Tyler Dibling needs the same trust that has been given to Thierno Barry | OneFootball

Everton are now halfway through December, and after an impressive string of results, their upcoming fixtures are only going to get more difficult.

With the Afcon due to begin on 21 December, two key players, veteran Idrissa Gana Gueye and starman Iliman Ndiaye, will join Senegal in their bid to win a second continental title.

Replacing Gueye will offer its challenges, but following his three-match suspension after Everton’s win against Manchester United, the Blues had the opportunity to field teams without the 36-year-old.

However, filling the void of Ndiaye is a more concerning task that lies ahead for David Moyes. The winger is one of only three outfielders to have started every league game for Everton this season, and he is the club’s joint highest goalscorer.

While it is a near-impossible task to replace Ndiaye, this is the perfect opportunity for Tyler Dibling to showcase his talent. Since making his move from Southampton, he has found it hard to gain any momentum on Merseyside.

Although this has caused some disappointment amongst the Everton faithful, it would be difficult for any 19-year-old to find consistent playing time in a squad that features Jack Grealish and Illiman Ndiaye.

However, with the Senegalese star now set to potentially miss up to seven matches, this should provide sufficient opportunity for Dibling to gain confidence and playing time. Akin to how Moyes has put his trust in Thierno Barry, this same treatment must be given to the £40M winger.

Over the course of this season, Dwight McNeil has picked up more minutes than the England U21 international but, with concerns over Grealish’s hamstring, it is possible both could thrust themselves into the starting XI ahead of the clash against Arsenal. However, should the Manchester City loanee find a spot in the starting XI, Dibling must be given the opportunity to start and showcase his skills.

Starting McNeil would be tempting for Moyes, and he has reason to, with the 26-year-old possessing much more experience. However, linking this selection dilemma to the early-season debate over the Everton Number 9 role, the manager eventually showed faith in Barry, and the Frenchman has started to find his feet, scoring his first goal against Nottingham Forest.

Dibling is not the finished package for the Toffees, and he will need time, but how else will he develop if he is not given the chance to apply his skills consistently?

It would be plausible to protect the teenager by not starting him against Arsenal due to their exceptional defensive record, but the next few weeks will provide the perfect opportunity for him to generate a run of games and demonstrate his impressive skillset.

The £40M price tag that has been paired with Dibling does not help with the pressure that has been directed towards him but, with patience and trust, he will prove his worth as a valuable asset in this Everton side, and for the future.

Reader Comments (34)

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Paul Kernot 1 Posted 16/12/2025 at 21:14:40

I would tend to agree with that, James. Get him in now and hopefully it will bear fruit.

Probably not immediately and we mustn't expect that, but it's either now or late in the season when we're likely to be comfortably mid-table or better.

Tony Abrahams 2 Posted 16/12/2025 at 21:36:47

Every player needs games, except for the ones that Moyes played against Wolves in the League Cup. They are not good enough. They got their chance against Wolves and just never played well enough, as I kept reading from quite a few people on this website.

If Dibling gets his chance and hits the ground running, the manager is going to get quite a bit of stick off the people who don't like Moyes.

But if Dibling gets his chance and doesn't, then for the people who like Moyes, this will be all the justification that is needed for them to vindicate the manager.

My own view is that I'm not totally convinced that Dibling will start against Arsenal on Saturday night.

Annika Herbert 3 Posted 16/12/2025 at 23:18:38

Play it safe Moyes will go for McNeil I believe. I think he will go for a backs to the wall defensive effort against Arsenal, even tho we are at home.

It would be a very pleasant surprise if Moyes actually chose to have a real go at the gooners. What have we got to lose? Short of injured players, those at the Afcon etc.

Let's be honest, even with a full strength team it's going to be tough. So I would rather we had a go at them than sit back and hope for the best

Kieran Kinsella 4 Posted 16/12/2025 at 00:02:52

It's a tough one, James. Not helped by the fact McNeil's form has dropped off a cliff since Moyes arrived. I don't know if it's because McNeil, who was always prone to giving the ball away, is afraid of doing so under Moyes?

Let's not forget Moyes hauling a young Barkley off early on for doing just that. But on the other hand, if Dibling isn't ready, lacking confidence or out of form, then dropping him in now puts a huge microscope on him and exacerbates that issue.

So it's a decision I don't envy Moyes having to make.

Laurie Hartley 5 Posted 17/12/2025 at 07:12:48

For me, it is quite a simple decision. Dibling is a right-winger, and the only right-winger we have, so he should start.

Play McNeil on the left wing -- he is a left-winger -- and move Grealish inside:

PickfordO'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, MykolenkoGarner IroegbunamDibling, Grealish, McNeilBeto

If, however, Grealish isn't fit, that will be Moyes's biggest challenge.

