'A solid season in the grand scheme of things... but still some negativity'

The phrase that came out of Everton last week about this season was "happily dissatisfied."

CEO Angus Kinnear used the phrase in his programme notes looking at the 2025-26 campaign. It immediately angered some sections of the fanbase, who claimed it was an acceptance of mediocrity, but I believe this season was never about breaking into European places.

Without a win in the past six games, the campaign has petered out to simply playing a role in Tottenham's relegation battle and David Moyes admitted: "I think there's a cloud hanging over me at the moment."

However, in the context of the past five years, this has to be seen as progress.

The Toffees stayed up on the penultimate game of the season in 2021-22. In the 2022-23 season they were just 33 minutes, plus 10 added, off going down.

That season was also the catalyst for chaos that continued until The Friedkin Group took over in December 2024. There were PSR charges, points deductions, the better players sold, the board quit, the owner placed high interest loans on to the club and Everton were generally held up as an example of how not to succeed.

Now the fact they took the hunt for a European place to the final two games of the season can be seen as development, especially given the move into their new stadium - but I also see why fans are upset.

Many have seen this as a campaign, in which many of the top teams were well off the pace, as a real chance to dust their passports off. Aspirations have risen quickly, largely because of the work Moyes has done in a short time with a very small squad.

Last summer was seen as a chance to get the Toffees back on their feet. This summer feels bigger than that. It is a chance to really rebuild and bring in more quality to the squad.

While Everton are involved in a relegation match, they are not the subjects and that's a relief.

However, Moyes will aim to win the game to stop the swirl of negativity in what has been a solid season in the grand scheme of things.

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