Review of the Season 2024/25

Introduction

We approached the final momentous season at Goodison Park with cautious optimism. 

The optimism stemmed from what was generally viewed as a positive transfer window. Although the list of departures included Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey and Lewis Dobbin the recruitment of Tim Iroegbunam (£11m), Iliman Ndiaye (£15m), Jake O’Brien (£17m), Jesper Lindstrøm (loan) and Orel Mangala (loan) was generally seen as strengthening the squad. In addition Seamus and Ashley Young had signed up for another year while Jack Harrison had returned for a second season on loan from Leeds. 

The deadline day signing of Armando Broja on a year’s loan from Chelsea was a surprise. As he arrived with an Achilles injury the club would not be responsible for his salary until he became available to play. That turned out to be December. A potential piece of business missing from the summer was the sale of Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United. Two bids from the Red Devils fell well short of our reported £70m valuation. The downside was a pelvic injury which would rule the young centre back out of the opening months of the campaign. 

The caution stemmed from an obvious lack of potency in attack plus the likely impact of injuries in a squad lacking cover in several positions, most notably at left back, attacking midfield and wide forward positions. The weakness in attack was apparent in some of the pre-season friendlies. A 3-3 draw at Sligo Rovers was followed by defeats at Salford City (2-1) and Coventry City (3-0). A 3-0 win at Preston lifted the gloom before we saw DCL score the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against AS Roma at Goodison Park. The dependency on DCL for both his hold-up play and goals was underlined by Youssef Chermiti’s foot injury. Having shown promise with two goals at Sligo the young Portuguese would be unavailable for the first half of the season. 

In spite of the injuries and the inevitable period of adjustment required by the new additions there was genuine hope we could build some early momentum in what was widely regarded as a relatively kind set of fixtures in the opening months of the campaign. 

August Angst Again

With so much made about our final season at Goodison we were quietly confident of a positive start at home to Brighton. On a Saturday afternoon which crushed the spirit we lost 3-0. After a bright start on which typically we failed to capitalise, we allowed Brighton to play through our defensive lines with ease. A Mitoma goal after twenty five minutes punctured the positivity in the home ranks. A penalty awarded for a foul on DCL just after the interval was overturned after a VAR intervention before goals from Welbeck and Adingra completed the scoring. Compounding our misery was Ashley Young’s dismissal for a professional foul. One of the few pluses was the performance of Tim Iroegbunam who shone brightly in midfield although there were reservations about his defensive application.

Those doubts were echoed a week later in a 4-0 mauling at Tottenham. With Roman Dixon making his debut and acquitting himself well at right back the team had a makeshift look about it. An early goal from Bissouma (14) gave Postecoglou’s team the lead before an horrendous error by Pickford let Son in for a second on twenty five minutes. Romero (71) and Son (77) completed an emphatic victory for the Lilywhites. 

After two defeats we badly needed a lift against League Two Doncaster at Goodison. Twelve months previously a 2-1 Carabao Cup victory at The Keepmoat Stadium had been our first win of the season. This season second half goals from McNeil (53), a brilliant solo effort by Ndiaye (74) and Beto (83) gave everyone a welcome boost. With Bournemouth our next visitors on the final day of August we believed a corner had been turned.

The game against the Cherries was like nothing your scribe had ever seen before. The first half was unremarkable in that our team yet again failed to score despite dominating the play. We were  heartened five minutes into the second half when Michael Keane fired us ahead. Seven minutes later DCL doubled the lead. With Ndiaye enjoying a terrific first start in the Premier League everything looked positive in the late summer sunshine. A third goal seemed imminent but Seamus missed from point blank range while McNeil passed instead of shooting when well placed inside the area. For eighty seven minutes this was arguably the best performance since Dyche’s arrival. Then it wasn’t. 

What happened next defied analysis as the Blues folded to lose 2-3. First Semenyo pulled a goal back with three minutes left. Six minutes of additional time gave the Cherries the chance to equalise through Cook (90+2) and with panic spreading through the home ranks, they won through Sinisterra (90+6). Goodison was shell-shocked. Boos rang around the old ground after this capitulation. Dyche took the majority of the blame for his delay in making substitutions, making the wrong substitutions and not making enough substitutions. Some saw his withdrawal of the tiring Ndiaye eight minutes from time as the trigger for Bournemouth to attack. Others saw the withdrawal of DCL with three minutes left as an error. Still others complained one or more of the midfielders or full backs should have been replaced. 

The brutal truth of the matter was the team had enough experienced players on the pitch to keep hold of a two goal lead against a team they had dominated for virtually the whole game. Arguably a crucial absentee was Ashley Young whose knowledge and craft might have instilled some control in those chaotic final minutes. At 2-1 we still had players chasing forward as though desperate to score a third goal. Iroegbunam showed his naïveté attempting to pass through a posse of defenders when the priority should have been to retain possession. It was a complete shambles.

The result would cast a long shadow over the opening months of the season with the team stuck at the foot of the table and fans bemoaning another disastrous start to the campaign. For the manager the defeat arguably marked the beginning of the end of his time in L4. It seemed as though he could never again trust his players to play with any freedom of expression. We were left hoping the September international break would allow breathing space for a platform to be laid for an early, sustained improvement in results. 

