Talking points in the aftermath of Everton vs Aston Villa | OneFootball

Everton made their return from the international break with a goalless draw against Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Despite failing to rattle the opposition net, the Toffees were by far the better of the two sides and dominated proceedings for most of the game. They had 20 shots throughout the match but managed only a couple on target - this stat alone sums up the side’s performance at home.

While fans may be disappointed with just one point, there were plenty of positives for David Moyes’s side. The defence looked rock-solid and didn’t allow the opposition to threaten Jordan Pickford’s goal, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish were brilliant as usual, the Blues showed a lot of variety in attack and Merlin Rohl made a strong impression on his debut from the bench.

Here are all the talking points, including the positives and the negatives, from Everton’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa:

Lovely little cameo from Merlin Röhl

Evertonians were treated to their first glimpse of Deadline Day signing Merlin Röhl against Aston Villa on Saturday. Making his debut off the bench, the German midfielder showed why David Moyes praised his performances in training and the way he’s adapted to the side so quickly.

The midfield looked livelier with him in the middle, partnering Idrissa Gueye and in just 24 minutes, Röhl won seven duels. He covered a lot of ground, was constantly available for the ball and involved with plenty of give-and-go with his teammates.

It’s a promising start to the 23-year-old’s Premier League career and early signs suggest that he might end up being a Röhls-Royce of a midfielder.

Assured display at the back led by Tarkowski and Keane

It’s natural to feel disappointed with the draw given the quality of Everton’s performance against Aston Villa, but the assuredness in defence was the biggest positive to take away from the game.

Michael Keane has made a fantastic start to the season and he was colossal once again, covering ground, winning duels, snuffing out threats and even getting on the end of chances from crosses and set-pieces. James Tarkowski, who had a relatively rocky start to the season, was also rock-solid and put in his best performance in the league so far.

Between the duo, they won 14 duels in the match and were also well supported by Jake O’Brien and James Garner on the flanks. Moyes will also be delighted by the fact that the miscommunication and individual errors that led to Wolves scoring twice just before the international break were also largely absent.

David Moyes missed a trick with lack of changes

In the aftermath of the game, I can’t help but shake the feeling that David Moyes might have missed a trick by not making enough changes in the second half. He only made two substitutions, bringing on Merlin Rohl and Thierno Barry for the final 24 and 15 minutes, respectively.

Moyes had the options of Charly Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling and both of them could’ve added different qualities in the final third.

Alcaraz has had strong cameos off the bench before and offers pace, energy, associative combinations and goal threat playing just behind the striker. Dibling, while still young, is quick and capable of beating his marker on the right wing and has an eye for a pass.

What’s the point of having depth if you’re not going to resort to it to unlock games like these?

Everton’s striker conundrum

Against Aston Villa, Beto had one of those exhibitions on how not to score a goal. The disappointing thing with Everton’s number nine is how hot and cold he can blow. He is the fifth-highest scorer in the league since Moyes returned in January, but every now and then, he has these games that make you wonder, “Bloody hell, how has he not scored?!”

Then there’s Thierno Barry. He came on for the final 15 minutes and the little threat that the Blues had with Beto leading the line also vaporised. Barry had a good chance when he was fed through late in the game but didn’t have the pace to create separation from the opposition defender and get an accurate shot on target.

While the 22-year-old has several redeeming qualities - Barry’s touches, holdup play and combinations are far better than Beto’s and he has time to grow - he does come across as being too lightweight in the box. He hasn’t shown glimpses of being a lethal striker of the ball and is not physically strong enough to bully his markers inside the box.

Reader Comments (44)

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Am I the only person who positively hates these ridiculous international breaks?

I've noticed over the years that these breaks usually lead to a loss of momentum when teams, not just us, may be doing well prior to the break but, on returning to Premier League action, they stutter and look a bit stale, usually taking two or three games to get their momentum back... and in some cases they lose it altogether?

I hate these breaks and I wouldn't mind but so many people don't even waste their time watching England underperforming as usual. If this game had been played the week after the Wolves game, I personally think we'd have beaten Villa conclusively but the momentum we'd built up over the preceding weeks was lost due to the enforced break.

