Beto blow — Moyes confirms forward to miss West Ham clash

David Moyes has confirmed that Beto will miss Everton’s trip to West Ham with concussion.

The forward was substituted during last weekend’s derby defeat after a clash of heads with Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate. Swelling rapidly appeared around Beto’s eye, with the 28-year-old appearing to suggest he was having issues with his vision.

The in-form forward’s absence is a big blow to the Blues, with Beto having scored four times in his last three Premier League appearances.

Thierno Barry looks likely to come into the side at the London Stadium, though Iliman Ndiaye or Tyrique George could offer makeshift options at centre-forward.

Moyes ruled out the prospect of Braiden Graham featuring for the first team tomorrow. The 18-year-old has scored 12 goals in the Premier League 2 this season, with only two players managing more. However, the Scot said the teenager has ‘a little bit to go’ before reaching the first team.

Beto aside, the Toffees will be missing Jarrad Branthwaite and Jack Grealish at West Ham. Branthwaite sustained a season-ending hamstring issue against Liverpool, while Grealish’s campaign was prematurely ended by a foot issue.

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Reader Comments (44)

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And Moyes was a wee bit canny when asked about Barry coming in to replace him.

Will he trust him to deliver, something Barry has mostly failed to do since Newcastle 2 months ago. Only 1 goal in the last 10 games.

And yet Braiden Graham has been considered and smacked down back in his place by the wily old dog. Just makes me sick why he refuses to bring players through.

Dale Self 3 Posted 24/04/2026 at 15:22:44

Barry isn't up to what West Ham will do. Everyone knows that now.

George doesn't deserve it after that lackluster effort in the derby. If we are still thinking of buying him, then yeah, put him out there.

I think Ndiaye could add some value to his stock if he plays striker and makes things happen. Maybe occasionally send Keane up to fuck with them.

Anthony O'Sullivan 5 Posted 24/04/2026 at 15:28:39

Dam, I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be gutted to see Beto not start but here we are.

Hopefully it's just this one he misses.

Ben Moore 6 Posted 24/04/2026 at 15:30:04

Michael Keane up front...

Although with Branthwaite out, I guess that would mean Garner to right-back, which isn't ideal.

Jay Harris 7 Posted 24/04/2026 at 15:39:49

I've always appreciated Beto although I didn't rate him as Premier League standard but, given the way we play and the recent upturn in skill, speed, determination and goalscoring, he will be a big miss.

I would hate to see Barry in the line-up. Where Beto has improved, Barry has declined... so we could consider the "best finisher in the squad" Keane up front.

Play O'Brien in his natural position and play Garner at right-back or Seamus Coleman if he's up to it but we have to remember its Summerville who they will be up against.

We also have to consider giving some game time to Alcaraz, Iroegbunam, Rohl and / or Armstrong as we will probably need them in the run-in.

As a team, we are much better than West Ham... but they are dangerous on the break and very motivated lately.

COYB.

Paul Mannix 8 Posted 24/04/2026 at 15:42:21

Maybe as he's signed a new contract, we could put Michael Keane up front! 🤣

Dean Johnson 9 Posted 24/04/2026 at 15:49:56

It makes you sick that Moyes doesn't agree with you, Michael?

I'd get that looked at if I were you.

Much as it pains me to say, Barry will probably start up front due to the lack of other options. Doesn't sound like Moyes likes that option either but what can you do?

Destroy a young player before they're ready... that's what.

Jim Bennings 10 Posted 24/04/2026 at 16:03:27

Put Alcaraz there and keep the ball on the deck, move them about.

Can't afford to take Ndiaye out of midfield because the shape goes and he won't start George or Dibling there anyway.

Kevin Naylor 11 Posted 24/04/2026 at 16:08:07

Thats why Moyes gets the pelters he does. Not going to change anything.

Barry will start, play crap, we'll go behind, and off he'll come.

Bill Hawker 12 Posted 24/04/2026 at 16:08:25

Well, it'll be Barry.

I don't think we have a shot at Europe nor do I want us there now. We aren't ready for two-front football.

So, with that said, I wouldn't be upset losing to Wesr Ham for obvious reasons. I think Wolves can draw with Spurs.

Andrew Clare 13 Posted 24/04/2026 at 16:18:27

Lose this one and we can kiss goodbye to Europe as well as signing a 20-goal-a-season striker.

We should play Alcaraz or Rhol in the striker role. Why not? Both very talented footballers who would give West Ham a lot to think about.

Tony Hughes 14 Posted 24/04/2026 at 17:03:27

There's no way he can start Barry after last weeks complete and utter no show from him. If Moyes has mentioned that Dibling needs to work on his game to earn a place, then that needs to apply to Barry doubly.

Give Alcaraz ago, he might not be a world beater but we'll be guaranteed maximum effort from him.

Raymond Fox 15 Posted 24/04/2026 at 17:06:10

Moyes will pick Barry, tell him it's his last chance, problem is I'm not sure Barry wants to stay.

What usually happens in these circumstances is Barry scores a hat-trick and wins the game for us.

You never know!

