Leeds United vs Everton Player Ratings

Bobby Mallon

1 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:03:39

That was the worst game of the weekend. Totally on Moyes who I think should be sacked. Oh and I think the friedkins will do just that if we lose to Brighton

Duncan McDine

2 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:06:43

I can’t argue with those player ratings. Perhaps Gana was even less than a 5?

It’s an all too familiar feeling. I’m very concerned that things could get ugly in a hurry if the team continue to perform like that.

David West

3 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:12:53

Are those ratings -4, -5 ect?
Too high !!!

Ray Jacques

4 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:14:45

If Barry even as a raw recruit cannot get a game before Beto even at this time in his career then he must be a dud.

Bob Boote

5 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:21:52

We just need a new right winger….
😬

Jimmy Carr

6 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:22:17

One of Barry’s first touches was to pick up the ball, back to goal, and lay it off to a teammate. For that alone he should start ahead of Beto.

Mark Taylor

7 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:23:09

I said before this that playing the relegation favourites would be a yardstick. Personally I thought some of this forum were kidding themselves thinking we could push for top half. The squad is all over the place.

Our performance was truly dire, one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Certainly the worst first half I’ve even seen (55 plus years of watching). We have no pace, hardly any guile, no real goal threat, no right side attacking threat, players playing out of position, zero creativity in midfield. God help us against Brighton. Dire, dire, dire

Kevin Molloy

8 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:23:23

KDH I thought was a big disappointment tonight, under the radar from the other things that went wrong. I thought the defence on the whole acquitted themselves well, but the midfield and attack, deary me. That could be though cos we’ve had to play deep all game, and so it was so much harder to get up the pitch. Jarrad is just vital to the way we play.

Justin Doone

9 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:25:44

Everton were awful, we didn’t deserve to win the game and if Leeds would have scored one of their first half chances and won I could not complain about the score.
Looking at that, we have had no preseason, no meet and greet and no warm up. That’s how lost, limp and lathargic we were. Game plan, ha, what’s one of them?

But to lose to that, an awful decision by a referee who didn’t see it and var who didn’t over turn it. Atrocious!

If that is a penalty within the laws of the game then defenders would need to start chopping off arms not to give away penalties.
I no longer pretend to know the rules apart from if they can find a way to hurt Everton, they do.
Simplify it, ball to arm = penalty, no matter what. We will all have to accept it.
As for our next game, my fears are about to become reality. 0-3 Brighton.

Geoff Cadman

10 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:29:42

Mark Chelsea away season before last.

Josh Horne

11 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:32:58

Moyes’ match rating?

Before the match Neville referred to Moyes as Everton’s star player. Carragher nodding away.

Was he coming out with this shit when he was ruining Utd?

Neil Lawson

12 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:35:42

I’m sorry, but those player ratings are laughable. A poor display by an unbalanced 11 required to play in a specific way. There was no ” out” because of the manner in which our midfield were set up and because tonight, Beto could not have held up anything, certainly not a ball.
Tarkowski and Keane were solid in what they had to do. O’Brien too and worked hard to make progress. Gana was hardly outstanding but by no means a dud.
Pickford 5 ? Apart from missing one cross and a couple of poor kicks, was he really that poor ?
If half of the team are underperforming is it fair to be critical of those who are at least doing their best to make a decent fist of it.
The performance was poor, especially in the first half. But the team selection and tactics created so many avoidable issues and many, but not all, of the players failed miserably to adjust and to step up to the plate.

Rob Dolby

13 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:36:34

I know I shouldn’t bite and it’s all about opinions but Harry Kane would look shite if he has to run and challenge for percentage balls all match nevermind Beto.

The worse of a bad bunch in my opinion were Ndiaye, Hall and Alcaraz. They provided no physical presence, no support for the defenders and no support for the attackers. The 3 of them where shite.

O’Brien didn’t struggle against gnonto, far from it. Likewise Garner with James.

We defended well, Gana and Tim put the hard work in defensively.

We got out fought and relied on the fence yet again to bale us out.

Pickford 6 not much to do
Obrien 6 did well defensively but nothing going forward
Garner 7 kept James quiet and tried to play forward
Tarkowski 6 Other than the pen a solid game
Keane 6 solid game
Gana 6 usual destroyer
Tim 6 defensively strong
Hall 4 too light weight
Alcaraz 4 had our only shot on goal and an assist for their pen!
Ndiaye 4 totally ineffective
Beto 5 Tried hard but had absolutely no service.

Mark Taylor

14 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:41:59

Geoff 10
The difference is Chelsea away is a lot tougher, or should be, than relegation favourites away.

They were basically much better than us, even though they looked below EPL quality. What is worrying is what does that make us? Brighton may be about to tell us.

Andy McNabb

15 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:45:27

I agree, Mark Taylor. I haven’t even seen the game yet and if anyone actually understood the hand-ball rule, this would be a different discussion.

It sounds like a poor performance overall but to give Pickford a 5 when he only conceded a non-existent penalty is very harsh.

Shaun McGough

16 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:48:50

oh dear bobby@1 TFG group have been nothing short in this window with two weeks to go but appalling, Moyes has nothing to do with recruitment in new structure, TFG have had more than enough time to prepare for what needs addressing in the squad (not starting 11 wich we barely have)but this is what happens in a multi-club owned arrangement wich is exactly what we don’t need, we let a depleted squad let 6/7 players go at the end of last season how we are ran not managed mate, WHAT HAVE TFG BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, support the boys and manager,TFG I don’t think are enough to carry us forward but they will make money out of purchasing us, one game in but I agree beto wont cut it thread

Geoff Cadman

17 Posted
18/08/2025 at
00:00:46

Mark that one was off the top of my head. I know Chelsea played well that night but we were still awful and there have been far too many similar performances especially over the last 30 years. I am sure there was far worse under Fat Sam Tottenham and Arsenal away spring to mind, the RS at home when they rested half the team.

Jim Bennings

18 Posted
19/08/2025 at
00:09:03

All of them were dreadful in truth.
The defence wasn’t too bad but they weren’t great either.

One team wanted to win and one team were clueless.

I still can’t believe we have wasted a summer not signing a proper full back with a right foot and we are actually starting the season with a striker who for most of last season played second fiddle to the man who wouldn’t sign a contract and we all wanted gone.

Barry isn’t ready? Well then we need another striker don’t we?

Beto people may say he didn’t get service but watch his game, everything bounces off him, it’s a strikers duty to hold that ball up and alleviate pressure by winning free kicks or bringing teammates higher up the pitch, he can’t do that, he’s not technically accomplished enough.

