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New York Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
How David Moyes masterminded Everton's turnaround: ‘Relentless' planning and a ‘hidden magic'
The packed train, carrying hundreds of Everton supporters back from London, ground to a halt at Runcorn, allowing David Moyes, his staff and players to disembark to applause and cheers. That moment emphasised the feel-good factor around the club since Moyes' return in January. Back in August, a small but vocal group of fans had barracked members of the squad at Euston after the abject 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Advertisement The mood change over the intervening eight months could scarcely have been more dramatic. Moyes took over from Sean Dyche in January, with Everton one point above the relegation zone after 19 games. In his half-season, he almost doubled his predecessor's points total (31 to 17), quickly easing relegation concerns and securing a 13th-place finish. There had been internal surprise at the extent to which Everton struggled in the opening half of the campaign, with some key figures viewing the squad as stronger than the one that achieved 48 points — prior to deductions — under Dyche the previous season. By the time he left in January, everyone — including Dyche — seemed ready for a change. A common view espoused at the time was that the soul had drained out of the club and fresh impetus was imperative. New owners The Friedkin Group felt experience was needed to preserve Everton's Premier League status. In choosing Moyes, who had managed the club between 2002 and 2013, they banked not only on his know-how, but also his ability to bring everyone together. His return rekindled the connection between team and fans, and wins quickly followed. After four victories in his opening six matches, Everton were effectively safe by the time they headed to Abu Dhabi for a warm-weather training camp in late February. There were some sticky moments. Between February and early May, Everton won just one of their 10 league matches. But Moyes and his team ended the campaign in style, bookending a 2-0 success against Southampton in their final game at Goodison with impressive away victories at Fulham and Newcastle United. This is the story of that turnaround under Moyes, and how he did it. With relegation a real concern, Moyes and his staff knew they had little time to settle in. Their objective was simple: to keep Everton up before the summer move to a new stadium. At that stage, it was felt the battle for survival would continue into the final month of the campaign. Yet Moyes and his staff, which includes assistant manager Billy McKinlay, Alan Irvine, Leighton Baines and set-piece coach Charlie Adam, believed they had key elements in their favour. Advertisement They knew from their experiences at West Ham United that Goodison could be a powerful force if harnessed properly. There was also a sense that they had inherited strong foundations, particularly defensively, from Dyche. Moyes' main priorities were addressing Everton's chronic lack of goals — under Dyche, they managed 15 in 19 league matches — and the squad's shortage of confidence. 'There were three or four things that he wanted to see and he put that in place quickly,' McKinlay tells The Athletic. 'The biggest emphasis was he wanted to play forward and make sure we had more threat in the final third. That means more numbers (across the board). He wanted to see some aspects of play he felt would benefit us in attack. Full-backs getting forward, people arriving in the box at the right time so we could cause teams problems. 'He also wanted to win the ball higher up the pitch. The first thing we felt was there was always a real aggression about Everton. He knows the club better than anybody and what works here.' Some of Moyes' tweaks were more noticeable than others. With first-choice striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin out with a long-term hamstring injury, Moyes looked for ways of getting the most out of his replacement Beto. 'The manager has tried to implement two or three things, looking at the players' attributes and what will benefit them,' McKinlay says. 'Beto is a really good example, but I don't want to just focus on him because all the players have been sensational. There's not been a day that's gone by where we've not had their focus, application and their commitment to the cause. 'The manager wanted to utilise Beto's running power, his physical presence, his threat down the side and behind. It means playing forward through the lines and through the front, sometimes the most positive passes a player can see. 