Dibling hints at frustrations he has endured by being overlooked

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Lee Carsley has been giving Tyler Dibling what he can't get at Everton: time on the pitch playing competitive football... albeit for England Under-21s.

But Dibling has only hinted at the frustrations he may have had after being glaringly overlooked by his club manager, David Moyes, saying: “It’s been tough [at club level]. When I come with England, it’s good to get minutes and play in these types of games to know that, when I go back to Everton, I can really push on at the end of the season and into the next.

“I had a good season last year with Southampton and it’s been harder for me this season with not playing as many games, but it’s all experience at the end of the day.

“I have definitely learned from people like Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, because they’re such good players. When you see them every day, you can take things from their game. I need to keep pushing myself, keep working hard at training, and I’m going to go into next season ready to go, mentally and physically.”

Dibling has made only 6 starts under David Moyes in his first season at Everton after joining the club for a relatively high fee of £35M. The rest of his 17 appearances have come from the bench and he is yet to score for Everton.

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Reader Comments (54)

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Neil Lawson 1 Posted 04/04/2026 at 18:26:10

Come on in the 70th minute v the Redshite and score the winner. Nobody will care about the rest of your season.

Mark Murphy 2 Posted 04/04/2026 at 18:38:25

Should've got minutes at Arsenal; should've got minutes v Chelsea.

I'm worried we'll lose him for a loss.

Phil Parker 3 Posted 04/04/2026 at 18:40:02

Play for Everton U21s. Get a run of 6-8 games under your belt to get some kind of match fitness, and knock on the door of the first team.

Or are you not allowed to because of your status or contract? Modern football, eh.

Mike Gaynes 4 Posted 04/04/2026 at 20:34:09

He hasn't been overlooked. He's been looked over, every day in training. And hasn't shown what Moyes wants. Moyes came right out and told him to pull his finger out.

Minutes are earned, son. Not granted. Not in this club. Earn them. Get 'er done.

Martin Berry 5 Posted 04/04/2026 at 20:55:53

Moyes knows a player, and he knows what Dibling must do to break into the first 11. The manager has been here before, the player has not and he will learn from it.

Let's get a pre-season done and I think we will see we have three players on our hands, Dibling, Iroegbunam and Rohl. They're all young and only going to get better with patience.

Paul Hewitt 6 Posted 04/04/2026 at 20:58:01

I always thought that getting Tom Fellows from WBA would have been a cheaper and better option than Dibling..

Dale Self 7 Posted 04/04/2026 at 00:18:32

Paul, Fellows put in a clever performance in the quarter-final victory over Arsenal. Less speed but considerably more guile than what we have seen from Dibling.

The winner was created by him cutting in at an angle to the top of the box for a nice layoff to Charles.

Eric Myles 8 Posted 04/04/2026 at 00:44:23

Paul #6, exactly what I thought.

Fellows could have sat on the bench just as good as Dibling and only cost £12M.

Paul Griffiths 9 Posted 05/04/2026 at 02:21:46

Paul H:

You mean the Tom Fellows who used to play for WBA who was sold to Southampton last summer (presumably to replace Dibling)?

In 32 appearances so far this season has scored exactly no goals.

Ajay Gopal 10 Posted 05/04/2026 at 03:53:23

There is no doubt in my mind that Moyes has not utilised the younger players well at all this season -- players like Dibling, Rohl, Aznou, Armstrong, George, etc.

For instance, I don't understand why Armstrong was not sent back to Preston North End after our midfield crisis had lifted - Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall were recovering from their injuries, Ndiaye and Gana were shortly to return from Afcon.

It was clear that after our senior players returned, Armstrong would have a limited role at Everton this season. His development would have greatly benefited from being part of the PNE team pushing for promotion. Similarly, Aznou and Dibling should have been sent out on loan, to get them playing competitive minutes.

I am convinced that Moyes is not good at managing a large squad. He will play his favourites until they break down, and then, when his hand is forced, he will bring in players who are short on match fitness and when they inevitably perform at a lower level than his favourites, he can turn around and say, “See, I told you they are not good enough, I need better players."