Tony Abrahams 6 Posted 17/12/2025 at 07:50:16

I think the best way to have a go at Arsenal, Annika, is to make the game as scrappy as possible. That won't be easy on the big pitch at Bramley-Moore Dock, but it's the only way I can see us getting anything against them. If we open up, there's a real possibility that we might just see them systematically dismantle us.

No Ndiaye, no Dewsbury-Hall, and a possibility of no Grealish, which means that 99.9% of our creativity will be missing. I personally wouldn't trust Dibling on the wing, if I was going off his performance against Palace. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't be considering him to play inside, trying to find those little pockets of space, for the times we have to try and get at Arsenal.

Mike Gaynes 7 Posted 17/12/2025 at 08:08:19

James, trust must be earned, and nobody "must" be in the lineup unless he has earned it. It's amazing to me that so many here insist that Dibling "must" get his chance because... he cost £40M. None of us has seen the lad in training, none of us has seen him doing anything on the pitch that screams "must"... it's just all about what we paid for him.

Kieran #4, let us by all means "forget Moyes hauling a young Barkley off early on" because, to my recollection, it never happened. I remember Koeman subbing Barkley at halftime for giving the ball away, not Moyes. When do you remember Moyes doing it?

Paul Griffiths 8 Posted 17/12/2025 at 08:09:22

Our defence; Arsenal corners/free kicks; Saka/our Ukranian, a fast fluent attack/us, a tight defence/Barry and Beto, Arsenal full backs/speedy McNeil, Rice/anyone, their subs bench/ours, Arteta/Moyes, Keir Starmer/Ed Stewpot, Islington/Islington, Ian Wright/John Spencer.

Tight 2-1 victory. Saliba og, McNeil worldy.

We win by making the game shite.

Mark Murphy 9 Posted 17/12/2025 at 08:13:34

If there is any doubt regarding Jack Grealish's fitness, then he should be wrapped in cotton wool until the Sunderland cup tie.

I hope our medical staff are working flat out to get Dewsbury-Hall, Rohl and Branthwaite back for that clash as, for me, the FA Cup should be our prime objective now. We aren't getting relegated this season and we haven't got the squad for a European push so go for cup glory, Moyes!

For me, the team v Arsenal picks itself:

PickfordO'Brien Tarkowski Keane MykolenkoGarner IroegbunamDibling Alcaraz McNeilBarry

(Although I'm beginning to think Beto should be given another go...)

If Grealish is fully fit, I'd consider: PickfordO'Brien Tarkowski KeaneGarner Iroegbunam Alcaraz McNeilDibling Beto Grealish

But that will never happen.

Paul Griffiths 10 Posted 17/12/2025 at 08:42:48

Mark, mate, Beto is utter shite. Barry is an inch better, Our ace recruitment team have put us in this position. Let's see what happens next month. TFG only give a shit that we stay in the Premier League and get six straight gigs from Taylor Swift.

Has that NBA 'star' who Mike Gaynes put on a pedestal who screamed that he would be at the match in 3 weeks has not been to one. Mr Gaynes said he could, believe it or not. 'guarantee' that Friedkin was 'falling' for Evere Yton. When questioned by many, he never responded. The Yanks are on probation.

Tony Abrahams 11 Posted 17/12/2025 at 09:01:47

I can understand what you're saying Mike, but surely logic tells us that a player who cost £40M, has got to be in contention for a start with nearly all our creative players missing.

If he's not then the finger must already being pointed at our new recruitment team, imo.

Ian Wilkins 12 Posted 17/12/2025 at 09:04:50

Agree there doesn't appear to be a forward between Barry and Beto. Barry is slightly the better footballer, had hoped goal would lift his game, but sadly I remain unconvinced.

Our American owners have taken us to places we haven't been for years, financial security and professional management.

Early days maybe, but have they chosen well in terms of recruitment team, time will tell us more, This is obviously the bit we need to get right. We can't afford too many mistakes.

I hope that now we have the full recruitment team in place that they can start to deliver.

Our best eleven, despite its shortcomings, gives most teams a game, but beyond it we have little squad depth and the Premier League finds you out when that's the case.

Paul Griffiths 13 Posted 17/12/2025 at 09:13:32

Ian - 12 -Early days maybe, but have they chosen well in terms of recruitment team.

Can you please provide evidence rather than a completely unsupported meaningless generalisation that means nothing?

Do you believe that the summer window addressed our main problems?

Mark Murphy 14 Posted 17/12/2025 at 09:54:07

PG - he is, I know.

But if we are going defensive v Arsenal he at least has the ability to rough up their two second choice centre backs. I've hoped and prayed and crossed everything crossable that Barry would come good but, it's just not happening is it? May as well mix up the front man and keep the strongest 10 behind him.

On the subject of our recruitment, I'm getting really concerned that in Aznou, Dibling and Barry they've brought in young players who are far from home (Dibling got homesick for Southampton in London!) and don't look to me (from afar, I'm not in the know) to be settled.