'We also wanted to help Beto by getting people closer to him. Doucs (Abdoulaye Doucoure) has done that really well. Wide players have then come in and filled the spaces and we've got the full backs forward. So Beto's probably benefited from another number of small tweaks that he wanted.' Beto excelled in the second half of the campaign, netting seven times in 16 games. But the attack in general was revitalised. A previously shot-shy team scored 27 times after Moyes' arrival. Their total from open play rose from seven to 18, while they also struck four times on the counter, compared to zero in Dyche's half-season. Crucially, they also conceded 19 to Dyche's 25. Advertisement Moyes also made key changes to the shape of his side and how he wanted to build from the back. It was felt that Ireland international Jake O'Brien, a £17m ($22.9m) summer signing from Lyon who had not started a league game under Dyche, could 'offer something going both ways'. 'From a defensive point of view, Jake is obviously a terrific athlete in terms of his physical attributes,' McKinlay notes. 'The gaffer wanted to build in a certain way, which allowed us to keep hold of one of the defenders. We kept Jake back and pushed Myko (left-back Vitalii Mykolenko) on a bit, with rotation through the middle of the pitch, which just gave it a fresh look and feel. The players got a real benefit.' The main focus has been on improving the collective. Moyes leads everything and maps out how he wants each week to look, but McKinlay, Baines and Irvine take individual sessions after training, offering feedback on where players can improve. 'Tactically, he covers everything,' McKinlay says. 'His attention to detail with the opposition, what they're going to do, how we're going to counter that in and out of possession and cause them some problems is absolutely relentless. 'He's been big on making sure players, on certain days, are getting enough specific stuff to help them improve. He wants them to feel that they're getting individual work. 'When you put it together, hopefully you see a cross for a wide player and a finish for a centre forward, for example, and that might have been done during the week.' In those group and individual sessions, Moyes and his staff have worked hard to raise confidence levels in the squad. The process was one of analysis, feedback and repetition, with McKinlay taking the view that confidence comes from 'preparation and an outcome' rather than simply 'telling players you like them'. 'Jack Harrison is a good example,' he explains. 'We saw the confidence coming back with him. Every time he does something more positive, he starts to forget about these inhibitions, the bits of insecurity or uncertainty. 'I always say to the players, 'If we think we're giving you a piece of information that's going to help you improve, don't take that as criticism. Take that as correction, an education. You should be happy with that'.' Knitting it all together has been Moyes, who returned to Goodison 12 years after his first stint more experienced, flexible and having mellowed. Advertisement 'He's got a heavy tool bag in terms of attributes: his experience, knowledge of the game, preparation and attention to detail,' McKinlay, who was also his assistant at West Ham, says. 'He's got a feel for it and he'll say things in the moment that maybe nobody else has thought about. 'That's the hidden magic, what the managers are saying and when they say it. Sometimes there's no script, it's a feeling. 'He thinks about everything to the nth degree and if he thinks he has to adapt or change it in the moment, he'll do that. 'There are times when he'll change the day off, or he'll change how he wants to prep, deliver certain messages. He's constantly thinking, talking to us and asking how we see it. If we have to change, we will.' Everton ended the season with a tangible sense of momentum. With Moyes back, new owners in situ and the men's team set to play in a new state-of-the-art stadium from next season, optimism has returned after years of decline. A summer rebuild is coming, with 15 players out of contract at the end of the season. That may sound daunting to some, but it is also an opportunity for Moyes and TFG to reshape things in a different, altogether more positive image. The challenge for Everton is to kick on, and Moyes has set the bar high. 'The yearning for success the club's got, that's what drives the gaffer,' McKinlay says. 'So (it's about) maintaining standards, improving the squad and making sure we continue to grow. 'The league's getting stronger every year, we're going to have to keep in touch with our peers and try and catch them. 'You've got bona fide Evertonians here who've got a real feel for it and know the club and the terrain. That's not everything, but if you put that on top of their coaching ability, then it helps. 'They will not let the levels drop. They know what it means to be a good Everton player, a good Everton team. So, if you build on that, we've got a new stadium with 53,000 Evertonians in there who'll shout the house down; you're going to have to service that. 'The manager's not come here to have anything other than success. Success is everything, bringing it (the club) back to the top end of the table. 'It's built for success now, it's ready for us.'
