Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Has Done Me a Massive Favour

I didn’t realise Moyes had said that. Wow.

I don’t understand all the talk of ‘we should have made signings in January’. We spent loads in the summer and had a big squad of players who simply weren’t used. We only needed to buy players if you have Moyes’ negative mentality - the reality is we had loads of players we could have used instead of playing the same people out of position and out of form.

The poor final position comes down to one man. Get a new coach and we suddenly have 5-6 decent new players before we even go out to sign anyone.

I’m really hoping this current silent period is the club conducting a season review and realising that Moyes is not the right man to take us forward. As long as he stays, I can find no enthusiasm, excitement or hope in relation to Everton. I won’t really care who we sign, because if they’re young and good I’ll assume Moyes won’t play them and if they’re experienced I’ll assume he’ll either play them out of position or run them into the ground.

We need 3-5 new players, a new attitude and a whole load of new ideas.

As I said in the Review of the Season 2025/26, Dewsbury-Hall is one of the leaders in the squad. He went straight into the team making a positive impact from the start. It was noticeable, especially in the away matches, he was the one most obviously urging his colleagues to step up after we had scored or conceded a goal. He was also the player most visibly annoyed after we had conceded the Haaland goal earlier this month.

Of the 189 Premier League transfers this season The Athletic ranks KDH as the 16th most successful. He was by some distance our most successful signing for several years. We need more like him.

I am sorry in a way to say I agree with you Mike (17) but even though I have been saying for months that we were not ready for Europe and that I am glad we failed to get a place in any of their competitions. I am still disgusted that we didn't make it. And I'm afraid it is down to the Manager and why he has to go in my opinion.

The fact that my opinion means nothing and probably only about 50% of fans think the same way will mean that TFG will do nothing about Moyes in summer.

As things stand I don't give a toss and just wait for us to get through the summer with the hope that we do better next season.

You have a very clear and valid opinion, Ell, regarding Dewbury Hall,

He is a very talented player and also it seems a very humble human being. We need players with not only talent but also an attitude and application to match. He’s been a breath of fresh air since his arrival, him and Grealish was a delight to watch together early on in the season, which again is why I’m a big fan of Grealish as he is another individual of the same ilk as KDH, who brings not only talent but a sense of togetherness and humility which at the end of the day is what it’s all about.

Eli, I definitely agree for two thirds of the season Dewsbury Hall played well. Although, I’ll never understand the turning back for a swivel when through on goal.

Just one thing I would take issue with. You said, ‘ I can take the team finishing 13th so long as I feel the club have done all they possibly can to at least try and be the best’.

Eli, we must never accept 13th as being any where the level we should be. If that is their best it simply is not good enough. Our expectations of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum means just that. Thirteenth is no where near the Nil Satis of old.

It's a fair observation Eli, KDH gives an honest perspective which we all know to be true, but it also highlights in stark contrast, the managers comments and the quiet lip service given by the rest of the squad. Let's face it, many of them know they are not good enough, that they are one of the reasons why we failed so badly. We praised Moyes when he got the best out of the squad but that effect wears off and there is no substitute for quality when it does. Moyes failure to recognize this by changing players or utilizing the squad has in my opinion, cost a possible European place and even a CL berth.

Contrary to the views of some, we need a rebuild of the squad, a squad of 25 players that are better than what we have. That means a first 15 ( not 11 anymore) who are not just capable of a quality level once in a blue moon, but every game. With a range of players of the same level who can give the manager tactical options without the loss of said quality. Out of the current 25 players how many are sufficiently of a good enough quality to create such a team? 3? 4? 6? How many does the manager play? How many in their right positions? How often does the manager change a poorly performing team tactically to suit a game?

Given the above it's a deadly combination of intransigence as we have a manager who can't see the wood for the trees and a group of players who do not or cannot raise their game collectively on a continuous basis. It is the essence of quality.

We don't need player who can "raise their game" we need players who are already at that level as their base. Great teams have players who bring the very best out of their team mates, together they make it work.