The Friedkin Group are underperforming so far in my opinion.

We’ve wasted too much time this summer on transfers that they won’t meet valuations of and not pursued the areas we desperately need.

We’ve still got absolutely zero pace in this side.

Dave Lynch

19 Posted
18/08/2025 at
00:14:38

I’m not having that it’s TFG’s fault.
We may have been short of a few players but had enough in that squad to play football at a much higher level than that pile of shite.
We never had a shot on goal until well into the 2nd half…let that sink in, against a team tipped to go down.
That was down to Moyes and his abysmal tactics and team selection, let’s be honest here…he’s noted for it and every club he’s ever been at (barring us first time round) the fans couldn’t wait to see the back of him.
We could buy players in the positions we need but I’ll bet you a pound to a pinch of shit he’ll bench them to show his authority.
He was what we needed last season imo but not what we need now.

Jimmy Carr

20 Posted
19/08/2025 at
00:17:56

I think we need a right back more than we need a right sided attacker based on tonight’s game. At least we have players who can cover the right side in attack. O’Brien is just not a right back, he can’t overlap, stretch the game, cross effectively etc., he’s a centre back shoehorned in. Seamus is no longer fit and Moyes thinks Patterson isn’t up to it, therefore we need a specialist player in that position. Can’t believe we haven’t identified one yet. Moyes is right to be narked about it.

Jim Bennings

21 Posted
19/08/2025 at
00:22:11

Moyes has made it quite clear to the owners that they need players bringing in, so I’d say it is on TFG this particular one.

How we can start the season with James Garner left back is beyond reasoning.
Ok Mykolenko is injured but that may well happen again often as the season progresses.
Back up plan?

It’s easy to say sack Moyes in two weeks, and bring who in?

Can’t see any reasonable name joining us, would Oliver Glasner leave Palace?
I doubt it.

Craig Scott

22 Posted
19/08/2025 at
00:44:13

A dire performance for sure.

I think a fundamental problem is the lack of pace and fragility of Keane at the back. Our defense sits very deep to compensate for him, and our midfield consequently plays deeper as well which invites the opposition to press and dispossess us. We inevitably end up playing everyone back and simply chase the opposition around our own half.

I know everyone on here loves Gana, but he exasperates me. Four out of five of his passes are always backwards, and usually back to the same player. He occasionally delivers a useful ball forward and I wonder why he doesn’t back himself to drive forward more often, although his control isn’t great and his shooting woeful. But Iroegbunam was gash tonight and these two players are the substance of our midfield who we need to boss the game. We’ll only be chasing the opposition in most games unless we can get better midfield generals.

Ndiaye tried hard and looks to create something most times, but we were trying to create from far too deep. I’m not a fan of Beto but I actually don’t blame him for our performance tonight. But maybe why we keep stopping our attacks from midfield (and passing it backwards all the time) is because there isn’t anything up front to aim for?

Dave Lynch

23 Posted
19/08/2025 at
01:21:25

Craig@22.
The problem is imo is that Moyes is a relic with regards modern football.
Spanish football was beyond his capabilities, WHU fans despite the trophy he won wanted him gone, not that I think Potter is an upgrade tbf, he took Sunderland down, Utd fans hated his style of play and hounded him out also.
People on here will say I’m a Moyes hater, but…his record speaks for itself.

Craig Scott

24 Posted
19/08/2025 at
01:45:28

Dave @ 22. Moyes has to manage with what he’s got, although I don’t understand his starting selections and substitutions a lot of the time.

But he’s still got a fair few players who lack genuine quality, and consequently confidence, when on the ball. So, it’s his job to organise formations and energetic pass and move patterns to create more space and time for his midfielders to pick an attacking pass. But that’s not happening.

Too often our midfield is static and slow and all too often we stop and pass backwards to defenders who then pass it around a bit and then back to Pickford. It really is tedious and boring.

It’s up to the manager to infuse some energy and tempo to the players and their formations, but I’ve noticed over the years that a lot of our new players start off with lots of energy and purpose, but they too inevitably slip into the boring Everton style of backwards passing after a while.

Maybe its the ongoing lack of pace and threat up front that has plagued us.

Kieran Kinsella

25 Posted
19/08/2025 at
01:49:28

Neil

Makes me wonder if Anjush watched the game. Mostly neutral scores but then whipping boy Beto a 2? ToffeeWeb is falling to the level of the Red Echo with this kind of “article”

Jamie Sweet

26 Posted
19/08/2025 at
01:51:30

When you look at the team sheet, and everyone says they haven’t a clue what formation we’re playing or who is playing where, you just know it’s going to be absolute shite.

And so it proved to be.

Let’s get back to basics and at least make sure we can put round pegs in round holes! Over to the recruitment team…

Paul Ward

27 Posted
19/08/2025 at
03:23:01

Irrespective of the penalty that wasn’t, Moyes should take full responsibility for such a negative display.
I’m inclined to agree with Dave Lynch #23 about Moyes, he has always feared away games or better teams.
Against a very poor Leeds team, not one goal attempt in the first half. Beto may not be great, but have you ever seen such an isolated CF.?
Once again our great away fans travel and pay to watch shit that is no better than the previous seasons.

Bill Gienapp

28 Posted
19/08/2025 at
03:54:34

How about a rating of 0 for Moyes? Terrible team selection, terrible setup, doesn’t bother to make a sub until the 75th minute. Of course he was too much of a gutless coward to start Grealish. Remember when Ancelotti signed James, Allan, and Doucoure days before the season opener, put them straight into the starting XI, and we proceeded to dominate Spurs? It’s too bad Moyes turned 60 and we’re still waiting for his balls to actually drop. Too scared to play Barry, too scared to even put Aznou on the bench. Couldn’t wait for the final whistle so he could jump straight to the moping and whining. Same old loser mentality.

Stu Gre

30 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:12:51

I think you’re being generous there Bill 😉

Moyes 2.0 is the same scared ditherer he always has been.

John Hall

31 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:14:30

So poor last night. Midfield was atrocious. Never been one to knock Davey but he was responsible for what was a shit show.

We need to get the cheque book out and get some power up front and in the wide areas. Why have we signed a kid who is as rough as they come and then start Beto up front on his own with no service and no support?

No full backs at all other than a center half filling in at right back and having to use Keane in a low block non attacking mode as he has no pace.

Optimism has already started to fade. A new ground won’t keep us in the PL. Only decent players will do so, but we don’t seem to have many of them right now.

We have now appointed a championship level recruiting team and look to be paying the price.

