Everton vs Sunderland, FA Cup Player Ratings: Adam Aznou the bright spark in a dismal afternoon | OneFootball

Everton crashed out of the FA Cup after losing to Sunderland in a dreadful penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

It was a dismal afternoon for the Blues who were outplayed throughout the contest. Everton seemed dead and buried until Adam Aznou came off the bench and turned the game on its heels. The Moroccan full-back, making his official Blues debut after signing from Bayern Munich this summer, caused trouble inside the box with sharp turns and forced a penalty.

James Garner stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick to drag the hosts back into the tie. Up until Garner’s penalty, the Blues had managed just a single shot on target. Their overall game also looked disjointed, with little cohesion between the midfield and forward lines.

Missing Michael Keane and Jack Grealish for this clash due to suspensions picked up against Wolves, Everton started with Nathan Patterson and Tyler Dibling, while Merlin Rohl replaced Tim Iroegbunam in the middle.

Enzo Le Fee put Sunderland ahead in the first half, after the backline failed to get Nordi Mukiele’s long throw out of danger. Merlin Rohl’s header lacked conviction and it fell to Eliezer Mayenda, who teed it up to the Frenchman and he curled it into the far corner delightfully.

Everton chased shadows for the remainder of the contest and failed to test the Black Cats' backline until the final couple of minutes of the game. Beto had an opportunity to fire his side into the lead in extra time after being played through by Thierno Barry, but could only find the side netting with his shot.

The penalty shootout, however, was a trainwreck and turned into an absolute nightmare for the home fans. Everton’s first three takers - Garner, Barry and Beto - produced three of the worst spot-kicks one can imagine, while Pickford couldn’t manage a single save as Everton’s FA Cup campaign came to a brutal end the day it began.

Here are the player ratings from Everton's loss to Sunderland:

Jordan Pickford: 7

There was little he could’ve done for Enzo Le Fee’s opener as the Frenchman found the far corner with ease. However, Pickford kept Everton in the game as Sunderland launched a flurry of attacks late in the first half. he made a wonderful save off Mukiele’s overhead kick and he also kept out shots from Romaine Mundle in extra time.

Pickford failed to make a single save in the penalty shootout, but to be fair to him, all of Sunderland’s penalties were well taken.

Nathan Patterson (replaced by Reece Welch at 115’): 7

Making his second start this season to replace the suspended Michael Keane, Nathan Patterson did well, especially in the second half.  He kept a close eye on Mundle and sent a fantastic deep cross to Beto in the first half, which the striker failed to bring under control. Patterson was replaced late in extra time after struggling physically.

James Tarkowski: 6

Made a vital block off Granit Xhaka in extra time and was solid throughout the game. Was dominant aerially.

Jake O’Brien: 6

Jake O’Brien got drawn in for the long throw that led to the visitors’ opener and couldn’t time it well. He was also beaten for pace by Mayenda in the second half, but fortunately, the latter’s shot went wide. Had a solid game otherwise.

Vitalii Mykolenko (replaced by Elijah Campbell at 103’): 6

Received the brilliant sliced pass from Dwight McNeil and his shot from an acute angle brought out a save off Robin Roefs’ fingertips. While he held his ground defensively, Mykolenko's limited offensive abilities, including some wayward shooting, didn’t help the side’s cause.

Merlin Rohl (replaced by Adam Aznou at 85’): 4

Horrible afternoon for the on-loan midfielder. Playing in a deeper role, he failed to clear the long throw properly, which led to Le Fee’s goal. Rohl also tried to play Beto through on goal shortly before the break but it didn’t work out. Didn’t have any other impactful moments.

James Garner: 7

One of the few Everton players who kept pushing and tired to make things happen. Garner delivered a great cross to Beto in the second half, which the striker headed straight towards the keeper. He also converted from the spot late in the game to bring out the equaliser. Shame he missed his penalty in the shootout.

Harrison Armstrong: 7.5

Another impressive performance from the youngster, who worked his socks off. He had the first chance of the game for his side at the 20th-minute mark after he controlled the ball well at the edge of the box but sliced his shot wide. Armstrong kept plugging away and despite struggling physically in extra time, he didn’t shy away from responsibility, something that cannot be said about many of his teammates this afternoon.