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Big summer lies ahead but Everton's future looks so much brighter'
Here's my quick assessment of Everton's Premier League season - and a return to my August the season: 13thPre-season prediction: 11thA season that was one of despair until Sean Dyche's sacking in January ended full of hope. The Friedkin Group, ambitious new American owners, took charge, and David Moyes returned to inspire a superb successive league wins at the end, including victories at Fulham and Newcastle United, confirmed the improvement, but Moyes will still oversee a major squad it is off to the magnificent new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey after the men's team bade an emotional farewell to Goodison Park.A big summer lies ahead but Everton's future looks so much I said in August: "They will need luck with injuries to fulfil this forecast, as well as one or two more additions, but I do not see Everton struggling this season."Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'A renewed sense of hope' - fans on Everton's season
We asked for your views on Everton's season after David Moyes' season finished up with victory at Newcastle. Here are some of your comments: Paul: If I am completely honest, Sean Dyche going and Moyes coming in was the brilliant change at the right time and it was a solid performance from us to finish 13th. A really nice way to the end of season. There will be plenty of optimism going forward to our new home and we will now look forward to next season. Mark: Moyes has transformed an under-performing squad, who were drifting towards another relegation dogfight. Somehow, he has managed to get goals and wins out of a squad that was only drawing and not scoring under Dyche. Finishing 13th is a very respectable position in the Premier League table, given where we started from and we've finished ahead of Manchester United and Spurs. There is a lot of work to be done in improving the squad over the summer, but it feels like Everton can look upwards for the first time in several seasons. New owners, new stadium, new start! Ben: It's been nice just to enjoy football these past few weeks, to say farewell to the Grand Old Lady, and now look forward to pastures new with a renewed sense of hope. There hasn't been much of that in recent years. In Moyes we trust. Marcus: Like a boxing match with one fighter getting a knockdown in round seven. Jeff: They have been brilliant since the turn of year, and I would not be surprised if they finished in the top five or six next season. Dixie60: A season that hit some lows but, since January, with a not-so-new manager back in the fold, also hit some highs. Everton have been rejuvenated since his second spell at the club. There is a strong basis here for success, a new beginning, a new stadium and new owners. Players who love the club and played their part this season: Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, Beto, Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye to name a few all became part of Everton folklore. Additions like Orel Mangala, Tim Iroegbunam, and the forward-thinking Carlos Alcaraz have given supporters hope for the future. Onwards and upwards for a club loved, worshipped and supported locally without fault. Truly rare in these Premier League days. William: Pickford is Everton's most consistent player game after game. At the other end of the pitch, players get highly praised for scoring 'relegation-saving goals' but Pickford has saved Everton consistently year on year, and he remains loyal to Everton. Long may Pickford stay at our beloved club.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'A renewed sense of hope' - fans on Everton's season
We asked for your views on Everton's season after David Moyes' season finished up with victory at are some of your comments:Paul: If I am completely honest, Sean Dyche going and Moyes coming in was the brilliant change at the right time and it was a solid performance from us to finish 13th. A really nice way to the end of season. There will be plenty of optimism going forward to our new home and we will now look forward to next Moyes has transformed an under-performing squad, who were drifting towards another relegation dogfight. Somehow, he has managed to get goals and wins out of a squad that was only drawing and not scoring under Dyche. Finishing 13th is a very respectable position in the Premier League table, given where we started from and we've finished ahead of Manchester United and Spurs. There is a lot of work to be done in improving the squad over the summer, but it feels like Everton can look upwards for the first time in several seasons. New owners, new stadium, new start!Ben: It's been nice just to enjoy football these past few weeks, to say farewell to the Grand Old Lady, and now look forward to pastures new with a renewed sense of hope. There hasn't been much of that in recent years. In Moyes we Like a boxing match with one fighter getting a knockdown in round They have been brilliant since the turn of year, and I would not be surprised if they finished in the top five or six next A season that hit some lows but, since January, with a not-so-new manager back in the fold, also hit some highs. Everton have been rejuvenated since his second spell at the club. There is a strong basis here for success, a new beginning, a new stadium and new owners. Players who love the club and played their part this season: Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, Beto, Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye to name a few all became part of Everton folklore. Additions like Orel Mangala, Tim Iroegbunam, and the forward-thinking Carlos Alcaraz have given supporters hope for the future. Onwards and upwards for a club loved, worshipped and supported locally without fault. Truly rare in these Premier League Pickford is Everton's most consistent player game after game. At the other end of the pitch, players get highly praised for scoring 'relegation-saving goals' but Pickford has saved Everton consistently year on year, and he remains loyal to Everton. Long may Pickford stay at our beloved club.
