Everton Finally Look Like a Proper Unit

Everton’s performance had big individual standouts, with Pickford’s response and Garner’s influence setting the tone. There is also a growing belief the table is there to be attacked.

I genuinely cannot remember a game where every single Everton player played well and was a 7 or above. Fair play to Pickford as well. After last week his head could have gone, but it just shows the maturity he has now compared to when he first came. Another world class save.

Garner running the show

Jimmy Garner is just a top level footballer. He is as well-rounded a player as I can remember us having. It shows his intelligence, knowing what Beto wants as a forward and playing to his strengths.

It was almost a carbon copy of when we pumped Leicester 4-0 and Jimmy played him in early doors, although this time the finish was a lot more difficult. He looked like prime Crespo against Liverpool.

Beto, Idrissa and turning moments into goals

His other goal started with brilliant play by Idrissa, sniffing out the danger like always, with a deft touch to burst clear. Beto played Fofana, appearing disinterested and then suddenly darted into the space with enough room to get his shot away. Huge slice of luck, but fair play to him, he earned it.

Then a lovely win in the air to set Ndiaye away one v one for his goal. That is exactly the sort of ruthless, simple stuff we have not always done well enough.

KDH and the levels still to go

KDH has been fantastic for us and I am not digging him out for one second, but he could go up a level if he improved his passing. He is a great ball carrier and has an instinct to be in the right positions to create or score goals, and he has a great engine, but he can be wasteful with his choice of pass.

His crosses barely beat the first man and his through balls often get cut out or run through to the keeper. Compare him to Jimmy, who rarely loses the ball. His passing accuracy is routinely in the 90%+. Garner’s fitness sets him apart as well, he never stops all game the lad.

Moyes, belief and the bigger picture

The Magician was simply phenomenal. Hopefully his words were sincere when he said he wants to win things with Everton. Ability wise, he could play for any side in the Premier League, and as soon as he is playing with better players around him, his level will go up. We actually limit how good he can be because of how ordinary some of our players are around and behind him.

It sounds a bit mental saying we should be pushing for the Champions League considering where we have been in recent years, but you have to bear in mind Newcastle and Villa have made it in recent seasons. Even United have managed it this season whilst being asleep for half of it. Those two were in similar positions to us until (Emery/Howe) came in and got Champions League football.

That is a testament to Moyes as well. I have said it plenty of times: his football might be boring, but half of the team he has are not very good. He has managed to take us from the relegation positions to the top half of the table, albeit a very tight top half, but still within reach of 4th with most of the same players as those before him had available.

He has managed to get more out of the likes of Keane and especially Garner. He has even got McNeil fitter and running more after he was all but a Palace player.

It was a huge result tonight after the Brighton win, the Reds losing and Fulham beating Burnley. It is very tight, but the teams ahead of us and around us are there to be got at, and Liverpool and Chelsea do not have an easy remaining set of fixtures. Villa should get top four as theirs are kind.

We play Brentford next and we are stronger away from home. Hopefully Leeds do a job tonight and then we put right the drubbing they gave us and go four or three points clear. Liverpool have got Fulham and then us. If we beat the Reds then we have a fair crack at Europe. Other than City, the rest of the games are winnable for us.

I also watched an interesting video from Kieran Maguire speaking to an Everton fan YouTube channel. He went into our FFP situation and Chelsea, then spoke about the improvements that TFG have made and what is realistic to invest into the team in the summer. He probably was not taking into account that we could possibly finish in the Champions League spots, but after tonight we are right in amongst it.

The next two home games could not be harder, but at least we go into them with confidence after putting three past the current Club World Cup champions and keeping a clean sheet.

Written by BlueNose1878 March 21 2026 22:11:28