Everton fans have been left baffled by David Moyes’ refusal to bring on Tyler Dibling against Sunderland.
The Toffees drew 1-1 at Sunderland on Monday night, but a point felt like a real missed opportunity.
Iliman Ndiaye’s stunning opener should have been the catalyst for a superb Everton away win.
That was not the case, as Sunderland seized the initiative in the second half and Everton barely created a chance.
Everton fans were left baffled by Dwight McNeil’s introduction from the bench, as Tyler Dibling was ignored.
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One aspect of David Moyes’ Tyler Dibling stance is baffling
Everton paid big money for Dibling over the summer, luring the winger away from Southampton.
Dibling showed major potential in the Premier League last season, but has struggled for first-team action so far.
Dibling was substituted at half-time in his only Premier League start for Everton, and has now played just 63 minutes of league action.
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We can understand David Moyes perhaps wanting to ease Dibling in slowly, given that he is still just 19.
This is not a player with no Premier League experience, though, as he played almost 2000 minutes of top-flight action last season.
Not starting Dibling in every game is understandable, but to not even bring him on is bizarre.
Dibling cannot truly adjust to Premier League life as an Everton player without chances to shine.
Maybe Moyes felt that Premier League experience was needed at Sunderland, having thrown on McNeil and Tim Iroegbunam over Dibling and Merlin Rohl.
Dibling hasn’t even been on the pitch in Everton’s last two games, though, and Moyes must find ways to get him on the pitch to justify the summer investment.
Iliman Ndiaye’s development has impacted Tyler Dibling’s minutes
Dibling was brought in to be Everton’s right-winger of the future.
The problem is that Everton also signed Jack Grealish, deploying him on the left flank.
That means Iliman Ndiaye has been shifted to the right flank, and he has adjusted brilliantly.
Ndiaye has become Everton’s star man this season, even ahead of Grealish.
It’s difficult for Dibling to break into the team when Ndiaye is shining so much in a new role on the right side.
The frustration comes with Dibling not being used from the bench when Ndiaye picked up an injury against Sunderland, especially with no European or Carabao Cup action to lean on for other opportunities.