Well, I got news for you, Mr Moyes, we have the players in the club right now, you are just not very good at utilising them and that is why you will always be a ‘best of the rest' manager.

Annika Herbert 11 Posted 05/04/2026 at 04:57:10

Mike @ 4, you don't know he hasn't shown what Moyes wants, it's not like Moyes is particularly forthcoming about anything is it?

Yes, Moyes told him to pull his finger out, but for what reason? None of us have any idea. Is it work rate, defensive duties etc?

At least the lad seems to want to knuckle down and get himself in contention for a first team spot, judging by his comments.

Maybe a full pre season will help him show us his true potential? We can only hope.

Lee Courtliff 12 Posted 05/04/2026 at 06:41:19

I'm worried about this lad, I can see him coming back to haunt us, a little bit like Lookman.

I think he's got tremendous ability, and needs to be loved a little bit similar to Anders Limpar and his initial relationship with Joe Royle.

But Moyes doesn't really seem to be like that, in all his years with us I'm struggling to think of him bringing through a precocious youngster, sticking with him and truly giving him time to develop. Obviously Rooney is the exception, he had to play.

Others like Cahill and Arteta were far more aggressive in their play and (probably) character. Osman was loaned out before he finally got a run in the team.

Pienaar perhaps? But he was older and had quite some experience in other Leagues.

The difference is, none of those players cost anything like the money Dibling did, and football has changed to the point where 21 Yr olds are expected to have England caps by now. They develop and play far younger than they used to.

I don't see any reason why Dibling or Rohl can be trusted to play the full game (or near enough) away at Forest or Villa, then not a kick a ball for months at a time.

We were 2 up against Burnley after 60 minutes, one of the worst teams we've played this season, yet we didn't make any subs until the 82nd minute! Surely that was an opportunity to give certain players 20 minutes on the pitch?

Moyes has done a great job since he returned, nobody can question that, but this refusal to rotate is really a weakness of his, imo, and could come back to really bite us.

I bug bear of mine is when we put in a poor performance, it's the young players (who are still learning the game) who get subbed off or dropped altogether, yet the experienced players are given a pass and kept on the pitch or in the team the following week.

Dibling was poor against Palace and Sunderland, yes, but the whole bloody team was poor yet only he was subbed off at half time (Palace game). Its those players who need protecting and encouraging, and the older players who need a bollocking for not performing anywhere near the levels we expect from someone at their age/experience.

Hopefully a full pre season and extra fixtures next season (Europe?) will give these 'kids' a better chance of proving themselves.

Stu Gre 13 Posted 05/04/2026 at 08:19:13

Seems we can't question whether Moyes has done a great job or not. Moyes has done a Moyes job.

Might seem strange to say that as any other manager who came in and took us to the brink of Europe would rightly be lauded. But Dibling is proof that Moyes hasn't changed and ultimately why the team will run out of steam at the end of the season.

When you are lacking players or need to try something different or just want to surprise your opponents, using the young players gives you those options. Moyes has never been brave enough to do that.

Some players don't train well, but deliver on the pitch (When Gana is clearly exhausted you still play him?). Those are the players that change games, Fergie understood it but his best mate doesn't.

That's one of the things that separate great managers from good ones. Must be soul-destroying for skillful players with ambition.

Derek Thomas 14 Posted 05/04/2026 at 08:33:34

Lee @ 12;

Will these be the same people that said Onana would come back to haunt us?

James Newcombe 15 Posted 05/04/2026 at 09:09:57

He hasn't said anything wrong here. I still think he's got the world at his feet.

Moyes's system works, as we all know; but as a player,you have to fit into it. Perhaps Dibling hasn't picked that up yet, or Moyes isn't going to risk getting points on the board finding out.

He played up front for Southampton, I wonder how he'd get on centrally?

Tony Abrahams 16 Posted 05/04/2026 at 10:03:16

There are a lot of very good points in your post Lee, as far as I can see mate, regardless of your own personal opinion about Dibling, imo mate.

He could be another Onana, or he could be another Lookman, or it’s possible he might even dip and go completely backwards if he doesn’t start training better.

Professional football is such a very hard sport, imo, because it’s not what you do when you have got the ball, but it’s what you do when you haven’t got the ball, that is uppermost in a lot of managers thoughts.

