Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterEvertonians could be forgiven for sensing a potential dj vu this summer.As the one-year anniversary of Evertons official move to Hill Dickinson Stadium rapidly approaches, there is an increasingly unnerving mood by the banks of the River Mersey.Relocating to Bramley-Moore Dock was supposed to serve as a springboard for the Toffees renaissance; ending decades in the doldrums that were punctuated by a now 31-year drought since major silverware last winged its way towards a royal blue jersey. Instead, this grand old club is in danger of finding itself in the Last Chance Saloon.Moyes Mark IIWhen David Moyes returned to Everton, some 19 months ago, the hope was that he could finish what was started in a credible 11-and-a-half-year spell. Securing Premier League safety, while also giving Goodison Park a more fitting send-off than had appeared likely during Sean Dyches reign, hinted at a sign of things to come.The Scots first full season back at the helm was a mixed one, although a purple patch in the final months offered Everton hopes of an outside shot at European qualification. Briefly, they also had designs on sneaking into the fifth Champions League position. But a last-gasp Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool put the brakes on all continental dreams as they proceeded to take just two points from a potential 18 in the final six games, allowing several clubs of smaller stature and resources to leapfrog them. You may like Everton were noticeably improved last season, but there is still a way to go if the Merseyside club wish to be competitive - Everton 2026-27 season preview Everton have a full season at the new stadium behind them now they dont have any excuses next season Peter Reid wants to see Everton kick on next term Everton suffer major blow ahead of new season as transfer reality revealed Plans for a stronger follow-up campaign are already on the back foot ahead of an opening Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace, who have reaped tangible success from leaning into bold ambitions rather than shying away from them. Its hardly uncharted territory, especially given Moyess longstanding moniker of Dithering Dave, yet the dream of a promising new era could be over before it has even begun.Just shy of a decade ago, Evertons erstwhile owner Farhad Moshiri cautioned that they had only a limited window to disrupt the Premier Leagues top six order and insisted to supporters that he did not want the club to become a museum of English football. The British-Iranian billionaire succeeded in avoiding a house of memories but replaced it with a circus as dysfunction reigned on and off the pitch throughout his premiership.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Everton 2026-27 Season PreviewEverton were noticeably improved last season, but there is still a way to go if the Merseyside club wish to be competitiveMoshiris scattergun approach to recruitment left the club lumbered with a highly imbalanced squad that increasingly resembled Frankensteins Monster with every new managerial appointment. Such was the chaotic nature of Evertons transfer business that Dyche recently described his three full windows at the helm as a s*** show. It is difficult to escape the feeling that history may be about to repeat itself, with two of their opening three summer arrivals having already played for the club on loan last season in Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George, signed for a combined �36m.The German midfielders summer return saw him tasked with plugging the right-back position in three pre-season friendlies as the search for Seamus Colemans long-term replacement is no nearer to fruition. An unedifying send-off for the club captain should have served as a belated wake-up call after failing to address the shortfall left by his persistent injury problems in the final years. Since his return, Moyes has put a new twist on an old classic with central defender Jake OBrien filling the position in a move that mirrored his previous deployment of Joleon Lescott. Nathan Patterson, now the sole established right-back, has been persona non grata since being on the receiving end of a playful slap from Dyche at a mid-season training camp over two years ago.Evertons issues, however, run deeper than defensive dearth as they face the task of replacing several other underfilled positions following Idrissa Gueyes departure, four years after returning as a panacea to the holding midfield position he originally vacated in 2019. The Senegaleses exit has been exacerbated by James Garners likely absence against Palace as he recovers from surgery on a groin issue diagnosed early in pre-season. Another alternative, Hayden Hackney, last seasons Championship Player of the Year, must contend with getting up to speed while adjusting to new surroundings. What to read next Why Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix are taking a big risk Arne Slot's time at Liverpool is up: Has any manager recovered from this before? Ipswich Town have returned to the Premier League as fast as they fell from it in 2025, but will they be better prepared for survival this time around? Ipswich Town 2026-27 season preview Doubts over Iliman Ndiayes future have grown after recent speculation linking him with a move to Al-Hilal. The player who scored both the last-ever goal in a mens game at Goodison and the first at Hill Dickinson Stadium has already made no secret of a desire to test himself in the Champions League, something which is currently out of Evertons potential reach. Numerous unsuccessful attempts to tie Ndiaye down beyond his current summer 2029 contract expiry only serve to heighten fears that he will not be staying the course. A potential �70m fee would ordinarily arm Everton with considerable funds to rebuild, but in an increasingly inflated market, it would not stretch as far as the hierarchy, now headed up by The Friedkin Group, anticipate. It would also come at the cost of losing their most potent attacking source.The Americans, who also own AS Roma, have been catching heat from sections of the fanbase for their lack of hands-on involvement and visibility. Nearly two years since taking the reins, head honcho Dan Friedkin is yet to grace an Everton match home or away with his presence; delegating assorted family members to fleetingly check on his investment. Some fans suspect their absentee overlord lacks an appetite to micromanage matters on the banks of the River Mersey in the same way he and son Ryan fixate on events in the seven hills of Rome. A ham-fisted declaration by CEO Angus Kinnear in his end-of-season programme notes of being happily dissatisfied with the clubs current state of play did little to allay suspicions that the Friedkins are happy with maintaining the status quo of merely staying in the English top flight.A reticence to address Moyess long-term future, with the former West Ham boss now in the final 12 months of the contract originally signed in January 2025, also suggests that the owners focus remains on keeping things ticking over. Noises around a potential extension, floated at the height of Evertons late-season surge, have become highly subdued at a time when supporters are clamouring for a semblance of a long-term plan. As the only Premier League club without a director of football, the hunt for new faces is now dictated by a collegiate approach in which the 63-year-old is heavily involved despite a lack of certainty on whether he will be overseeing matters in the medium term.Ending a vicious cycle of relegation dalliances was only half the battle for Everton. If they fall short on fixing basic issues this summer, the last real chance to restore one of English footballs sleeping giants to former glory risks falling by the wayside.TOPICSIdrissa GueyeHayden HackneyPremier LeagueRichard Buxton
