A Year of Moyes Mark II, but is it stagnating?

Inertia is defined as: a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.

When The Friedkin Group purchased Everton in December 2024, there was a feeling that they had to act. Sean Dyche was not just on thin ice — he had all but given up the ghost.

There was talk, though, that TFG were hoping to see it out until the end of the season, when Dyche would be out of contract. However, inevitably, so it came to pass that TFG could not not act, and on January 9, 2025, Dyche was dismissed.

And TFG’s first meaningful on-field action point was followed by the reappointment of David Moyes, on January 11.

A year on from Moyes returning for his second spell, the Scot has taken Everton from relegation battlers to safety in mid-table. The Toffees are 14 points clear of the bottom three with 17 Premier League matches remaining, and still within touching distance of the European places.

Last season, Moyes accumulated 31 points to guide Everton well clear of danger, and he has overseen the move from Goodison Park to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He has also had to oversee a squad rebuild, while there has been a restructure off the pitch, too, under the leadership of CEO Angus Kinnear. Moyes, along with Kinnear, heads up a new-look recruitment committee, with Everton having moved away from the director of football model.

And Everton, without being particularly brilliant, and despite missing key players, managed to end 2025 on a high note, beating Nottingham Forest to move into the top eight and head into the New Year with plenty of optimism.

Yet 10 days is a long time in football, and Everton have since lost to Brentford and drawn with lowly Wolves in the league, and on Saturday they crashed out of the FA Cup, going down on penalties to Sunderland.

In a little over a week, Everton’s season has threatened to peter out.

There have been elements of Moyes’ performance that have left a lot to be desired, and in the last two league matches particularly, he has let himself down.

The brilliant Michael Greenall (@greenallefc on X), tweeted this graphic after the Wolves game, detailing how Everton’s underlying metrics had begun to trail off in the wrong direction — essentially, Everton have started creating fewer chances and conceding more chances.

That dip has coincided with Everton’s squad being stretched to near breaking point, and they should improve when Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall return.

But the trend is worrying, and shows that Moyes has work to do.

This poor run to start 2026 has not helped his case. He has 18 months left on his deal, and while anybody suggesting Moyes should be dismissed now should probably get a sense of perspective, there may well have to be a discussion in the summer.

He has taken 60 points across 40 league games, which is an admirable total. However, his handling of young players can be called into question, even if some of those young players — and Tyler Dibling is the obvious one here — are hardly covering themselves in glory, either.

But what is most frustrating to this writer is the sense of inertia that has gripped Everton in the past few weeks.

Kinnear, Moyes and the recruitment team were well aware of how the squad would have to deal without Ndiaye and Gueye for the best part of a month. They were well aware that Dewsbury-Hall had been pushed to the limit and then could not be rushed back from a hamstring injury. They were well aware of the defences in the full-back and centre-forward positions.

And while the January transfer window is notoriously difficult, should it be so difficult that the club could not have had a signing or two lined up for early in the month?

Nobody is expecting huge investment this month, but there are deals there to be done and that could have been done to improve this team. If Moyes is being stubborn, then that is where strong leadership comes in. If Moyes is not being stubborn, then are Everton’s recruitment team really incapable of sourcing a full-back who can improve on the Toffees’ current options, for example?

It is this sense of inertia, more than anything, that is a worry. And in this writer’s view, it could well have cost Everton their hopes for the season.

Europe is still not out of the question, but there are so many teams in the mix that, on paper at least, look better suited when it comes to squad depth. Everton’s trophy drought, meanwhile, will roll into its 32nd year.

A year on from Moyes returning, Everton are in a stronger position, both on and off the pitch. That shouldn’t be forgotten.

But as he and the club head into the second year of his second spell, then it is time to start being bold and decisive. If not, there is a risk of stagnation.

Reader Comments (48)

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Dave Lynch 1 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:45:52

It's all very well stating "look where we are now compared to..." but, this isn't then it's now.

The football is still terrible to watch, we are out of every domestic competition and pose very little threat to any of the top teams.

