He played over 200 games in the Premier League under Moyes. The way he asks you to play is a fun style, but also very demanding.
Against Spurs, I thought some Everton players had a more difficult role than others.
Jesper Lindström in particular was almost asked to do double duty on the right wing – winger when he has the ball, right back when he doesn’t have the ball – but thanks to that. Iliman Ndiaye was able to stay high up the pitch on the left, which was certainly a plus for Everton in the final third.
If you’re going to play for Moyes regularly, that’s exactly what you have to do. Like Lindstrom, I quickly realized that there are days when I just have to get into the game and work hard. That way you won’t get any personal accolades.
That’s how it should be. We were at our best under Moyes when everyone bought into his approach and believed in the end product the team was aiming for.
He was great at getting us up for the game no matter who the opponent was. He passed on tactical information and rolled us up and drove us out. We shouted in the tunnel, “Let’s go!”
Part of that confidence comes from hard work on the practice field and time spent together as a team, strengthening together.
Moyes has only just been appointed, so the process has only just begun, but there is another area where he has a head start and that is understanding Goodison Park.
He has overseen more Premier League matches than any other Everton manager, and he knows what the crowds are like, what they expect, what they react to, and at what moments they can help the team get the most out of it. Understand what can help.
If you get out of traps quickly, press your opponent aggressively, and force them to make mistakes, the crowd will respond. That’s exactly what happened against Spurs and brought out the best in the players.
Everton won the early tactical battle, but Tottenham also dominated. It was only when fatigue set in in the closing stages that Spurs were able to regain momentum.
