Season › 2024-25 › News David Moyes casts a spell on Goodison Anjishnu Roy 07/02/2025 22comments | Jump to last Just over three weeks ago, David Moyes admitted that he can’t “magician” Everton into scoring goals on the pitch. Eight goals against Tottenham, Brighton, and Leicester City in their last three fixtures, however, suggest that his spell might be working. When Moyes took over from Sean Dyche last month, he had inherited an Everton side that had reached an unfortunate plateau. Before the Scot’s arrival, the Toffees had scored just 15 goals in the Premier League with only Southampton faring worse in front of goal. Their expected goals (xG) stood at a low 18.33 across 19 matches showcasing the lack of creativity and the dull and uninspiring football that fans had gotten used to in the final months of Dyche’s tenure. Article continues below video content In his second spell at Goodison Park, Moyes could’ve hardly asked for a better start. Three wins on the trot have seen the Toffees move nine points clear of the relegation zone (with a game in hand over sides in the bottom four). Beginning February with a 4-0 thrashing of Leicester City headlined by Abdoulaye Doucoure finding the back of the net inside 10 seconds has gotten the fans believing again. Suddenly, every player looks more resilient and hungry on the pitch. Even Beto, who has been thrust into the limelight following injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti, seemed mighty impressive following his brace to dismantle the Foxes. Perhaps the key to unlocking the best out of his players is the confidence that the manager transmits on a regular basis. “I want them to play with a bit of confidence. I want them to play with a bit of control, a bit of belief as well without feeling that there is a huge pressure they have to deal with. Goodison is enough pressure itself, being inside it as a player. So we want the players to play with a bit of freedom and take the ball and hopefully do all the right things,” Moyes told beIN Sports recently. Everton’s nine-point cushion, at this stage of the season, was almost unthinkable even until a month ago. While there’s still a long way to go with 14 matchdays remaining in the top flight, one can sense that the team is in a position where it can finally start saying goodbyes to Goodison Park as the season rolls over. Moyes, with over 27 years of managerial experience, knows that the only thing that the players need to focus on is “the next game”. “There's definitely that stage where we move on next, but at the moment I'm finding it very hard to think further than gaining the points to be a Premier League club. I think that I can't even look to consider it (focusing on the Goodison goodbye) at the moment because I'm saying ‘Let's just make sure we’re in this position’”. While there’s certainly magic associated with new beginnings, this time, however, the overwhelming feeling is that David Moyes has returned home and the Toffees are certainly the better for it. Reader Comments (22) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Mark O'Brien 1 Posted 07/02/2025 at 11:14:32 We shall not be moved. Come on Everton let's have a great run at the cup. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Awug6zeMY Ernie Baywood 2 Posted 07/02/2025 at 11:15:55 "David Moyes has returned home"Certainly reads better than the last similar article. Ernie Baywood 3 Posted 07/02/2025 at 11:20:54 Let's be a little bit careful. Tottenham are in a right state, so are Brighton. Leicester are just dreadful. This might not continue and the next two matches are stern tests of the current feelgood factor.But there's definitely change. It was even there to see against a good Villa side, unless you were desperate not to see it. There were some tweaks, but the key change was a manager asking players to contribute to the game.I'm interested to see what Moyes can bring. I do think he's the right man for the rest of this season at least. Possibly next season too.But his greatest appeal at the moment is that he's not the last guy. And I'll continue to maintain that the last guy was the worst manager I've seen. Neil Lawson 4 Posted 07/02/2025 at 11:24:20 It's still early doors. Brilliant start and at totally different feel around the club and us supporters. Huge credit to Moyes. I really hope that we can repeat these comments at month end. We aren't going to win every game nor score in every outing but I think we can be confident of our ability