Everton found it really difficult to extend their early-season winning run when goalless Aston Villa thwarted every Blues move at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday | OneFootball

Everton 0 - 0 Aston Villa

Everton found it really difficult to extend their early-season winning run when goalless Aston Villa thwarted every Blues move at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday. But Beto was Everton's bete noir for his clumsy awkward missed chances.

No great surprises in the Everton line-up (apart from Nathan Patterson on the bench!), with Iliman Ndiaye declared fit to start after a little scare. In defence, Michael Keane is making his 200th Premier League appearance for the club, while Beto leads the attack.

Mykolenko is injured so James Garner drops back into the left-back slot, with Jake O'Brien continuing at right-back.

Jack Grealish and Tim Iroegbunam take the field against their former club, while Lucas Digne starts for Villa, but Onana is out injured.

First Half

The Villains kicked off... sort of, with Martinez standing on the ball for 15 seconds... Everton pushed forward first and Ndiaye played in Beto but the big man tripped over his own feet with the goal gaping and the ball squirmed behind, with Mings going down and needing treatment before he returned.

Villa's main ploy was to deny possession to Everton but that failed and Everton tried to work it in, Grealish very active, winning the ball back and clipping it up to the back post where Beto had strayed offside. A brilliant ball forward from Tarkowski was delivered perfectly for Beto to receive behind the Villa defence but he made a total mess of it.

A free-kick wide left was sent in by Dewsbury-Hall but Michael Keane headed over.

From a good position, wide left, with Grealish pressing, Everton worked it all the way back to Pickford, then forward for a long throw-in wide right. Ndiaye skipped forward down the right channel, his cross defended for a throw-in. That was delivered in well, Beto's shot blocked before Grealish fired at Martinez, the ensuing corner drawing a foul on Martinez.

Villa looked dangerous when Digne overlapped down the left, his cross headed away by O'Brien. Another brilliant ball played forward straight to Beto's feet was immediately lost and Tarkowski was called for a perfectly good tackle on Rogers.

Grealish worked for a corner this time that Martinez did well to paw away. It allowed Villa to mount an attack but they got themselves offside. Still, Everton found it hard to play out until Grealish was fouled.

Buendia somehow got a free-kick off Ndiaye, who redeemed himself, drawing a foul off Digne by denying him the ball. An Everton long throw from Garner almost caused havoc but Martinez stole the ball off Keane's boot.

Another push forward saw Grealish win another corner, Keane with the header at the near post but it was too high for him and went over. Grealish drew a challenge from Cash that earnt him the first yellow card.

A decent Everton attack was affected by memorial applause in the crowd and Villa got forward as a result, a shot fortunately blocked. It was a pretty competitive game with Villa looking increasingly threatening when they were allowed to advance.

Some great forward play by Ndiaye was spoilt by an overhit cross that Grealish tried to return but it was cleared and Villa surged forward again. Keane had to give them their first corner, which Everton cleared but with no one upfield.

The Everton counter did eventually win a corner, the ball shanked behind by Bogarde, that somehow squirmed off Teilemans's knee and just wide for a second corner. Garner played it to Gana in space and he felt he just had to take one of his awful wasteful shots way off-target.

Ndiaye lost the ball and Iroegbunam fouled Watkins from behind, drawing a yellow card for a dangerous free-kick but Digne could only hit the blue wall and that was pretty much it for a challenging first half in which Everton had come close but not close enough to scoring.

Second Half

It was equally competitive going into the second half, with Tielemans replaced.

A fantastic ball in from Garner was again perfect for Beto to convert... but somehow it squirmed past him and wide of the far post. Just incredible how that one was not converted!!!

Greaslish and Dewsbury-Hall rather overplayed it — why not just hit it instead of again playing in Beto for no real end product? At the other end, a great run and a deflected shot by Buendia that just curled inches beyond the far post gave Pickford a fright.

Villa surged forward again and Tarkowski had to play it behind as Villa took the initiative. Cash's corner caused panic but Digne's shot to the far corner was caught well by Pickford. Another Villa attack was thwarted but the Blues struggled to advance themselves until Digne fouled Ndiaye.

Dewsbury-Hall took the deep free-kick, which was poor but it came through to Beto and yet again, he failed to hammer it at goal and the chance was gone in a flash. A great pullback from Watkins picked out Buendia who set himself for an acrobatic strike but Iroegbunam did brilliantly to block him without conceding a penalty.

Great determination by Dewsbury-Hall won the ball high up, his cross/shot parried by Martinez out to O'Brien as Digne got hurt in the melee, O'Brien's shot blocked, Ireogbunam's deflected well wide. The corner was taken after Digne was removed for treatment, and going out of play.

Iroegbunam was replaced by Röhl, with Everton now seriously deficient in midfield. Grealish was trying his tricks and seemed to be fouled by Guessand but Simon Hoper saw it differently. Then Buendia saw yellow for his awful tackle from behind on Ndiaye.

Some real magic from Grealish led to a wonderful header from Michael Keane and an absolutely brilliant save from Martinez to deny him. Everton tried to spring a decent move from a corner but Ndiaye was thwarted and a goal kick given rather than a corner.

Everton had done a lot better since Röhl came on and finally Barry replaced Beto, who quite frankly had been hopeless.

The fraught and fractious nature of the game continued unabated, Ndiaye stopping Elliott from shooting. Digne's free-kick was well held by Pickford as Watkins powered in on him. Grealish tried again but his book of tricks did not include beating three men at once, after holding it for too long.

Guessand fouled Dewsbury-Hall. Röhl tried a shot from way out but he was even worse than Idrissa Gana Gueye! Villa attacked but overhit their final pass.

Ndiaye beat himself with one of his own pirouettes and Villa attacked again with the minutes ticking away. But Röhl got the ball through to Barry who was marshalled well, his shot pushed wide.

From the corner, Grealish played it back for Garner who drilled it but this time it was deflected high.  More Grealish magic from the corner, Keane flinging himself but not enough contact to get his header on target.

In to 5 minutes of added time, Everton tried again, Grealish again closed down quickly by a posse. Barry and Konsa chased down a ball but Barry couldn't stop himself grabbing a handful of shirt.

A really difficult game, 20 efforts at goal but only 2 on target, and no goals.

Subs not Used: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Aznou.

Attendance: 52,114

Mike Hayes 2 Posted 13/09/2025 at 13:59:12

Looking good with options in the bench let’s get another win at home and the three points. Off to see the women at the old lady tomorrow 💙

Kevin Molloy 3 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:10:28

letting Young go felt daft at the time, and so it has proven. Having to move Garner there is such a loss to the midfield.

Christy Ring 4 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:15:46

Agree with Kevin, it's ridiculous we have to move Garner out if his proper position where he was immense against Wolves. If Aznou is fit enough for bench, why not start him?

Terry Farrell 5 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:26:59

Illi ndiye starts made my day!

Rob Hooton 6 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:27:50

I can see why Moyes has done it, the same team beat Brighton. Aznou was a doubt, so perhaps on the bench in case of emergency (or to get a run out if it’s going well).

Ashley Young did a good job for us, but he’s past this level now, it was time to part - perhaps he also just wants to play football, and we would rarely use him? He likely recognised his own limitations.

