David Moyes
David Moyes has been making waves since his return to Everton, aiming to rejuvenate the club’s fortunes in their inaugural season at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Having left Goodison Park, their home for over a century, Moyes returned to the club in January when Everton was teetering just above the relegation zone. The Glaswegian manager, who previously led the Blues to nine top-eight finishes, including a remarkable fourth-place in the 2004/05 Premier League season, is once again seen as a pivotal figure in the club’s quest for stability.
Alan Smith said: “He’s the right man in the right place, I think. It’s a new era in the club’s history and last week Jack Grealish spoke about him, saying he absolutely loves him. It would be interesting if they could get hold of Grealish permanently. But David is a legend at Everton after the two spells he’s had, so he’s a great force for them. In terms of what would be a good season for Everton? Well, just looking at the table, they got 48 points last season. He helped them get into a safe position. They’re halfway there now on 24, so, an increase on that 48 total is obviously an improvement. A European place, that’s probably just out of touch. But to be mid-table or just above, I think, would be a very good season for them.”
Alan Smith, a former Arsenal legend, expressed his admiration for Moyes’ impact at Everton. Smith, who enjoyed a successful career with Arsenal, winning multiple titles, believes Moyes is the right fit for Everton during this transformative period. The club’s recent performances have shown promise under Moyes’ guidance, with hopes of surpassing their previous season’s points tally and securing a comfortable mid-table finish.
Smith also highlighted the impressive form of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has emerged from Jack Grealish’s shadow to become a key player for Everton. Dewsbury-Hall, who began his career at Leicester City, has showcased his quality and goal-scoring prowess, contributing significantly to Everton’s attacking flair.
Alan Smith said: “I was a big fan of his at Leicester and then at Chelsea, he kind of only got used in the European games, didn’t he? So, it was quite tough for him. But now we’re seeing his quality and his goal-getting ability as well. He’s got quite a few lately. So, that’s been great news for Everton. They’ve got more flair now. They’ve got more potential match winners, which Everton haven’t had for a good number of seasons. Fair play to David Moyes for getting the best out of Grealish. You can see he’s enjoying it and Dewsbury-Hall certainly is enjoying his football at the moment.”
Additionally, Smith empathized with Thierno Barry’s recent struggles before breaking his scoring drought against Nottingham Forest. As a former striker, Smith understands the pressure on forwards to deliver goals and the confidence boost that comes with finding the net.
Alan Smith said: “Goals for strikers are the lifeblood, and they do wonders for your confidence. So, he will want to go on now and get another couple pretty quickly rather than thinking that one was an outlier. He’s still learning, but they will be hoping he can develop.”
Everton’s journey under Moyes this season is one of rebuilding and potential. With key players stepping up and the manager’s experienced hand guiding them, the club’s fans have reason to be optimistic about the future.
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