Jim Bennings 2 Posted 14/09/2025 at 10:11:35

Not the only one at all, Brian.

I appreciate a bit of footy on live TV but the quality is so bad these days, it doesn't even feel like international football, the two England games proved there is zero point in having a group full of tripe in it because there's no competition at all.

I also think it's thrown upon us too soon.

I remember in the '90s and up to about 2008 or so they always had an away game and a home game on the midweek in August. This has since been replaced by the insane midweek in bleak December when people are cash strapped, cold and the usual moaning Premier League managers are saying too many games in December, well go back to having them in August then.

Mal van Schaick 3 Posted 14/09/2025 at 10:46:11

Analysing a game post match and unpicking the threads of what may have been seems a bit futile. We cannot change the result.

There may have been things that Moyes and the players could have done to change the outcome of the game, but in my eyes, the performance was a vast improvement over previous games against Villa. We matched them, out-fought them, and in reality should have won the game.

Let's continue to build in confidence and get a win next Saturday.

Dave Abrahams 4 Posted 14/09/2025 at 13:17:37

Anjishnu, with respect I don't think it's wise to pick a player because they look good in training, it's how good they are in actual matches.

Because it's Röhl's first appearance, he gets a walkover but there were better choices to come off the bench instead of him — Alcaraz, for instance. I can see him getting restless with his lack of game time. Moyes doesn't seem to have any trust in the lad.

Röhl should get his chance when the team have a good lead, not when they are trying to get ahead in the game.

Dibling is another wondering what he was bought for, not a minute since he came after we bartered 3 months to get him here.

Mind you, dull dour dithering Dave takes his time to understand what he wants... I wonder if his coaches have any input on his team changes or are they like Moyes with a safety-first attitude?

Tony Abrahams 5 Posted 14/09/2025 at 13:49:56

I don't think there was anything wrong with putting Röhl on but I would have liked to have seen another couple of players introduced towards the end.

Dewsbury-Hall was playing like an old inside forward, at times once Villa began to retreat. Although I wouldn't disagree with anyone who wanted to see Alcaraz and Dibling, I also thought McNeil might have been a good shout with the way the game was panning out towards the end.

What's the point in having depth if you're not going to use it in games like yesterday's? That was definitely getting uttered by quite a few people leaving the stadium after the game.

Sean Kearns 9 Posted 14/09/2025 at 16:58:41

Removing posts? Hmmmm… censoring the internet now are we? World is crazy rn… did a premier league or club mole flag it? 🤣

Scott Hamilton 10 Posted 14/09/2025 at 16:58:51

Starting to get cheesed off with seeing so many posts removed by the moderators.

If a post is related to football then, no matter how ridiculous, it shouldn’t be taken down.

Sean Kearns 11 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:00:20

People can post videos of murder on social media, but my polite football related posts was removed?… I might take this quite far Anjay 👀

Michael Kenrick Editorial Team 12 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:07:18

Why are you posting off-topic?

Posts are being moved to the Premier League thread if they relate to other games this weekend.

If they relate to anything else, they risk being deleted. Please stay on topic.

Sean Mitchell 13 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:17:17

Gutted to not win. But we're usually second best against Villa.

Moyes should have utilised the bench better.

Got to take the positives. Keane was class. Keep it up, especially against those lucky bastards next Saturday.

Does Mr Moyes (or for that matter anyone here) think that the striking position presently is between two, Beto and Barry, and which then would be preferred?

Beto, who seems to get into the right position but seems to mess up in almost unbelievable ways and gives central defenders a lot to worry about. Or Barry, who is yet to prove he can get into the right position, even allowing for the limited time to judge either.

And if we went for somebody different, let's say Ndiaye or Alcaraz, would we be losing something aerially and physically and would that then negate any wide play? Or would we have to revamp to playing more centrally and less of Grealish left and whoever, Dibling or A N Other wide right?

I suppose the third choice would be to start one way and then switch at some time during the game, which I assume would be about the much-favoured hour mark.