Dibling, has looked both lost and disheartened, except for the game at Forest, when he played in front of a natural right back, but Nathan Patterson is another player who simply doesn’t get played unless the team are down to the bare bones, and even though I don’t think the team has lost with him in the starting eleven, he his another player who is not deemed good enough or trusted, once the manager has got other players back fit.

Moyes, is doing a good job, but when I hear people say Moyes’s system works, I look at his record of longevity and think to myself…. It depends on exactly what you want.

Whenever I have watched Dibling play, my own view is that he definitely looks a lot more suited to playing inside James, especially in our current system.

John Collins 17 Posted 05/04/2026 at 10:28:05

Who knows what Tyler is showing on the training pitches, we can only surmise.

One thing though, Moyes doesn't like playing young players if he has a choice between youth and experience.

If you were a young, potentially good player coming through, would you sign for him?

Lee Courtliff 18 Posted 05/04/2026 at 10:28:42

Absolutely possible, Tony. I clearly remember thinking Michael Branch was destined for big things but he drifted away after a few positive performances. We all know what happened to him in the long run.

Tyler is destined to play centrally according to Russell Martin, who couldn't speak highly enough of him. I think he's definitely more of a 10 than a winger.

I fully understand Moyes's point of view when it comes to training standards, results etc, I'm just scared we could sell him for a small fee then see him develop under a manager like Ariola or whoever and end up being sold for mega money.

I always remembered Tony Cottee saying in his book that Howard Kendall was the best manager you could play under... "if you were one of his players". It took a while for Cottee to win him over... but, once he did, he loved playing for Howard.

I think Moyes is very much the same way: once you've got him onside then he'll stick by you no matter what.

Paul Hewitt 19 Posted 05/04/2026 at 10:33:15

Yes, PG, that one.

How many games has Dibling played?

And how much did he cost?

Ian Bennett 20 Posted 05/04/2026 at 11:12:38

Just seen a clip of a Steve Watson hat trick. Think that proves we all need some faith.

Brian Harrison 21 Posted 05/04/2026 at 11:26:15

I really hope that next season we see the Dibbling that was at Southampton, th eboy has talent but so far we haven't seen much of it.

I think its to easy to say Moyes hasn't played him enough, one of his early starts was against Wolves and he had to be replaced at half time. Now I am sure that's the last thing any manager wants is to have to take off a youngster after 45 minutes. I agree with Tony that Dibbling looks as if he would rather be anywhere than playing for Everton at the moment.

Whether Moyes wanted him or not I am sure he wants to get the best out of him as paying that much and for whatever reason not be playing him doesn't help anyone.

While I have some sympathy for a young player moving to a far bigger club than he was at and the transfer fee paid has put extra pressure on him, he has to get his head round what's expected and start to deliver. I know when he was younger he went to Chelsea which isn't miles away from Southampton but went back to Southampton because he was homesick. But if he is to have a career in football moving to different places and maybe different countries is part and parcel of a professional footballer. I know he played for England U21s last week and even then he wasn't overly impressive according to those who watched the game. Finally I would suggest our fans are willing him to play well, whenever he comes on you can feel the crowd trying to lift him, but its now up to Tyler to knuckle down and show the manager the player we thought we were buying.

David West 22 Posted 05/04/2026 at 11:27:23

He's just got to improve on what he's shown, it's OK being great in training, when he's been in the team he's obviously struggled, we can all see that.

I think managers are dammed if the do play younger players, it doesn't work and it affects results, dammed if they don't and not giving them enough minutes.

Buy it's their head on the line if they don't perform and results slip.

I think there's loads of time for this lad, he says in the quote that he needs to be mentally ready, which alludes to him not being mentally ready this season, which for a younger player moving away, I can sympathise with.

Physically I think he can be stronger.

He should be alot more settled next year, and I'm expecting more time and more impact, that right side is crying out for more quality and he should be looking at mcneil and thinking I'm better !

Conor McCourt 23 Posted 05/04/2026 at 12:40:46

Derek I'm not sure what you are trying to say there.

