From European hopes to relegation form - will Moyes reignite Everton?

For most of the 2024-25 Premier League season, Everton appeared to be on the rise. New signings Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, along with reliable strikers Thierno Barry and Beto, helped the team secure a 3-0 win against Chelsea on March 21, placing them eighth in the league with seven games remaining. However, their form quickly deteriorated as they failed to win any of the subsequent matches, a streak that lasted longer than any since Moyes' second managerial spell at the club.

By April 11, they had dropped to the relegation zone, finishing with just one point more than rivals Burnley and Wolves. Despite this, hopes of European football were still alive when they faced Sunderland in their final home game of the season. CEO Angus Kinnear declared himself "happily dissatisfied" with the campaign, a comment that proved short-lived after a 3-1 defeat.

Sunderland finished seventh, securing European football for the first time in 53 years. The irony for Moyes is that Everton had finished 13th in each of the two seasons since his return, but with very different fan reactions. Moyes admits that successive mid-table finishes demonstrate progress, despite the financial troubles and relegation battles.

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes the team made progress last season, showing stability after a chaotic period. Moyes faces the challenge of competing with other big spenders in the Premier League, ranking 15th in net spend over the past five years. However, Everton's lack of success at their new stadium and the loss of key players, particularly Grealish due to injury, have hindered their progress.

Moyes emphasizes that changes take time and expects to see the campaign through. While the success of Bournemouth and Brighton has been built on strong recruitment, Everton's transfer strategy remains a work in progress, with limited returns on recent big signings. However, there is hope that Grealish might return on loan towards the end of the window, although his wages are expected to remain high.