First Points

We faced two away matches when the Premier League resumed after the international break, at Villa Park and the King Power either side of a home Carabao tie. After weathering early pressure at Villa we took an unlikely two goal lead through McNeil (16) and DCL (27). When Watkins halved the deficit nine minutes before the break there were few Evertonians contemplating anything other than a defeat. The impact of the Bournemouth debacle had seeped into our hearts and minds. Watkins (56) equalised before Durán (76) sealed the points with a brilliant long range shot. Even then DCL might have given us some reward, first messing up a one on one and later smashing a shot against the bar. After four consecutive league defeats pressure was building on our manager with many fans questioning his tactics, team selections, use of substitutes, lack of a plan B and so forth. Some bemoaned his continued use of Keane and Young in defence overlooking they were arguably our two best defenders in the opening weeks. Others questioned his reluctance to use new players such as Lindstrøm and O’Brien and younger players such as Dixon and Armstrong.

All four started against Southampton in the Carabao Cup third round. Despite Doucouré’s goal after twenty minutes our players failed to impose themselves on the game. Future England centre-back Harwood-Bellis (32) equalised before the match drifted somewhat inevitably to penalties and even more inevitably to our exit from this benighted competition. Keane, McNeil, Ndiaye, Lindstrøm and Harrison were our first five penalty takers. All converted. Ashley Young missed the sixth. Southampton didn’t, going through to the next round. It was a miserable conclusion to the last league cup tie at Goodison Park. 

The trip to Steve Cooper’s Leicester brought together two of the teams without a league win. We made a promising start, Ndiaye giving us a twelfth minute lead after a neat exchange of passes with Young. In a game played in relentless rain we looked much the better team for an hour before the Foxes equalised in the seventy third minute via a bundled effort from Mavdidi. We withstood late pressure to take our first point of the season. It was something to build on.

In the meantime it was confirmed The Friedkin Group had re-entered negotiations, finally reaching an agreement for the purchase of Farhad Moshiri’s majority stake in the club. It was expected the approvals process for the deal would take around twelve weeks to complete. A key element of the agreement was the repayment of loans to third party interests. The relief that the club would at long last be able to move forward on a stable financial platform was palpable.

The last Saturday of September brought winless Crystal Palace to Goodison. In urgent need of victory we suffered a setback when Guéhi opened the scoring for Palace after ten minutes. To our immense relief Dwight McNeil saved the day. Two minutes after the break his drive from outside the area found the far corner of the net in front of the Street End. Seven minutes later the former Burnley man was on the end of a deflected cross from Harrison to volley home from the left of the six yard box. This vital 2-1 win lifted the club out of the relegation zone to fifteenth place. 

Building Momentum… Slowly 

As we went into October we yearned to start looking up instead of down the table. Newcastle at home seemed a tough proposition but early season inconsistency perhaps made the Geordies vulnerable on a Saturday evening under the lights. After a scruffy encounter both teams were probably content with the goalless draw; arguably Newcastle less so after seeing Anthony Gordon’s first half penalty saved by Pickford who enjoyed a terrific game against his former north east rivals. 

After the October international break we travelled to Portman Road. First half goals from Ndiaye and that fine striker of a ball, Michael Keane, gave us an encouraging win. The post-match chatter  highlighted DCL’s failure to convert one on one opportunities which would have made the game even more comfortable. Having started the season with high hopes of survival under Kieran McKenna, Ipswich fans were left with the sobering reality that overcoming a team accustomed to annual relegation battles was more difficult than they had anticipated. 

Another Saturday evening match at home to Fulham concluded October’s fixtures. Alex Iwobi gave the visitors the lead just after the hour. Beto came off the bench to head an equaliser from a first time Ashley Young cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Although the draw extended the unbeaten run to five games there was disappointment we had yet again failed to win at Goodison albeit against a team enjoying a successful campaign in the top half of the table. It was a familiar feeling; one that would not alter over the course of the season.

Through much of the autumn there had been some puzzlement about Dyche’s apparent reluctance to reinstate Branthwaite to the starting eleven following his return to fitness. Although Michael Keane had been playing well in a series of solid defensive performances many fans argued the return of our best defender was overdue. Dyche decided otherwise, keeping faith with his established back line for the trip to winless Southampton. If the Bournemouth defeat in August was a watershed moment the outcome of this game would leave the manager’s tenure hanging by a thread. 

In a nondescript affair our attack was moribund. Having been criticised for not making substitutions until late in games, Dyche sent on Beto and Harrison for DCL and Ndiaye just past the hour. Beto certainly enlivened the attack, running past Bednarek before being brought down on the left of the box. No red card said the VAR. The VAR was Matt Donohue. Remember the name. There are some games when a manager’s luck has obviously run out. This was one. Six minutes from time Beto headed against the bar. Instead of leading 1-0, twenty seven seconds later we were behind. The hitherto winless Saints countered with Adam Armstrong sweeping a shot home from the edge of the box. It was a dreadful defeat against a team long since consigned to the list of relegation certainties.