I hope that a run in the team and a warm welcoming embrace from our support will make Tyler feel more at home soon but, just a gut feeling here, I don't think we'll see Aznou play much, if at all, for us. Echoes of the Nkounkou deal for me.

By the way, how is Jonjoe Kenny getting on these days? I had high hopes for him.

Ian Bennett 15 Posted 17/12/2025 at 09:55:25

I am less convinced that Dibling will start.

More likely the 3 will be Alcaraz, McNeil and Grealish.

He has come with a big fee and, for me, he wasn't the player we needed to spend £40M on last summer. It was too much, too soon.

Hopefully his pedigree comes good, but I think we are in for a patient wait to see any meaningful return.

The posters calling him to start now, I'd be interested if they've seen anything in his performances so far, to merit him get more minutes. From what I've seen, he's played safe and offered little threat or quality. It is not as if Moyes is containing a tiger... The lad has to show what he is about, and push his cause.

Clive Rogers 17 Posted 17/12/2025 at 10:12:14

Mark, 14, here's what I have picked up.

On 20 June 2025, Kenny left Hertha BSC and joined Greece Super League side PAOK on a free transfer, signing a contract until 2028. He's played 6 league games for them.

John Pickles 18 Posted 17/12/2025 at 10:32:51

For me, Dibling should start. I don't see it as a gamble. His Southampton YouTube clips have him doing his best work coming from deep. He, like Grealish, is very difficult to dispossess when he has the ball. I would rather we sat back a little more against Arsenal as the 'high press' could lead to another 'Newcastle result', getting murdered on the break.

We are down to bare bones, any wins in the next few games would be a bonus no matter what team or tactics Moyes selects. This is the time to tell Dibling and Barry that they will get a run of games, win, draw or lose, and give them experience to see what they are made of.

Alcaraz was awful against Forest, we effectively played the first half with 10 men. We looked much better with McNeil on. For me, play Dibling on the right and let McNeil and Grealish interchange on the centre and left. Alcaraz and Beto on the bench.

Ian Wilkins 19 Posted 17/12/2025 at 10:37:03

Paul @13, I thought the Summer recruitment failed to address the key issues in a depleted squad.

Full backs, particularly right-back, have been an issue for us for years now, since Coleman's long-term injury. Gueye, in the twilight of his career, needs a quality replacement. We all know we need a better striker.

There were some positives: Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, even if only short-term, Branthwaite on an extended contract.

As I've said before, whilst there is a transfer committee including Moyes, imo there is a difference of opinion between Moyes's wish for short-term experience and our owner's wish for investment in and maybe future return on potential. That's just my opinion.

In an ideal world, you can add both experience and potential, if funds permit. Our funds are limited. So the recruitment in the Summer was very mixed, but for me failed to address some glaring issues. As others have pointed out to me, the new recruitment team was not fully in place until late in the window, so their next moves will tell us a lot more, that's what I meant by time will tell us more.

Mark Murphy 21 Posted 17/12/2025 at 12:03:40

Thanks Clive - I found the same after I'd posted - it was a bit of a "by the way" but thanks for answering anyway.

Not really hitting the heights I hoped he'd hit then but there's worse ways to earn a living than playing footy in Greece, I suppose.

Is it not time for a dedicated Transfer Window thread and any glimmers of hope for full-backs and strikers?

Dave Abrahams 22 Posted 17/12/2025 at 12:34:52

Mike (7)

I'm not sure if he took Barkley off v Blackburn but he wasn't picked after that game and not long after he went on loan to Leeds, didn't last long there and went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday.

In that Blackburn game, Jagielka had a stinker, including giving a penalty away if I'm not mistaken. He gave another one away v Liverpool shortly after that game and wasn't having a good spell.

Jagielka was older and stayed in the team; Barkley was younger and dispensable.

Dale Self 23 Posted 17/12/2025 at 13:48:55

Can we change the dimensions of the field for the Arsenal match?

Brian Harrison 24 Posted 17/12/2025 at 13:58:28

Tony 11

Absolutely spot on.

Kieran Kinsella 25 Posted 17/12/2025 at 14:10:27

Mike,

Moyes on Barkley v Blackburn

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/20/everton-ross-barkley-england

Stu Gre 26 Posted 17/12/2025 at 15:14:41

I always think games like the one against Arsenal are a bit of a freebie for the manager. Lose and you're expected to, win and you're a genius.

And that for me is the point when you can do something different and, if it fails, go back to what you think you know works.

In this case, Moyes has even more cover. Injuries, need to prepare for Afcon, fatigue, small squad.

Therefore, playing Dibling is a no-brainier, and maybe someone from the U21s that just beat PSV might be a free hit. Who is going to criticise him for trying?