Tyler Dibling (replaced by Thierno Barry at 74’): 4

Dibling showed signs of immaturity throughout the game and his body language didn’t make a positive impression. Shoulders slumped, playing it safe, Dibling often lost the ball with lackadaisical passes and touches.

Beto: 3

Another awful performance from Everton’s number 9 after being awarded a rare start. He had just two touches in the entirety of the first half and couldn’t direct Garner’s cross away from the keeper after the break. Beto also hit the side netting after being played through on goal in extra time and his penalty in the shootout was disgraceful.

Dwight McNeil: 5

Besides the fabulous run and sliced pass to Mykolenko for the full-back to have a stab at goal in the first half, McNeil had an anonymous game. He was often ineffective when coming inside on his weaker foot and either lost possession or was forced to go backwards.

McNeil moved to the right after Dibling came off and sent a great cross to Barry. No complaints about his work rate, however.

Substitutions

Thierno Barry: 5

Barry did well to create separation and get to the end of McNeil’s cross but his header just missed the near post. He led a couple of good counter-attacks in extra time but on one occasion, he overhit the pass to Beto while on the other, the Guinea-Bissau striker hit the side netting after being played through. Awful run-up and penalty in the shootout, he’s got to do better than that.

Adam Aznou: 8

Adam Aznou came on with five minutes remaining and completely changed the course of the contest. He made a nuisance of himself in the box and won the penalty that forced extra-time. The left flank looked livelier after he came on and the Moroccan also delivered an inviting cross across the face of goal that should’ve been attacked better. His performance this afternoon begs the question of why he had to wait until January to make his Everton debut.

Elijah Campbell: 6

Another youngster who made his debut for Everton, Elijah Campbell made a good interception on Isidor in the final minute of extra time.

Reece Welch: N/A

Reader Comments (56)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

Tom Bowers 2 Posted 10/01/2026 at 16:40:42

Hard to be too critical of any players when the manager wasn't interested too much in progressing.

Almost all teams from the Premier League are fielding second stringers and, whilst they are all professionals, many teams have more strength in depth than Everton do at the moment.

Having said that, watching our so-called strikers take penalties the way they did was embarrassing which underlined the lack of confidence we have been seeing for quite a while.

We can at least look forward to some players returning in a couple of weeks and hope that there will be improvement to consolidate the mid-table position at least.

Christy Ring 4 Posted 10/01/2026 at 16:48:09

Patterson, Aznou and Armstrong stood out today along with Garner -- embarrassingly, players who Moyes never starts??

Barry, Beto, McNeill and Rohl shouldn't start again, awful.

Tony Hughes 5 Posted 10/01/2026 at 16:48:54

We might have players coming back but we're going to be stuck with the worst two strikers quite possibly we've ever had!

Watching on TV may be different to seeing it live.

I was convinced that McNeil had been substituted in the second half until I heard his name mentioned.

Having seen him in the rout at Bradford, I have been saying that there is a footballer in Aznou. I'm not convinced he's a full-back, but he offered more in 35 minutes as a winger than Dibling and McNeil have combined all season.

I was pleased to see Patterson again play well. For a little used player, cramp after nearly 2 hours is not a disgrace.

I can not understand criticism of the manager for this one. He played the only team available to him, with the exception of Beto for Barry.

He used the substitutes as he had to. And the 3 powder-puff penalties were not his fault.

Personally, I think any penalty that is not capable of making the net bulge shouldn't happen. Hard and fast and if the keeper guesses right good luck to him.

As has been said, we will get players back in the next few weeks. we may still need to improve at full-back, but today showed that maybe we do not need to panic buy.

If a half-decent striker is available, we definitely need an upgrade on Beto. But I am happy to play what we have and re-assess in June.

But whatever it takes, get the Garner contract signed!!

Clive Rogers 7 Posted 10/01/2026 at 17:03:05

Dibling, Rohl, Beto, Barry and McNeil showed once again that they are just not good enough. What is concerning is that all of them probably never will be.

Dibling seems to want to play at jogging pace and his confidence has gone.

Rohl, in all the minutes he has played hasn't done one single thing that would make you say "Well done". Get rid in summer.

Beto lost possession every time he got the ball outside of the box.

Barry has improved but never threatens the goal.

McNeil is not the same player since his injury.

Gary Borrows 8 Posted 10/01/2026 at 17:12:44

Hi guys... it's time for another reset. The senior management have gone awol. Moyesie isn't cutting the mustard unfortunately.

