The Blue Frontier - American Everton Analysis

Everton stop the slide with a 2–0 win over Fulham at the Hill Dickinson Stadium: a match that could've easily finished five if not for the linesman and VAR's meddling. The Blue Frontier crew dive into what made this performance click: Moyes' much-needed adjustments, Garner's surprising stability at right back, Tim's tidy control in midfield, and Barry's growing confidence up top. They dissect the three disallowed goals, highlight the press that throttled Fulham's buildup, and weigh how much credit belongs to Moyes versus the opposition's drop-off. Beyond the scoreline, the trio discuss what this could mean for Everton's balance going forward (do Garner, Barry, or "Tim the Enchanter" represent longer-term answers?) and what the result says about the club's December outlook. Plus, Shan shares some heartfelt thoughts and prayers for members of the Everton and broader football community. Up the Toffees! LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

The Blue Frontier is back to dissect the gory details of a post-Halloween clash at the Stadium of Light against top-five Sunderland. The podcast triumvirate of James, Ryan, and Shan grapple with an Everton side that dazzled for the first 28 minutes, capped by Iliman Ndiaye's stunning left-footed curler, only to morph into brainless zombies as Granit Xhaka's deflected equalizer sparked a second-half Sunderland siege.   They spotlight Thierno Barry's lively start, wrecked by a point-blank miss and a needless yellow that killed his bite.   David Moyes' baffling subs also face the torch: Why Dwight McNeil over Tyler Dibling or Charly Alcaraz for an injured Ndiaye?   Tactics unravel with Sunderland's midfield grip (Xhaka's 18 final-third passes) and Everton's collapse (second half: 61% possession conceded, 0.75 xG to 0.02). Alongside loyal listeners, the crew probes: Purely tactical? Getting the best from players? Right man for the job? Squad talent shortfall? Adam Aznou the fix?   They float tweaks (stick with Barry, shift Jack Grealish centrally, sub earlier) amid one win in eight. Tune in for data-backed takes, raw frustrations, and pragmatic paths ahead of Fulham and United. Up the Toffees.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

Everton's first home loss at Hill Dickinson Stadium came with a hard lesson in margins. James, Ryan, and Shan return to sort through the frustration and the facts: two set-piece lapses, some dodgy refereeing, and not mention, another match where Everton's play looked better than the scoreline. This week's episode leans into a new format shaped by conversations in The Blue Frontier Discord. Less retelling, more reasoning. The hosts break down how Everton out-created Spurs from open play, and what the post-shot xG reveals about finishing and defensive shape. They also dig into listener-driven ideas on tactical tweaks and squad rotation, asking what realistically needs to change for results to match performances. Finally, the boys take us through a new segment, led by Shan, to give Thoughts and Prayers to two teams that are really struggling right now.  You might be surprised to know who those clubs are.  As always, please leave a rating and review if you enjoy the show. Reach out to us with any feedback at bluefrontierusa@gmail.com, or any of our socials! LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier 

Everton held their own for 45 minutes at the Etihad, but against Manchester City, fine margins always seem to go one way. James and Shan break down the Toffees' 2–0 defeat, where Iliman Ndiaye's electric first half and Jordan Pickford's shot-stopping weren't enough in the face of Erling Haaland's inevitable brace. The duo unpack David Moyes' setup: Everton's compact defense mostly worked until it didn't; the Beto chance early on could've flipped the game. There's also time spent on the neatly bypassed VAR handball controversy, and a forward line still searching for rhythm and confidence. With away matches vs City + Liverpool in the rearview less than 10 games into the season, Toffees can look forward to many more winnable games ahead. LINKS: linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

The Blue Frontier crew take the opportunity at at the international break to do a league-wide pulse check after 7 matches played: revisiting their preseason predictions and dissecting how every club's story is unfolding so far. Everything is on the table here (no pun intended): Fulham's "they are who we thought they were" midtable solidity, Burnley's relegation-zone scrappiness, and the heavyweights battling at the top of the league. James, Ryan, and Shan trace which sides are over and under-performing their xG, who's riding luck, and who's quietly legit. Arsenal's control, City's fragility, and Liverpool's regression all get the microscope treatment, as well as surprise packages like Bournemouth and Spurs under Thomas Frank. Data, balanced debate, and the usual dry humor on clubs that "cracked the code" only to immediately forget it. Whether you're an Evertonian keeping tabs on the wider Premier League or a neutral who likes tactics and data, this episode delivers analysis that turns table-watching into insight.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier 