Kunal Desai

32 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:28:56

Am I right in thinking that Moyes signed an 18 month deal with the option of a further 12 months?

If that is the case, he’ll have to do much better than yesterday if he’s to stay for a further 12 months, equally he could turn around and say to TFG, thanks very much but i’m not working with this recruitment team and setup.

Will be an interesting to see how this pans out.

Rob Hooton

33 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:41:01

The first half was one of the worst halves of football you will ever see, from an Everton perspective. We looked interested for about 15 minutes of the second but then were terrible again.

No shape, no plan, no style. I’m very concerned by that and fear another long and miserable season, hope we improve fast and get some decent signings in or it will be very ugly.

How depressing.

Gavin Johnson

34 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:43:29

Last night made me even more angry that we are yet to sign a decent right winger.

Ste Stannard

35 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:49:24

Not many good performances there. Thought garner played well at left back. Strange team selection how does Tim get into any of our teams he’s a championship player at best. Still no right back bought we have needed one for years now. Beto up front he cannot hold his own trousers up awful. Alcaraz not a wide player and always gets his pockets picked resulting in costly errors. Grealish needs to play number ten in a free role full stop when he’s fully fit in the meantime play Dwight left. Sell Beto for whatever we can get right back and striker the most important positions we need and a new central defender as tarks and Keane both too old tarks has been a great signing and servant but the cracks were there to see last season what pace he didn’t already have has gone worse and he will cost us points Unlucky with the penalty but why was he even trying to get to the ball to block it let it go to goalkeeper was going nowhere should of just stood up like keane next to him a yard away upright and hands behind back. Dewsbury hall will be fine but we also need a good strong defensive midfielder with him Tim not good enough neither is garner in there and gueye
too old now a squad player. New manager yes please and one who is free edin terdic

Ernie Baywood

36 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:13:28

Can’t help but feel that people are racing to out-outrage each other on this thread.

When the fixtures were announced pretty much everyone said “going to a promoted team on the first weekend is tough”. Yet they’re surprised that Leeds (who created zero) had some energy in front of their fans.

This is a side that has struggled in the league for years and has lost numbers since last season given loans were one of the few ways that the club could fill out the squad and still work within PSR issues. We’re generally bringing in young players and we know there have been multiple bids for full backs and right midfielders. And the window is still open.

There’s “nothing but the best” and then there’s plain unreasonable expectations.

It wasn’t a good performance, but with plenty of mitigating factors. And it certainly wasn’t one of the worst performances that anyone on here has ever seen (as one poster claimed).

Settle in – even if we head in the right direction and make good progress, the next few years will be a bit frustrating.

Mal van Schaick

37 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:17:52

Irrespective of the views on the penalty, how can Tarkowski smirk when he knows what the consequences might be, and it’s not just that penalty decision. He does things in play that he knows are going to draw a decision against him and still smirks. I don’t get it.

Aside from that, as others are saying, starting Garner at left back wtf. We have had since June to sort what should be a defining season in a new stadium, and we start off with a shit show.

Moyes is frustrated, the fans are frustrated and the players looked like they were confused about what was being asked of them.

Some new players, but on the evidence of last nights bluster, it’s more of the same from last season.

Paul Smith

38 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:18:01

No fan of Moyes but the fact the first game of the season he has to put a team out with O Brian as right back and Garner as left back is fucked up. It looked like we had a make-shift side out at the end of a long season. Shocking really.

Andrew Ellams

39 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:21:09

The next two weeks could have a huge impact on how long Moyes is at the club. Failure to fill the gaps with new recruits and poor results against Brighton and Wolves and we will be in big trouble come September.

If we have to field that team vs that lot in a months time it could be double figures.

Daniel A Johnson

40 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:22:16

How come other teams sign new players and play them. But we sign players and bench them and hide them away in the reserves?

Craig Walker

41 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:34:22

It doesn’t matter who the manager is or who is on the pitch, one persistent Everton trait is that we only show urgency when going a goal down. We actually started trying to play forward and get balls in the box after going 1 down. We looked frightened to death from the first whistle.

I work with two Leeds fans. Today will be shite.

Mal van Schaick

42 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:36:33

Daniel#40. Good point.

Mark Murphy

43 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:38:12

What was Tarkowski supposed to do?
He tried to block a goal bound shot the best he could. He did everything he could to protect his goal and NOT handle the ball by placing his arm deliberately and obviously behind his body. As far as he knew that shot was flying in and he did what a good defender does and tried to stop it.
If the ref hadn’t fcuked up we would all have been praising him for a wonder block.
It wasn’t Tarkowskis fault we lost that match.

Danny O’Neill

44 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:44:08

Mal @37, with all due respect, that is Tarkowski’s natural reaction to any decision, for and against. More disbelief than “smirking”. He does it frequently. We all have individual idiosyncrasies.

Derek Knox

45 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:45:22

Still very, very disappointed, about last night. Moyes has to hold his hands up for very poor team selection and again too late substitutions to have any effect. The penalty I thought was harsh and have seen more dubious ones, revoked. V A R ruining the game once more, and a Referee who was incompetent with matching Linesmen.

How Tim gets the nod if fit is beyond me, he was a makeweight in the Lewis Dobbin move, yet seems to get played as a regular. Surely most fans could have picked a better eleven. I appreciate we have a depleted squad and poor recruitment thus far, but no excuses for a lacklustre turn-out like last night !

Sam Hoare

46 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:47:45

Dreadful start. Was Aznou injured? We had a CM at LB, A CB at RB and an ACM at RW. But still there was something else sorely lacking. Belief? Coherence? Quality? Organisation?

That’s not a performance that would be helped by Dibling at RW or anyone else for that matter. None of our midfielders seemed able to find each other regularly or create much in the way of possession let alone chances. Alcaraz was patchy, Ndiaye was below his usual standard and it was an underwhelming debut from KDH. Beto had little but what did make its way to him seldom stuck.

The only positive is that we defended pretty well and limited Leeds to few genuine chances.

Moyes will no doubt blame lack of players and he has a point but even so he needs to set up that team better and find ways of getting up the pitch. If performance levels don’t improve sharpish we will be bottom of the table before long. TFG fired Juric last season after just 12 matches. Moyes has a little more credit in the bank after good work last season but we know TFG aren’t slow to pull the trigger if things aren’t working.

But its early days and things can change quickly in football. A signing this week and a win against Brighton and Mansfield will have everyone feeling better. Work to be done.