A week later we travelled to West Ham who were enduring their own struggles under new manager Lopetegui. Branthwaite’s return to the starting lineup was welcomed although in truth the big defender looked rusty in his first full game since May. A goalless draw probably suited both teams and their beleaguered managers.

The same outcome most certainly did not suit Sean Dyche when we hosted Brentford in L4 after the final international break of the calendar year. Without an away point all season the Bees were reduced to ten men shortly before the interval when, following a VAR intervention, Nørgaard was sent off for a challenge on Pickford. Nobody was wholly convinced the challenge merited a red card. The VAR man was none other than the previously mentioned Matt Donohue. Despite, or perhaps owing to, having the majority of possession throughout the second half our players were unable to capitalise on the one man advantage. The home crowd voiced their displeasure with loud booing at the final whistle. The numbers calling for the manager to be sacked were growing by the week. 

Changing Times

As the players laboured their way through the autumn the Friedkin takeover had hovered in the background. It was expected to be confirmed in the first half of December. Barring a complete collapse on the pitch there was no chance of a managerial change happening before the completion of the takeover. Even then it was widely assumed the new owners would prefer not to make an early switch given all the attendant risks of doing so in mid-season. 

As pressure mounted on Dyche a tough December schedule began with a 4-0 thrashing at Manchester United now managed by Ruben Amorim. Having started brightly with Beto leading the attack in his first start of the season, our team fell apart defensively after the half hour. Branthwaite deflected a Rashford shot into his own net and was then caught in possession by Amad Diallo who set up an easy finish for Zirkzee. Rashford scored the third a minute after the interval. The fourth goal twenty minutes into the half came after Amad robbed Tarkowski of possession. Once again the speedy attacker set up a routine goal for Zirkzee. 

The manner of the defeat was a huge blow, not least for our manager whose failure to build a coherent attacking system was now compounded by defensive capitulation. That needed to change, and quickly. Three days after the Old Trafford debacle fellow strugglers Wolves came to Goodison. Their manager, Gary O’Neil, was another under pressure from fans. With our next five fixtures against Champions League contenders a win was essential. Under the lights the old ground was replete with nervousness as we kicked off. An early goal would help enormously to settle everyone down. 

To our immense relief Ashley Young produced a moment of quality bending a superb free kick round the defensive wall after ten minutes. He thus became our oldest scorer at the age of 39 years and five months. Orel Mangala, an increasingly influential figure in our midfield, scored the second from the edge of the area just after the half hour. DCL might have added two goals to his sparse tally for the season. He failed to do so but had Craig Dawson to blame, the hapless centre back notching two own goals; the first just after the interval and the second eighteen minutes from time. A key man in this win was Dwight McNeil whose crossing at set pieces was contributory to the chaos in the visiting defence. Regrettably he had, for some weeks, been carrying a knee injury which would now rule him out for four months. 

The final Goodison derby, scheduled for the Saturday lunchtime, was postponed at breakfast time owing to Storm Darragh. The unscheduled ten day break gave our players time to prepare for one of the toughest assignments of the season, a visit to the Emirates. There we saw welcome evidence of the team’s resilience. A goalless draw against one of the elite teams was hard earned but more comfortable than we had expected with Arsenal unable to build on their reputation as masters of the set piece and ultimately running out of ideas in the second half. With the new owners, The Friedkin Group, now in situ we welcomed Chelsea to Goodison on the final Sunday before Christmas. Another battling display delivered another goalless draw. We might even have sealed a late victory if Jack Harrison had converted with only the keeper to beat. 

The trio of creditable draws against the top sides was completed on Boxing Day at The Etihad. Bernardo Silva gave the hosts an early lead before a brilliant first time volley by Ndiaye levelled matters. City were unable to get the better of our defence. Once again we had late opportunities to score on the counter but Harrison, Broja and Doucouré were unable to find the right pass or shot. Nevertheless a return of six points from four matches was above most fans’ expectations after the debacle at Old Trafford. We were five points above the relegation places and there seemed no immediate pressure on the owners to change the manager at this mid-point in the season. 

Armando Broja had made a favourable impression as a late substitute against Arsenal and City. Fans advocating a place for the Slough born Albanian in the starting eleven were pleased to see him on the team sheet for the final game of the calendar year against an upwardly mobile Nottingham Forest. At this stage of the season Nuno Espírito Santo’s men were not yet regarded as realistic contenders for a Champions League place. Indeed many Evertonians assumed this game was more than winnable after three consecutive draws against supposedly superior teams. We were left bitterly disappointed as the visitors dismantled the centre of our rearguard with a twelfth minute goal from Chris Wood. Forest doubled their advantage through Morgan Gibbs-White just after the hour before sitting tight in defence and exposing our players’ inability to make anything of the majority of possession. Fans left the old ground more disgruntled than ever. The calls for Sean Dyche’s head were becoming louder by the day. 

We travelled to The Vitality on the first Saturday of the new year with the manager needing a win to lift the pressure on himself and the team. Despite a lack of impact against Forest, Broja made a second start but succumbed to a first half injury. In a dull contest with little to separate the teams, the Cherries grabbed the points with a volley from David Brooks thirteen minutes from time. One of the few positives to emerge was a performance of quality and purpose by half-time substitute Harrison Armstrong in an attacking midfield role. 

