Everton Banter Mobile

28 Dec 2025 21:44:50
Ed25. What, in your opinion is the best we could raise, selling, Beto, McNeil and Paterson.
For me I think the best we could hope for is 15m,15m, and 5m, I understand, that in the present market 35m will not solve all our short comings, but it would be a start and TFG might match it, so that, and one or two intelligent loans, plus the return of Armstrong, and we could be in good shape for the second part of the season .

{Ed025's Note - i would say £10m, £0, £0, i dont think anyone in their right mind would actually pay a fee for players like Dwight and Patto AB, just getting them off the wage bill would be payment enough imo, i expect Beto would have a couple of suitors in the lower echelon of some European leagues though mate who are looking for a battering ram type, or maybe if we could find a team who,s scouts take back handers or who are as useless as ours..

28 Dec 2025 22:35:05
You wouldn’t get a lot because they are not Premiership level players. Maybe 10m for Beto but would be in instalments because the buying club wouldn’t have the cash for a one off payment. The other two free or loans.

28 Dec 2025 22:43:53
Moyes reckons McNeil not for sale, he just has to be Moyes love child.

28 Dec 2025 19:58:26
Dibbling will definitely come good 👍.

28 Dec 2025 15:13:21
Just watching Sunderland v Leeds, DCL looking like the DCL under Ancelloti's stewardship.

28 Dec 2025 16:01:02
Dom had downed tools for us.
Whatever the reasons, a professional player should never do that. He would be totally different with the midfield we have this season but that's his loss and ours.

28 Dec 2025 16:36:14
Well he had a lot of injuries the last few seasons. If he remains injury free he will get goals, we will see.

28 Dec 2025 18:32:22
I know WT, he was offered a contract turned it down. Gone are the days when he could have done a Cantana the abuse he took. Just pleased for the lad. Ricky scored '2' goals tonight, disallowed offside, think his fingernail was to long for the second one.

28 Dec 2025 19:58:35
Why are you pleased for the lad? He is an idiot a big head and was rubbish.

28 Dec 2025 20:08:39
People are more interested in the new stadium than what's wrong with the team.

28 Dec 2025 20:19:17
You can't blame him for leaving, the abuse he got from his own 'fans'

28 Dec 2025 20:23:54
Jeez and I thought I was a miserable git.

28 Dec 2025 20:30:17
Pleased to see the back of him myself.

28 Dec 2025 20:37:13
Always said Dom is the emotional kind of player, didn't feel wanted with us and was here through the storm, priced himself out of staying, needed a fresh start and good luck to him, he wasn't in a good place mentality, nice seeing him smiling and enjoying his purple patch, easy to say in hindsight but would have thrived feel for us with uplift in confidence throughout the club and actually being used correctly.

28 Dec 2025 20:57:10
Didn't say I wanted him back GB.

28 Dec 2025 22:05:49
Or it could just be he's not left up front on his own to chase long punts from the keeper.

{Ed025's Note - Daniel Farke played with one up front at the start of the season BMD, the results were as bad as actually watching them mate, he then had this brain wave of playing 2 up front in DCL and Okafor against City in the second half and from then on they have been miles better and good to watch...the moral of this story is....you dont always have to be pragmatic and one dimensional in football, there is such a thing as a plan B and the length of your keepers kicks does not count as a viable tactic, just my take..

28 Dec 2025 12:56:44
Mykolenko touched the ball 66 times yesterday and lost possession 20 times.

Defensively he made 1 tackle, 0 interceptions and 3 recoveries.

Two fullbacks in January should be our top priority.

{Ed025's Note - yeah BN i thought Myko was very poor and we have needed a right back for yonks, but i still think a striker is the priority mate..

28 Dec 2025 14:34:05
Striker for me can only win matches by scoring goals.

28 Dec 2025 14:48:03
Pick 5
Tarks 5
Keane 5
Mykolenko 5
Alcaraz 5
McNeil 5 (generous)
Beto 5
Barry 6 (how)
Rohl 5
Iroeg unam 7
Dibling 7
Garner 8 (get his contract signed)

28 Dec 2025 15:14:12
I’ll say it again, our strikers aren’t great by any stretch.

However the tactics Moyes uses doesn’t suit a striker and can’t see a new striker solving the issue.

We need players who are willing to and able to cross a ball, players who can run into the opposition box with the ball and maybe get a penalty or have a shot.

The way the team is set up and tactics used is horrendous.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Moyes position under consideration.

