Everton Need a Giant Mentality Reset and Brand New Approach
"I'm struggling to comprehend what Everton is about"
I’m at a total loss with Everton right now. I have no idea what the aim is anymore and to be honest, what the point is.
There is a sense that Europe, with more spots potentially on offer than ever before, looks to be out of our grasp after drawing at Crystal Palace. It’s one victory in eight and another winning position squandered.
Qualification hasn’t been lost this month though. It was lost on January 6th when the Everton manager declared signings would be very unlikely. The mere possibility of improvements to the side largely dismissed more than three weeks before the window closed. Yeah, January is difficult, but that was a choice to admit such doubt so soon.
We keep doing the same season over and over and over. Yes, we know the club has been a total mess for much of the 2020s but the recruitment, again, just wasn’t there to properly compete during the final months of the campaign and another window was allowed to slide.
Look at the situation. Jarrad Branthwaite was ruled out for the season after picking up an injury late in the Merseyside derby. He transforms the team and is a massive miss. However, rather than bring in the third-choice centre-back, the fourth-choice starts because the third-choice has to be deployed at right-back because the club opted to ignore the full-back situation for yet another year.
Has Michael Keane had one of his best seasons in an Everton shirt. Definitely. Has he ever been good enough? No. Deploying O’Brien at full-back for well over a year isn’t a necessity, it’s a choice. A choice that has completely eroded any real attacking flow down the right for an entire campaign. That’s not down to the player, he’s a centre-back. It’s Everton, who have elected to make me do. Again.
Sure, don’t spend in January and there are more funds in the summer. However, will Chelsea falter again? Will Newcastle still struggle? Should Tottenham stay up, will they stay down the bottom? This season presented a giant chance to take an almighty step forward as a football club yet it’s likely going to be another waste because we simply didn’t grab it by the scruff of the neck.
Will we ever learn? Are we ever going to wake up?
A few summer signings have not had a look in when opportunities were there. Moyes claimed this week that Everton ‘are still trying to find the usage for’ Merlin Rohl, the German midfielder who will sign permanently this summer. It’s May. The club actively loaned him though are not yet sure how to fit him in. Yeah, Rohl has had his injuries but no way has the squad been adequately or effectively used at times.
It’s all been too safe. The same picks. Dwight McNeil was allowed to leave for Palace on the final day of the transfer window. Yet when that move didn’t happen, he became an instant starter ahead of costly talent with a supposed future at the club. After falling foul of PSR previously, are we really comfortable that £49m was spent on Tyler Dibling and Adam Aznou and they’ve barely had a sniff? Of course, they are young players, but come on.
It’s zero wonder we’re falling short again and not at the standard to consistently pick up points. This season has felt like an improvement but a quick look at the points tally shows that the last two months, the business end of the season which is so crucial, have been so lacking. Everton have 49 points with two games remaining. They finished with 48 last time out while Forest came 7th with 65.
It’s true that Moyes has done an excellent job in guiding the team to be better but the point swing and teams across the Premier League beating each other has meant the push for Europe has lasted longer on fewer points than usual. There have been so many opportunities to take advantage, yet so many squandered.
Then there is the outlook. Moyes said in April that the prospect of Champions League football made him ‘shake a wee bit’. I get the point he was making. The lack of perceived quality and numbers in the team means that chances are, we would badly struggle against the likes of PSG and Bayern Munich who are currently playing a different sport, such is the level they are at.
However, while myself and thousands of Blues will understand what Moyes was getting at, I don’t think he should say it out loud. He’s the manager, the leader. He sets the tone for everybody. Does he not expect we will further improve the squad? Should we not be going into games with confidence and ambition no matter the opposition? There is being pragmatic but shaking at the thought? The messaging can and should be very different. You can still worry about the prospect of running before walking again as a club, but psychology in sport can be the difference between winning and losing. The margins are so fine and so often, if you don’t believe, you are beaten before a ball is kicked.
Such comments, admittedly made in a pre-match press conference during one moment in time, strips away any pressure. You want to ensure your players aren’t drowning in expectation but there still have to be demands. Words matter. Players hear the manager say such things and even subconsciously they can take it a little easy, knowing European qualification isn’t the be-all and end-all. I would much rather my manager tell the world that Everton relishes such an opportunity and would do all it could in the summer months to ensure it can compete and do itself justice in Europe’s premier competition. I’m disappointed really because, on his return, Moyes was so assured in his ambition and really talked up where Everton should be. That has diminished hugely lately and another season has ebbed away.
