Everton Need More Than Moyes' Stability

A frustrated Everton view on Thierno Barry’s missed chances and David Moyes’ reluctance to change, including concerns over selection, tactics, and young players like Hackney, Dibling and George not getting chances.

I'm going to say it because I genuinely believe it needs saying:

Everton's Thierno Barry isn't good enough. Yes, he's contributed goals this season. Yes, he's scored some important goals. But that doesn't suddenly make his overall performances good enough. He's missed chance after chance this season, opportunities that could have won us games.

He's now missed more big chances than anyone else in the Premier League, and against Chelsea he had another huge opportunity with the score still at 0–0. A good header from the Grealish cross and we're potentially 1–0 up. Instead, he headed straight at the goalkeeper. And we've seen it numerous times already this season.

The Hull game is another perfect example. Barry missed a huge opportunity, but then later scored a very good goal. That's the problem with Barry for me. He can score. He can get himself into good positions. But getting into the right position isn't enough if you keep missing the chances when they come.

And that brings me to Moyes. I've got nothing against David Moyes. When he came back, Everton needed stability and he gave us that. I'll give him credit for it. But stability can't become stagnation.

We saw it with McNeil before he left. I kept wondering how many poor performances it would take before something changed. Now I'm getting the same feeling with Johnson. If you're not performing, you shouldn't automatically keep your place. And if there's younger, talented players sitting on the bench who could potentially offer something different, then give him a chance.

And this is where I really struggle with some of Moyes' decisions. We've got Hayden Hackney, who was the Championship Player of the Season, sitting on the bench. This isn't some academy kid who's never played senior football. This is a player who has already shown what he can do at senior level and was recognised as the best player in the Championship.

We've got Tyler Dibling, who has bags of potential and, more importantly, has already shown us glimpses of exactly what he can bring. We've seen him take players on. We've seen the ability. We've seen the confidence. We've seen why Everton wanted him.

And then we've got Tyrique George, another young player who deserves a proper opportunity to show what he can do. I'm not saying all three should suddenly be starting every game. But give them a run. Give them a proper opportunity. Let them develop. Let them show us they are good enough. Because we'll never know if they're constantly sat on the bench. Against Chelsea, Hackney and Dibling didn't get on at all.

But my biggest frustration with Moyes: he doesn't seem willing to change. If Plan A isn't working, change it. If the opposition has figured us out, change it. If a player isn't performing, change it. If a young player is knocking on the door, give him a chance. Don't wait until the 80th minute or when we're 1-0 down, when the game has already gone.

Against Chelsea, we had just six shots, with only one on target after half time, as Chelsea took control of the game. That's not just about Barry missing a chance. That's about the whole attacking set-up. We need more creativity. We need more movement. We need different options. We need players who can change a game.

And we've got some of those players sitting on the bench. I'm not saying everything is terrible. I'm not saying the season is over. I'm not even saying the squad is bad. Quite the opposite. I actually think there's more in this squad than we're seeing. And that's why I'm frustrated.

Because I look at Hackney, Dibling, George, Röhl, Grealish and the rest of this squad and I think there is something there. But I don't think we're getting the best out of it. For me, this isn't about one defeat. It's about what I've been watching under Moyes. The same tactical problems.

The same lack of flexibility. Players playing out of position. Players being picked despite poor form. Young players not getting enough opportunities. A striker who misses too many chances because there's no real alternative. And a manager who doesn't seem willing to change things quickly enough.

I don't want to wait until we're in a crisis before we act. Give Hackney a run. Give Dibling a run. Give George a proper chance. Play players in their natural positions. Bring in another striker who can actually challenge Barry. Change the tactics when they're not working.

And pick players on form and performance, not reputation or loyalty. Because Everton should be building towards something. And right now, I'm not convinced we are. For me, it's time for a change in management sooner rather than later. Not because we lost to Chelsea.

But because I've watched Everton this season and I'm seeing the same problems over and over again. And eventually, something has to change.

Written by OptimumShots October 18 2026 17:12:54