Moyes’ dream Everton XI after January

David Moyes has spoken candidly about his delight at returning to the helm at Goodison Park, almost 12 years after he left to take the reins at Manchester United.

The 61-year-old spent 11 years at Everton, reaching Champions League qualifying rounds in 2005 i recording nine placements among the top eight in Premier League.

Sean Dyche deserves credit for guiding Everton through a turbulent time, comfortably avoiding relegation last season despite the club being hit with eight points deducted for PSR breaches. But he took Everton as far as he could.

Moyes returned on a two-and-a-half-year contract and was tasked with restoring integrity and focus to the dysfunctionality that had been at its peak over the interminable years.

It was never the same. For old – and, to be fair, new – time’s sake, let’s look at what it was like when he last managed the Toffees on Premier League turf.

Moyes’ best Everton XI from first spell

It’s been a while since Moyes kept Everton solid and relatively successful in the Premier League. Fans will be anxious to see if he can repeat the feat now that he has been anointed once more, but based on his previous squad shaping at the club, there is legitimate reason for optimism.

There are some legendary names there. Tim Howard is one of the best goalkeepers in Everton’s modern history and Leighton Baines is arguably their best ever left-back. Tony Hibbert only drops Seamus Coleman at right-back, although the Irishman is unquestionably one of Everton’s the smartest signings for just £60k.

How could we exclude Marouane Fellaini? Tomas Soucek has been something of a retelling in East London, and Moyes will be delighted to land a monstrous new midfielder now that he’s back on Merseyside.

Only Wayne Rooney scored 17 goals in 77 appearances for the Scottish tactician, but it was really Moyes who produced one of the greatest English players ever to grace the professional scene.

Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar and many, many others who failed to make the 11. There are so many fond memories with Moyes in charge – and perhaps the best is yet to come.

However, there is no hiding the fact that Moyes has a huge task ahead of him and must step up urgently if he is to be successful in his endeavour.

Everton transfer news

You’d think Everton would be focused on strengthening up front this winter, as Moyes will surely recognize Everton’s shortcomings in the final third.

Ernest Nuamah could be the man for the right wing job, which is a worrying position for the squad. Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom have gone down and given that they went on loan at the end of the season, it is unlikely that they will be extended under Moyes’ wing.

Defensively, Goodison Park is solid. Moyes knows what’s at the back and should be able to maintain the defensive authority that has seen them through concede only 25 goals in the Premier League this season – the fewest of any side outside the top seven.

Foot Africa have also confirmed since the new year when Everton look to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, a progressive midfielder is exactly what Moyes needs to fill his engine room.

Let’s put this together and see how the Toffees could line up under Moyes.

Everton’s dream XI under Moyes

Jordan Pickford will keep his place between the sticks, hailed as a “monster” by the goalkeeper content creator Josh Wright.

The defense should not get any work this winter, although Nathan Patterson could find himself getting stronger with Moyes in the dugout. As you were for Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski.

Transfer target Diarra’s progression should see him make waves in midfield, perhaps even taking over the role that Declan Rice played under Moyes at West Ham.

Diarra has completed 87% of his passes in Ligue 1 this term while averaging 0.8 key passes and 3.7 successful tackles per game, according to Sofascore. It was also recorded by FBref that the Senegalese star ranks among the top 8% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in the past year for progressive transfers at 90, certainly in the same vein as box-busting Rice, who he himself is among the top 9%.

We are already looked at Nuamahwhose pace and power make him the perfect electric option to add some dynamism and fixation to an Everton attack crying out for inspiration in this regard.

Iliman Ndiaye will certainly keep his place on the left flank, while Dwight McNeilPlaying expertise will come in handy in the new system – Lucas Paqueta Regen, who?

Then, last but not least, there is Dominic Calvert-Lewinwhose contract expires at the end of the campaign. Will Everton target a striker this month? Who knows. Finances may not be there given that Nuamah is wanted.

However, with Armand Broj and Beto gifted with more athleticism than the England international, who has played 15 consecutive matches in the Premier League without a single contribution to the goalMoyes might be tempted to show a bit of ruthlessness and throw him in the bin.

Moyes’ dream Everton XI after January – GK – Pickford; RB – Patterson, CB – Tarkowski, CB – Branthwaite, LB – Mykolenko; CM – Diarra, CM – Garner; RM – Nuamah, CAM – McNeil, LM – Ndiaye; ST – Number