Blues recover to get a draw after awful first half

Everton 1 - 1 Leeds Utd

Everton face Leeds United at Hill Dickinson Stadium and the game is live on Sky's Monday Night Football, with the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin threatening to score a slew of goals against his old club.

David Moyes is able to call upon Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Seamus Coleman, Charly Alcaraz, and Jarrad Branthwaite -- all on the bench as part of his squad tonight, the first in a long spell without Jack Grealish. Michael Keane serves the final suspension of his ridiculous 3-game punishment for a silly hair-pull that was never 'viloent conduct'.

Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye return as victorious conquerors of Africa following their ultimate victory in the African Cup of Nations Final.

First Half

The final game of the weekend got underway with both teams in their traditional strips, Garner kicking off for the Blues. And the early hoof eventually won an early corner that looked like it should have been attacked but was cleared.

Ndiaye switched ot the left for an early adventure, Mykolenko throwing in long, then crossing in, Barry forcing another corner. Garner's delivery good but again the ball wasn't really attacked by anyone in a blue shirt.

Leeds got forward but Struijk lashed the ball well wide. Everton tried to push forward but Mykolenko fell over Garner's probing forward pass and the ball found its way back, Calvert-Lewin almost embarrassing Pickford.

The game seemed ot have a nice open flow to it; none of this sideways and backwards bolloucks. But worryingly it was Leeds moving the better after a good opening 10 minutes for the home side. Justin drove his shot well wide.

Barry didn't seem to challenge Struijk but then seemed to twist his knee, needing treatment. Leeds took advantage, cutting through, Bogle getting a corner, Gruev clipping a quck shot just over the crossbar.

Ndiaye got well forward but Barry did not fight to reach the cross. Everton kept trying down the left but the balls in were wasted, and Leeds could come forward, a good cross picking out Calvert-Lewin but he headed it away from goal!

Leeds attacked again, Bogle and Justin getting in eachother's way. McNeil seemed to break up a Leeds attack only to give the ball away. Ndiaye had a chance to release Barry but his pass was poor.

Mykolenko fouled Bogle for his last warning from Simon Hooper. The Leeds free-kick was absolute rubbish, Tarkowski drawing a foul from Ampadu. Barry was released down the left but kicked the ball behind under pressure.

Armstrong switched the play intelligently to the right and Patterson looked to advance but could not keep the ball. Leeds countered and forced the ball from a loose ball, the cross played to Calvert-Lewin who completely missed it, going then all the way over to Justin, who had an easy job to score after Aaronson stepped out of the way.

Another available goal given away, Everton crying over a foul on Ndiaye in the build-up but the Senegal man was trying some African dark arts that did not come off.

Leeds now had all the impetus and kept driving forward, making Everton look very poor as they scrambled to defend, a perfect cross for Calvert-Lewin coming back off the post! And Leeds firing the rebound wide.

Everton tried to respond but Calvert-Lewin dived under the slightest touch from O'Brien. Armstrong won a free kick wide left of the Leeds area, Garner trying for the near post, but poor, although still winning a corner. This time delivered better but it came back out to Mykolenko who mishit his shot.

Everton tried to build another attack but couldn't keep the ball. Ndiaye tried to do something but ended up giving away his crossfield pass. But he made up for that with a quick ball to Garner who shot but sliced it into the side netting.

Everton forced a turnover but Barry looked like Bambi on Ice as he meekly surrendered forward possession and Everton had to try to rebuild. But a round of boos met the referee's whistle after an embarrassingly poor first half where Everton had been outplayed by the vistors.

Second Half

Half-time changes from Moyes to alter the course of this game? Yes! Branthwaite and Dewsbury-Hall coming on and changing the formation to a back three, losing a player from midfield.

Everton played some better football down the left but Garner's cross was repelled and Leeds countered. Everton tried down the right, O'Brien advanced till tackled by Justin. Tarkowski tried to find Barry but he was easily isolated.

Everton worked ut forward again to Barry who felt he had his heel clipped by Struijk, but Simon Hooper did not agree, much to the chagrin of the angry crowd. Barry then body charged Struijk and that was a free-kick to Leeds.

Stach clipped Mykolenko's ankle and saw yellow. Same fate for Gruev after he dragged Ndiaye to the ground. The half-time changes had stopped the marauding attacks from Leeds but Everton had still done nothing going forward.

They looked painfully incompetent trying to build anything until Gana powered forward and played in Ndiaye but the defender Bornauw read it perfectly and blocked Ndiaye's threatening left-foot strike.

Leeds countered strongly until Calvert-Lewin encountered Tarkowski and just fell over before Stach shot goalward, saved low down by Pickford. Garner got forward and played in Barry who tried to curl it around Darlow but he launched himself and parried it away before Gana fired a shot at him.

Everton looked to build another attack but Dewsbury-Hall saw the ball stolen off him. Everton tried to build again but it was all far too laboured. With Everton largley restricting Leeds, Moyes went bold and brought on teenage sensation, Tyler Dibling to turn the game.

D ibling was very conservative with his early touches, playing wall passes back to source. He then took on two defenders and lost the ball. But Everton were at least trying to fashion attacks, although Mykolenko's cross was poor. Dewsbury-Hall failed to the first defender.

Ndiaye danced inside, his shot deflected away for a corner. Dewsbury-Hall faiked to beat the first defender from the corner. But Everton kept working it forward, Dewsbury-Hall playing in Gana who put in a lovely ball across that was clipped in by Thierno Barry just like Calvert-Lewin past Darlow to equalize.

Some great football saw Gana hit the bar.

Everton kept working the ball forward, into the last 10 minutes. Dibling tried to do a Grealsih, failing to cross when he should have, getting double-teamed. He just could not beat Aaronson.

Everton tried to build again, but Leeds kept their shape and forced them to regroup. Dewsbury-Hall picked out Gana where Dibling had been and he tried at least to cross. A triple change ensued from Farke, trying to hold on to the point Leeds had.

Barry skipped forward with the ball but then played it back to nobody! Pickford then played the ball up to him and he completely missed it!!! Moyes finally saw sense and lined up Beto as Leeds attacked and Okafor fired over.

Great play from Garner and Dewsbury-Hall laid it on a plate for Dibling who incredibly failed to shoot with the goal gapping and instead drove a cross into a defender and away.

Leeds got forward but Buonanotte got it all wrong and Everton pushed up yet again with just 4 minutes to get the winner. Leeds got a free-kick and won a late corner. But it was over everyone.

Leeds mounted a late attack that O'Brien seemed to stop but Buonanotte reocvered and his shot was blocked behind by Tarkowski. The corner was headed behind by Longstaff and that was it. No goals for Calvert-Lewin but one nice finish for Barry.

Everton: Pickford, Patterson (71' Dibling), Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, McNeil (46' Branthwaite), Armstrong (46' Dewsbury-Hall), Ndiaye, Barry (89' Beto).

Leeds Utd: Darlow, Bornauw (85' Buonanotte [Y:90']), Rodon, Struijk, Bogle, Stach [Y:54'] (85' Longstaff [Y:90']), Ampadu, Gruev [Y:55'] (66' Tanaka), Justin, Aaronson (85' Okafor), Calvert-Lewin.

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Mike Gaynes 4 Posted 26/01/2026 at 18:55:54

Everton XI: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski (c), O'Brien, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, McNeil, Armstrong, Ndiaye, Barry.

Subs: Travers, Beto, Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, Coleman, Alcaraz, Brathwaite, Röhl, Aznou.

The Senegal guys come straight back in. Armstrong apparently at #10, which is awesome.

Neil Cremin 5 Posted 26/01/2026 at 18:59:25

Just seen the side and the bench.

That's a strong looking line-up.

Tony Heron 7 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:03:00

Only one keeper on the bench! OMG!

Merle Urquart 8 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:03:22

Rohl unlucky there but that's our strongest bench this season...

COYBB

Simon Dalzell 9 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:04:15

I'd have kept Rohl in. COYB

Tony Abrahams 10 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:05:17

I've just looked at the table and it really does seem to be a different season than what we have become used to over the years.