Bill Griffiths 7 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:37:55

While I can understand to some extent the argument that it was better not to sign someone for the sake of it I find it impossible to believe they couldn't find anyone suitable to fill in temporarily.Hope I 'm wrong but I think that the failure to sign a right back and left back will come back to haunt us this season.

Dave Abrahams 8 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:38:12

I wouldn’t have Iroegbunam in centre midfield while I had a much better player playing out of position where his lack of pace is likely to be exposed, we were lucky to beat Brighton on the day maybe we will get away with it today and that will suit me but James Garner is a midfield player not a full back and we have the same problem in the right back position.Alls well that ends well so hoping for a win.

Si Cooper 9 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:41:28

It wasn’t letting Young go that was the problem, it was any failings in recruitment that have followed.

I disagree that Garner is absolutely irreplaceable in a midfield berth and so cannot be used as the utility player he is.

I do agree with Dave Abrahams that there may be other reasons for not exposing him at left back.

I am more concerned about still relying on our slowest central defensive pairing. It can be argued that the first Wolves goal was precisely due to that problem.

I know Tarks is a warrior and Keane has not done much wrong, but pace is their limiting factor.

As the Villa team isn’t published here I’ve had to look elsewhere. Fortunately it looks like, out of their starters, Watkins and possibly Rogers are their only really pacey attackers (at least I don’t associate Buendia, McGinn or Tielemans with speed across the ground, but I don’t know about Bogarde).

Maybe lack of pace is Villa’s current problem? If it is, I withdraw my initial concern. If we get a goal early on to prey on their anxiety I think we could break our recent hoodoo against them quite comfortably.

Come on you merciless Blues!

Terry Farrell 11 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:43:35

Dave with respect Tim ain't slow!

Si Cooper 12 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:50:06

Terry, I take it as Dave is talking about Garner’s relative (lack of) speediness.

Dave Abrahams 13 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:53:34

Terry (11)

I was referring to Garner's pace to be honest, but in central midfield that is not essential as long as you've got a football brain which I think Garner has got and uses it very well.

Not being too hard on Iroegbunam but I don't think he is ready yet and would have preferred it if he had gone on loan and Harrison Armstrong had stayed and played today for us instead of being on the bench at Preston — but it's early days and a long season, so maybe patience will tell.

Iain Crawford 14 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:55:55

Not ideal at all Garner at left-back, but Anzou must not be ready.

I think we will leak a goal today, but have the players to score two or more. Everton 2 Villa 1. COYBLUES!

Paul Kossoff 15 Posted 13/09/2025 at 15:00:57

Why is Coleman not playing? Desperate times with no full-backs and Moyes has his mate sitting on the bench. Has Coleman not asked why he's not on the pitch?

Villa, no goals and no wins, and a sly dirty little fucking ex-Red playing for them, what can go wrong? Coyb.

Ernie Baywood 16 Posted 13/09/2025 at 15:51:47

We're missing someone in midfield who can control the game. Villa do have one, so they're controlling the midfield.

The best option we have is at left back. And I'm not convinced he's a better emergency left back than McNeil.

It's a mistake and one that's already been made this season. It didn't need to happen again.

Why is Digne being booed?

Paul Kossoff 19 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:03:25

No live forum and no goals. Surely Beto has to be taken off, come on Moyes make a move.

Beto has just missed another sitter, three minutes in, come on, for fk sake!!!

Near a Villa goal, we need to score quickly now as Villa are dangerous.

We need these three points as we ain't gettin nothin next week against the red shite. Very low running at us now with pace, if we don't score in the next twenty, then I fear.

Paul Kossoff 20 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:16:25

Villa now running at us with pace I meant. Villa coming into the game with confidence, no subs. Possibly put on Barry and bang in the crosses.

Dibling off the bench will cause Villa problems. Beto again the ball bounces off him with poor control and decisions. Villa having better play now.

Röhl on Timmy off, will Röhl play an attacking Röhl?

Paul Kossoff 21 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:21:19

Should have scored, corner. Keeper dropped the ball, O'Brien shot but deflected. Yellow cards for Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish.

Another yellow, nasty tackle on Jack and a card for villa. Reds nasty get Elliott on for Villa. Missed Keane header fantastic save from Mr Martinez.

Paul Kossoff 22 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:32:43

Can't believe Beto is still on, the old last 10 minutes sub then is it?

Desperate times now... blimey, Barry on for Mr Bungles.

Paul Kossoff 23 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:36:25

We have run out of ideas now. Villa winning all the second balls, no press from us.

Villa will see the game is for the taking and seem to have nullified our forwards.

Paul Kossoff 24 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:45:00

We aren't creating anything now, poor second half. Villa making more subs, we are reluctant to shoot, time running out. if Watkins is playing, he must be in disguise.

Barry not had a touch, didn't look like Dibling will come on with 7 minutes to go. Grealish out of ideas against his old club. Play like this against that lot and it will be Goodnight, Vienna.

Should I say it? A point's a point. Tactics not working at all, takes off a big forward and puts another one on, same experiment, will it work?

Paul Kossoff 25 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:53:40

Keane header wide, 3 minutes left. Can't see a goal for us sadly, we have lost the plot. Villa: no wins no goals,

MotD or a film? Where is Arnie and Rambo when you need a bit of steel? Final minute. Ref's been poor, times up, points a point.

Game over, played first half great, Beto should have given us all three points, not good enough from him. Tried hard, but Villa sorted us out second half. I'll take a repeat score line next game.

Dan Parker 27 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:56:39

A difficult watch, not the best but we lost many games at stalemate like that last season.

Keane has been outstanding so far this season.

Rod Harrington 28 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:57:27

Well said Andy.

Paul Kossoff 29 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:58:12

Andy, fuck off you miserable twat. Ring my neck in? You are taking the piss mate, your tea served cold today was it?

Miserable get. Always one fucker to spoil the day. Jeeeez!!!

Dave Williams 30 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:02:49

If that's the best you can do, Paul, you should go elsewhere to sound off.

Alan McGuffog 31 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:03:25

Thank God we were able to strike a deal to bring Dibling in.

Robert Tressell 32 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:04:21

TBH Paul, I thought you were doing a good job as a one man live forum.

Very frustrating game. We're definitely plenty better than last season but we're still very much a work in progress. I know Moyes could have done things differently but he's still limited by the quality available.

Beto should have won that match for us really. Annoying, but we'll have days when we play worse than that and win.

Tom Bowers 34 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:06:58

No goals against today, which is sound against he likes of Rogers and Watkins, but we need offense and I like Beto but he has deficiencies for a Premier League ''scorer''. Not sure of the answer at the moment with what we have.

Moyes has to sort that out soon. We were poor against Leeds however today they played well in the first half but the Villa defense held our offense without too much difficulty. It could be a difficult ride until January unless Moyes gets the right offensive prowess.

Jim Bennings 35 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:07:27

Point is a point against a decent albeit out-of-form Aston Villa.

Sadly, the striker situation which I was so concerned about all summer will probably be the main reason why we fail to win many games that we are on top in and creating chances.

Neither Beto nor Barry fill me with too much confidence that they will possess the necessary firepower to shoot us higher up in the long term.

