Back in February, it looked like Everton were set for a welcome change.
David Moyes had agreed to sell Dwight McNeil to Crystal Palace in a £20m deal, a move which would have then opened up a spot for the talented Tyler Dibling out on the right flank to finally get a run in the starting XI.
Unfortunately, the agreement collapsed in the final hours of the winter transfer window after Crystal Palace pulled the plug.
It would have been a fantastic piece of business for the Toffees – considering McNeil had failed to score a goal in 18 appearances across all competitions at that stage of the season, and only had one assist to show for his efforts. This remains the case after 26 games.
What Moyes did next arguably cost Everton the chance to qualify for Europe.
What would you say to Angus Kinnear after THAT loss to Sunderland? 😤
Something has to change… 😭
Why did David Moyes hand Dwight McNeil seven consecutive Premier League starts after agreeing to sell him?
For some reason, the Glaswegian opted to start McNeil in seven consecutive Premier League games after Crystal Palace made the decision to cancel that £20m deal.
It almost seemed as if Moyes felt sorry for the Everton No.7 and wanted to lift his spirits, but looking back, it probably cost the Toffees European football.
McNeil did next to nothing in those seven games, failing to score or provide an assist as Everton suffered three defeats and recorded one draw – losing serious ground in the race for European football.
Moyes then dropped the former Burnley man to the bench for the 3-3 draw against Manchester City, where Merlin Rohl absolutely shone in his place on the right flank, and also left McNeil on the bench for the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.
It was almost as if the 63-year-old realised the error of his ways in handing the 26-year-old those starts, but it was all too late as Everton saw other clubs close in on the European spots instead. The 3-1 loss to Sunderland last time out signalled a run of six games without a win.
Once Moyes had agreed to sell McNeil, that should have been the end of his time in the starting XI – and offered Dibling an opportunity to show why Everton spent £40m on his signature last August, or Rohl the chance to start out wide sooner.
Moyes outers… is there anything he can do to change your mind? 🤔
Instead, precious minutes were bizarrely wasted, and it ultimately cost Everton.
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