The Athletic FC Podcast: "Why Moyes is Perfect for Everton's New Era" – Detailed Summary

Episode Information

• Title: Why Moyes is Perfect for Everton's New Era
• Host: Io Akimullere
• Guests: Paddy Boylan (Everton Correspondent), Ollie K. (Senior Football Writer)
• Release Date: April 3, 2025
• Description: This episode delves into the suitability of David Moyes as Everton's manager during a transformative period, analyzing recent performances, managerial impact, and future prospects.

1. Introduction and Context [02:28 - 03:23]

Host Io Akimullere opens the podcast by setting the stage around Everton's recent defeat to Liverpool. Despite the loss, there are underlying reasons for optimism due to Moyes’ recent appointment and the upcoming move to a new stadium.

Io Akimullere [02:28]: "Through our Derby night defeat to Liverpool makes it 22 visits to Anfield without tasting victory as a manager, but with upshoots of encouragement and the move to their new stadium on the horizon, do Everton have reasons to be optimistic?"

Guests:

• Paddy Boylan: Everton Correspondent
• Ollie K.: Senior Football Writer

2. Derby Night Defeat Analysis [03:23 - 09:30]

The discussion focuses on Everton's performance against Liverpool, highlighting Everton's resilience and Moyes' management.

Football Analyst [03:23]:

• Describes the match as "a bit of a damp squib from an Everton perspective."
• Notes that while Liverpool celebrated, Everton fans remain cautiously optimistic due to the club's stable position in the league.
• Emphasizes that Everton fans are "pretty safe in the knowledge that things are slowly changing."

Key Points:

• Everton's consistent performance despite being 14 points off relegation.
• Moyes' leadership is instilling confidence without inducing panic about potential relegation.
• The importance of fan morale and future prospects with the new stadium.

3. Controversial Incidents in the Match [05:52 - 11:32]

Host brings up two major incidents: James Tarkowski's tackle on Mac Allister and Jordan Pickford's tackle on Darwin Nunes.

Football Analyst [06:17]:

• Tarkowski's Tackle: Described as "profoundly unnecessary," leading to a free kick for Liverpool in a prime position.

  Football Analyst [06:17]: "He won the ball and then very deliberately tried to make contact with the player and take him out... it's just the most blatant red card."

• Ollie K. [07:44]: Criticizes the referee's decision not to penalize Tarkowski, comparing it to past contentious decisions in Merseyside Derbies.

Notable Quotes:

• Ollie K. [07:38]: "It ... reminded me of a couple of Steven Gerrard challenges in derbies from 20, 25 years ago."

Rule Implications:

• Discussion on potential rule changes to address such incidents affects Everton's gameplay and future matches.

4. David Moyes' Impact and Managerial Skills [11:32 - 26:08]

Host transitions to evaluating Moyes' impact on Everton since his return.

Paddy Boylan [15:27]:

• Highlights Moyes' remarkable turnaround in just ten games.

  Paddy Boylan [15:27]: "Moyes is doing whatever he can with short term fixes to get them over the line into that new stadium and into what will have to be a massive summer rebuild."

• Commends Moyes for lifting the club's morale and bringing "fresh ideas, fresh perspective."

Ollie K. [18:17]:

• Discusses Moyes' suitability for the current Everton setup, drawing parallels with his previous managerial stints.

  Ollie K. [18:17]: "He's basically the man for the here and now, this role, rebuilding a club that has fallen on hard times."

Key Attributes of Moyes:

• Experience: Extensive managerial experience across various clubs, enhancing his capability to handle Everton's challenges.
• People Skills: Improved communication and man-management, fostering a cohesive and motivated squad.
• Pragmatism: Focuses on results over style, aligning with Everton's current needs for stability and gradual improvement.

Notable Quotes:

• Football Analyst [24:08]: "Moyes is a much more favorable position than Dyche ever was at Everton."

5. Summer Transfer Window and Squad Rebuilding [26:08 - 40:04]

The conversation shifts to Everton's strategic plans for the summer transfer window, emphasizing the need for comprehensive squad overhaul.

Football Analyst [30:26]:

• Views the summer as a "window in two parts" due to financial constraints and new ownership.

  Football Analyst [30:26]: "They enter a new window, they have stadium revenues, new stadium revenues to rely on... starting to see some of the spending power from the ownership, the freaking group."

