Jarrad Branthwaite blames “lapse in concentration” for loss against Manchester United

Jarrad Branthwaite blames “lapse in concentration” for Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at home on Monday.

Benjamin Sesko came on from the bench to score the only goal of the game and turn the contest in favour of Michael Carrick’s side. The visitors capitalised on the Toffees having players committed high up the pitch and scored on the counter-attack.

Speaking about the loss, Jarrad Branthwaite said, “I think throughout the 90 minutes, we were the better team.

"A lapse in concentration probably killed us on the counterattack, and it's another home game where we've not picked up any points, and we're disappointed.”

Everton’s home record is quickly becoming a cause of concern. The Blues haven’t won at Hill Dickinson Stadium since early December and their winless streak now stands at six. They have only managed to win four of their 14 Premier League contests at the waterfront venue and Branthwaite believes that the Toffees are still adapting to their new home.

“It's down to us as players to create an atmosphere,” he said. “The home form hasn't been good enough. We know that. It's about changing that.

Asked why he believes his side have struggled at home this season, the defender replied: “I don't know. I think it's difficult when you're so used to something in Goodison where it creates the atmosphere.

"I haven't played here much this season, so it's hard for me to say. But at Goodison, we got dragged over the line by the fans and they created that for us. I thought the performance tonight was good and a step in the right direction, but ultimately we did not pick up any points again.

“Maybe here it's not as easy. It's a bigger stadium, it's different. It's going to take a while to get used to. I think you've seen that, but, like I said, it's down to us as players to change that. We know that, and hopefully we can do that.”

Branthwaite made just his third start this season in the game against Manchester United. However, the tall central defender was deployed at left-back ahead of Vitalii Mykolenko.

“The manager asked me to play there again, and I'm happy to be on the pitch, happy to be playing there,” the 23-year-old said when asked about the change.

“Obviously, I'd like to be at centre-back, but I think Keano (Michael Keane) and Tarky (James Tarkowski) have done well throughout the season. So it's the manager's decision and I'm happy to be playing wherever he plays me.”

Reader Comments (74)

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John Collins 2 Posted 24/02/2026 at 13:50:35

If we had signed the full-backs we have needed for years now in the summer window, we could play O'Brien and Branthwaite as the centre-back partnership.

We didn't... so we can't.

Christy Ring 3 Posted 24/02/2026 at 14:08:52

He should still be starting at centre-back.

It's down to Moyes's poor decision-making.

John Collins 4 Posted 24/02/2026 at 14:35:10

Everton Players Out of Contract

Jimmy Salt 5 Posted 24/02/2026 at 16:04:11

I'd take £25M for Mykolenko all day, John! :D

Jim Bennings 6 Posted 24/02/2026 at 16:24:36

More proof last night that the modern game it's all about pace and athleticism.

And it's the same problem every home game, same as the Bournemouth game, they much like United were anonymous as a threat. All of a sudden, concentration lapse, game gone.

Thing is, we never learn.

Andy Meighan 7 Posted 24/02/2026 at 17:28:08

Sorry, Jarrad, nothing to do with the stadium, it's the manager and his moronic team selections and putting square pegs in round holes.

Playing your best centre-back by a mile at left-back was a catastrophic mistake, as were his other curious moves.

Will Moyes learn? No, he won't.... even when O'Brien is back, he'll be playing right-back, playing Gueye when it's obvious to 49,000 fans he looks twice his age is infuriating and downright insulting, when Röhl hasn't seen a minute since the Villa game.

Alcaraz, when fully fit, hardly features, and he's one who tries to force the issue at least, think Palace at home earlier this season. He's another who's been disgracefully snubbed. It's a squad game, so utilise the squad instead of just playing your favourites.

Moyes gets no more praise off me, not even for the away form; that home record is abysmal and it's nothing to do with the stadium whatsoever, it's the way we set up.

Why don't we get on the front foot from the off instead of sideways and backwards soul-destroying football? Am I expecting anything to change? Quite honestly... No, the man is too set in his ways to change and too long in the tooth.

