"We're In A Good Position This Season" | Baz Talks Everton With Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes

Duration: 10:20 2475 transcript words EN summary

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The discussion centers on Everton's precarious position at the end of last season and the subsequent fan frustration regarding manager David Moyes. Although Moyes had guided the team to a Champions League qualifying spot with seven games remaining, a disastrous finish involving poor performances against Sunderland and Tottenham left supporters feeling let down. This disappointment has created a lingering sense that the club is in a constant state of fighting relegation, a sentiment exacerbated by the history of frequent managerial changes over the last decade. While Moyes is widely respected for his past achievements and his ability to secure safety, the narrative has shifted to one where fans feel the club is merely surviving rather than thriving, leading to questions about whether his tenure has reached its natural limit after two or three years. A significant portion of the conversation addresses the financial constraints and strategic limitations under which Moyes has operated, particularly concerning squad rebuilding. The hosts note that despite the ownership group's intentions to invest, Everton was forced to sell key players like Romelu Lukaku to meet Financial Fair Play regulations, resulting in a perceived decline in squad quality over several years. Last season represented a notable improvement, yet this progress feels insufficient given the high expectations and the intense competition from newly promoted teams like Brighton and Bournemouth. The frustration stems not just from the final league position, but from the feeling that the club is playing with "baggage" from previous eras, preventing them from fully capitalizing on their potential to challenge for European spots consistently. Looking toward the future, the dialogue shifts to what style of football and management Everton truly desires, with a clear preference for an energetic, high-pressing approach similar to that of Jürgen Klopp or Marco Silva. The hosts argue that fans in Liverpool want to see attacking, fast-paced football that keeps them on the edge of their seats, rather than a pragmatic, defensive strategy that prioritizes survival above all else. They criticize Moyes's tendency to stick with older players even when younger talent is available, suggesting that a manager who can rotate the squad and implement an aggressive style would better suit the club's identity. While acknowledging that a direct Klopp-style appointment may not be feasible immediately, there is a strong consensus that the next step for Everton must be to build a team capable of competing for top-six finishes and securing European football without the constant anxiety of relegation battles.

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Back your back. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we've uh we've missed him. Yeah, he's back past now Everton. Uh good win last night in the preseason game I think against uh Newcastle was it? Yeah, yeah. Uh Where are you right now with Moyesie cuz I always get the feeling that Moyesie right now certainly towards the end of last season or the start of this season it's all Moyesie and it's his last season on his as contract is it David Moyes? Uh the supporters are sort of is that right almost in between with them at the moment so Moyes? >> Yeah, it feels like >> see how it goes. >> Yeah, it feels like he's probably on the thinnest ice he's been on because of the way the season finished really. Um you know, when we when we beat Chelsea I think that's probably the last time I was invited in. Um when we beat Chelsea it looked more likely we'd finish in the Champions League than not get Europe. You know, there was seven games to go Everton were fully and better in fact we were beating Sunderland at half time. The second to last game we were in Europe. You know, and came out and gave probably the worst 45 minutes I've seen for a good number of years against Sunderland and then Tottenham was an embarrassment. You know, we went there and the manager really should have changed the team that day cuz it was it was done and he he went with the safe team and they just walked around the pitch and let Spurs off the hook and then and you know, that was frustrating I think for a lot of supporters and I think that's why there's a little bit of sort of hangover from that. And he hasn't spoken all preseason and I think that's annoying people as well, but >> What do you mean? >> Hasn't spoken? >> He hasn't you know, the way some managers have done press conferences or after games there's a few day he's been quiet for the whole sort of summer so I think people are still still annoyed at the way it ended and they haven't had any >> I mean listen, I'm a big David Moyes fan. Always have to be when I played against his teams when he was the first time around he did a brilliant job. And he has done a brilliant job since he come back to Everton. >> understand what you're saying. But the jump from where you'd been