Our Everton jury have returned to have their say after their side headed into the international break unbeated after beating Ipswich Town on Saturday
David Moyes speaks to Tyler Dibling during Everton's win over Wolves
David Moyes speaks to Tyler Dibling during Everton's win over Wolves(Image: (Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images))
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Everton continued their unbeaten start to the season with a victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday. Thierno Barry’s goal during the first-half was enough to secure the Blues another three points.
The forward’s fifth goal of the season was somewhat fortuitous, as James Tarkowski’s effort from range hit him and flew past Christian Walton in the Ipswich goal and into the net. While VAR denied him a second of the afternoon midway through the second-half.
But with the international break now upon us, our Everton jury have returned to have their say.
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Mark McParlan
The picture of the week was the release of our all-squad photo, featuring just eighteen outfield players - a hilarious throwback to the 1980s. But so far David Moyes is proving that this is where he thrives.
The 1-0 home win against Ipswich Town on Saturday was not entirely convincing, like the Wolves win, but we’ve got the job done again. It could have been a more comfortable result if Barry’s second goal hadn’t been ruled out - I can’t help thinking the Manchester derby decision influenced events here.
There’s plenty to be encouraged about; we clearly have a strong XI of players and are competitive in every match we play. We’re finally seeing encouraging signs from Tyler Dibling, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles has slotted into the side without apparent issue. The squad is without injury, bar Christian Norgaard. We are unbeaten in seven to start the season.
But the three weeks of disruptive international break purgatory have arrived at precisely this moment. Clearly the Nations League is a significant improvement on meaningless friendlies, but this extended absence is going to be tough for Premier League fans.
Hayden Hackney, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner before the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton on September 12, 2026
Hayden Hackney, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner before the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton on September 12, 2026(Image: Tony McArdle - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images)
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However, Jarrad Branthwaite and now James Garner have both earned much-deserved recalls to the England setup. We want players to see that you can achieve things while playing for Everton. Unfortunately with Branthwaite, every second he plays will have Evertonians on high alert for potential injury.
It’s encouraging, though, to see a very strong domestic core to the Everton squad – of the fifteen players involved against Ipswich, 11 were English, plus one each Welsh and Irish.
I just hope we can maintain our solid form when the going gets tougher. We’ll face Newcastle home, Newcastle away, and Coventry at home within nine days at the end of October / beginning of November. That will be a sterner test for a limited squad. But so far, so good.
James Kellett
After the opening seven games of the season, Everton have strung together an unbeaten run, leaving them in seventh place and in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Reaching the first international break of the 2026-27 campaign with an unbeaten record has injected some much-needed confidence around Hill Dickinson Stadium, but supporters will watch the international action hoping star players remain uninjured.
The break offers Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl a chance to regain fitness, but five players from the Blues' starting XI in their recent victory against Ipswich Town have been called up to represent their nations.
On the surface, this shows exciting talent in the team, but given the Blues’ lack of depth, it creates an extremely fine cliff edge that this team must navigate until at least the January transfer window.
Everton have demonstrated they are a force to be reckoned with, and teams will not have it easy against David Moyes’ men this season.
Gary O'Neil on the touchline with David Moyes during the match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026
Gary O'Neil on the touchline with David Moyes during the match between Everton and Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 19, 2026(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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But as highlighted in the early months of 2026, once numbers dwindle in the squad, things could get ugly quite quickly on Merseyside.
It feels as though this is going to be another season of highs and lows, and once more Evertonians may have to roll with the punches to get their beloved side across the line in times of struggle.
While this comes across as a negative stance to take after going seven games unbeaten, it is just a matter of fact that the Blues will face periods of hardship as their ranks eventually become depleted through injuries and suspensions.
That is why it is essential to remember these early matches when times get tough, so supporters have the reassurance that this team is capable of competing at a high level in the Premier League.
Everton's Thierno Barry celebrates scoring the opening goal
Everton's Thierno Barry celebrates scoring the opening goal(Image: Alex Dodd/Shutterstock)
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Manager, players and Evertonians alike have been left to dry following a ridiculous summer transfer window, so unity is of utmost importance as the fixture schedule starts to throw more hurdles in the Blues' way.
However, focusing on the here and now, it has been a commendable start for the Toffees. While all their previous opponents currently sit below them in the league, they have surmounted credible efforts, most notably in their away matches, managing to come away with two points from The Vitality Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - two grounds known for some of Everton’s worst performances in recent memory.
The Blues are in for another rollercoaster season, and even though their fate very much hangs by the singular thread of their squad depth, things are looking fairly promising for now.
Paul McParlan
The contrast between how we started this season compared to how we ended the last one has been stark. We are one of only five teams still unbeaten in the Premier League, and we are through to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
Compared to how the 25/26 campaign ended with no wins from our last seven fixtures, this has been a welcome change in our fortunes, all the more enjoyable for it being so unexpected. After a calamitous transfer deadline day which saw us selling our best player, Iliman Ndiaye, and failing to sign another striker, an understandable wave of negativity cascaded through the fan base.
However, since then most fans appear to have accepted that with our limited options it is points that matter more than performances, and, whatever his faults, David Moyes has shown that he can produce competitive teams in these circumstances.
David Moyes’s sides have always shown an ability to grind out results, and last Saturday was a classic example of this. It was a disjointed display at times, with Everton grimly hanging on to a 1-0 lead against a ten-man Ipswich side in the final minutes, but we held firm and claimed the win, which sees us lie 7th in the Premier League table. The main talking point afterwards was the contentious call to rule out Barry’s second goal by the VAR officials. If the goal had stood, and most pundits believed it should have, then we would have won the game easily.
Brennan Johnson of Everton shakes hands with David Moyes as he is substituted off for teammate Tyler Dibling. Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Brennan Johnson of Everton shakes hands with David Moyes as he is substituted off for teammate Tyler Dibling. Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
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Nevertheless, it was an important win and another clean sheet. Jarrad Branthwaite delivered another defensive masterclass, Jordan Pickford produced some excellent saves, and Ainsley Maitland Niles may finally be the answer to our right-back problems.
Despite struggling with an injury, Harrison Armstrong produced another impressive display in midfield and showed why he is on the radar of several clubs, and it illustrated why it would have been a colossal mistake to have sold him to Nottingham Forest. The purpose of investing in our academy should be to produce footballers to improve our team, not to swell the bank accounts.
This has also been an encouraging week for Tyler Dibling, who made an impact when he came off the bench and is finally starting to show signs of the talent that persuaded us to spend £40 million on him. I really hope that this can prove to be a breakthrough season for him, and given our limited options on the bench, he will have more opportunities. I would also like to see Charly Alcaraz have more time on the pitch and perhaps Braiden Graham at some stage?
There was understandable criticism of our failure to improve the team in the last transfer window. However, Tottenham Hotspur spent over £300 million and now lie bottom of the table with no wins. Sometimes, throwing money at a problem does not always solve it.