Pat Nevin says Everton have suddenly become intimidating all thanks to one player

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Everton are looking to enjoy a comfortable finish to the 2024/25 Premier League season under David Moyes.

A couple of months ago, the Toffees were in a worrying situation.

Results and performances under Sean Dyche had been extremely poor, and some fans were starting to feel as though relegation was nailed on.

But on the day of the game against Peterborough United in the FA Cup, Dyche left Everton in news that came as a shock.

The decision itself wasn’t too surprising, just the timing of it. Dyche apparently told The Friedkin Group he couldn’t take Everton any further, and the owners therefore had to act.

David Moyes was brought in – and the Scot has made a terrific start.

He has tweaked a couple of things, and one decision he made recently has caught the eye of Pat Nevin.

• READ MORE: Everton’s Jake O’Brien reveals key difference between David Moyes’ style of play compared to Sean Dyche’s

Pat Nevin suggests Everton have new intimidation factor thanks to Jake O’Brien

When Moyes came in, it was mainly about keeping the defensive solidity and improving the team’s attack.

Moyes was also tasked with instilling new belief and confidence into a beleaguered dressing room.

He has managed to do all that, but former Everton striker Nevin reckons the decision to make Jake O’Brien a starter has really helped Everton’s cause.

He said (via BBC Sport): “‌Apart from mainlining pure belief into his charges it is hard to see what the new/old manager has done.

“Putting the man mountain Jake O’Brien at right full-back certainly adds to the “land of the giants” feel of the starting 11, which isn’t a bad thing when you need to fight and intimidate the opposition.”

What David Moyes has said about Jake O’Brien

O’Brien has started the last three Premier League games, with Everton winning all three.

That reflects well on O’Brien, who has been praised by fans for the impact he’s made.

Moyes decision to make him the 6ft 6in ace starter has been very interesting, because Everton’s backline had actually been fairly good prior to his arrival.

But Moyes saw potential in O’Brien, saying recently: “To get him in we’ve tried to use him a little bit as a full-back, a little bit as a hybrid, sometimes playing a bit further in. Try and get him so game time. He’s improving, he’s got a long way to go, he’s got a lot of things to do. But I’ve been really pleased.

“The two performances (vs Spurs and Brighton), he’s come into the team and we’ve won two games so, great! In the main, he kept Mitoma pretty quiet overall.”

That praise bodes well for O’Brien, who is clearly a player the new manager rates.