Aznou at least looked like he was interested.... Or are we just a cash cow for the Friedkins, it's hard to know. All I know is, as a nearly 70-year-old, that hill up from the ground is killing me

Maybe it's nearly time to retire from watching my beloved club and become a keyboard warrior. All the best, you Blues -- you deserve better than the current crop of players, owners and manager.

9 Posted 10/01/2026 at 17:19:00

Pickford, Tarkowski, O'Brien were solid enough. Passing is all negative though.

Patterson did alright, although crossing is dreadful for an attacking right-back. Certainly no worse than I've seen at right-back.

Garner, Armstrong had good games. Something to build on. With Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye and Grealish, it looks a group of proper footballers when available.

Rohl, Dibling, Beto, Mykolenko, McNeil... Terrible footballers. We squander our resources on bad players for millions a year. I was concerned about signing Dibling, and it's unfolded as I feared. He's miles off it, the price tag is a millstone.

Aznou was bright when he came on. Perhaps with Branthwaite, he could be the second part of a new look back 4. Rapid.

Les Callan 10 Posted 10/01/2026 at 17:22:36

Lots of criticisms of Dibling on here.

I said on another thread that the lad looks shell-shocked. He's obviously going through a very bad time.

When he was brought off, he simply stared into space for ages after.

Josh Horne 11 Posted 10/01/2026 at 17:31:21

If Dibling has genuine talent, then I've seen no evidence of it.

He is the poster boy of a dysfunctional summer recruitment process and I don't see a future for him at Everton.

Jay Harris 12 Posted 10/01/2026 at 18:11:47

Dibling was non-existent throughout and was at fault for the first goal, not being anywhere near his man.

I thought Beto at least showed commitment and work rate, unlike Barry, who looked like he was still in the dressing room.

Mykolenko and Garner stood out but the rest were either average or poor.

To think if we still had Gordon and Richarlison.

Dumb and now deceased summer have a lot to answer for.

John Charles 13 Posted 10/01/2026 at 18:15:47

There is no way Dibling was more than a 2. And that is being really generous.

The same with Beto.

Shaun McGough 14 Posted 10/01/2026 at 18:39:27

Tom @2,

You just get over hating Moyes and look at The Freidkin Group and how well AS Roma are doing before you post when the manager is on his arse for players.

Moyes was strung out on ropes again after a shit summer window (glaring recruitment at back and up front) and nothing happening again.

Let's blame Moyes and not the AS Roma owners, shit yanks with no idea, everything on plate for them without having to try...

The Friedkin Group has only done the basics, we shouldn't be multi-portfolioed... we are Everton! Long-term objectives, my arse, Dan Freidkin.

Neil Tyrrell 15 Posted 10/01/2026 at 19:14:55

Beto 3

Barry 5

You must be joking. What did either of them do to earn any positive rating?

Neil Tyrrell 16 Posted 10/01/2026 at 19:15:56

At least Niasse scored a goal once in a while

Tony Hughes 17 Posted 10/01/2026 at 19:25:14

I think the new owner honeymoon period is over. They now need to start showing that they're serious about moving us forward.

Installing Moyes as manager and pissing the TV money up the wall on Dibling and Barry isn't good enough.

Billy Shears 18 Posted 10/01/2026 at 19:53:29

Aznou...MOTM... enough said!

Moyes lied to us about this lad...that alone is a sackable offense!!

Paul Griffiths 19 Posted 10/01/2026 at 20:25:29

Pickford: 6

Patterson: 7

Tarkowski: 6

O’brien: 5

Mykolenko: 5

Rohl: 2

Garner: 6

Armstong: 7

Dibling: 3

Beto: 2

McNeil: 3

Barry: 2

Aznou: 7

Campbell: 6

Tony Hughes 20 Posted 10/01/2026 at 20:30:11

A more accurate assessment Paul

Billy Shears 21 Posted 10/01/2026 at 20:32:48

As for Diba... play him wide left & put Jimmy G wide on the right... play Jack as a No.10 supporting Illy up front!

If I never see the clowns we have up front,then I'll be happy.

Si Cooper 22 Posted 10/01/2026 at 21:03:41

Aznou played in two very decent crosses.

For the lofted one both strikers looked to attack front post and no midfielder gambled on getting into the acres of space behind them.

For the low one, Barry would have had a tap in if he’d been on his toes and looking to get in behind the defence.