Needless to say the phone-ins and social media were replete with criticism of Dyche, his tactics and team selection. On the face of it there were few immediately obvious solutions. The nature of the debate was encapsulated in discussions about the right flank attacking role: Harrison or Lindstrøm? Neither had scored a goal; neither had an assist to their name. Other discussions centred on Jake O’Brien who had yet to start a league game.

Dyche opted to include O’Brien in his starting eleven for the next match, a Thursday evening third round FA Cup tie at home to League One club Peterborough. The manager did not however get the chance to see the Irish international in action. News broke at 4.00 p.m. that he had been sacked. While the dismissal itself was unsurprising the timing of it most certainly was, only a few hours before kick-off. Some guesswork from those not in the know suggested José Mourinho was lined up as the replacement. That was quickly ruled out. By the time we arrived at a freezing Goodison David Moyes had been installed as the front runner with an appointment expected over the weekend.

Leighton Baines, assisted by Seamus Coleman, took charge of the team for the cup tie. O’Brien enjoyed a solid game on the right flank of a three man central defence while Harrison Armstrong showed skill and purpose in an attacking midfield role. Armstrong it was who played a neat through ball for Beto to open the scoring three minutes before the interval. Thereafter our team looked comfortable, sealing a 2-0 win and a place in the fourth round with a penalty from Ndiaye in the eighth minute of stoppage time. 

Old Manager, New Manager

The appointment of David Moyes was duly confirmed two days after the cup tie. His contract was for a period of two and half years. The reaction among fans was generally positive with the majority acknowledging we needed a safe pair of hands to guide us to safety this season thus ensuring we started next season in the new stadium as a Premier League outfit. 

The scale of the new manager’s task was laid bare in his first match at home to Aston Villa, our dismal record against the Midlanders continuing with a 0-1 defeat. Watkins gave his team the lead after a swift counter six minutes into the second half. Although we saw plenty of effort, our players lacked the composure to capitalise on several chances. In his post-match press briefing Moyes looked as grey as his hair. 

It was his good fortune our next match was against a Tottenham team severely weakened by injury and enduring a slump in form which had brought pressure on Ange Postecoglou, a manager more the cavalier than the pragmatist. On a super Sunday afternoon the Blues quickly found a way through a threadbare defence in the thirteenth minute when DCL showed neat feet inside the area to score his first goal since September. On the half hour Ndiaye weaved his way past Dragusin before lifting a left foot finish high into the net. An own goal by Archie Gray in first half stoppage time gave our team a 3-0 half-time lead at Goodison for the first time since February 2017, in a game against Bournemouth.

The final score that day was 6-3. This game ended less comfortably, 3-2, with our lads conceding from Kulusevski thirteen minutes from the end and from Richarlison in the dying seconds of stoppage time. It was a reminder of our defensive vulnerability when energy levels drop in the closing stages of games. Apart from the vital three points which opened a four point gap above the drop zone, a major positive was the performance of Jake O’Brien at right back. After a shaky start he settled into an unfamiliar position very impressively. Also enjoying himself was DCL who led the line with pace and power. Nobody complained the win came with only 35% possession. 

We travelled to Brighton on the final Saturday of January in better spirits. As the Seagulls had struggled to win at home we were hopeful of a positive result. That looked less likely when DCL pulled up in the early stages with a serious hamstring injury. His replacement Beto chased what seemed a lost cause six minutes before the interval. For reasons known only to himself the defender Veltman chose to sweep the ball away with his hand. Following a VAR referral a penalty was awarded. Ndiaye converted with aplomb before earning a yellow card for mimicking a seagull. Thereafter it was a matter of the team defending in depth with Gana giving a truly outstanding performance in midfield. The Stakhanovite Senegalese redoubled his efforts in the closing stages after the loss of Mangala through an anterior cruciate ligament injury; having already used the three substitution windows available in the second half Moyes had been unable to replace the Belgian. Thankfully our ten men, battling like Trojans, held on for a famous victory. The gap above the relegation places was now seven points. Already the pressure had lifted on the team and fans. 

A third successive win would make the relegation worries seem even more distant. On the first day of February we romped to a 4-0 win against a woeful Leicester City at Goodison. Doucouré scored our fastest ever goal after 10.18 seconds. Beto doubled our advantage in the sixth minute and completed a brace in first half stoppage time. Ndiaye wrapped up the scoring with a goal in the final minute of regulation time.

A week later the final FA Cup tie at Goodison brought a disappointing 0-2 defeat at home to Bournemouth, our third defeat of the season against the Cherries. The gap between our team and those in the top half of the table was all too evident. A positive feature was a second half cameo from debutant Carlos ‘Charly’ Alcaraz. The Argentinian, on loan from Flamengo, marked his debut from the bench by hitting the woodwork with an effort from long range. 

