David Moyes faces challenges with squad depth and player fitness
David Moyes has never been shy about confronting a problem head on, and right now one of his biggest frustrations is a signing he still hasn’t seen on the pitch.
“We haven't even had him on the grass yet,” he admitted, laying bare the extent of a delayed recovery that has dragged on far longer than Everton expected. “I don't think we expected his recovery to take this long when we signed him. We are looking forward to gaining his experience, but we haven't even had him on the grass yet. It is disappointing - for us and for him - but hopefully it won't be too long.”
The irritation is obvious, but so is the anticipation. Moyes knows that when this player is finally fit, he is supposed to add nous and leadership to a small, tight group that has started the season unbeaten but not entirely satisfied.
Grealish poised for long-awaited start
If the wait for one signing has tested Moyes’ patience, the return of another attacking talent is lifting the mood. Jack Grealish, he says, is not built to live on training sessions alone.
Grealish is “a boy who needs football matches more than he needs training”, Moyes insisted, hinting strongly that this weekend could bring his first start since January. That is a long time for a player who thrives on rhythm and responsibility.
“It will be incredibly exciting to have him in our starting line-up,” Moyes said. “If he gives us what he gave us at the start of last season, we will be thrilled.”
The message is clear: Grealish is not being eased back in as a luxury. He is being lined up as a central figure in Everton’s attacking plan.
Unbeaten – but not quite content
Everton have navigated the early weeks of the campaign without defeat, a platform any manager would normally welcome. Moyes does, but only up to a point.
The start is “pleasing in some aspects”, he conceded, before adding that he “would have liked to get another win rather than a draw somewhere along the way”. The standards are creeping higher. The bar has moved.
He still found room to credit his squad, describing how his players have done “a really good job” in handling the demands so far. The sense is of a manager who appreciates the effort but wants sharper edges, more ruthlessness.
Small squad, strong bond
Moyes has long believed in the power of a tight-knit dressing room, and he sees that reflected in the current Everton group. With only 18 outfield players available, the squad is lean, but the manager detects a clear upside.
“You only have to look at Leicester City's title-winning squad to see how their small group of players thrived,” he said, drawing a direct line between numbers and togetherness. The fewer the faces, the stronger the bond.
There is a catch. The modern calendar is unforgiving. “It's the amount of games which means you need the extra players,” he admitted, before pointing out that this year, without European football, Everton might just be able to “find a way of getting through with what we've got.”
Even so, this is not his ideal scenario. Asked what he would prefer, Moyes was blunt: he would rather have had “more numbers” this season. His target was “21 outfield players” instead of the 18 he currently has at his disposal. That gap explains why Everton are now scanning the market.
Free agents on the radar
The club have turned to the free agent pool in search of reinforcements, a notoriously tricky route at Premier League level. Moyes confirmed that Everton are exploring options, but he did not dress it up.
They are open to boosting the squad, though “it isn't easy to find a player who could make a difference” in this league. The right profile, at the right fitness level, on the right terms – it is a narrow window.
Until someone arrives, Moyes will continue to lean on the unity he has and the fitness of a core group who will be asked to go again and again.
Tottenham test and a familiar struggle
Next up are Tottenham, still without a league goal or a win. On paper, it looks like an opportunity. Moyes refuses to treat it that way.
“It wasn't too long ago that we were in those situations as a club,” he said, drawing on Everton’s own recent scars. “We know we can only look after ourselves. We didn't quite make it over the line there a couple of months ago, so hopefully we do it this time.”
There is respect in that memory, and also a challenge to his own players. They have been here before. This time, he expects them to finish the job.
Break brings its own risks
Just beyond the Tottenham fixture sits the international break – two weeks that can stretch a squad as much as any league run.
Moyes called it “difficult for everybody to manage”, and the reasons are obvious. “There will be a lot of players who will end up playing a lot more minutes than others and injuries could be a problem as well,” he warned.
The balancing act is delicate. “We've got to hope that our boys do play a bit, but maybe not all of the games.” Enough minutes to keep sharp, not so many that they return exhausted or injured.
For a manager working with 18 outfield players, waiting on one long-term recovery and pinning fresh hope on Jack Grealish, that fine line between momentum and overload might define what Everton’s season becomes.