Sean Kelly 8 Posted 24/02/2026 at 18:56:29

Mykolenko gets exposed because Keane is his nearest defender. Put Branthwaite beside him and his confidence soars.

Keane and Tarkowski are past it and should be binned... but Moyes won't as they are his faves.

John Collins 9 Posted 24/02/2026 at 19:18:13

£100,000 per week for Davey for overseeing the non-existent tactics.

One of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League, I believe.

Paul Griffiths 10 Posted 24/02/2026 at 19:18:57

'It's going to take a while to get used to'

Jarrad lad, it seems like away teams get us to it straight away. Stop deflecting, lad.

Ged Simpson 11 Posted 24/02/2026 at 19:48:46

John C @9: You know, I know, and anyone with a brain knows that that wage, if the case, is effin disgusting.

"It's the market"

Oh Jaysus.

Great system, global economics!

Grr, grrr, Grr, et al.

Tony Hughes 12 Posted 24/02/2026 at 20:02:23

It's going to take a while to get used to the stadium, Jarrad? How long, mate? The rest of this season? Into next season?

Meanwhile, we take our serving of tripe each home game... Bollocks.

Tom Bowers 13 Posted 24/02/2026 at 20:37:30

There are many excuses for yesterday's loss -- much like all the excuses for previous lost games this season.

Firstly, the squad is not strong enough and the manager really hasn't changed his strategies from is first tenure at the club. He believes safety-first is the way to go and he did kind of make Everton difficult to beat.

However, the problem is that, when the other team scores, you have to have a Plan B and, without capable goalscoring forwards, it is very difficult to get anything out of the game.

Starting without capable full-backs yesterday restricted the attacking support that many decent full-backs contribute to in the modern game. Man Utd have two natural fullbacks who were always a threat.

Garner has been great in midfield and Brabthwaite at centre-back but Jarrad struggled in that first half as a left-back.

Moyes somehow thinks better than most of us regarding Iroegbunam and Gana, who are very weak in that area.

Lastly, and sad to say, Barry does not cut the mustard. I somewhat sympathize with the lad who pulls his tripe out ploughing a lone furrow but he is not Premier League class.

Reminds me a little of James Beattie who, lacking in skill, was saddled with the same plight under Moyes (correct me if I am wrong).

We may win one or two more games before the season's end but they are a hard watch under Moyes in the modern game.

Kenn Crawford 14 Posted 24/02/2026 at 20:45:17

Moyes has not evolved as a manager since the first time he set foot in Goodison Park. Same tactics, same set-up, same favourites. He is a dinosaur and blames everyone but himself.

Gana is shot as a player, Tarkowaki is a dinosaur. Playing Garner as full-back... what is wrong with Moyes? He is a brilliant midfielder.

Everyone but Moyes can see our best line-up. Words fail me...

Tony Abrahams 15 Posted 24/02/2026 at 20:54:10

A lapse in concentration happens often.

But I don't think it's a lapse in concentration when you have so many of the coaching staff on the bench, and not one of them has decided to get up and tell Michael Keane he needed at least one other player to get back alongside him, considering this is something that our manager has said he expected to happen?

John Collins 16 Posted 24/02/2026 at 21:01:43

I've seen it twice now, Tony. Second time last night.

Baines is pointing something out to him and he looks lost.

Tony Abrahams 17 Posted 24/02/2026 at 21:20:36

It's something that would have even been unforgivable on the dockers in a big game, John. They obviously thought that a set-piece was our best chance of scoring a goal but have completely taken their eye off the ball from a defensive viewpoint.

It's obviously down to the players on the pitch, but it doesn't say much for the coaches who were sitting on our bench, with not one of them thinking to get up and remind the players on the pitch not to leave ourselves exposed defensively.

John Collins 18 Posted 24/02/2026 at 21:30:27

Agree Tony.

The defence orientated manager got the defensive part wrong.

I'm smiling thinking back to the centre half partnerships that would have played on the dockers over the years.