Derby Delight Heralds Unbeaten Run 

With the relegation threat alleviated we approached the final Goodison derby keen for a positive result and performance against our neighbours. On a raucous Wednesday night Beto continued his purple patch with the opening goal on eleven minutes slotted neatly over Alisson’s outstretched leg. The lead lasted a mere five minutes, Mac Allister equalising in front of the Street End. With seventeen minutes remaining Salah put the visitors ahead against the run of play. Just when it seemed Arne Slot’s team would cast a black spot on the final season at the old ground, James Tarkowski blasted a fantastic shot into the roof of the Street End net in the eighth minute of additional time. The celebrations among the home crowd were put on hold for several minutes as we held our collective breath for VAR officials to determine if there had been any infringements. They did their best but eventually had no option but to allow the goal. We had won 2-2!Doucouré’s celebrations after the final whistle provoked a reaction from Curtis Jones. Both were given a red card as was Slot for his protest to referee Michael Oliver about the amount of added time and the number of decisions against his team. 

Three days later we travelled to Selhurst wondering if fatigue, mental as well as physical, might affect our players. We need not have worried. Making his first start, Charly Alcaraz set up Beto for another one on one finish three minutes before half-time. Palace’s Mateta equalised two minutes after the restart. The result might have gone either way but it was the Blues who finished marginally the stronger with Alcaraz scoring the winner ten minutes from time. With thirteen games remaining we were now thirteenth in the table and thirteen points clear of the relegation places. Safety was virtually guaranteed. In the middle of February.

The following Saturday lunchtime brought a struggling Manchester United to Goodison. Beto (19) and Doucouré (33) gave us a fully deserved lead in a game our team dominated for the opening seventy minutes. Not for the first time this season energy levels dropped in the final stages. Having posed little threat the Red Devils halved the deficit eighteen minutes from the end with a free kick from Fernandes. Eight minutes later Ugarte fired them level. A penalty awarded in the final seconds for a foul on Ashley Young was withdrawn after another highly controversial VAR intervention. There was frustration we had not taken three points from a very poor United team. 

Four days later the unbeaten run continued with a midweek draw at Brentford. It was very frustrating to concede in the fourth minute of first half additional time when Wissa leapt above our defenders to nod home. Beto missed several chances against a decent keeper, Mark Flekken. Our equaliser came thirteen minutes from time when Jake O’Brien found the corner of the net with a fine diving header from Mykolenko’s cross. It was the Irish international’s first goal for the club. We left west London feeling we might have won with better technique in the final third but relieved to have taken a point with the late equaliser.

Relaxed Run-in

After a ten day break the sequence of draws continued away to Wolves and at home to West Ham. We travelled to Molyneux on the second Saturday evening of March hoping to widen the gap between us and seventeenth placed Wolves. Jack Harrison’s deflected shot put us ahead twelve minutes before the interval. Marshall Munetsi equalised seven minutes later with our central defenders caught out by a quick counterattack. In the closing minutes a brilliant run from Alcaraz set up a one on one for Beto but Jose Sa read the finish. Having enjoyed a winning streak a few weeks previously the ever willing Portuguese was now struggling to convert chances. 

There had been something of an end of season feel about the game at Wolves. That was even more the case against the Hammers on the Ides of March. Soucek slotted a clinical finish midway through the second period. Just when the visitors seemed certain to take all three points O’Brien headed a brilliant volleyed pass from Gana to equalise in the first minute of additional time. 

After an eighteen day break owing to an international weekend and the FA Cup quarter finals our nine game unbeaten run came to an end at Anfield on the second day of April. Jota scored the only goal twelve minutes into the second half. We had more than matched the hosts in the first half with Beto unlucky shooting against the upright. Most of the post match coverage focused on a wild follow-through by Tarkowski on Mac Allister. Our captain was perhaps fortunate not to receive the first red card of his career. 

After only two days recovery we faced another tough challenge on the Saturday lunchtime with the visit of Arsenal. The Gunners took the lead eleven minutes before the break with a well-taken goal by Trossard. Immediately after the restart we enjoyed some good fortune, for once, to win a penalty for a push on Harrison. The ice cool Ndiaye, returning from injury, converted his third spot kick of the season. Although Arsenal pushed for a winner they were unable to penetrate our well marshalled defence. The Gunners also had other priorities with a Champions League tie against Real Madrid imminent. 

With the threat of relegation having long since receded there was a developing sense our season might peter out. Such is the febrile nature of media coverage a narrative can switch overnight from ‘x games unbeaten’ to ‘y games without a win’. So it was we travelled to the City Ground searching for our first win in seven games. Against third placed Forest our team produced what was widely considered their most complete performance of the season. Having dominated the play from start to finish they would not have been flattered by a substantial lead. The only missing ingredient was a lack of craft in the final third. Possibly that made all the sweeter the winner from Doucouré in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The industrious midfielder’s clinical finish from substitute McNeil’s pass sparked wild celebrations in the away section. It was reported to be our latest ever winning goal away from home. 

Much of the discussion off the field now concerned players’ contracts with no fewer than fifteen, including loanees, potentially leaving the club in the summer. One of those mentioned in all conversations was Doucouré whose celebration at the City Ground had included a gesture of a phone call and a pen in his hand ready to sign on the dotted line. Given his reported £130k a week salary, unsurprisingly he had not been offered an extension. That left open the question of whether or not he would be offered, and be prepared to accept, a contract on significantly reduced terms. 