In fact we pose very little threat to the mid-table teams, Spurs, Brentford, Sunderland, Wolves have all but played us off the park and at home to boot.

Moyes may last to the end of the season but that should be the last we see of him imo, I (personally) could not stand another season of his inept tactics and wasted opportunities to carry us forward.

Paul Hewitt 2 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:51:33

Yes.

Neil Lawson 3 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:56:52

Dave 1. Well put.

I think Moyes has from now until May to prove that he can take us forward as opposed to just being comfortable and surviving.

Currently, as devoted as I am, I am bored, disappointed and unemotional watching them.

John Collins 4 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:04:07

We had a 15-minute spell in the Forest game away when the 3 behind the forward interchanged positions with each other and played some nice football.

Fast passing and moving. A basic tactic, but one we don't use a lot.

John Pickles 5 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:09:49

We seem to struggle more, the less Premier League quality footballers we have available.

Strange that! Must be the manager's fault.

Bill Fairfield 6 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:23:49

Well it's looking like we're making do with what we've got this season. The right-back and goal-scorer issue will have to wait till summer.

This decision will cost us places in the Premier League. Moyes wants to save up, it seems.

Paul Clements 7 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:25:53

When the full team is back from injury and Afcon, with a couple of new additions hopefully at right-back and centre-forward, I honestly believe this would transform the brand of football we're watching.

When Dewsbury-Hall moved in to the Number 8 position, I thought some of the team's link play was the best I'd seen from us for some time. Although limited only by our strike force.

People don't seem to be looking at how thin this squad really is, but expecting miracles.

Without our key missing players, the fact is we're not too different to the Bottom 3.

Billy Shears 8 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:44:59

Give him the rest of the season then sack him off!

He's a fucking dinosaur, never plays young players, always gives us Blues excuses, fucking lied to us about Aznou... his subs!... game management is dogshit, his away record at top away grounds is piss poor... and we all know it!!

I simply never liked him... 11 years without a Cup?... He is a multi-millionaire out of our club!!

Get Rid!

Billy Shears 9 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:48:27

Nearly forgot...

He is the fucking master of deflecting the truth too!

Derek Dolan 10 Posted 11/01/2026 at 16:51:54

If he hadn't come back, we would most likely be relegated by now. Massive progress with a threadbare squad.

In his last stint it took time and patience (what some fans lack !). He took the club from the doldrums into European football and created an exciting team to watch with no money backing him.

He was on the cusp of something great and he will finish the job this time. There will be ups, downs and stagnations but I've no doubt we are on the right path to success.

Tony Abrahams 11 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:05:47

Very true, John P, because it's obvious that no team is going to improve when they lose a few of their better players all at the same time and especially when those same players are the most creative players in his team.

The squad is very thin, I think that's very easy to see Paul C, but it's the way the squad is used that doesn't really fill me with any confidence, and this lack of confidence probably applies to quite a few of the players in his squad?

I expect us to finish the season strongly once we get everyone back fit, but I'm just as uncertain about TSF -- The Silent Friedkins) as I am about David Moyes, as another trophyless season passes us by.

Bill Gall 12 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:26:55

I believe that the supporters appreciated his hiring that moved us into a safety position.

This season, with a decent start, I think that supporters see a manager who is predictable in his tactics, his misuse of timings of substitutions, and his handling of youth players.

They believe that we need a more progressive manager who can be unpredictable in possession, and doesn't keep passing backwards, allowing the opposition to reorganize.

The opposition seem to be able to win a ball in their own area and 3 passes later are in our area yet Everton take 4 or 5. There is no doubt that Moyes will keep Everton in a safe league position but he does not seem capable of putting out a strong team in other competitions.

A new stadium needs new ideas and Moyes appears to be too one-minded to provide them.

Dave Lynch 13 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:34:04

The squad may be thin and we may be missing some key players but that does not excuse piss poor tactics.

Ian Bennett 14 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:36:14

Rather than back Marco Silva with reinforcements, we choose to sack him when he was lacking players.

