Who Knew Smart Selection Decisions Would Lead to Sound Everton Results?

Ell is right that Hackney, Dibling and O'Brien brought energy .All the reports and what I seen in highlights support this.

The deeper issue though is systemic. Moyes' reluctance to rotate has made Everton readable, and opponents now prepare for the same shapes and substitutions.

With SCR arriving and Everton already near 77% squad-cost ratio, rotation is also a financial necessity—fringe players must be sold and valuations protected. TFG's own signals about a "next chapter" suggest the club is being positioned for investment or sale, which raises the stakes on smart squad management now.

Sticking with Hackney is a start, but the broader test is whether Moyes can vary the formula week to week, protect the squad through injuries, and create the headroom for a later European push under whatever ownership and managerial structure follows.

Jerome, do we have the luxury of fringe players right now? Not being sarcastic, it's a genuine question. Alcaraz maybe as he appears low enough down the pecking order in terms of minutes on the pitch. Apart from him, I honestly can't think of a player who isn't a necessity right now.

For me, the only option is to sell an asset for top dollar if we need to bulk up the squad with anything approaching quality.

Dead right, Ell. Moyes’ problem is that he's got stuck in the mud. He doesn't seem to listen to anybody, take advice, hear new voices, explore new methods. I sometimes wonder what he talks about with AI and Baines. He’s become stubborn and closed-minded and mistakes that for being practical and hard-nosed.

It’s only one game, but like you have written Ell, it’s what the paying customers want to see.

I think it’s clear that Tyler Dibling, needs a run of games to feel part of it, because he his still playing safe and without real freedom, but he has got to be given the opportunity to play more because he has got loads of ability and could become a very good player for us once he gains more confidence and starts to play with more freedom.

Hackney, is a player, O’Brien, looks a lot better playing in his proper position, Rohl, still worries me defensively, but he definitely gives the team more pace and a lot more energy, and I think it was our energy levels, especially in transition, that were more noticeable last night👏👏

Having such a small squad the default position with Moyes is still keep it tight and nick one. As such we are predictable in team selection and tactics, that is of course when things out of his control force change. It was a good win last night, which I have to admit I was surprised at but thankful of. But we didn't dominate Newcastle we finished superbly. There were holes all over midfield were noone was a midfield general, we looked disjointed and although better in the second half, we conceded far too much in the middle. I never though how much I would miss the sheer tenacity of Gueye in the middle of the park.
But we won and won well, and unless Moyes bottles it we should make the semis ok. What a lift for the club that would be.

The problem is Moyes won’t do what he should do, Monday night,stick with a winning team, go again.
Give those players belief and confidence by starting the same eleven, yes, maybe even keep Branthwaite on the bench if fit.
But Moyes knows better.

Kieran#2

Agree Kieran, we don’t really have “fringe” players. The squad is about 18 outfield bodies, dropping to 16 with injuries, and Alcaraz is the only loose candidate given his limited minutes and fitness issues. Under SCR, with only £30–40m headroom and a likely net spend around £40–50m, selling an asset for top dollar isn’t a luxury,it’s the only realistic way to fund genuine squad quality. The debate is which asset, not whether.

The manager continues to do an excellent job despite being thoroughly shafted during the two summer transfer windows he has been in charge, and being left with an absurdly small and unbalanced squad.

We are far from perfect. But we have a very committed, genuine, and in several instances a young group of players who are giving it a proper go.

Some clown was booing after 15 minutes last night.

Some of our fans - including some notable individuals on here - seem to actively enjoy being negative and talking the club down. They cannot wait to have a go. For us to fail so they can have their "I was right" moment. They revel in it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Whilst the team selection was a bit more progressive in possession - which is the only aspect fans tend to think about - the mid of Garner and Hackney (who I like but is frankly dodgy out of possession) was very, very open.

This, along with the two young wide lads (who were both lukewarm) and Rohl being the right back, resulted in us being very open and easy to play through. Newcastle had nearly 30 shots.

If a side consistently gives up that volume of shots and big chances there is usually only one outcome: it loses matches.

A better side than Newcastle - who have problems - would have punished us for being so open and easy to play through. Moyes would be wise to tweak things for the away fixture, which will no doubt trigger the usual suspects.

I was tempted not to go last night, transport difficulties getting to the ground, game on TV etc. But boy was I glad I did, it was a great game, certainly not school of science but a great performance of commitment, energy and flashes of skill from our much changed side. Yes our players made some mistakes but we were worthy of the win and it was a rare pleasure to watch them.
Rightly we should concentrate on two players who have seen too little football, namely Dibling and Hackney. This was the best I have seen from Dibling, and he showed flashes of how good he may become if he is given an extended run in the team. As for Hackney, he began all effort and lots of errors, but as he settled I thought he was tremendous, and as a result Garner had his best game of the season. Let's hope David Moyes keeps them together. I also thought Rohl, had by far his best game to date. He wasn't caught wandering, tackled well and used his speed and energy levels to good effect.
Overall it was a great night, and throughly enjoyable. Just one dark cloud that I have to mention, the missing Jack Grealish. Sick on Saturday ? And apparently dropped last night for disciplinary reasons ? Well Jack, that's NOT good enough, and I seem to remember you did the same last season. So it's a final warning from me, one more indiscretion and you can drive your flash car back to City, the one essential that we demand from our players is commitment, please note.

I was made up last night when we got Hackney and Dibling in and generally agree with the headline here BUT I have to admit afterwards to feeling more sympathy towards Moyes as this was a long way from a simple victory. Newcastle had 26 shots, 11 on target! Moyes hinted afterwards that he's not so overawed with Hackney yet and I'm sure the same goes for the other players excepting perhaps the back line. We were so vulnerable the whole 90 minutes. Newcastle burned a large amount of pretty good chances and then Pickford and the back 4 rescued us on a good amount more. He would have hated that. I bet the 2-0 defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal gave him more satisfaction honestly! Before I would have said he's mad but after last night I get it.