now to compete properly in every game and to get sufficient positive results for us to be safe well before season end. Tony Abrahams 5 Posted 07/02/2025 at 11:25:42 Alongside Bill Kenwright, David Moyes cast a spell on Goodison, is my own view, and this is why I havent got a great deal of time for our current manager but, Goodison definitely felt more natural and a lot happier, last week, so lets hope David Moyes can erase the spell, and finally deliver us some silverware, because this is what our famous old stadium (again imo) deserves before it closes its doors forever more🍀 Jim Bennings 6 Posted 07/02/2025 at 11:43:39 Ernie You might well be correct in that assessment, but does anyone really think Dyche would have had us playing the home games against Spurs and Leicester actually on the front foot?If Dyche had still been in charge I have zero doubt that we would have made Tottenham look considerably better than they are at present and probably allowed Leicester to dictate the majority of possession.I agree we all need to keep calm and don't get too carried away, although one thing I'll say now, people who still think Everton are in a relegation battle need to go and give their head a wobble, we ought to be looking at catching those directly above us now. Steve Brown 7 Posted 07/02/2025 at 12:38:12 If David Moyes wins a trophy, then he can claim to be a successful Everton manager.It might be an unpopular point of view, but I think he should prioritise the FA Cup game for that very reason. Mark Wynne 8 Posted 07/02/2025 at 12:43:32 Not sure what Chris Sutton has against Everton. He still thinks it was wrong to sack Dyche and has tipped us to lose every game since. Skip forward to Bournemouth in the cup and hes tipped us to lose again - this time because he thinks Moyes will rest a raft of players to save for the derby. Derek Knox 9 Posted 07/02/2025 at 12:51:09 Mark, I, for one am hoping he picks the strongest side possible. Apart from survival, which he has made a great start with, and opened up a decent amount of space between us and the others, we have nothing left to look forward to. Bournemouth will be a much stiffer test, than Spurs or Leicester but not an impossible one. Plus we owe them one from the Premiership fixture, which was more down to poor game management from Dyche than anything else. Hope to see Alcaraz too, either from the start, or for a significant sub's role. Ray Robinson 10 Posted 07/02/2025 at 12:53:47 Im very pleased with the change in form since Moyess arrival but people seem to easily forget that we thrashed Wolves 4-0 under Dyche. We also strung together four wins on the trot last season under Dyche. In other words, its too soon to be making any hard and fast judgements. Having said that, Id had my fill of Dyche. Long may our current form continue! Jonathan Tasker 11 Posted 07/02/2025 at 13:02:30 Moyes is canny enough to prioritise tomorrow over Wednesday Peter Moore 12 Posted 07/02/2025 at 13:02:32 Sterner tests for sure these next two matches. Here's wishing the lads continue to rise to greater challenges, the optimism remains and excitement grow.There are reasons to be cheerful for sure. Jake O'Brien has been a revelation. Lindstrom and N'Diaye both seriously threatening and creative. Beto has turned into a beastly destroyer! Does Goodison deserve the winning run to keep going?It most certainly does!Will take a hell of an effort from the pitch warriors matched with servant support from the stands. May it come to be! COYB, UTFT, NSNO. Barry Rathbone 13 Posted 07/02/2025 at 13:07:07 Great start but too early to beatify. Follow Oliver Cromwell's reputed advice addressing the army while scratching his gonads - "Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry!"Playing the shite next aren't we? Ian Jones 14 Posted 07/02/2025 at 13:16:31 Jim, re your comment about relegation. Whilst I agree with you that we should be looking to catch those ahead of us rather than worrying about relegation, we are only 9 points ahead of the last relegation spot so we can't be too complacent. A string of poor results by us accompanying a string of positive results for teams below would potentially put us in the mix again, although our current goal difference is favourable. Personally, I think we are more than capable of finishing Top 10.Also, slightly off topic. I recently read that David Moyes qualified as a coach when he was 22 years old whilst still playing. Mark Murphy 15 Posted 07/02/2025 at 13:23:27 The