It is a testament to Everton's growth under David Moyes that their recent 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the Premier League was met with frustration.
This is because Everton were expected to win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and that belief was strengthened when Michael Keane powered home a first-half header to open the scoring.
Everton defender Michael Keane
But the Toffees ended up labouring to a draw against Nuno Espirito Santo's Hammers, with the point gained lifting them into ninth place in the standings.
Expectations have indeed been raised, with newbie Jack Grealish leading the charge.
Jack Grealish at Everton
Grealish will be disappointed with his performance against West Ham. Everton's positive play flowed through the 30-year-old playmaker, who wasn't at his best but still looked a constant threat, with Sofascore recording that he created four chances and won seven duels.
David-Moyes-Everton-Grealish
With four assists to his name in August, Grealish was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award, and though he and Everton have not since claimed three points, drawing twice and losing a close game at Anfield, his level of performance remains impressive.
Grealish, perhaps excitingly, hasn't reached his optimum level yet. There is more to come. However, as Everton grow and improve under Moyes' wing, so too does the spotlight increase on certain stars.
And there are a few who might be holding Grealish back.
Moyes must drop £55m duo
Grealish has yet to score in an Everton shirt, but that's not the end of the world. The Three Lions star has never been the most prolific of attacking midfielders, and he adds much to the build-up patterns and creative flow. That is his bread and butter.
Jack Grealish for Everton
The problem, though, is that Grealish is supported by a full-back in Vitalii Mykolenko, who leaves much to be desired from an attacking standpoint, and is surmounted by Beto at number nine, who has endured a tough, luckless start to the season.
Mykolenko was chased by Napoli this summer, who were willing to pay around £26m for his services. Everton turned it down, but may come to regret that decision if his fitness and form do not improve.
Undoubtedly, Beto has improved since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche, but the Bissau Guinean striker enjoyed a bright purple patch shortly after the Scotsman's arrival, bagging five in four, and has since plateaued, with only one strike to his name this term and a litany of missed opportunities.
Beto in the Premier League
Stats
Games
Starts
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Data via Transfermarkt
Everton writer Ell Bretland even remarked that "Beto’s lack of hold-up play and Mylolenko not getting forward" has been stifling the esteemed loanee, who is not being supported effectively from behind and who is struggling to get a tune out of Everton's misfiring centre-forward, who was signed from Udinese for up to £30m in 2023.
This may require a left-field solution. Iliman Ndiaye, for example, has played up front during his career before, and no Everton player has scored more than his 13 goals since joining the club from Marseille in 2024.
Iliman Ndiaye for Everton
Iliman Ndiaye for Everton
It would change the dynamic of Everton's team, but with Tyler Dibling looking to nail down a starting berth of his own, this may be an outlook that would bear dividends for Moyes down the line.
James Garner provided a sumptuous assist for Keane at the weekend, too, and has played three times as a stand-in left-back in the Premier League this season, averaging 1.2 chances per game.
There is much for Moyes to ponder, but if Mykolenko and Beto fail to find form, they must be dropped to raise the level of the collective, and that not only includes Grealish but is shaped and charged by him.