to for you to saying with seven games to go you had an outside chance of top five Champions League position. And you were because I remember thinking about looking at Liverpool and then obviously we won the derby. There was a point that could have been. In fact, Everton would have gone above Liverpool that day if they did So, so what I'm saying is for Everton it feels like every season trying to fight relegation. You know, we change the manager in the middle of the season and end up safe. Moyes got you safe and then his first full season, which was last season. Seven or eight games to go, you thought about you got a chance. Champions League so I understand the finish part there. I understand there was disappointment there and I get it. But I I almost feel it's a little bit hard. I just I I I I think some of the stick he gets or some of the way I feel the fans are going to pieces. I'm a little bit >> It feels like it's a bit of a shelf life for for David Moyes. Do you know what I mean? Like two or three years and think the people just get a little bit bored of it. Do you know what I mean? Like what happened to West Ham I suppose is the same, didn't it? And as Jamie said, a brilliant season for Everton last year. >> Yeah, you're a bit >> Only because of just the way you finished. I think if anyone like Saturday I do in this preview last season you asked me and said what do you think? And I was like we'll be fine. No problem with David >> Where did they finish last year? It was a 13th. >> So, but you know what I was saying? But with 45 minutes left, sorry, one and a half games to go we were seventh. >> But and that's me point a little bit. No, I I I get it. >> Me point about here I hold a little bit. So, when Bournemouth finished sixth, you can't obviously finish sixth, Everton finished 18th. The league from that sort of sixth to 13th. It It felt like anybody could have been anywhere in that. >> I think you're that with Everton. You know this from being in the city, you mate. And you know, you're still a blue, you know. All this red stuff behind you. But you know, you know that it's it's whoever comes in is is has got to back it if everything that's gone before. I have a little objection with fighting relegation every year cuz it was two seasons. So, I have to I have to sit here you I give you was two seasons. It was two seasons we had to win at the end. No, no, let me finish like let me finish. But everyone's playing with that baggage of everything that's going on. It's not David Moyes's fault, of course, cuz he was near. So when he was here the first time Everton were if they'd have been like it is now, Everton would have been in Europe nine of his 11 seasons cuz the way they finished. They had a couple of bad seasons, but everything else was fifth fifth sixth seventh. It's changed now, hasn't it? Obviously the league is so strong, so I'm with I I think he's done a really good job. I just think people want to see a bit more and with those seven games to go they were we were on a journey that looked like two wins. Winning three fourths or winning three draws maybe. We we'd have been comfortably in Europe. But that being said, we are in a good position this season. He is, you know, they're trying to bring players in. They've got five in so far. And I think what maybe the ownership group is is looking at is another season where you know Everton will be fine cuz they will be with David Moyes. There's no problem. And then see where they are suited to build from. >> And and that's why I said I feel for Moyes a little bit in that at the start of last season everyone would have said, "We just want to see a season where we don't have to worry about relegation." Now I know what you're saying about getting to the last game. My point is it felt like the first half of every season for a good few years you change your manager to make sure you stayed up. Going back to sort of Sam Allardyce coming in, what are we talking about seven or eight years ago? >> Well, Carlo, but anyway, yeah, go on. >> Marco Silva, Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche. >> Oh, yeah, yeah. >> I'm not making it up, it did happen. >> Oh, yeah, I know. We had three managers in four seasons and then we had seven in nine. >> You were getting to a situation where you were going into a season last season saying, "We just don't want to have a worry about relegation." That was never there. And then you had the carrot of European football. So I get that disappointment and that like looking at we could have done a little bit more there. And I also just think I think Everton supporters right now, not right now, for so [snorts] long cuz they've just had nothing to hang on to for so long. There's just that like wanted so much that noisy anything and go woah woah woah. You know, [clears throat] and I'm not saying he should get a new contract, but the next thing this season I think is can Everton get to a European position? Can you know >> I think that you're right. You know, I'm not disagreeing with what you said there. I think everything was built on we we've heard about, you know, my aunt saying oh you get into these owners can put more money