Tony Abrahams 19 Posted 24/02/2026 at 21:42:13

Most of them would have been only Sunday league footballers, John, but they knew their limitations and they all had voices, that could be heard.

There’s some faces who have passed through The Dockers, and it’s not just Arthur Daley, who could have learned a few things by just standing on the sidelines, because when it came to the biggest games, not many teams were prepared to leave one central defender alone and exposed like Everton did last night. Not a fucking chance.

Mike Gaynes 20 Posted 24/02/2026 at 23:20:10

I'm gonna be a voice in the wilderness again, but I loved Garner at right back. Loved it. ManUtd attack from the wings, but whoever came down Garner's side got shut down cold. Cunha, Mainoo, Shaw, whoever, would have eaten Patterson for lunch, not to mention dinner and dessert. Garner was intractable and got forward too.

Moyes' blunder wasn't in pulling Garner out of midfield, it was who he replaced him with. Gana and Iroegbunam are fine defenders, but they pass like I piss at 70 -- weak and inaccurate -- and we desperately needed somebody who could distribute out of the back.

My first choice would be KDH, who likes to play deeper ("I think my more natural position is probably an eight, box-to-box") and Armstrong or Rohl could have played there too. Either Alcaraz or Rohl could have slotted into the attacking mids. George could have started on LW.

There were multiple decisions that Moyes screwed up yesterday. Putting Garner at right back wasn't one of them.

Mike @ 20; "There were multiple decisions that Moyes screwed up yesterday. Putting Garner at right back wasn't one of them" as a stand alone decision you have a point...but it maybe reflects more on Garner - had a decent game - being a very good adaptable player...which Moyes loves.

But we'll never know if...

A) Patterson would've had just as good a game

or

B) Thus allowing Garner to play in his proper position.

My view is either could've played at Fullback and that Moyes got the resultant Midfield wrong, Gana OR Tim, not both...maybe even none.

Moyes is part of the problem - when he should be ALL of the solution.

I fearTFG will take up his reported 2nd full year option and may even extent the extension.

Chris Davies 22 Posted 25/02/2026 at 00:24:11

If I play devils advocate for a second,..

Every time we have gone behind or start pushing hard for a goal, we seem to get picked off.

We’re better at defending than we are attacking.

All out attack works if you score, (which we don’t), but we get caught when we “do”.

Yes. I hate it too.

Paul Griffiths 23 Posted 25/02/2026 at 04:12:12

Derek (21) I think that you are right to raise some questions about gushy #20. This is mere hyperbole and not true: ‘whoever came down Garner's side got shut down cold’. Why write this sort of thing?

It was clearly a mistake to put Garner at right-back. It weakened the most important area of the pitch for us. As another poster said on another thread: Moyes put out ‘the shitest midfield combo we could field’. We did not lose the game on the right side. Man-Utd’s goal was a consequence of a match-long weak middle and appalling defending from the centre backs.

Garner did fine – a very decent 7/10 - but the missing subtext in #20 is a continuing anti-Patterson rant that to be fair cooled down a little a few weeks ago but is now back at full steam. Many have called for Patterson on here and that I imagine is due to his encouraging displays when he did start including, of course, the excellent win at Forest. Moyes might be the only PL gaffer who would have changed that winning line up when he did not have to.

Let me remind you what that line up was: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Dibling, Röhl, McNeil, Barry.

This was arguably our best performance of the season so far with Patterson where he should have been and Garner where he should have been. No Gana. Switch Ndiaye, George, and Branthwaite for Dibling, McNeil, and Tarkowski, and I believe that this eleven - Pickford, Patterson, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Ndiaye, Röhl, George, Barry – would have had a better possibility of winning yesterday.

I will absolutely venture that if he had started yesterday Patterson would have been fine and that the difference between this hypothetical performance and the one that we actually saw would have been nowhere near enough to justify shifting Garner out of position where he was needed more to right-back.

