David Moyes says the quiet part out loud as Everton’s European hopes fade away after Sunderland loss
David Moyes set out Everton’s goal this season as qualifying for Europe, and with one game left of this Premier League season, that seems far-fetched.
The Toffees are not entirely out of the race, but they do require a plethora of results to go their way heading into the last match of the season.
Everton only have themselves to blame. A six-game winless run has ultimately doomed them to a mid-table finish and nothing more.
It is a huge step forward from what the Blues were going through just a few seasons prior, but nonetheless, the failure to capitalise on the situation in front of them will hurt.
Moyes has not sugarcoated the end of Everton’s season, and his final assessment may ultimately have been the reality all along.
🏟️ EVERTON MATCH DAY CENTRE 🏟️
Line-ups, predicted XIs, live player ratings, tactical verdicts, and match analysis from Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Get 24/7 updates from your definitive Everton source
What did David Moyes say about Everton not being ready yet?
Everton can still qualify for Europe, but they need plenty of dominoes to fall in place for that possibility to come through.
Pressure has ultimately bubbled up, and the squad has been unable to deal with the demands required to achieve that goal.
| Everton’s last six games | Result |
| Brentford (A) | 2-2 |
| Liverpool (H) | 1-2 |
| West Ham (A) | 2-1 |
| Manchester City (H) | 3-3 |
| Crystal Palace (A) | 2-2 |
| Sunderland (H) | 1-3 |
Speaking after Everton let a 1-0 lead slip to Sunderland, Moyes stated: “Everton have not had the opportunity to get in the top end of the league table for a while. I’m more disappointed that they have missed that opportunity to keep pushing on.
“Today showed that we are probably not quite ready.”
However, while he may be referring to just that game, the last six games suggested the squad were not ready to take on the pressure of expectation placed upon them.
In truth, the Scotsman has finally said the quiet part out loud, and it has been a concern for quite some time this season.
If Everton did qualify for Europe, did they have the right squad foundations or players available to be able to deal with a Thursday to Sunday schedule, even with a strong summer window? The logical conclusion is that the answer would be no.
However, now it is likely a concern that will not come to the fore.
Everton will be better for this experience next season
Experience is one of the best lessons in football, and while the average age of Everton’s squad is the fourth highest in the Premier League, many of these players have not competed at a European-pushing level.
From next season on, those players will be able to bank on this culmination of this campaign and hopefully push forward and make that next step.
Disappointment may be the overall feeling right now, but with a strong summer and a clear plan, this season’s end could ultimately prove to be the foundation of years to come.
Yes, Everton may not have been ready, but now there are no excuses left for the next campaign.
Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Goodison News Insider Access
Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.