Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s impressive performances going under the radar, feels David Moyes

He was very noticable v Fulham because he looked like a completely different player to the one who has been playing for us this season. Let's hope he keeps it up.

I still think Ndiaye's best position is Number 10 but understand playing him wide as he is so good. I’m a big fan of Dewsbury-Hall though; he was a really good signing.

Hopefully he'll keep playing to that standard.

Dewsbury-Hall is certainly not a bad player but was clearly an unnecessary signing which has prevented us from addressing more pertinent areas. Furthermore, I feel he forces Jack to play on the left and Ily on the right which is to the detriment of the team because it slows down our attack and is a key reason why we are so toothless. I think we would be so much more productive with Grealish as a Number 10.

Moyes has nailed his colours to the mast on this player and I feel it will either make or break him. My gut feeling is the latter.

I believe Grealish plays on the left because he likes playing on the left. He naturally gravitates there. He likes the space he finds near the touchline and the chance to cut back on his right.

Jack hasn't got the pace to go on the outside and hasn't the ability to come inside and shoot. He also makes Mykolenko look a poorer player because he often has to underlap and take up positions where he's just not comfortable. This was especially evident against Spurs. Either this or he stays at home. Fulham was the exception.

Jack’s best form came at Aston Villa when played as a Number 10; when Carsley played him there for England, he excelled and Jack said he did so because it was his best position.

Having Ndiaye left would give us better balance and also stop us being double-marked so easily on both sides as happened against Villa. This is why most teams play with inverted wingers.

Jack is our most creative player and playing centrally would open up both sides of the pitch. Dewsbury-Hall often plays too deep and too far left and very seldom switches the play to the right.

We are very easy to play against because of our tactical set-up. It's why our strikers don't get early service from midfield and why we are so reliant on in the individual brilliance of Ndiaye.

Managers have sussed us out and that’s why our goal return has been so poor since the Brighton and Wolves victories.

I 100% agree with you that he stands on the ball too long, and that wouldn't be my choice of style for a #10. Jack might be better there than Dewsbury-Hall, might not, but in my opinion neither is a natural for the position -- in Jack's case because he's just happier on the flank.

We are now a possession team rather than a hit on the break team. He clearly works very hard, and is a good passer. It's funny that we've not enjoyed him more, given we've not had a midfielder comfortable on the ball like him for years.

I think it's cos we've got now pace, so we hold onto the ball very elegantly, but are still struggling to hurt teams more. If he's happy with him, that's good enough for me.

How does Moyes see 10 times more than us when Everton play?

If Dewsbury-Hall is the sea change in how we play, how come he's only had one very good game since he came here?

That's in my opinion and I think a few more on here,

On his iPad, Moyes has 10 little Dewsbury-Hall camera angles showing a 360° view of his every move.

I have to agree with you. There's been a few times I thought he did well though ultimately he came up short. For example, almost making a good pass, almost getting a good shot away.

Sort of like 90% of Leon Osman's career in that respect. I don't think it helps us having him as Number 10. As Koeman said of Barkley in that role: "We need more productivity."

We have no idea what instructions Dewsbury-Hall is working under. How he obeys tactics, where he stands, when he runs. If he was doing everything Moyes asked of him, we wouldn't be aware of that.

Also, speaking for myself, I have no knowledge really of modern training: what's in, what's out. Moyes has been doing this every day for 25 years.

Moyes may have been doing this for 25 years, but he has no clue regarding modern training methods.

He still relies on the same methods he started out with. Defend first and hope to snatch a goal. Then defend even deeper.

You're having me on right? He's standing up most of the game looking as bewildered as the rest of his coaches.

Against Spurs in the second half, he was clapping his hands like a seal and it looked like he was shouting, “Come on, lads!”

So going by that last line in my post Kevin @12, it doesn't look like he's learned much over those last 25 years.

Mind you, he's become a very rich man doing what he does and it must count as a very successful career although in my eyes he's a very average manager, very average indeed.

Each to their own opinion I think.

he's not perfect, but he's at least 30% better than any other manager we've had since he left. So that'll do for me.

Our highest possession this season was against Spurs where we had 53% and that is because they purposely set up to counter. Hardly a percentage-based team.

We don't know what we are. In midfield, we endlessly pass the ball where our strikers, who got such early passes from Alcaraz last season, don't get played to their strengths. We don't go on the outside and hurt teams with the exception being Fulham.

