How David Moyes is Shaping Everton: Key Tactics and Formations
photo by Zach Rowlandson
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David Moyes said it was great to be back when he was announced as Everton’s manager for the second time in January.
The 61-year-old penned a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Toffees that will see the Scot bid goodbye to Goodison Park with what he hopes will be the club’s Premier League status intact.
It’s been a strange period of transition for Everton. Seeing their rivals across Stanley Park hit the ground running with a new manager – Arne Slot currently top of both the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool – is hardly ideal preparation for a move to the state- of-the-art Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.
The Blues have undergone frustration after frustration, culminating in Sean Dyche’s sacking just hours before the FA Cup third round tie against Peterborough. Now they return to a familiar face in Moyes to try and save their season.
Moyes’ return to Everton brings back memories of his first stint at the club, which many fans regard as one of their most successful modern eras.
First appointed in 2002, Moyes transformed Everton from relegation candidates into a competitive side, guiding them to a fourth-place finish in 2004/05 and securing Champions League play-off place – a rare highlight in the club’s recent history though they were beaten in qualifying.
His success at Goodison earned him the call from compatriot Sir Alex Ferguson to take over at Manchester United in 2013.
However, the move proved a step too far, with Moyes being sacked before completing his first season at Old Trafford.
After a period of rebuilding his career, he experienced a remarkable resurgence at West Ham United, where he re-established himself as a top-flight manager, even guiding the Hammers to their first European trophy in over 40 years.
Now, Moyes is back at Everton, tasked with rekindling that same sense of stability and determination in the face of another relegation battle.
The Scot returns to the Premier League after a seven month hiatus, and at a truly unpredictable time. From assessing the table, the latest welcome offers from football betting sites are all linked with the doom and gloom that has transcended Everton’s recent existence. Yet, there is plenty to be positive about if you’re a Toffee.
Simply put, there is enough quality in the Everton dressing room to avoid relegation, and in Moyes, they have a manager who knows the club, is trusted by the fans, and has proven he can deliver when the lights shine the brightest.
Currently 16 th in the table at the time of writing, the form guide suggests that things will improve after an underwhelming start to the Moyes homecoming. That new manager fever hasn’t quite hit yet, but with winnable games on the horizon – relegation threatened Leicester City and the chance to take crucial points off of Slot’s Liverpool – there is every chance we will see them climb the table.
The most interesting thing to assess will be how Moyes sets his side up if things continue to spiral. During his first stint at Everton, Moyes built his success on discipline, organisation, and hard work, often deploying a compact 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 formation.
His teams relied on a strong defensive core, with Tim Cahill providing goals from midfield and the likes of Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar offering creativity.
Moyes' approach prioritised defensive solidity, quick transitions, and capitalising on set pieces. However, in his current tenure, adapting these principles will be crucial. Everton’s current squad lacks the same defensive resilience, and the modern game’s tactical evolution demands greater fluidity and emphasis on possession. Tweaking his style to suit the personnel at his disposal will be key to keeping Everton competitive.
The win over Tottenham Hotspur felt like an awakening moment. Though it was a nervy end to the game, the majority of the 3-2 victory against Ange Postecoglu’s side showcased the best of the Everton dressing room.
Lining up in a 4-2-3-1, the three attacking midfielders worked tirelessly to support Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with Abdoulaye Doucouré reinvented as a number 10 to execute the Scot’s game plan. It’s clear Moyes prefers big, physical players to go direct, much like the combative pairing of Declan Rice and Tomáš Souček in his West Ham side.
The focal point of the team is clearly Calvert-Lewin, whose resurgence in form has been a rare bright spot for Everton.
After struggling with injuries and inconsistency in recent years, the striker is rediscovering his best football, showing the physical presence and clinical edge that once made him a fan favourite. Calvert-Lewin will need to maintain this scoring touch if the Toffees are to stay afloat, as his goals could be the difference between safety and relegation.
However, his future at the club remains uncertain. Having already turned down multiple contract offers, Calvert-Lewin is set to leave Merseyside when his deal expires in June, nine years after joining from Sheffield United. Moyes is determined to make a final push to convince him to stay, recognising the striker's importance.
If Calvert-Lewin can continue finding the back of the net, he has the potential to restore his bond with the Goodison faithful and become the talisman Everton desperately need in this critical period.
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Moyes’ second spell at Everton is not just about survival; it’s about rekindling belief in a club that has lost its identity.
With the team rediscovering their form and a tactical framework that plays to Everton’s strengths, there’s a sense of cautious optimism.
Yet, the challenges ahead are steep, and Moyes must strike a balance between pragmatic football and modern demands.
If he can navigate this precarious chapter and inspire his players to rise to the occasion, the Scot’s legacy at Goodison Park could be one of redemption and resilience. For Everton, the fight to stay afloat is more than a battle for points—it's a fight to secure their future.
- Everton
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