Scott Hamilton 16 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:31:27

Dave (4)

Röhl looked great. Decent first touch, passing, and little glimpses of skill. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts against Wolves in the cup, and possibly West Ham the following Monday.

As for the ‘retro' Moyes negativity, he's changed so why don't you give it a try?!

John Charles 17 Posted 14/09/2025 at 17:36:19

Absolutely right to bring Röhl on. Alcaraz would have changed the whole structure of the team, when we were by far the better team.

Also, I'm not entirely sure why people think Alcaraz is that good? But hopefully, I will be proved wrong about that.

Derek Knox 18 Posted 14/09/2025 at 18:19:24

We lost the game yesterday pure and simply because he persevered with the hapless Beto for too long. There was more chance of Horatio Nelson getting his eye or arm back than that lummox scoring.

Barry isn't much better, though early days to condemn him. He has better ball control and some deft touches which should put him ahead of Beto from the Ghetto!

I think we slipped up by not getting another striker in before the Transfer Window slammed shut, especially after letting the only other alternative, Chermiti, go out. I am not talking necessarily about a high profile/high priced individual.

Igamane from Rangers or Ivanovic from Millwall would have been eager to come, and couldn't be any worse than Beto. Possibly a lot better to be honest, but we will never know now, will we?

Mind you, we had our usual share of bad luck, where Keane on another day could have had 3 but for bar, post a save, and a narrow miss.

Frank Thomas 19 Posted 14/09/2025 at 21:17:56

I seem to remember that Coleman originally was in the attack and a lot of us were amazed when Moyes put him at right back and it was a master stroke. A right-footed winger as a right-back.

So this beggars the question: Why is McNeil, a left-footed winger, not playing in the left-back position instead of a dynamic right-footed midfielder?

Is Moyes guilty of the same type of blindness that stopped Dyche playing a centre-back in the right-back position?

Secondly, the majority of goals this season have come through ground shots and easy close header tap-ins. Though I did not see the full game against Villa, what I did see was that both attackers missed shots that, if taken better, could have resulted in several goals.

Result, Beto and Barry failed to score but will be back again next week. If we are to get better, we must reward better play. So what about putting Dibling into the centre-forward position, maybe after the Liverpool game, if either striker fails to score?

Derek Knox 22 Posted 15/09/2025 at 03:26:20

Nicolas, good question, the form book can generally be thrown out of the window, in these matches, and as so often the build up and anticipation are more exciting than the actual game. However I do think as always, we have a chance. Whoever the Ref is will have a big bearing on the outcome. They seem to get every decision in their favour, quite often (as like yesterday) resulting in a penalty to decide the game.

James Hughes 23 Posted 15/09/2025 at 04:35:55

Nicolas, I always think we have a chance.

they aren't that good defensively and if Beto calms down he will score

Jerome Shields 24 Posted 15/09/2025 at 04:46:27

I don't think that Beto was hapless, I just think that Aston Villa were well prepared and practised all week how to contain Dewsbury Hall and Grealish.Where Moyes fell down is that he did not change tactics via players early enough to throw a spanner in their preparations, playing safe to secure a point and not a defeat.

This is typical Moyes. Everton had the chance to progress into the top four, but they didn't which has been a feature of Moyes's Everton career for years. When progression up the top was within Everton's grasp he bottled it.

To all extent and purposes Everton should have won that game, but didn't.

Next game Everton face one of the traditional top six, let's see if he can break his up to now woeful record against such sides. If he doesn't Everton then slides down the table.

To challenge in the Premiership it is crucial to achieve wins when faced with such games. At the end of the day it is all about progressing Everton's position up the table.

The other things is what does Moyes mean when he says he has no idea if Mykolenko is playing next week ? He needs to kick ass at Finch Farm and find out.Everton are in a Premier League campaign and unresolved I juries are not helping .

One thing that Moyes is achieving is in managing to move to the new Stadium.Therevis not one iota of misgivings about the move from Goodison anywhere.So he is achieving what in my opinion he was recruited for

Mike Gaynes 25 Posted 15/09/2025 at 05:58:56

DK #18, Ivanovic scored at the same rate in the Championship last year as Beto did in the Prem.