Jerome Shields

47 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:50:02

Daniel#40

Most of the players signed were young players. Some without Premier League experience. Moyes does not put Young inexperienced players into his selections.We were lucky to see Barry, but that was because Moyes was desperate.

Playing Iroegbunam of forward was never going to work ( not his proper position).I would have swapped his position with Dewsbury Hall’s who is more of a play maker.Beto is not a target man he needs the ball played to run on to.Not one such ball did he get.Other forwards had no supply. Even Gana was being given the ball as if he was a playmaker such was the lack of awareness.

Moyes set up shop got it wrong in his selection and the players, particularly in midfield were not coached to any coherent plan geared to their strengths.

Moyes was avoiding a West Ham result, but he got what he deserved.TFG want young players developed for first team selection.What is the use of having staff and facilities costing millions and not doing that.Thst is now the problem at Everton.

Moyes in one step up from a relegation Manager and they want seasoned Professionals ,not youth.TFG want to build the Club and want the team developed and youth to be very much part of that.The average age of the Squad has decreased by 4 days from last years squad.Moyes has to develop young into the first team if he wants to keep his job

Jonathan Tasker

48 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:50:15

I genuinely believe that Kenwright has cursed the club. Nothing will convince me otherwise

Colin Glassar

49 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:51:25

That was very dispiriting. It was like a kick in the teeth followed by a punch in the gut.

After the previous season ending on a high note this felt like we were back to square one. That was a combination of the worst of Benitez/Lampard/Dyche. In fact, it was worse than Dycheball and that’s saying something.

There was no organisation. No fight. No urge to win. It was flat, listless and lifeless. No leaders on or off the pitch. Eleven individuals who look like they’d never played together before. Words fail me.

I didn’t want Moyes back. I hoped he’d be replaced, and thanked, at the end of last season by a manager with imagination and ambition. Moyes looked like a clueless old man last night with his arms folded. He looked quite sad tbh.

The season has just begun so no reason to panic. Let’s see if TFG get their fingers out of their arses and get the 3-4 quality players we need. We can’t afford to give Moyes the excuse of not having enough players, even though he might bench them or leave them out all together.

James Newcombe

50 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:54:55

Beto isn’t really a target man for long punts, I thought we had realised that. As for the Moyes calls, don’t be daft.

Handball is always a tricky call. Surely there should be some intent involved? That wouldn’t have been given against City (as we’ve seen) or Liverpool.

Keith Gleave

51 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:57:56

I made my comments on the live forum after the game. It was an abject performance. wrong team selections, no energy, no pace, no passing, so slow from the back. Kids are told to find space to give the ability to accept a pass.
I would disagree with garners score, he was found wanting on many occasions. Ndiaye wasn’t in the game. the midfield was totally over run and this was essentially last seasons team.
If the performances don’t improve, then the jibe of the best stadium in the championship will come to fruition.
We deserved nothing out of this game, however, the refereeing was abysmal. It was never a penalty and when the ball is nearly in the crowd but given to have crossed the line is incredible to me.

Robert Tressell

52 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:59:52

Probably our strangest line up / formation in many years. There were better options. Then such a flat approach to the game – playing right into Leeds hands.

There is very little difference in quality between the two sides player for player, that is true. But Moyes handed the initiative to Leeds.

We are a squad with no width and no pace – with very little quality on the ball.

I’ve been working on the assumption key signings will be made this week and next – as TFG hunt out value from an overheated market.

Let’s hope we have at least two new First XI quality players coming in. Let’s also hope TFG recognise that they’re going to have to play north of £40m sometimes for a player – just as the likes of Brentford do.

Pete Neilson

53 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:01:42

Terrible performance last night, first half especially. Our patched up defence held out until the penalty but shouldn’t have been tested so much against a supposed favourite for relegation.

Leeds looked fitter and more aggressive. In midfield and attack we looked woeful, Tim and Beto were passengers but the others were nothing to shout about. No understanding or partnerships between players, slow and wasteful with the ball and a complete lack of movement attacking.

Elland Road was rocking at the end and no wonder. Much work to be done, started with only one new player, first team quality additions needed.

Ian Bennett

54 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:15:03

Boil it down.

Beto couldn’t hold the ball up. He’s going to need to up his game, because if defenders have worked out to stop the goal scoring, the big man and us are in trouble.

We had no pace on the wide areas. Only Ndiaye could try and jink his way through.

Alcaraz isn’t a right winger. He’s a passenger in that position.

We lacked midfield quality. Dwh proved my point on being light weight, and Gana is not someone you want on the ball, creating or taking chances. I love him, but that’s not his game.

The defence lacks pace, and had no choice but to start deep against a partisan crowd where the pressure was on first half. Despite the general shitness, Leeds had created little against our unique brand of anti football.

Second half they were pretty much in control of the ball. Players had moved 10-15 yards further, but the creativity was lacking. Some of that is lads in possession, but much is the lack of movement with players resembling over 60s walking football.

I don’t know whst they do at finch farm. But training against the opposition press is a mess. We just can’t cope on keeping the ball over 2 passes. It resembles something from under 10s. It’s why we struggle when the onus is on us.

The game came down to a risky pass into alcaraz from pickford. Rather than play it to a centre back, he’s tried to turn and slipped. Leeds create some chances, which ultimately falls to a deflected shot that hits Tarkowski in the arm as he moves into the ball. I thought it was harsh, but it was risk he probably didnt need to take with a strike to the middle of the goal. Tarkowski being rash in the heat of the moment. Yes, he’s tried I get that, but thats the game done.

Where’s it leave us. Injured players are needed back and quickly. We need a right back option, a central midfielder that’s got size and is decent on the ball, and we need some quick width. We also should consider an experienced striker. If beto is a busted flush, then you’ll need an alternative.

I do fear a poor start with better fixtures. We cant be 10 games in and rooted to the bottom. The turnover of players has left them short, but this was known in April. Everyone, and I mean everyone needs to pull their finger out. Its not a blame game in individuals, its sorting it out definitively now.

Sunday awaits.

David Bromwell

55 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:15:11

I have seen some poor performances but last nights showing must rank amongst one of the very worst and we simply do not have the players to rectify the problems. We all know where the weaknesses are and until new players come in who are Match Ready we are going to struggle.

We may have a shinny new stadium but at present we certainly don’t have a squad of players to grace it and sadly the Manager last night simply highlighted the problem with his team selection and ‘ game plan ‘.

Steve Brown

56 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:24:08

Think we missed a few key ratings:

David Moyes – 4

TFG – 3

Angus Kinnear – 1

Here was me suggesting last week that this might be Moyes 2.0 – that was Moyes 1.0. The ratings for TFG and Kinnear show they must shoulder blame, but his selection and tactics did not go well.

