Moyes bemoans Everton’s thin squad but says situation promises opportunities for overlooked stars

 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 Dibling, Alcaraz and Aznou got last season. Like Jake got at centre-back. Not one question on the right-back comments from Hangus in his interview and the fact we ended up scrambling for Maitland-Niles.

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!

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:37:28

I 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 and big centre-backs. Certainly I can’t think of many of his type leading the line in the Premier League.

 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?

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:47:30

Poor from Moyes…

But, unless he was going to resign, expected.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:51:47

New player to the Free Market. A Brazilan named Talisca, I 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 Moyesiah’s street. Go get him EFC, he can’t be worse than Barry surely.

nb: Shown as a Free Agent on TransferMarkt, Wiki says he plays for Al Jazira — I’m confused.

 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 their feet. 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?

Then to make comparisons with having to sell Arteta and Rooney — Kenwright ran the club into the ground, TFG are multi-billionaires.

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.

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.

 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, Dibling has had great moments, George needs more minutes to really hit the ground running.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:10:23

What you always miss in the close season, all the Premier League managers that frequent ToffeeWeb.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:19:00

I am no Moyes fan but to criticise him for that press interview under the circumstances in which it was held, is grossly unfair.

Of course he was going to avoid having to sit there and spit in the TFG company eye. What we don’t need right now is any further rift between manager and board — we need to have a siege mentality, led by Moyes. Give him some slack, guys.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:55:36

I picked up on the comment “We did not try George, Dibling or Johnson in the centre-forward position”.

Well that is rather shameful, when we consider how poor Barry and Beto performed last season. The manager and his team need to be pro-active to solve the problems facing the team. Barry cannot be expected to lead the line right through to January. We have a decent chance of progressing in the cup (v Wolves) and we need to take it on.

The issues in the transfer window “were nobody’s fault” — what an awful comment. Who is in charge, who is accountable, who is responsible? Nobody! — Heads need to roll.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:58:37

The only slightly positive to take away is that if the whole squad apart from Norgaard is fit then the only player that would have started Sunday who has been sold was Ndaiye. So lets hope George and Johnson can help fill that void, obviously going forward its injuries to key players that will cause us problems.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:59:09

I don’t fly a flag for Moyes but I thought that he was simmering in that presser. Not a happy bunny. I can see his odds shortening for leaving. I don’t think he and Kinnear are remotely aligned.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:59:44

You could tell Moyes was trying his best to control himself and not let it all out.

I feel really sorry for him and the players.

They obviously did not want Ndaye to go but claims from the club that they need the money are bullshit.

He was also spot on with Braiden Graham. Everyone knows there is a chasm between the youth and the Premier league especially physically.

It could ruin Braidens career to get beat up by 200lb 6 foot odd CBs.

I just hope the crowd do not let their disgust affect the players on Sunday. We need a very vocal crowd to take on the megabucks united squad and the officials.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:00:02

You could tell Moyes was trying his best to control himself and not let it all out.

I feel really sorry for him and the players.

They obviously did not want Ndaye to go but claims from the club that they need the money are bullshit.

He was also spot on with Braiden Graham. Everyone knows there is a chasm between the youth and the Premier league especially physically.

It could ruin Braidens career to get beat up by 200lb 6 foot odd CBs.

I just hope the crowd do not let their disgust affect the players on Sunday. We need a very vocal crowd to take on the megabucks united squad and the officials.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:10:17

Talisca, has gone to Al Jazeera, on a free, on a contract of Eu10m a season. I thought it was too good to be true.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:39:59

I think the tell was when he said about the fans that basically kept Harrison at the club, and he wants them back again Sunday. Maybe to show their displeasure?

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:40:34

I totally agree with Christy’s comment. The press conference was a waste of time.
He didn’t know about Garner, maybe yes maybe no but there was a bid.

The Balogun deal was off due to his medical alone… Eh? The deal sheet was signed by both clubs and the player then submitted.

He also maintains we “had to sell” this summer. Sorry I can’t agree with that statement.
Our turnover/revenue is greater than 2025/’26 yet, and including the Johnson swap, our outlay has been a meagre £88m. Back in 2022 Lampard spent £83m under Moshiri and we were on our arse.

For me and regardless of what he said out loud in terms of building a team, he still sees us as a small club who will inevitably sell the best players.
‘Needed’ to sell Arteta did he? This a comment he made when WHU manager.
“At the time he wanted to go, Arsenal was a good move for him probably at the right time in his career but I have to say we missed him because he was an exceptional player.”

Moyes still maintains that a 13th place finish was a success? Oh dear.

On a personal level I don’t think Moyes is bothered. He knows he’s going in the summer – it was HIS choice to only want a none negotiable 2 year contract.