Certainly wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t sign anyone as why buy attacking players for a manager who wouldn’t know how to use them?

Also if they do think they want to change manager end of the season, unlikely they’ll buy players in January for current manager.

Its a really frustrating watch at the moment and whilst players need to take some blame - it’s not them who set up the team and tactics, Moyes should be doing better.

28 Dec 2025 15:17:29
Looks like DCL has found his form he’s scored more goals since he’s been at Leeds than both of our so called forwards have put together 😄.

28 Dec 2025 16:54:20
Why would the managers position be under consideration? You do realise that we have been a much better team than in previous seasons? And all of this after one real transfer window in order to rejuvenate the squad.

What do us fans want? We moaned when we had rafa, we moaned when we had Frank, we moaned when we had fat Sam and we moaned when we had dyche. Now, after almost 13 players leaving, and one window to sort it, we are in a better position both on and off the pitch but some still moan!

We desperately need a striker and that should be our first purchase next window. Beto is awful, nowhere near prem standard and should be sold. Barry doesn't look like he is good enough for this level either but he has time on his side, especially if we can get a goal scorer in to take the pressure off him. As pointed out in a previous post, we are creating chances, our strikers just aren't taking theirs when they arrive.

Full backs should be next on the list of priorities beginning with a right back. I agree with BN, Myko isn't good enough and also needs replacing. If the young lad isn't going to step up then a replacement needs to be found. I'd recall Armstrong to provide competition for the midfield to save us having to spread out our budget over all those positions needed.

We've come a long way in a year, replacing the manager would only set us back again. But I suppose we would have something to moan about then eh!

28 Dec 2025 18:31:08
Hit the nail on the head there bluepotato until we get at least one decent striker in things will stay the same, absolutely a must this Jan is a striker then other positions mate.

28 Dec 2025 18:35:27
Our defence seem to be doing okay with two crap fullbacks. Not a priority for me except in a wish list. Priority is a striker, was going to say also a RW but have to admit having watched the whole game Dibling will come on.

28 Dec 2025 22:14:28
Ed025, I know I sound like a broken record regards our full backs but if/when Mykolenko is replaced and a right back sourced, I believe our attacking play will improve massively. And I even think Beto/Barry will benefit and hopefully get a few more goals each.

{Ed025's Note - im sure it could help our attacking play Joe, but firstly they have to be allowed to venture forward as per the manager, the assumption that it will help Beto and Barry is negated for me mate owing to the fact that they are the two most useless forwards in the clubs history...and that includes Neil Maupay, the only caveat i can offer is that under a different manager with different tactics and maybe even a partner they could aspire to mediocrity, just my take of course..

28 Dec 2025 22:22:55
We desperately needed a striker during the summer window and unfortunately wasted £27.5M on Barry after Moyes convinced him to sign after telling him he was good enough to play in the Premier League. Unfortunately for us when it comes to buying strikers Davey's record isn't the best. Neither it would appear is our recruitment teams.

{Ed025's Note - never a truer word said SB..

28 Dec 2025 11:39:59
Alright lads, well yesterday was a bit of a downer. Once they announced the teams their wasn’t many of us thought well this should be a good match. We did however feel we still had enough to win it, but fair play to Burnley they had a few good chances but you can see why they’re near the bottom.
What did stand out for me was the total in-balance we had on either wing. On one side you had McNeil and Micky neither working in tandem with each other, unless that is McNeil played it backwards. Something he did a lot. On the other side you had young Dibling and O’Brien. Now it’s not O’Briens fault but he was never going beyond Dibling to give the lad options, therefore it was easy for the Burnley defenders to just double up on him.

This is also the same problem both Grealish and N’Diaye have when we’re playing away. Personally I thought Dibling had a good game and showed one or two moments of how good he could be. Seriously he was the only player on the pitch who got us a little excited.
Just a word on the substitutions, I was kind of hoping we might have taken McNeil off and brought Barry on alongside Beto. Pickford was just smashing long balls down the pitch to nobody, so thought well if your going to do that at least have two to aim at. But can see why Moyes made the changes he did. Burnley were taking hold of the game and it was beginning to look like another three points being thrown away.
Not great but onwards we go UTFT!

28 Dec 2025 14:54:22
Agree why not try Beto and Barry together, said it in a previous post. If we can't get a new striker in who can score then Moyes has to try something else, how much more evidence do we need that neither Beto or Barry are going to score on a regular basis if playing as a single striker.