Christy Ring 16 Posted 24/04/2026 at 17:23:00

He wasn't complimentary towards Barry, saying his job is to score goals and play for the team, which is understandable, after his lack of effort last Sunday. And he said Armstrong has more or less gone off the boil.

But he's not giving the bench a chance, even last Sunday, predictably he brought on George and Barry, and didn't change a tiring midfield, which cost us in the end.

James Marshall 17 Posted 24/04/2026 at 17:56:34

I would honestly play Keane up top. Stick O'Brien in at centre half and play Coleman or Patterson at right back. We have nothing to lose now.

Our season is in danger of petering out to a mid table finish so we might as well go for it in these last games.

Playing Barry is like playing with 10 men. I truly don't rate him. His attitude stinks too. He looks like he couldn't give a damn. At least Beto tries hard, despite his sometimes horrific finishing and inability to control a football.

Barry is awful and actually has a negative impact on our play.

Big blow. We know he's clumsy, misses chances and infuriates you at times, but we look better with him in the side.

He gives defences a worry with just his physicality.

I'd go for Ndiaye false 9, bring in George and see if west ham can handle the pace.

Worried now, tomorrow is massive again, we haven't won the last 2 massive games against the teams we're up against, yet we still have a great opportunity, I don't want it to just fizzle away with Barry not busting his gut to get on the end of everything. It would just suck the fuckin life out me if he's on and jogging round.

Hope I'm wrong, if he plays, he should see it as his chance, something just tells me the lads heads elsewhere.

Tony Abrahams 19 Posted 24/04/2026 at 18:52:17

Armstrong might be tired, with it being his first full season playing senior football, Christy, or he might be suffering from the same type of disillusionment as Dibling.

It’s a long season, especially when you have played for two different teams in two different leagues, for a player as young as Harrison, and he must have been doing a very good job at Preston, because since he left, they have also gone off the boil.

Joe Lockrobin 20 Posted 24/04/2026 at 19:02:30

I would be flabbergasted if it wasn’t Kean at CB, Barry at CF. Everything else as it was.

We’re at a point now where it’s make or break, shit or bust. Europe or 12th. And if it’s break, then Moyes should definitely experiment.

We’ve got enough quality in midfield to push Garner back into RB, and try something different up front.

But hey. Tis what it is.

John Charles 21 Posted 24/04/2026 at 20:20:12

Let's hope Moyes remembers his first stint with Timmy up front.

No one we have is a Cahill but Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, George looks like a decent front 4 to me.

Liam Mogan 22 Posted 24/04/2026 at 20:49:03

Beto was a big miss when he went off on Sunday, especially defending from corners. Like Calvert-Lewin, he is excellent in that space preventing the ball getting into the 6-yard box.

There is a row of oracles who sit behind me who constantly berate Beto for going back for corners. 'Centre-forwards should stay up'. Never heard anything so uninformed. (Although there is a lot that they say that is nonsense.)

If only Terry & Barry from Brookie had his desire and effort.

Frederick Parchment 23 Posted 24/04/2026 at 21:11:44

Question. Who comes on when Barry is subbed?

Assuming he's starting. Because that individual needs to start.

James Marshall 24 Posted 24/04/2026 at 21:16:32

Sub Barry for the tea lady.

Jack Convery 25 Posted 24/04/2026 at 21:18:32

Come on, Moyesiah, try something different for fuck's sake!

According to TransferMarket, Tyrique George has played centre-forward against Wolves and scored, albeit in a League Cup 4th Round earlier this season.

He's played 11 times as a centre-forward in his career, so far, scoring 2, with 4 assists. So give it a go.

Oliver Molloy 26 Posted 24/04/2026 at 21:23:45

West Ham (like us for the last few seasons) fighting for their Premier League future... so I expect a defeat or draw -- I can not see us winning.

I was all for Barry to be given time, but not now; he just isn't good enough.

If the club can get anywhere close to what we paid for him, I reckon he will be sold -- his attitude gives the impression he would welcome a move.

On a completely different subject, I wonder how and what Leeds have done to keep Calvert-Lewin fit all season, amazing.

Tom Bowers 27 Posted 24/04/2026 at 22:09:46

Pity about Beto just when he was getting goals and sadly Barry isn't up to snuff. Take your pick from the remaining offensive starters but the Hammers will be up for this for obvious reasons and Everton have had a miserable week thanks to the bad happenings from the RS game.

Still, West Ham are not much and Everton have had some decent results down there in recent seasons.

However it will be a tall order to get three points with Beto crocked.

Mark Ryan 28 Posted 24/04/2026 at 22:51:29

If Moyes plays George or Alcaraz up front tomorrow, I'll eat my hat.

You can put your house on the fact he'll play Barry despite knowing he's gonna offer nothing up top and just skulk around the pitch.

C'monm Davey, show us your metal!

Dean Johnson (10): ‘Destroy a young player before they're ready... that's what'.

Barry is 24 in the Autumn. He is not a ‘young player'. He is in or near to the middle part of his career. This is what we have. A player who has come through the development cycle of the ‘young' player and he is, well, not very good. His derby run-out was nothing short of appalling. In a world where all options are on the table he should be as far from starting as I am from Erbil.