Others often featuring in the social media and phone-in discussions included Gana, DCL, Young plus the loanees Harrison and Lindstrøm. A player not out of contract in the summer but the subject of frequent speculation about his future was Nathan Patterson unavailable for much of the season through injury. 

The Scot was given a surprise start at left back when we hosted Manchester City. Allowing for the fact he was in an unfamiliar position Nathan made a decent fist of the challenge. The team as a whole held City at arms length in the opening half during which Tarkowski was unlucky with a header against the post. The turning point came early in the second period when Tarkowski pulled up with a serious hamstring tear which would terminate his season. Although Moyes used all five substitutes City dominated the remainder of the contest sealing a 0-2 win courtesy of goals from O’Reilly (84) and Kovačić (92).

The final Saturday of April took us to Stamford Bridge for a lunch-time date with Enzo Maresca’s talented but inconsistent group of young players. In a mediocre match Chelsea took the lead before the half hour through Jackson after Beto had too easily lost possession in the centre circle. Despite a second half revival, of sorts, our team were unable to claw back the 1-0 deficit. Once again the inability to create and convert chances hampered the team’s chances of competing against opponents in the top half of the table.

A Great Finish 

As we entered May everyone associated with the club was now focused on the departure from Goodison. It had been a long time coming but here we were, with only two more matches at the old stadium. Up first for the final Saturday game was Ipswich Town already relegated after winning just four matches and conceding seventy four goals. The Tractor Boys conceded two more, Beto and McNeil the marksmen either side of the half hour. For the fourth time in the campaign a 2-0 lead was squandered. A rocket from Enciso halved the deficit before the interval. The equaliser, a George Hirst header, came eleven minutes from time. The home fans left the old stadium disappointed but not surprised. 

The following Saturday we travelled to Fulham on a glorious spring day with our low expectations seeming fully justified during a dire first half performance. Leading through a Jimenez header after seventeen minutes, Fulham could have more than doubled their lead but failed to do so. In the final minute of the half Mykolenko’s speculative shot took a heavy deflection to level matters. The dynamics of the game having changed completely, the Blues came out for the second half with a  much more assertive approach. With less than twenty minutes left two quick-fire goals from Keane and Beto sealed an unlikely but most welcome three points lifting the club to thirteenth in the table: ‘best of the worst’ as someone put it. 

And so to the day ringed in every Evertonian’s calendar since the publication of the fixture list last June. David Moyes described it as the most important match of the season. From a purely footballing standpoint thankfully the match itself had little riding on it other than cementing thirteenth place in the final table. It was however the most significant milestone of the club’s recent history marking the last ever game in senior men’s football at Goodison Park. The 2-0 win over Southampton will be remembered for Ndiaye’s brace. The Senegalese opened the scoring on six minutes before wrapping up the points a minute before the interval. The rest of the day was about celebrating 133 years of the club’s history at the grand old stadium and bidding a fond goodbye to a special place in all our lives.

The season concluded with a visit to Newcastle’s St James’s Park. The performance and a sixth away win exceeded our expectations against a team seeking Champions League qualification. The goal came twenty minutes into the second half with an Alcaraz header from a Mykolenko cross. Finishing the season with three consecutive wins took us into a really important summer on a positive note.

Player Ratings

A subjective assessment of our players’ contribution to the campaign:

Pickford (9) After an indifferent start to the campaign played a key role in what was generally a strong defensive unit. Twelve clean sheets and numerous brilliant saves underlined his value. 

Young (6) Sent off in the opening game; otherwise the oldest player in the squad was arguably the most consistent in the first half of the season. His goal from a direct free kick against Wolves was impressive, making him our oldest ever scorer. An excellent player who leaves the club with his professional reputation enhanced. 

Coleman (6) The rating takes into account the captain’s non-playing role off the pitch. As a player clearly his legs have gone.

O’Brien (7) Aside from a couple of Carabao Cup appearances the Irish international spent most of the first half of the season on the bench. Moyes then deployed him in an unfamiliar right back role in which he performed more than competently. His equalisers against Brentford and West Ham bolstered his growing reputation among fans. Looked comfortable at centre back after Tarkowski’s injury in April.

Patterson (4) Another injury-plagued season. When selected his defensive play was questionable while his attacking forays along the right flank promised more than they delivered. Now in his fourth year at the club he seems less likely than ever to reach the level required. It is a pity because the right back position has been in need of strengthening for several years.

Tarkowski (7) The captain on the pitch. Wrote his name into the history books with his last minute equaliser against Liverpool. Struggled in the opening weeks with a pelvic/glute niggle but overall was a very effective leader of the team, guiding younger colleagues through matches. His hamstring injury against Manchester City ruled him out of the closing weeks. 

Branthwaite (7) After recovering from injury his season only took off in November when he looked rusty. Eventually settled down to enjoy a solid second half of the campaign until his hamstring strain in the penultimate game.

Keane (6) Was the stronger of our two central defenders in the opening weeks of struggle and strife. Once Branthwaite returned he became a peripheral member of the squad before returning and scoring at Fulham. Out of contract in the summer it remains to be seen if he will be retained. Will be remembered fondly for his goals, less so for his defensive errors which always seemed to be punished. 