Kevin Naylor 36 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:08:16

Put Keane up front once Jarrad's back, surely can't be any worse than what we currently have.

Great header today only foiled by an even greater save.

Alan J Thompson 37 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:08:57

Second half started as per the first half with Beto not making the best of a chance.

Villa seemed to stop Grealish and Ndiaye mostly by having 2 or 3 players on them and we had nobody else who could use the gaps that should have created and maybe Moyes could have moved one or the other inside or played both on one wing just to change things or is that asking too much of our manager?

Even then, I thought that Beto and Iroegbunam should have been subbed on the hour but Barry seemed little improvement on Beto albeit a lot of our supply had dried up by then.

At best, another game, another point that maybe should have been three as Villa were not that impressive either.

Lee Courtliff 38 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:10:13

Difficult game, the lack of a left-back really hinders us and we lose Jimmy in centre-midfield. I agree with the previous poster who said McNeil would probably be as good at left-back as Garner is.

Still, a much better start to the season than previous ones and another clean sheet. Michael Keane really deserves to keep his place when Branthwaite is back.

And thanks to everyone who posted links on the Live Forum.

Paul Kossoff 39 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:10:40

I happily relayed the commentary from Merseyside today in case anyone didn't have the game on.

For some unknown reason, some miserable twat decided that because he was sitting on the toilet and realised no toilet paper and he's got real and verbal diarrhoea, decides to take it out on a fellow blue.

I'm sorry you are such a miserable cunt, Andrew, go lie down in a darkened room, and stay there as long as possible, you would be doing us a favour. Oh, and take Rodney with you.

Ernie Baywood 40 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:11:26

We were always going to struggle to live up to the expectation built up during the international break.

Villa are a very good side. 3 games in is no kind of sample size. We've done well to hold them to zero chances and create a fair amount ourselves.

I thought Grealish was good again. But Villa did what they could and pulled 2 back onto him. And we didn't seem to adjust to that. Our midfield looked happy to give it to him and hope he would create something.

We had a lack of control and desperately needed a central midfielder to dictate the play a bit.

Tim's performance wasn't unexpected. It was pretty much what you get out of him and wasn't what we needed. That's not on Tim, that's on Moyes.

Good to get a look at Röhl. On first glance, I'd say he's more a ball-winner than playmaker.

Mihir Ambardekar 42 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:12:13

Beto wasted many chances. I like him but he should have scored at least one.

We were the better side but not good enough in final third.

Steve Brown 43 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:12:51

xG of 2.12 v 0.31, 20 shots, 0-0. We need a striker.

We dominated them first half and should have gone in 2-0 up. They had a spell in the second half but we then took over again. They had to double up on Grealish but he still created chances; Dewsbury-Hall was very good and Gana immense.

I thought Michael Keane was excellent.

Christy Ring 44 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:13:15

Could have put Ndiaye up front and Dibling on the wing, Beto could have had a hat-trick, if he hadn't two left feet.

I hope Mykolenko is fit for next week, and play Garner in his proper position.

Kevin Molloy 45 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:13:25

Barry will take a couple of months to properly settle but will then be first choice. At that point, we will also see a lot more of Dibling, Garner will be in his proper position, and we'll have Branthwaite and Mykolenko back.

That was a makeshift defence, and Iroegbunam is definitely not in our first-choice 11 when we've got our players back. Not a bad point, Villa can go anywhere and get a point, especially with that goalie.

Michael Kenrick 46 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:13:59

Beto could have had a hat-trick... Keane could have had a hat-trick... Both failed... but for very different reasons.

Villa knew exactly how to stall Grealish, and succeeded 85% of the time. He did vary his playbook... but not quite enough, and not until way too late in the game.

Only two subs... why not give Alcaraz and Dibling a go? Play Aznou to allow Garner to step up into midfield? Use Coleman or Patterson.

Moyes sees the game on a knife-edge and is too shit-scared to make a change that risks winning as much as losing the game... so he leaves it as is. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Si Cooper 47 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:16:45

No visuals of the game so reliant on OS commentary and Sky updates.

Seemed like we pretty much dominated but couldn't convert the small number of good chances we were able to fashion.Did Pickford have anything to do? Martinez definitely made at least one excellent save and sounded like they got some important blocks in as well.

The selection was quite conservative at the back. Did that affect our overall creativity? Did we give Villa too much respect?

We didn't use potential goal-scoring threats like Alcaraz or McNeil and left Garner at full-back. It's a tricky choice by the manager but would it have been better to risk the 1 point we had in the bag by really going for the 3?

Left with 1 point, a clean sheet, and still unbeaten in games that count at BMD, but lots of ifs, buts and maybes as well.

Andy Crooks 48 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:17:37

Wow, Paul. I normally like your stuff, but you've hurt my feelings. Heading to darkened room now.

Didn't get what you were doing, by the way.

Bill Gall 49 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:18:28

On a positive note we never lost, and just 1 point is better than none.

Oliver Molloy 50 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:19:17

Every team doubles up on Grealish, even when he was at Man City.

Alan McGuffog 51 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:20:24

I feel that everyone of us wants Beto to come good. He just seems that sort of character that is very likeable.

The thing is… he's bloody useless as a footballer.

Sean Kearns 52 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:21:53

Same team next week against the shite except swap Tim for Roehl…

Beto is much better than Barry. Beto hastles, creates some chances with his effort and seems to get a lot of good chances (he misses some but so do all strikers). I appreciate that Beto gets into those positions in the first place.

Barry does none of that. He actually did fuck all when he came on and I wasn't impressed… Barry doesn't even get into positions to miss chances.

Beto is super physical and always muscles opposing players out of the way to find the ball. Bazza looks well and truly useless.

Steve Brown 53 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:22:58

Michael, I thought Moyes could have tried rotating Ndiaye and Grealish occasionally to give them something to think about.

They were doubling up on Grealish, which should have given us space elsewhere. But we simply kept giving it to Jack rather than taking on responsibility elsewhere.

Mark Boullé 54 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:23:03

It really baffles me, in a tight game where we're struggling to break a team down, that 3 out of the permitted 5 subs aren't used.

What must Dibling, a £40m attacking player, be thinking? He can't be said not to be ready for the Premier League, he played nearly a full Premier League season last season. We could have tried McNeil on the left, Grealish on the right, Ndiaye or Dibling through the middle...

So many options, finally, what Moyes always wanted, and he doesn't use them! Maddening, we really should have won that game against a Villa side showing no ambition whatsoever!

A word for Simon Hooper — that was one of the most incompetent refereeing displays I've ever watched. Maybe only the Clattenburg derby was worse.

Andy Crooks 55 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:24:02

Sean, saying that Beto is much better than Barry, pretty much sums up our problem. Because Beto is awful.

Sean Kearns 56 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:25:07

I agree, it’s the lesser of the evils. But Beto’s goal record isn’t terrible and he gets into so many good positions which also lead to corners or at least gets the crowd up more.

Oliver Molloy 57 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:27:10

Alan, I agree with you - we all like him as a person and all Evertonains want ALL our players to shine.

