I am sure they will be fully at-it."

Read more - Four days of fury: 96 hours in which TFG lost trust at Everton

 

Reader Comments (8)

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 ()


Jack Convery
1 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:33:07
Just watched the Presser. Dour Dave at his best, Diverting and telling us he does not see Graham as a striker ! I bet that's news to the kid. Players will get opportunities, like Dibbling, Alcaraz and Aznou got last season. Like Jake got at CB. Not one question on the RB comments from Hangus in his interview and the fact we ended up scrambling for AMN, Balogun had failed his medical and that's all there was too it - really. Bullshitting from start to finish and he calls himself an Evertonian !
Ian Bennett
2 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:37:28
Think it is realistic he will get a chance off the left or right, Jack.

I don't think he is ready for seriously quick & big centre backs. Certainly I cant think of many of his type leading the line in the epl.
Alan J Thompson
3 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:47:14
Ian(#2); You don't see Moyes changing the habit of a lifetime and playing 2 up front or will it be the usual one upfront, another out wide and the rest to try and catch up with or without the long hoof?
Kevin Naylor
4 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:47:30
Poor from Moyes but unless he was going to resign expected.
Jack Convery
5 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:51:47
New player to the Free Market. A Brazilan. Name Talisca, thought it was Talace for a minute. Released yesterday by Fenerbache. Already played 7 games this season and scored 5 goals. 5 games as a CF, 5 goals. Played 45 games last season, 18 as a CF and scored 13 with one assist. He also plays all positions across the front line, Age 32, fit, 6ft 3in, right up the Moyesiahs street. Go get him EFC, he cant be worse than Barry surely.

NB Shown as a Free Agent on Transfer Mkt, Wiki says he plays for Al Jazira - I'm confused.
Christy Ring
6 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:56:49
His press conference was probably the biggest load of crap I've heard in a long time. From the start, when he said it was no one's fault that the window was a complete and utter catastrophe. I know he can't come straight out and accuse any individuals, but to say they're all singing of the same hymm sheet, and the owners are finding there feet, and when asked if he's looking at any free agents, totally not, he's trying to find players from the top end of the market, to move the club forward? Hello! isn't that what the owners should have done in the window, instead of selling our best attacker, and then to make comparisons, with having to sell Arteta and Rooney, Kenwright ran the club into the ground, TFG are multi billionaire's. When asked about the academy players having to step up, he completely dismissed Braiden Graham's chances, and that he's not even a striker. What really turned my head, and showed that there's a complete breakdown between Moyes and the board, and the whole press conference was a complete bluff, when asked about the Friedkin group looking to sell a minority stake in the club, " I haven't been talking to the owners", says it all.
Minik Hansen
7 Posted 04/09/2026 at 14:57:00
Moyes gets the opportunity, not the other way round, to see what the young and new players are capable of, because they haven't really got a chance to shine for some unknown reason. We know Armstrong is good, Dibbling have had great moments, George needs more minutes to really hit the ground running.
John Williams
8 Posted 04/09/2026 at 15:10:23
What you always miss in the close season, all the PL managers that frequent Toffee Web.

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