Igamane managed 11 goals in the SPD. Motherwell and Ross County.

No idea why you'd think either would be bangin' them in for us.

At least Barry scored 11 in La Liga. Give it time.

Mike Gaynes 26 Posted 15/09/2025 at 06:06:55

Brendan #20, you are mistaken.

Coleman played an entire season and part of a second as our starter at right wing/mid, and that was after he returned from his Blackpool loan in May 2010.

In 2010/11 and 2011/12, he made 52 appearances on the wing, most of them starts.

He didn't become a regular right back until September 2012.

Brendan McLaughlin 28 Posted 15/09/2025 at 08:05:26

Fair enough Mike #26

My point though was that Seamus was brought in to play right back and no-one was "amazed" let alone surprised when he made that berth his.

Liam Mogan 29 Posted 15/09/2025 at 08:27:34

Football fans always look at players at other clubs, especially strikers, and think they are better than what they have.

Beto is far from what we would like to have in a perfect world, but to propose some of these bang average players as 'they would do better', is unrealistic. There have even been calls to bring in youngsters from the academy.

The truth is none of these players are better than what we have. If you asked fans of other teams, they'd just point out their weaknesses and be just as frustrated with them as we are. Unless we pay out big money (60m+) or find some undeveloped gem (which is what they have tried with Barry/Chermiti etc) then finding a quality striker will be difficult.

Alan Hines 31 Posted 15/09/2025 at 08:43:18

Now that we have discovered a decent passing game could we play without a centre forward? How about playing N’Diaye through the middle with Grealish and Dibling flanking him? Or the three of them switching positions so Dewsbury-Hall, Garner and Alcaraz can have so many passing choices. Total football here we come!

Grant Rorrison 32 Posted 15/09/2025 at 08:51:35

Jerome 24. "At the end of the day it is all about progressing Everton's position up the table."

Yes, and we're 6th currently having been fighting relegation for years.

We're 9th for the last 38 games. Moyes has only managed 23 of them.

Sounds like success to me.

Dave Abrahams 34 Posted 15/09/2025 at 09:13:01

Scott (16), Rohl looked great? Really? I hope he comes good, it’s early days that’s why I said he gets a walkover, he did nothing to impress me and I thought that Alcaraz would have done better.

As for Moyes when he has a go when the opportunity is there then I’ll change my opinion on him, Scott were you happy with just two substitutions and no improvement in the performance?

Mike Doyle 35 Posted 15/09/2025 at 09:27:33

Alan #31. I suggested the same idea on another thread.Our friends who play at one of our former grounds did it successfully with Salah, Mane & Firmino - so may be an option for us to consider.

Robert Tressell 36 Posted 15/09/2025 at 09:51:51

We won’t do the total football approach because we don’t have enough pace in the front 3, we don’t have attacking full backs and the midfield probably isn’t good enough either.

The best thing to do - boring though this is - is not to mess about overcomplicating the tactics and formation and instead just giving a new group of players time to settle in to a 4231 with Beto up top initially. Barry then needs games to develop - and really could develop over the course of 18 months. No surprise that he doesn’t look up to much yet - he’s barely played.

Sam Hoare 37 Posted 15/09/2025 at 10:01:26

I do feel like Ndiaye is being a bit wasted on the right. He's so good at spinning his man but he did it a few times on Saturday and still had miles to go to reach the box.

I thought KDH was pretty average on Saturday and would like to see Moyes try Ndiaye at 10 with Dibling on the right at some point. I even think Ndiaye could be an option at ST if Beto continues to misfire and Barry doesn't impress Moyes as Ndiaye is so strong and good at holding off bigger players on his back. Getting the ball to his feet around the box will really help us score more goals.

Neil Cremin 38 Posted 15/09/2025 at 10:32:43

Dave (4) and Jerome (24) YawnAs for Beto vs Barry Eri is by far faster off the mark and probably has a stronger shot, Barry seems to have more ball control to hold up play but a striker needs to put the ball in the net.John (17) I also am not convinced that Alcaraz is the player most people think he is, and if we brought him on who would he have replaced.