Alan McGuffog 58 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:31:52

Aye aye aye ayeBeto is better than BarryThe Stracq was better than Bernie WrightAnd Yakubu my daughter could marry

Mike Allison 59 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:34:37

Seems to have been a decent performance but it's really, really poor from Moyes not to make more substitutions to try something different. Coming off at 0-0 with Alcaraz, Dibling and McNeil all having sat on the bench for the entire match is a failure on his part.

Villa are a good team, it's a long season and this isn't a terrible result, but it feels like we didn't even try everything we could to win. This is the second manager running where it always feels like every opposition manager is better at substitutions than he is.

Steve Brown 60 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:35:34

Jimmy Garner actually laughed when Beto bungled the chance he created with his cross in the second half.

The second clear cut chance he messed up in front of goal because he couldn't sort his feet out. He was really poor.

I have no idea why Moyes left him on so long, but then I thought the manager was too passive in tactics and replacements second half.

Kieran Kinsella 61 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:36:50

Villa are ageing but very savvy. Defended well, double teamed Grealish, broke up play.

Frustrating to watch but we've played that way many times in recent years so they'll feel they deserved a point. But, if we had a half-decent striker, we would have won.

But, finishing apart. lots of positives in overall game play.

Andy Meighan 62 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:47:04

An half decent striker wins that game for us today. As Jim said, not bringing a decent striker in during the window will come back to haunt us.

I'm convinced that neither Beto nor Barry will get 12 goals between them. January transfer window a right back and a half decent striker.

That said, we looked okay today and Garner and O'Brien are playing out of their skins as makeshift full-backs.

Derek Knox 63 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:57:09

A hat-trick? He wouldn't even find his head, unless he looked up his own arse!

Why he wasn't subbed earlier is another strange decision. However, looking on the positive side, so nearly a win!

Tony Heron 64 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:59:50

While I fully appreciate the need to protect young players, I look at the young lads that have featured for Liverpool and Arsenal, and then I think, have we not got a youngster who could do a job equal to, if not better, than our 2 "strikers(!)"?

Dan Parker 65 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:03:04

We’ve got to Röhl with it, we’ve got to take our time.

Kevin Naylor 66 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:11:06

Moyes will get sacked if we don't finish top half at least imo.

These owners are far more ruthless than Kenwright and co so he can't let too many games like these get away without 3 points.

Dave Abrahams 67 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:25:22

I thought Everton wasted a lot of possession in the second half and Dewsbury-Hall was disappointing as well as giving three stupid fouls away, just two subs made with the obvious ones coming off

And why Alcaraz wasn't brought on instead of Röhl, who is still finding his way in England, with the score 0-0, he needs to make his way when we are 2- or 3-nil up.

I'm not too upset with the score because I think a lot of fans have over hyped the previous games. We will get better in time but need a better and bigger squad before that happens as well as being more adventurous – especially at home.

Tarkowski my Man of the Match for what it's worth!

Jerome Shields 68 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:28:53

Mykolenko missing in defence was always going limit Everton. But they did get forward better than against Leeds and chances were provided.Though Villa had done their homework, as opposition teams are sure to do in the Premier League.

I thought Moyes could have brought on his subs earlier and subbed a few more to try to win the game, but Moyes will always play safe. We really need to be able to adjust and change tactics during the game.

I hope Mykolenko is back for the next game.

John Charles 69 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:37:20

Just back from the game. We battered them and should have won by at least 2 clear goals.

Beto, Beto, Beto... What the fuck?

Not the biggest Garner fan but thought he played well. Another day and we are all singing the blues.

John Charles 71 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:39:50

Röhl settled in well without disrupting the whole shape of the team.

Barry is as worrying as Beto.

Rob Jones 73 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:44:20

What a weird game. Total contrast to the Brighton game, which we won by two but could have lost. This one we drew and I think 4-0 would have flattered Aston Villa. A mix of poor finishing and Emi Martinez doing what so many keepers do to us.

I'm far more encouraged by the performance today than the one we watched against Brighton before the international break. We're a striker away from being a really, really good team.

Andy Crooks 74 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:44:21

Paul Kossoff, I hadn't a clue you were actually relaying a commentary. It makes the posts I commented on quite intriguing.

I apologise, Paul, for my response.

Rob Hooton 75 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:46:43

I thought we generally played well and deserved to win the game, we certainly tried to!

We'll likely have to wait until next summer for a new striker, so we have what we have. There were more important positions to fill this summer and we've filled those well (right-back aside, though I thought Jake had a great game).

Michael Keane was magnificent, read everything well and was very unlucky not to score a goal or two. Branthwaite won't just walk back into the team at this rate, which is a good thing IMO.

Grealish should have more space next week, the other lot will be more focused on attacking us. Villa defended well and doubled/tripled up on him and Ndiaye – Ndiaye had some exceptional moments once again and we'll do well to hold onto him, he's electric and just ghosts past players gracefully.

Still no goals conceded at our new home, a positive given we're yet to have our first choice defence available.

Got to be positive, let's get a jammy win next week with the winner off Beto's arse!

Scott Hamilton 76 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:49:18

Currently sat in the Tai Pan Chinese restaurant near the ground, waiting for my main course (we tried to get an Uber but gave up).

Best 0-0 I've seen for years. Should've won 2-0 or better but let's just enjoy the performance. We need a centre-forward as Beto should've scored at least twice. Otherwise, everyone played well and we attacked right until the final whistle. Merlin Röhl looked epic.

UTFT!!!!

Steve Cotton 77 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:52:18

The ref was at least consistent...

I don't think he gave us much at all but couldn't wait to blow if a Villa player hit the dirt...

Kunal Desai 78 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:53:49

Frustrating as we were worthy of the 3 points today. By and large, we controlled the 90 minutes.

I guess having that cutting edge up front is the difference from being a top 6/7 side which we all know is work in progress. For now it's Beto and Barry, we can hopefully look for Beto's upgrade next summer.

Positives are 4 points from the first two games at HD. 4 points which we didn't get from the corresponding fixtures last season.

Rob Hooton 79 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:58:04

Steve C, I also thought the ref was the complete opposite of a ‘homer' today, a few baffling decisions.

Hilarious to see two foul throws in the first half from Villa, a rarity.

Jon Atkinson 80 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:59:34

Happier with the defence, don't remember Pickford making a save. Iroegbunam faded badly in the second half and should've been hooked earlier.

Beto was a handful at times but he's no skill or quick feet. Barry got one shot off in his short stint, really disappointed Dibling didn't get on, Ndiaye wasn't as good in the last 20 minutes – ideal time to bring the youngster on.

Villa – all the dark arts largely unpunished by the fat fuck in the middle.

Colin Glassar 81 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:03:48

Considering we didn't have qualified full-backs, and we lack a centre-forward, I think we did quite well.

If Ndiaye and Grealish had proper, overlapping, full-backs we would have won that. And, of course, a striker who knows where the old onion bag is.

Ajay Gopal 82 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:06:52

Aston Villa had a clear strategy to double team Grealish. As someone else before mentioned, I don't know why it didn't open up space for others. Especially since Matty Cash was on a yellow card fairly early in the contest?

In such a situation, someone like Dwight McNeil would be more useful to lash one in from around the penalty box. Gueye and Röhl tried it but their efforts were woeful.