Mark Steers 23 Posted 10/01/2026 at 21:46:48

Ok I will tell you all ratings or no ratings simple.

We play in Blue and White remember that this club has lost its morales.

Dont play in black to sell shirts at home we play in BLUE AND WHITE.

Paul Kossoff 24 Posted 10/01/2026 at 21:53:35

Garry 8. how much do you want for your season ticket?

Mark Murphy 25 Posted 10/01/2026 at 21:55:46

Numb!

Only tiny rays of light were Aznou and Armstrong.

PG your being generous there with Dibling.

My God he was beyond poor today!

Him, Barry, Beto, McNeil would not get into another PL side.

Frank Worrall 26 Posted 10/01/2026 at 22:15:18

What more is there to say? Another dismal performance to join those of the last couple of weeks. Surely the time has now come to stop the endless Beto/Barry perambulations and get rid of them both? Dibling is seemingly panic stricken whenever he steps in front of a sea of expectant faces and is never going to be the game changer that the attack needs, while Patterson - for all his promise and potential - is hampered by injury problems and a manager who shows little confidence in his abilities. The return of players from the African Cup of Nations and the iniquitous punishments meted out by inefficient match officials will, hope-fully alleviate some of the worst obstructions but unless Moyes gets a grip and the scouts and agents find some decent players p.d.q. the looming menace of relegation may return.

Tony Hughes 27 Posted 10/01/2026 at 22:23:50

We've got two players coming bsck from AFCON, one of them is 36

Paul Griffiths 28 Posted 10/01/2026 at 22:54:15

Him, Barry, Beto, McNeil would not get into another PL side.

The only possibility is Burnley Mark mate. Hope you had a wet wine night to get through this shite.

Mike Powell 29 Posted 11/01/2026 at 00:40:47

Just got home, arguing with neighbours and red mates, that's what this team does to me, just fuck off Everton, Am born a blue, but you keep breaking my heart, love you and fucking hate you, unless your a blue you don't understand

Phil Teece 30 Posted 11/01/2026 at 00:59:12

With a makeshift, injury- and suspension-riddled team, Everton lost on penalties to a team ahead of them on the Premier League table.

We're all disappointed but we really need to calm down and try to keep some sense of proportion.

Neal Kernohan 31 Posted 11/01/2026 at 02:53:12

It looks like we will avoid a relegation battle; that is good for my stress levels.

As for the team, we are a mid-table team at best and as bad as it is, it is better than last 5 years.

The season is over: Top 10 at best... relax and enoy not shitting ourselves at the end of the season.

However, we seriously need to strengthen cos I am sick watching this shite — it is embarrassing!

Sean Kelly 32 Posted 11/01/2026 at 08:44:07

Hi Folks I haven’t posted since the betting shop took over but feel compelled to do so now. What a shit show we are. I know we have injuries, players away in AFCON and some idiots suspended but yesterday was awful. McNeil, rohl, and our two alleged strikers should be dumped. As the season goes on the elder lemons in our squad will get worse. Tarks is showing this, Keane had a decent start but is showing his old idiotic self. I wouldn’t keep Grealish. He slows everything down and can’t get passed a defender. His Xmas bender is still affecting him. Aznou had a decent cameo but clearly Moyes doesn’t trust him or Dribbles.

Armstrong has a good game and I would keep him for the rest of the season. We should be safe and with nothing to play for in terms of silverware but we can give some of the youngsters a shot at proving themselves at this level.

Moyes won’t take us to any great heights. Hes a dinosaur in the mould of Dyche and fat Sam. The friedkins should be looking for the likes of glasner or similar and give them the funds to find hungry and Pacey players. Get the fitness coaches and the shrinks to work on our cumbersome and lethargic of mind squad. David Moyes is not the answer let him fuck off back to PNE if they would have him.

Paul Murray 33 Posted 11/01/2026 at 09:06:02

Ratings pretty spot on to be fair but Beto a 1 from me I give up with them two we all know scoring is the hardest thing to do in football but basics are standard they cannot even hold the ball up or win a header. 6 for mykolenko very generous he had. Few wayward shots but defensively poor. On the positives yes lads there were a few just Harrison was very tidy Patterson for all his knockers did well I thought if he is fit until for the love of god we sign a right back he should play. Aznou take a bow son go and wipe the egg off your managers face. Jimmy well done yes he missed a penalty but otherwise played well.