Andrew Clare

57 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:25:23

A lot of us were strongly against the appointment of Moyes but he surprised us and did a great job to save us from relegation.
Unfortunately now we are seeing exactly why we didn’t want him back.
Negative tactics and team selection, an inability to vary tactics and use substitutions effectively- if at all, a fear of failure rather than a confidence to go for the win seems to display itself throughout the team- all as a result of the Moyes mindset.
I just hope the Friedkin have high ambitions for us.

Andrew Merrick

58 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:30:29

Even in the cool light of day, it doesn’t seem any better than it was, truly awful.

Can any team play without fullbacks?

What was the manager thinking?

OK it may be that we have injuries and therefore a difficult selection, but how has that come about, our lack of quality full backs and striker are astonishing.

But it was nevertheless less the managers job to set us up in a cohesive way, so that we could function, but what Davey served up was a disjointed travesty.

The dissatisfaction amongst the players was palpable, the shape was pulled out at will by Leeds, they turned us over and over, and not one tactical change first half, the most torrid time for team and fans alike.

We came out second half unchanged with half an idea but could just not get going.

Down to Moyes this one, will he learn? I don’t think so, he will moan.

The next 2 weeks are crucial to the season, and we just should not be in this position yet again, but here we bloody well are ffs

Alex Carew

59 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:34:47

Utter garbage and if you think anything different then you too are the problem, have we really reached the lows of accepting this garbage?

From the off the team selection was poor. Such a negative approach to the game and it was just head shakingly embarrassing for the first half.

We can go on and on about how the defence defended well, this is also the problem, not once did one of them run into space and deliver a pass. Passes along the back and then back to Pickford putting him under pressure.

Midfield non-existent and it’s hard to know who to blame but the defence didn’t even give them the ball. Any time we did get out wide, we refused to cross, usually ending up with a back pass to the defence and then on to a Pickford hoof.

We should have started with a back 3 and Garner and Ndiaye as wing backs. Filled the midfield with Grealsih as number 10 and two up front, this was Leeds after all. We got totally outplayed by an average side and if it doesn’t change soon we will be counting points by Christmas.

Dont get me started on Beto but then if you don’t give him the ball then what can you expect?

Clive Rogers

60 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:39:09

The big worry was our passing, especially in the first half. We just couldn’t keep possession. Both fullbacks in particular struggled to find a blue shirt. There seemed to be a hole in centre midfield as if nobody was playing there, so we resorted to long punts up the pitch. We don’t have any wingers so had no width. Too many players being played out of position struggled with the jobs they were given. Grealish will struggle if we play him wide left. We are not City. He will hardly see the ball out there with our midfielders.

Lee Robinson

61 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:41:19

That was one of the worst performances I have seen for a long, long time, it was embarrassing actually and I put it totally on Moyes, not only for the set up and tactics but the fact he didn’t change anything when we were obviously getting ran all over.

I felt sorry for the players at times, especially the midfield but at the same time we don’t help ourselves, why do we ping balls into players in midfield when they are surrounded, long diagonals under no pressure at someone’s head or out of play, back to Pickford to give it away for a 50/50, or even the easiest of passes are simply to the wrong foot or behind the player – Leeds pounced on them all.

It seemed to me that the defense were too low, so far apart from the midfield and we were hiding, mainly due to the reasons above, Leeds were winning everything in there and as soon as they did they could break with all the space to run into. There was no out ball up front which we all could see from Beto but also midfield.

We’d have been better playing on the counter and being solid instead of whatever set up that was, 3 in midfield but all too high pressing and nowhere to be seen.

Very very worrying performance, and with a lack of pace in the squad and his lack of faith of the players on the bench this season could be a struggle.

Shout out to O’Brien and Garner, not their best game but they gave 100% and fought for everything given the circumstances.

I say sell Beto his touch is not good enough, get an experienced striker in on loan, Dibling pay the money, Zinchenko and Brownhill for squad depth and experience and pray that gets us going until we can target some proper pace in the squad.

Shaun Parker

62 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:44:32

How can Beto be slated? How many passes did he get or the total bollocks “assits”?
He ran the whole game without anything coming his way. Give him the opportunities first and then berate him if he fooks up but you cannot blame a striker if they get 0 service.

Ralph Basnett

63 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:44:50

This is all down to Moyes!!
New left back is not ready so we weaken our midfield by taking Garner out and put him in the unfamiliar position of LB?

He has seen enough of Beto to know he is not the answer so plays him?

Not having buckets of money to spend but spunks 6 mill on yet another back-up keeper?

Buys another centre half for the future, the way he is setting us up we may not have one!

Burnley suddenly checking their calendar to see when they play us.

TFG tbh are providing for both clubs, it just seems that the Italians are looking to go forward, we are looking for nothing that we need.

I was fortunate to get tickets for all of the new stadium games but unfortunate that due to ill health did not make it to any so my first trip is this weekend were unless a miracle happens we will be further embarrassed on worldwide TV.

Robert Tressell

64 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:47:05

TFG have been clear all along that they will recruit for the end of the window – not for the start of the season. That’s the way to find value.

That disadvantages Moyes (who got his excuses in public and early) but Moyes made heavy weather of this game by over complicating the formation etc. I think the performance is largely on him.

We know that Beto, Gueye and others can be effective but they are limited footballers.

I think the game also shows it isn’t straightforward to accommodate all (or even 3 of) of Grealish, Alcaraz, KDH and Ndiaye in the same side. These guys need pace and movement from the full back positions and wing forward,

Sadly, we would have been better with Doucoure last night.

Andrew Ellams

65 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:01:53

So Robert if it isn’t straightforward and we can’t accommodate all of those players in the same side then surely this is a repeat of the complete mess made by Steve Walsh and Ronald Koeman in 2016.

Lot’s of players that can’t play together.

Robert Tressell

66 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:05:50

Yes Andrew # 65, that’s what I said last week but I was generally told these are versatile players and it’ll all be fine.

This is only resolved if we bring in pace and athleticism down the flanks – otherwise we will be far too slow and narrow (ie easy to defend against).

Conor McCourt

67 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:10:03

Robert I think last night and this morning we are all pissed off. Unbelievably there are posters hammering TFG and excusing Moyes nearly as badly as he did himself. In his presser he basically said he had no one else to play there. The dogs in the street would have seen that a formation change would have got nearly every player in a comfortable position if not their optimum one.

McNeill must have been caught sleeping with his missus or something.