28 Dec 2025 15:02:02
Assume with the nickname you go to away games and as you know, I believe those watching in person have a better overall view. Watching the whole game back though, I saw McNeil covering Mykos' runs.

28 Dec 2025 09:23:18
If Dibbling does come good then we could (Striker needed) have a strong side. Striker, Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibbling then Garner, KDH in front of back 4. Watched the game (full game) this morning, not a good game for us, just don't have the squad to lose 5 players, will say how bad is McNeil, surely Moyes can no longer justify picking him.

28 Dec 2025 12:35:42
I don’t think many teams could lose 5 top players and then play well with the reserves, hopefully recruits can be bought in Jan and we get our players back from AFCOM.

28 Dec 2025 12:48:23
A Striker is very much needed but I still think the fullbacks are more pressing. It would flip the whole team on it's head and give so much more freedom to our better players who you mentioned above. Strikers are hard to come by now and if you look across Europe I think the Brentford lad is in the top 3 goal scorers across all leagues behind Mbappe and Haaland.

Not many teams have decent strikers atm and as bad as ours are, I think sorting our flanks out would improve us by a bigger margin.

28 Dec 2025 13:54:37
Striker still the top priority for me BN but you make an excellent point about how hard it is to get one versus the full backs. So I’m going to be cheeky and ask for all three please.

28 Dec 2025 17:54:28
For me it's full backs to compliment our wide players in this transfer window. Getting a striker in will be really difficult.
I'm interested in the the thoughts some people have about playing both Beto and Barry up front together.

Most people agree they are not great at holding up the ball, for their size, not great in the air, and not particularly good at finishing. Can we afford 2 players like this in the team?

28 Dec 2025 22:23:20
I don't think Barry and Beto upfront together would work because we would get overrun in midfield. Even last season when Doucore played we got overrun against most decent teams so I think it would be worse with 2 strikers.
But I agree on the full backs.

Our best attacking performance that I have seen was against Fulham when Garner played right back. He wasn't great defensively but his ability further up the pitch helped N'diaye and us greatly. We scored 5 that day, although 3 were disallowed.

27 Dec 2025 23:25:50
I genuinely can’t believe there hasn’t been one single mention anywhere about VAR not even looking at the handball today.

Not a replay shown properly.
Not a “checked and cleared” explanation.
Just… nothing. Like it never happened.
And this is the problem with VAR now — the inconsistency is staggering. Week after week, game after game, the rules seem to bend depending on who’s involved. If that exact same incident happens to one of the so-called big six, we all know what follows: endless replays, ex-ref analysis, Sky Sports debates, podcasts arguing about arm position far beyond the weekend.
But when it’s us? Silence.

This is what winds me up the most. I can accept bad decisions — football’s always had them — but I can’t accept decisions not even being reviewed, especially when VAR was brought in to catch exactly this kind of thing.

VAR was sold as consistency and fairness. Right now it feels like another layer of protection for the established clubs, while the rest of us are expected to just get on with it and move on.

If this system is the future and is going to stay, we at least deserve transparency. Tell us it was checked. Show us the angles. Explain the decision. Don’t just sweep it under the carpet because it doesn’t fit the narrative of the team involved.
Because if that was one of them, we’d be talking about it for the next week.

{Ed025's Note - lets see if Dermot the dick head brings it up on Ref watch..

28 Dec 2025 03:08:55
You're fussing over nothing. An apology that we normally get will do. That's the norm for us in past few seasons. Who needs 9 to 12 points swiped away from us when an apology will do.

28 Dec 2025 09:08:04
Yeah, we’re very well practiced at accepting apologies by now.

Shame they don’t help when margins are tight and every point matters — especially when certain clubs get every angle replayed to death.

Can’t wait to frame the apologies at the end of the season next to the league table, they might be worth more than the points 🤣.

28 Dec 2025 09:36:57
Completely agree, compare the penalty given against Tarkowski at Leeds and this one .
Absolutely joke of a decision and nobody talking about it .
I know we didn't play well yesterday but likely that would have given us 3 points.

28 Dec 2025 13:57:38
We should keep the apology email safe and then use it as admission of guilt when we sue them for loss of revenue when the points costs us league position. So on that could we borrow some lawyers for Man City please?

27 Dec 2025 21:09:44
I know that we've got players missing etc., but what I would question is Moyes man management and motivational skills. I thought Dibling did well today, but why take him off with a couple of minutes to go, only to bring on our 4th choice RB, when leaving him on for the full 90 minutes would've given the lad a boost.