Key Points:

• Financial Situation: Everton faced a £53.2 million loss for the year, but new ownership brings potential financial uplift.
• Transfer Strategy: Focus on acquiring young, hungry talent with high potential resale value, drawing inspiration from clubs like Brighton and Brentford.
• Managerial Role: Moyes expected to take a hands-on approach in recruitment, compensating for the limited influence of the outgoing Director of Football, Kevin Thelwell.

Notable Quotes:

• Football Analyst [35:06]: "Everton aren't going to be able to go out and compete in the transfer market with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United... They need to be smart, they're going to have to look to find value in the market."

6. Everton’s Move to the New Stadium [28:44 - 42:54]

Host addresses the significance of Everton's upcoming move to a new stadium and its impact on the club's future.

Paddy Boylan [33:00]:

• Emphasizes the critical role of the new stadium in providing increased revenue and commercial opportunities.

  Paddy Boylan [33:00]: "They're moving away from that model and let's be honest, they're swimming against the tide there."

Ollie K. [40:43]:

• Cites Aston Villa as a model for Everton's future, highlighting their successful rebuild post-relegation.

Key Points:

• Revenue Growth: The new stadium offers 13,000 additional seats and enhanced commercial deals, crucial for financial stability.
• Strategic Planning: The move is seen as an opportunity to solidify Everton's standing in the Premier League and foster long-term growth.
• Inspirational Models: Looking towards clubs like Aston Villa for inspiration in achieving competitiveness and European qualifications.

Notable Quotes:

• Ollie K. [40:04]: "They have been investing and strengthening their squad... Everton will probably look at the Aston Villa situation and think, how can we get to that?"

7. Future Outlook and Inspirations [40:04 - 46:08]

The final segment explores Everton's aspirations and the realistic outlook for the club's progression in the Premier League.

Football Analyst [42:59]:

• Advocates for an incremental growth strategy rather than aiming for immediate top-six finishes.

  Football Analyst [42:59]: "This needs to be a kind of an incremental growth kind of project rather than splurge everything and let's get back to competing for top six right now."

Paddy Boylan [40:43]:

• Suggests that while clubs like Aston Villa present a benchmark, Everton should focus on building a unique identity grounded in their rich history.

Key Points:

• Ambition vs. Realism: Balancing high ambitions with the practical steps needed to achieve sustained success.
• Fan and Ownership Expectations: Aligning club objectives with the expectations of both fans and new American owners.
• Strategic Squad Building: Emphasizing smart acquisitions and development of existing talent to build a competitive team.

Notable Quotes:

• Paddy Boylan [46:08]: "These are opportunities. This is a period of opportunity for Everton. They should look at it as such and they should in theory be able to."

8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts [46:08 - End]

Host Io Akimullere wraps up the episode by thanking the guests and encouraging listener engagement through a survey.

Final Remarks:

• Call to Action: Encourages listeners to participate in a survey for a chance to win Amazon vouchers.

  Io Akimullere [14:18]: "We're asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com athletic survey25 three lucky entries will win £100 or dollars worth of Amazon vouchers as well."

• Future Episodes: Teases upcoming content, including coverage of the Manchester Derby.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Io Akimullere [02:28]: "Do Everton have reasons to be optimistic?"
• Football Analyst [06:17]: "He was very disappointed with the nature of Liverpool's goal... it felt like Liverpool deserved their win."
• Ollie K. [07:38]: "That was one of the worst challenges I've seen in the league this season."
• Paddy Boylan [15:27]: "Moyes is doing whatever he can with short term fixes to get them over the line into that new stadium."
• Football Analyst [30:26]: "They move into a new window, they have stadium revenues... start to see some of the spending power from the ownership."
• Ollie K. [40:43]: "Everton will probably look at the Aston Villa situation and think, how can we get to that?"
• Paddy Boylan [46:08]: "This is a period of opportunity for Everton. They should look at it as such."

Conclusion

This episode of The Athletic FC Podcast provides an in-depth analysis of David Moyes' impact on Everton, evaluating recent performances, managerial strategies, and future prospects amidst significant changes like the move to a new stadium. The discussions highlight Everton's cautious optimism, strategic rebuilding efforts, and the pivotal role Moyes plays in steering the club towards a brighter future.