For you to come on this morning and come out with your usual nonsense about money spent is really infuriating. We need to spend like Brentford? You what?

The same Brentford who lost Mbuemo their best player for nearly £70million and replaced him with a £42 million player. The same Brentford who lost their leader and heartbeat of the side for a pittance and replaced him with a free transfer who is on his Zimmer frame. The same Brentford whose only other player with any class is waiting for his move to Newcastle and has spat his dummy out.

I’m glad your not a Brentford fan as their supporters would have to listen about net spends and championship players yada yada yada.

You know we have kept Branthwaite, signed 6 players already one of which went for £100 million not long ago and is costing us approximately £12 million for the season. By the end of this window we may have spent £150 million net. I wonder what you will harp on about then?

Ian Bennett

68 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:15:06

Robert its a false economy if youre losing 2 or 3 league spots, and a laughing stock on US tours/to corporate sponsors.

Pat Kelly

69 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:22:13

We’re going g backwards. New owners, new Board, new DOF, some new players (bench ready), but we’re going backwards. What isn’t new ? Oh yeah, the old manager. Has anything really changed with that old mindset still in charge?

Denver Daniels

70 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:25:17

Charley is wasted wide right. I hope Moyes doesn’t turn him into another Lindstrom. Beto cut an isolated figure up front. He’s clearly terrible with his back to goal but we’ve seen he can be quite effective running the channels so why didn’t we do that? I’m not sure what I expected from KDH but it wasn’t that. A shit show all round really.

Andrew Ellams

71 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:25:43

Conor, we’ve signed 6 players and put out the most disjointed, unbalanced Everton team I can remember in a long time on the first day of the season.

The preseason has been a shambles on and off the pitch and will result in a poor start to the season that will put the team on the back foot from then on.

Robert Tressell

72 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:28:31

I’m not sure what I’ve said in this thread to annoy you so much Conor.

I agree Moyes ballsed up.

I hope TFG now spend money to improve the squad.

Controversial?

Dave Lynch

73 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:28:41

People forget.
This is the same squad, with additions that Moyes had playing decent football when he arrived.
But in retrospect he got us safe,and then reverted to the negative dour tactician that has plagued his whole career.
OK we had a few injuries last night but I’m convinced we had enough talent in that squad to go there and win.
As bad as we were, they weren’t much better.

Andrew Ellams

74 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:32:27

Anybody notice what side Harrison played on when he came on last night by the way.

Brian Harrison

75 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:34:40

Really disappointing start to the season, someone reckons that we have lost the opening game of the season in the last 5 seasons.

I know we have lost 2 of our regular defenders but it was in attack were there were no injuries is were we struggled. When Moyes came back he made us press high up the pitch, sadly I haven’t seen any press in the pre season or last night. We seem very disjointed, the front 3 are 20 yards apart and the attacking midfield are 10 yards adrift of the front 3. We have no pace up front or in midfield so no out ball there. It seemed we set out to pack the defence and limit their chances, but we had no attacking intent at all and only when we went a goal behind with 5 minutes left did that change.

We have struggled all pre season to create many chances and have shots on goal they were as rare as hens teeth, and again last night created next to nothing and had very little shots on or off target. We need to add some pace to this team otherwise we might struggle again this season.

I think our negativity showed just 2 passes before Pickford made that risky pass that ended up with their penalty shout, we had the ball in the centre circle on their side of the pitch, and I think it was tarks was under no pressure and should of looked for an attacking pass with only 6 minutes left to play, instead he plays it 5 yards back to Keane who played it straight back to Pickford. Had we played the ball forward the ref wouldnt have had to make a decision whether it was a penalty or not. I have lost track of the amount of times we have the ball 4 or 5 yards in the opponants half only for us in a couple of passes for it to be back with Pickford.

Jake FitzGerald

76 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:35:19

Just get the bastard transfer window over with, then we know what have to play with. Two points from Brighton and Wolves is going to have to do, then the two week break to bed new players in.
I wasn’t sold on him before last night but we could really do with a scrapper like John McGinn right now.

Phil Wood

77 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:39:30

Summed it up for me last night when we had the ball at the edge of the Leeds box with less than1 minute left of the first half. Refused to put the ball in the danger area. Just passed the ball around on the edge until the whistle blew for half time.
Pathetic.
Expecting a different mindset against Brighton or we are in big trouble.

Danny O’Neill

78 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:40:15

Most, if not all, are raging about last night. The tactics (if there were any), the formation and the lethargic performance from the players as a collective. They didn’t play as a team.

There isn’t much time to ponder over an opening day defeat. The dust will settle, but a lot of looking in the mirror and soul searching is required quickly before Sunday.

Nothing that a win against Brighton can’t help lift the mood.

Jimmy Carr

79 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:43:47

Conor (67), it’s your post that doesn’t make any sense. All Robert has said is we need to accept the going rate for players, as they’ve done at Brentford.

With any luck TFG may now put their hands deeper into their pockets after last night’s debacle. I’m not entirely absolving Moyes from blame though. That was a terrible line up. Even I’m beginning to now wonder if there’s some disconnect going on behind the scenes at Everton.

Kevin Molloy

80 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:44:25

Brian
I don’t think there’s any point to the press when we are playing so deep (forced on us if we are playing Keane)?

Andrew Ellams

81 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:45:44

Brian, we’ve lost our last 4 opening games now.

Ian Wilkins

82 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:48:38

That performance was a summary of our pre season preparation in a nutshell.
Disjointed, lacking appetite, lethargic, unprepared, lacking quality, gaps in key positions, players out of position, lacking squad depth to make changes.
It was everything we’ve seen in preparation and can be no surprise.
Who’s fault? The squad has not been improved, and is too thin. Key positions have not been addressed ( full backs, wide right, centre midfield, striker). Our additions are either not ready for PL football or all play in the same position
The combination of Moyes, Kinnear, TFG in addressing squad need has been an utter mess thus far. Moyes and his coaching staff have failed to properly prepare the squad that he has right now.

James Marshall

83 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:48:58

As Aristotle said, one swallow does not make a summer.

We played with a patched up team on day one. Shit for everyone, and while we were better in the second half, the balance was all wrong as everyone could see.

Garner did his best but he’s quite obviously not a left back – fair play to him though, I thought he was our best player under a lot of pressure.

Gana had a shocker, Alcaraz was chasing shadows and looked out of place on the right. It was all square pegs in round holes (again) and we looked like Dyche was still in charge.

It will get better and we will play better – once we get Branthwaite and Myko back we’ll have some balance at the back. That’ll help the midfield out, and hopefully we’ll stop punting the back to the opposition all the time.