Man Utd have just beaten Man City and Arsenal but have still only picked up 9 points during their last 5 fixtures. This has still only been bettered by one team, with Newcastle gaining 10 points over the same period.

A win tonight would put Everton joint top in the form league and, although we have lost Grealish, our bench is so much stronger tonight.

Another thing is that, in a season of such inconsistency, my own view is that Everton will be one of the fresher teams going into the final third so tonight has now become a really, really important game for the Blues.

George Cumiskey 12 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:09:26

Instead of McNeil.

Tony Abrahams 13 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:11:42

Instead of Rohl?

I thought our midfield was very fluent against Villa, but certain players always seem to get picked so I just hope it doesn't backfire on us.

Andrew Merrick 14 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:12:59

Good team selection and an interesting bench!

Merle Urquart 15 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:13:31

Rohl for maybe Gana given his age and just played a full tournament... he might need more recovery time

Knife-edge fixture, this one, which Everton will show up? Which Leeds will show up?

Geoff Trenner 16 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:15:09

Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite on the bench?

I wasn't expecting that.

Neil Cremin 17 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:17:40

Really, George?

And who will be playing out wide then?

Armstrong? Rohl?

Neil Cremin 18 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:19:32

If anybody was to be replace by Rohl, who I would also have had in my team, it would be Gana.

And keep the balance of the team that won at Villa.

Nicolas Piñon 19 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:19:37

Livescore.com said confirmed lineups and Rohl starting; but we can't edit.

Christy Ring 20 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:23:24

Delighted with the bench, and great that Armstrong kept his place.

Maybe Rohl is a little unlucky.

Phil Smith 21 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:40:46

I don't think Gana should have came back into the team when Rohl was so impressive last week. Sends out the wrong message -- Moyes has favoutites. He also played a lot at Afcon, as did Ndiaye. We need him back though.

Glad he keeps the same back 4 and young Armstrong. Finally a strong bench! Only 1 keeper!!

Michael Kenrick Editorial Team 22 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:49:41

Nicolas, that's not what I'm seeing on Livescore.

Rohl is on the bench; he is not a starter this evening.

Paul Olsen 23 Posted 26/01/2026 at 19:54:29

Home against a poorer team.

I fully expect a disappointing setback.

Nicolas Piñon 24 Posted 26/01/2026 at 20:34:36

Micheal, they changed it after apparently.

Nicolas Piñon 25 Posted 26/01/2026 at 20:45:16

Rohl and Dewsbury-Hall in for Gana and Armstrong/

And then Alcaraz or Dibling for McNeil.

Minimum changes needed.

Mike Kennedy 26 Posted 26/01/2026 at 20:46:33

I put a bet on Leeds hours ago.

I never expected a result in our favour.

Paul Olsen 27 Posted 26/01/2026 at 20:54:29

Piss poor, can't even fake surprise.

I will be surprised, however, if we actually wake up today. Can't wait to get back on the road. Hill Dickinson Stadium is turning into something of a curse.

Sean O\'Hanlon 28 Posted 26/01/2026 at 21:00:10

Moyes providing another home fixture shit-show. He hasn't a clue. He's a phoney.

Awful display. Awful management, Awful coaching. Just fuck off, Moyes.

Tony Heron 29 Posted 26/01/2026 at 21:03:12

Apparently the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium is 5 yards longer than Goodison. I wonder if our set up at home is too open and allowing visitors to play through us?

Another in midfield and proper full-backs would make a real difference for us, I think.

Joe McMahon 30 Posted 26/01/2026 at 21:11:43

The trouble is we wasted half a match, thanks to Moyes.

Nicolas Piñon 31 Posted 26/01/2026 at 21:16:03

Five defenders against fucking Leeds at home...

Unbelievable!

Sean Kearns 32 Posted 26/01/2026 at 21:55:46

It was 3 defenders.

Let's have it right.

Merle Urquart 33 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:00:00

Didn't expect anything out of that after the abysmal first half... but changes made the difference.

Great to have Dewsbury-Hall back. I don't know what to say about Barry, shocker of a footballer but was Johnny on the Spot tonight

Craig Walker 34 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:00:26

Good second half. Poor first half. McNeil was poor again. His legs have gone.

Dibling needs to shoot and cross when he gets the chance. I know he's young but he gives the impression of being slow and ponderous.

That second half shows that you have to play your best XI. I'd have put Alcaraz on and not Dibling. Decent point given the first half.

When the players attack then the crowd get up for it; it's not hard to understand the lack of atmosphere.

If we want to make something of this season, we need to strengthen over the next week.

Nicolas Piñon 35 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:00:31

Patterson and Mykolenko are defenders, Sean, and pretty limited offensive wise, more so Mykolenko.

If it would've been Aznou, maybe I'd agree with you in some way.

Sean Kearns 37 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:02:26

Rohl should have played over Gana. He was excellent last week…

If Gana's shot goes in off the bar, then we are singing everyone's praises. The margins are slim.

Leeds were a worthy opponent and I enjoyed the tactical aspect of tonight's game. Moyes changed the system twice and we got a result when we looked down and out first half.

Sign a quality centre-forward and some wing-backs and we are cooking. We looked good with the twin towers at the back.

Derek Knox 38 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:02:53

I know it's easy to say in retrospect but wrong team selection from the off. McNeil did nothingagain.

Second half was an improvement but still too late!

Merle Urquart 39 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:18:38

What's worrying is it is another team who struggle away from home having a field day at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Is it down to the manager fretting about them as opposed to letting them worry about us?

Dave Abrahams 40 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:24:03

After that truly horrendous first half, I'm happy with the point but the performances of some of these players were really shocking.

Why put Dibling on when he has Anzou, Alcaraz and Rohl on the bench? Dibling looked like he had just got out of bed, what a dozy few minutes from him -- and that was a shot not a cross bleedin' pathetic.

Whatever he does in the future, he's not worth a place now and Moyes should know that.

As for Mykolenko someone should pick him up and twat O'Brien over the head with him -- another pair of useless professionals (?)

Mike Corcoran 41 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:30:13

Sick of the inverted winger bollox. Left footers left wing etc please. Crosses in equals goals.

Michael Kenrick 42 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:32:48

It's a funny old game.

Barry was an absolute joke for the entire game... except for one moment of excellent skill to turn in that cross.

Dibling must actually be mentally retarded. If he want's to be a footballer, he has to do something -- especially when it is laid on a plate for him.

Ndiaye tried but I think he may have been drained by his efforts in Africa. Nothing he tried really worked.

Tony Heron 43 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:33:45

I would really like Dibbling to succeed, but has he actually got a footballing brain?

Leeds had 2 players on him all the time yet he still tried to take them on had the ball taken off him almost every time. Does he not watch Grealish draw men to him then lay it off to whoever fills the space behind him?

No wonder Dewsbury-Hall (brilliant) went mad at him for crossing instead of shooting when he laid it on a plate for him.

Derek Knox 44 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:38:44

Dave A, again it's down to team selection, which is on whose shoulders?

Second half definitely an improvement but still not quite enough. Lacking urgency and precision at Hill Dicko again!

Tony Hughes 45 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:39:49

The inverted winger is there to be supplemented by a pacey, overlapping full-back. Something we haven't had for a while...

But these so-called coaches still play this system without the appropriate players.

Tony Abrahams 46 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:43:02

I thought Barry was unlucky with his other effort, Michael, but I also thought our system was poor, meaning he often never had another player within 20 yards of him.

I know you have never rated Calvert-Lewin but at least he played as a centre-forward, whereas the amount of times we pull our centre-forward back, which takes away any outlet, is totally bemusing to me.

A point was about right in the end. I felt sorry for Patterson, and thought he maybe would have complimented Dibling a lot more than O'Brien.

But the biggest disappointment was that we went from being a team that was compact, organised and dangerous on the counter-attack at Villa, to a team that didn't quite know what they were supposed to be doing at times tonight.

Derek Thomas 47 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:51:57

Sadly ... both managers will be happy for a point. Farke because 1 point away when you're 16th is not to be sneezed at, and Moyes, well, just because he's Moyes -- never saw a draw he didn't like.