Yet our defence is normally chosen based on their physical and defensive attributes rather than technical and we predominantly play direct from the back or we just give it to Grealish where possible.

We are neither a possession-based team nor a counter-attacking one.

You can trust Moyes if you desire, Kevin, and can take his word for everything he does but the evidence is that we have won 3 games with Dewsbury-Hall in the team. Two against Fulham and Wolves and the other where we had the rub of the green against Brighton.

Moyes telling us we are better with Dewsbury-Hall is hardly borne out by facts.

The willingness to work is obviously key to David Moyes. Any other specific traits he is so obviously admired for don't really get spelt out.

I would still like to see the manager using more players in each and every game to vary the style of play and keep the players fresh and competitive.

Yes, I was having you on mate. Not sure what Kevin is watching

Think we should see him in his preferred position at No 8 before judging. He is a central midfielder.

It is part of the manager's DNA to play more experienced players out of position ahead of younger players in their natural position.

Hence we have a centre-back or defensive midfielder at right-back, a central-midfielder as an attacking-midfielder and an attacking-midfielder or second striker on the right wing.

All while Röhl, Alcaraz and Dibling develop their game by sitting on the bench and watching the match.

Kieran (18) You had me wondering there —- for 10 seconds!

That Fulham game has me changing my mind about Dewsbury-Hall. I hope he keeps it up, along with most of the players, with that performance v Fulham.

Man Utd on Monday will be a different kettle of fish, as long as we don't surrender most of the pitch to them and we have a real go at them, I'll be happy. They are still giving plenty of goals away but, if you don't attack, how the fuck are you going to score?

I thought that, while we recruited some very good players - Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Dibling, Röhl, Alcaraz, the whole transfer strategy felt disjointed. So, if Grealish, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall are all undroppable, where does that leave the rest of our attacking /midfield players -- Alcaraz, Dibling, McNeil, Röhl, Armstrong (when he comes back next season)?

I think the recruitment in midfield has been excellent tbh. We've got good cover. When Afcon robs us of two midfielders, I think we'll see a lot more of Dibling, Röhl and Alcaraz. Personally I'm a big fan of the latter and would like to see him in the Number 10.

Pickford
Garner O'Brien or Tarkowski Keane Mykolenko
Röhl Dewsbury-Hall
Dibling Alcaraz Grealish
Barry

Isn't a bad side in the absence of our Senegalese duo.

I think he's been a decent acquisition. Our passing and ball retention has improved and he's played his part in that; neither of these were Doucoure's strengths. But when Dewsbury-Hall has not been effective -- Sunderland away for example -- the manager has been too slow to try something different. I don't think that's going to change any time soon.

That's not down to Dewsbury-Hall; that's down to Moyes and his 'pragmatism first' approach. We knew all this when he was appointed. It is what it is.

We're well capable of beating Man Utd. I hope we go into the game on the front foot.

The penalty that day came about because he switched off and two other big chances fell to his opposing player as Dewsbury-Hall lost him. All in a 20-minute or so cameo.

I agree that he was probably bought to play there yet Moyes hasn't trusted him since probably realising that decision cost us the game. This is why I feel the manager is constantly bigging him up to justify his importance to the team. On his current positioning, I agree with Moyes.

Dewsbury-Hall in the Championship played his best football as a Number 10 and against weaker teams his quality shone through. This has continued this season where his best games were against Fulham and Wolves and he was decent against Brighton and West Ham.

In every other game, he has been either on the periphery, gone missing for long periods, or was flat-out woeful. A flat track bully who shines when we are on top but, when we are up against it, especially away from home, is completely anonymous and becomes a liability.

I feel he can be used as an important squad player but I would question Moyes over valuation and reliance on him.

I would question very much his importance to our league position as Alcaraz last season produced far better numbers than Dewsbury-Hall has done this.

I like Alcaraz and think he's been unlucky with a lack of minutes this season, but Moyes obviously prefers Dewsbury-Hall.

Alcaraz's impact last season was based on a limited number of games though, I don't think he's without his flaws, he seems to play a little more 'off the cuff' and I'm not sure that's what Moyes wants.

But as I said in my original post, Moyes has been too slow (in my opinion) to make attacking changes and consequently Alcaraz and others have missed out.

About Doucoure, there's no doubt for me that Dewsbury-Hall is an upgrade in the Number 10 role, regardless of numbers. Doucoure lost possession through poor control or poor passing too many times and our attacks were prone to breaking down.