I don’t know. We just seem to be trying, attempting, struggling on a loop; forever. I think we have to let go of the fact we were in last-day relegation battles three seasons ago and start talking with our chest out. Fake it to make it. How much longer are we all going to explain away the constant setbacks and disappointments? ‘Oh but January is hard’, ‘Oh but we only just survived in 2022 and 2023?’, ‘Oh but we aren’t ready for Europe, we need more time’. Football doesn’t work like that. Progress has been made yes, but that doesn’t mean taking another step of this size will take us up to the level required. This summer, Premier League teams will spend big again.
I’m not at all gutted that Everton have seemingly come up short if Europe was the target. I’m not frustrated, I’m not sad and I’m certainly not surprised. What I am feeling is massive disengagement. I’ve heard the excuses, I’ve heard the limiting talk, I’ve seen us fail over and over. It’s simply boring now. For the millionth time, a hard reset is needed to rediscover what this club is about, what made it so great to win nine league titles and remain, despite thirty barren years, one of the most successful sides in the country.
This is a new era with a new stadium and new owners yet it all feels so samey. Stability or stagnation? Maybe it will all click in 2027 and this was part of the masterplan.
What’s certain though is, whether with Moyes or without, as a collective, Everton need a fresh new outlook and who knows, we might actually achieve something by simply believing and backing ourselves, just that little bit.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers11/05/2026 10:53:14
I think that over the last month or so, we've learned that Moyes had not changed at all since his first spell with us. I didn't really expect him to, I was happy with the massive improvement from the Dinosaur era, but I did dare to dream. As always.
The comment about "shaking" at the prospect of CL football is not what we want to hear from our manager. But we've heard it all before.
He's still done a fine job overall, but they're will be no great, romantic ending to his career with us. He is what he is.
And I'm P off with him still mentioning relegation battles as we've been nowhere near relegation for 3 years now!
It shouldn't even be mentioned anymore. By anyone.
12/05/2026 09:04:16
Eli, the natural psychology of David Moyes is defensive both in his tactical team set up and his personal approach to life I think, he definitely isn't a proactive opportunist!
I have called him pragmatic on numerous occasions, more as a counter to those that condemn him as negative. But in truth every single Evertonian should have known EXACTLY what they were getting on his appointment and anyone with any common sense should have acknowledged that pragmatism kills hope.
You're right too in saying the lines are fine in boosting confidence or destroying it, just how have several young players feel after not being involved. Sure, there will be plenty of fans saying that if they were good enough then they would be picked. I doubt it. Just look at the appalling, and I really mean that, decisions to continually play O'Bien as a full back. It's embarrassing especially with several fullback in the squad frozen out. How will they ever get the experience?
But I digress. I had pushed for Moyes on a short term basis for exactly the reasons you state, we have improved but hit a wall both tactically and performance wise. Europe to me was a faint possibility that existed when opposing teams fell foul to the low block. But this is Everton and I hate the low block ethos. As soon as we scored against Palace after a great start, the team, to a man dropped back into their own half and sat back. It was infuriating to see KDH make a break with Noone to pass to in the penalty area, throwing his hands up in frustration. I know how he felt.
Safety first, percentage football will win a share of games but will not develop the squad or win games, it will not work in Europe either.
I like Moyes, but he was brought in for a reason, achieved it, but he isn't the guy to take us into the Champions league.
So how do TFG see it? I guess it all comes down to ambition, or the lack of it.
14/05/2026 15:44:51
The sensible signing of a half decent right back and forward could have seen Everton finish much higher in the league.
It appears no one at the club recognised that this was a season when the so called big teams were not that impressive and with just a bit more ambition in the January window qualifying for Europe was going to be much easier than usual.
I really like Jake O'Brien and for a tall central defender he has done a sound job at right back but I find it ridiculous that the club has not found a proper right back. We need Jake playing at centre back right now.
14/05/2026 17:54:35
I agree Christine, I think Evetonians should have known what they were getting - the situation the team is currently in is not all that surprising sadly... personally, I find Moyes' defensive approach frustrating, and I shudder to think how Aznou, Rohl and Dibling see things after a year of being ignored (let alone how Patterson feels...). Personally, I think that keeping Moyes would do more harm than good, especially to the youngsters who I think need support and playing time. Having Motes just continue to pick his 'trusted luitenants' week in, week out must break their spirit and their hearts... it certainly does mine.
15/05/2026 19:56:09
Black or white, people assume you must be fore or against Moyes, indeed it seems carved in stone but it's not true. He has done a good job in pulling a club together, never mind the team, he has turned the focus away from relegation to Europe, a sea change from where we have been. But that has been his job and he has done it well. Now the focus is going forward, how will we get there and who will shape a successful team and that will need a fresh perspective that can build on the base we have. It's not anti-Moyes, it's pro Everton.
