David Moyes has steered Everton to seven matches unbeaten so far this season despite a chaotic end to the summer transfer window
Jack Grealish during the match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026
Jack Grealish during the match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026(Image: Gary Oakley - Everton FC via Getty Images)
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David Moyes is performing wonders at Everton because the club’s chaotic end to the summer transfer window has left him working with his hands “tied behind his back”, reckons a former Blues star.
Everton overcame Ipswich Town 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday to ensure they went into the first international break of the season undefeated after seven matches in all competitions. It’s a remarkable achievement from the Glaswegian gaffer, who steered the Blues to nine top-eight finishes and a highest-ever Premier League position of fourth during his first spell in charge.
Despite pocketing over £100million on deadline day with their most creative talent Iliman Ndiaye, last season’s top scorer Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson all sold, plus Adam Aznou loaned out, following the late collapse of the purchase of USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun from Monaco, Everton were left with a first-team squad of just 18 outfield players – with 16 currently fit given that Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl are injured – that contains a single striker, left-back and right-back.
Aiden McGeady, who was snapped up for the Blues from Spartak Moscow by Roberto Martinez in 2014, told BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest Premier League odds: “It looks like things have been difficult because the ownership are quite clearly not communicating with the manager, the things that I’ve read.
“Obviously David Moyes’ hands are tied behind his back a little bit when he’s not getting players in that he wants and you can quite clearly see Everton need another striker. I know Thierno Barry obviously has done well in the last season and he started okay as well, but the onus is on him to propel the team to European football.
“It’s going to be difficult, the squad is pretty light. I think everybody would agree with that, I think that goes without saying.
“Keeping clean sheets is David Moyes’ mantra. It’s been his whole career, hasn’t it?
Most of his teams have always been difficult to beat. But yeah, that’s the problem, where are the majority of goals going to come from?”
McGeady, now 40, scored once in 43 matches for Everton, and he’s tipped Jack Grealish’s creativity to be a key factor for the current team after the first £100million English footballer’s return for a second loan spell.
He said: “I think Jack Grealish did well last season at Everton. By all accounts, the fans took to him.
“I don’t think his output was amazing in terms of goals and assists (two goals and six assists in 20 Premier League games), but he’s a top player and to have that kind of player in the Everton team can only benefit them.
“They’re a little bit light on creativity and Jack Grealish is one that fits the bill. He’s really important for the team because I think a lot of the fans were really unhappy with how the transfer window ended.
“So, to get him in is great, though Moyes would have liked a striker in as well, like Folarin Balogun, which never happened. But hopefully come January they’ll get some reinforcements in.”