Ferguson, Ancelotti, Benitez, Lampard, Dyche, Moyes since; we realise that we now need another manager.

With missing key players, the wisdom is we need a new manager.

Get him gone. Get a new manager in, and we can look forward to a European tour with loads of cups on the way. It's a squad of world beaters no doubt.

Glad we learnt from Marco...

David West 15 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:44:18

A few bad, bad results and performances to be fair recently.Moyes hitting his real first bad spell now, 2nd time round. The injuries and suspensions coming while Afcon and the busy Xmas period are going to hit the performances of such a thin squad.

You don't build a squad in 1 transfer window, or 2 for that matter. The massive turn around in players at the end of last season was always going to be a challenge.

The 2 big buys haven't worked out yet in Barry and Dibling but that's football isn't it? Then you have Dewsbury-Hall who's probably exceeded expectations.

Managers lose games, some on TW go on like Moyes inherited the Man City squad and has us mid-table!! We've been shopping in bargain basements for 2-3 years and the squad players reflect that.

I didn't want Moyes back, not because I didn't think he'd do a good job, but because he won't get the same time from fans to build a side because of his previous with the club.

If we are still playing as bad as against Brentford, Wolves or Sunderland when we have Dewsbury-Hall, Gana, Alcaraz and Branthwaite on the pitch, I'd be worried.

Liam Mogan 16 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:53:57

Not sure it is anything other than what you get with Moyes. Some good runs of games, some bad runs of games, few draws, ad nauseum.

Ultimately he averages out with a win record of 40% for his whole managerial career. Steady but unspectacular. You'll rarely, if ever, win something.

We shouldn't expect anything else from him.

Nick White 17 Posted 11/01/2026 at 18:12:46

The perils of mid table.

We aren't going to get Champions League or get relegated. It does get boring and the inconsistency is infuriating.

But compared to the last few seasons of constant relegation battles, this is progress, genuinely.

We need more than 1.5 transfer windows to take us forward and hopefully players in key positions remaining available and performing to their potential.

This season has so far played out exactly as I predicted it would. Just hoping we can add some more quality this month, we desperately need it.

Les Callan 18 Posted 11/01/2026 at 18:35:08

Derek @ 10.

In all the teams Davey has built here, none of them can be described as “exciting“.

David West 19 Posted 11/01/2026 at 19:04:12

Not arsed about exciting unless we're winning. I want winning football. Who arsed if your score 4 but conceded 5??

You're not getting Tarkowski, Mykolenko, McNeil, Beto or Patterson playing in a team that's playing glorious football. That's where the squad is at: years of under investment has left us with a rag-tag bunch of squad "bodies ". Once you need to start using them, the performance levels drop dramatically.

"You get what you pay for" is the saying... well, £25-27M for a striker these days is not big. We paid more for Michael Keane!!!

Rob Dolby 20 Posted 11/01/2026 at 19:35:05

We have been on the managerial merry-go-round since Moshirir took over.

A honeymoon period lasts about 12 months... then a plateau... then the sack, all in the space of about 18 months.

I don't think TFG will be much different to Moshiri or any other owners in the Premier League. The Barry and Dibling signings are looking like sackable offences.

If Barry had scored 10 goals by now we would be very close to the Top 5.

Dibling is a concern for me: for a young lad, his body language is terrible. He looks a shadow of the player Southampton had.

Moyes has done well overall, steadying the ship. The formation is very similar to what we had with Dyche only we have a couple of better players available.

Ian Bennett 21 Posted 11/01/2026 at 20:12:21

Perhaps it is second season syndrome with Dibling. Plenty seem to have a wobble, once teams work them out a bit.

I'm sure we've had it before.

Andy Finigan 22 Posted 11/01/2026 at 20:49:08

In my honest humble opinion, I think Moyes up to 1 week or so ago has achieved a lot. (I've been out the country one week and this is how you treat me!)

Anyway, with the players we have available, I didn't expect much; I hoped we would do better. Could Moyes have done better with his selections? Yes, slightly. Would we have done better? Who knows.