O'Brien showed some good ball skills for someone so huge. I think Ndiaye and him are making a decent partnership on the right side.

Iroegbunam was disappointing today, I felt that he was the guy who should have been sent out on loan, not Armstrong.

When Mykolenko gets fit and comes in, it will change the entire dynamic of the team, because then Garner comes back to his natural position. But yes, we badly need a better quality goal poacher than Beto.

Conor McCourt 84 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:20:20

I'm surprised by the laissez-faire attitude about the result. This was a good Villa team, better than us, but never has there been a more perfect time to play them.

Watkins has looked disinterested since he didn't get his move in the summer and Kamara, who in my opinion was their best player last season, was out injured with his understudy Onana also out. You could see they were devoid of confidence from their poor start to the season.

This game was a real test if we could challenge for a European place but it seems Moyes's delight at a point has spilled over onto ToffeeWeb. Why did the manager not replace Beto earlier to give Barry a chance with some service?

Was this not the game to drop KDH deeper wihen taking off Tim to try and win it to get either Charliy or Dibbling on? If not then KDH should have been taken off also as he wasn't offering much.

By bringing on Dibling alone, he could have caused a lot of danger by moving Ndiaye left and getting Jack central. This would have caused new challenges to the full-backs who were already booked.

Not a bad day at all but still a missed opportunity, I would suggest.

Mark Taylor 85 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:20:34

I thought we were okay and didn't really learn that much new, other than:

- Garner had a much better game at left-back but he didn't have tricky wingers like in the last 2 games and in any case, he's needed in the middle because he is better than Tim. Hope Mykolenko is back for RS.

- Okay, this is new, Keane might actually be quite a good defender, at least against how Villa play.

- And I guess a shout out for Röhl who didn't look out of place in his first Premier League start and that is not to be sniffed at given how underwhelming Wirz has been for the Red Shite.

All the other things we know. Grealish and Ndiaye are special players, Gana does what he does, Dewsbury-Hall was quieter but still showed quality, while upfront.

I said on the Live Forum, we could maybe take a leaf out of the film, The Fly, put Beto in pod, Grealish in pod 2 and take out what is teleported to pod 3.

The contents of pod 4 can stay there.

Ian Jones 86 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:23:15

Paul Kossoff, I'm guessing you couldn't find the Live Forum.

You just need to look for it – it's not difficult to find. It's where you see 'Live Forum'. :)

Paul Kossoff 87 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:32:09

Ian,

Go and take a fucking powder and shut the fuck up!

Jeeeez, some fucking narks on her today.

Paul Kossoff 88 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:32:11

Leeds and Villa, they are the teams we needed to get maximum points off; to get one is a disappointment.

We have the Red Shite next game, let's have a go at them and pin them back, can't go and defend. Coyb.

Ian Jones 90 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:47:08

I got the message the first time. Apologies for any offence, Paul. I admit I was probably just amusing myself.

'Dickhead' badge accepted and I'll wear it with pride!

Ian Bennett 91 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:49:31

2.17 xG20 shots2 shots on targets

Thought they were worthy of the 3 points, but typically a re-picked Martinez thwarted the Blues. Villa were poor, but missed the cutting edge when it mattered most.

Missed a left-footed balance on the left. Tim Iroegbunam did okay, but probably needed Garner to sit.

A decent start. Missed some chances.

Colin Glassar 93 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:52:47

Conor, I think we come from such a low point in our history that, yes, a point against Villa is looked upon by many as decent.

It's going to take most of us a while before we start thinking we can win every game.

As for Moyes going all out for a win? Forget it. He's not going to change now. His philosophy is to avoid losing at all cost. A win is a nice treat.

Les Callan 94 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:56:41

Alan @58.

Does she know?

Ian Jones 95 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:57:46

Paul, seems your first post to me got deleted. That's a shame really as my response won't mean much in isolation.

Anyway re games against Leeds and Villa. Agree with you suggesting we should get maximum points off Leeds, although with it being their first match back, it was always going to be difficult, one point would have done for me.

As for Villa, again, difficult opponents for us for a few years, so a point would have been good, However, in Villa's current state, yes, disappointed not to get 3.

Looking at points in the other games, 3 against a usually strong Brighton was a bonus and 3 points against Wolves was good, so all in all to have 7 points out of the first 12 on offer is okay.

Sean McCarthy 96 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:57:49

Beto is Championship level at best and even that may be too generous!! He's no better than Niasse was and we all know how bad he was.

In the last few years we've spent over £60M on strikers……none of whom are anywhere near the required level. Why this wasn't addressed in the summer is a mystery.

Moyes is no mug so surely he sees just how poor our strikers are. I'd be tempted to play Ndiaye as a false 9 and play Dibling wide right. Seriously could that be any worse than with either Beto or Barry upfront?

Phil Wood 97 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:58:47

Very enjoyable match. We would have given our eye teeth for a performance like that a year ago. Many players moving up to the plate now.

Disappointing finishing but we now have players who can take players on and create chances. Some potentially very good new players on the fringes too, Branthwaite and Mykolenko to return.

What is not to like? We have a future as a competitive Premier League team.

Villa may not be flamboyant at the moment but are a tough professional outfit with many good players. They will move up the table. We played them off the park at times but missed the finishing.

I'm optimistic for the rest of the season. I couldn't say that last year.

Onwards and Upwards.

Les Callan 99 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:16:21

Beto, Barry, Niasse, Kone. All as bad as each other.

With a half-decent striker, we'd have won easily today.

Les Callan 100 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:17:16

And what did he say, Alan?

Dave Lynch 101 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:18:59

You just cannot miss sitters like Beto did and expect to win a game of football at that level.

Barry looks little better, he just isn't physical enough to battle Premier League defences.

Come January, we need to get a proven striker.

Tommy Carter 102 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:20:29

A game that was there to be won but unfortunately Moyes didn't attempt to do that. Rather than pursue a win and make it happen. He waited for it to happen.

This was a poor Villa side for recent times and, every time I looked down at the technical area, I saw a perplexed manager in Unai Emery who seemingly had a team unable to carry out what he was asking them to do.

They improved after the break. They adjusted to the threat we offered with Grealish and they got to grips with Ndiaye who ran them ragged in the first 45 minutes.

A couple of long balls really closed Mings and Konsa and they looked amateur.

When you consider how solid we looked in comparison at the back, you have to conclude that we should've exploited their weaknesses. But we didn't.

When they adjusted to manage our threat, Moyes did not re-adjust. He spent all summer courting Dibling and then doesn't play him. We repeatedly won fouls in dangerous areas and he didn't see an opportunity to introduce Dwight McNeil to improve set-piece delivery.

We had 5 available subs for fresh legs and he uses just 2. Despite this. I am pleased at the standard of our playing squad. Michael Keane was excellent.

John Charles 103 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:24:31

Even with the qualification that we could have thrown a bit more caution to the wind for the win, what a difference a year makes.

It is refreshing to watch an entertaining attacking team and not the absolute shite we were subjected to before Moyes returned.

Ian Bennett 104 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:24:54

Sean, he tried to sign Delap, Woltemade, and signed Barry in the end.