Dibling, the speed of a dustbin lid, the brains of a greyhound.Passes -- but doesn't move. Gets deep in the box -- doesn't shoot.

McNeil -- did nothing

Armstrong -- unlucky to come off -- needs a definite role, not sure centre mid is it.

Gueye -- lucky to stay on, asking someone his age to play that energetic upfield role should not be a regular thing, yet he gave the cross for Barry.

Yet another poor initial 1st half selection from Moyes.

Not the world's biggest surprise that we bottled it -- it's the Everton way.

David West 48 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:52:44

I just feel it was another wasted opportunity, and there's been a lot of them lately.

They looked like they have been injecting the Red Bull off their shirts compared to us sipping Horlicks first half. The energy they showed put us to shame first half.

McNeil can't be persisted with if we have another option, definitely not on the right.Armstrong struggled to compete, which he can be forgiven, for a young lad. Gana looked like he was still hung over first half, got better second but still looked tired.

The boost of quality second half was clear to see with Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite. Dibling, although he lost the ball a lot, was trying to have a go. I'd play him leftside, tell him to cross it, I've not seen him cross the ball once this season!!

Jarrad just looks like a Rolls-Royce in car park of Reliant Robins. The players coming back are the thing I'm clinging to as a positive.

I always thought the move to the docks would prove a tricky transition, teams enjoying playing here!

Si Cooper 49 Posted 26/01/2026 at 22:52:45

Dave, I think that's harsh on Dibling, Mykolenko and O'Brien.

I thought Darren's pre-match post on O'Brien was spot on.

Mykolenko has flaws but never shirks.

Dibling still finding his way but tonight he seemed less ‘weighed down by expectations', apart from his decision to not take that shot on. Garner's shot trying to beat the keeper at the near post when he had to try for the far corner was an equally bad choice.

“Is it down to the manager fretting about them as opposed to letting them worry about us?” - I thought the rubbish first half was down to the opposite. Farke had done his homework and used a system we couldn't deal with with our starting formation. Our midfield was anonymous. Gana was some way off the pace and Garner never seemed to be anywhere near where the ball was.

All put right by half time re-jig.

Great to see Branthwaite and Dewsbury-Hall back, with Alcaraz also on bench. May take a few weeks to get everyone up to proper pace but if we can avoid injuries and suspensions for a while could yet be threatening the European places this season.

Kieran Kinsella 50 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:00:48

Can we move on now from the DCL lamentation fan club after he scored a handful of goals for Leeds after 3 years of not doing anything now that the much maligned Barry has done the same?

Michael Kenrick 51 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:02:26

Yea, Tony... two moments then.

Barry's other effort was actually quite good... but he should have hit it harder of course, so it was past the keeper before he could save it.

I'm not sure he's really isolated, or that it matters. If the ball goes toward him, he's got his back to goal, a defender all over him and, if he does get the ball, it goes in a completely random direction.

He should have had a third chance as well, when he got behind their defence in the build-up to Gana's bar-busting strike. But he stalled and seemed to lose any notion of what he should do with the ball.

Derek Knox 52 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:05:32

David West, shouldn't that have been a Rolls Royce in a car Park of Robin Unreliants ?

James Newcombe 53 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:22:54

I thought Dibling played pretty well; apart from when he should have taken that shot.

He seemed more confident and tried to take them on. He'll get there.

Minik Hansen 54 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:23:24

The right attitude from the first whistle is what's needed. Do too many of the players fear playing at home? They need to have some sort of gumption...

I won't start talking about who starts and which formations, just have some fire in the belly! That said, we really need pacey defenders at left- and right-back that also can do crosses, that would do wonders.

At least they gave us a good second half... that saved some hope for the rest of the season.

Jimmy Carr 55 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:29:38

Terrible first half, much better in the second, Moyes made the right adjustments at least. Glad to see Dewsbury-Hall back, the best ball-playing central midfielder we have.

Barry is a conundrum, good finish and a good attempt before that, but sometimes he looks ungainly and random. Yet he's scoring, he can find the net.

Worryingly, we still haven't figured out how to take the game to teams at home. Moyes's "sit back and counter" tactics are fine on the road, not so good when the onus is on us to win the game. Pickford hoofing it long to Barry is depressing to watch.

I thought Patterson was impressive again. I'm beginning to think it's the left-back position that is more problematic. Mykolenko is a good defender but offers very little offensively. Nothing we don't already know.

Onwards.

Mike Iddon 56 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:30:48

I was at the game, rare occurrence for me unfortunately.

Second half much better than first, mainly as we had 2 of our best players on the pitch. Moyes has a decision to make as Branthwaite has to play, absolute quality.

Barry was isolated in the first half which made him look worse than he is, that finish was real quality. We played 10 yards further up the pitch 2nd half and pushed Leeds back.

A draw was a fair result. What price a win at Brighton next week?

Nick Page 57 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:35:34

Here’s the plan Moyes and Everton hierarchy. I’ll give it you for free

Buy a right back

Buy a left back

Buy a striker

You lazy feckless shower of backslapping txxts. The real Evertonians are sick to bastard death of your intransigence.

That first half was an embarrassment. And that should never NEVER happen again.

Nick Page 58 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:38:12

Quick question - how many times does and Everton fullback overlap the midfielder?

Get rid of McNeil - he’s crap and can’t be arsed. Terrible.

Peter Mills 59 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:40:32

The halftime substitutions and change of formation made all the difference. Dewsbury-Hall provided energy and a bit of guile, Branthwaite makes the defence so much safer and he passes incisively to feet.

It was a decent second half, the atmosphere was pretty good, it wasn’t as cold as I thought it was going to be, we deserved the point.

Bob Parrington 60 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:44:34

Derek Thomas @ 47. A pretty good summation mate. absolutely to the point.

Rob Dolby 61 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:46:57

Credit to Moyes for changing things and matching them up second half. Worrying if he sent the players out in the first half to look so disjointed. McNeil must have been told to float inside and looked lost.

Mykolenko is a defender for when we are 1-0 up and hanging on, he is useless if we need to chase a game.

Patterson was my motm tonight. I thought he had his best game for us and was very unlucky getting the hook. Why not put Aznou on for Mykolenko if we are playing wing backs?

Mykolenko was purposely being ignored by his own team mates as he is that poor on the ball.

Great to have Branthwaite back. I wouldn't be surprised if the 5 at the back started our next game.

2 points lost but at least we showed some desire to get back into the game.

Bill Hawker 62 Posted 26/01/2026 at 23:55:30

Absolute garbage the first half. Much better after the changes Moyes made in the second half.

The result and the way we played showed that we are more than just deficient in the right back, left back, and striker areas, although credit to Barry for his strike.

If Barry is going to be one of those "do nothing for 89 minutes but pop up with a goal" type of players, then I'd be ok with that, if he does it more consistently.

Ian Pilkington 63 Posted 26/01/2026 at 00:08:31

Four home matches in succession against moderate opposition and Moyes’ team selections and first half game plans have cost us 7 points and an FA Cup run.

Mike Corcoran 64 Posted 26/01/2026 at 00:30:32

Sick of the inverted winger bollox. Left footers left wing etc please. Crosses in equals goals.

John Pickles 65 Posted 26/01/2026 at 00:38:09

The 1st half shows why we need to try something different at home. Defenders pushing forward and leaving us high and dry on the break is not worth the cost when they offer us nothing offensively anyway.

I don't know what O'Neill is like away from home, but he is useless on the right at home every time I see him. Play him on the left or don't play him.

I must have been watching another Patterson at right back, I thought he is worse than O'Brien defensively yet still just as poor going forward. We NEED a Prem quality right back.

So good to see KDH and Branthwaite back, we looked a different team with them on the pitch. With KDH, Garner and Ndiaye linking play we suddenly looked capable of breaking them down.

Barry 80% awful, 20% brilliant, nothing in between.

I thought Dibling had it tough with 2 players on him at all times. To me he got better as the game went on, but that should have been a shot not a pass.

