JACK GREALISH FEELS THE LOVE FROM DAVID MOYES AND DELIVERS FOR EVERTON
David Moyes had declared that Jack Grealish must score more goals. And just when Everton needed it, he delivered.
The loan move from Manchester City has been a resounding success for the 30-year-old winger but a return – before this – of just one goal in 14 appearances is simply not enough. Not for a player with his ability. Not for a player who Everton need to dominate. Not for a player who still harbours hopes of forcing his way into England’s World Cup squad.
Goals were an issue, also, for Grealish at City but his second-half strike away to Bournemouth was enough. It was not the prettiest, it was maybe a little lucky. But Everton deserved it.
“Super, super Jack,” rang out from the visiting fans after Grealish cut in from the left with his shot, as he slipped, taking a heavy deflection off Bafodé Diakité to wrongfoot goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Would it have gone in otherwise? It was on target but probably not. Not that Grealish or Everton cared as he wheeled away to knee slide in front of those same fans.
They had the goal and as with Grealish’s only other strike this campaign – at home to Crystal Palace – it was enough to secure the points and lift Everton into ninth place, above Bournemouth and level with Liverpool.
“I’ve scored two goals this season. One was like a tackle and one was a deflection. I got hammered for years for not scoring so I’m taking both of the goals,” a grinning Grealish said afterwards, adding: “I love the manager to pieces. I’ve only known him a few months and I can’t speak highly enough of him as a person, how he makes me feel and how he wants me to play for him.”
How does Moyes, himself, feel about being “loved” by one of his players?
“I’m not sure I like that!” Moyes joked before adding: “The supporters love him. Jack has given the club something really different. I don’t want to call him an entertainer. He’s a top footballer. He doesn’t want to play 60 minutes and come off. I’ve been asking him to score more goals. I want him to get a bundle of goals.”
And Everton do need even more goals from Grealish, especially as they continue to struggle at centre-forward with the hard-working but misfiring Thierno Barry replaced by Beto. Neither look like scoring.
Surely they will try to bring in another striker in the January window. They have just 15 in 14 league games – the fourth lowest – and it is something Moyes is acutely aware needs addressing.
Which is why he has implored more from Grealish and from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – who scored the only goal in Everton’s last away game, at Manchester United – and who with Iliman Ndiaye form one of the most creative “threes” behind the striker. Dewsbury-Hall played deeper this time, with Carlos Alcaraz delivering the ball to Grealish for his goal.
Can he kick on now? Grealish is certainly feeling the love and that is something he has shown in the past, that he emphatically responds to.
How Everton are responding to Moyes. After gaining the club’s first league win at this stadium he pointed out that since his return in January only Arsenal have a better away record. If he can continue to shape the Everton squad, and with the move to their own new stadium, they are undoubtedly on the up.
Right now that cannot be said of Bournemouth. It was another tough result as their early season promise continued to stumble although they are dealing with injuries and no fewer than three suspensions. It led to Andoni Iraola fielding the youngest starting XI in the Premier League this season (23 years, 254 days) and their youngest ever in the top flight. At times it showed and after one defeat in their first nine games it is now four in five and no wins.
The frustration was clear from substitute Marcus Tavernier who reacted to some jeering from the home supporters. “I saw something,” Iraola acknowledged. “I understand Tav but he made a mistake and you need to focus on the pitch. It’s clear in this moment when we are not playing well.”
It is also clear that Grealish, in this mood and feeling the love, is.
2025-12-02T21:45:45Z