Moyes: 'I wouldn’t have wanted to watch that myself'
David Moyes was critical of his bare-bones side’s performance at Burnley this afternoon, a display that yielded a point but which wasn’t worthy of much more.
The manager admitted that, “I wouldn’t have wanted to come and watch that myself,” after seeing Everton drop two points against the relegation-threatened Clarets at Turf Moor.
Moyes had some mitigation after Jack Grealish (virus) joined Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye and Jarrad Branthwaite on the absentee list and while former Burnley winger Dwight McNeil was unconvincing on his old patch, Tyler Dibling at least offered some bright moments on only his second Premier League start for the Tofffes.
“We’re missing Iliman and we’re missing Kiernan so we know we’re losing creativity and without Jack as well it doesn’t help, so it was always going to be a bit of a challenge,” Moyes said afterwards.
“But I really hoped we’d play much better than we did. That was probably as poor as we’ve played in some games. Our football wasn’t good enough, lots of bits just wasn’t at the level I would hope it would be.
“But, look, you get a clean sheet, you take a point away. Burnley’s never been that easy to come to so we’ll go away with a point any maybe it’ll prove important later on in the season.”
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers28/12/2025 04:23:14
Watching that game at 4am, made me wish I had missed it in honesty, for what it's worth to me it highlighted the reality of how far the club has actually fallen in terms of players of quality. Yes we were short of several key players but how ridiculously thin on the ground are we to cover even their absences. To say we need 6 or 7 more quality players is not wishful thinking but plain reality if we are to have a good season.
It's not David Moyes fault either but whilst he is the man shuffling the pack, it's his decision making that is called into question. Indeed it's exactly how the team approaches a game, the selection of players and tactical set up that impact significantly on supporters expectations for the way ahead.
Could we get more from what we had available? That question belongs with David Moyes, just as the lack of quality is the owners. Decisions made on the strategic progress of the club is something we are not party to, but we should be. After all, exactly what does TFG expect? By when? How is it to be achieved? Whats the pan?
What is clear is we have a "makeshift side" even before the absences, are we on a "slowly, slowly" track ot a clear set of season by season objectives set by TFG?
New owners, new stadium and new management set the bar of expectations by supporters, even if it is an unrealistic reach, but we look for indications that the obvious shortfalls are being addressed, downplaying the transfer window sends a poor message in my opinion for we should be striving to build strength in depth, quality costs.
Is David Moyes a band aid whilst TFG gets it's act together or finds a dynasty builder? Or do they believe they are content with David Moyes for the future of the club??
Today we lacked any cohesion or quality anywhere on the pitch, it's clear it's a major rebuild and that costs or are we in for a long term steady improvement measuring success by incremental movement rather than silverware?
28/12/2025 08:56:27
Following on from the excellent article written by Ell Bretland, on this website the other day Christine, then my own view is that if TFG, don’t start showing a lot more ambition, then the club, might just begin to dwindle over the next few years.
The Sunderland game is absolutely massive, lose that and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a lot of empty gaps in the stadium. Maybe I’m wrong, I certainly hope I am and we go on a very good cup run, but do we have enough day trippers to sustain a 50.000 seater stadium, if the natives get restless?
28/12/2025 09:43:12
Tony (3) That is a very interesting question. Given the continuing transport issues and the associated difficulties older, longstanding fans are experiencing travelling to the new stadium, I fear there will be a significant drop-off in support unless the team is seen as progressing in the right direction. Moreover some of the new season ticket holders may quickly lose interest once the novelty of paying £6.95 per pint wears off.
Those three home games in a week present an opportunity to kick on, but without at least two of our best attacking players, are equally fraught with risk. More than anyone Moyes will realise he must somehow find a way of delivering results in spite a desperate shortage of creative attackers. If we can come through those games with the right results I am optimistic we will enjoy a positive second half of the season once Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish and Ndiaye return to the team.
28/12/2025 09:59:28
Tony, it's probably unlikely that we would have players back from Afcon in time for the 3rd round match, unknown is the availability of messes Grealish, KDH, or Branthwaite. I suspect Moyes is in daily contact with his maker offering any part of his mind or body in exchange for their availability. Which bring me back to the itch I can't scratch that's been there since the start of the season, best escribed as "The Silence" from our owner, CEO or in fact anyone as to what our objectives or even expectations are for this season. Moyes in typical fashion, downplays every expectation appearing ever thankful for what he gets but honestly Tony, it's not good enough.
Disillusionment follows a perceived lack of ambition, defeat because of a perceived failure to bring in reinforcements where and when needed, will upset many but do they care about that if their own, unknown objectives are met? Do the FAB still exist? Do they have any insight? The silence risks an awful lot of good will and faith.
28/12/2025 10:26:35
Hopefully they surprise us and tell us they have been slowly working behind the scenes and they have had family in attendance for most games Christine.
If this is the case then those people in attendance should be able to determine the mood, because for a legacy fan like myself, who never spends a penny inside the stadium, and who has also got a parking permit which is about a kilometre from the ground, why does it currently feel like an effort, for me to go the game?
I absolutely love the stadium, and the logistics aren’t a problem either, but I go the game to be entertained, and this is something that I no longer feel really happens enough, unfortunately.
28/12/2025 11:44:22
I recall we were warned TFG would keep a very low profile leaving the people they have appointed to run the club and be accountable for their decisions. There will be no rash promises or inflated spending, for which we must be grateful after too many years of loose cannon management under Farhad Moshiri.
Boring but stable will be the hallmark of the first couple of years under the new regime. After that hopefully the foundations will have been laid for progress into the top eight and a realistic expectation of competing for trophies with better players.
28/12/2025 20:27:49
One thing my previous life taught me was every investment has an end game. Every purchase is made with that end game in mind. Money can be made along the way but have no doubt, TFG will have a plan. That plan may or may not focus on winning trophies, in fact I would be surprised if it does, but more on financial performance and return on investment.
For over 25 years we have craved for financial stability and TFG will bring it I have no doubt. But success on the field does not necessarily follow. Of course it helps but it is the icing on the cake. A successful investment to TFG may well be reflected as a top six finish (a "best of the rest" label) hence also the appointment of Moyes who was a manager who delivered what was said on the tin.
The announcement of a £20 per share dividend for the sale of the women's team on Christmas eve was a quiet tinkle of an alarm bell in the back of my mind, such announcement timing is often done with the hope of being over looked. But I cannot see any negative consequence on the surface of it, just odd. It follows with the CEO bursting any expectation bubbles for this transfer window no matter how desperate we are.., "no short term fixes" depends on your need or your perspective. It was an accountants remark rather than a needs based one. Perspective of an owner, as we have learnt to our cost, bears little relation to expectations of a supporter. But in the absence of a stated plan, objectives, we drift aimlessly and that is just pure frustration.
Tony, you're right, as much as this is big business, the extraction of money, it is still entertainment, giving the customer what they want. That balance fails without the application of common sense. Building a team whilst rebuilding the club is different, the team is a set of ever changing and dynamic needs that alter day by day. Building a business is focus, structure, investment. Both are inter dependent but different in daily management. No point in having a great stadium and a struggling team.
Perhaps a few "New Years resolutions' are in order from TFG?
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27/12/2025 20:13:52
Very honest David, so hopefully you have had a word with the squad and the coaching staff, and between yourselves, you have decided to reimburse everyone who travelled to Burnley today, looking for a little bit of excitement.