Tony Ateman 34 Posted 11/01/2026 at 09:12:22

I usually think when penalty shoot outs are necessary it is almost all down to luck as to whoever wins. However I have not seen three such badly taken penalties as those. They were disgraceful. Did they practice any? It looks like Sunderland did. As I suspect they did not I blame Moyes for that.

Dibling is a kid who needs to develop, we have more effective players in the u21's. Rohl reminds me of Klaasan, 5 yards behind the game all the time.

I agree with Sean (32) Grealish slows the game down and should not be signed permanantly.

Beto and Barry FFS.

Aznou looked good as a winger, better than McNeil.

I can't get away from the feeling that Moyes's Everton from last season was better and a more exciting watch than this season, and this includes when all this season's players are available. Was this because they still had an element of Dyche influence?

Ian Jones 35 Posted 11/01/2026 at 09:34:54

Someone on ToffeeWeb suggested Dibling has probably had to concentrate on his defensive duties rather than on his attacking which is inhibiting his game.

Not sure what role he had at Sourhampton but assume he was allowed to express his talent more.

This off Wiki...the latter being Chelsea...

'He joined the latter in July 2022, after ten years with Southampton, with the promise of a professional contract once he turned seventeen.[2][7][8] However, after failing to settle at Chelsea, making only two appearances for the club's under-18 side, he returned to Southampton in September 2022,[2] reportedly because of "homesickness".

Perhaps history is repeating itself. He'll only be 20 next month so may be finding it hard to settle off the pitch.

I don't think fans take into account the difficulties of players moving away to a different club in a completely new area. I listened to a radio prog the other day when it was indicated some players can take a year or so to settle.

We need to be patient with Dibling especially as he's dealing witg a dysfunctional attack.

Stu Gre 36 Posted 11/01/2026 at 09:59:41

Well said Ian.

As for Grealish slowing play down, that might be the case - but he also creates so many wanted chances for our *strikers". Dom would have had a field day.

Aznou should be the poster boy for Moyes failings as a manager. Even when we have been desperate for something different, he has been overlooked - not because he isn't good enough but because Moyes cannot experiment, take risks or, heaven forbid, entertain.

To think our season is over in January is so depressing.

Derek Knox 37 Posted 11/01/2026 at 10:01:26

After simmering down after yesterday's visit to Hill Dicko, I just couldn't believe how inept we were in EVERY Department. McNeill is only a shadow of the silhouette he nearly was. As with many they didn't seem interested and as if they were going to contract some disease off the ball they got shut immediately or didn't go near it either.

Moyes has to take responsibility, and I hope his days are now numbered, has has gone from Saviour to Destroyer in a short space of time. He will be handsomely rewarded for failure, and not have any genuine regrets !

Brian Harrison 38 Posted 11/01/2026 at 10:21:19

The manager has to take some responsibility for yesterdays defeat, but equally the players he had at his disposal leave a lot to be desired. He inherited a poor striker in Beto and our recruitment team made matters worse in the summer with the acquisition of another striker who is just as bad. Then this recruitment team haggled for weeks with Southampton to bring in Dibling for between £35 - £40m, and he has been a massive disappointment and yesterday his body language was I don't want to be here. At one point he passed the ball back to nobody and didn't move a muscle to try and retrieve his mistake. I have read that our coaches are working with him everyday on improving his game, but 6 months into his contract and he has shown nothing. But our problem is what do you do with a player who cant or wont improve you have spent massively to get him, its to embarrasing to send him on loan and I would imagine we would get £15 to £20m tops for him.

McNeil is another whose best days are behind him, so yesterday with Beto, McNeil and Dibling making up our front 3 why would anybody be surprised we struggle to create chances. I reserve judgement on Rhol and Aznou has they haven't had much game time. I thought Patterson did ok but lets not forget it hasnt only been Moyes that hasnt selected him our previous couple of managers came to the same conclusion on Patterson.

I thought Garner and Armstrong performed well in midfield, Armstrong is such an elegant runner with the ball, reminds me a bit like Trevor Brooking. The back 4 did ok although in possession I thought O,Brien was very negative must have passed back to Pickford numerous times were he could have played a forward ball.

When Gana, Ndaiye come back and when KDH and Branthwaite are fit we have a very decent team but still minus a striking option.