and things like that. Well, you couldn't do that with PS down Everton built a stadium and got hammered for it and Chelsea got, you know, come and make us a cup of coffee and you can do whatever you want. Kind of thing. That frustration's there. The Moshiri stuff of of the the money that having to sell our best players. You know, having to think third from bottom in that spend over eight or nine years. So, wasn't like we went and bought 40 players. We didn't. We've sat there every week watching the quality get worse and worse and worse. Last season was a big improvement it was and that's where the frustration comes. But you're right if you step back from it and go And I know I think if Everton could have got Eriola or someone like that, I think they might have made a change. They might have I don't know because I don't know what the vision is long term, but the manager now what we have to do is get better players. >> What what type of manager uh do you want at Everton? I'm not talking about a name. I'm talking about what do you want because it it feels like the frustration I'll go back to what you said Scholesy about Moyes. >> A little bit pragmatic. Maybe a manager that we saw 10 years or so ago knows his way around the Premier League, gets results, knows he won. But we all know, you know, we've watched enough of his football. We get it. >> And as I said, huge respect for him. He's a brilliant manager. >> What would you what is it you you want as a as a manager? I'm not talking about someone who just you can go and get someone who can talk to you. Is it a style or is it something that you want a little [clears throat] bit different? >> Yeah, I think Everton would I think I think I'll speak for myself. Forget everyone else, but I think Everton would like a sort of a Yagan Klopp type or a Eriola at Bournemouth that high press fast attacking football. I know probably most people would say that, wouldn't he? But, us from that city's game, you know the same. We don't want to sit on our seats and go go on. Me and Gareth were talking before it started about what Liverpool turned into last season. Everton had that with Martinez. Pass it round 900 passes and you just bored. We want cuz of the way we are as people in our city, we want to be on the edge of our seat. We like attack. So, that's what I want. But, Everton, the frustration sorry to go back with Moyes isn't even just the way he was playing. It was the fact that he was still playing a decent center back at right back. There was, you know, a winger that we bought that when other people were on outs on the, you know, running on fumes, he wouldn't play a 28 or a 19-year-old wing edge to give him a bit of a break. That's the frustration. If he would have gone, like I said, the Spurs game and played four of the younger lads. No, no, exactly. Right, so the game I'm going the game's dead, right? So, as a manager, you and you have a want to gain for six. Make the changes then. But, he's >> All right, I don't need something to pick a manager up on the last game of the >> No, but that's what you asking me where Everton needs to feel and I'm giving you the answer. >> You you mentioned sort of Jurgen Klopp. That's not going to happen. But, the point he's trying to make is when you see him you can't That's what I'm getting to. So, when you see the Newcastle manager, we don't really know who he is too much about him. But, it's that sort of model You talk about the Leipzig model. Almost like a manager who's managed Salzburg or Leipzig who, you know, is going to be press energetic. >> Energetic football, that's what we want to see. We don't want to see We want to see a bit of attacking football. And yet, Everton did have that at times. Think of the Chelsea game. City at home. You know, when we won by money in the league. That game, you know, we were we were outstanding first half. We were. Second half, they were outstanding. They could have scored six or seven at that night. That kind and I just think sometimes I think people's criticism of Moyes is doesn't take the brakes off. And I think the fans want a little bit more. That's what I would say, I think. >> say any outcome in at Everton. >> I don't know. I don't know. Evertonian? >> Mhm. >> Yeah? >> I think that's real as well. There's a lot of competition for what Everton are trying to do, aren't there? >> Mhm. >> You think getting 6th or 7th, you think you've got your Brighton, your Bournemouth, your Brentford. There's a lot of competition in that area and you you could almost see that that position flip-flopping this year. You just don't know, do you? From >> That's where I think the frustration >> You would come from with with Everton is when you You just mentioned those clubs. Those clubs can't, you know, in terms of size and stature to Everton. So, the fact that they get run better >> Yeah. >> and are about seen as better sort of >> They are run way better than they were and I don't There's been loads of progress there as well. People I just feel like people are just frustrated. You're right. The it all goes to David Moyes or maybe it's not on him because they're playing with the 30 years before. That's what I think.