I know he covered ground and popped up with the odd goal, but for us to improve as a cohesive attacking team he had to be moved on.

They claim Grealish is going about his business at a high level, having become the first player in the Premier League this season to register four assists and create 20+ chances. Grealish is in desperate need of strikers who can convert chances, which is becoming a serious issue for David Moyes to solve.

What penalty? We didn't concede a penalty against Fulham?

Do you mean Brighton?

You tell me off for having a go at Grealish — yet here you are bulling him up for creating 20 chances.

These are stats, not facts. I'd love to see some of the chances that the stats say are chances. The media are bulling him up with false praise and plenty of Everton fans are hyping his performances up.

But he really should be doing a lot more to justify the praise he's received from the press.

'But if you don't attack, how the fuck are you going to score?'

Lobbed own goal from the half-way line, Dave.

Moysey has thought of everything, don't you worry mate.

I'm less than enamoured with Grealish. But to be fair, when you say Michael's 20 Grealish chances are stats not factS, conversely anything you produce will merely be stats not facts??

Or do you have any facts which are more than stats or opinion? Anything factual? And on what basis is it factual?

Stats or facts — I'll distinguish them when I see them with my own eyes. I'll know if they are genuine chances just by looking at the move.

If they are like the one assist(?) produced by Grealish for the second goal v Brighton, they can “do one with it" and anything remotely like it!

Each seeing with their own eyes; each interpreting with their own eyes; each entitled to their own opinion based on what they see with their own eyes.

But beyond that, what truth? Each to their own.

They could have said he's created 100 chances; other articles saying he should be in the England squad — where's the evidence of that?

One reason he's not in the England squad could be that Tuchel has watched him a few times this season, there's been nothing really exciting about his performances, depending on whose eyes have seen him play.

You're one who hasn't been impressed, Brent. I think there will be plenty more if he doesn't start adding a lot more to his game.

Monday at Old Trafford — on TV — well, he couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to prove his worth and I'll be the first to praise him — if he lets my eyes see him do it!

Michael, "just reading that Grealish has created 19 further chances in his 7 league games since August".

Michael, that seems to challenge my view that I have presented above and in an article to you which I feel is due to our tactical approach and managers sussing us out, whereas you feel this is due to strikers not taking their opportunities.

Firstly, it is my belief that, if Jack played right wing, centre forward or defensive midfield, he would still create a lot of chances due to his ability.

You suggest he is playing to a high quality. I wouldn't disagree but his influence has clearly waned from the period you mention. This is not a criticism of Jack but I believe would be rectified by playing more centrally.

Secondly, to prove your point, you throw in his assist record yet they were all during that period of August. My argument is that this is when teams started doubling up on both sides, starting at Villa.

Thirdly, your chances created stats, Anjishnu's stats about Dewsbury-Hall, and Garner's previous stats will all be high given the positions they play and the fact two of them take most of our set pieces.

I have seen something over the last week where we were 15th in the league for shots at goal, overall xG wasn't that great, yet individuals have high chance creations. Stats can be misleading and contradictory.

I based my views on what I was watching every week, yet your 19 clear chances seems counter-intuitive to me so I watched extended highlights of all 7 games. courtesy of Everton TV, which would be biased towards us.

Villa: Jack produced an early dangerous cross for Beto who was offside. Don't know if this counts? One dangerous cross for Keane which was a great ball, great header and great chance. One other chipped cross, Keane did well but no more than a half chance.

Liverpool: they didn't double up on him and left Bradley alone with Salah offering nothing. Here he was most productive with 3 half chances created and the goal coming from him.

West Ham: 2 chances where he rolled the ball outside the box for shots on goal.

Crystal Palace: goal plus one solo run and shot.

Spurs: golden miss and a pass to Ndiaye who had deflected shot saved.

Sunderland: great cross for Barry sitter, clever pass to Alcaraz who didn't make the most of.

Fulham: pass to Ndiaye outside the box

In summary from these games Jack created an absolute sitter for Barry and one which could have been a goal for Keane. He played other nice passes which could have led to goals but all would have needed great finishes to score. He had as good chances to score himself. In terms of Dave's point I would say nearly half were like that though slightly closer to goal.

If I was the opposing manager in all 7 games the only one I would be annoyed with would have been our neighbours because Jack caused Bradley a lot of problems.

