MOYES TARGETS UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AT EVERTON! TOFFEES BOSS REVEALS WHAT HIS TEAM MUST FIX AFTER TOTTENHAM DRAW TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS
David Moyes believes Everton have shown enough resilience and character during the opening weeks of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign to suggest that the team can continue improving, but the experienced manager knows there are still important areas that must be addressed if the Toffees are to achieve their ambitions this season.
Everton extended their unbeaten start to the campaign with a hard-fought 0–0 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur on September 12. While the result gave Moyes another valuable point against a team expected to compete near the top end of the table, the Everton boss was also honest enough to acknowledge that his side were not at their best when they had possession.
The result therefore presented two different sides of Everton’s progress.
On one hand, Moyes could be delighted with the defensive organisation, determination and discipline his players displayed. On the other, the manager knows that Everton must become more effective with the ball if they are going to turn hard-earned draws into victories.
That balance could become one of the biggest themes of Everton’s season.
Moyes sees room for significant improvement
Everton’s draw in north London was not the most spectacular performance from Moyes’ team, but it was another demonstration of the defensive resilience that has become an important part of their identity.
Tottenham applied pressure during the opening stages, yet Everton remained organised and refused to allow the hosts to find the breakthrough.
Moyes explained after the match that his players had to defend collectively, fill the penalty area and reduce the spaces available to Tottenham’s attackers. He praised the team’s ability to cope with the pressure and highlighted the performances of the defenders and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
But the manager also admitted something that will be particularly important going forward.
Everton have played better with the ball.
That admission could be viewed as one of the clearest indications of where Moyes believes the next stage of development must come from.
The Toffees cannot rely solely on their defensive structure if they want to move forward.
They need to become more comfortable controlling matches, creating chances and making opponents pay when opportunities arrive.
Defensive strength gives Everton a foundation
If there is one area Moyes can already be encouraged by, it is the defensive side of the team.
Everton have demonstrated that they can stay compact against difficult opposition, protect their goalkeeper and make life extremely uncomfortable for opponents.
Against Tottenham, that defensive discipline was particularly important because the hosts were desperate to find their first Premier League goal of the season.
Everton refused to panic.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaliy Mykolenko and James Tarkowski were among those praised by Moyes for their performances, while Pickford recorded another clean sheet.
That defensive platform could become extremely valuable over the course of a long campaign.
Football teams chasing ambitious targets need a foundation, and Everton appear to have one.
The challenge now is making sure their attacking football develops at the same speed.
The biggest issue: Everton must become more dangerous with the ball
This is arguably the most important message from the Tottenham draw.
Everton were capable of defending their way to a point, but Moyes wants more.
The manager admitted that his team had opportunities to use the ball better and that the Tottenham game was not their best performance in possession.
That means the next step is not necessarily about completely changing the team’s identity.
Instead, Moyes needs Everton to become more efficient within the structure they already have.
When Everton win possession, they need to transition forward faster.
When they reach the final third, they need better decision-making.
When chances appear, they need greater composure.
And when opponents sit deep, Everton need players capable of unlocking the defence.
Those improvements could transform several draws into victories.
Clinical finishing could make a huge difference
Another issue Everton must address is their efficiency in front of goal.
The 0–0 draw at Tottenham was another example of how important it is for Everton to make their attacking opportunities count.
A team can defend brilliantly, but if it cannot consistently convert chances, it will eventually find itself dropping points.
This is particularly important for Moyes because Everton’s ambitions cannot be built entirely around clean sheets.
They need goals.
They need attacking players to take responsibility.
They need midfielders to contribute.
They need forwards to be decisive.
And they need the entire team to show greater confidence in the final third.
The encouraging part for Moyes is that this is an area that can improve as players develop greater understanding.
New combinations need time.
Players need to learn each other’s movements.
Attackers need to understand where teammates are likely to make runs.
Midfielders need to recognise when to pass quickly and when to carry the ball.
Those details can make a major difference over an entire season.
Squad depth remains an important concern
Another challenge facing Moyes is the size of his squad.
The Everton manager has previously acknowledged that he would have preferred to have more players available, and reports before the Tottenham match highlighted concerns about the limited number of outfield options available to him.
Against Tottenham, Moyes had to work within those limitations.
That makes Everton’s unbeaten start even more significant.
However, it also creates a warning for the months ahead.
Injuries, suspensions, fixture congestion and fatigue can quickly expose a thin squad.
Everton cannot afford to lose several important players at the same time.
Moyes therefore needs his available players to remain fit, while fringe players must be ready to contribute whenever opportunities arise.