Paul Griffiths 25 Posted 25/02/2026 at 06:29:09

That's right Jim - 24. It's a longer-term issue. You're a highly paid 'pro' Jarrad. Act like it. It's nearly fucking March lad. How much longer do you think you and all these poor 'pros' need to get 'used' to the new ground? Pathetic. The only consolation about this shite is that he was no doubt told to say it.

Derek Thomas 26 Posted 25/02/2026 at 07:13:46

Paul @ 23; "Derek (21) I think that you are right to raise some questions about gushy #20"...don't drag me into your lovers quarrel mate - play the ball not the man.

Anyway, I half agree - Garner at FB wasn't the big problem.

Moyes in general and this week, his overall Mid-Field selection in particular was the real Problem,

You'll no doubt remember way back in Jan 2025 when I wrote...Moyes will be Moyes.

...Indeed, you replied.

Nights like Monday were exactly what I had in mind.

Also, Pre game Moyes himself said...except for Grealish we've a full squad. But now he's getting stick for team selections, hey ho. Alcaraz is 'injured'

Moyes Out...well it had to start somewhere.

Tony Abrahams 28 Posted 25/02/2026 at 07:42:07

I thought our best performance was at Villa Pk, Paul, in another game were Everton looked a lot more balanced, but I suppose that’s natural if you aren’t clamouring for a central defender to play at fullback, because you think he his better on one leg.

The first thing you do is win the midfield battle, the second thing you do is get the ball into your centre forwards feet or out wide. That’s what I was always taught anyway, but when the ball goes out to our fullbacks, they usually check back, and when it goes into Barry, he his often surrounded by defenders.

I didn’t think we played badly the other night, I definitely thought we deserved something out of the game, but I thought it was wrong to bring off Armstrong, because I thought he was playing as well as anyone in the second half (I thought he struggled a little bit in the first half) and I’d have liked to see him go and play inside next to George.

Move on, another game Saturday, then another one next Tuesday, and then let’s see were we are going into the final quarter of the season.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, some people might not think we are ready for Europe, but at least you get a more settled fixture list, if you get into one of the lesser competitions, and even though it means a lot of Sunday games, this has got to be a lot better than night games, until the logistics are improved around transportation?

Paul Griffiths 29 Posted 25/02/2026 at 07:59:58

That's a really good point in the last paragraph Tony. Alas, Europe might be a step too fat. Let's hope that TFG deliver in the next window.

I will always defer to your experience and completely agree that 'The first thing you do is win the midfield battle'.That's why Garner needed to be there and why whatever sort of competence he brought to to RB damaged our chances of getting something out of the match.

Villa Park was a great performance. I thought that your Forest was more complete. Nearly everyone in the right place playing to their strengths.

A draw/win at Newcastle is not out of the question. Given our away form it's realistic. I'm dreading the Burnley game more if we don't win. But surely we will.

Tony Abrahams 30 Posted 25/02/2026 at 08:43:19

Thinking about things logically then if you are an opposing manager, the first thing you will be aware of when you come to Bramley-Moore, is that Everton, are not very good at opening teams up.

Let them have the ball, stay in the game, and because it’s not been something we have been good at, it doesn’t take that long to see us lacking ideas, and this is what I’ve seen happening quite a few times at our ground this season.

Same old - same old, let them have the ball and run out of ideas because we know Moysey, doesn’t like making changes early, unless his team are getting completely outplayed.

Burnley are like Wolves, they have are having a good go right now and have just got four points from six, from two difficult away fixtures in London, so it won’t be an easy game, especially because I think that patience must be wearing very thin inside the stadium, with both the style of play and the lack of victories.

Tony Abrahams 31 Posted 25/02/2026 at 08:50:24

I felt sick and never ended up going the game the other night, and if I’m being honest, even though the atmosphere looked good (I watch Everton on the television with the sound very low, but you could still hear the fans getting behind the team) I honestly didn’t miss being inside the stadium.

I didn’t feel good, so this might have been the reason, but if I’m being honest, it wouldn’t bother me not going inside the stadium again until the club, starts showing a lot more ambition and the style of play also improves.