Colin Malone 66 Posted 27/01/2026 at 00:42:28

I can't understand why Moyes plays Dibling on the right. Utter waste.

John Pickles 67 Posted 27/01/2026 at 01:01:34

Reports of Lazio offering 'up to £15M' for Iroegbunam!

Alan J Thompson 68 Posted 27/01/2026 at 02:57:33

I've just finished watching the game and not read any of the above comments but that seemed like a game that Leeds threw away.

In the first half I was wondering who was the home team and who the newly promoted as they played us off the park and while some will say it is "Moyes bashing" I thought he got it wrong by moving Gana into the role that Garner had been playing. Gana didn't really have a bad game it was just that Garner seems so much better bringing the ball out and the only change he needed to make was Ndiaye for Grealish.

Then in the second half Leeds just sat back and paid the for it, a tale of two managers?

Of the half time changes I thought that McNeil was never in the game and the only reason for subbing Armstrong is so he can send him back to Preston.

And again Barry shows an unexpected finish for the equalizer which makes me wonder how much more we might see from him and good to see Branthwaite and Dewsbury-Hall available and now just to see more players getting into the opposition penalty area when we attack.

Paul Griffiths 69 Posted 27/01/2026 at 03:29:27

'Armstrong apparently at #10, which is awesome'.

He was shite and deserved to be hooked at half-time. Not very 'awesome' really. That does not look like his best position.

Patterson should have stayed on the pitch with Dibling ahead of him. Was it Forest where they did well together? Agree completely with Tony (46).

It was 5 defenders Sean Kearns not 3: 'Let's have it right'.

Gana was shocking but then creates a goal and nearly scores what might have been a winner. None of this ought to deflect how truly bad he was. He did not deserve to survive half-time.

McNeil. Speechless.

Jay Harris 70 Posted 27/01/2026 at 03:58:16

In the first half we didn’t compete and couldn’t get the ball off Leeds.

Gana looked like a headless chicken and Stmstrong just strolled through the game.

With Brandthwaite and KDH brought on and no doubt some strong words we saw a lot more of the ball and made our way up the pitch.

Thought O’Brien Ann’s Jarrad dominated and they carry more of a threat from corners seeing as we struggle to score from open play.

Dibling was ineffective but to be fair peter right MF was totally lacking as KDH/ Armstrong were towards t he e left as was Jimmy Garner leaving Gana Gueye who did not support well. Why wasn’t Rohl given a chance.No partnerships developing either. It’s just percentage football with long hoofs from Pickford which I detest.

Mick O\'Malley 71 Posted 27/01/2026 at 04:21:59

Pual agreed about Patterson, thought he done well tonight, some people will never give him any credit, yet Tarkowski can stink the gaff out but cos he goes around playing the hard man hardly gets called out, I'll fucking scream if Jake OBrien replaces Patterson at right back, I'd drop Tarkowski and leave Obrien and Braithwaite together. I can also see some praise for Barry through gritted teeth, the lad battled and chased, yes he looks ungainly but that was a great finish yet again, why the fuck some of our fans just have to get on his back constantly is bizarre,.it's the midfield that stunk, overrun first half and creating nothing, Mcniel was woeful tonight, Gana/Garner just as bad, Mykolenko grim, a lot better second half with the change in formation but Moyes couldn't resist putting Jake back at right back, why not give Aznou 15 mins on the other side and take Mykolenko off? He needs to find a way of winning some of these hone games

Derek Knox 72 Posted 27/01/2026 at 04:46:37

Why is it when all the other results seem to favour us, we have a home game against beatable opposition (no disrespect to Leeds btw) we tend to underperform ? Moyes has to take responsibility for making too many changes to the side that finished against Villa. N'Diaye for Grealish excepted.

On the plus side, if there is one, having Jarrad and Kiernan back has to augur well for the run-in to the end of the season. McNeil should not play again unless it is a dire emergency !

Paul Griffiths 73 Posted 27/01/2026 at 06:04:08

Agree Mick, of the three Tarkowski should be on the bench.

Mind you, isn't Keane back for the next game. Let's see what happens but Patterson should start with a winger ahead of him. So, that's a back three with O'Brien at right-back and McNeil ahead of him.

We must have the worst full-backs in the league. Leeds get Justin on the cheap who scored with his weaker foot.

Shocking recruitment.

A shocking window if no one comes in.

All the January sponds have gone to Rome so far, the ground where Friedkin has actually bothered to turn up. Friedkin, naturally, supports playing Serie A games overseas. Of course, he does.

Mike Gaynes 74 Posted 27/01/2026 at 06:36:59

Mick #71, good comment but prepare to scream, because you and I both know exactly what Moyes is gonna do if he returns to a back four.

Personally I saw nothing about Patterson that impressed me except his ability to watch the back of Aaronson. The Yank is hardly a top player but had the complete freedom of Patto's side for the entire first half, running past him at will. And I can't recall a single dribble, pass or decent cross from Patto, no contributions at all in attack, can you? Anything jump out at you?

As for Barry, totally agree with you, he has a great deal to learn and he'll never look elegant but he clearly knows how to move in the box and how to finish a play. The shot with the outside of his foot looked off-balance but it was headed for the side netting and required a top save, and he got nicely across the defender for his goal. And I really like his low-key celebrations -- no sliding, no ripping off his shirt, just an almost-bored "hey, what did you expect" expression. I said it last month and I'll say it again... in a year we'll be happy to have him.

Sean O\'Hanlon 75 Posted 27/01/2026 at 06:51:17

I'd like a manager who can coach the team for 90 mins instead 45.

Home form:

P 12. W 4. D 4. L 4.

Dropped 20 points out of possible 36.

Ian Bennett 76 Posted 27/01/2026 at 06:58:51

The passing was too slow and the play lacked intensity after a decent start.

The problem as far as I can see, is that we aren't very good when we've got the ball. Any team away from home that can keep their shape, just need to quieten the crowd down and play for the counter or set pieces.

I picked the same team as Moyes in the preview, but the issues were we dwelled on the ball and had 3 or 4 leeds players attracted around it. Space was there, but the overlap or picking someone to avoid the press wasn't.

It is easy to pick in the usual ones and say the passing & crossing was poor, it was. Mcneil was rarely there on the right when Patterson had the ball, Gana gave it away a fair bit, but no one else shone either.

Huffed and puffed in the second half for the goal and a well worked cross bar strike. But in truth that was it.

A point, players back, but definitely 2 points dropped.

Eugene Stalker 77 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:18:04

Peter #59 "he (Branthwaite) passes incisively to feet." I couldn't agree more. It was incredible seeing what a difference his passing made in the second half especially towards the Leeds box. Nothing over elaborate but just quick simple passes to people in space that put Leeds on the back foot straight away. I do have to disagree though. I thought it was freezing.

Martin Reppion 78 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:28:14

This has become an Everton Bashing site.

One week everyone moans that Moyes is one dimensional and never changes anything. Then when the manager changes the game at half time from one we couldn't get a kick in to one we couldn't lose, by changing the shape and personnel, this is ignored.

I was sat in the pub surrounded by Leeds fans moaning that their manager hadn't got the nous to respond to Moyes' changes.

We were overrun in the first half but had over 70% possession in the second. Gana was 3 inches from winning it, after having set up a fine equaliser with Leeds playing with their backs to the wall.

We are not Real Madrid. We will not win every week. But for F sake give some credit where it is due.

Paul Griffiths 79 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:31:08

Ian 76 - Mcneil was rarely there on the right when Patterson had the ball,

That, Ian, is a key point, made worse that Nathan was subbed for Dibling.

There are still erm dead smart fellas who believe that Patterson or FFS 'Patto' should not be starting in the current circumstances. Unless we buy a right-back in the next 6 days - TFG, yeah fucking right - Nathan should start every game.

Paul Griffiths 80 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:38:06

Martin - 78 - good try, who dominated the last 4 minutes when we should have been all-out?

'Everton Bashing site' is pathetic. There are a belligerent small minority, I agree, but most of us write what we see and we care for and love our club and want success every bit as much as an erm 'optimist' like you.