However, I've watched David Moyes OBE grow and develop since 2002 from being Moyes Mrk 1 back then to becoming Moyes Mk 2 now. He will pick Barry. The interesting thing for me is who will replace hopeless and hapless Barry when he is subbed or what sparkling out-of-the-box tactical rethinking by our Davie saves the day.

If I was in Moyes's shoes tomorrow because he took the day off to buy up all of the available footy cards in which he appears so no one will ever see one again:

https://www.tumblr.com/scotsfootycards/67055910735/that-david-Moyes-card

I would put either George or Ndiaye up front and in whatever constellation appears put McNeil on the bench (which he ought to warm until the summer when he and Barry will depart for lesser meadows) and start George and Dibling (if Ndiaye plays the false 9).

Erm, so that would be, I think: Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Dibling, Ndiaye.

Derek Thomas 30 Posted 25/04/2026 at 05:58:07

What with getting a last-minute 'lucky' point and No points from the last 6 on offer... and Moyes going back to West Ham, the order of business will be...

1) Don't Lose!

2) Don't Lose

and

3) Deffo don't lose ... and (maybe try) to Pinch 1

A wall of 4 (3.5?) containing Keane almost 95% guarantees a lowish block.

5% Patterson starts, though Garner has more chance.

And I would also not rule out No Barry at all and a version of the arl 4:6 formation.

Moyes will justify no wild experimentation as being fair to the other team in the drop zone.

Anthony Dove 31 Posted 25/04/2026 at 08:37:08

Anyone who believes Moyes might think outside his set-in-concrete envelope is deluding themselves.

Dave Abrahams 32 Posted 25/04/2026 at 09:14:16

Moyes will show us a couple of surprises in his team selection today I doubt either of them will be pleasurable—- but you never know they might just turn the game— not sure if that turn will help Everton or WHU.

I hope the new owners give us a very pleasurable surprise in the close season —no prizes for questing what I would like!

Martin Farrington 33 Posted 25/04/2026 at 09:17:01

Mark @ 28

Deerstalker, Sombrero or Noddy ?

It always concerned me that a character in a children's book had to wear headgear with a warning system to alert members of the public of his approach.

Maybe todays criminal should have to wear such a device for public safety reasons

Taking that one step further, maybe Barry should too. With the caveat that its removal would occur if he put a shift in and started scoring.

Damned Enid Blyton

Derek Thomas 34 Posted 25/04/2026 at 09:59:00

Re. Graham; You never know, maybe Moyes will do what Catterick did with Harvey - take him along as just for the ride to help the kit man or whatever...which would be just reward for his season...Then tell him he's in 90 mins before the KO...or is that too Roy of the Rovers.

Nah 4:6 formation and 3 keepers on the bench

Ian Wilkins 35 Posted 25/04/2026 at 10:23:39

Beto is a big miss as we have no other options really.

I expect he’ll play Barry and we all agree afterwards that we played with 10 men.

Guy doesn’t look interested and does all the wrong things

Raymond Fox 36 Posted 25/04/2026 at 10:32:29

Barry will start, you never know he might have a good game.

Whatever, we are good enough to beat West Ham whoever plays, the league positions tell us they are not very good.

They will be syked up and very nervous and that can go two ways for them, good or bad.

They are only favs because of home advantage and the game being perceived as more important to them than us.

We are the better team and I don't think we will lose, that is if the ref is not a homer.

Kevin Molloy 37 Posted 25/04/2026 at 11:39:24

if we score early West Ham will start feeling sorry for themselves and we may bag 2 or 3. 'it's a good away ground to go to, and they will be jumpy as fuck every time we cross the half way line. Should be a good game. Davey will want to put the wind up them 'I've no doubt.

you'd never guess from the cryarsing in here that we were going for Europe for the first time in about ten years, would you.

John Collins 38 Posted 25/04/2026 at 11:54:52

you'd never guess from the cryarsing in here that we were going for Europe for the first time in about ten years, would you.

CL?

John Collins 39 Posted 25/04/2026 at 12:15:56

Fulham win we are in the bottom half of the table.

But we are still in with a chance of top half finish.

Utft

Kevin Molloy 40 Posted 25/04/2026 at 12:23:07

now John, when I railed against all the cryarsing, I hope you don't think I had you in mind.

you're one of the most positive voices on this forum.

John Collins 41 Posted 25/04/2026 at 12:43:40

Realistic is a better choice of word Kevin.

James Marshall 42 Posted 25/04/2026 at 13:15:37

Win and we go 7th (Fulham are winning as I write), lose and we stay 12th.

Tight as a gnats chaff.

Paul Murray 43 Posted 25/04/2026 at 13:46:11

I’m here now and hopefully I don’t have to see Barry in our beloved shirt. Illie false 9 for me and play George from the start give dibbling a run too got to keep trying no use sitting on bench full stop. Keep it tight at back hit them quick on counter get lots of chances today it’s shit or bust for the hammers. Coyb

Paul Murray 44 Posted 25/04/2026 at 13:53:31

Typical moysie well if it goes well great but if it goes tits up again with sulk be it on your head I don’t know any blues who want that twat