Tony Abrahams 32 Posted 25/02/2026 at 08:52:49

I only wrote that because I saw a very interesting/telling stat, whilst I was watching on TV. Everton, win a lot more games when they have a lot less possession, and this might just explain why our away form, is better than our home form.

Conor McCourt 33 Posted 25/02/2026 at 09:34:52

As Sean points out the decision to play Jarrad left back against Amad was not a terrible one in theory as Mykolenko only struggles against that nippy skillful type of winger like he did with Neto.

However in practice it cost us the game as we tried to push up with Keane and Tarks which was suicidal. Had Jarrad been in Keane's situation he would have shut Mbuemo down at source hence Tarks wouldn't have been exposed like he was.

I don't get the criticism of our midfielders and Garner at right back as we controlled the midfield and Casemeiro, Mainoo and Fernandes all had poor games. Indeed Garner and Gana have been poor together and we haven't controlled the midfield like that since Gana was away.

The issues were obviously in the attacking third and once again Moyes cluelessness was evident. I thought Harrison would start on the right with that line up so Garner would overlap. Ndiaye back to his favoured left. Unbelievably we never changed it despite Ndiaye not getting a kick and Armstrong having no support to help him.

Moyes decision to continue playing his favourites no matter what is severely costing us. How Dewsbury Hall remained on the pitch was baffling. How bad does a player have to be to get hooked. Offered nothing all game, kept losing possession and got countered, while refused to play players in when they made runs especially Branthwaite when he was clean through.

Has our manager ever made a proactive sub since he has been here? Has he ever admitted by his subs that he picked the wrong team? Has he ever made a sub before the opposing manager? Has he ever identified a weakness in the opponent?

Someone complained about knowing our team early, most weeks you know the line up a week before so those leaks may be detrimental to other managers but irrelevant to Everton.

Hugely frustrating night but now has become the norm.

Paul Hewitt 35 Posted 25/02/2026 at 09:50:44

John@34. We are 9th in the league. That is progress.

John Collins 36 Posted 25/02/2026 at 09:54:53

Do you think we will finish 9th or better Paul?

Paul Hewitt 37 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:02:16

We will finish higher than last season. Progress.

Brian Harrison 38 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:09:53

John 34

I think he took off Dibbling at half time, was that against Wolves?

John you and I disagree over the job Moyes is doing and thats fair enough. But given the whole squad is fit what side would you start with, as quite often Moyes is criticized for his team selection by the way I did post after the Utd game I thought Moyes team selection was awful.

Mick O\'Malley 39 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:29:15

There's absolutely no evidence to suggest Patterson would have struggled against Luke Shaw. He didn't do too bad against Calum Hudson-Odoi.

Also, it's not just about defending when you are right-back, you should also be overlapping the winger and getting crosses in.

Patterson gives us better balance. One thing is for sure, the results have gone against us since Moyes decided to leave him out and play players out of position.

John Collins 40 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:30:58

Morning Brian,

I was talking about positive subs to try to win a game. I would like to see us play 4-3-3 but no chance of him doing that.

PickfordPatterson O'Brien Branthwaite Mykolenko Armstrong Dewsbury-Hall Garner. Ndiyae Barry George.

Hopefully swap the two full-backs next season.

Raymond Fox 41 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:33:08

I'm neither for nor against Moyes and you can argue about what's good or bad about him.

I think it's been proved over the years we don't do great because it's the players that are not quite good enough to really challenge the usual Top 6 clubs; we have had some very decent managers and they have all failed.

The top clubs don't shell out fortunes on top players for fun, they know to stay on top they have to do it, they want the very best players because they know it's those that create and score goals from nothing.

If you think just changing the manager is the answer, you're kidding yourself.

John Collins 42 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:39:40

Raymond,

What would you argue is "good" about Moyes?

Conor McCourt 43 Posted 25/02/2026 at 10:54:05

Paul, the constant cries of progress are still very much subjective.

You are claiming progress purely based on our current Premier League position, and that's fair enough if you are convinced that this is the position we will finish, then you will certainly have validity.

