When David Moyes was reinstalled as Everton's manager in January of 2025, the club was in a sticky situation. The Toffees were in 16th, and it was starting to look like it wouldn't just be their last season at Goodison Park, but maybe their last in England's top-flight for at least another year.
New owners, The Friedkin Group, took over and almost immediately dispatched of Sean Dyche, bringing Moyes back to Merseyside after a nearly 12-year absence.
Everton finished last season in 13th, maintaining their Premier League status as they moved into Hill Dickinson Stadium, and the new ownership was promising that there would be money to spend this summer.
Expectations weren't at the "nothing but the best" level heading into this campaign, as most Evertonians would have bit your hand off for a midtable finish with no drama. And while that does seem to be the direction the club is moving, it hasn't exactly been free from drama.
The form at the new ground hasn't been much to watch, with the club's away form doing plenty of heavy lifting in holding Everton in 9th place through 27 matches. But the eye test isn't telling the tale of a team that often looks strong or dangerous in attack or always tied together in defense.
There have also been plenty of questions about Moyes' lineups, including before and after the recent loss to Manchester United, substitution patterns, and overall usage of his player assets. The early season was filled with plenty of injuries that made it difficult, but lately, it almost feels like Moyes is actively choosing to make it harder on his side.
As football fans can often be driven by the moment, recent results and performances have started the low murmurs of "Moyes out" among certain sectors of the fanbase. They don't seem to be loud, but there is a question of whether or not the manager is using the squad as effectively as he could.
Some of the tactical and personnel decisions in recent weeks certainly make the shouts feel reasonable. Sure, Everton are safe from the danger of relegation, and the talk of European qualification for next season always felt premature, but after all those relegation scraps, the supporters clearly want more.
This isn't a call for Moyes to go right now. He's generally done well with this team, with his points per match hovering right around where they were during his first tenure.
But it's also reasonable to consider the fact that he'll be entering the final year of his deal for next season, which means a decision about his long term future is imminent.
With that in mind, the Friedkins will need to consider whether Moyes will be the forward-thinking manager that can help push Everton into contending for Europe and trophies on a regular basis.
It's not "Moyes out," at least not yet, but a decision will need to be made in the coming months, which may mean the manager's time at the club is beginning to wind down.