Mykolenko (8) A solid campaign from the Ukrainian who always rose to the occasion when confronted by stellar opponents, most notably Salah and Saka. Offered more going forward under Moyes as exemplified by an assist in the final match of the season at Newcastle.

Gana (9) Player of the season. His prodigious work rate, his Premier League leading 133 tackles and quick use of the ball made him indispensable. He will be very difficult to replace if he departs at the end of his contract. 

Garner (5) Another season disrupted by a back injury. Showed some quality on the ball, worked hard but struggled to impose himself on matches. After three seasons doubts have surfaced about his ability to deliver the standard required at Premier League level on a consistent basis. Terrible delivery at set plays.

Iroegbunam (4) Made a favourable impression in pre-season but soon found the relentless pressure of Premier League football more than he could handle. Injury then ruled him out for most of the season before a few late cameos in the closing weeks reminded us of both his potential and his flaws. 

Doucouré (6) His last-minute winner at Forest was one of the few highlights from a player whose formidable work rate was too often undermined by poor execution in build-up play. Out of contract, he leaves us with wonderful memories of crucial goals, most notably at Brighton and at home to Bournemouth in the relegation battles of May 2023. 

Mangala (6) Notwithstanding a lack of pace the loanee from Lyon provided a measured presence in midfield, comfortable in possession and able to dictate the rhythm of play. Unfortunately the anterior cruciate ligament injury in January brought his season, and his time at our club, to a premature end. Goodbye and good luck.

Harrison (5) Another loanee whose energy and attitude could never be questioned. Used by both managers in the vast majority of matches his failure to deliver any assists and only one goal suggests he is below the level required in the top half of the Premier League. Goodbye and good luck.

Lindstrøm (4) The cliché ‘too lightweight for the Premier League’ proved accurate. On loan from Napoli the Dane required several weeks to develop the basic fitness required in this league. After doing so he rarely convinced as a right flank attacker, unable to cross accurately and indecisive with his shooting. Goodbye and good luck.

Alcaraz (6) The January arrival on loan from Flamengo impressed with his direct running and eye for the quick forward pass to Beto. Two winning goals away from home suggests he is a player who can improve our productivity in the final third especially in a counterattacking team. At £12m he could prove to be a bargain buy. Negotiations under way, possibly.

McNeil (7) After a knee injury ruled him out for the crucial winter period, we badly missed the quality of his delivery at set pieces and his shooting ability from outside the area. Returned for the closing weeks of the season when once again he delivered tangible outcomes beyond too many of our attacking players.

Ndiaye (8) Operating from the left flank, one of the few bright sparks in first half of the season when his dribbling, work rate and several goals lifted both the team and the crowd. Injury disrupted the closing months of his campaign. Not quite the finished article; his crossing is weak and he lacks power in his shots from distance. 

Calvert-Lewin (5) A very frustrating season. His failure to convert several one on one chances in the autumn was contributory to the decline in results under Dyche. A hamstring injury shortly after Moyes’s return restricted his opportunities to prove his worth to the new regime. Out of contract, his options in terms of salary and destination would seem to have narrowed in recent weeks.

Beto (6) The whole-hearted Portuguese blossomed under Moyes running on to through balls and converting a fair proportion of chances. Although his hold-up play has improved markedly it remains a significant weak point.

Chermiti (3) A promising pre-season was brought to an end by a foot injury. Reappeared in the spring from the bench but produced nothing to suggest he was ready to perform as a front-line striker. 

Broja (3) The loanee from Chelsea arrived on deadline day injured, made his debut in December before suffering further injuries in the new year. Carried the ball promisingly but was unable to make an impact where it really mattered, in the final third. Goodbye and good luck. 

Armstrong (6) His appearances in cup games plus a second half appearance in Dyche’s final game at Bournemouth suggested we have a player of rich potential. From late January he enjoyed a very successful loan period at Derby County. 

Dixon (3) His pace excited fans in early season appearances. Unfortunately his lack of defensive craft soon became apparent.

The Men of the Matches 

The number of man of the match ratings, all very subjective, achieved by individual players:

Ndiaye - 9
Gana - 7
Pickford - 5
Beto - 3
DCL - 2
Garner -2
Mangala - 2
McNeil - 2
Mykolenko - 2
Young - 2
Dixon - 1
Harrison -1
Iroegbunam - 1
Keane - 1
O’Brien - 1
Tarkowski - 1

The Managers

For the third season in four we must use the plural. Sean Dyche departed in early January in  acrimonious fashion. Losing the opening four matches while conceding thirteen goals amounted to the worst imaginable start to the season. That abysmal run included one of the lowest points of our recent history; the late capitulation in the 2-3 defeat to Bournemouth undermining not only Dyche’s standing with supporters but also his trust in his players.

In his attempt to undo the damage the manager battened down the hatches by adopting a safety first approach through the autumn; delivering clean sheets and draws aplenty but insufficient goals and victories. A 4-0 defeat amid defensive disarray at Manchester United at the beginning of December raised the alarm bells. Although the response was positive with a 4-0 home win against Wolves followed by three creditable draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City it was insufficient to quell speculation that the new owners, The Friedkin Group, would seek a replacement at the end of Dyche’s contract in the summer. Two defeats at the turn of the year at home to Forest and at Bournemouth accelerated the pace of events with Dyche now stranded in lame duck territory. 