Maybe it's a touch late, but that just lets The Blue Frontier dive deeper into tactical waters with a upbeat post-match pod on Everton's stunning 2-1 comeback against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium.    James, Shan, and Ryan unpack the rollercoaster: a woeful first half where the Toffees were tactically undone by Palace's sharp midfield duo of Wharton and Kamada, then an electric final 30 minutes sparked by second-half subs. Jordan Pickford's heroics in goal, Charly Alcaraz's relentless energy, and not to mention, a roaring home crowd that pulled the side back into the Premier League's top half.   The trio dives into questions on whether it was Palace fatigue cracking their 19-match unbeaten run, or Everton's resurgence and renewed intensity. Expect tactical breakdowns, eye-opening stats, love for Beto's chaotic impact, and a passionate call to rethink views on young talents like Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry. All in all, a well-earned win that highlights Moyes' instincts (and their limits).   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier 

Everton's unbeaten home record stayed intact with a 1–1 draw against West Ham, but the performance left plenty to unpack. Michael Keane's towering header gave the Toffees an early lead, only for Jared Bowen's deflected strike to cancel it out and renew the sense of frustration around the Hill Dickinson. In this episode of The Blue Frontier, James and Ryan dig into the tactical storylines and listener-driven questions that emerged from a flat showing against a side struggling in the league. Why is the right side repeatedly Everton's weak spot? Is Iliman Ndiaye being wasted out wide? And what does it say that James Garner, industrious as ever, continues to stand out in a midfield that struggles to create for its strikers? The discussion also touches on Nuno Espírito Santo's evolving West Ham, Moyes' ineffective substitutions, and the implications of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's suspension as Crystal Palace loom on the schedule.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier    

For the second straight season, Everton crash out of the Carabao Cup in the third round, this time a 2-0 defeat to bottom-placed Wolves at Molineux. James and Ryan pick apart David Moyes' heavily rotated XI that left fans scratching their heads: Seamus Coleman starting at left back, Dwight McNeil miscast yet again, and summer signings Charly Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling yanked before they could properly settle. The duo dive into the key turning points: James Garner rattling the bar with Everton's best chance, Wolves punishing a midfield that never quite clicked, and a defensive unit that looked overly cautious. What does Moyes' refusal to trust Aznou say about the left-back situation? And did too much rotation kill a cup run before it even started? With listener comments spotlighting frustration over effort levels and tactical rigidity, this episode weighs the fallout for squad players who failed to impress. Plus: standout performers (spoiler: Garner again), the curious case of McNeil, and what this loss means ahead of West Ham and a tricky Premier League stretch.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Check out our merch, leave us a rating & review, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

The latest Merseyside Derby at Anfield ended in familiar fashion for Everton: a 2–1 defeat to Liverpool. Ryan Gravenberch's early volley and Hugo Ékitike's close-range finish punished a stretched Everton midfield, leaving Jordan Pickford exposed. Yet Idrissa Gana Gueye's thunderous strike after halftime briefly tilted the momentum, reminding the away end that the Blues still had fight. James, Ryan, and Shan break down where David Moyes' game plan faltered in the first half, before tweaks at the break enabled the Blues to grab a foothold in the game. They also debate the Beto vs. Thierno Barry discourse, Grealish's bruising duel with Conor Bradley, and why Iliman Ndiaye remains underutilized on the right. The crew examine key stats (Liverpool 0.94 xG to Everton's 0.6, nine Everton shots but just two on target) and the wider Premier League picture: Everton look more competitive than in recent years, but Moyes' in-game management again drew scrutiny. With Wolves in the cup and West Ham ahead, can Everton write this off and keep picking up points?   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

Everton's winless run against Aston Villa in the Premier League stretched to 13, as the Toffees settled for a 0–0 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium. On paper it looked like a stalemate, but the match itself told a different story: 20 shots, 46 touches in Villa's box, and over 2 expected goals: evidence of a side creating plenty, just not finishing it. Emi Martínez, inevitably, played spoiler with another standout display. On this episode of The Blue Frontier, James, Shan, and Ryan break down the fine margins. Beto's chaotic afternoon, Michael Keane's unexpected threat at set pieces, and Iliman Ndiaye's awkward fit on the right all come under the microscope. There's praise for James Garner's resilience out of position, cautious optimism around Merlin Röhl's full debut, and frustration at David Moyes' conservative substitutions. With Villa undermanned yet still unbeaten in the fixture, the crew ask: was this two points dropped, or proof that Everton are steadily climbing? And with the Merseyside Derby at Anfield looming, the conversation turns to how this deeper, still-unbalanced squad might fare against far sterner opposition.   Links: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

Deadline Day is in the books, and the full TBF trio takes stock of Everton's summer. James, Ryan, and Shan walk through the full window position by position, testing their own preseason assessments against what actually unfolded. Merlin Röhl's late arrival from Freiburg, the sale of Youssef Chermiti to Rangers, and the splashy additions of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish headline the discussion - but so do the gaps left untouched at right back and defensive midfield. Along the way, the panel weigh Everton's €120m net spend against squad balance, highlight which misses were blessings in disguise (no Soucek, no Aké), and consider whether patience with Tyler Dibling and other young signings points to a longer-term plan. Listener polls and comments from the Blue Frontier Discord bring fresh perspective on how fans grade the business and where they expect the club to finish. It's an audit of Everton's window: not surprisingly, there are some different grades and viewpoints on how successful the Toffees have been.    LINKS:  https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