New York Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Everton review of 2024-25: Fresh hope from Friedkin takeover, Moyes' return, Tarkowskiiiiii
'The end of one era, but the start of another we can all be excited about'. Those were the words of Everton coach Leighton Baines as the club said farewell to Goodison Park this month. The 2024-25 season has not been without its fair share of turmoil and upheaval for Everton, but the club can now look forward with fresh hope following the arrival of new owners The Friedkin Group (TFG) and David Moyes' return as manager in January. Advertisement With a big summer to come, the next chapter promises to be just as intriguing as the last. Here, The Athletic reviews Everton's season just gone, which ended with an impressive 1-0 away win at Newcastle United on Sunday. The one where everything changed for Everton. The men's team said a long, emotional goodbye to Goodison, their home of 133 years, while new owners TFG brought to an end a protracted and, at times, fraught takeover process that left the club scrambling for survival. Moyes replaced Sean Dyche as manager in January. Director of football Kevin Thelwell's contract was not renewed, with Angus Kinnear joining in May as CEO. A rebuild behind the scenes and of the playing squad is underway. What comes next is anyone's guess, but Everton appear to be in capable hands under Moyes and on much more stable financial footing with TFG. Everton 2-2 Liverpool. What else? Goodison's final (men's) derby had it all: goals, a mass brawl after the final whistle, just moments after James Tarkowski's 98th-minute equaliser. The whole affair was angry and tempestuous right until the end, just the way the Old Lady likes it. For all the predictable taunts from rival fans over the '2-2 win', it meant so much to players and supporters to avoid defeat in the final Goodison derby. Moments like these are meant to be celebrated and savoured. Tarkowski, 97:08, at the Gwladys Street to draw Everton level in the last Goodison derby. A thunderous volley that immediately went into club folklore. 'It was mental,' Tarkowski later said. 'I had an 80-year-old grabbing me and a five-year-old kid pulling me to the floor. There were stewards everywhere. It was chaos but it shows what a moment it is. 'I've had a couple of promotions and played for my country but with everything happening now, leaving this iconic stadium, it will be the biggest of my career.' A thunderbolt from Tarkowski! 🚀#EVELIV highlights are out now ⤵️ — Everton (@Everton) February 12, 2025 I'll forever remember Goodison's send-off against Southampton. It felt like a day-long celebration of this place that's been like a second home to so many, and was full of poignant moments. My favourite was all four corners of Goodison singing 'There She Goes' by The La's in unison before kick off. Spontaneous, powerful and hardly a dry eye in the house. What was your favourite part of yesterday? #EndOfAnEra We'll start: a packed Goodison singing 'There She Goes' before kick-off. 🔊😍 Goosebumps. — Everton (@Everton) May 19, 2025 It was the soundtrack of the day and may be adopted as an Everton anthem at the new stadium. I still get goosebumps watching it all back now. 'The run isn't bad on paper if you add wins to it,' Dyche said after the 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in January. Just one small problem there, Sean… At that point, he looked and sounded like a beaten man — someone who had lost a grasp on reality. His exit was confirmed the following week. Advertisement 'We had unbelievable times here over the years and we need to start rebuilding again,' Moyes said after the Southampton game. 'This club felt to me like one big family, but looked broken, felt broken and it doesn't feel like that any more. 'I hope the owners are recognising what they're seeing today as well because this has to be built up to get us back to where we belong.' Bravo. Everton appear more comfortable in their own skin since his return, but now must kick on again and arrest years of decline. The ease with which Moyes moved Everton clear of relegation trouble. Granted, the bottom three have been desperately poor, but the extent of the progress since his arrival has taken even him by surprise. Moyes looked genuinely concerned after the 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in his first game back. But by March, Everton were effectively safe. It made for a stress-free end to the season and has allowed supporters to make the most of the final matches at Goodison. In the foreground, an irate Arne Slot has a meltdown after Tarkowski's late derby equaliser. Behind him, Jordan Pickford knee slides out of shot. Some say he's still going. The juxtaposition was delicious. Some say, Jordan Pickford is still sliding through Goodison 🤣😂 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 13, 2025 I'm struggling to think of an obvious standout, but Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo and Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White all impressed for their teams at Goodison. Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee too, bizarrely, in the galling 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford — but I put that aberration down to Everton's inadequacies. Advertisement The worst? Every Leicester City performance when they came to Merseyside in February. Dyche gets a three. He did a brilliant job helping Everton navigate the off-field turmoil and points deductions last season, but lacked solutions as soon as things started going wrong this time around. By the end, everyone — including Dyche — was ready for a change. An eight for Moyes, who has Everton performing more like a European contender than relegation battler. Everton have picked up 31 points from 19 games since his arrival, which would work out at around 61 points across an entire campaign. A breath of fresh air, in every sense. Put simply, the need for new players. Squad overhauls of this ilk don't come round very often, particularly not for established Premier League sides. Whether that's a blessing or a curse remains to be seen, but the amount of scope is exciting if Everton can make it work. 'After a season of consolidation, will Everton push on to the next level?'
