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One of the major criticisms thrown at David Moyes last season was his failure to trust young talent. Even as the wheels fell off across the run-in, Moyes stuck with his tried and tested, as a legless Everton limped across the finish line.
It was a situation that created debate around the club’s direction. The limited use of Tyler Dibling, Adam Aznou and Tyrique George saw the trio all immediately labelled as ‘club signings’, thrust upon a manager who favoured experience by a board looking to create a sustainable business model.
Moyes has cast his eye across the club’s young talent again throughout pre-season, with Aznou, Dibling, George, and Harrison Armstrong all showing encouraging signs.
Armstrong and George were in from the start against Crystal Palace at the weekend, in what was Everton’s second-youngest starting XI since Moyes returned to the club.
The former’s place in the side came as a result of injuries to James Garner and Christian Norgaard, but the 19-year-old did more than enough to merit more minutes next weekend. George, meanwhile, showed the sort of fearlessness in possession that often only youth brings. Neither are the finished article, but each demonstrated that Everton can find success by investing in the future.
The introduction of Armstrong and debutant Hayden Hackney helped lower an average age previously inflated by Idrissa Gana Gueye’s presence in midfield, while Thierno Barry appears to have ousted Beto as first-choice forward to further lower the age profile.
At 25 years and 308 days, only the Everton side that won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest last December has had a lower average age in Moyes’s second stint (25 years and 176 days). It’s perhaps no coincidence that both teams secured impressive energetic wins.
Everton’s youthful selection also stood out across the Premier League. Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s games, only Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur lined up with younger XIs.
There will inevitably be tests of Moyes’s faith in youth. Norgaard is expected to feature regularly upon his return from injury, while James Tarkowski’s appointment as captain and his start against Crystal Palace suggests Jake O’Brien still has work to do to displace the 33-year-old.
Moyes may still lean on experience when the option is available, but the early evidence suggests Everton’s youngsters are beginning to make that decision more difficult for him.
Armstrong and George did not look like players included to satisfy a recruitment strategy against Palace. They looked like players capable of improving Everton now. If they continue to prove that, Moyes might find that trusting in the club’s future gives him his best chance of succeeding in the present.
Read more – Dewsbury-Hall hails teen star Armstrong as Everton’s new-look midfield excel
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Posted
24/08/2026 at
16:00:09
The next week, Moyes dropped them. A leopard never changes his spots…
Posted
24/08/2026 at
17:35:39
Hackney was also immense, snuffing out opposition attacks and starting our attacked. Though there were some silly mistakes from the likes of him and Rohl and the bother youngsters that showed their inexperience. Cute backflicks and ambitious or careless passes that went astray. Though the way to success is to keep playing them whilst teaching them to cut out carelessness, I fear that these mistakes will be used by Moyesie to revert to type and drop them for the older players. Shame if that happens. Though I do feel that Norgaard is currently needed.
Posted
24/08/2026 at
17:35:52
Except that he wont play Jake OBrien and reports out of The Athletic are that were open to selling him now, which would be madness and send a terrible message to our younger core. This was the season to phase out Tarkowski and Moyes doesnt have the balls to do it. Id rather we sold Tarkowski for nothing than get rid of OBrien.
Posted
24/08/2026 at
17:36:29
No way we are selling Jake.
Posted
24/08/2026 at
17:39:34
Izzy 6, I sure hope not, but if Paddy Boyland is reporting it, then someone inside the club is telling him that. Whether thats a ploy to get Moyes to start playing him or not is another question, or if we need the money to fill the RB position. Whatever it is, something is amiss behind the scenes.
Posted
24/08/2026 at
18:06:36
Moyes was wise not to introduce young players too soon, his patience and its benefits have been shown in pre season and now on Saturday. He only plays players when they are ready.
If you had been bothered to listen to the players themselves, they mention how certain training programs etc are used to bring the younger players on. Anyone would think that the Manager doesnt want the younger players to succeed !
Moyes has been a Manager, been and done it with young players, he does not want to destroy their confidence by pitching them in at the wrong time.
Remember how he mentioned Dibling had to improve in training last season ? he has done and it shows on the pitch.
Patience Gentlemen please, the youngsters like Dibling and Anzou will get their chance against Preston, I expect Johnson to get a spin too..
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Posted
24/08/2026 at
15:43:30
Changes will be made for the Preston game. Moyes should be bold and put Dibbling on the right, his pre-season form merits the chance.
Furthermore, Johnson has loads of experience and could lead the attack. The young lad from Bayern should get his chance at left-back.