The danger is in believing he is the future, that he can recruit and develop players when clearly that aspect of his tenure is so chequered, I doubt there is anyone of us who would disagree with that.
Timing as with everything in life, is critical. TFG whatever it's vision, will have a succession plan but frankly the choice will only be known if Moyes is given a new contract. I hope he isn't, because it would be putting off the inevitable.
15/05/2026 20:53:45
A thought provoking & timely topic to raise Ell; it seems Europe will be a near miss which although disappointing to many is an indicator of improvement.
For me the damaging consequences would a lack of significant cash for improvement and/or a couple of major talents move on.
I do regret the chance being lost because it could/should be a stimulant for the owners to invest serious funds to give a bigger, more talented squad a decent chance fighting on all fronts.
An acid test for DM but to be fair he did grasp his most recent chance well with a hardly distinguished Hammers side.
Christine is a fair minded but sceptical person as regards DM & she and others argue a strong case to which I am increasingly but not entirely drawn.
For any DM replacement to work it MUST be a demonstrable inprovement.
16/05/2026 13:21:19
On this the eve of our final home game of the season, we lose one of Evertons best post war servants in Seamus Coleman. He will surely have some game time tomorrow irrespective of the scoreline and deservedly so. He may not have medals to grace his room but he has the admiration of Evertonians worldwide. Thank you Seamus for your passion, loyalty and drive. You are a rare find in a world of self interest. 💙💙
16/05/2026 15:59:07
Well it sounds to me as we have all had enough football and the season is just ending in time. You could imagine your headmaster signing your report with, ' could do better, needs to work harder ' etc. Hopefully next season we will move on but to do so we will need a different approach to the recruitment of new players, as it cannot be sensible to purchase players which the Manager apparently doesn't fancy or doesn't want.
Last summer the signing of Jack Grealish, was something of a master stroke as he provided that essential element of glitter that has been missing from our play for so long. However, it's clear to all that the current squad is both too small and is lacking in key areas and we probably need about six new players before we are able to mount a serious and sustained challenge for silver ware.
Hopefully tomorrow we will sign off with a win, but we will have to play better than we did last week. However, we have finally been seen on the front pages and on TV as 'Our Andy' signalled his intention to run for parliament. Maybe next year's champions will see a different Prime Minster in charge ? I am not a betting man but what might be the odds ?
18/05/2026 02:55:04
At the end of last year I called time on Toffeeweb, for a number of reasons, the site, the feeling I was shouting into the wind and the negativity in responses to my reasoning as to why David Moyes should not be the manager to rebuild the team. It was time for me to go as everything changes and perhaps I was stale or predictable in my posts.
But watching Sunderland take the piss out of us on Seamus's farewell was an utter, unforgivable disgrace. I half expected Moyes to be sacked for that game alone never mind his season long failure to step up a level on any good results we had. Every single bloody time he reverted to type, every single time he failed to change, adapt or react to what was happening in front of us. I have been ridiculed for my views 6 months ago that we should not extend his contract, that we should look to someone more positive in approach. They may not have his experience but frankly all its done is make him a very rich man and a multitude of sackings and failures across Europe. He did what was needed to keep us up but in no way is he going to take us to the next level or indeed the Champions League.
There were wholesale changes needed by half time. The players lacked any urgency, they looked like they did not care. The manager did nothing. Poor Seamus was hung out to dry for 2 mins. I am so angry.
TFG where the hell are you? So much for ruthlessness. Happily dissatisfied? I suppose it will do in your eyes?
Fans voted with their feet. I bet you takings are dropping like a stone. Stability is just not good enough, it was never going to be, and it never will be. You get whats written on the tin, junk food.
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11/05/2026 06:58:21
Ell, you mentioned teams getting ahead of us. That is one of my big fears from how this season has panned out.
Brentford, Brighton Villa and Palace can all qualify for, and do well in European competitions next season. That makes them more attractive than us over the summer. It also negates any financial advantage we may have from a larger capacity stadium. It also means stronger negotiation power when renewing commercial deals.
Also, the more practice these teams get, the better able they are to juggle several competitions.
We may well end up going backwards just by standing still in the loop you mentioned.
I said on the match report that we are no better this season than last in the league, we just picked up enough points earlier in the season than earlier to avoid a relegation battle. Right now, it feels like that sums up this season.
Miyes and his coaching team have another year left on their contracts. What would it cost to buy them out this summer? The reason I ask is that those millions are a big chunk of the extra revenue the new stadium has generated this season. Are our finances still tight enough that the club can't afford to sack them? I'm not trying to be dramatic but call to sack Moyes at the end of the season may fall on deaf ears due to finances. He won't get us relegated next season and that will do for now may well be the mantra.