Our Everton jury have returned for the final time this season to share their views on the campaign, as well as looking ahead to the summer and next season
Everton manager David Moyes
Everton manager David Moyes
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Everton’s Premier League season ended in disappointment after they missed out on European football. The Blues headed into the month of April in a good position following a run of impressive results.
However, David Moyes’ side failed to win any of their final seven games of the campaign and eventually finished 13th in the table. While off the pitch, it was a historic season for the club, with Everton playing in their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
And with the dust now starting to settle on the season, our fans' jury have returned to have their say on the campaign.
Paul McParlan
When the new season kicked off on August 18 after our recent relegation struggles, most fans would have accepted a mid-table finish and a cup run. Losing our first game away at newly promoted Leeds United confirmed that view.
Nevertheless, David Moyes had been given money to spend, and the arrival of Jack Grealish raised optimism among Blues. That feelgood factor fluctuated for most of the campaign but finally crumbled in the last seven games of the season.
There were several highs. The team secured a gritty away win with 10 men at Manchester United. The victories at Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa raised hopes that Europe was possible in an incredibly congested table where any team between sixth and 14th had a chance of qualifying.
However, in contrast, the home form has been hugely disappointing. We didn’t win any of our six games at Hill Dickinson Stadium from the start of 2026, which included an early FA Cup exit to Sunderland.
Everton players look on during their penalty shootout defeat to Sunderland
Everton players look on during their penalty shootout defeat to Sunderland(Image: (Jess Hornby/Getty Images))
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After crashing out of the League Cup in August, the FA Cup was our last hope of a trophy gone. Questions were being asked of the manager, but our excellent away form kept us in European contention. Two home wins in March vs Burnley and Chelsea meant that three wins from our final seven games would be enough to qualify.
It all went wrong after the international break, with Everton failing to win a single game and blowing any prospect of Europe. The capitulation at Tottenham last Sunday, after the collapse against Sunderland, saw fans vent their frustration towards the manager and the players. Who could blame them? It was a season that promised so much and delivered so little.
Off the field, the club is making considerable progress. Revenue streams have been maximized, and the new stadium has been a massive income generator. Gradually, fans are starting to embrace Hill Dickinson Stadium; it is beginning to feel like home. The signs are positive.
Hill Dickinson Stadium before Everton's Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion
Hill Dickinson Stadium before Everton's Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion(Image: (Ryan Jenkinson/Everton FC))
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The big concerns are on the pitch. The Friedkin Group have supported David Moyes and valued the stability he brought to the club. However, there is intense frustration at the failure to reach Europe when it seemed within our grasp.
My final thoughts. If all you wanted from this season was stability and not fighting relegation again, then you will be pleased. However, if you want a cup run and a challenge for Europe, you will be unhappy.
This is the best squad we have had for a long time, but they have not made the progress expected. One point more than last time is simply not good enough, and eight defeats at home is unacceptable.
We could and should have achieved so much more. Score for the season: 6/10. Could do better!
James Kellett
Everton’s final matches of the season have cast a shroud of negativity over a club that was dreaming of Champions League nights just weeks ago.
The 3-0 victory against Chelsea in March made a statement of intent for their Premier League campaign, and the Blues looked like serious contenders to qualify for a European competition.
But a gutting last-minute defeat in the first Merseyside derby at our new home truly sent their season off the rails, and what followed was further late heartbreak, lacklustre performances, and heavy criticism of David Moyes.
All this negativity is understandable, with the root hailing from over 30 years of failure and an ever-expanding trophy drought.
Yet through all of this, it appears Moyes still has full confidence from the Everton board, and he will lead his club through another critical transfer window.
Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 24, 2026. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
David Moyes gestures on the touchline during the Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton(Image: Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images)
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Last summer proved to be the Blues' first opportunity in some time, when they could spend heavily in a window.
Their recruitment proved to be a mixed bag, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish impressing, but young talents such as Tyler Dibling and Adam Aznou have failed to make a mark on Merseyside.
The upcoming window and pre-season must be executed flawlessly by Everton’s manager, as failure to show progress from the horror show that was their final matches of the campaign will turn the scene at Hill Dickinson Stadium extremely toxic.
It is nervous times for Evertonians, yet we all have reason to have some hope ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Everton’s best defender, Jarrad Branthwaite, looks set to have a full pre-season with his team, providing the perfect opportunity to rebuild match fitness.
Everton's English defender #32 Jarrad Branthwaite reacts as he leaves on a stretcher during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Jarrad Branthwaite holds his head in his hands as he is stretchered off for Everton against Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Their most influential attacker, Jack Grealish, is also continuing his recovery on Merseyside, which indicates the Manchester City loanee could also make a return.
Both of these key figures did not feature in the Blues' awful run-in, and rejoining first-team action could remedy the squad’s issues that were so prevalent.
It is easy to be negative about Everton, but the club's season should not be defined by two poor months in a long season.
Moyes deserves a chance to continue the build that he kicked off during last summer’s window, but he will know the thin ice he is currently treading.
Mark McParlan
In the summer came £110m of spending, with £13m spent on the permanent acquisition of Charly Alcaraz, which seemed like obvious business - that he only played 685 Premier League minutes this term was disappointing.
Thierno Barry arrived for £26m and has severely divided opinion all season. Eight goals is not a terrible return, but gigantic question marks remain.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has justified a £25m fee with an excellent eight goals and six assists from midfield in 31 Premier League matches. Finally: £35-£40m spent on Tyler Dibling for no return, and the £8m on Adam Aznou for 34 minutes of football.... unbelievable.
The season got off to a very bad start with my trip to Leeds on a Monday night. Once again, not ready to start a season and punished by an excited newly promoted side.
But superstar Jack Grealish had arrived on loan. And so did our improvement – wins over Brighton and Wolves – five goals, including four Grealish assists. Our form didn’t quite continue, failing to win in the next four, including a dismal League Cup exit on returning to Molineux.
Jack Grealish of Everton acknowledges the fans as he celebrates victory at Aston Villa, his final game before the emergence of a season-ending injury. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Jack Grealish of Everton acknowledges the fans as he celebrates victory at Aston Villa, his final game before the emergence of a season-ending injury. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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From October to early December, warning signs of heavy defeats against Tottenham and Newcastle shattered new home invincibility, but form was clearly good overall, seeing wins over Fulham, Manchester United, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest. We were seventh on December 8.
Then January and February, despite brilliant away wins at Aston Villa, Fulham, and Newcastle, saw the total and utter collapse of our home form. Comprehensively destroyed by Brentford, followed three days later by drawing against rock-bottom Wolves, including two Everton red cards.
Followed three days later again by yet another embarrassing home performance and early cup exit at the hands of Sunderland. That shoot-out, scoring no penalties, was utterly embarrassing. Did we win any of the next three home matches? No, we drew against relegation-battling Leeds, collapsed again to lose to Bournemouth, and lost to Manchester United. It was miserable.
But then, the great Everton springtime resurgence. We won three out of four, culminating in that 3-0 demolition of Chelsea, which gave our stadium its greatest night and the fans dreams of Europe. We could do it. We will do it.
Then, after the break, the slowly unfolding car crash we’ve just experienced. Going back and reading my own juries from the past two months is nightmarish. I don’t want to rehash any of it. It has been said.