I really wish I knew how much influence the gaffer had with the Dibling and Barry signings and how much influence he had on Calvert-Lewin leaving or staying? I think it will be very telling if we sign any players this window!

If we bring any more young players who may or may not be ready to start, then the writing may be on the wall at the end of this season... but I can't imagine the owners or CEO doing that.

If we bring in older more established players ready to play, age 27 or 28 or above, loaned or especially bought, then he will run out his contract if we finish Top 8.

So we will know what is likely to happen with the signings or lack of signings... and Goodbye David at the end of the season if there are no signings as that will mean the board don't trust him.

Kevin Naylor 23 Posted 11/01/2026 at 21:03:41

As people have said many times before, he has his favourites, square pegs in round holes and uses subs far too late etc.

Dibling arrived here probably busting to play and couldn't get on the pitch until Moyes ran out of options through absentees... no wonder he looks pissed off.

Aznou basically put 2 fingers up to him yesterday and who can blame him? He never changes things until it's pretty much too late and that's him to a tee.

He's done a job but should be gone by the end of the season -- or the next one won't be any different.

Kunal Desai 24 Posted 11/01/2026 at 23:29:49

You get what it states on the tin with Moyes, away from relegation but never disrupting the big teams, and that's how it'll pan out for the remainder of the season. Most likely a solid mid-table finish.

In my view, you should never go back (eg, Kendall Mk II and III); it very rarely works out. That being said, we need some stability and he sees out this season and quite possibly the next if the recruitment team or Kinnear and Moyes can find some middle ground on players to improve the squad.

We don't need another summer of investment on players which fits into neither party's plans.

What I wil say is that, if these owners have any ambition, they will be succession planning now and right up to the summer in identifying Moyes's replacement to bring in once his contract is up in 2027.

Geoff Cadman 25 Posted 11/01/2026 at 08:27:24

I didn't want Moyes back, but I was obviously happy with how last season worked out, and felt he deserved to be kept on.

The question is who would replace him and improve us, the expectation and pressure is far greater at Everton than many of the clubs in the Premier League.

How many up-and-coming managers have left comfortable positions only to fail drastically when moving to a so-called top club? Frank, Potter, Santo spring to mind.

Would you rather we were in West Ham's position at the moment? Yesterday, we were missing 4 of our first choice midfield; add to that Alcaraz and Iroegbunam. We have a top 'keeper and a good selection of centre-backs.

Sort the striker and full-back situation and we have the makings of a reasonable side.

Daniel A Johnson 26 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:02:28

Marco Silva out of contract this summer.

Move heaven and earth to get him back.

Soren Moyer 27 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:07:29

Glasner or Iraola!

Either of them will do it for me!

Dave Lynch 28 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:22:59

Kunal hit the nail on the head there.

Moyes buys players he thinks will provide stability; he rarely buys players who will add flair and excitement. Safety-first football is in his DNA, which is why his teams are so frustrating to watch and fans get fed up with him after a while.

I watched the Bighton v Man Utd game yesterday. Brighton were superb in the way they moved and passed the football with ease... Oh for a manager who would implement that at Everton.

Anthony O'Sullivan 29 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:46:57

I'm as frustrated as anyone watching the last three games, but my frustration is that we missed an opportunity to push for the Top 5. Not that we missed an opportunity to get out of the Bottom 3, like with the last few managers.

That is a testament to Moyes. He has done a great job at taking a team set for relegation and keeping them in mid-table.

Rob Dolby 30 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:51:46

David 28,

I don't think it's the manager at Brighton who has them playing the way they do, it's the culture which has been developed by the club over the last 10 years.

Successive managers at Brighton have played a similar way, Recruitment also has a consistent formula.

The culture at Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth may have been born out of necessity but it wipes the floor with our continual scattergun strategy and recruitment.

Moyes has brought in his hangers-on, including his son. When he gets the sack, which he will do eventually, they will all disappear and we are left back at Square 1.

