There were so many things to be pleased about on Saturday when Everton defeated Chelsea 3-0. The passionate atmosphere created before the game, sustained throughout the 90 minutes, and capped off with David Moyes singing “I guess that’s why we call it the blues.” Beto’s goals, Pickford’s saves, Dewsbury-Hall’s work-rate, Garner’s class, and another clean sheet all stood out. However, one of the signs of the club’s progress since last year and even earlier this year was the quality available from the bench to manager David Moyes.
Back in January, the bench included peripheral players like Aznou, 2 keepers, 2 or 3 academy players, and players carrying a few knocks. The bench on Saturday included club captain Coleman, regular striker Barry, future England player Branthwaite, £35-million-pound Dibling, Armstrong, Merlin Rohl, Iroegbunam, and Scottish international Patterson. Alcaraz is still out injured and would walk back into the match-day squad when healthy. Since the AFCON champions* Gueye and Ndaiye returned, Everton have looked far stronger as a team.
When attacking star Jack Grealish succumbed to a season-ending injury, and Dwight McNeil looked like he was on his way to Palace, most fans expected to see a little more from our most expensive summer recruit, Tyler Dibling. That has been a disappointing factor in the season. Dibling’s route into the team has been blocked first by Armstrong’s recall from his loan at Preston, and then by McNeil’s dramatic return to the team after his deadline-day move collapsed.
Other fringe players fighting for minutes include Tim Iroegbunam, who appears to be Moyes’ first choice when Gueye needs to be replaced, or when Garner is deployed elsewhere. It is worth remembering that the purchase of Iroegbunam was part of a deal with Aston Villa to meet our (and their) PSR obligations. Villa purchased Lewis Dobbin as part of the deal. Dobbin has done quite well so far on loan at Preston, but Tim has been more than a useful member of Moyes’ squad in the Premier League. That deal no longer looks nearly as shady as some suggested at the time.
Merlin Röhl had an excellent game when he started in the away win at Villa in mid-January, but barely got a look in after that until the recent substitute appearance against Arsenal. Does Moyes trust him? Have we seen enough of him to secure his long-term signing? Will Rohl be happy with a bit-part role? These are questions that need to be resolved before the end of the season, but I don’t see him featuring much beyond the final minutes of games, or perhaps if the season comes off the rails and we are not in the hunt for Europe in the last couple of games.
Nathan Patterson has the clearest future out of all the fringe players. His time at the club appears to be over. He cannot get a game, even when we don’t have a recognized right back. He doesn’t seem to be trusted as a defensive right-back and has not lit up the attacking part of his game when he has had a brief opportunity, particularly back in the injury/availability crisis in January.
It looks as if Everton will be fighting all the way to the end of the season for a place in Europe. If we were mired in mid-table (with no European pretensions or relegation fears), he might be more inclined to use some of the fringe players. As it is, Moyes fights for every single point and trusts certain players more than others. Champions League (and perhaps even Europa League) hopes might yet elude us, but a 7th- or 8th-placed finish would come with the return of European football through the Conference League. While that might be an unfortunate burden for our league campaign next season, I think most Evertonians would love a European adventure, and it would be a competition the club would have a great chance of winning.
Securing European football would both test and validate Everton’s growing squad strength. Moyes will need to maintain squad harmony with more fixtures next season, aligning with the club’s renewed upward movement and ambition for deeper cup runs. Overall, Everton’s improved depth suggests a promising new chapter for the club.