Dave Abrahams 81 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:38:50

Si (49) I thought Patterson was the best of the defenders in the first half and very unlucky to be dragged off and his face showed that, O’Brien was poor at centre back and worse when he went full back, Patterson was one of the few that showed effort and wanted to win but with no winger ahead of, most of the time, he had a hard job on his hands but never gave up. O’Brien looked liked Keane last night, no anticipation, awareness or flexibility.

Dibling was very, very poor and that effort on goal was a shot that turned into a bad cross.

We definitely need a couple of loan signings in the next few days or the season will see plenty more displays like this.

Paul Griffiths 82 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:46:10

Thank you Dave, 81, spot on about Nathan and sadly O'Brien.

Your last sentence is critical. It's down to you Yanks and your ace recruitment team. Absolutely zilch confidence. Ndiaye will most likely be gone this summer after a sleepwalk to the end of the season. These Yanks have a fucking lot to prove.

Moyes will most likely start Jake at right-back at Brighton.

Ian Bennett 83 Posted 27/01/2026 at 07:55:44

I didn't have a problem with the 3-5-2 switch, or bringing Dibling on for Patterson. He tried to get more possession, and he then put on an attacker on for a defender. The issue on 3-5-2 was it took Ndiaye out the game.

Branthwaite looked assured when he came on, but him and Dewesbury Hall have both been out for a long period of time, so the formation suited the personnel and shaped the thinking.

The dibling effort was absolutely shocking, and if we are all honest he needs regular games in the championship to develop. Premier league is too much for him to grow. It's just killing his confidence. It's all well and good looking like a world beater in a shit side on match of the day or highlight reels, but a 90 minute match is a different story.

Could Aznou come on for the last 15 minutes over Mykolenko, that was my thinking. We had little quality on the left 2nd half.

Danny O\'Neill 84 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:05:37

Good to see Beto scoring. He won't be polific, ɓut it's becoming a fairly regular habit.

Fot those of us fortunate enough to be attending Brighton with the travelling Blue Army, focus now on Saturday, when hopefully he nets another in what I another tricky test for Everton.

Mick O\'Malley 85 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:11:37

Mike @74, Patterson hasn't had a settled right sided player in front of him, I mean let's be honest he was defending that side on his own,.McNiel was next to useless, never available for a pass or doing his defensive duties as shown by Justin leaving him for dead for their goal, no one will ever convince me that OBrien is a better right back than Patterson, I agree with you about Barry, he's gone from being,.what was it "Bollard one" to the only one who is scoring goals, he's even getting some begrudged credit.

I'm not convinced by Dibling he might turn out to be a decent player but im.sure that £40 million could have been put to better use, he looks like he cant be arsed, he should be wanting the ball all the time but he looks gutted when he gets it, I'm yet to be convinced

Paul Griffiths 86 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:22:43

Erm Danny. Good to see Beto scoring. He won't be polific, ɓut it's becoming a fairly regular habit.

Danny O\'Neill 87 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:27:21

**Barry, not his unpredictable side kick Beto!!

Well said Mick @80. I have confidence in TFG. They are shrewd investors & for the first time in decades, we are being run like a business rather than boy's pen Bill's new Christmas train set.

Interesting take on Patterson Dave A player I always wanted to do well, but maybe this isn't his level? I can see him back in Scotland in the summer.

Paul Griffiths 88 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:29:30

Top first paragraph Mick - 85 - but it's unlikely that you will get a response. Subbing Patterson for Dibling was appalling from Moyes.

A tad more sunnier about Dibling Mick - just a tad. I saw things I liked and how on earth is he to feel better when the waste of space McNeil is picked ahead of him.

Similarly, this game was crying out for another Aznou cameo.

Mal van Schaick 89 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:29:59

Just when we are in a position to climb the league with a winnable home game we turn in a weak first half and scramble to get something from the game. At least we didn’t lose.

Mal van Schaick 90 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:29:59

Just when we are in a position to climb the league with a winnable home game we turn in a weak first half and scramble to get something from the game. At least we didn’t lose.

Mal van Schaick 91 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:29:59

Just when we are in a position to climb the league with a winnable home game we turn in a weak first half and scramble to get something from the game. At least we didn’t lose.

Paul Griffiths 92 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:35:40

What is Mick 80 Danny? What are you on this morning mate?

No post/er matches what you said there.

Well said Mick @80. I have confidence in TFG. They are shrewd investors & for the first time in decades, we are being run like a business rather than boy's pen Bill's new Christmas train set.

@80 is me.

And based on this and the last window your confidence is compromised. Erm, 'shrewd investors', sure, but that means fuck all for how they run our club other than their Texas profiteering.

Geoff Trenner 93 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:36:41

The only real positive from the game was the return of KDH & Branthwaite. Both looked fit and lively, particularly impressive for Jarrad given that he hasn’t played for months.

McNeil didn’t look interested, Gueye looked knackered first half but more energised in the second. Rohl must have been peeved not to get on.

Barry is an awful footballer on every measure except, in the last few games, getting himself in the right place to score. Is that 4 in 5 now?

Mick O\'Malley 94 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:37:39

Paul, @88 I'm.willing him to do well, I also agree that it must be soul destroying to see the lamentable McNiel get picked ahead of you constantly,. He was truly woeful last night and not for the first time, Dibling just looks a little lost, not sure of what the manager wants.from him, does he take players on and risk losing it and get Moyes screaming at him or just pass backwards to retain possession, I.want to see him have a run with the ball, whip a few crosses in,.as I said I really want the lad to do well

Paul Griffiths 95 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:38:19

Barry is an awful footballer on every measure except, in the last few games, getting himself in the right place to score.

Erm Geoff, 93, that is what a striker does.

Paul Griffiths 96 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:39:37

Nice Mick, 94.

John Collins 97 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:39:42

I don't think Patterson or Obrien should be anywhere near the right back position next season,Mykolenko in same boat.

But, the Leeds left wing backs runs forward saw Patterson doubled up on time after time.

We were ripped apart in the first half and the manager just stood watching it happen.

He doesnt,and never has,reacted to what is happening on the pitch fast enough.

Andrew Merrick 98 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:49:33

Such a frustrating first half, it screamed for changes well before half time.

Leeds took a few minutes to settle, but had been well coached to take the game to us, use spaces well, and move for each other with energy and purpose.

There are slightly bigger spaces at our new ground, slower players (due to age or ability) are disadvantaged.

The answer? Easy in theory, younger high energy players with a skill set appropriate to their position and role...so in practise this is a challenge, but we need to buy better and coach better to get a highly functional team.

Changes made a big difference at ht, we suddenly presented a different challenge for Leeds, and they lost their momentum.

A back 3 works best with decent overlapping wing backs, we don't have a single one, although Aznou may have potential.

Dibling showed more potential at Southampton, our coach is not getting the best of him.

Mcneil is a very limited squad player.

Grealish is missed.

Very good to see Jarrard get minutes, ditto kdh.

Illy is always a star player.

Barry is underwhelming for long periods, but is finding some good touches.

The squad rebuild may not come on much, if at all this window, we have half a good team that are carrying the rest, and we have a half good coach, we really can get better. Coyb

Geoff Trenner 99 Posted 27/01/2026 at 08:59:45

Paul @100. I recognised the irony in my post as I typed it.

Perhaps I want more from a striker, not falling over his own feet, looking lost for large parts of the game.

Having said that, if he keeps scoring then I’ll gladly applaud the ‘awful footballer’ and welcome his name on the team sheet every week

Darren Hind 100 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:00:01

I thought Patterson did ok. I would rather he played RB But here's the curious thing.

we did not climb on top of Leeds until O'Brien (who is not a rightback) was moved to right back.

I don't pretend to know why our results have improved so radically since JOB camer in to play right back last season. Maybe the sight of somebody built like a brick shit house narrows the path down our right and makes wingers think twice about trying to get down there.

I would like to see him back at center half, if only to make it possible to ease the classy Branthwaite back in gradually, but I would invite anyone who thinks his days at right back are over to come and see me.