Paul Kossoff 27 Posted 17/12/2025 at 16:55:57

With that in mind, ex-Everton scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Goodison News – believes that Dibling could be in line for a loan move in the January window, and potentially even a return to his boyhood club.

Former Everton scout said, “I see a loan coming on here,” King said.

“I would say somewhere in the top half of the Championship. Maybe he could even go back to Southampton. He's a young player, and it would be a learning curve. They've got to sort games out for him somewhere, and he doesn't seem likely to get them at Everton.

“I think it was very questionable when they brought him in. He's a young boy, and if you're going to pay that kind of money for a player of that age, then you've got to be looking for him to go straight into the team."

Apparently, we have only paid Southampton what amounts to a loan fee. So him going back to them would be without a fee. This is Everton.

Kevin Molloy 29 Posted 17/12/2025 at 17:18:11

I suspect it's the defensive side of the game which is giving Moyes pause. He looks like he can handle himself fine offensively.

And I can see why this is an issue, I remember James, and the fact he wouldn't track back left a giant hole in the team. I think it's just a case of drilling him on it.

I expect we will start with McNeil, but that Tyler Dibling will be given half an hour for a few of these games, and hopefully shows what he can do. His talent is not in question.

Kieran Kinsella 30 Posted 17/12/2025 at 17:44:30

Can we have a moratorium on signing people from Southampton? Each time they create a frenzy acting like said individual is in great demand so we pay way over the odds and thus far it has never worked out.

James Beattie, for example. Or when we paid Ronald Koeman £6M a year to snag him as one of the highest paid managers in the league.

Now Dibling. Yeah he might come good eventually but you can't justify the fee based on what we have seen from him so far.

Kieran, I think that applies to any player, regardless of Southampton links, if a Club, Everton in our case, pursue a player, which again in this case, reached eye-watering amounts, then not play them, requires a lot of serious questions to be asked at all levels.

Personally glad we got him, but very disappointed that he has been given little opportunity to play, apart from cameos off the bench. How the likes of McNeil can get priority when he has been a shadow of his former displays. Mind you he has always been a 'hot and cold' player, but recently has been more than cold when brought in off the bench.

As with most things 'Everton' we are only fed scraps of information, and have very little to go on but speculation. Moyes's hand has been forced now through injury and AFCON players absence, so let's see what happens now. Unfortunately we couldn't have had much harder opposition next match, which will not help players' confidence, unless they pull off a miracle result !

Conor McCourt 33 Posted 17/12/2025 at 18:44:45

My view is that TFG need a bit of latitude and understanding when assessing their first transfer window.

At Roma their first signing was a marquee signing and they have done the same here. Grealish was signed as a replacement for Harrison knowing that Jack would virtually pay for himself and be a catalyst for others to follow suit.

Dewsbury Hall was bought for the here and now, as a direct replacement for Doucoure. Alcaraz was made permanent.

Rohl was signed as a replacement for Mangala.

Dibling was a direct replacement for Lindstrom.

Aznou was a direct replacement for Young who was our back up left back even though often not playing there under Dyche.

Barry was bought as a long term replacement for Calvert Lewin.

At right back Moyes was happy with OBrien, had Garner and Coleman to play there while they couldn't offload Patterson due to injury. This is why Tete was seen as a short term option but after the Scots injury this was never revisited and Moyes explicitly stated that this was not a priority.

Before TFG could build they had to solidify and replenish. I don't think they are going to do great things here. At Roma they haven't even qualified for the Champions League yet (despite previously regularly doing so) and only now have they built up a decent squad but are still trying to make it Champions League quality.

I think they have learnt from giving their managers carte blanche then going back to square one and so are developing a squad that can grow together irrespective of whose in charge.

Moyes was given a squad that he can work with. Beto had proved competent so Barry was bought as someone who would need time to settle and eventually take over. Unfortunately Moyes didn't play to Beto's strengths and their assumption was questionable so Barry has been exposed sooner than ideal, unfairly so in my opinion.

Moyes has the choice of Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibling and McNeil for the wings which teams like Spurs don't even have better. They will be disappointed with Diblings game time but won't question the manager while he is getting results. They know what the have bought, what an investment he will be and won't be doubting this signing.

Their intention with Dewsbury Hall, Grealish, Alcaraz and Dibling was to ensure goals came from all areas as striker wise both would have been only capable of ten goals and Barry was likely to do better come the second half of the season.

Some of the issues are on the manager and some are on TFG. January will be a time when they can revisit the areas where they think they haven't matched up. The summer will be the time when they can really start to shape the squad.

Raymond Fox 35 Posted 17/12/2025 at 21:30:38

Moyes sees Dibling every training session, If he thought he was the best option he would pick him.

It doesn't matter what Dibling cost, its a question is he our best option for the team or not, thats what Moyes is paid for.