Everton's August renaissance rolls on. A 2-3 win away at Wolves makes it three straight victories in all competitions. Almost unbelievably, that means as many league wins in August as the previous four years combined. Beto bullied Wolves' back line for the opener, Iliman Ndiaye leaned into the banter with a wolf-themed celebration, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall unleashed a bullet on the volley as good as any the Toffees have seen in some time. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Defensive lapses let Hwang Hee-chan and Rodrigo Gomes drag Wolves back into it, exposing Everton's ongoing right-back and center-back depth issues. Jack Grealish again stole the show: dictating play, winning fouls, and racking up another 2 assists, looking every bit like Everton's new potential talisman. James Garner's bite in midfield, Beto's hold-up play, and the away support also earned high marks. With Branthwaite's return looming, Tyler Dibling pushing for minutes, and transfer rumors swirling (yes, Tomas Souček…), the squad balance debate rages on. Shan and James dissect the win, the wobble, and what Moyes' Everton are becoming.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier

Everton made it ten straight wins in their League Cup openers, seeing off League One Mansfield Town 2–0 at the Hill Dickinson with second-half goals from Charly Alcaraz and Beto. It was more "professional" than thrilling, but hardly short on storylines. On this episode of The Blue Frontier: American Everton Analysis, James, Ryan, and Shan dive into a night of rotation and returns: Vitalii Mykolenko back at left back, Seamus Coleman making his season debut in his 17th year with the club, and teenager Tyler Dibling getting his first senior minutes. Harrison Armstrong's poised midfield display takes center stage, while the debate rages on between Thierno Barry's promise vs Beto's end product. The trio weigh Moyes' lineup choices, the value of squad depth that finally looks like depth, and what these performances say about Everton's evolving balance ahead of Wolves in the league and the looming close of the transfer window.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

133 years after Goodison Park first opened, Everton christened their new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2–0 win over Brighton. The Blue Frontier crew break down a landmark day: goals from Iliman Ndiaye and makeshift left back James Garner, Jack Grealish's impressive debut in blue, and Jordan Pickford's penalty save that sealed the occasion. We dig into the tactical wrinkles: N'Jai shifted right, Grealish roaming the left, and Moyes' new-look 4-2-3-1 holding firm despite Brighton's pressure. Tyler Dibling's £35m signing also gets the full treatment: upside, risks, and how he fits into an attack suddenly packed with dribblers. We separate noise from numbers, debate who looked ready for prime time (Keane??), and ask whether Everton's luck finally turned.  LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  

The Blue Frontier crew casts their gaze over the Premier League's "other 16," dissecting the transfer whirlwind, tactical shifts, and last season's form shaping the mid-table and relegation scraps.   Newly promoted sides load up on youth, like Sunderland's Diarra-led charge, while Bournemouth's press (1st in PPDA) keeps defenses sweating. West Ham's PSR woes expose a creaky midfield, and Palace's European jaunt tests their depth.   With stats and analysis to back the banter, the hosts weigh who's built to climb and crash, all while pondering if late window moves at Finch Farm can offset a grim Leeds loss. It's a macro look at the Premier League's underbelly, spiked with a Blue-tint and glimmers of hope with under two weeks left to dictate EFC's fortunes this campaign.  Teams Discussed (in order) Sunderland   Leeds   Burnley   West Ham   Wolves   Brentford   Fulham   Bournemouth   Everton   Brighton   Crystal Palace   Manchester United   Aston Villa   Nottingham Forest   Tottenham   Newcastle LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Get in touch: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com   Intro composed by Steve Barkwill, voiced by Laura Lockwood

Everton's Premier League season opener at Elland Road ended in familiar fashion: August defeat, a handball controversy, and a fanbase perhaps already questioning the transfer committee. In the the first post-match recap of the new campaign, James and Shan break down Leeds United 1–0 Everton, by the numbers and by the VIBES. James Garner's surprise turn at left back, to Beto's isolation, to Ndiaye battling triple-teams, to Jack Grealish's anticipated debut, the pod digs into every angle. Was Tarkowski harshly punished for "making himself bigger"? Did Everton's midfield look as lost as the numbers suggest? And what does this say about a recruitment team that has addressed everything except Everton's glaring needs, with just two weeks left in the window? The duo dives into it all on this one. Producer's note: Missing Ryan's tactical brain this week and the match was during work hours - apologies if the analysis isn't as sharp as usual. LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  Get in touch: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com Intro composed by Steve Barkwill, voiced by Laura Lockwood