If you are implying that we used the money to the benefit of Everton by bringing in players like Ndiaye and OBrien and therefore a good sale to make then I would agree given our financial predicament.

But if you are trying to imply that he has been a disaster at Villa then I'm not sure Villa fans would agree with you. Villa are a much better team when he's in the side.

Both of the times we dominated against them in midfield this season was due to both Camara and Onana being missing. He was also missing for other games at the start of the season when they were poor. Onana, Camara, Tielemans and McGinn are among the best midfield combinations in the league and are the main area which has them competing with the top sides in the country. When two or more of those players out they are a bog standard side and their results and fall-offs would back that up.

What does come back to haunt us mean? That he is going to be motm every time we play them or score twenty a season from midfield?

Put it this way he would walk straight into our team now alongside Garner and they would compliment each other better than Gana and Jimmy do. I wouldn't say we miss him but I would have him back in a heartbeat.

Raymond Fox 24 Posted 05/04/2026 at 12:41:07

Like he says, he's picking things up off better players, he will have no end of good advice from the manager and the other players. He has a great opportunity to become a better player in time; when he shows that he will get picked. The same applies to the other young players.

We are pushing for Europe and are doing 'okay ,thanks very much'. Moyes is not going to change anything at this stage and nor should he.

Lester Yip 26 Posted 05/04/2026 at 12:51:52

One thing he can learn is from Beto. He's trained hard. Even though he didn't score goals, but the manager acknowledged that and he's given minutes. And when he did score, his teammates readily to praise him and recognise his effort.

These are all professional players and managers. Whether you've given it all, whether you're ready or not, insiders know. Show us whether you have the grit to make it to the top by training well first.

Neil Lawson 27 Posted 05/04/2026 at 13:02:05

Lee 12.

Against Burnley, McNeil was terrific but he was utterly shot by 70 mins when the game was won. 20 mins then for Dibling against a beaten and tiring team could have provided a perfect opportunity.

Not to be. Yes, it's the Moyes way.

David West 28 Posted 05/04/2026 at 13:38:29

Are Coleman, Rodwell, Anichebe, Vaughan, Rooney, Hibbert, Osman, Barkley, Gosling not young players Moyes used?He did sign Stones too.

Dier is the only real one I can think of who slipped the net.

Can't think of many he never played and came back to haunt us!

Give Dibbling time, he's got plenty.

John Collins 29 Posted 05/04/2026 at 13:52:19

David,

Coleman, Hibbert and Osman were in their early twenties when they made their debuts

Eric Myles 30 Posted 05/04/2026 at 14:08:30

Paul #9, 5 assists and 33 shots c.f. Dibling.

Si Cooper 31 Posted 05/04/2026 at 14:17:49

I don't think you can fault what Dibling has said, I just hope he is getting / will continue to get opportunities commensurate to his performances in training.

Plenty more room for very necessary improvement.

David West 32 Posted 05/04/2026 at 14:49:18

John. He still played them, we've not had a load of players like Rooney or Barkley.

Can you think of many he should have played but didn't? That went on to have great careers?

David West 33 Posted 05/04/2026 at 14:54:55

People go on like we've had teenage Ronaldo, Messi and Maradona rotting in the Under21s!!!

John Collins 34 Posted 05/04/2026 at 14:55:06

He did David but you mentioned young players. Coleman was 22 when he debuted.

Osman 23.

David West 35 Posted 05/04/2026 at 14:58:50

Yes John. Think Coleman was signed at 20.

Dibbling is 20. Big difference in the fee of course.

John Collins 36 Posted 05/04/2026 at 15:09:53

He was David.

The point was on playing them young not signing them young.

Best value signing of Everton in the Prem era for me Seamus

Ian Bennett 37 Posted 05/04/2026 at 15:10:27

Séamus Coleman was 20 years old when he made his debut for Everton on 17 September 2009, in a Europa League match against Benfica. He celebrated his 21st birthday shortly after, in October 2009.

He was signed when he was 20 in the January.

He played 19 games at 21 with us & Blackpool, and the following season played 40 games and scored 6 goals.

This for a lad that had come through a non traditional route, was a fair transition.

I remember that right back display vs Tottenham.

