Kinnear said the club has been talking with the owners and David about using the Carabao Cup and FA Cup to give supporters something to really get behind.
Former Everton and England midfielder Leon Osman told BBC Sport he was surprised by both the statement and its timing, noting that for most of last season few considered missing out on Europe a failure. He added that while falling short at the final hurdle can feel like failure, it’s more accurate to call it disappointment—especially given Everton spent several of the previous five years simply battling to stay in the Premier League.
Osman said everyone connected with Everton felt let down after expectations rose, but pointed out that teams like Brighton and Bournemouth earned European places only after years of steady building. He believes Everton have recruited well this summer and, with a bit more business before the window shuts, could be better placed to take the next step.
Moyes bristled when asked about the importance of the cups—at one point questioning whether journalists were “dead stupid”—though the mood has improved after a comfortable Carabao Cup second-round win at Preston North End.
In the same interview, Kinnear suggested the squad is in a decent place, while acknowledging there’s still work to do. Moyes struck a more cautious tone, urging fans not to get carried away by the opening Premier League victory over Crystal Palace and the win at Deepdale. He clearly wants further backing from TFG before the window closes to refresh a team that faded badly at the end of last season. He said they have plenty still to do to be truly competitive, need more players, and require added quality in key areas—though he wasn’t sure how much would get done, despite his efforts.
The mixed messages match a stop-start summer in the market—so much so that Prime Minister and ardent Everton fan Andy Burnham even weighed in, urging the club to sign a right-back.
That’s why the final days of the window are so important for Moyes, who is in the last year of his deal, and for Everton as a whole. Outgoings matter too: Moyes will be keen to keep Iliman Ndiaye, a central figure in his plans.
Everton have brought in PFA Championship player of the year Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough. Christian Norgaard arrives from Arsenal to replace the departed Idrissa Gueye, while deals for young German Merlin Rohl and England Under-21 winger Tyrique George—who was on loan last season—have been confirmed. Brennan Johnson has joined from Crystal Palace in a straight swap with Dwight McNeil. Even so, Moyes has made it clear he doesn’t think it’s sufficient.
Supporters now wait to see whether the owners, chief executive, and manager can align to deliver what Moyes is asking for and to clarify TFG’s ambitions. Chairman Dan Friedkin has yet to attend an Everton match—hardly unusual for American owners, but enough to make some fans suspect TFG’s focus leans toward Roma, who are in the Champions League. And despite the encouraging start, doubts linger—especially over the much-debated right-back position.