Oxford dictionary definition of Cnut just shows a photo of Chris Sutton.UTFT Colin Crooks 16 Posted 07/02/2025 at 13:51:41 I walked down with a couple of Leicester supporters after the game. They were bemoaning the fact that they defended like a pup team. They also moaned that their goal keeper didnt narrow the angles, showing Beto and Doucourie far too much of the goal. Similar stories saturated the airways as Spurs supporters queued up to moan about their teams defending the home game before.Of course none of that is Moyes's fault. his teams were fired and positive enough to exploit the weaknesses, But I'll wait until we are met with sterner opposition before I think we have improved dramatically.Its all very brave to say we would not have won against these very weak teams if Dyche was still in charge, safe in the knowledge that it can never be proven. I expected us to have beaten both. Although I don't for one minute think we would have beaten them so destructively. So far so good, but I had looked long and hard at the sides below us and have long since been convinced that we were never going down this season. Said so enough times.I'm in the credit-where-its-due camp. I made up with Moyes. Made up with Beto and Doucourie, Heaven knows they needed those goals. I`m also made up that I am sleeping soundly 5-6 weeks ahead of my imagined schedule. but it'll take a lot more to make me think our boy Davey has the good times rolling. Very big week coming up and I would rather we focus on that than start be involved in any premature coronation ceremony. Robert Tressell 17 Posted 07/02/2025 at 14:05:41 Good to see some greater positivity around. Hopefully it doesn't all lurch back to (often completely irrational) disaster mode at the first bump in the road. I would love to see us have a good go at the cup. Do we know if Alcaraz might debut? Raymond Fox 18 Posted 07/02/2025 at 14:26:05 There's only one comp. that matters, especially this season.Does Moyes pick Beto, as he's now the only centre forward left standing? Not an easy decision, I think I'd stick Keane up front, he must be wanting an appearance.Would winning the Cup - not likely is it, unless we get very lucky - and get relegated be worth it?Not for me, although I think we will stay up comfortably with Moyes now in charge, even with a run in the cup! Simon Harrison 19 Posted 07/02/2025 at 14:27:06 I too think we should prioritise the Bournemouth game tomorrow.They are are good team yes, but even under Dyche, we should have beaten them at home, and would have done if Moyes was manager, as his in-game management is much better.Also, when we played them away while still under Dyche, they only won to a very, very well struck volley (half-volley?) after a collective defensive lapse!Personally, I think with us being at home, and the Old Lady rocking (possibly the last home FA Cup tie to be played there) with a new sense of confidence and belief in the players; not to mention Bournemouth's injury list, will be enough to beat the Cherries this time.What's the old saying, "Third time's a charm!"Well c'mon get onboard the Cup train and worry, if that is the right word, about the Derby later...COYB OTRTW Eric Myles 20 Posted 07/02/2025 at 14:28:43 Let's all hope that the new (old) manager bounce turns into a sustained improvement in fortunes and not turn out to be a dead cat bounce.And I hope Moyes comes with bayonets fixed next Wednesday, not with his Swiss Army knife. They don't like it up 'em you know Davey. Simon Harrison 21 Posted 07/02/2025 at 14:30:30 Robert T, Alcaraz played last Thursday in Brazil, and scored in a regional game. So, he would appear to be match fit, and has confidence too.There is a 22min long Blue Room special Podcast with Phil Vickery on Charly; well worth a listen.I'd expect the same line up as against the Foxes, with Alcaraz to come on for one of Doucoure or Garner at some stage.You don't fix what isn't broke as our US cousins have taught us... Jim Bennings 22 Posted 07/02/2025 at 14:36:50 Ian 14I do hear you, but I just think that bottom 3 look absolutely bereft of quality.I can't honestly see any of Ipswich, Leicester, Southampton getting anywhere near 33 points as a tally.We are already on what is it, 26?Impossible to not see us getting 9 more points at Goodison be it through wins or draw and at least 4 points on the road at least.I see absolutely zero chance of relegation this season, thankfully. 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