Brennan Johnson for Everton
Brennan Johnson for Everton
On Saturday, Everton host Chelsea in the Premier League, and if they win, this solid start to the season will become something greater.
We are so early in the term, but the Toffees have defied their disastrous summer transfer window to make it six unbeaten, albeit with four draws.
Before Halloween, David Moyes’ side host Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Everton manager David Moyes celebrates after the match
Everton manager David Moyes celebrates after the match
Lots of promise, but Everton still need to build in attack this January - before they run out of steam. After all, Moyes is contending with Iliman Ndiaye devolving to the form of Brennan Johnson on the right wing.
It's a damning indictment of the Friedkin Group's failings, but with the owners looking to leave, help could arrive in the form of former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley.
Why Amanda Staveley could save Everton
The Friedkin Group want to sell up. That’s just great. Less than two years on, the American owners are done on Merseyside, and this could leave Moyes’ project in a state of stasis.
But if Everton continue to downgrade as they have with Johnson, stagnation may become a landslide into the Championship, especially if the Friedkin Group's desire to sell up becomes a long and protracted ordeal.
||
Brennan Johnson's Premier League Struggles
Season
26/27
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
Everton need a saviour, and perhaps she could arrive in the form of Amanda Staveley, with the former Newcastle United co-owner said to have held recent informal talks with Everton over a potential takeover, as per TEAMtalk.
Hallelujah. Staveley made an impact at St. James' Park, replacing Steve Bruce with Eddie Howe and signing the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn to cement a foundation for illustrious success.
amanda-staveley-newcastle-united-premier-league
Everton aren't in freefall, but there are a number of creases to iron out - and one member of the Everton persuasion needs to be cut loose immediately.
Staveley must immediately bin Everton flop
Johnson has not made a good start to his Everton career, but it would be short-sighted to suggest he needs to leave. Everton lack options on the right wing, and the 25-year-old has enough experience and proof of goalscoring quality that he might return to form in front of goal.
However, some mistakes cannot be forgiven, and it's hard to see technical director Angus Kinnear returning to the Evertonian good books after overseeing a catastrophic summer transfer window.
Kinnear replaced as Everton's chief executive in March 2025, and while he helped the likes of Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall over to Merseyside one year ago, there can be no excuse for the weakening of a Toffees squad who came close to challenging for Europe last season, unravelling at the business end, going seven games without a win to close the Premier League campaign.
When all was said and done, Kinnear branded Everton's season a failure, went into the transfer window with his hand on the levers of power. The director needed to deliver, but he did not, weakening Everton's frontline and shedding defensive skin, leaving Moyes with fewer options than he had at his disposal last year.
David-Moyes-Everton
Action Images via Reuters/John Clifton
Staveley would not brook such ineptitude upon arrival. She showed a ruthless streak when first stepping onto Tyneside in 2021, sacking Bruce. Such dramatic measures paid off, and so it's more than conceivable to imagine the 53-year-old taking a page from her own playbook.
Johnson should not be scapegoated for Everton's struggles. The Wales international was supposed to be a direct Dwight McNeil replacement. Ndiaye was sold - and not replaced - afterwards.
Moyes and his team have ignored the woes of Kinnear and their Friedkin Group owners to march unbeaten through the first six weeks of the 2026/27 season.
If Staveley can make the right changes, should she take over, there could be a lot to look forward to on Merseyside.
Everton manager David Moyes before the match
Everton manager David Moyes before the match