AliousEverton fans have found themselves divided over David Moyes’ second spell at the club, as inconsistency continues to plague the Toffees’ campaign. While some supporters remain grateful that Moyes has steadied the ship, others are increasingly questioning whether his tactical approach is limiting Everton’s ability to evolve.
Despite moments of resilience, particularly away from home, Everton’s struggles at the Hill Dickinson Stadium have become a growing concern. Their Premier League survival push has relied heavily on performances on the road, masking deeper issues that are beginning to show more clearly with every passing week.
Although much of the frustration this season has been directed at the Friedkin Group and their recruitment decisions across the summer and winter windows, attention is now shifting toward Moyes himself — and whether his footballing philosophy is holding Everton back.
📊 Opta Analysis Highlights Moyes’ Tactical Stubbornness
Everton were often criticised under Sean Dyche for being overly direct, physical, and predictable — a style that delivered results at times, but failed to excite large sections of the fanbase.
Moyes initially appeared to bring a fresh sense of structure and stability after returning, but recent analysis suggests Everton may not have moved on as much as many believed.
According to Opta Analyst, Everton’s numbers are painting an uncomfortable picture, showing a team that still struggles to control matches and create consistently from open play.
Key stats from the current Premier League campaign include:
- Everton have scored 29 league goals
- Only 18 of those have come from open play
- They average just 43.9% possession, the third-lowest in the division
Perhaps more worrying is the tactical pattern behind those numbers. Opta data indicates Everton sit below the league median for both:
- Direct speed of progression up the pitch
- Passes per square (a metric tied to structured build-up play)
In other words, Everton are not only lacking possession — they also aren’t transitioning quickly enough to compensate for it.
This leaves them stuck in a tactical “no man’s land”: not dominant enough to play controlled football, but not aggressive enough to consistently punish opponents on the break.
⚠️ Everton’s Style Still Resembles the Dyche Era
The deeper issue is that Everton’s long-term project has been built around escaping the identity they developed under Dyche — one built on survival football rather than progression.
But the numbers suggest Moyes is not pushing the team forward stylistically.
Even if this approach can grind out results, it doesn’t align with what the club’s rebuild is meant to represent. Everton have been trying for years to modernise their football, yet the data suggests they remain trapped in the same old patterns.
🌟 Is Moyes Underestimating the Quality at His Disposal?
One of the biggest arguments in Moyes’ defence has been the limitations of Everton’s squad. However, that excuse is becoming harder to justify.
This season, Everton have seen strong contributions from attacking and creative names such as:
- Iliman Ndiaye
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
- Jack Grealish (before his injury)
Even with Grealish currently sidelined, Everton still possess enough quality to offer more than their current attacking output suggests.
A Sofascore performance graphic has reportedly highlighted Everton’s biggest weakness as being their attacking play — an area where Moyes’ cautious system may be doing more harm than good.
Adding to that, the Friedkin Group have also backed Moyes with another exciting attacking option in Tyrique George, giving him yet another tool to work with.
With reinforcements arriving, patience among supporters may begin to wear thin if Everton continue to look blunt and predictable in the final third.
⏳ Could Moyes Come Under Serious Pressure?
For now, sacking Moyes would feel premature, especially considering the stability he has provided compared to the chaos of previous seasons.
But if Everton’s attacking struggles persist and their tactical identity remains stagnant, it’s not unthinkable that the club’s hierarchy may eventually take a harder look at his long-term suitability.
The Everton board may already have a point in mind where Moyes’ overall progress will be evaluated — and if the numbers continue trending in the wrong direction, pressure will inevitably rise.
Because while Moyes may have brought survival and structure…
Everton fans are now asking for evolution.
Alious
