Everton claimed a much-needed 2-0 Premier League victory over Fulham on Saturday - and now our Blues jury have returned to have their say on the game
Thierno Barry battles against Calvin Bassey during Everton's win over Fulham
Thierno Barry battles against Calvin Bassey during Everton's win over Fulham
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Everton returned to winning ways against Fulham on Saturday. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane got the goals in a victory which would have been more comfortable had the hosts not had three goals ruled out for offside.
It was Everton’s first victory since the last-gasp 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at the start of October. The result means the Blues headed into the November international break in 13th in the Premier League table.
And with Saturday’s win at Hill Dickinson Stadium in mind, our Everton jury have returned to have their say.
Mark McParlan - Everything was positive from the very start
Saturday was a wonderful experience and the most thoroughly deserved and routine of our three Premier League wins at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Everything was positive from the very start. The fans were prepared to put aside unsatisfactory recent form and get behind the team. A 3pm Saturday kick-off, with the weather holding up for the time of year.
We were brilliant and immediately the better team right from the first seconds of the match. The scoreline read Everton 2-0 Fulham, but we had the ball in their net five times, and the scoreline could have been anything.
It was a result, and an assured, confident performance we all really needed: the fans, the stadium, the manager, and the players. Watching Everton was fun, not nerve-wracking.
It’s worth saying that Fulham offered absolutely nothing, and most opposition has proven sterner.
It is clear now that James Garner at full-back provides us with so much more dynamism, progression, and link-up with the wingers. He’s really kicked on this season, and his versatility is so valuable – I even recall spells playing on the wing in 2023/24.
David Moyes speaks with Thierno Barry during the match between Everton and Fulham at Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 8, 2025
David Moyes speaks with Thierno Barry during the match between Everton and Fulham at Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 8, 2025
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Elsewhere, it was Thierno Barry’s most encouraging performance yet, finally looking part of an attacking unit, even if still waiting for a goal (or indeed a shot on target).
Any recent criticism of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was answered by a fine attacking midfield performance, where his excellent low shot, swept into the goal, was unlucky to be disallowed. Michael Keane has shocked everyone. Many wanted him gone.
I wanted him to stay only because it seemed financially prudent to renew his contract, rather than spending on another player, but there is genuinely an argument for calling him our player of the season.
It was great to hear the Evertonians in full voice outside after the game. The loud renditions of ‘Jordan Pickford is Dynamite’ show the value of tunes which easily catch on and carry, rather than overly elaborate guitar compositions that dissipate into the air and fail to reverberate around a whole football stadium.
Overall, a much better feeling. Even the previous week’s draw with Sunderland has been put into perspective by Arsenal becoming the latest side to drop points there.
At this stage, our season undoubtedly presents something of a crossroads – five points off relegation, but five points off third.
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Daniel Smith - David Moyes has to stick with Thierno Barry
There is no denying that Saturday’s win over Fulham was a much-needed one.
Heading into the game, I was concerned that it could be another case of a home game passing us by.
However, I thought we were excellent – even though we have to acknowledge that Fulham were terrible, and it is easy to see why there are rumours about Marco Silva’s future.
But the thing for me on Saturday was the performance of Thierno Barry. I thought he was outstanding and deserved the standing ovation he received when he was replaced.
There was one moment that summed up Barry’s performance, and it arrived just after the half-hour mark.
After chasing down a ball in the channel, he was eventually fouled by Calvin Bassey, winning Everton a free-kick in a good position.
Sometimes it is the small things that make all the difference. The only negative was the goal he had chalked off for offside.
When you are on a run like Barry has been, you need a bit of luck; it looked like the tap he had got himself was that luck.
But it wasn’t to be. However, one thing is certain, and that is David Moyes has to stick with Barry moving forward.
He has to give him a run of games starting with Manchester United at Old Trafford after the international break.
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