However, considering we have £120M of investment plus a quoted £50M player on loan for half the campaign and another £25M player to replace him, does progress only mean finishing higher than 12th or 13th which we have effectively done the last 2 campaigns?

This to me suggests that you are setting a very low bar and are setting Moyes up in a no-lose situation.

In both the last two campaigns, it could be argued that we maximised the potential in the squad. I doubt you would find many Evertonians who would suggest we have done so this season.

To put it in context, Dyche -- who gets slagged off by many of the fervent Moyes advocates -- got 48 points with one of the worst squads in our history in his first and only full season while working under the most adverse pressure.

In Moyes's first full season, we have 37 points currently with 11 games to go including still to play 5 of the Sky 6 as well as Newcastle and Brentford. Even by your very simple metric, which heavily favours our current incumbent, progress by your definition is still not a given.

Raymond Fox 44 Posted 25/02/2026 at 11:22:49

John, you could argue he's very experienced in all aspects of the Premier League.

I've no objection to us getting a different manager, and fans wanting to watch more entertaining games is fair criticism.

Maybe there are better managers out there but they can't bring success without the right players and my arguement is players are way more important than managers.

Paul Hewitt 45 Posted 25/02/2026 at 11:40:45

Conor@43. Surely if you finish say 11th one season, and the next season 8th that's progress, or am I missing something?.

John Collins 46 Posted 25/02/2026 at 11:56:40

Is any finishing position this season below 11th a backwards step using your logic Paul?

John Collins 47 Posted 25/02/2026 at 12:00:12

He's not using all that experience to better our playing style, Raymond, it's horrible to watch.

I've given my ticket away more than I've been this season, it's soul-destroying to watch.

Paul Hewitt 48 Posted 25/02/2026 at 12:23:58

Absolutely, John.

Interested in knowing what progress means to you. Winning the Premier League?

Conor McCourt 49 Posted 25/02/2026 at 12:36:58

Paul, from my view, it depends on other factors. You might as well say we will have made progress just through TFG's investment.

If we finish 8th, then that is obviously tangible progress and the manager will deserve his flowers.

I doubt many Spurs fans are jumping for joy about the progress they are making this season as they finished 17th last season but are currently 16th.

It would have taken mismanagement of the highest degree for us to finish below 13th this season considering the likes of Forest, Spurs, Newcastle and Palace have struggled competing on numerous fronts.

In effect, the only teams we are ahead of are the Bottom 3, Brighton, Leeds and Sunderland who have similar workload to us and it would be embarrassing had we finished below any of these squads -- bar Brighton... which we may yet do so.

Everton finishing 11th or 12th would be seen as progress by you, it would be seen as underachievement by me. The term 'progress' implies things are improving on the pitch yet many of our players are regressing, as is our use of them.

The progress that you allude to has largely come from having the likes of Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry, Alcaraz and Rohl available who have all contributed in certain games to win us extra points.

We have criminally mismanaged others which has seen us forfeit many other points.

As I say, progress is more nuanced than you allow for and even your definition is taken at a point in time and doesn't cater for the fact that, unlike many of our competitors, we have only played 2 of the likely Top 8 twice.

Steve Brown 50 Posted 25/02/2026 at 12:39:05

Finishing in the Top 7 is progress, Paul.

Below that is disappointing.

John Collins 51 Posted 25/02/2026 at 13:07:52

I'd start with joined-up football, Paul.

That would be the first sign of progress for me.

Jimmy Salt 52 Posted 25/02/2026 at 13:27:05

Well said Conor.

Raymond Fox 53 Posted 25/02/2026 at 13:57:13

If you look at what the squad values are of each club (okay, that's someone's subjective valuation off two sites) but is some kind of guide, I suppose, we come 15th with only Fulham, Wolves, Leeds, Sunderland, and Burnley valued below us.

If you think that is relevant we are doing well in 9th at the moment.

Looking at our upcoming fixtures though, I think we will drop down a place or more.