John Collins 38 Posted 05/04/2026 at 15:29:36

Coleman was 21 when he made his debut.

Ian Wilkins 39 Posted 05/04/2026 at 16:06:49

Dibling was the strangest of our Summer acquisitions.

A significant fee (in the context of our available funds) for a youngster who had, according to those closest, including Saints fans, potential.

A little homework suggested he was shy, introverted, didn't like being away from home, and wasn't classed as the best trainer. Has talent but often doesn't work hard enough defensively.

It seemed odd to bring him into a Moyes squad where hard work and defensive contribution from all is a prerequisite. I hope he works hard and turns this round, but a loan out next season may still be best for all parties.

Eric Myles 40 Posted 05/04/2026 at 16:29:32

Ian #37, that game was played on 22 October, so 10 days after Coleman's 21st birthday, so still a youth.

Osman's debut was 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday, promoted from the youth team.

John Collins 41 Posted 05/04/2026 at 16:44:05

Sawadeeka

Michael Kenrick 42 Posted 05/04/2026 at 16:52:47

It seems obvious just watching him for the few minutes we have been allowed, that the kid wants to take the ball forward, head for goal, and see if he can score or lay off an assist. This is where I suspect the brilliance he has shown previously to be concentrated.

What he doesn't seem so keen on is his work off the ball, tracking back, covering the opposition player, blocking, steering them off course or even getting in a tackle. And whatever of a thousand other defensive duties he may be expected to perform for the side. That just isn't his bag.

And why should it be? Why should he have to expend undesired effort on running around trying to stop the other side from playing, when his whole being is built for getting forward with the ball at his feet?

Well, we know exactly why, don't we? Because that's what David Moyes wants. He wants his players above all to do his bidding, "follow instructions", be an intrinsic team player, rather than someone blessed with spirit and flair for positive creativity with the ball at his feet. It's Duncan Mackenzie all over again... If ya know yer 'istory...

So bottom line is, at the core, he's obviously not a Moyes player. He probably doesn't want to be that type of Moyes player because it is anathema to him. And yet, his only hope of getting minutes is that he must become a Moyes player, or it's just not going to happen.

What an astounding and unbelievably profligate, foolhardy and arrogant waste of talent by our Supreme Leader, whose judgment must never be questioned.

Dale Self 43 Posted 05/04/2026 at 17:23:33

That we now have both Dibling and Aznou airing out their disappointment is concerning. It makes clear that Moyes is not the youth whisperer, no arm around the shoulder for either of them.

Another case of method geared to mature and largely developed players? This will make our transfer business more difficult.

Had Moyes found time and patience for one of Aznou, Dibling or Alcaraz, perhaps it could be seen as a steady hand sternly applying standards to young players learning how to play within a system.

This looks like a mismatch between Moyes' stewardship and the club's desperate need to develop youth. We can't continually find Dewsbury-Hall and Garner type players to support Grealish-type loan arrangements. We will have the likes of the shitey six dropping in and feigning interest as a cost-increasing strategy deployed against us. It is a cheap way to reduce the number of players we can afford and attract.

44 Posted 05/04/2026 at 18:14:19

Michael #42, "expending undesired effort" is what professional footballers are supposed to do. Working for your teammates matters. Whether your gift is for scoring goals, getting forward with the ball at your feet, spraying passes around or whatever you're good at, you're expected to put in your all on the tasks you don't prefer. And with Moyes, if you don't, you don't play.

Annika #11, of course I do. The lad wants to play, and if he'd shown Moyes what he wants to see, he'd be playing. And "pull your finger out" is pretty darned forthcoming, isn't it? How much clearer could he be?

Lee #12, I've seen the comparison to Lookman before, but I don't think it's quite valid. Lookman failed at three other clubs after we gave up on him. It took until he was 25 for him to "get his finger out" and mature into a top pro and a fine international. But would we, could we have waited three or four more years for him to grow up? I don't think so.

Let's just hope it doesn't take Dibling that long.

David West 45 Posted 05/04/2026 at 18:29:21

Agree with Mike G.

Especially now a day's, teams can't carry passengers.

He's not Ronaldo at 40 !