Tony Abrahams 39 Posted 11/01/2026 at 10:33:12

I can only assume our coaches must be boring Tyler Dibling, into submission Brian?

He’s obviously got talent, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a nineteen year old kid, look less interested. When you look at his body language, it actually wouldn’t surprise me if his agent is that old Southampton player, Morgan Schniederlin.

John Charles 40 Posted 11/01/2026 at 10:53:55

Moyes is a negative conservative manager who doesn’t really inspire anyone. However nothing can excuse that performance from Dibling or Beto (McNeill was awful but at least tried). It is unbelievable that we chased Dibling. Whoever pushed that needs sacking

Raymond Fox 41 Posted 11/01/2026 at 11:11:03

Well, thats another one we have come out of on the wrong side of.

Most matches come down to small margins one way or another, but lets face it most of our players are just about poor Prem.League class. They are not bad players in the great sceme of football but the are not quite good enough to bring us anything what you could call sucess in the Prem. You might possibly get the luck in a cup comp. but the league, forget it.

Look at City they have just bought Semenyo as if they needed him, they needed him because he will give them a better chance of overtaking Arsenal. What does our manager get, naff all up to now. How are the rest of the clubs going to compete with the usual big spenders when they snap up the real stars, the league is a joke as a competition.

Bill Fairfield 42 Posted 11/01/2026 at 11:38:47

As a previous scribe said. Mediocrity is a disease Everton can’t find the cure for.

John Williams 43 Posted 11/01/2026 at 12:01:09

You cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear !!

Lets be realistic, we have very few quality players, with the exception of Pickford, how many of our players would get into any of the top teams in the league. I think you all know the answer !

I know some will look at Branthwaite, but lets face it, last season and now this season, he has and will play very few PL games.

Has he become a sick note, what would his currant value be ?

As for managers, Moyes gets a lot of stick, but we also have managers

like Frank and Glasner who are now some of the worse managers in the league, according to fans and pundits.

Brian Harrison 44 Posted 11/01/2026 at 12:25:30

John @43,

I think too many fans these days want instant results from managers; it takes time and a few windows to turn a club around, and depending where you were when he took over, then the timeline for change may take a little longer.

Ferguson took 6 years before winning a trophy; he wouldn't get that time today. Our most successful manager was close to being sacked with fans demonstrating against him and garage doors being daubed with "Kendall Out" on them.

Amorim and Maresca have talked about interference from above making their job infinitely harder. When others are choosing which players to buy and who to sell, how a modern manager survives in that environment, I don't know.

I think Moyes may have had a bit of this in the buying of our younger players. That's why Amorin said "I came here to be a manager, not a coach".

Why multi-million-pound businesses allow anybody other than the manager to buy players is madness. Arteta has won 1 trophy in 5 years but look, by sticking with him, Arsenal may get their hands on the Premier League trophy. I couldn't imagine Man City buying a player that Guardiola hadn't sanctioned.

I know quite rightly some will argue: "How do you know Moyes never sanctioned the buying of the youngsters?" Well, if you look right through his managerial career, he bought by-and-large tried and trusted players, and I can't remember him ever buying a teenager.

Stu Gre 45 Posted 11/01/2026 at 12:40:43

Brian,

Moyes has had 11+ seasons to win nothing with Everton. I think he's had long enough.

Tony Heron 46 Posted 11/01/2026 at 12:46:15

Some people are defending Moyes, citing the lack of options.

Okay, fair point... but my gripe is the poor set-up and lack of a coherent style of play. I really do wonder at what goes on at Finch Farm. How are we developing players, are they working on improving their game?

I've seen the likes of Wolves playing a more fluid, technically better game than us. So what are we doing?

Even with a full squad, Moyes doesn't seem to have the ability to respond to problems in games. Look at Villa yesterday. Brilliant in the first half but pegged back a bit in the 2nd, so no hesitation from Emery -- he changes things without delay. Can you imagine Moyes doing that?

Frank Wolfe 47 Posted 11/01/2026 at 13:18:22

Obviously, we were missing lots of players (so were Sunderland) and I think David Moye did what he could with the players available.

I thought Garner, Armstrong and Pickford were all good. A few other average performances but my biggest disappointment yesterday was with Beto and Barry when we went 4-4-2.

In so doing, you sacrifice a midfielder and hope to get some more direct balls into the box or feet etc. They were woeful together.

