Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s impressive performances going under the radar, feels David Moyes

I think Moyes needs to go to Specsavers if he thinks Dewsbury-Hall has made a massive difference to Everton’s performances this season.

He was very noticable v Fulham because he looked like a completely different player to the one who has been playing for us this season. Let’s hope he keeps it up.

Very good signing and good player but definitely agree: he’s a Number 8 with Alcaraz or Ndiaye as Number 10. He’s not a Number 10 and admits it himself.

I still think Ndiaye’s best position is Number 10 but understand playing him wide as he is so good. I’m a big fan of Dewsbury-Hall though; he was a really good signing.

Dewsbury-Hall was definitely MotM against Fulham, but in his previous three games he should have been subbed early.

Hopefully he’ll keep playing to that standard.

Moyes must think we came up in a bubble. His constant fawning over this player even after many of his poorer games is because he was clearly handpicked by the manager and would lead me to believe there may have been some resistance from above.

Dewsbury-Hall is certainly not a bad player but was clearly an unnecessary signing which has prevented us from addressing more pertinent areas. Furthermore, I feel he forces Jack to play on the left and Ily on the right which is to the detriment of the team because it slows down our attack and is a key reason why we are so toothless. I think we would be so much more productive with Grealish as a Number 10.

Moyes has nailed his colours to the mast on this player and I feel it will either make or break him. My gut feeling is the latter.

Conor #5, according to public comments by both player and manager, Moyes gives Grealish freedom to roam.

I believe Grealish plays on the left because he likes playing on the left. He naturally gravitates there. He likes the space he finds near the touchline and the chance to cut back on his right.

Mike, in my opinion, it’s irrelevant whether he’s allowed to roam or not. Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall both hold on to the ball too long and allow defences to get set.

Jack hasn’t got the pace to go on the outside and hasn’t the ability to come inside and shoot. He also makes Mykolenko look a poorer player because he often has to underlap and take up positions where he’s just not comfortable. This was especially evident against Spurs. Either this or he stays at home. Fulham was the exception.

Jack’s best form came at Aston Villa when played as a Number 10; when Carsley played him there for England, he excelled and Jack said he did so because it was his best position.

Having Ndiaye left would give us better balance and also stop us being double-marked so easily on both sides as happened against Villa. This is why most teams play with inverted wingers.

Jack is our most creative player and playing centrally would open up both sides of the pitch. Dewsbury-Hall often plays too deep and too far left and very seldom switches the play to the right.

We are very easy to play against because of our tactical set-up. It’s why our strikers don’t get early service from midfield and why we are so reliant on in the individual brilliance of Ndiaye.

Managers have sussed us out and that’s why our goal return has been so poor since the Brighton and Wolves victories.

Colin, your memories and mine of Jack’s best work at Villa differ sharply, but I’m not sure it’s relevant anyway since it was six years ago.

I 100% agree with you that he stands on the ball too long, and that wouldn’t be my choice of style for a #10. Jack might be better there than KDH, might not, but in my opinion neither is a natural for the position — in Jack’s case because he’s just happier on the flank.

Dave

On his Ipad Moyes has 10 little KDH camera angles showing a 360 degree view of his every move.

I have to agree with you. There’s beena few times I thought he did well though ultimately he came up short. For example, almost making a good pass, almost getting a good shot away. Sort of like 90% of Leon Osman’s career in that respect. I don’t think it helps us having him as number 10. As Koeman said of Barkley in that role “we need more productivity.”

Dave

we have no idea what instructions KDH is working under. How he obeys tactics where he stands, when he runs, if KDH was doing everything Moyes asked of him we wouldn’t be aware of that. Also speaking for myself I have no knowledge really of modern training, what’s in, what’s out. Moyes has been doing this every day for 25 years.

Kevin @ 12, Moyes may have been doing this for 25 years, but he has no.clue regarding modern training methods.

He still relies on the same method he started out with. Defend first and hope to snatch a goal. Then defend even deeper

Kieran (11), You’re having me on right? He’s standing up most of the game looking as bewildered as the rest of his coaches—- against Spurs in the second half he was clapping his hands like a seal and it looked like he was shouting “ Come on lads “

So going by that last line in my post Kevin @ (12) it doesn’t look like he’s learned much over those last 25 years, mind you he’s become a very rich man doing what he does and it must count as a very successful career although in my eyes he’s a very average manager, very average indeed. Each to their own opinion I think.

Dave

he’s not perfect, but he’s at least thirty percent better than any other manager we’ve had since he left. so that’ll do for me.

“we are now a possession based team”

Our highest possession this season was against Spurs where we had 53 per cent and that is because they purposely set up to counter. Hardly a percentage based team.

We don’t know what we are. In midfield we endlessly pass the ball where our strikers, who got such early passes from Alcaraz last season, don’t get played to their strengths this. We don’t go on the outside and hurt teams with the exception being Fulham.

Yet our defence is normally chosen based on their physical and defensive attributes rather than technical and we predominantly play direct from the back or we just give it to Grealish where possible.

We are neither a possession based team nor a counter attacking one.

You can trust Moyes if you desire Kevin and can take his word for everything he does but the evidence is that we have won 3 games with Dewsbury Hall in the team. Two against Fulham and Wolves and the other where we had the rub of the green against Brighton.

Moyes telling us we are better with Dewsbury Hall is hardly borne out by facts.

In my opinion he has sufficient ability and willingness to graft to be a welcome addition to the team / squad, but his actual output hasn’t been consistent. Still, overall, a promising start to his Everton career.

The willingness to work is obviously key to DM. Any other specific traits he is so obviously admired for don’t really get spelt out.

I would still like to see the manager using more players in each and every game to vary the style of play and keep the players fresh and competitive.