“This is a different beast to me than many other clubs. Everton is different. I’ve come into the seat now and I’m backing myself to say we’ll be clear of it [relegation]”. – David Moyes
A week is a long time in football (how many times have we heard that one as Evertonians?) This time last week Sean Dyche was the Everton manager. Reeling from a 1-0 defeat away to Bournemouth, many fans were calling for his time at the club to come to an end. Very few would have anticipated his departure coming 3 hours before an FA Cup 3rd Round tie against Peterborough. Supposedly Dyche had already named his team for the game on Thursday night but it would be club legends Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman who would lead the team to an eventual and steady 2-0 win. Less than 48-hours later David Moyes returned to the club after 11 years away to take control of the remainder of our final season at Goodison Park.
Many things have split our fan-base in recent years, so it is no shock to see that Moyes’ return hasn’t been fully met with open arms. However, if you’ve watched any of the content released since his return you’ll see a man who clearly cares for the club who is prepared to give it his all to see Goodison off in the best way possible and ensure that our new ground is that of a side in the Premier League.
Nostalgia and semantics aside, David Moyes returns to the Goodison dug out to take charge of the first of 2 home league games on Wednesday night, when his side face Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side far from firing on all cylinders. Will we see a magical night under the lights at Goodison where Moyes’ plucky Everton can get one over on one of the leagues ‘big boys’?
If You Know Your History… Everton v Aston Villa Through the Years
There are a lot of wrongs that David Moyes will have to right at the beginning of his second spell as Blues boss. Holding on to a lead will be up there. The reverse fixture between the two sides saw Everton race into a 2-0 lead only to find themselves leaving Villa Park with 0 points. Everton have only won once against Aston Villa since their return to the Premier League. That came in the form of a 2-1 League Cup win back in 2023. You have to go back to the 1st of March 2016 for the last time Everton beat Aston Villa in the Premier League, a 3-1 win at Villa Park. David Moyes’ replacement Roberto Martinez in the dugout that day.
Last time out at Goodison Park, Everton played out a 0-0 draw in front of a freezing Goodison crowd. DCL had a 1-on-1 denied by Emi Martinez in the only real chance of an otherwise dull afair.
The ‘most played fixture’ in the football league sees Wednesday’s visiting side boast 88 wins over the Toffees, with Everton recording 83 wins and the sides sharing points on 61 occasions.
Whilst a recent run of bad results against the Villains have seen Everton’s superiority eroded, David Moyes might fancy his chances against a side who have failed to recapture the stunning league form of last season.
Team News
Armando Broja is unavailable and requires an additional scan on his injury sustained against Peterborough. David Moyes also confirmed Dwight McNeil is not available for Villa as he continues to recover from his injury. Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner both remain out with longer term injuries. Seamus Coleman returns to playing duties following his coaching debut in mid-week.
For Aston Villa, former Toffee Ross Barkley looks doubtful for a return to Goodison Park. John McGinn is also unavailable through injury. Pau Torres and Haus might return in some capacity. Diego Carlos is unavailable through suspension.
What the Manager Says
Moyes on Aston Villa and Unai Emery – “I don’t think we should be surprised. The manager there is a wonderful manager and doing a really good job.
Moyes on his style of play – “My plan is to come in and get as many wins as I can. Goodison will help. My history will tell me that Goodison has played such a big part. We need a little bit of help. I’m hoping the crowd will get behind the players.”
Everton Key Player
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Everton need goals and they need goals now. David Moyes has made it clear that DCL needs to get his ‘scoring boots’ on in the coming weeks. One of the things Sean Dyche got right early in his Everton tenure was not rushing Calvert-Lewin back from injury and ensuring he was an option week in and week out for Everton. Now it is up to DCL, who is out of contract in the summer, and Moyes’ new coaching staff to try and help our number 9 recapture some form seen in previous years. Regardless of if DCL stays, he has to improve. If he wants to stay at Everton, he needs to earn that contract through goals and if he does want to go elsewhere, he will need to showcase his abilities in order to get a ‘big move’. Aston Villa have a good defence and one of the best goalkeepers in the league, Everton will have a hard time in trying to solve the lack of goals in this particular game.
One to Watch for Aston Villa:
Amadou Onana – A man who has really flourished since his move away from Everton in the summer. Amadou Onana has become a key figure in Unai Emery’s side. The Belgian divided opinions amongst the Toffees during his time on Merseyside but has settled in quickly to life in the Midlands thriving in the league and also on the European stage. The reality is, some players work better at different clubs and in different systems and Onana looks like a completely different player for Villa than he did at Goodison Park. That being said, he will be up for getting one over on his old side in mid-week and will likely be the man pulling the strings for Villa, in the absence of John McGinn. PSR and restrictions for Everton will mean much of the side Onana departed remains the same. Hopefully a few familiar faces and a not-so-warm welcome mean the lad has an off night.
Final Thoughts
The second coming of the Moyes-iah (I’ll see myself out) begins at Goodison Park on Wednesday night. A chance to put things right. Unfinished business for Moyes, unfulfilled potential for our final season at Goodison and a chance for our fans to believe again and get behind a team that have felt lackluster for large parts of the last 2-years. Will the style of football suddenly be attractive? Will we suddenly score 3+ goals per match? I highly doubt it but the advantage for Moyes is the bar really is that low in a world post-Dyche. My belief all season truly has been this squad of players are not as bad as the previous manager made them out to be. Moyes has worked with worse and got results with far less at his disposal.
Prediction
2-1. Goodison. Under the lights. New manager bounce. Players feeling more liberated. Fans having something to celebrate. It has to be a win doesn’t it? I am predicting this more out of hope than expectation but I think Moyes will get a win to begin this new chapter. He certainly needs big results early, as the nostalgia surrounding his return will not last forever. Especially if results go against us and the position in the table worsens.
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