Everton has shown resilience in the Premier League, remaining undefeated since mid-January, most recently drawing 1-1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. While victories have been scarce, with only one in their last five matches, the team, under David Moyes, feels secure in 14th place.
Despite the team’s stability, Moyes seeks more from striker Beto, whose performance against Wolves was underwhelming, even though he is the team’s joint top scorer in the league.
Beto’s Performance Against Wolves
Although Beto has scored six Premier League goals this season, his form dipped in the game against Wolves. He missed two significant scoring opportunities and struggled to integrate into general play, managing only three accurate passes from 25 touches.
Moyes surprisingly kept Beto on for the entire game, likely due to limited options with Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured. To diversify their attacking options, Moyes might turn to young talent, potentially discovering a player akin to Wayne Rooney.
Moyes Could Unearth Another Rooney at Everton
Moyes was at Everton when Rooney emerged, giving him his debut at just 16 years old. Now, history might repeat itself with 17-year-old Braiden Graham, who aims to emulate Rooney’s explosive entry into the first team.
Rooney’s early career impact, including a memorable goal against Arsenal, set a high bar. Graham, a promising prospect, is now looking to follow in those footsteps.
| Five Youngest Everton Debutants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Age at Debut | Manager at the Time |
| 1. Thierry Small | 16 years, five months + 23 days | Carlo Ancelotti |
| 2. Jose Baxter | 16 years, six months + 9 days | Moyes |
| 3. Jake Bidwell | 16 years, eight months + 26 days | Moyes |
| 4. James Vaughan | 16 years, eight months + 27 days | Moyes |
| 5. Joe Royle | 16 years, nine months + 7 days | Harry Catterick |
Interestingly, five players debuted for Everton at a younger age than Rooney, with Moyes giving debuts to three of them. Graham, with his early senior experience at Linfield at 15, will be eager to break into Everton’s first team.
Graham has impressed in Everton’s youth ranks, scoring eight goals in 18 games for the U18s and U21s. He aims to become Beto’s primary backup and make a significant impact on Everton’s first team, continuing the club’s tradition of nurturing young talent.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract expiring, an opportunity may arise for Graham to step up. Known for his versatility, Graham, once lauded as ‘incredible’ by his former coach David Healy, can also play as an attacking midfielder.
Everton may need fresh options in attack, and Graham could be Moyes’ bold choice to energize the team and excite the fans.
Vihaan Mehrotra