“Positives in the Pain: Moyes Stands Firm Despite Dropping More Points”
David Moyes is no stranger to turbulence in football management, but even he conceded that watching Everton slip more points this season has been frustrating. Yet, as ever, the Everton boss has sought to frame the narrative in terms of growth, learning, and future potential.
A Bitter Pill Yet Not a Defeatist View
That Everton have dropped points in games they looked poised to win has been a recurring theme — defensive lapses, careless choices in the late stages, or an inability to “close out” matches have haunted the team. After conceding late goals or losing leads, Moyes didn’t shy away from disappointment. At times he has expressed exasperation at “terrible decisions” from defenders that exposed the team unnecessarily. (toffeeweb.com) Still, even in disappointment, he has refused to allow a defeat to overshadow the progress made.
After a match against Manchester City — one many expected Everton to lose — Moyes was magnanimous in his assessment. While acknowledging the defeat, he emphasised the competitiveness, the resilience and the belief instilled in the squad over recent months. “The positives are that we’re in a really strong position, so we mustn’t get carried away with one result.” (VAVEL.com – Live Sports) That approach underscores Moyes’ consistent message: one game doesn’t define the season.
Rebuilding Trust, Rebuilding Momentum
When Moyes returned to Everton in January, the task was immediate: steer clear of relegation. (BBC) But as the weeks passed, the tone began to shift. Rather than looking nervously downward toward danger, he started talking about looking up. “It feels like I want to try to look up, I want the club to feel better… the team’s giving them something to shout about.” (bbc.co.uk)
It’s a subtle change but an important one: rather than merely doing enough to survive, there is now ambition to push beyond the baseline. That ambition has been reflected in results — Everton accumulated a surprising haul of points under Moyes that outstripped expectations. (Transfermarkt) While not always perfect, the performances have hinted at what could lie ahead.
Mistakes, but Learning
Moyes has not hidden from critique. He openly acknowledges where the team has faltered — lapses in concentration, poor choices in positioning, and flawed execution when under pressure. (toffeeweb.com) But crucially, he tends to follow the criticism with an insistence on what’s improved: composure in games, chance creation, a defensive structure that is broadly more cohesive than before.
He has also praised his players’ understanding that this is a process. That they are being judged not just by wins and losses in individual matches, but by incremental improvements — sharper decisions, greater consistency, a better grasp of their roles in tight games.
A Clearer Horizon Despite Bumps
Moyes’ key message is this: despite the stumbles, Everton are in a healthier place than when he began. In his view, the dropped points are painful, but they are not fatal. The progress made — rebuilding confidence, narrowing the gaps with stronger teams, giving the squad self‑belief — matters.
Yes, there remains a need for better discipline to avoid losing games from strong positions. But Moyes seems to believe that with refinement, Everton can turn draws into wins and narrow defeats into draws. That turning point, he suggests, may lie just ahead — if the lessons are taken, the hunger maintained, and the momentum nurtured.
In football, momentum is fragile. Moyes knows that too well. But for now, he is comfortable in saying: “I’ve taken lots of positives”. And sometimes, in a season of ups and downs, embracing the positives is the strongest foundation you can build.