I have an Ayrton Senna that says Moyes will play him there at the very next opportunity.

Dave Lynch 101 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:06:17

"We were ripped apart in the first half and the manager just stood watching it happen."

A better team would have put that game to bed before half time. We've been played off the park several times at home by teams who are either our equal or considered inferior with regards league standings.

That has to be down to coaching, not just on a tactical level but on a attitude and mental level. Leeds were much quicker and more dynamic than us, even in the 2nd half whilst defending they looked composed, we on the other hand were all piss and wind and luckily found a way through.

We IMO need a forward thinking manager who understands the modern game, not a stoic, stuck in his ways pair of safe hands who will deliver the odd decent result, we deserve better than that after years of basically nothingness.

Andrew Clare 102 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:06:33

Moyes again got his tactics completely wrong for a home game. We were completely swamped in midfield in the first half and very lucky to have gone in at only one goal down.

He turned it around in the second half with changes that almost won the game but that first half was a horror show.

Moyes tactics guarantee a mid to lower table standing. Win one, lose one, draw two and repeat that’s always the pattern.

John Collins 103 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:07:38

No bookie would take that bet.Its an absolute certainty Jake plays right back at Brighton.

Obrien Tarkowski Keane Mykolenko.

Revert back to the back four playing deeper than they did last night.

Anthony Dove 104 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:11:06

Awful first half. Luckily DCL contrived to hit the post faced with an open goal and we

wouldn’t have come back from two down. I think Barry and Dibling would benefit from

an SAS training course.

Steve Brown 105 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:30:02

McNeil was responsible for the Leeds goal.

If you watch the Leeds goal scorer, he runs past McNeil who lets him go and continues to jog back while Justin runs unmarked in the penalty area to slot home at the far post. Unfit, lazy, both, it's hard to say but Moyes rightly hauled him off after half-time. Zero goals and 1 assist all season, unfit or disinterested - he cannot start another game.

As usual, all the pre match debate was about the right back position and I nearly fell off my seat when reading that Nathan Patterson was the main target of criticism for some posters.

The bigger issue was Mykolenko at left back! He was all at sea down his flank throughout the game. His defensive positioning was poor, situational awareness non existent, distribution awful and he offered no offensive threat - he is NOT good enough and needs to be replaced.

On the manager, Moyes got the selection and tactics wrong in the first half. He matched Leeds in the second half when he should have started the game with 3-5-2. The midfield of Garner, Rohl and Armstrong had huge energy in the Villa games and we lost that with the selection of Gueye. No slight on Harrison, but he is too young to influence a game when his senior midfield team mate is playing so poorly.

Overall, I think David Moyes has challenges with the balance of the team when we are expected to play higher up the pitch, control possession and get on the front foot. The players, the manager? I don't know but 16 points from a possible 36 at home is not acceptable.

John Collins 106 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:40:22

A very good prospect Armstrong,when the injuries return he will be back on the bench,getting the odd 5 or 10 minutes.

I would let him go back to Preston where he will start in most games.

He needs to be playing every week for his development.

Paul Griffiths 107 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:45:02

Steve, 105, spot on about Patterson, McNeil and the fucking woeful Mykolenko.

Still, there are footy-challenged little voices on here who will grab every chance to pop at our one true playable right-back. The corrector-in-chief Gaynes as he climbs into his DAN DAN DAN cheerleaders dress and his frilly knickers with D❤️ above his sweaty gusset is lard.

Moyes, instead of subbing, try Dibling and Patterson together, it worked before.

Paul Griffiths 108 Posted 27/01/2026 at 09:48:57

The injuries have returned John - 106 - and HA got subbed. at half-time because he was shite, 20 touches.

But nowhere near as shite as McNeil, 12 touches, 8 passes, 7 sideways, no dribbles, no effective crosses.

John Collins 109 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:05:37

19 yesterday, a boy learning his trade and condemned as shite Paul?

George Cumiskey 110 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:13:15

You could see as soon as we equalized that was good enough for Moyes we stopped the all out attacking that got us the goal.

Jimmy Carr 111 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:15:08

Mike (74), Leeds overloaded us on both sides of the pitch because they had greater numbers in midfield. Patterson coped well defensively and got limited/no help from McNeill. I'm not saying he's the long term solution but he had a decent game, won several of his duels and was not caught out of position.

Both of our full-backs are limited. However if Patterson keeps playing there is potential for improvement as there's a footballer in there somewhere, though I acknowledge he is massively injury prone and that has hindered his development. On the other flank Myko has been almost an ever-present for four years, he's not going to get any better. He is what he is.

It's a toss up as to which full-back position needs upgrading first.

Dave Lynch 112 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:19:10

John...

I don't think Paul was saying "he's" shite... more like he had a shite game.

As for Patterson... I thought he was one of our best players last night, full of running and put in some important tackles.

John Collins 113 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:22:18

Dave,

Yes possibly, mate, reading the post again. Harrison Armstrong had an ineffective game last night.

Paul, what are your overall thoughts on Harrison Armstrong?

Edward Rogers 114 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:43:34

Armstrong was ineffective last night due to being asked to play an unfamiliar role.

Looked like he was asked to play off Barry, fine, but someone tell our goalie that firing bombs 20yards over both of their heads doesn't give either of them much of a chance to shine.

Brian Harrison 115 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:46:15

Steve @105, I agree with a lot of your post.

Whenever McNeil plays, I worry that he switches off defensively. For some unknown reason, we have started a few games at Hill Dickinson Stadium slowly and, for most of the first half, we were on the back foot.

I don't agree that Gueye replacing Rohl had a detrimental effect on our game. Nobody played well first half, including Gueye. But he was the one sprinting down the touchline to put an inch-perfect pass for Barry to score as well as hitting the bar.

The inclusion of Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite made a big difference and the midfield of Gueye, Garner and Dewsbury-Hall dominated the 2nd half. For those critics of Grealish asking what does he do, well, I think last night's game answered that question.

I really don't know what to make of Barry last night. He scored his 4th goal in 5 games, which any striker would be pleased with, but his general game is awful. He has no confidence in holding the ball up, he is easilly bullied by defenders.

But our biggest problem is Tyler Dibling. We paid between £35M and £40M and he has been here 6 months and has shown us nothing. Not even a glimpse of talent... but we are stuck with a player who can't be trusted to deliver and heaven knows how much he is getting per week to sit on the bench.

There is one thing in signing potential but when it's obvious that it isn't going to bear fruit, we may have to cut our losses and use him in a swap deal.

Finally, I thought the crowd in the last 20 minutes were the best we have been since moving to Hill Dickinson Stadium. Please can we ditch the siren. It was never part of our history and the quicker they stop using it, the better.

Ian Wilkins 116 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:48:56

First half was diabolical. Outmanoeuvred. I was praying we'd get to half-time only one behind. Leeds could have been out of sight -- as per Newcastle and Spurs. Another manager might have changed things earlier.

Second half was better, great to see a few returning players, but we lack the much-needed sparks of quality. Crosses don't beat the first man.

We offered no forward outlet on the left really, kept going back. Missed Grealish. We desperately need some pace and guile.

John Collins 117 Posted 27/01/2026 at 10:49:07

Good shout, Edward @114.

Anthony Dove 118 Posted 27/01/2026 at 11:00:01

Brian @115.

With you 100% on the siren and Forever Everton can go with it.

Martin Berry 119 Posted 27/01/2026 at 11:32:30

I think the Manager went with a side that was dictated by the size of the squad and injuries. Also, he gave the previous Villa team (except Jack) another chance to repeat that performance.

Evidently we were over run and had difficulty with the Leeds formation. Credit to the manager that he changed things and brought back previously injured players, perhaps sooner than he would have; it worked and we could have won the game.

There are still naysayers against Barry but, in his defense. I will say this: His last two goals have been class finishes -- not flukes! Additionally, a glancing chance brought off an outstanding save by their keeper; had that gone in as well, we would have been licking his lips.

I see a possible assassin in the box, his finishing looks cool and calm. We have a great striker in the making here.