We give our strikers a lot of stick for their goal returns yet West Ham and Fulham don't have goalscoring strikers but we aren't outscoring them yet I don't think many would argue that we have inferior goal providers or players than them.

My view is that 7 goals in 8 games tells you it is much deeper than that and with the goalscorers and goal creators abundant throughout our squad there are clear tactical reasons at play in my view.

Dave, in fairness, Tuchel would never pitch him as he always relies on pace from the flanks.

I think it would average 2 or 4 chances created per game, which is not far off from what you saw in your review. Well done for taking the time to watch it all again.

And Dave's point, that it has to be a really good and obvious real chance that he sees with his eyes, means he's set the bar pretty high, but then Dave won't even give him all of the four assists because all he did was pass the ball to the eventual goalscorer.

But hey, wait a minute isn't that the definition of an assist!

He'd be more dangerous coming inside and running at defenders.

We didn't see the best of Iwobi, easy Colin, and we aren't getting the best from Jack. Also, he is getting the shit kicked out of him when in the middle of the pitch.

I am thinking we need to risk Alcaraz as the Number 10 if Moyes won't play Ndiaye there. Moyes could take some pressure off Dewsbury-Hall, since Alcaraz has dropped deep rather effectively in the past.

Between Alcaraz, Grealish and Ndiaye, there should be enough to unsettle back lines and perhaps open Barry's account with us.

In his last 50 games, he has played as an advanced midfielder 19 times (10 of those are at Everton), 19 in central midfield and 10 times as a defensive midfielder. Therefore, he played most of his games at Chelsea in central or defensive midfield.

It is more likely that the manager doesn't trust Alcaraz at Number 10 rather than distrusting Kiernan at Number 8.

On Grealish. It is interesting that stats/facts are always questioned when they don't add up to something that reinforces an opinion. It was ever thus -- 1 goal, 4 assists and 19 chances created in 12 appearances is outstanding.

You do not have to see the chances to know they were created. All you have to do is swallow the opinion of some clueless twat statto who thinks he did.

Another hilarious example of fuck-witted stats being passed off as footy knowledge.

I honestly don't know why you bother, Dave. They don't understand what they are watching, so they base their argument on stats compiled by some clueless fucker who tells them what they want to hear.

"Just reading that Grealish created 19 further chances in 7 league games since August". HaHaHaHa. I like Grealish, but what the fuck is that about?

Do me a favour and have a look at that James Garner goal v Brighton and come back and tell me that is an assist from Grealish.

It's no way near a bleedin' chance never mind an assist, so if some of them chances are like that, it's a wonder that he hasn't got over a 100 by now!

Good to see your post, I find al the stats thrown about as useless nonsense; xG, however that's calculated, same as assists.

Someone passes the ball to a team mate on the halfway line he then dribbles past 4 players and scores and the player passing to him on the halfway line gets an assist.

Seems many clubs are employing guys just to look through stats to help buy players. Obviously those people doing this at Everton aren't doing great if Dibling and Anzou have been part of that evaluation.

In each of the last 3 seasons (23-24, 24-25 and 25-26)...

An Everton player has ranked in the Top 8 in Europe's Top 5 Leagues for the biggest underperformance of xG:

25-26: Beto (–3.1), 5th worst
24-25: Calvert-Lewin (–3.7), 8th worst
23-24: Calvert-Lewin (–5.9), 2nd worst

And in 22-23, both Calvert-Lewin and Maupay ranked 14th and 15th.

That is a long-established history of poor finishing!

If we take the premise that his constant inclusion of Garner, Gueye and Dewsbury Hall is because they are the only players he trusts, then against Fulham the manager weakened the central midfield role by dislodging Garner.

He had 3 options to account for the shift to right back.

1 play a ten whether you bring in Alcaraz, McNeill or Dibbling and could play one of six players (as well as Rohl) in that role of your choice.

2 don't play with a ten. You have Rohl who has played most of his football as a central midfielder or attacking one. Therefore you now have two players according to you in their best positions box to box with one defensive midfielder behind.

3 You believe that KDH is better as a ten with two more defensive midfielders behind.

Moyes chose one of his only options from the 3rd choice despite numerous permutations available.