Paul Hewitt 54 Posted 25/02/2026 at 14:01:07

So John...

If we had joined-up football, as you say, but finished 15th, would that be progress?

Tony Abrahams 55 Posted 25/02/2026 at 14:06:11

It would be to me, Paul. Let's face it, we have stuck with the club through some very bad times, watching some god awful football... Now we have come out the other side, then surely it isn't asking for too much just asking for a little bit of entertainment?

I see progress by ascertaining in my mind if I can see a plan, and right now I just don't see any signs of a true discernible plan.

This could change, because whatever anyone says, I do believe we have got some very good players, but until we start moving away from such a rigid system, I'm just not sure how this is going to happen?

Dave Lynch 56 Posted 25/02/2026 at 14:08:21

Certain people don't seem to get it.

Like Alladyce, Dyche and many others who have not managed us, including Potter; Moyes is a serial loser.

He has never -- other than when protected by his mate, Bill -- been able to hold down a job for an extended period of time, not because he has been offered a better opportunity but because his football and management style pisses people off and alienates him from the fan base.

He will never, ever have (hopefully had) a better opportunity to play open entertaining football with a good mix of upcoming youngsters and established pros.

Instead, he plays men out of position, ignores young talent and alienates the fan base with his predictable and stuck-in-the-past tactics.

He surrenders the domestic cup competitions season after season and never admits his shortcomings.

John Collins 57 Posted 25/02/2026 at 14:39:34

We are 9th playing the worst football, or at least as bad, as any team in the Premier League, Paul. If we improved the football, the finishing position would be better.

Are you advocating the football we are watching as better than flowing football? That the better Premier League position would be achieved by playing negative football?

Paul Hewitt 58 Posted 25/02/2026 at 14:57:37

John@57. No the football isn't great, but no one can say we haven't progressed under Moyes, the evidence is Infront of your eyes. For what it's worth I think Moyes should go in the summer. He's done what he was brought in to do. Keep us up and steady the ship. It's time for new ideas with a modern coach.

John Collins 59 Posted 25/02/2026 at 15:18:15

I'm saying it Paul.

He's out Dyched Dyche imo.

Same negative approach from both,Moyes is better at it.

I've been a season ticket holder for over 40 years,i have give my ticket away more than ive been to the game this season,i cant watch what is being served up.

I agree he was the choice last season,i knew as soon as he came in we would not be relegated.

I would hope we change him end of the season.

Paul Hewitt 60 Posted 25/02/2026 at 16:33:19

John. If you're saying Moyes football is a worse watch than Dyche football I think you should give up watch( no offence meant by the way). Dyche is by far a worse manager than Moyes and his totally negative tactics says that. Sure Moyes can be negative, but we still creat some chances. With Dyche we failed to score in 9 of his last 11 games.

John Collins 61 Posted 25/02/2026 at 16:40:14

That's not what I said Paul.

The football coached from either of them is archaic, defensive frightened football.

I hold them both in the same esteem.

Conor McCourt 62 Posted 25/02/2026 at 17:41:51

Yes Paul the neutrals are so impressed with the difference between watching Dyche and Moyes teams play that we have moved all the way up from being last on MOTD every week to. erm last on every week.

I would say John is watching because he is an Evertonian but you would have to be to watch us regularly.

Dyche wouldn't have been able to change even if he had no excuses but then again he couldn't sign the likes of Dewsbury Hall, Grealish, Alcaraz, Dibling, George, Barry and Aznou with the intention of improving that side of our game.

Yet we are scoring virtually the same as in the 23/24 season where we didn't have Ndiaye either.

John Collins 63 Posted 25/02/2026 at 17:52:53

Conor,

From one Dyche season,if you took away the points deduction, Everton would have finished 12th.

I reckon Moyes 25/26 will finish around the same 12th.

Tony Abrahams 64 Posted 25/02/2026 at 18:05:43

But it’s better this time around John, because at least we never had the teething problems that a new ground seems to bring.