Edward Rogers 120 Posted 27/01/2026 at 11:34:25

Don't mind the siren but wouldn't miss it if it went.

Please can we ditch 'Grand Ol' Team'? Just embarrassing.

Annika Herbert 121 Posted 27/01/2026 at 11:44:18

I think Dibling needs longer than 6 months before we consider giving up on him.

John Keating 122 Posted 27/01/2026 at 12:01:58

What a pathetic first half. Totally outplayed, outfought and outthought.

How many times have we put ourselves in a great position to kick on after a good result, only to shoot ourselves in the foot???

It seems that we need to play a defensive away type game if we want points on the board.

I think young Armstrong needs sending back to Preston until the end of the season. As for young Dibling, God only knows what's up with the lad? Hopefully after longer here and a good next pre-season, he'll come out of his shell. Right now... 'disappointing' is not the word.

Dave Abrahams 123 Posted 27/01/2026 at 12:12:56

Annika (121)

I think that's a bit hard on Dibling giving him 6 months...

No, put him on probation for now!

Ray Jacques 124 Posted 27/01/2026 at 12:15:47

Frustrating. Whenever we have a chance to kick on, they fail. I suppose that's what happens in the Premier League; in reality, we are no better than 10th to 14th with a likely 12th-place finish.

It's strange how we always had a decent home record but couldn't buy an away win; now, I favour us more away. Perhaps it's the style of play, perhaps the change of ground. It is probably a combination of the two.

Looking on the bright side, we have come through a period with lots of players missing or injured and managed to hold position in the Premier League. The players are now returning, so hopefully we can kick on. Leeds have been on a decent run so, after the first half horror show, I was content with a point.

Hopefully the likes of McNeil will be sold or revert to the shadows, he seems to have an incredible talent for arriving half a second after the ball has gone, it's uncanny.

Barry is scoring, I don't care if he does nothing else all game but at least hits the net. And having Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite back will be a massive bonus.

Hopefully a few signings this week to bolster quality, not just numbers, and we can get upto the 50-point mark or over.

Ray Jacques 125 Posted 27/01/2026 at 12:26:29

Did you miss the minus sign in front of Mcneils 4?

Les Callan 126 Posted 27/01/2026 at 12:35:19

I said after the Sunderland game that there appears to be something radically wrong with Dibling. I was sat right behind him when he was subbed, and the poor kid looked shell-shocked.

Staring blankly into space, and seemingly without a friend in the world from any of his teammates. I'm no psychologist, but this lad seems to me to need some therapy.

Mike Powell 127 Posted 27/01/2026 at 12:54:04

Surely McNeil and Myklenko won't be here next season, they are both woeful.

Everyone goes on about the need for a right-back, and I agree, but we are desperate for a left-back just as much.

Darren Hind 128 Posted 27/01/2026 at 13:02:20

"No bookie would take that bet. It/s an absolute certainty Jake plays right-back at Brighton."

Oh brilliant. That means we won't have to suffer dozens of posts expressing amazed, astounded, flabbergasted astonishment when the inevitable happens... Thank fuck for that.

We won't be deeper than last night though. I'm not sure that is possible without going behind our own goal.

The whole section around me were screaming at Tarkowski twice last night. First when Patterson had nothing on and then turned back; and then when McNeil found himself in a similar position. On both occasions, Tarks was ambling out of his own area a country mile behind play.

Mick O'Malley @71,

"Tarkowski can stink the gaff out, but cos he goes around playing the hard man, he hardly ever gets called out."

You are spot on, of course. I've been saying it all season, if it's any consolation. The matchgoers were giving him both barrels last night. That said, a seasoned professional like him should not need to be told where to be by the crowd.

The good news is: he will be gone soon. Jarrad Branthwaite showed what a difference a classy centre-back playing properly weighted passes into midfield can make to the entire team.

I know we had to push up because we were chasing the game, but his simple distribution enabled the entire team to naturally move forward as a unit. Such a refreshing change from seeing Tarkowski or Pickford hoofing it down the park and waiting for it to come back.

The temptation to risk Jarrad's recovery by rushing him back too soon must be resisted Easy does it.

Unsatisfactory result. Appalling first half. Several below par individual performances... But, without troubling the edge of my seat, I still saw glimmers of hope.

Kevin Molloy 130 Posted 27/01/2026 at 13:09:49

Football has changed. Now that the defenders and goalkeepers are familiar with playing the ball out from the back, teams won't just cough up the ball the way they used to when playing away. And if we go charging around after it, we get tired out and hit on the break.

So we seem to be moving towards a more Italian model, where we endeavour to hold onto the ball and wait for a weakness, but the crowd has no patience with this way of playing: they want front-foot.

There are no easy answers, especially when we lose for the season the one player most capable of unlocking a hunkered down defence.

As has been said before, all four home teams on Sunday lost. This is a league-wide phenomenon. It was amazing to see the difference once Branthwaite and Dewsbury-Hall came on... this is what we've been missing for months.

There is so much to be optimistic about with Everton: we have a striker who is starting to look elite level, and about six quality players are due to be added to the squad in the next couple of weeks. And we have the capacity for significant further improvement when we buy competent full-backs in the summer.

We've been spared another horrendous relegation fight (and it promises to be the worst yet this season), but the discontent among the supporters mystifies me. Moyes has barely been in the job a year, and we've made so many steps forward, but the criticism of him continues to be relentless.

One of the main ones being he doesn't use his subs well. Has there been any acknowledgement about last night['s switcheroo? Nope, they immediately jump to 'Well, why did we start so bad'?

You cant' win. It's very strange.

Ian Bennett 131 Posted 27/01/2026 at 13:44:10

Agree on Branthwaite. If he is coming off the bench for the next 3 or 4 matches, I am happy to take that. The kid is class, and will make a huge difference if he isn't in the treatment room.

Pace, aerial ability, reading and passing, he is the complete package.

Darren Hind 132 Posted 27/01/2026 at 13:54:19

Kevin Molloy.

Give it a rest, for fuck's sake.

I pointed out to you last time you were bleating about "relentless criticis" of Moyes, that you were defending him from criticism that hadn't even been levelled at him. You were the only one who mentioned him. You're at it again.

Considering the desperately poor performance by the team Moyes originally selected and the degree to which he had been tactically out-thought, he has gotten away very lightly... in fact ,he has gotten away with absolutely fucken murder on this thread. 130 posts and he barely gets a mention...

These are match day threads and people come on to voice their honest opinion. The only thing I would describe as relentless is your sycophancy.

Raymond Fox 133 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:00:58

How well the opposition's individual players perform on the day will affect how well we play as well; I think there were a few examples of that last night.

Our weakness is we are poor at scoring; if you don't score, you don't win... that's why we are never a good thing to beat any team.

The betting for the game had us only slight favourites; the bookies had a good idea what the result would be because we seldom score more than 1 goal. Very few ever bet for a draw, the game starts a draw. Two low-scoring teams produce plenty draws 0-0, 1-1.

We are better at stopping teams than scoring against them, Moyes gets plenty stick but I think he relised early that was the way to go. At this stage of the season we are higher up the table than I for one thought, so I cant be too critical.

Next season we will have a better Idea of how much ambition our new owners have for us. We need 3 or 4 more top class players to challenge for the Champion League places, if we don't get them and lose some we have, it will be more of the same.

Kevin Molloy 134 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:04:04

We drew last night Darren with half a team out, and the draw was thanks to a smart tactical switch around at half-time. This is him 'getting away with murder', is it? As we sit a handful of points from the European spots and with the best away record in the Premier League?

I'd love to know what your expectations were for the new manager who took over a team with 2 goals in 10 games. 'Were you hoping for a late bid for the title this year, as we bore down inexorably on all comers?

You're the one congratulating themselves that our captain 'will be gone soon' and that every Evertonian has the right to howl at the moon over every bump in the road. I just don't see it that way.

If we get a good manager after a decade of utter tripe, and he presides over an instant and statistically significant improvement, that should allow him a degree of wiggle room where he is cut some slack, allowed the odd mishap, without a crescendo of boos.

