David Moyes is looking to push Everton into the top half of the Premier League and ultimately European contention, and a long-time rival believes he needs time - from both the board, and Everton supporters
Everton boss David Moyes is rebuilding his side
Everton boss David Moyes is rebuilding his side(Image: 2026 Marc Atkins)
View Image
Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis has urged Everton supporters to give David Moyes time as he attempts to rebuild Everton.
The ex-Stoke City boss pointed to what Moyes was able to achieve in his first spell at the club, when he pushed the Blues into consistent European qualification and Champions League contention, as he cast his judgement on the work of his second stint so far. Pulis highlighted the spending gap Moyes was trying to overcome to push the club back towards Europe and, against that backdrop, said he believed Christian Norgaard was a strong signing.
On Everton and the task facing Moyes, Pulis said: “Everton are a massive club, and they've always got that team right next to them who have been very, very successful. David's had an unbelievable career, a fantastic career, and I think if you look at what he did at Everton before he left, it was remarkable.
“You've just got to give him time. He'll know what he wants and he'll know how to do it. Again, he's under financial constraints, without a question of a doubt. Have a look at what they can spend compared to what Liverpool have spent, or compared to what Chelsea are spending.
“The supporters expect Everton to be up in that top four or five, but the expectations there just outweigh what they can achieve at the moment. They have to be a little bit patient and allow David to put something together.”
Get YOUR Everton FC Newsletter
Get the best Everton FC news and analysis straight to your Inbox courtesy of the Echo!
To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:
While the financial foundation provided by the combination of the Friedkin Group and the commercial opportunities made available by the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium mean Everton are now upwardly mobile, there are still some challenges.
Club turnover is expected to break £250m when the next set of accounts are revealed - a club record yet still significantly less than the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United, two clubs the Blues would like to overhaul in their assault on the European places.
It had appeared as though Everton would be able to do that last season, only for the campaign to end in a run of seven matches without a win, turning serious hopes of a top eight finish into a disappointing 13th.
Work to build on the last campaign is underway, with Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George having had their loan spells turned into permanent moves and Hayden Hackney and, this week, Norgaard having been acquired to bolster Moyes’ midfield.
Pulis told Midnite, who's Built Different Index ranks all 92 clubs across the Premier League, Championship, League One and League to focus on what makes each club unique, chaotic or genuinely special: “It's not going to happen instantly with the situation they're in; they've got to understand that and give him time to build a team.
“He's made another good signing with Christian Norgaard, but people are questioning that. He's a fantastic professional and, again, I think he will be a great help for David.”