Whether you feel by playing against Finnish part timers in the conference league or 4 or 5 minutes here and there when the game was already won in the Prem has convinced you that it would be perfect for us, I ain't sure Mr Moyes agrees with you. He tried it for twenty minutes on the opening day and hasn't tried it for one minute since, not even in the dying minutes at home to West Ham

As for your argument on Grealish I can't tell you how good all the chances Bruno Fernandes were that he has created this season but he is way clear at the top of that list. Does this mean that he is playing in his optimum position for the good of the team in a two man central midfield (where his goals and assists are down from normal ) or does it tell you that he is a player with a lot of quality?

In terms of Michaels argument it was about our profligate strikers not taking advantage ofJack's magic so those stats didn't help him as he only created one clear chance in those seven games for our front men. Indeed the most I saw was for Gueye to shoot from outside the box.

Michael I would be interested to learn what Beto's XG was in the second half of last season when Moyes came in and the team was set up to play to his strengths?

I assume Darren discounts anything that happens in an Everton game that he doesn't watch in person, which is 50% of the matches by my guess? If he didn't see it with his own eyes then it didn't happen - same applies if he doesn't remember it. But he does state his views with conviction so he must be right.

I do trust data collected by professionals to inform decision-making. As I am sure do David Moyes and his team given TFG actually bought a data business to supply the manager.

You don't like KDH. You were writing him off when he signed and before he kicked a ball.

Do you think Moyes trusts Alcaraz as a starter in the advanced midfielder position? Really?

If you think so you are in a small minority. if you look in the mirror you will see the other person who thinks so.

I enjoy your posts — you make a lot of sense more often than not but I honestly take no notice of stats and reading Brian @((46) who explains how they use the data to provide assists and chances I'm convinced I'm right in doing so.

As for Darren, I think I'll let him answer for himself, if he feels like, he's well more than capable to do so — I will say though that he also speaks a lot of sense when talking about the Blues and although I've never met him I'd say he has been a committed Blue throughout his life and I bet he continues to be one now.

I hope that when David is getting supplied with data --suggesting Jack is in the top 2 in the Premier League for this, Ily is in the top 5 for that, and Jimmy and Kiernan are in the top 10 for the other -- Leighton or someone in the background is shouting "Well, how the fuck have we scored only 2 more goals than when we had allegedly some of the worst in our history like Harrison, Doucoure and Lindstrom,, playing under a manager who was self-combusting and wouldn't let them go over the halfway line???"

As for Charly Alcaraz, I wouldn't be so sure that Moyes's views would be greatly different to many Evertonians. Some don't think he's consistent enough to start (like Moyes); some think he should be a regular, while others think it should be horses for courses or to impact from the bench and make use of his potency. Moyes rates him as an understudy similar to how he would class Iroegbunam.

The difference is that Moyes thinks Dewsbury-Hall is different gravy and is fundamental to how he wants to play. He rates him on the same level as Grealish and Ndiaye. When he tried to rescue the Wolves debacle, it was Kiernan he turned to first even before Jack.

Whereas I would say the empathy of the view you have expressed towards Alcaraz might be because of Charly's spirit and see it as an 'up for grabs' position of not great disparity. Moyes views it similarly to replacing Ndiaye or Grealish for Dibling or McNeil where only through necessity will he be forced to change.

Moyes trusted him too and will have convinced TFG to let him go as Dewsbury-Hall could similarly play both and was a clear upgrade.

My guess, if he was still on the books, Moyes would be playing him as a midfielder like Ancelotti and competing with Gueye and perhaps first choice if he continues with Garner at right-back.

I would be pretty confident that he would only get fleeting minutes in a game where we would be a goal or two up and trying to see it out in the advanced role he was favoured previously under Moyes.

I don't know how you guys keep a straight face.

Messrs Brown and Kenrick will dismiss your opinion all day because you use the evidence of your own eyes upon which to base it. Apparently your memory is failing you, even though you will see it at the match in person and then numerous times on the box. They, on the other hand, prefer to offer the opinion of someone else as fact. Some gormless statto who they would be able to pick out in a police line-up

I don't always agree with you guys, but I know you will always have your own opinion about players — unlike Messrs Brown and Kenrick who will unfortunately have to wait until the next edition of "The Athletic" before they are told what theirs is.

"I was just reading this". If you guys really are keeping a straight face. You're doing a lot better a lot than I am.

I get the feeling that those 3 players would gladly pass to each other for 90+ minutes rather than put trust in the other 8+ players (including subs) on the pitch.