Back from Atlanta and back behind the mic, the Blue Frontier trio break down Everton's 2–2 draw with Manchester United in the final match of the PL Summer Series. The conversation covers tactical shifts, including James Garner operating as a deep midfielder, Charlie Alcaraz forced wide, and a promising first look at Adam Aznou. But many of the usual issues remain. The right side of the pitch still looks unsettled, and Beto continues to work in isolation. Off the pitch, Everton becomes the first Premier League club to receive Living Pension accreditation. The Budweiser stadium deal and ongoing public transport concerns also come under the microscope, with Bramley-Moore's opening just around the corner. In the final segment, the group examines Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's arrival, the stalled pursuit of Tyler Dibling, and rumored moves for Dion Lopy and Jack Grealish. As time runs out in the window, the strategy behind Everton's recruitment becomes harder to pin down. LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Get in touch: bluefrontierusa@gmail.com Intro produced by Steve Barkwill, voiced by Laura Lockwood

Everton are set for a US roadtrip, and The Blue Frontier crew is riding shotgun. In this special Summer Series episode, James and Shan go full tour guide, handing the mic to Evertonians from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta to spotlight fan-led festivities across the US: from five-a-side footy and boat cruises, to all out Southern-style tailgates. They preview the events and the Toffee spirit ramping up spectacularly in each city, and get a little bit of background on each group's history. In the final segment, the hosts also break down Everton's early preseason (spoiler: don't draw any conclusions), Mark Travers' surprise arrival, kit discourse (finally, a win), and a few links with legs: Takefusa Kubo and Adam Aznou. Tactically light, community heavy - this one's for the badge-kissers and the Discord lurkers alike.   James - NY: (01:47) Henry - NJ: (09:11) Tony - CHI: (18:47) Bridget - ATL (31:26) Shan/James Segment: (41:44)   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier  SUMMER SERIES FB GROUP FOR ALL INFO: https://www.facebook.com/groups/768603562263241 

The Blue Frontier has reached the FINAL FRONTIER in its 2024–25 Everton squad assessment series with a deep dive into the club's most critical remaining gaps: right-back and goalkeeper. Building on the tactical and data-heavy groundwork laid in Part 1, James, Ryan, and Shan kick off with news on Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane re-signing, as well as the incoming Thierno Barry (who got a full breakdown an earlier episode). From there, they turn their attention to right backs and keepers, applying their consistent scouting framework: starting with free agents and relegated bargains, before digging into names identified via custom models, Wyscout data, and Discord community contributions. This episode surfaces high-upside young right-backs like Tiago Santos, Wesley, and Juanlu Sánchez; weighs short-term fixes like Kyle Walker-Peters, and touches on intriguing (and sometimes chaotic) goalkeeper options to back up Jordan Pickford following the departures of João Virgínia and Asmir Begović. As always, there are no agendas, no fake hot takes: just data-literate, realistic, and out-of-the-box thinking. The pod mixes tactical nuance with a few laughs, a touch of shade, and a whole lot of grounded analysis. If you're looking for Everton insight that's civil, smart, and more serious than silly-season rumors, this one's for you. LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Email:  bluefrontierusa@gmail.com   Intro: composed by Steve Barkwill, voice work by Laura Lockwood

Part 6 of The Blue Frontier's 2024–25 Everton squad assessment series takes on a big brief: left backs, center backs, and all the latest transfer noise. PLUS a new theme song to set the tone (thanks to Steve Barkwill and Laura Lockwood, links below!) James, Shan, and Ryan kick things off with reactions to the kit reveal (Stake-free at last), the Seamus Coleman extension, and updates on Jarrad Branthwaite's looming five-year deal and Gana Gueye's still-pending renewal. From there, the crew dives into positional analysis, blending Wyscout data, scouting models, and sharp tactical logic to evaluate what Everton really need in defense. While LB and CB are both positions of need, the trio consider that Everton may want to allocate more funds to other positions and have adjusted accordingly. They weigh up Vitalii Mykolenko's year, question the resource allocation for rumored signings like Thierno Barry, and explore wide-ranging fullback options—from free agents and relegated bargains to promising South American talents like Vanderlan and Esquivel. Also discussed: Galatasaray's Jelleur, Southampton's Wellington, and MLS alumnus John Tolkin. And as usual, light on the agendas and intentional hot takes, heavy on different ideas, out of the box thinking, and surprising names that make a lot more sense than the silly season rumor mill.    If you would like to find a group of guys that attempt to keep it civil – with an exception or two in this episode - and realistic, we encourage you to give it a listen.   LINKS: https://linktr.ee/thebluefrontier Get in touch:  bluefrontierusa@gmail.com   Steve Barkwill Composition: https://stevebarkwill.com  Laura Lockwood (Lockwood Voices): https://www.lockwoodvoices.com/