Former Blues star Michael Ball gives his verdict on the club's summer transfer window
The Everton players celebrate scoring against Wolves (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
All of a sudden there is competition for places across the pitch for Everton. The transfer window started off quite slowly and, through pre-season, it started to look like that might not be the case.
But across a busy summer - one that was always going to be really difficult to get right - I think Everton have done a good job. I think David Moyes and everyone else involved deserves genuine credit.
With so many players set to leave the club at the end of June, this was a massive rebuilding project. It would have been so easy to have fallen into the trap of panic buying, or bringing in players just for the sake of it, particularly as the season started with a few holes in the squad.
Instead, the club appeared to maintain its composure and that paid off, with the Tyler Dibling move coming into place because Everton were willing to hold firm and be patient.
Would I have liked one or two more additions? Yes - but again, I would have only wanted them if it was believed they were genuinely capable of making an impact. You only have to look at what has happened to Dwight McNeil to see the level of progress made. Under Sean Dyche, say, 12 months ago, he would have been one of the first names on the teamsheet. Now he is in a battle with two or three other players to get a game. That is tough on McNeil but it points to a level of depth Everton have long been unable to call upon.
One of those he is competing against is Dibling, who I think is a really exciting prospect. Again, he is a big name arrival that Everton paid a lot of money for and Moyes had the opportunity to not throw him straight into the team at Molineux on Saturday. Hopefully that competition breeds hunger. It should also reduce pressure on him and allow Moyes to rotate through matches - an Everton manager hasn’t had that luxury for some time.
Heading into deadline day it was important another new player came through the door and they got there with Merlin Rohl. If I could have added another it may have been a forward with a different type of profile to Beto and Thierno Barry, someone who could create a different type of problem should Plan A not be working. But I ended this window pleased and I think Moyes will also be happy.
Of the nine deals achieved, Jack Grealish is my favourite - so far, it has to be him. I wasn’t too sure at first. Really, I would love wide players with pace who can attack the byline and look to get crosses into the box. He does the opposite but his impact has been immediate and he has proved me wrong. His intelligence and composure is so impressive and he is bringing the best out of those around him too. He deserves even more plaudits for his start at Everton given he barely played last year or through pre-season. It has also been great to see him embrace the club in the way he has.
Watching him at Wolves was a joy, and so was witnessing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye in full flow. The Wolves left back appeared terrified of Ndiaye, he looked desperate to get off the pitch at times. When you consider what those three players did and that Dibling and McNeil did not get off the bench and Carlos Alcaraz only came on at the end, then this feels like a really exciting time for Everton supporters.