Dave Abrahams 39 Posted 15/09/2025 at 10:37:13

Sam (37) Yes I thought Everton were giving the ball too much to Grealish who was well marked and didn’t do enough with his final balls except for the centre that Keane had his good header saved, there was another time he cut inside and set himself up for a shot from the edge of the box but decided to pass instead and the pass was too strong and went out for a goal kick.

I thought some of the midfielders should have tried switching the ball across field and giving Ndaiye more of the ball and let him weave some of his magic, he’s very good and the players should realise that although Grealish is also very good he’s not the main man.

Dave Abrahams 40 Posted 15/09/2025 at 10:49:57

Neil (38), Neil what was you yawning at? Me having a go at dull, dreary dithering Dave?

As for Beto and Barry I understand the situation we are stuck with them until Barry proves his worth and Beto starts scoring.

As for Alcaraz I thought he could have been used to replace Tim instead of Rohl who didn’t impress or change the way we played,

Neil we can use five substitutes Moyes used two to no effect that’s what most fans are having a go at. Have another yawn!

Mike Powell 41 Posted 15/09/2025 at 10:53:58

Half decent striker,and we win that game., there was lots of positives,but if we don't start putting these chances away then we are going to come unstuck

Conor McCourt 42 Posted 15/09/2025 at 10:55:10

I do find it frustrating when posters continually harp on about the impact Moyes has had since he came back to the club. Last season we all know what a great job he did and he has had more than enough flowers for his impact

This thread is about talking points after Saturdays game and Jerome is spot on that the lack of ambition shown by the manager was a very worrying sign. I disagree with Mal that we played better against Villa than we have done for years. Not so long ago we drew 2-2 with a much weaker team against much stronger opposition and were excellent on the day. It was only their quality attacking play that prevented us getting a result. In my opinion it was our lack of smelling the game from the manager against a vulnerable out of form Villa side who hadn't scored a goal that prevented us from taking the points.

Again looking at the table is irrelevant at this stage. We have taken 7 points from 4 games which is decent. However if you look at it objectively we have played 2 sides who are likely to finish between 8th and 12vth and 2 relegation fighting sides. If we had taken less than 6 points then we would be in for a long season considering the investment we have made.

We have a squad now in my opinion capable of finishing 8th at best and 12 th at worst. These types of games are the ones that decide if we are going to have a chance of competing for a European place. Not since Ancelottti has a manager been given the tools to do the job, Moyes has options he must be brave enough to use them.

It says a lot about the speed of Grealish’s close ball control in that he successfully does pretty much the same move in the same position several times a game, but two defenders still can’t close him down.

I agree with Sam that the heat map should be a lot hotter on the right side, maybe the Derby might be too much to give Dibling a start, but we’re starting to look very predictable on the left. And the left back position is the rs’s weakest link - they’ve already realised that Kerkes is a dud.

Robert Tressell 44 Posted 15/09/2025 at 11:04:43

If we had gone for it and lost 0-1 would Moyes be praised for his ambition to get in the top 4?

Or is that simply not a possible scenario because fortune favours the brave?

And if fortune does favour the brave, what happens when two equally brave sides meet?

Is anyone brave enough to answer?

Robert it has nothing to do with being brave that was a wrong choice of words from me but it's about ambition, and using the resources at your disposal and trying to win a game that was there for the taking. He was foolishly brave against Leeds when dropping KDH into midfield which cost us the point in a game we were never really in.

Villa were so low in confidence that they had settled for a point. They had doubled up on both wingers and brought fucking Lindelof on in midfield due to their lack of options. Emery had decided that he wanted a point with 20 minutes to go. Tielemans and Watkins both were hooked, their chief creator and goalscorer.

If we had have lost 1-0 which was unlikely we would have lost one point for the chance to win two. Emery had tied him up and a tactical change of putting Dibbling on for KDH, moving Ndiaye left and getting Jack central would have undone Emery's straightjacket.

The 2 full backs on yellow cards would have had different challenges to face who were looking more comfortable than at any other time during the game.

Emery's subs told you he was happy with the point, Moyes lack of subs told you he was equally happy