They hardly won an aerial duel between them, hold-up play was poor, poor positioning as a pair (eg neither on the end of that cross that Aznou whipped across the 6-yard box) and no speed to get past or behind the backline.

Neil Lawson 48 Posted 11/01/2026 at 13:21:12

Tony (46) and others.

Watching the first 30 minutes yesterday, I was utterly appalled by our failure to get possession of the ball and to show any level of cohesion. Sunderland were dominant and it all looked so easy and comfortable for them... Sunderland, not Man City or Arsenal or Aston Villa.

When the players were sent out, they must have had a game plan, their tactics prepared? It was an awful watch. Yes, we were down to bare bones but the 11 who started are, or should be, effective within the Premier League.

There appears to be a total disconnect between defence, midfield, and attack. Yes, Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall would make a difference as, of course, would Gana and Ndiaye. But our manager prepared this team for yesterday.

Compare and contrast his performance with that of the Sunderland manager who fielded what was a weaker Sunderland XI.

It was men and boys almost. Moyes has done a good job achieving safety as we moved towards our new stadium and a decent job getting us close to safety this season. But it's a hard watch. The best results have been when we've been backs to the wall.

We are not a team who would ever look like outplaying another, merely a team that will grind out decent results twixt some other hapless and unacceptable performances.

I suspect that Moyes is safe until season's end but, if the roller coaster of mediocrity continues, his time will likely be up. Hopefully to be replaced by a more forward-looking manager who will mix experience and youth and develop a team capable of competing positively in every game.

Please don't respond by asking "Who is this manager?" I don't know... but nor am I paid obscene amounts of money to make those choices. But look at Brentford, Sunderland, Crystal Palace (despite their current woes) and others. They are out there as are the players required to bolster our weak squad with savvy scouting and selection.

Clearly, those currently responsible for recruitment are failing so finding a pathway forward is complicated if trust can no longer be placed in those responsible. This is where the owners have to step in.

Is there anyone on this site who wasn't screaming for a right back last season and this? We aren't all blind nor idiots. We can see the blindingly obvious. That's why supporting our beloved team is so frustrating and often joyless.

Oh for a cup run. Oh for a performance where we dominate for 90 minutes and win with style. Oh for anything to get us out of our seats. Oh for a striker... Just "oh".

Terry McLavey 49 Posted 11/01/2026 at 13:35:09

I've supported this team for 66 years from the age of 8, l doubt very much l have enough time left to see any future success with the club's "one step forward, two steps back" policy.

I've lived through the 'glory days' but the only guarantee l can count on now is Everton's ability to disappoint.

I think some of the ratings were generous; also, some should maybe have a minus in front of their rating number?

I noticed players turning their backs on Moyes when he was talking to them in the breaks, so maybe things aren't that rosy behind the scenes?

Phil Roberts 50 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:11:50

Stu,

Moyes may have won nothing with us but neither did

Kendall MK 3

Walter Smith

Roberto Martinez

Robert Koeman

Sam Allardyce

Marco Silva

Carlo Ancellotti

Rafa Benitez

Sean Dyche

32 seasons of Premier League

Sky 6 - 30 titles, the rest 2

Sky 6 - 27 Cup wins, the rest 5

Sky 6 - 23 League Cup wins, the rest 9

Not sure the manager is 100% to blame. But let's pretend he is.

Clive Rogers 51 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:23:40

Phil, 50, Moyes has had 12.5 years though.

Clive Rogers 52 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:28:02

I think the signings in summer by the recruitment team are mainly to blame. The only Moyes signing was KDH apparently who is good. The others were from the recruitment team who have not been good enough.

Phil Roberts 53 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:31:08

Brian - 20year old or less bought by Moyes.

Dibling and Aznou

Seamus Coleman

John Stones

Danny Gosling

Vellios

were all teenagers when they were bought. So yes, very few but what is noticeable is the numbers of 20-22 year olds he bought.

It is always a gamble. The last 2 didn't work. The middle 2 did. The top 2 we still await the juries verdict.

John Collins 54 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:43:41

Phil 53

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-missed-out-john-stones-6406877#amp-readmore-target

Darren Hind 55 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:39:59

"If Dibling has genuine talent, then I've seen no evidence of it"

Oh well lets just give up on him then

Darren Hind 56 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:45:50

"If Dibling has genuine talent, then I've seen no evidence of it"

Oh well lets just give up on him then