I know he'd been booked but I don't believe for one minute that that was the reason.
Also, once our missing players have returned the sooner McNeil goes to Forest the better. All he's shown in the last 2 games is that he can't be bothered ( something we've known for quite some time) .

27 Dec 2025 21:36:36
Feels like we’re just looking for reasons to have a pop now.

27 Dec 2025 21:58:33
The lad had a yellow and we are going to need him - yes I did say that -, Grealish back next game bench McNeil (awful) play Dibling on the right *another left footer*.

27 Dec 2025 22:37:40
Should never took alcaraz off was full of energy and running the sub should've been mcneil off for barry.

{Ed025's Note - im with you TL..

27 Dec 2025 22:54:41
Attended the game today as was lucky enough to get hospitality. Pre match i had an iffy feeling as i felt burnley were probably due a win. Terrible 1st half, burnley the better side 2nd half. Dibbling played well as did alacraz.

Tarkowski and keane fsirly solid. Take the point and move on. We are seeing steady improvement in my opinion but 1 swallow doesn't make a summer so we have to enjoy the wins and accept some frustration but overall i'm positive.

27 Dec 2025 23:49:43
It's not having a pop. It didn't make sense. Dibling was never going to get a second yellow. It was yet again like for like/ wrong substitutions, when McNeil was again absolutely dire. He just can't seem to bring himself to make positive substitutions.

When Beto had been decent by his standards what harm would it have done to play Beto and Barry together and go for the win. Like I say negative substitutions. It would just be nice for a change to see DM be a little bit more adventurous, but I won't hold my breath.

28 Dec 2025 03:11:44
If Grealish is back next game then you can guarantee that McNeil will replace Dibling on the RW. I give up on team selection now and just look to the result. Wish managers for us would just stop being scared to mix things up abit.

28 Dec 2025 11:41:13
We’ll need Dibling and Alcaraz on Tuesday, Moyes is looking at the bigger picture, not something that’s common on this site. We’re not blessed with quality in depth, this is not a surprise to anyone.

27 Dec 2025 18:36:20
Well I said I would wait until after Xmas before I post and I know our squad is thin but I haven't changed my mind, our football is awful tactics are awful and sub's are awful, I just can't enjoy watching my club while DM is here, the sooner we find a replacement and he is gone the better, can't even be bothered posting on here anymore which will be music to the ear for some, we just seem to be going over the same conversations over and over again, when will this club realize DM is not the answer, the man is so boring think it's rubbing off on the players,

27 Dec 2025 18:45:31
Have you ever been happy with a . anger Sky?

27 Dec 2025 18:51:09
Dyche?

27 Dec 2025 19:07:21
Never been happy with Moyes Chris, and what has dyche got to do with it dms?
I know some on here don't like anything said against DM but they have to understand that not everyone likes him especially me and to be honest none of my blue friends also don't want him.

27 Dec 2025 19:21:10
Thought you may want Dyche to replace him.

27 Dec 2025 19:21:34
Yep easy to slate a manager with our top players at AFCOM, players injured JB, Grealish, KDH to name but a few, any manager would struggle, thought Alcaraz, Dibling, Garner even Beto played well today would love all three points and would have if VAR had been on our side, hopefully we will get recruits in Jan but the Team is what it is work in progress,

27 Dec 2025 20:13:55
DM is a stepping stone only. everyone knows we need better if we are to challenge again.
Tbh, we have been so poor over recent years that no top manager would touch us. Now though, a new stadium, sensible owners and the nucleus of a decent suad will start to tempt bigger and better managers.


Until that happens, we have to thank David for his efforts.
UTFT NSNO IMWT.

27 Dec 2025 20:36:00
It just confirms what we all know and that is we need reinforcements especially someone who can score goals. Our squad is small and while Moyes refuses to play players who he presumable agreed to buy then we will have days like today. I am on a cruise so didn't watch the game but it appears that Dibling played relatively well but McNeil did what he normally does which is nothing.


I can't see much point in changing Managers at this point but Moyes has to start trusting the likes of Dibling and maybe Aznou and we desperately need a striker and a right-back. Also something new is needed, for example why not leave Beto on and replace McNeil with Barry?

27 Dec 2025 20:57:12
I’m with you WT.

A year ago we had our annual dread of where the points were going to come to keep us in the PL.