There were countless times we were up near their box in possession or with a throw in, and invariably the ball ended up back at the feet of Pickford who either punting it back to Leeds, or gave it to a defender to punt it back to Leeds.

Gana needs to stop trying long balls when we have the ball, and I hope Grealish has a stern word with all of them about how to keep possession.

We have no patience with the ball – if you’ve got it and there’s nowhere to go, just keep it, don’t lob it forward with no purpose just because you can’t see an opening.

We need to learn to take care of the ball.

Dave Lynch

84 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:51:08

The one thing I do know, through talking to an ex pro is that creative and flair players “hate” having their natural game stifled by negative tactics.
They get frustrated and sulk as it’s not in their nature to play Conservative safety first football, god help Ndyia and Grealish under this fella.

Conor McCourt

85 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:53:10

Andrew whose fault is that?

Allegedly Southampton wanted £40 million for Dibling. Our manager comes out with our desperation for players and no one wants to join and suddenly £43 million is nowhere near enough.

Last night was clear that we needed a midfielder where games are won and lost. Moyes wanted KDH. He starts as a 10 where we are packed full of them and moves KDH to midfield and suddenly Stach begins to have a field day and is responsible for the goal and could have had 2 more despite not being a threat when Tim was there.

Moyes is happy with OBrien as a right back. Of the ones we are linked with I doubt any would be a huge upgrade on Garner in that position.

We were without Branthwaite. Why? Because Moyes knew he wasn’t fit leaving him out for US but rushed him back for the start of the season.

He wanted Grealish and we got him.

The managers job is to manage. If you don’t have widemen then don’t play with wingers. If you have doubts with the defensive midfield then limit this frailty by playing a back three when you have 3 experienced centre halves already on the pitch. If you need goals put your most likely goalscorer Ndiaye up close to your second most likely goalscorer Beto.

TFG aren’t miracle workers. They got rid of all the dead wood everyone wanted. They kept our best players. They have replaced all the players Moyes wanted replacing except for a right winger. We still have 3 or 4 bodies to come in so you would hope it will soon be balanced.

Is it TFG’s fault we looked like a Dyche team only without the organisation and couldn’t put two passes together all preseason and last night?

Paul Hewitt

86 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:57:23

I see Leon Bailey from Villa has gone Roma on a season loan. Pacy RW, would have been perfect for us.

Dean Johnson

87 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:57:48

What did Carlo do when James got injured?

Played the same as last night, try not to get beat.

Brian Harrison

88 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:01:15

Andrew 81 sorry I stand corrected it was just someone said 5 but its 4 either way not great to start a season losing. Brighton wont be easy but we need to play on the front foot and not sit back as they will really punish us if we do that. Couldn’t understand why we played Grealish wide left, wasn’t that his grouch with Guardiola that he couldn’t influence games from that position. I thought we would play him centrally in the 10 role, to give us more control.
Seeing as neither Branthwaite or Mykolenko will be fit to face Brighton then I am not sure what positional changes to our back 4 Moyes can make. And as I said in my post it was our attacking players that let us down not our defensive players. Seeing in Gana we have an excellent defensive midfield player, why do we seem intent on him becoming an attacking midfield player, and surely wouldnt it be better to let him sit in front of the back 4 to release the rest to get forward and help the forwards..

John Williams

89 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:05:47

If anyone thinks that Dibling is the answer to our problems, they are living in cloud cuckoo land.
I watched the Ipswich v Southampton game at the weekend.
Both Ashley Young and Dibling came on with 15 mins to go.
Young was at it, in defence and attack, Dibling looked a little boy lost, spent most of the time fixing his hairband, also did not appear to have pace.
Last night the Blues players seemed to be running with
divers boots on, beaten to nearly every ball in the first half. Evertons midfield needs sorting and we need a striker.

Mike Doyle

90 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:10:37

Kevin & Brian.
Its not just the presence of Keane that forces us to play a deep lying defence. None of the others have much pace.
This of course means big gaps between defence & midfield and midfield & attack – and an inability to keep the ball.
We saw this last night in the first half.
I expect that by half time Moyes & co realised that Leeds – for all their energy and effort – aren’t that good – so we played a bit higher and looked a little more of a threat (without really threatening).
With the personnel available I’m still surprised Moyes didn’t set up as 3-5-2 or switch to it at half time.

I’d be interested to hear what Tony Abrahams – who has played the game at a much higher level than me – thinks of this idea.

Stu Gre

91 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:15:37

When we talk about Dibling, I don’t think it matters how much we pay – he’s too young and inexperienced to get into a Moyes team regularly.

Not the answer under this manager.

Robert Tressell

92 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:18:55

Our new RB won’t be Tchatchoua that Thelwell wanted last summer. He’s just joined Wolves from Verona for €12.5m

Josh Horne

93 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:20:29

I agree Stu, we have already spent a lot of money on players that Moyes won’t play.

Why do we keep buying strikers that are not obviously good enough to go straight into the first team? Chermiti was one for the future, now it’s Barry.

We’ve also added a left back who doesn’t play even when we have no other left back.

Dibling will not have the immediate impact we desperately need, potential at that price is a luxury we cannot afford.

Conor McCourt

94 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:20:46

John I’m sure your assessment of a player you have watched for 15 minutes who has missed all of preseason will have taken all of us who would love to see him in a blue shirt out of cloud cuckoo land.

He wouldn’t have helped us last night and if we sign him we will have to be patient with him, but should he sign he will instantly become the best attacking player we have and I include Jack Grealish in that.

He is a special talent and I suspect TFG will sign someone on loan in that position who will rival him in the short term, someone with pace and different characteristics more akin to a natural wide player, who will be ready to go from the off.

James Marshall

95 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:24:59

I suspect we’ll play a lot higher up the pitch when Branthwaite and Myko are back and Grealish is starting.

We’ll have better balance and Grealish will get them passing the ball about at the right end.

Things will improve.

Ian Wilkins

96 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:25:32

I agree that adding a 19 year old Dibling to this is not the answer.
No offence to the lad, I hope he has a bright future but we need more presence on the pitch right now. It’s not him.
We lost what was it, 12 players in the Summer, we’ve thus far spent £72m in filling that void, the price of an Mbueno.

Joe McMahon

97 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:28:41

I know I keep saying this, but the most important signing we missed out on was Thomas Frank. Moyes just hasn’t evolved. The starting line up in those positions last night was a disgrace.

Robert Tressell

98 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:30:08

James # 95 you are right. Do we know when both are next available?

