- David Moyes voiced concerns on Everton’s disappointing season.
- Everton continued their winless streak with a 1-0 loss to Tottenham.
- Moyes praised Armstrong and George for their Tottenham displays.
David Moyes spoke to Everton after the Toffees’ 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on the final day. The manager did not hide his frustration. He pointed to key moments that cost his side a better finish.
He also praised two young substitutes and paid a heartfelt tribute to Seamus Coleman, who made his final Everton appearance.
David Moyes: ‘We have to blame ourselves’
Moyes was clear about his disappointment. “[I’m] disappointed. It doesn’t change for me at the moment. I didn’t want us to finish where we are in the league. I hoped we’d have had a positive league finish. We’ve not had a positive league finish.”
He identified specific games that turned the season. “We have to blame ourselves for probably the Sunderland game, losing at West Ham. We were in front against Manchester City 3-1 and we gave a terrible second goal away which never gave us a chance to see the game out. The penalty decision went against us at 3-2 to make it 4-2.”
The manager admitted those moments have lingered. “We didn’t have those bits which we needed, so I’m disappointed with all that. They’ve bugged me because I think they’ve had a big effect, but overall, the players for three quarters of the season have done it, but we’re short. We need to get more; we need to add more to what we’ve got.”
‘Two youngsters made a big difference’
On the defeat at Tottenham, Moyes acknowledged the home crowd’s impact. “We know what it feels like [to be fighting for our lives]. We know what the crowd can do. We had it at Goodison over recent years. Tottenham’s crowd helped them along greatly. Their players were fully pumped for the game.
“We were resilient. We didn’t play well in the first half, especially. We gave away a lot of free-kicks and corner-kicks, and that made it difficult, and eventually they scored from one. It’s disappointing because that’s the two games we lost to Spurs this season on corner-kicks, so it’s not good from our point of view.”
But he found positives in the performances of substitutes Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George. “I was a bit concerned about the level of the game, but the two of them made a big difference.
“You’ve also got to say it’s probably taught them we’re sitting off the play a little bit more at this time in the game, we were hoping that they could see it out – whether they get a draw or whether they won the game. I think they came off the play a little bit, but I have to say both Tyrique and Harrison made an improvement.”
David Moyes hails Coleman’s impact at Everton
The match marked Seamus Coleman’s final Everton appearance. Moyes signed the Irishman for £60,000 in 2009. He reflected on the captain’s impact. “We’ve seen his leadership in the dressing room, his leadership around the Club, his discipline of the players generally.
“He’s a great help for a manager, any manager – even the ones who were before me would all tell you the same. He made sure that none of them slipped up, so we’ll look to see who steps up. We’re looking to see who the next ones are who are going to do it.
“He’s picked up the characteristics from players long before us, way back to all the best teams and great characters, and it’s been fed down. We’ve ended up with Seamus, so let’s see who’s the ones who are going to pick it up and pick the baton up and take the team on and the Club on to the next level again.”
Everton finish 13th. The summer ahead must bring reinforcements. And a new leader must emerge.
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