Take away the points deduction and Everton came twelfth in 2024, they came twelfth again in 2025, so if they can come twelfth again in 2026, my question has got to be, for how long do people want to talk about stability?

John Collins 65 Posted 25/02/2026 at 18:09:58

Good chance of 12th again this season Tony.Or worse.

A better subject would be lack of progress mate.

Tony Abrahams 66 Posted 25/02/2026 at 18:43:09

It’s subjective, maybe we have got a few better players, including some that the manager seems reluctant to use, and once again for this reason alone, I can’t reiterate enough that I don’t believe David Moyes, knows how to build a really competitive squad.

I might be wrong but I just don’t see any real evidence to make me feel that I am wrong, and something I have already written about today is that Everton’s, best results have been when we don’t have a lot of possession.

I honestly don’t mind playing without the ball, just as long as we are effective when we get it, especially because when I look at the league today, I think to myself that a savvy, defensively sound manager like Diego Simeone, would probably have a great chance of winning the EPL, with his style of football? (

Liam Mogan 67 Posted 25/02/2026 at 18:49:18

Surely 12th again with all the transitional problems of a new stadium would be undeniable progress? Could even be argued that finishing lower is progress, especially when the players you have splurged most of your budget on have underwhelmed.

Similarly, being slightly less mind numbing than under Dyche is a huge step forward. Or so the Mediocre One will argue in his constant moving of the goalposts.

If only he could move the goalposts enough so that our players could actually hit the target.

Liam Mogan 68 Posted 25/02/2026 at 18:57:52

Tony 66 - I thought exactly that when watching Athletico Madrid last night in the Chsmpions League

Simeone plays what some would call defensive football. However, they play without the ball with high intensity and lay traps for the counter attack.

The other thing is that the 70 thousand who attend every match buy into the approach and make it a cauldron. I'm certain that we could replicate that atmosphere at Bramley Moore if only we played with passion and intent.

Tony Hughes 69 Posted 25/02/2026 at 18:58:11

This is what it is to be Everton now. For years, the DNA of the club has been one of happy to make up the numbers, one of the ever-present Premier League teams, best of the rest.

But then, after years of lack of ambition from the club, up came the real threat of relegation to smack us on the arse. Hence Alardyce, Dyche and Moyes.

Relative stabilty now needs to be built on immediately this summer. A new manager, new players and some real investment and leadership from these new owners.

I don't want to hear anymore about 3-year projects, I want us to hit it bigtime from the off next season. No more treading water... because one day we'll drown.

Paul Hewitt 70 Posted 25/02/2026 at 19:28:02

I would just like to apologise to John for my comment on post 60. After reading it again I shouldn't have said that.

Being a ST holder for over 40 years deserved more respect from me. Again, apologies John.

Tony Abrahams 71 Posted 25/02/2026 at 19:59:22

It was different when I was a kid, Liam.

It was easy to get carried away because of my love for the beautiful game. When I watched Atletico Madrid playing their neighbours in the Champions League last season (in the game when they were cheated by the double hit penalty), for the first time in years, I could feel the pure emotion from inside the stadium, coming straight down my television and into my living room.

Pure passion... not that many football clubs have got fans who can deliver that incredible passion naturally.

I despair at the last 30 years. I know that if we found a coach who could give us the type of football we crave, then I'm certain that the Evertonians who have waited very patiently for things to really happen would definitely do the rest.

Paul Griffiths 72 Posted 25/02/2026 at 20:07:23

Spot on Mick (39).

We're in an improved more stabilised financial state. We played shite football last season and we have played shite football this season. Points and position are not the be-all-and-end-all of measuring improvement.

Paul, if we play much better football, we will not end up finishing 12th or 15th. We need to leave a proper assessment about improvement until 5:30 pm on Sunday 24 May.

John Collins 73 Posted 25/02/2026 at 20:50:08

Paul 70.

I didn't take offence mate but thanks anyway.

Jeff Spiers 74 Posted 25/02/2026 at 09:25:12

Mr Carrick,

If, by any chance, Man Utd get a different manager, would you fancy us?

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