Everton boss David Moyes has seen his side enjoy a strong start to the new Premier League season strongly – but what they should do with the current crop of players in the squad to help them reach the next level and push for a European places.
With seven games played, and an unbeaten start at the brand new Hill Dickinson stadium, Moyes’ team will be looking to push at the top half of the table for the first time in a long time, after recent flirts with the relegation zone.
Moyes has overseen three wins, two draws and two losses so far, with Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye leading the goal scoring charts with three.
Jack Grealish has come in on loan from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and already has four assists in seven games, making him an integral part to the squad.
Goalkeepers:
Jordan Pickford – With 326 appearances for the Toffees under his belt, England’s number one has barely put a foot wrong for The Blues. KEEP
Mark Travers – Freshly through the doors of the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Irishman can be a reasonable understudy for Pickford thanks to his Premier League experience with Bournemouth. KEEP
Defenders:
Nathan Patterson – Entering his fourth season at the club, the Scotsman remains an important squad player and with him just being 23 years of age, there is plenty of room for improvement. KEEP
Jake O’Brien – Having been signed as a centre-back, the 24-year-old has been primarily deployed as a right-back for Moyes this season and is becoming a permanent fixture in the team. KEEP
Seamus Coleman – After 425 games for the Blues, Mr Everton has seen almost everything at the grand old club, but with injuries starting to affect the Irishman’s playing time, it might be best for him to enter a coaching role at the club. RELEASE
Michael Keane – The 32-year-old is one of Everton’s most reliable centre backs at present, but he is prone to a mistake and injuries may become more prominent at his age. RELEASE
James Tarkowski – Since joining from Burnley in 2022, Tarkowski has been an ever present in the Everton defence and has barely ever put a foot wrong. KEEP
Jarrad Branthwaite – The young Englishman is one of the Blues’ prized assets with clubs like Manchester United keen on capturing his signature. When fit, he is as good as any centre-back in the league. KEEP
Vitaliy Mykolenko – The Ukrainian has nailed down the left-back position since joining in 2021 and has looked comfortable in doing so. He has kept quality Premier League wingers quiet during his time so there is no reason to release him. KEEP
Adam Aznou – The Moroccan is one of Moyes’ newest recruits, so we haven’t seen much of him, but with him just being 19 there is plenty of potential there. KEEP
Midfielders:
Idrissa Gueye – Currently in his second spell at the club, the Senegalese midfielder has been the reliable option in the middle of the park, but as he gets older, his energy may begin to decline so it might be best to move him on and find someone younger and fresher. RELEASE
James Garner – Despite being a defensive midfielder, the Englishman has been able to provide a goal threat in Moyes’ side with his ability to find the target from range. His energy will be needed in the midfield department. KEEP
Tim Iroegbunam – Despite the 22-year-old being unable to cement a place in the first team, Iroegbunam has shown glimpses of the qualities that brought him to Goodison Park last season. KEEP
Dwight McNeil – opinions on the former Burnley winger have wavered since he joined the Blues, but when you see he has only found the back of the net 15 times in 108 games for the club, you have to feel there are better options out there. RELEASE
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – A new face through the door this season for Moyes and he hasn’t disappointed. Consistently looking like he can make something happen makes him a key asset in this team. KEEP
Carlos Alcaraz – When the Argentinian first arrived at Goodison Park, he looked a real quality technician, but since making his move permanent, he has struggled to keep his place in the starting 11. There is no doubt he can be an impact substitute in this side. KEEP
Merlin Rohl – The on-loan German midfielder has only featured for 24 minutes of this campaign currently before picking up an injury, so there is not much to go off. UNDECIDED
Attackers:
Tyler Dibling – The new £40 million signing was seen as a statement of intent from the Blues. Despite a slow start to his Everton career, I’m sure he’ll be getting the Hill Dickinson crowd off their feet eventually. KEEP
Iliman Ndiaye – The Everton board will have a serious challenge on their hands when they inevitably have to fend off interest for the Senegalese attacker. He has been the constant livewire in the side who will continuously worry defenders. KEEP
Jack Grealish – The England international is only on loan, but he does have a £50 million option to buy, and if his first nine appearances are to go by, you’d be silly not to activate that option. KEEP
Beto – Since joining in August 2023, Beto has never really hit the ground running. He can cause defenders problems, but he does struggle finding the back of the net consistently. RELEASE
Thierno Barry – The young Frenchman has currently appeared nine times for Moyes’ Blues but is yet to find the back of the net. He is only 22 years of age, so there could be a lot more potential ability that is yet to be unlocked. UNDECIDED