This in of itself begs another question… Are FSG simply keeping funds back for his replacement?
Would any of us give millions to a manager who wont be around?

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:42:58

My perception on all things Blue. Just surmisings, as one might say.

I am more than ever convinced, we did not want to qualify for Europe last season. Given our current strategy of getting rid of players, thinning the squad to the marrow, never mind the bone, we could never have competed in Europe. Remember the Moyesiah saying, he could not see EFC competing at the top end of the table for a long time ? Well, I think we all know now, what he was getting at. My perception, was that the Manager was told, Gueye could not play the number of games, required to earn himself another contract. Surely if this is correct, word would spread throughout the squad. It’s no wonder they failed to perform in those last seven games. The last game at HD that season, against Sunderland was an absolute shambles, they downed tools in the second half. The Seamus Cole sub was ludicrous for a team, supposedly trying to qualify for Europe. No, they are and have been taking us for a ride, good and proper. It will be interesting how many game Balogun plays this season. either at Monaco or elsewhere.

The £40m bid accepted for Armstrong, was short term thinking. I believe he will be worth a lot more in a couple of seasons. Surely when you look at Anderson going to Forest for £40m, something the barcodes’ fan were really pissed about. tells you that. Newcastle missed out on £135m. Imagine if they had got that in £135m pure profit. They may well have kept some of the players they’ve had to sell this summer. As for the deadline debacle, I’ll say this if AMN was our CEOs, up the sleeve secret RB, I’ll stop watching football. I could go on but why should I, we all know it’s a shit show and has been smoke and mirrors from the beginning. Rant over.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:50:54

In my opinion, Moyes is the weakest link in the “owner–board–manager” setup. The owners and the board had three days to comment on the disastrous transfer window. They didn’t. Ultimately, it was only Moyes who faced the questions.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:54:20

Before the transfer window closed, I suspected that we had little to no money for transfers. Damn, I wish I’d ​​been wrong!

But in the end, we paid for all our transfers ourselves as a club.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:56:11

Can he play two up to, Alan? yes he can, but probably with 10 to go if they’re trailing. Not many play 2 up top, as you usually just get over-run in midfield, and passed off the pitch.

In terms of his tone, he has to stay professional. It will do the team no good, nor him, nor the club, by him throwing his toys out of the pram.

What he thinks privately is very different. But he has to remain restrained for the good of his players, and the clubs reputation.

If he came out publically and said “Our recruitment team is a shambles” — does that improve the Everton reputation within football? It does not. It actually just makes it harder in the next transfer windows, as the only ones willing to deal with you are the freaks and those who are finished.

It will be interesting what he is saying behind closed doors…

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
17:03:44

What a terrible Press Conference.

I say that because it shows how far we have fallen as a club. We have an “Evertonian” manager who left his club when Man Utd came calling and who has only returned because nobody else wants him anymore.

He sat there and nodded like the “yesman” he is and told our academy they ain’t getting a game and told Braiden he’ll never be a striker as long as he’s got a hole in his arse.

He said the deadline day fiasco was nobody’s fault and finished off the pack of lies and guff by saying “I think we have new owners who are still finding their way at the club”.

What he meant to say was “They are still finding their way to the club”

“We need the fans, I sold Arteta, I sold Wayne, I don’t really want to use the free agent market…. blah, blah.” Why can he not tell the truth and say TFG are absentee landlords and Roy Kinnear is an idiot?

I love his back-to-the-wall mentality, that’s all I’ll give him but, when Barry is crocked and Branthwaite and Dewsbury-Hall are crocked, what then, Davey boy?

How we have fallen. I thought after Moshiri things would get better. They are about to go fucking pear-shaped unless the Friedkins sell us.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
17:12:03

Mark, apart from the 10 seconds of feeling better. This would be the outcome:

Manager instantly fired. No manager in place going forward. Only the weirdos and failures that would consider the job.

A disillusioned player base that would all be looking for an exit. See Anthony Gordon. Making it virtually impossible to recruit decent players going forward. Players downing tools, and no accountability for their own performance.

Everyone is disappointed. Being partisan is fine as a fan. But for a professional, the ramifications would be hugely more damaging than they are already.

There has to be a ‘we’ for the next 4 months.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
17:28:18

Will be interesting to see what happens to Richarlison in the next 48 hours. If he doesn’t go to either Turkey or Saudi Arabia presumably he’ll agree a deal with Spurs to terminate his contract and become a free agent. I know, I’m clutching at straws, but let me dream…

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
17:40:56

Absolutely agree Jack.

The lack of a coherent recruitment policy and any sign of ambition surely had to be design.

Nobody could be that hopeless and unprepared could they ?