The owners need to show some leadership and innovation to build us back up into a competitive force; otherwise, they are just in it to take the dividends and run.

Scott Robinson 31 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:54:43

The management of Dibling and, to a lesser extent, Aznou, has left a lot of thing of things to be desired for, especially from a financial perspective.

How much would Dibling be worth now? His lack of game time is killing his confidence, and if we were allegedly short on the left side, why did we buy him? No one is going to dislodge Ndiaye, so the charge that he can't break into the team isn't fair.

Aznou should be playing more. End of.

John Charles 32 Posted 12/01/2026 at 12:56:20

IMO Moyes has done a really good job since returning. I know the comparisons become tiresome but having sat in goodison for the last however long fearing relegation and listening to away supports taking the piss it is great to be in a better place.

I also think he should go in the summer with our thanks.

There has to come time when the club moves forward. David has started us down the road someone with a bit more ambition needs to carry us on.

(Got to say though as I am no expert not sure who!).

Dave Lynch 33 Posted 12/01/2026 at 13:04:30

You've answered your own question Rob.

We need somebody to change the culture, that means employing a manager who will buy players to do just that.

No way would any manager be able to turn McNeil, Barry, Beto etc into good footballers, they simply don't have it in them.

Tony Abrahams 34 Posted 12/01/2026 at 13:42:16

Two very sensible posts Rob D.

Tony Abrahams 35 Posted 12/01/2026 at 13:45:34

The most common song I hear at Bramley Moore, is the away fans singing, “is this a library” and then later in the game it’s usually changed to “is this a fire drill” but it’s great to be in a better place, John C!

Christy Ring 36 Posted 12/01/2026 at 13:46:21

Moyes has stabilised the club, I know the injuries have crippled us, but Moyes selection and tactics are frustrating, considering three players who Moyes doesn't trust, Patterson, Aznou and Armstrong were our best players against Sunderland last Saturday. Moyes should put pressure on the owners now, we need a right back, our two strikers are the worst in the Premiership, a striker is a must also, why not sign Abraham who's on loan at Besiktas from Roma, shouldn't be a problem, same owners!

John Williams 37 Posted 12/01/2026 at 13:46:25

Dave 28,

Firstly you need players who can do what your saw Brighton do.

Not certain we have those players.

The current team at Everton are basically the same side that has fought relegation for the last few years.

Recruitment in the summer has been iffy and I am certain a number of those players were not the choice of Moyes.

He wants the job, so gets on with it, but he knows it will end in a couple of years.

Ian Wilkins 38 Posted 12/01/2026 at 14:12:23

Most teams play a better style of football than Everton. Even Wolves, going down adrift at bottom, play better football. The Brighton’s, Bournemouths a lot better. And of course City and Arsenal another planet.

And there’s the rub, we are playing percentage football, to exactly the same predictable pattern, that picks up enough points for safety, or mid table.

Moyes won’t disturb that by giving Dibling freedom or throwing in an Aznou. That breaks the pattern. Don’t expect it. He said he didn’t want to make any of the substitutions on Saturday, Aznou wasn’t coming on.

Would you rather be safe or going down playing nice football?

Well the majority prove that you can play good football and win. That’s my preference, I don’t see it as an either or.

Yes but you can’t do it unless you have the financial resources of City/ Arsenal. Sorry plenty like Brighton, Brentford, Villa prove that you can.

We have fought relegation for years.

Breaking the cycle by needs must pragmatic football may be ok for a quick fix, but then you have to aim higher.

Rome wasn’t built in a day..it will take a little time. But start by getting on the right path. An agreed vision for the club, a change in culture. A forward thinking manager, with a football management team recruiting well, building an academy that brings forward first team players. We’re not on this path.

Others can do it, I want it for Everton too, and I don’t accept we’ve been poor for years, so I’m expecting too much.

I don’t expect success overnight but I do expect a forward thinking plan to get us there. I’m not seeing it. Time for some ambition.

Add further quality alongside KDH, Ndiaye, Grealish, Branthwaite. Fill the obvious positional gaps. Invest in the academy.

