(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

David Moyes has said Everton’s threadbare squad will hand opportunities ‘to some people who have not had them’ this season.

Everton’s nightmare end to the transfer window has left the Toffees’ squad stretched this season, as Beto, Adam Aznou, Nathan Patterson, Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam all departed in the final days of the window.

Everton brought back Jack Grealish on loan and signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon, but a failed move for Folarin Balogun compounded a disastrous end to the club’s summer business.

As a result, Blues have submitted only 19 senior players on their 25-man squad list for the Premier League campaign. A further three first-team options, Harrison Armstrong, Tyrique George, and Tyler Dibling, are part of the u-21 list.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Manchester United, Moyes conceded he has been left short of options. He said his squad will need to ‘muck in’ to cope with the schedule and suggested those on the fringes could be handed more minutes.

Moyes says Everton exits open door for fringe players ahead of Manchester United clash

“I know what I needed and I know what it’s like to build a squad for the Premier League,” he said.

“I know the numbers you need. I’ve been around long enough to know that, but some things went against us and some things could have gone better. Ultimately, we didn’t want to lose a lot of the players, but for different reasons that had to happen.

“They’re all going to have to be able to muck in as we’ve got a real small squad now. It gives opportunities to some people who have not had them and sometimes in football you need to be given that chance so that you can show what you can do.

“Let’s see if some of them can do that. I have no concerns. I am sure they will be fully at-it.”

Read more – Four days of fury: 96 hours in which TFG lost trust at Everton

 

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 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:33:07

Just watched the presser. Dour Dave at his best, diverting and telling us he does not see Graham as a striker! I bet that’s news to the kid.

Players will get opportunities, like Dibling, Alcaraz and Aznou got last season. Like Jake got at centre-back. Not one question on the right-back comments from Hangus in his interview and the fact we ended up scrambling for Maitland-Niles.

Balogun had failed his medical and that’s all there was too it — really? Bullshitting from start to finish — and he calls himself an Evertonian!

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:37:28

I think it is realistic he will get a chance off the left or right, Jack.

I don’t think he is ready for seriously quick and big centre-backs. Certainly I can’t think of many of his type leading the line in the Premier League.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:47:14

Ian (#2); You don’t see Moyes changing the habit of a lifetime and playing 2 up front?

Or will it be the usual one upfront, another out wide, and the rest to try and catch up with or without the long hoof?

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:47:30

Poor from Moyes…

But, unless he was going to resign, expected.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:51:47

New player to the Free Market. A Brazilan named Talisca, I thought it was Talace for a minute. Released yesterday by Fenerbache.

Already played 7 games this season and scored 5 goals. 5 games as a CF, 5 goals. Played 45 games last season, 18 as a CF and scored 13 with one assist. He also plays all positions across the front line.

Age 32, fit, 6ft 3in, right up the Moyesiah’s street. Go get him EFC, he can’t be worse than Barry surely.

nb: Shown as a Free Agent on TransferMarkt, Wiki says he plays for Al Jazira — I’m confused.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:56:49

His press conference was probably the biggest load of crap I’ve heard in a long time.

From the start, when he said it was no one’s fault that the window was a complete and utter catastrophe. I know he can’t come straight out and accuse any individuals, but to say they’re all singing of the same hymm sheet, and the owners are finding their feet. When asked if he’s looking at any free agents, totally not, he’s trying to find players from the top end of the market, to move the club forward?

Hello! isn’t that what the owners should have done in the window, instead of selling our best attacker?

Then to make comparisons with having to sell Arteta and Rooney — Kenwright ran the club into the ground, TFG are multi-billionaires.

When asked about the academy players having to step up, he completely dismissed Braiden Graham’s chances, and that he’s not even a striker. What really turned my head, and showed that there’s a complete breakdown between Moyes and the board.

The whole press conference was a complete bluff. When asked about the Friedkin group looking to sell a minority stake in the club: “I haven’t been talking to the owners”, says it all.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
14:57:00

Moyes gets the opportunity, not the other way round, to see what the young and new players are capable of, because they haven’t really got a chance to shine for some unknown reason.

We know Armstrong is good, Dibling has had great moments, George needs more minutes to really hit the ground running.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:10:23

What you always miss in the close season, all the Premier League managers that frequent ToffeeWeb.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:19:00

I am no Moyes fan but to criticise him for that press interview under the circumstances in which it was held, is grossly unfair.

Of course he was going to avoid having to sit there and spit in the TFG company eye. What we don’t need right now is any further rift between manager and board — we need to have a siege mentality, led by Moyes. Give him some slack, guys.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:31:46

Braiden is 5’9″ and of slight build I don’t think he is strong enough yet to play as a replacement centre-forward, playing off a typical centre forward yes he could do well because he knows where the goals are but he’s a young lad yet and looks it.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:58:37

The only slightly positive to take away is that if the whole squad apart from Norgaard is fit then the only player that would have started Sunday who has been sold was Ndaiye. So lets hope George and Johnson can help fill that void, obviously going forward its injuries to key players that will cause us problems.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:59:09

I don’t fly a flag for Moyes but I thought that he was simmering in that presser. Not a happy bunny. I can see his odds shortening for leaving. I don’t think he and Kinnear are remotely aligned.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
15:59:44

You could tell Moyes was trying his best to control himself and not let it all out.

I feel really sorry for him and the players.

They obviously did not want Ndaye to go but claims from the club that they need the money are bullshit.

He was also spot on with Braiden Graham. Everyone knows there is a chasm between the youth and the Premier league especially physically.

It could ruin Braidens career to get beat up by 200lb 6 foot odd CBs.

I just hope the crowd do not let their disgust affect the players on Sunday. We need a very vocal crowd to take on the megabucks united squad and the officials.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:00:02

You could tell Moyes was trying his best to control himself and not let it all out.

I feel really sorry for him and the players.

They obviously did not want Ndaye to go but claims from the club that they need the money are bullshit.

He was also spot on with Braiden Graham. Everyone knows there is a chasm between the youth and the Premier league especially physically.

It could ruin Braidens career to get beat up by 200lb 6 foot odd CBs.

I just hope the crowd do not let their disgust affect the players on Sunday. We need a very vocal crowd to take on the megabucks united squad and the officials.

 Posted
04/09/2026 at
16:10:17

Talisca, has gone to Al Jazeera, on a free, on a contract of Eu10m a season. I thought it was too good to be true.

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