We’re 12 pts and 7 places off of the drop as of today.

Yes, the last three games have been frustrating and today made my xmas hangover worse, but the club is in such a better position and the FKG will get this right I feel. It is going to take at least another summer to start to get the players in that we really need to push up the table properly and DM will gwt another season after this one I think.

27 Dec 2025 21:17:34
I think Skylark’s obsession with DM is seriously colouring his judgement. No other Manager could have come in and steadied the ship the way he has done. He is dealing with a very limited squad, both in terms of quality and quantity and, in my view, he’s doing a great job.

The thought of changing Manager is ridiculous and I think DM should be given one more season after this one to really get the club back on its feet. Look where we are to previous seasons - let’s all get real.

27 Dec 2025 21:37:35
We’re punching at or over weight this season with the players we have, with Moyes at the helm. Simple as that.

27 Dec 2025 23:45:11
The reason we are away from relegation is because the teams at the bottom are bloody awful, and not because we’re that good. Burnley are bloody awful, but we spent most of our time passing it to the centre backs. People still having a pop at Dibling but he was the most composed player on the pitch.

Sadly for him when he did have the ball nobody moved. There was no running off the ball or coming and asking for the ball nothing. Beto was poor again as was McNeil. Seemed like subs meant Moyes was hanging on for the draw in the last twenty. Play like this and Forest will take us apart.

28 Dec 2025 00:22:54
We’re all playing in the same league. Progress, but some refuse to acknowledge it.

28 Dec 2025 00:58:55
Moyes has come in and got the team away from a relegation scrap. He’s the steady hand we needed.

What I don’t get, and never have, is how someone with his experience doesn’t have a plan B… if he could at least try some things out when we are winning games, in desperate need of a win when drawing or losing and requiring a change somewhere on the pitch. Like for like subs each time. Imagine if we had a plan B or even C - we’d have teams wondering how to cope with us instead of same old; same old.

28 Dec 2025 08:50:16
I agree with BR2526. I acknowledge the work Moyes has done to steady the ship but have never been a fan of his. The reason for that is his unwillingness (or his inability? ) to change tactics or come up with new ideas.

He shows by his like for like subs that he's one dimensional. I thank him for the job he's done, but I don’t believe we will get near the standard to compete for a trophy
while he's at the helm.

28 Dec 2025 12:04:25
People say the same about Arteta. How are Arsenal getting on?

28 Dec 2025 22:27:42
No they don’t. Arsenals style of play is light years ahead of us. And if things aren’t working he changes it.

27 Dec 2025 17:37:30
I thought Dibling played well for long periods myself, we were unlucky again not to get a pen, roll on Jan and we get a striker in hopefully and our trio back from AFCOM.

27 Dec 2025 18:21:50
Hes the only player on the pitch who looked composed on the ball. Trouble is whenever he did have it players around him made nil movement, so he ended up going nowhere.

27 Dec 2025 18:36:21
Yep almost like a second string Team, we are still so thin with who we can play, we all knew this would take time, take out our Three best players and we ware struggling, hopefully we can continue to build the Team in the January window and get some much needed recruits in.

27 Dec 2025 18:47:23
I agree with your OP GB but I'd add we were also very lucky not to concede, they had 2 great chances second half.

27 Dec 2025 19:28:12
So did we mate Beto was unlucky and I thought we had a good shout for a pen, but had to settle for a point, we have such a thin squad mate.

27 Dec 2025 23:47:11
That squad should still have been good enough to beat Burnley.

27 Dec 2025 17:31:57
Well I thought out of the 2 wingers, Dibling was much better than McNeil but also since his injury and his problems with his partner, he hasn't been the same player as before. As for Dibling, I think with more game time he will grow in confidence and his performances will improve.

27 Dec 2025 17:37:37
Not hard but yet to convince but best I can say is on the RW the lad should come on before McNeil.

27 Dec 2025 18:23:04
Exactly dentielad he just needs games now.

27 Dec 2025 18:48:23
I really really really hope Bozo comes in for McNeil.

27 Dec 2025 19:04:35
Out of two wingers Dibling was better. Saw a report by a Journo that Dibling was replaced by Mark Travers.

27 Dec 2025 19:41:13
Thought he was replaced by Patterson.

On the whole, he did better than McNeil but McNeil was poor. Very poor in fact.

28 Dec 2025 03:14:04
We have enough keepers on the bench to get subbed on. A keeper will be on before any youth on bench.