The upshot was a manager suggesting to the hierarchy he had taken the current squad as far as he was able. That was interpreted by those now at the helm as a virtual resignation. It is a fair guess that in a ‘back me or sack me’ move Dyche requested squad reinforcements which the club was unable afford without jeopardising compliance with PSR. Knowing his contract had less than six months to run there seemed, to Dyche at least, little incentive for him to keep the show on the road. The only remaining issue concerned his compensation which was eventually resolved in the early afternoon before our Thursday night third round cup tie. Dyche was out after selecting the team only a couple hours earlier.

Sean Dyche’s two years in charge will be remembered principally for the last day salvation against Bournemouth in 2023 and the manner in which he galvanised the squad, indeed the whole club, to undo the damage caused by the points deductions imposed in 2023/24. The financial constraints imposed by PSR forced the sale of players while severely limiting the scope for recruiting new talent. In the circumstances it was hardly surprising the manager felt beleaguered when his tactics, team selections and use of substitutes were questioned. In the end he was probably as relieved to depart as many fans were to see him gone. Most fans acknowledge he was the ideal man for the situation in which we found ourselves in January 2023. With new owners now on the scene it was only a matter of time before they seized the opportunity to make a change. The risk was they might opt for a young up and coming coach with a vision and philosophy unsuited to the squad immediately at his disposal. We needed a pragmatist. 

As luck would have it another ideal man was readily available to replace Dyche; David Moyes. While opinion was far from unanimous he was widely regarded as the safe pair of hands required to navigate a path away from any threat of relegation thereby ensuring we moved to the new stadium as a Premier League club. The most experienced, most knowledgeable British manager currently operating in the Premier League, he immediately lifted the mood of the club. Notwithstanding a home defeat against Villa in his first game he was able to rouse the players to a successful run ensuring relegation fears were quickly dispelled. Perhaps fortunate to face two abject teams in the shape of Spurs and Leicester he delivered a much needed boost in home form. Arguably more impressive were the away results which underscored the improvement in fortunes. Wins at Brighton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Newcastle consolidated the club’s position in mid-table. We now look forward to him taking the club forward into the new era with improving financials enabling incremental improvements in the playing squad.

Director of Football 

Kevin Thelwell’s contract expired at the end of the season. His legacy is one of stabilising the club at a time when we faced ruin on and off the pitch. Most certainly he leaves us in a better place than he found us on his arrival in February 2022. Having been forced to sell our best players he has overseen mainly positive recruitment outcomes in severely straitened circumstances. The new regime has opted for a different set-up with responsibilities split between a group of several individuals headed by the new Chief Executive, Angus Kinnear. David Moyes will undoubtedly play a key role but it is not entirely given he will have the final say in decisions. It will be fascinating to see how it goes. 

Final Analysis 

This was a season like no other. Bidding a long, emotional farewell to Goodison Park made it unique. Hopes that the club and fans would enjoy a quiet season of mid-table comfort were shattered in the early weeks of the campaign. There followed a miserable autumn and early winter of frustration, struggle and insecurity against a backdrop of the long awaited ownership change and a continuing vacuum at the top of the club. A lack of goals, poor entertainment and a low league placing increased the pressure on everyone associated with the club, not least the manager, Sean Dyche. 

On completion of the Friedkin takeover in December there was a sea change with most fans expectant that changes would follow sooner rather than later. In fact the new owners may initially have been reluctant to entertain mid-season changes but had their hand forced by two consecutive defeats, Dyche’s apparent unwillingness to continue battling against the odds and the constant drumbeat of social media criticism. 

The appointment of David Moyes is now generally viewed as a master stroke. While the limitations of the squad remain glaringly obvious the sustained improvement in performances and results has quietened a perception the returning manager would fulfil no more than the role of a caretaker until a younger model became available. While that may yet prove to be the case in the longer term, Moyes’s knowledge coupled with the wisdom which comes with experience make him the leader the club needs to oversee a critical transitional period involving a huge squad rebuild as well as the acclimatisation to the new stadium. 

Ensuring our new home on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey would host Premier League football from August 2025 was this season’s top priority. That was achieved with a greater degree of comfort than was foreseen in mid-January. Going into next season the clear goal must be the pursuit of a place in the top half of the table with perhaps a dream of European qualification but most certainly no threat of relegation. To that end a marked improvement in attacking strength to facilitate an increase in goals and victories will be essential. Like many mid-table outfits our team remains more comfortable with 35% than with 65% possession. The lack of quality in the attacking third of the field, and especially in home matches, has been evident for several seasons. That needs to change if our ambitions are to be fulfilled.

For the sake of our sanity we, as fans, might need to manage our own expectations. If nothing else the lessons of the last decade have taught us quick fixes are rarely the answer. Based on everything we have heard about the Friedkins it seems realistic to assume the new ownership regime will bring steady, low risk, sustainable growth in all areas of the club in the months and years ahead. We end the season as we began it, with cautious optimism. With that thought in mind the message is ‘Onward Evertonians to the Hill Dickinson!’