Keith Gleave

100 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:31:15

Normally I try to find some positives, but last night was just a sh1t show, got to be honest.

Les Callan

101 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:37:46

Can’t wait for this season to end !

Ernie Baywood

102 Posted
19/08/2025 at
10:56:55

James #95 – finally a bit of sanity!

Yes, things will get better.

The number of posters criticising the selection of an out of position player at left back and the benching of Grealish is incredible. Our left back got injured last week and Grealish signed a few days ago without any pre-season. Both decisions were completely expected (albeit you could interchange your personal choice for left back).

That won’t always be the case.

We didn’t look great, but I watched a lot of football this weekend and it was a common theme. Games were patchy and scruffy as the players get back into things.

People need to calm down. It’s reasonable to be disappointed in the performance and the result, but if you weren’t livid on Sunday, then there’s very little reason to be livid on Monday.

Sam Hoare

103 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:04:09

Supposedly Mykolenko was not far off the match yesterday so might hopefully be available for Brighton. For Branthwaite, I saw a 6 week estimate somewhere which would have returning for Villa or the Anfield derby.

By that time of course the window will be well shut and the transfer business done. That will be a better time to judge the business done by Moyes and Kinnear, which at the moment is looking worryingly second rate.

Dave Abrahams

104 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:09:21

Ernie (102) If you wasn’t livid watching that first forty five minutes then I can’t imagine what would make displeased—possibly that penalty decision? Unless of course you thought it was penalty.

I can guarantee we will improve and get better than that first half performance—I’d say it would be bleedin’ impossible to play any worse than that. Mind you——-that just might be wishful thinking on my part.

Kevin Molloy

105 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:13:56

I remember feeling exhausted just watching that game last night, and I checked the clock and we’d played five minutes. We were so off the pace.

James Fletcher

107 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:21:44

I know he’s very young but why the fuck are we not playing our only available LB? Also why did we then insist on constantly trying to play out from the back via the only out of position player on the pitch?

Scott Robinson

108 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:28:44

@John 89. Thanks for sharing the observation about Ashley Young. Letting him go was perhaps one of the biggest mistakes in pre-season. In a team short of cover at the back, and his work rate and professionalism, it was a no-brainer. Instead, we buy players for the future that we never play

Mike Powell

109 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:29:57

I was sick to the stomach watching that none performance,why can’t we put two passes together.what was Moyes thinking with that line up. Beto Tim and Alcaraz where abysmal,the rest weren’t much better.Garner tried his best, but is no left back, but at least he put a performance in, if we don’t get at least four more players in then we are gonna be in deep trouble. Leeds where there for the taking, they aren’t very good, yet they where miles better than us, another false dawn, just F,,,off Everton

Geoff Cadman

110 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:32:50

This quote adds insult to injury “Not clear enough evidence to show conclusively that it was hand ball”. Chris Kavanagh VAR referee defending his decision on the Rodri hand ball at Goodison. City won the title by a point, and Liverpool lost the league at Goodison Park

Daniel A Johnson

111 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:41:20

Everton first game of the season.

Rusty
Under prepared
Players injured
Lacking in numbers
Negative sounding manager
New signings not ready

Same every f*****g season. We don’t hit the ground running, we always land on our face. We surrender our first 5-6 matches getting up to speed whilst others are sprinting. As a club we are at times pathetic.

Good to see the old David Moyes back, angry and spouting negativity out of every pore. The dour Dave days are truly back.

Danny O’Neill

112 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:42:13

I know it’s common for the subs to warm up and have a run out at half time, but when I saw Grealish on the pitch, I thought that was him coming on for the second half as clearly, whatever the manager had in mind wasn’t working.

Likewise, I thought we might bring Armstrong on for Iroegbunam to play alongside Gana. He may only be 18, but he’s not shy on putting his foot on the ball and looking for a pass.

I see no reason why Aznou didn’t feature unless it was a late injury or the manager just didn’t fancy him starting or not even being in the squad?

As for Dibling, I think that saga will rumble on. Personally, I don’t agree with meeting the asking price, otherwise the selling club dictates. The reported £45m is a decent price for a 19 year old with potential, so I don’t think Everton should budge if Southampton are haggling over a further £5m.

Sam Hoare

113 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:55:04

I wonder how much money is actually left for transfers? If it’s £50m then I think we’d be better off leaving Dibling and going for Agoume (all round midfielder who’s apparently available for £20-25m) and Bakwa who are both a little further along in the development than Dibling.

I think a good RW is not as useful if you don’t have any control around the middle of the park. I wonder if the dire performance last night will see the transfer committee re-evaluate the priorities?

Bob Parrington

114 Posted
19/08/2025 at
11:56:33

Being pissed off with our limp defensive crap performance vs Leeds Utd, I was chatting over dinner with my Geordie wife and I showed my frustration with the stupid defensive structure by Moyes. For any on here who follow the “stars” she is a Leo (the lion). Very strong minded.
She said, why is Everton so defensive minded? The only way to win is to attack, attack attack!. There is no point in defend defend defend because you will generally lose but, at the best, draw.

I rest my case!

Wake up Moyse!!!!!!!

Kevin O’Regan

115 Posted
19/08/2025 at
12:05:18

Sorry to be of a different opinion here, but I thought that Tarks took a huge risk doing what he did and if he had not fallen into the ball (thrown himself) then he should probably get away with it. But he lives at the edge of legal and it’s too risky for me. We lost the game cause we were crap. Not because of the ref. Not every peno needs to be a scandal with millions of opinions. It’s up to us to play football and try to attack and win the game. Not that rubbish. How the hell do we time and again go from posession at the edge of the oppositions box back to Pickford without having a shot? Patethic.

Nick Page

116 Posted
19/08/2025 at
12:09:33

Fuck off, Everton.

Bill Watson

117 Posted
19/08/2025 at
12:19:21

Most of these player ratings are as ridiculous as the penalty decision.

I was at the game and it was obvious from the start that the formation wasn’t working. Moyes did lots of shouting from the touchline but did nothing to change the set up.

Changes should have been made at half time but the first of just two subs, was made in the 73rd minute.

It’s just not good enough and the whole club, from top to bottom, needs to get its finger out.

Laurie Hartley

118 Posted
19/08/2025 at
12:19:35

Moyes should have set up 451 from the start. He gave them the run of the midfield in the first half.

The back 4 did OK
The 5 in midfield starting from left to right should have been:-
Ndiaye, Grealish, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeill
Beto up top.

Grealish should have started – if he tired he could have taken him off after 60.