Alan J Thompson 135 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:19:10

I thought that our improvement in the second half was more because Leeds sat back hoping not to concede rather than go for the kill -- rather than the couple of substitutions we made. In the last 10 minutes or so, they reverted to their first-half play.

Also, Armstrong was a bit of a scapegoat after being asked or told to change his game to play nearer Barry. I do wonder, if Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite were fit, why they didn't start? Did Mr Moyes comment on this at the presser?

Tony Abrahams 136 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:36:54

From my seat in front of the television, I thought that the much maligned Patterson, had a decent game. When he was subbed and I saw that Dibling was also coming on, I muttered under my breath that I thought it was a cowardly move by our manager.

I couldn't be bothered going because I was tired and it was freezing but I've been freezing cold hundreds of times at the football before so, if I'm being honest, I just can't get excited about my team at the minute.

We all see a different game. Kevin sees us playing in the old Italian style, with the fans having to be more patient. Although I saw that type of performance at Villa, I saw a totally different set-up last night with gaps all over the park.

Maybe you don't think it really matters if the centre-forward is isolated, Michael, but when you have got a big central defender all over you, then I think it's imperative that you need options. But I take your point about the next phase of Barry's game, because his touch was awful, and he never really tries to get a hold of the ball, which was the complete opposite of how the Leeds centre-forward tried to play last night.

I thought we missed Grealish, and the return of Branthwaite makes me realise that, even or unless you have got a fantastic manager, football really is all about the players.

You simply can't have enough good players; one of the reasons why we have been struggling in our home games is that we don't have enough movement or creativity.

Colin Malone 137 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:39:31

I still say, left-footed players should play on the left. Imagine Mykolenko on the right? OMG.

Both McNeil and Dibling look completely lost on the right.

Tony Hughes 138 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:45:55

I try not to imagine Mykolenko on the left -- never mind the right.

Mark Murphy 139 Posted 27/01/2026 at 14:46:50

"Half a team out"?

With the exceptions of Ibroegbunam and Grealish, Moyes had a full-strength squad at his disposal last night.

I'm looking forward to a strong finish to this season now that Branthwaite, Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye are back in the team.

Jonathan Oppenheimer 140 Posted 27/01/2026 at 15:28:12

I did not watch the match, but have read all the comments.

It sounds like our performance was just about right for the unsettled and uneven squad we have. Trying to bed back in 4 of our top players, losing our best player, having no choice but to play 2 very average or below-average full-backs plus one of Dibling or McNeil on the wing, plus a striker who looks like he might fall over when the ball is at his feet.

We have a long way to go. Send Armstrong back to the Championship, give Dibling a few chances to start the match, don't make any panic buys this window, slowly reintegrate Dewsbury-Hall and Branthwaite, and we'll be just fine. Unless we completely shit the bed the next 15 matches, persist with Moyes next season.

We're a work in progress, and we're about 12th-14th best in the Premier League right now, but it's a far better place to be in than the past 10 years, so I'll take it.

If we keep hold of all of our top players and sign a couple full-backs plus either Grealish or a top winger, we'll be in good shape next season.

John Collins 141 Posted 27/01/2026 at 15:47:30

Darren,

You started it by making a point that my 6-year-old grandson could tell you re Jake starting right-back next game.

You must have watched a different game to me last night.You and the "whole section around you", you are relying on to enhance your non-existent point.

Danny O\'Neill 142 Posted 27/01/2026 at 16:14:51

I can relate to not gettng overly excited about attending at BMD.

It is by no means a chore and I always look forward to matchday. Depending where I am in the country, home matches can be an equally long trip. I thank Moshiri for his one & only legacy and thank TFG for pushing the new stadium project over the line.

Theses days, I get more ecited attending the away fixtures.

Still too early to predict, but European qualification is very much on the cards. Possibly even the final Champion's League berth.

Is our current manager the person to get us there this season? Time will tell, but as it looks right now, he'd have to try hard not to.

Is he the manager to take us into competing in Europe next season? Opinions will differ, but not for me. I'd rather see change.

Sean Mitchell 143 Posted 27/01/2026 at 16:17:33

The siren is just a reminder of the depressing relegation dogfights.

Get rid.

Kevin Molloy 144 Posted 27/01/2026 at 16:26:01

This is what I really don't get about Evertonians, Danny.

You go to all the away games, we've got the best record in the whole league with ten wins since he got here, and you'd rather we twist next season and get AN Other in, after the last seven disasters. I just don't get it.

Darren Hind 145 Posted 27/01/2026 at 17:31:43

Kevin

I'm not in the least bit interested in how you saw the game or how much you love Moyes.

The fact is (and it is an irrefutable fact) That football fans around the world will give an opinion on how they saw their teams game. It is their right...You do understand that...Managers who fail to win what fans believe to be very winnable games will be criticised. Whether you like it or not. That goes for Moyes too. Compared to some of the abuse I have heard directed at some of the managers this weekend. Moyes is indeed. Getting away with murder. He failed to win and his team served up abject football. That said I STILL don't see any abuse. I've read every post and I see no evidence of "relentless criticism" you are raging against Its in your head.

Not many people will be quick to congratulate Moyes for the tactical turnaround. That would be like patting the arsonist on the back for for putting out the fire he started in the first place. Moyes was merely correcting his mistakes.

Apologetic posts, like the ones you frequently put up berating fans for giving honest opinion will only ever attract more criticism for your hero.

The "crescendo of boos" at half time, which so upset you, did not come a stadium full of unreasonable people with an over developed sense of entitlement. They came from the most loyal, long suffering fans in the league. They clearly thought it was about time they told this manager that they are no longer prepared to accept this utter shite after forking out hundreds of pounds to see what is supposed to be entertainment

Of course they could have just happy clapped like you and let Moyes believe his fuck-witted tactics were in some way acceptable

You should be thanking them for forcing the managers hand rather than bleating about them for demanding something approaching the watchable

Darren Hind 147 Posted 27/01/2026 at 17:52:12

Colin

I didnt start anything. You addressed me. I didnt say that O'Brien would be right back at Brighton. You did that. I don't even know who will be fit. neither do you...and neither does you six year old Grandson.

I did say that there will be many people expressing their amazement when he is played at right back again. That's because there will be.

It was not just the whole section of the stand I was in. 52000 people and fuck knows how many telly viewers saw our defenders fall back to their own area as Leeds were given the freedom of the park to attack at will for pretty much the whole of the first half.

Ask your six year old Grandson He'll tell you

John Collins 148 Posted 27/01/2026 at 17:57:20

Is the Ayrton Senna bet you offered that Obrien plays in the next game still available?

Darren Hind 150 Posted 27/01/2026 at 18:05:42

No but the one that I offered about him doing it at the "Next Opportunity" is.

I'd offer it to you, but my conscience wont allow me to take money from somebody who doesnt even understand the bet

Ian Bennett 151 Posted 27/01/2026 at 18:10:20

Not many teams are putting 90 minute performances in this season. The likely winners, are playing probably playing the worst brand of football you could imagine given the talent, cost and likely success that the team will have.

It is a painful watch across many a team.

John Collins 152 Posted 27/01/2026 at 18:10:25

The next game is the "next opportunity" You don't seem to understand football so it's a fair swap.

Did our defence play higher, than we have seen for the majority of this season, in the second half?

Ian Bennett 153 Posted 27/01/2026 at 18:27:28

First goal was key, and the fact that Mcneil let his man run off him easily, was painful to watch.

The ease to get down the left was embarrassing, but James Justin running past Mcneil wont have been unnoticed by the management team.

Mcneil, Dibling, Beto, Mykolenko will be trying the patience of the management team.

Raymond Fox 154 Posted 27/01/2026 at 20:47:48

There's nothing wrong with our defence, yes the defenders might not be fantastic but only 4 teams have conceeded less goals.

Its the midfield and forward players where we lack that bit of class.

As Tony says @ 136 you cant have too many top players, they can get you out of trouble with one or two outstanding plays.

Considering the injuries we have had I think we are in front of expectations at this time.

Yes we can moan about some players, but the results are ok.