I don't think there is a shortage of wanting better players. Having enough money and convincing players to come is a different matter.

We spent less than £100M on 9 players, and consider that a big transfer window. Liverpool spent £210M on two strikers.

Sam Hoare 105 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:32:12

Good performance that deserved a better result. We bossed the game against a top 8 team and have not done that frequently in the last few years.

A bad day for Beto but at least he seems to find chances. So hard to find reliable strikers and even very good (and expensive) ones like Watkins will have bad games if not patches.

Moyes may feel that his substitutions did not impact the game enough and I would have liked to have seen Alcaraz and/or Dibling against tired legs.

Despite the result, this was probably the best we've played all season. On another day, we win by a few goals. Keep up those levels and Top 10 looks plausible.

Micky Norman 106 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:34:14

I would rather see one of the kids from the youth team given a go up front than Beto now. Being a nice guy isn't enough, I'm afraid. He's out of his depth in this league.

He may get the occasional tap-in laid on by an excellent midfield trio but if he can't buy a goal with arguably our best midfield in 40 years, then there is no hope.

Watkins hardly had a touch but still looked more likely to score.

Andy Crooks 107 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:47:35

Sam, I think top ten is the least we can expect. We have a decent side now, full of confidence.

I can recall, not that long ago, commenting that there was not a team in the Premier league that I expected us to beat. Now I think we can win any game. What a difference.

Incidentally. Sam, is tomorrow night's "King & Conquerer" the one you wrote? If so, I will be looking for an Evertonian reference. Not telling you how to do your job, mate, but here's a line I suspect you could have sneaked in:

" We have returned from Stamford Bridge victorious. Let us visit vengeance upon those who covet the fortress that is thee Bramley Moor."

The credit is all yours, pal. A nod at the Baftas will suffice.

Liam Mogan 109 Posted 13/09/2025 at 20:57:30

One decent finish or one bit of luck away from a deserved win.

We've come a long way in a short time and we dominated the play today. Still very much a work in progress and will need time. One summer was never going to change everything.

We now have a lot of players who are comfortable on the ball.

Martin Reppion 110 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:05:33

Whilst everyone is bemoaning the lack of fullback signings this summer, can I put a word in for O'Brien and Garner who had their best games in those positions today?

Jake in particular, defended well and offered much more in attack. It may be the coaching, but he is looking more and more a complete right-back.

Apart from the obvious, weaker left foot, Garner's football nous means he can play left-back well. In fact, in the old days of shirts 1-11, he could probably pull on whichever was left and do a job.

Ian Bennett 111 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:07:49

Love the hindsight that he should of put Aznou, Coleman or Patterson on. The game was in Everton's total control, but changing a settled back 4 would have been a bizarre decision.

Can you imagine the reaction if Moyes had changed it, and have Harvey Elliott would have smashed and grabbed a winner? Fans would have gone bananas.

Beto subbed. Iroegbunam subbed.Would have I swapped Grealish for McNeil, nope.Would have I swapped Ndiaye for dibbling, nope.Would I have swapped Dewsbury-Hall for Alcaraz, nope.

There was enough quality on the pitch to win it. They didnt, but that is football. We would all start Mykolenko, Branthwaite, put Garner in midfield, prefer a new right-back and a better quality forward. It isn't miles away.

Nick Page 112 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:08:53

Disappointing game but to be honest I'm more pissed off at the criticism of Beto especially on here. Names that won't be named used to criticise Lukaku, for fuck's sake.

The lad's goals kept us up last season. Is it his fault that Everton employ him and expectation is possibly too high? Do you think hammering him will make him score more goals?

Do you think Moyes doesn't see that maybe he's not the future? Fucking grow up. Direct your criticisms at the people who make these decisions and not the fucking players, especially the ones who try.

Stuart Sharp 113 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:12:31

I agree with every word of that Ian B. Bring on Aznou? In a finely poised game like that? Total madness to even think it. Thought bringing in Röhl was risky enough.

Just one of those games. A slightly better striker for us or a slightly weaker goalie for them and we win. Decent performance. Very disappointed at the time, but positive overall now the adrenaline has worn off.

Keith Gleave 114 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:15:58

Just back from the game after some time in town. All the attacking was done by the blues. We should have won 4 or 5 nil except for poor finishing, particularly from Beto.

They set up for a draw or to nick a win, witnessed by their time wasting. The greatest problem in the game was the ref, he lost the game halfway through the first half. It was the worst refereeing I have seen in ages and helped Villa in breaking up the game.

We could have benefited from bringing on Dibling for Ndiaye and Röhl earlier. Overall though, we are improving week on week, but we do need a striker.

Paul Hughes 115 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:28:11

We played better in this game than we did against Brighton. Pickford didn't have a save to make all day. Their keeper had to make a couple of top drawer saves to keep them it.

Villa are a team who were playing Champions League last season, and we outplayed them. The difference is we can't afford (as Moyes has said) a £70M striker. The one we have missed two sitters.

It's a clean sheet and another point. Let's move on.

Tommy Carter 116 Posted 13/09/2025 at 21:54:13

@111 Ian

I absolutely would've swapped Dibling and Ndiaye. Ndiaye was excellent for about 50 minutes today and then he tired. By 70 minutes, I think an injection of legs would've helped our attacking cause. And Dibling should've been the change that was made.

Gana can't be dropped because he is so good at anticipating trouble and cutting it out. However, Moyes has correctly recognised that we benefit from having someone sit deeper than Gana. Tim has been the preferred choice so far.

However, I don't think it needs to be a tackler. Because Gana does the tackling for everyone in midfield. Therefore we could have a deep-lying playmaker there with legs.

Seemingly Röhl could be that guy. But it is shrewd management by Moyes as I always thought Gana would be our deepest lying midfielder and I never saw a problem with that.

Derek Thomas 117 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:11:19

A game where the sum of the whole was for some reason less than the individual parts. The blend wasn't right, Röhl had an underwhelming debut. Whither Dibling and Alcaraz??

And whatever the opposite of a Homer is - the Ref was it.

This was my first and probably only visit - Stadium great. Post game buses - beyond woeful. 2 buses do not a rapid transit shuttle service between the ground and Commutation Row make.

God help the punters in the cold, dark and wet of winter.

See how they do it at the Gabba, MCG, or somewhere where a Council gives a fuck.

Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 118 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:13:43

If we want a bit of positive. So frustrating today to not win but we now have 53 points from our last 38 fixtures. We are 5 points up on last season. Still not let in a goal at BMD.

Forget needing 40 points; whoever said we need just another 33, 32 will probably be enough. Times have changed and we are looking up now, not down.

And finally, over the last 38 fixtures we are 9th. We are on a Röhl.

Ian Bennett 119 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:18:01

I think Gana is better in an 8, where he naturally rats for the ball. At nearly 36, he's an unbelievable player at getting those little tackles in. When he finishes, we will miss him hugely.

As a No 6, sometimes you've just got to hold your position than win the ball. When he comes out, he leaves gaps behind him if he can't win it. His passing isn't always the best, so losing it is probably better further up, than in front of the back 4.

I thought Iroegbunam did well enough. He was on a booking, so I thought Röhl was the right sub. He'd trained well according to reports, so perhaps there's confidence he can contribute quickly.

