David Moyes has been speaking about his dilemma over Thierno Barry and Beto plus Tyler Dibling's future ahead of Everton's trip to Crystal Palace
Everton manager David Moyes speaks to the media
Everton manager David Moyes speaks to the media
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Everton manager David Moyes admits he has a selection dilemma over who spearheads the attack at Crystal Palace on Sunday but insists that’s been the case for most of the season.
Until the Blues’ previous away game at West Ham United, Beto and Thierno Barry were two of only three players to have turned out for Everton in every game this term. However, after going off against Liverpool, the former, who had netted four goals in his three previous matches, was ruled out through concussion.
Beto returned to the starting line-up against Manchester City but after making way on 64 minutes, his replacement Barry came off the bench to net twice in a 3-3 draw.
Asked if he now had a big decision to make, Moyes said: “A little bit when somebody scores two goals. Beto has been quite consistent in the last month or so from that point of view there’s another argument to that.
“I think all season I’ve had a decision to make. We’ve chopped and changed a little bit with them to find who’s in form, who is scoring, who looks good in training.”
In terms of whether he’d ever start with both of them as a strike partnership – something Barry would regularly do at previous club Villarreal, who often played 4-4-2 – the Blues boss said: “Maybe. You need to change a few bits and pieces with the team for that to happen.
“We’ve done it before, we’ve tried it before in the odd game. If I get to the point where I have to do it to try and win or it’s a must-win situation then I would try and get the most attacking players on the pitch as I can.”
Merlin Rohl, without a start since the 1-0 win at Aston Villa, came in from the cold to be restored to the team against Man City and impressed on the right wing.
That’s the natural position of Everton’s most expensive signing of last summer, Tyler Dibling, but the £35million recruit from Southampton hasn’t started since he was hooked at half-time at home to Brentford on January 4, and has featured for just a solitary minute in the Blues’ last 11 matches.
In regards of where the 20-year-old is up to, Moyes said: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s probably found it a little bit difficult settling and getting game time, especially at the start with Jack Grealish in the team.
“We like him a lot. We think he’s got a lot of talent, so he’ll have a lot to show next year and hopefully he’ll show that when he gets the opportunities.”