Dibling arrival creates welcome forward conundrum for Moyes and Everton

After much uncertainty, Tyler Dibling has finally completed his much-mooted move from Southampton and joins the Toffees on a four-year contract, giving David Moyes some intriguing questions to solve.
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
Everton v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League | Clive Mason/GettyImages

This transfer has been the most publicized saga of the summer as far as Everton are concerned, and now it has been brought to a successful conclusion.

David Moyes has wanted Tyler Dibling all summer and pushed hard for the club to get this deal over the line, as it gives him the right-sided attacker he has been craving.

Dibling has generally played as a left-footed right winger who likes to cut inside and thrives on beating opponents and dribbling past them. He is a powerfully built player and has even drawn comparisons in his physique and talent with a young Gareth Bale.

Presumably, the 19-year-old will come straight into the Blues starting eleven; it is hard to see him not doing so after Everton has spent so much money on the England Under-21 international.

If he does, then that will mean Iliman Ndiaye would have to shift back to his more favoured position on the left wing.

But, of course, that is where another new signing, Jack Grealish, played on Sunday and played very well, with a man-of-the-match performance in the Toffees' 2-0 win over Brighton.

Grealish is clearly not going to be dropped, so then where does Ndiaye play? He could move into the middle with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall dropping back into midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye in the 4-2-3-1 formation that Moyes has generally used since returning to Everton.

However, Tim Iroegbunam has started alongside the veteran ball-winner, and although a little shaky at Leeds last Monday night, he performed a lot better on Sunday.

On top of that, Everton might yet sign another experienced defensive midfielder before the window closes. That is something they need to do to directly support Gueye and replace him when the Senegal international is away at the Africa Cup of Nations later this year.

In addition, Dewsbury-Hall's strengths lie in his attacking play, and so if he were to play deeper, it would negate what he can bring to the team.

So, another option could be for Ndiaye to play as the centre-forward in a sort of 'false nine' type of role. In the past, he has operated as a central striker, and maybe he can again.

Ndiaye underlined once more his goal-scoring ability with the opening strike on Sunday, and it was a superb finish too.

This tactic would allow the Toffees to play a very fluid forward line, and Ndiaye could interchange with Grealish and Dibling, creating a very dynamic attack.

The problem with that approach is that it leaves Thierno Barry out of the team and deprives Everton of his pace, power, and movement.

Although he did not score a goal, Barry was a constant threat and contributed to the win, especially the opening goal scored by Ndiaye.

And Moyes has tended to play a natural number nine type, and Barry or Beto fit that mold, so it seems very likely that he will persist with that tactic.

Whatever he decides, what is clear is that Moyes has some interesting and challenging forward choices to make. At least for a change, it is a nice conundrum for an Everton boss to have.

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