Scrutinise Moyes but Everton have turned his 'knife to a gunfight' to plastic

They came in the aftermath of Everton’s 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea. Granted, it was a sorry, largely toothless display from the home side at Hill Dickinson Stadium as they hardly laid a glove on their visitors from west London - something that was particularly galling when their opponents’ regular goalkeeper, 2022 World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez was stretchered off and former Xabi Alonso in the away dugout was forced to bring on 21-year-old Mike Penders in between the sticks for his Premier League debut.

There were also groans about the Blues boss starting with Merlin Rohl on the right wing ahead of more attack-minded options such as Brennan Johnson, Tyrique George or even Tyler Dibling, by his own admission in an attempt to combat Chelsea left-back Pep Chavarria who didn’t even end up playing. Fair enough, I also share those frustrations.

Like many others, I too raised a Carlo Ancelotti-esque eyebrow when I was covering the game at Hull City the previous weekend and Jarrad Branthwaite filled in at left-back. I subsequently wrote a comment piece saying how the player I call ‘The Carlisle Kaiser’ is a Rolls-Royce of a defender and you don’t go off-roading in a luxury vehicle.

However, there is a gaping chasm the size of the Grand Canyon between questioning the manager’s tactics and individual decisions and calling for his head when the first defeat of the season finally arrives in mid-October following an eight-match unbeaten run which was achieved in the most trying of circumstances.

Unfortunately, for all those with Everton’s best interests at heart, including myself individually and the ECHO in general, along with those loyal but long-suffering supporters, things are likely to get worse before they get better. That’s not pessimism, just realism.

Today the Blues play Arsenal away. The Gunners are of course the reigning Premier League champions, which means on paper, this is the toughest game of the season for Moyes’ men.

However, that seems to be the case against these opponents no matter how good or bad Arsenal might be at any particular moment. As highlighted in an article I wrote which was published on Thursday, with a record 26 defeats in the Premier League era, just two wins and six draws, this fixture for Everton produces the lowest points per game (0.35).

The last of those brace of victories – and only one to date at the Emirates Stadium – came on St George’s Day 2021, a match that was played behind closed doors door to coronavirus restrictions. Therefore, the last time Blues fans saw their side defeat the Gunners on their own patch came at Highbury, over 30 years ago, on January 20, 1996.

This is clearly a problem that predates Moyes and continued long in between his two spells in charge of the club. During that first tenure, the Glaswegian once complained that trying to compete with nouveau riche Manchester City was like taking a knife to a gunfight.

Well, unlike City’s petrodollar-fuelled sugar daddies who have lavishly bankrolled the climb to the top of football’s elite, The Friedkin Group left both Moyes and Evertonians high and dry when this summer’s transfer window closed, pocketing over £100million on deadline day and leaving the manager with a squad of just 18 outfield players, including a solitary striker, right-back and left-back ahead of a gruelling campaign in the sport’s toughest domestic competition.

Knife to a gunfight? The Friedkin family fortune has its roots in the aviation industry and what once might have at least been a machete, now resembles that flimsy, plastic cutlery they hand out to you with your meal on planes.

Speaking on his own podcast The Football Boardroom this week with Christian Purslow, Henry Winter, formerly the chief football writer for The Times and football correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, declared that a new contract was essential given that the Blues boss’ current deal expires at the end of this season and The Friedkin Group have put the club up for sale. He said: “It’s been fascinating covering his career and obviously having been critical of him at times at Manchester United, et cetera.

“I think history will look very kindly on David Moyes as a manager. I think we should appreciate him looking back on his career and long may he continue.

“He is 63 and long may he continue in dugouts across the country because he is a force for good. Having worked under quite difficult circumstances at times, one or two owners that we saw that at West Ham.

“I just think the job that he is doing at Everton is absolutely vital.”

Those are sentiments I can only echo. As I’ve written and said on many occasions, nobody else in the Premier League era has proven themselves able to manage Everton effectively on a long-term basis like Moyes.

Similar rumblings about his style of play also raised their head among elements of the fanbase at West Ham United. Need I remind those searching for a unicorn who doesn’t exist to preside over the home dugout at Hill Dickinson Stadium that’s the same West Ham United who Moyes masterminded to a first trophy in 43 years and who after his departure now currently reside in the Championship.

The magic of Christmas comes to Hill Dickinson Stadium

Hill Dickinson Stadium will be transformed into a festive destination this December as Everton unveils The Magic of Christmas - a packed programme of family experiences, Christmas parties, festive dining and entertainment at the club’s waterfront home.

For the first time, the stadium will host a dedicated programme of Christmas events, giving Evertonians, families, friends, businesses and visitors to the city the chance to experience Hill Dickinson Stadium in a completely different way.

Running throughout December, The Magic of Christmas will feature the spectacular new Enchanted Lights experience, the return of Breakfast with Santa, two Après-Ski Christmas Party Nights and a special Christmas Bottomless Brunch at Domingo’s Bar & Grill.

Whether it’s a magical family day out, a Christmas celebration with friends or an end-of-year party with colleagues, there will be something for everyone at Hill Dickinson Stadium this festive season.

Supporters and visitors can explore the full programme and book their Christmas experience atwww.hilldickinsonstadium.com/christmas.

Family fun at Everton Women Halloween fixture

A Halloween thriller awaits when Everton Women take on Manchester United Women at Goodison Park. A frightfully fun matchday for all the family kicks off at 12.45pm on Saturday 31 October.

Supporters of all ages can get into the spooky spirit of the Blues with a host of themed activities throughout the afternoon, including a special Halloween half-time dance, performed by local dance groups. There will be prizes for the best costume, and a host of themed activities throughout the afternoon, including face painters and arts and crafts tables for younger fans to create their own scary masks.

Spin the wheels on the concourse carousels for a trick or treat, against a backdrop of live, Halloween-themed music from ghoulish guitarists.

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