The return of injured players will also be important.
Christian Nørgaard, for example, remained unavailable with a groin problem, while Merlin Röhl missed the Tottenham match because of a slight injury.
Their eventual returns could provide Moyes with additional options as the season develops.
Jack Grealish could be an important part of the solution
One player who could play a major role in improving Everton’s attacking football is Jack Grealish.
Moyes had indicated before the Tottenham match that Grealish was ready to start, highlighting the importance of the attacking options available to him.
Grealish’s ability to carry the ball, draw defenders towards him and create opportunities could be extremely valuable to Everton.
For a team that needs to improve its attacking creativity, having a player capable of beating an opponent or creating space can change the dynamic of a match.
Moyes will therefore hope that Grealish can maintain his fitness and build an understanding with the other attacking players.
If that happens, Everton could become considerably more threatening.
Moyes wants his players to prove the doubters wrong
There is also a motivational element to Moyes’ message.
The Everton boss knows that his team does not possess the same financial resources as some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
After the Tottenham draw, he openly contrasted Everton’s situation with the enormous spending power available to Spurs, explaining that when you do not have the same financial tools, you have to find another way to compete.
That mentality could become central to Everton’s season.
Moyes wants his players to believe they can compete regardless of the opposition.
He wants them to fight for every point.
He wants them to embrace difficult matches rather than fear them.
And, most importantly, he wants the squad to continue improving.
That is where the idea of unprecedented growth becomes particularly relevant.
Everton do not necessarily need to become a completely different team overnight.
They need to become a better version of the team they already are.
The unbeaten start provides confidence
The 0–0 draw at Tottenham continued Everton’s unbeaten beginning to the season.
That is something Moyes and his players can take confidence from.
The result also showed that Everton can travel to difficult grounds and avoid defeat.
However, an unbeaten record alone will not satisfy the manager.
Draws are useful, but victories are ultimately what push teams up the Premier League table.
Everton must therefore find a way to turn their defensive resilience into three-point performances.
If they can combine their ability to defend with greater attacking quality, their results could improve significantly.
That will require patience, but it will also require urgency.
The next stage of Everton’s development
Moyes’ job now is to find the right balance.
He cannot abandon the defensive discipline that has helped Everton remain unbeaten.
At the same time, he cannot allow the team to become overly cautious.
Everton need to be brave when they have possession.
They need to move the ball quicker.
They need to create more clear-cut opportunities.
They need to improve their finishing.
And they need to make better use of their limited squad resources.
Those improvements could determine whether Everton simply enjoy a solid season or genuinely challenge themselves to achieve something much bigger.
Moyes’ comments after Tottenham suggest that he understands the situation perfectly.
He was pleased with the character shown by his players, but he also recognised that they could have done more with the ball.
That honesty is important.
The Everton boss is not pretending everything is perfect.
Instead, he appears to be demanding continuous improvement.
Everton fans have reasons to be optimistic
There are still plenty of reasons for Everton supporters to believe that better days could be ahead.
The team has shown resilience.
The defence looks capable of frustrating strong opponents.
Pickford remains an important presence in goal.
Moyes has created a competitive mentality.
And the squad still has attacking players capable of making a difference.
The next challenge is consistency.
Everton need to produce more attacking quality without sacrificing their defensive organisation.
If Moyes can achieve that balance, the Toffees could become a much more difficult team to beat.
The Tottenham draw therefore should not simply be viewed as two points dropped.
It should also be seen as another step in the development of a team that is learning how to compete under difficult circumstances.
The bigger picture
Ultimately, Moyes’ message is about evolution.
Everton are not finished.
They are still developing.
The manager knows there are limitations, but he also believes there is potential.
The defensive foundation is already there.
Now the attacking side must catch up.
That means sharper passing, better movement, more creativity, improved finishing and greater confidence in the final third.
If Everton can make those improvements while maintaining the defensive resilience they displayed at Tottenham, the team could take a significant step forward.
The 0–0 draw was not perfect, and Moyes knows it.
But it demonstrated something equally important: Everton are difficult to break down, they are prepared to fight, and they are capable of taking points away from challenging Premier League grounds.
Now comes the next challenge.
Can Moyes turn that resilience into winning football?
That could ultimately determine whether Everton’s promising start develops into something much bigger.
For now, the message from the Everton boss is clear: the foundations are being built, but the Toffees must become better with the ball and more ruthless in attack if they want to achieve their ambitions.
And with Moyes targeting continued, potentially unprecedented growth, Everton’s journey this season could be one of the more interesting stories to follow.