Ndiaye scored in the last match, and had his full back on a yellow. He'd skinned past players all day. For me, a goal or assist was a higher probability from Ndiaye than Dibling. One has a track record of doing it, the other doesn't.

Sam Hoare 120 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:18:04

Andy @107, I hope you're right but it's still early days in a competitive league and I'm not sure we've played any form teams yet. We'll maybe have a better idea after next weekend. I still think 10th or 11th would be a very decent season.

Mine was actually on last weekend. Think I did have an Everton reference sneaked in at some point but don't think it made the Final Cut sadly. The quest continues!!

Kevin Molloy 121 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:20:40

It's worthwhile remembering that fielding a back four with no pace affects the whole team: how we press, how much pressure we can exert. We've always got to have one eye on the backdoor with such slow centre-backs, which means we can't commit men forwards in the way we might want.

We've also got no proper full-backs, and no No 6. That impacts the whole game.

Tony Abrahams 122 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:21:34

To be fair to Moyes, if the Villa keeper doesn't pull off a world class save from Michael Keane, then I think everyone would have been happy.

We did have quite a few good players on the bench though, so I just wish he would have used a couple more of them towards the end of today's game.

I agree Ndiaye was tiring, but I'd have liked to see him have a little spell on the left with Dibling on the other flank, but there were a few different permutations that Moyes could have used. If he his going to get the best out of his squad, my belief is that he's got to start using more players.

I'd have taken a point before the game so I wasn't that disappointed but, on another day with a bit better finishing, then I'm sure we would have won all three.

I have often criticised Michael Keane on these pages but today was as good as I've ever seen him play and only for a world class save, he would have been our hero today.

Keane never did nothing out of the ordinary but it was very refreshing to see him playing positively on the front foot. I thought he looked a much better player because he played without any indecision in his game.

Les Callan 123 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:25:17

Well, Alan, if he says “Yes“, I shall expect an invite!

Mike Doyle 124 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:27:27

I'd endorse Sam H (#105) comments. Overall a good performance against a Villa side with good players.

More importantly we went out to try and win the game and, on another day, would have. What a difference to last season.

Special mention for Michael Keane who has been excellent this season and was unlucky not to score.

Dave Abrahams 125 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:30:00

Ian (111),

Some good points there but do you think bringing on Alcaraz instead of Röhl might have produced a better chance of Everton getting those extra 2 points?

Ian Bennett 126 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:34:40

Yep, I've given Keane pelters on here too. But he had a good game, and has been a pick of the defenders so far this season. It was good to see Tarkowski back on song too.

The Keane header I thought was straight at him tbh. The better chance was Beto not scoring early on, or failing to snaffle it in from the ball from the left in the second half.

Conor McCourt 127 Posted 13/09/2025 at 22:58:43

Colin, I understand what you are saying but posters are continually harping on about last season. That's done and dusted, not just for us but for Villa. When you bring in the likes of Grealish, Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry and Röhl then of course you are going to be much better.

Likewise Villa no longer have Duran, Rashford, Diaby and Asensio and McGinn and Watkins aren't the same players this season while the balance to their midfield was gone today without Kamara or Onana. Buendia couldn't make their bench and was sent out on loan.

I would only really have wanted 4 of their players from their starting eleven in Digne, Tielemans, Rogers and Watkins. We weren't playing a vastly superior team like we have done previously.

Villa hadn't scored this season so I definitely wouldn't have taken a point before kick off. A point is decent but it's the same as Brentford got. If we had ambitions of overachieving this season, a win would have not only been good for the table but it would have given the HD a sense of being a fortress.

They were there for the taking and happy for the point. Unfortunately, Moyes was the same.

Derek Knox 128 Posted 13/09/2025 at 23:07:19

Nick Page @ 112, you say you are fed up with the criticism of Beto. Right, what is his role in the team?

It almost beggars belief that someone can be playing at Premier League level devoid of basic ball skills. He has the touch of a drunken elephant, and the stability (when tackled) of Bambi on something narcotic, as well as on ice!

Having said that, he seems to be a likeable chap and his willingness can't be questioned... but how long will allowances be made for him before he becomes a fan pariah??

Brian Denton 129 Posted 14/09/2025 at 00:19:48

MotD showed none of Beto's bad misses.

Shame – I was quite looking forward to seeing the one where his left foot blocked a shot from his right.

Si Cooper 130 Posted 14/09/2025 at 00:38:14

They were shown on the Sky highlights, Brian.

To be fair, the chance you refer to was slightly behind him and may actually have been intended for the player behind him but you can see why he'd have a go at it.

The total miss from Garner's pass was the worst for me. It was a dropping, bouncing ball but it goes back to the basics of just keeping your eye on the ball. Any real contact on it and he'd be odds on to score.

Brian Denton 131 Posted 14/09/2025 at 00:57:14

I don't have Sky, Simon.

The Beeb's highlight selection frequently makes no sense.

Peter Mills 132 Posted 14/09/2025 at 01:07:37

I was frustrated with the result, it was a game where a win was there for the taking. It seemed to me that Villa settled for a point around the hour mark.

In that last half hour, Ndiaye and Grealish were playing very wide on their respective sides, seemingly playing as orthodox wingers, but their crosses were mostly going to fall to the hapless Beto or the ineffective Barry.

Why not substitute Beto for Dibling, and move Ndiaye into the centre where he could better link with Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish?

Two points dropped, I'm afraid. And, as if our poor finishing was not enough, we had to suffer an appalling performance from the referee, who did his best to wreck a game of football.

On the plus side, Michael Keane was very good, and Röhl looks to have something about him.

Si Cooper 133 Posted 14/09/2025 at 01:07:41

That's why I opted years ago not to be reliant on it, Brian.

Sky get a bashing on here but it's the best way for me to watch Everton.

Simon Dalzell 134 Posted 14/09/2025 at 01:12:43

Playing Iroegbunam and Beto was like having 9 men.

Moyes got it wrong. Alcaraz had to come on some stage.

Rokas Grajauskas 135 Posted 14/09/2025 at 01:22:54

Beto is obviously frustrated with himself and unable to overcome his own thoughts at the moment. The wasted chances were glaring, but his work rate was top notch.

Scoring against Mansfield didn't get him mentally back on track and his confidence still appears to be shot. Yet still, he's likely to start in Anfield next week, and he's been more than solid against the Red Shite in the past.

Scoring there could get him back on the right track, he can still be a productive player. Far from the upper echelons of the Premier League, but more than serviceable on his day. Fingers crossed.

All in all, a frustrating outcome today, but when was the last time we felt frustrated after a draw against a team currently playing in Europe? Yeah, they've had a horrible start and Moyes once again showed an opponent too much respect instead of going for the kill. But the club is definitely on the right track.

Jerome Shields 136 Posted 14/09/2025 at 03:06:59

One of the by-products of a better footballing Everton is that Keane does look a better footballer.

It is not just Garner who has benefited from real footballers around him or players who have always been encouraged to play football, unlike Everton of the past relegation do-fight days, which was more Manager formula than players playing football. Keane is a player with skill and he does okay in this new way of playing.