Recruitment around a style of football is paramount. A manager sets the style and use of his squad and at the moment the conundrum is threefold:

1. Identity. How are we going to model our footballing philosophy to enable the purchase of players that fit the jigsaw.

2. Commitment. If we have the vision of what we want how are we going to get there? It require the financial commitment of TFG or another to build a winning team.

3. Who can do it? Who has the ability to identify and recruit players to fit such a team and can motivate and gell a squad?

As we found with Moshiri it's not just about money. For me we are not good enoughon the pitch or off it. We need leadership and vision to drive the club forward and that's lacking at every level. Ownership, Executive, Managerial, player identification and rerecruitment.. simply put while financially we are now stable, footballing wise we are rudderless with a captain who uses a sextant and not GPS.

Who is building the team and how? What should we expect and exactly what are the ambition for the next three years?

Mine?

To win a Trophy within the next three years.

To qualify for Europe next season

To qualify for CL within 3 years.

To assemble a team of sufficient quality to achieve the above.

To appoint a manager with a winning philosophy to achieve the above.

To have an owner committed and focused on achieving all of the above.

To make the fans proud, to make other clubs look up to us, to raise the standards in how it's done.

Fine words.

Can he be part of (or, God forbid, inspire) a group of players with true aspirations, or will he be sucked into a mentality of mediocrity?

I was away at the weekend at a fabulous wedding in the Lake District in incredible hot weather. I wanted to avoid anything to do with the day in London but sensed it was the usual recipe for Everton failure/ disaster- which unfortunately proved correct. Of more importance that same day was the 85th birthday of the greatest songwriter in the rock and roll era. I really wanted Moyes to shake of his self imposed shackles and go for it in what will be his last big job. But alas he just continues to bluff and blag his way - especially when those Gobelesque interviews to the Everton State Channel. Well the final straw was his idiotic statement that he can’t understand Everton Fans frustration and anger over the season that should have been the springboard to a new dawn. But no. So to end I want Moyes gone with his unique slant on what us fans feel or want. He’s really living in a powderpuff cocoon. As Bob Dylan stated… “There’s No Success Like Failure.. And Failure Is No Success At All”….

Christine Foster
Your reply to this article was worthy of a post in its own right and for me sums up in a nutshell where this club is going wrong and I think your views are shared by tens of thousands of evertonians brilliant piece of observation on our great club you should definitely consider submitting a main article.

David, afraid I was still half asleep when I wrote this, so its a little random I'm afraid but you get the gist. Just the frustrated ramblings of an Evertonian after a restless night thinking about Palace..
Does ask a few questions that need to be answered in my opinion.

I think you've put your finger on a vital aspect Eli. I could have borne this clusterfuck if it had at least been acknowledged. But Davy would have you believe that the team was operating to maximum capacity at all times, but that in the final analysis it wasn't quite good enough. That of course then excuses his input, and makes no reference to the dodgy buys of last season. Not having a right back has really cost us, and everyone could see it three years ago. And the lack of energy in the squad for the last few weeks, what was the reason for that? are we not entitled to an explanation Davy before you head off for a month and the World Cup?
We've got absent owners, a dickhead CEO, and a blustering manager who won't be straight with the fans. You could get away with that with Kenwright, but not now.
The club is now in a right pickle. Moyes will limp into the new season, on a limited budget and the team needing major reconstruction.

KDH is the only player I’ve seen that’s spoke publicly that’s even remotely acknowledged the way we ended the season. The mentality from the top of the club down is pathetic and it will never change.

Kieran did played this season and was the only one transfer in when given the chance, managed to secure selection.Peter #7 though expresses my fear.'Will he gets sucked into a mentality of mediocrity '.

All honest coomets, snd the reality of this season.
Numbing and the truth, spoken honestly by K D H.

Not that it matters too much because I agree with the sentiment, but this feels like you used AI to write it.

Pretty much the biggest insult you could aim at a writer there, Dan!

When it comes to writing about football from a fan's perspective, I'm not sure there'd be a point in using in AI. I mean, the whole idea is to communicate from the heart as a supporter to other fans.

I assure you, Evertonia — and Ell's Substack for that matter — is an AI-free zone. Always will be unless AI is used for research, development etc.