Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has given an interview, discussing Everton's transfer window, ambitions, and Harrison Armstrong.
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Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has suggested that he was 'annoyed' at the meltdowns following the end of the summer transfer window.
The Toffees endured a difficult end to the summer window, going into the remainder of the campaign with just one recognised striker, one recognised right-back, and one recognised left-back.
Everton failed with a late move to sign Folarin Balogun after issues with his medical were raised on deadline day. The Toffees had already allowed Beto to depart, leaving them with just one striker.
Evertonians have voiced their frustrations at the transfer business carried out by Everton, which is understandable given how it ended.
Dewsbury-Hall still believes Everton have a strong enough squad to do well this year, despite having a smaller squad than most in the Premier League.
If the Toffees have any injuries this year, they will be forced to name academy players on the bench, which is never a good sign when it comes to squad building.
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Dewsbury-Hall voices frustrations
In an interview, as relayed by the Liverpool Echo, Dewsbury-Hall has claimed that he was 'annoyed' by the meltdowns following Everton's summer transfer window. The former Chelsea midfielder claims that the Toffees have a strong group of lads in the building who are capable of achieving good things.
"I’ve seen all of the stuff, all of the meltdowns and this and that, and in all honestly it annoyed me a bit because, I get where people are coming from, everyone wants to sign everyone and have the perfect squad, but there are still [a group of] lads in this building who are going to hopefully take this club to good things this year."
Dewsbury-Hall also discussed the mentality of the current group, with Everton grafting until the very end against both Bournemouth and Manchester United lately.
"Moments like the weekend definitely help as well. And the weekend before as well. It’s shown the mentality of the lads that in the first three games of the season we have scored two late equalisers against two very good teams. Moments like that are definitely going to help and it's going to take us far this year if we keep that mentality of ‘we’re not out of it’ until the final minute. It’s really pleasing."
Dewsbury-Hall recognises that Everton do have a smaller squad than most, but he believes that it is a European starting XI. The midfielder thinks that the XI has certainly improved since a few years ago.
"I know we've got a smaller squad but we've got some really good players. I’ve been speaking about this. Our starting XI is top, like it's a European starting XI. I get it, you need a whole squad, but we've got 17, 18 players at a really, really good level. I don't think a couple of years ago it was at that level, actually I know it wasn't."
"Obviously you want to add a couple more if you can but in football things are out of your hands and that’s what happened for us. But we quickly realised, hang on a minute, look around the dressing room - top player, top player, top player. If we're doing the right things we can still be successful... That was getting disregarded.
Dewsbury-Hall has suggested that he's seen people claim that Everton will now be lucky to stay up in the Premier League following the end to the summer window, but he's quick to back the current group of players who remain at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
"I was seeing people saying: ‘We’ll be lucky to stay up this year’ What message is that sending to the lads who are already here? I’m not blaming anyone. We get it. It didn’t work. But let’s all be positive - right, it’s done, bang, let's go - and that's what we've been trying to say in the dressing room.
"Of course we would have wanted to sign a couple more but we're happy with what we've got and it’s given us more impetus now to move on."
Speaking on young midfielder Harrison Armstrong, who almost made a move to Nottingham Forest, Dewsbury-Hall praises the supporters for making their feelings known on the situation.
"They definitely made their feelings known and obviously it worked. Big credit to them for that. To be fair, they were amazing that day. And I know for a fact it made Harrison feel very good and it helped him. He's had a great start to the season. So that's going to help his confidence even more."
Dewsbury-Hall also believes Everton will be in a better position to get over the line if they manage to find themselves battling for European places this season. The former Leicester man believes that they have now lived that experience, and they know where they went wrong and can learn from the mistakes.
"Experience, for one. That was the first year in I don’t know how many years where we have been really pushing for Europe until the last day. Having that in our locker is massive. If we are in that position again… it was almost a bit alien to us as a club last year. Everyone might be a bit jittery behind the scenes: 'Oh… oh… oh.' Now if we are in this position again, we have been in it before, we know what we did wrong and are learning from those mistakes.
"We are not going to be playing 50 games this year, if people are doing the right things, on and off the pitch, that’s on us and the club so when it comes to the last 10-15 games, we are not lagging. Experience is the biggest thing, we have to learn from that. I know I will, the lads will. That’s the difference this year."