Beto did not get all clear chances, but the ones he did get, he over-thought them or rather was thinking ahead of the chance. Old Beto is feeling the pressure of being first choice but it will come good; he is doing the basics right of getting in position. More importantly, he is getting chances.

I still think that Moyes has to be brave with his changes. Aston Villa had obviously done their homework and practised it all week. Braver tactics and earlier changes would have thrown a spanner in their works.

Terry Farrell 137 Posted 14/09/2025 at 06:49:25

Beto was up against Mings and Konsa and overall came out on top in general play. He got in behind without being offside. He held it up quite well and linked some good 1-2s.

His finishing was off, agreed, and I'm sure they are working on it. For me, a great chance was the ball over the top from Tarkowski that he got to in the 1st half and tried to control it with his thigh and it ran out of play. A goalscorer would have guided that on goal 1st time and it could have gone in.

Peter M, that substitution idea of yours is a good one. Ndiaye was sensational yesterday.

Laurie Hartley 138 Posted 14/09/2025 at 07:27:33

I am disappointed we didn't win that game (I thought we would) but as my dear dad used to say "half a loaf is better than no bread". Very Moyes attitude on my part, I suppose.

The defence looked sound but we got a bit overrun in midfield in the second half. Nevertheless, we always looked a threat when we got into their half.

Despite Beto's missed chances, we have got a forward line now – with options. Ndiaye is some footballer – the vultures will be circling no doubt.

Apart from the game I felt a great sense of pride as the players came out from the tunnel in the new ground to the sound of Z-Cars and 52,000 fans. For all his mistakes, I am thankful to Farhad Moshiri for that.

Liam Mogan 139 Posted 14/09/2025 at 07:28:19

Although we have much stronger bench, l'm not sure Moyes trusts them all. This season, Moyes seems reluctant to make changes.

Watching Premier League games, most managers use their subs, not just to try to change things, but also to maintain intensity by putting fresh players on.

On the atmosphere, I couldn't really hear the away fans apart from once. The ground is in general loud, it's designed to be. I sit with 5 people and can't hear anyone more than 2 seats away.

Terry Farrell 140 Posted 14/09/2025 at 09:01:39

Laurie,

Great shout re Farhad Moshiri.

Tommy Carter 141 Posted 14/09/2025 at 09:09:25

@119 Ian

Tim did okay Aidan. But I feel he is too passive. What do you think?

He waits for the game to come to him, then tried to keep things neat and tidy. He covers the pitch well and takes up good defensive positions.

However, I don't see him go out of his way to either stop things or create them.

Tony Abrahams 142 Posted 14/09/2025 at 09:12:45

When we get a good team which will keep that roar going up, then not many teams will be looking forward to coming to Bramley-Moore Dock.

When I watched the replay, I also wished that Keane had got a defter touch on that header, Ian B, but my angle inside the ground was perfect, and at the time I thought it was a perfect cross, header and save.

Derek Knox 143 Posted 14/09/2025 at 09:48:31

In Arthurian Legend, Merlin had many powers, one allegedly being Alchemy, with the spell to turn lead into gold.

Through teleportation, Merlin landed at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and a knowledgeable fan recognised who he was. He proceeded to ask Merlin, "With all your powers, could you turn Beto into a goal scoring striker?"

Merlin replied, "Nay lad, I am a magician — not a fucking miracle worker!"

Anthony Dove 144 Posted 14/09/2025 at 10:09:34

We're at home... bring on Dibling and go for the win.

Moyes might be a bit a less dour than first time round but that was never going to happen.

Transport a nightmare and other things inside the ground still pretty bad.

Christy Ring 145 Posted 14/09/2025 at 10:32:16

Looking at Tim Iroegbunam's performance in the games he's played, I definitely think we should have kept Armstrong and sent him on loan.

Nick, in regard to your defending of Beto to the criticism he's received on here over his misses yesterday, not a patch on the abuse Calvert-Lewin got last season, would you say the same if it was him?

Jim Harrison 146 Posted 14/09/2025 at 10:42:13

7 points from 12. Team playing much better football. Never looked in danger. But we're not going to turn full Pep Barca within 4 weeks!

Yea, Moyes could be more adventurous, but at the same time points in the bank and players getting minutes.

Ian Jones 147 Posted 14/09/2025 at 10:51:36

Steve @ 60

I spotted the laugh from Garner – probably thought Beto had ruined his assist numbers.

Si @ 130

I agree that the ball for the chance Beto had in the first half was slightly behind him.

Re the miss from Garner's pass, great pass. The only thing I'd say (but as someone who never played the game as a forward) that the ball was coming across Beto's body, so perhaps not the easiest chance to take.

As you suggest, keeping your eye on the ball would have helped...

I suppose the forwards amongst us here would say that Beto probably needed to adjust his body and that a better striker would have popped the ball in the net. I can think of many strikers that would have done that with their eyes closed.

On another note, generally, only having seen highlights of the game, were Aston Villa's forwards nullified by our defence. One of my friends, a Villa fan who saw the match live, thinks the stadium is up there with the best for atmosphere, and thought Watkins and Rogers were both poor.

Clive Rogers 148 Posted 14/09/2025 at 13:01:16

Conor, 127, Buendia played yesterday.

Tony Abrahams 149 Posted 14/09/2025 at 13:40:19

Was he the No 10 for Villa, Clive?

My impression of the game just before half-time was that the two best players on the pitch, were both wearing No 10.

Neither of them was as good in the second half; Ndiaye tired and Villa began to retreat... but I still thought that, over the 90 minutes, they both posed more threat than any other players on the pitch.

Kevin Molloy 150 Posted 14/09/2025 at 13:52:42

Poor old Beto, he'll be having nightmares over Garner's smirk. he'd have only done that if it was a running joke at Finch Farm that Beto sometimes misses to an absurd degree.

Then again, some of Barry's shots from last season at Villarreal have to be seen to be believed. Real Calvert-Lewin level punts.

It's interesting what makes a good striker. The scruffiest one we ever had in my view was Lineker. I don't think I ever saw him hit the ball cleanly. He didn't care. Hit it early, fast and on target. That was it.

Conor McCourt 151 Posted 14/09/2025 at 14:32:24

Clive that was my point. Buendia was not good enough for their squad last season but has been central to this campaign.

Never was there a better chance than yesterday to end their hoodoo over us.

Martin Berry 153 Posted 14/09/2025 at 16:52:31

Beto is missing a few chances, don't all strikers?

He causes defences all sorts of problems due to his physicality and therefore creates space for others. The goals will come.

Tony Heron 154 Posted 14/09/2025 at 19:50:16

While I fully appreciate the need to protect young players, I look at the young lads that have featured for Liverpool and Arsenal, and then I think, have we not got a youngster who could do a job equal to, if not better, than our 2 "strikers (!)"?

Brendan McLaughlin 155 Posted 14/09/2025 at 20:00:01

Kevin #150

If you can "hit it early, fast and on target"... you're far from a scruffy striker.

Ryan Holroyd 156 Posted 14/09/2025 at 20:18:36

A proven forward costs upwards of £70M. That's why we didn't get one. And even then, it's not guaranteed (see that Sesko for one) .

We're not getting a ‘proven' striker in January either. So forget that.