He'd be given alot more faith & time on the pitchto affect the game going foward if he showed some desire to work for the team.

Ndiaye works his socks off on the other side, why should this kid think he can just stroll through games ?

The work is the minimum requirement, then you can do the fancy stuff!

David West 46 Posted 05/04/2026 at 18:33:41

I wouldn't say work is a Moyes thing, don't think pep, Jose, klopp wouldn't want him to track back to help his team.

He's got ability, but hes shown it in a Southampton team that were relegated, and in the championship. You wonder why they got relegated?

Kevin Molloy 47 Posted 05/04/2026 at 18:34:33

you've got to be an athlete and cover the yards these days. Just running. And if you don't it's a real problem. it gets noticed by the other side immediately, and targeted. We recall James, and how doucoure was specially detailed to do the running for him, but even then it left us wide open, even with having his brilliance compensating at the other end. sibling is a wonderful talent, I hope he can find the right balance. but in the time I've seen him, he does look quite heavy legged, as though he's already tired and on the back foot. It feels like he just need to get fitter. Let's hope he has a good summer and comes back with that extra half a yard.

Mike Gaynes 48 Posted 05/04/2026 at 19:17:30

David #45, great example.

Obviously Garner is our leading tackler, but do you know who is #2?

That's right, our best attacking player, Ndiaye. 57 tackles in just 25 league matches.

Considering Dibling is trying to earn minutes deputizing for Ndiaye, who could be a better example for him?

Mark Taylor 49 Posted 05/04/2026 at 19:19:03

Looks increasingly like a recruitment error. Not sure how much of that is down to EFC.

Lee Courtliff 50 Posted 05/04/2026 at 19:34:00

Mike G, I replied to you on the Tim thread, mate.

I've not been on here much lately but still scroll through sometimes.

Hope you're doing well, and I fully agree about Lookman there's no way we could have developed him properly during our turbulent spell.

He was just the first example that popped in't my head.

Ian Bennett 52 Posted 05/04/2026 at 19:59:28

Quite an impassioned defence MK 42.

Premier League Stats

Minutes played 350

Goals 0

Assists 0

Xg 0. 2

Xga 0.16

Shots 4

Crosses 7 (completed 14%) or 1

Touches in the opposition box 11

Successful dribbles 13

Passes 350

Tackles 7

Duels won 33 (42% win ratio)

Fouls 11

Yellow cards 2

My take on it, as without the defensive work rate, the kid is a complete passenger. His stats show low level of attacking output.

The comparison to Mackenzie would be valid if he was ripping it up, and just being lazy. But that doesn't appear to be the case.

No goal involvements, and xg that suggests he's nowhere near. Just 11 touches in the box, and one successful cross.

I am struggling to remember a better game than Forest away. He worked hard, his quality was a bit better, but it was still behind senior players in my opinion.

Has Mcneil not shown the benefit of having a player that can put in shift in. Can turnover possession, and can score/assist, decent set pieces, & freeing up Ndiaye or Dewesbury Hall to be less rigid.

My question is would you start Dibling against Brentford? With the game level in the Derby and 20 minutes to go, is he someone you turn around and bring on as your first change? Do you see him being a game changer vs City.

I honestly don't. So if the answer isn't yes, how can you blame the manager?

I'm old enough to remember a young and inexperienced Trevor Steven failing miserably in his his first few games at Everton and like Dibling he came with a big reputation. Steven took some stick too at what was a difficult time for the Blues. He was out the team for at least three months before coming back and when he came back in he took his chance and the rest is history. I saw Dibling at Southampton, he is a talent and like Steven I'm sure he will come good if not this season, definitely next.

Mike Gaynes 54 Posted 05/04/2026 at 20:12:30

Lee #50, always a pleasure, sir.

David West 55 Posted 05/04/2026 at 20:17:42

Mike 48.

Them stats are surprising, I knew Ndiaye got through some work, but that's an example Dibbling should look at.

I'm not writing the lad off, there's loads of time for him.

You can improve, not all world class players are world class at 20.

Garner a great example, Arteta matured late,

Harry kane took a while, and loads of loans, just have to be patient, hope he takes the advice and kicks on.