But change the culture throughout the club from ‘first don’t lose’ to ‘play to win’.

Yes it’s a relief not to be in a relegation battle at this stage, but I want more than mid table mediocrity, season over in January.

I’m not simply anti Moyes but I am anti percentage hoof ball football and defeatist culture. Show me a plan that breaks the cycle. At this moment that’s all I ask.

Sean Kearns 39 Posted 12/01/2026 at 14:14:02

If we sign Benny Blanco I'll be absolutely buzzing!!!…..

Oh my god, it couldn't happen... Could it? Tell me so!

He would change our entire team. Still need depth though.

Tony Abrahams 40 Posted 12/01/2026 at 14:19:28

Give-and-go football is all about coaching, John, and in all the years of watching Everton under Moyes, I have a feeling that this type of football has never really been on the agenda.

Baines and Pienaar obviously... but, other than Osman or Arteta playing a quick one-two, it's not the type of football that I have ever really associated with a David Moyes team.

That's not to say that his teams have never played good football... but I've always thought it has usually been more about the discipline and the grind.

Eric Myles 41 Posted 12/01/2026 at 14:32:57

Bill #6, it's unlikely that any manager would not want to spend money to cover the glaringly obvious gaps he has in his first team.

Any non-activity in adressing those gaps is down to t'committee he has to report to.

Stu Gre 42 Posted 12/01/2026 at 14:54:56

Derek 10 - What in Moyes's CV makes you think we'll have success under him?

Many people will rightly point out our stretched squad and absent players -- but doesn't that make it even worse that Moyes doesn't use all the players at his disposal... even when we clearly need an injection of something different???

Moyes generally plays not to lose first, then win second. It's fine, we'll not be relegated that way; but it unravels if you haven't got the capability to change it up. Every other team knows what subs Moyes will use, when he'll use them and what tactics will change.

This isn't saying Moyes is a bad manager, he's good at what he does. The question is whether what he does is what we want and deserve. For some, it's a Yes; for other,s like me, it's a No.

John Collins 43 Posted 12/01/2026 at 15:40:19

Stu,

All teams are affected by injuries, mate, as you know. Sunderland had 8 players missing from their squad yet played us off the park in the first half.

I don't like Moyes's style of football, but he was my choice to avoid relegation last season. However, we will have no chance of ending our trophy drought under David.

Stu Gre 44 Posted 12/01/2026 at 15:50:39

John, I agree with everything you just said.

Sean Mitchell 45 Posted 12/01/2026 at 15:59:27

Thanks and goodbye at the end of the season.

Show some fuckin ambition, Everton.

It's also time the owners showed their faces.

Oh, and go and get Abraham on loan! Surely it'd be a straightforward deal. Then again, it's Everton.

Dale Self 46 Posted 12/01/2026 at 16:11:29

There simply are no convincing arguments to be made for Moyes in the affirmative. It is all, 'would you want to be in the Hammers' place?' or 'we could have been relegated without him' (which is untrue).

The case for Moyes, like his brand of football, is a starkly conservative one. Our growth as a football club will be limited by his lack of growth in managerial method.

Mark Murphy 47 Posted 12/01/2026 at 16:40:27

Bramley-Moore Dock wasn't a library when we were beating Brighton and Palace -- it was loud as hell!

Our fans have always reacted to what's happening on the pitch -- we don't sing for singing's sake. We're not Palace "ultras" or Geordie fuckwits.

Give us something to cheer and we will roar them on!Play shit and we'll grumble.

Alan McGuffog 49 Posted 12/01/2026 at 17:03:35

Mark you are correct. At home we have never been a "singing" club like that lot for example. We are reactive and when we get going, there's nothing to touch us.

I recall the 1960s... we were convinced that we didn't have the same atmosphere as the bloody Kop because our noise was lost as Gwladys Street was largely open to the skies.

Remember the chants of "We Want A Roof", both to keep us snug and acoustically to channel our chants down to the pitch.