After the struggles to improve the senior squad during the latter stages of the summer transfer window, many Everton<\/a> supporters would have been fearing for their safety in 2026\/27.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n David Moyes<\/a>\u2019 men struggled to add to the senior squad before the window slammed shut, with the failure to secure the signature of Folarin Balogun summing up their luck in the market.<\/p>\n However, the Toffees have managed to still start the new campaign in the tremendous form, subsequently avoiding defeat in all seven of their games across all competitions.<\/p>\n They have managed to do so after the departure of one key senior member of the squad, and the decision to sell the player appears to be a masterstroke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For years, winger Dwight McNeil<\/a> was a regular starter within the Everton senior ranks and often popped up with key goals in their hunt to fend off relegation.<\/p>\n The 2024\/25 campaign was his best on Merseyside, as the Englishman registered 11 combined goals and assists across all competitions, but it\u2019s safe to say he endured a huge decline last season.<\/p>\n He failed to find the back of the net in any of his 25 appearances throughout 2025\/26, with the hierarchy even rejecting offers from Nottingham Forest for the attacker.<\/p>\n However, this summer, the hierarchy decided to sanction a sale for the 26-year-old, with McNeil joining Crystal Palace and Brennan Johnson moving in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n During the first two games for his new side, the former Toffee has struggled to deliver, subsequently making just a single start and registering just a single shot on goal.<\/p>\n PL mins for Crystal Palace forwards (2026\/27)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n Position<\/p>\n<\/th>\n PL mins<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n Daichi Kamada<\/p>\n<\/td>\n AM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 441<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Anan Khalaili<\/p>\n<\/td>\n AM\/W<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 380<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Y\u00e9remy Pino<\/p>\n<\/td>\n W<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 308<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n J\u00f8rgen Strand Larsen<\/p>\n<\/td>\n ST<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 299<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Eddie Nketiah<\/p>\n<\/td>\n ST<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 176<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Jean-Philippe Mateta<\/p>\n<\/td>\n ST<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 63<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Evann Guessand<\/p>\n<\/td>\n W\/ST<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 54<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Dwight McNeil<\/p>\n<\/td>\n W<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 85<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Zavier Gozo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n W<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Isma\u00efla Sarr<\/p>\n<\/td>\n W<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n He\u2019s already been dispossessed a staggering 2.2 times per 90 this campaign, with such a tally higher than 87% of players in England\u2019s top-flight this term.<\/p>\n Out of possession, McNeil has been just as ineffective for the Eagles, as seen by his tally of being dribbled past 2.2 times per 90 – also placing him in the bottom 5% of attackers in Europe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite the deal for McNeil being sanctioned this summer, it\u2019s safe to say Moyes still needs to be brutal with numerous members of his senior squad to achieve any form of success.<\/p>\n The Toffees have now failed to finish in the top half in any of the last five seasons, with the fanbase crying out for progress during the 2026\/27 campaign.<\/p>\n The unbeaten start is undoubtedly a positive start to the new season, but it\u2019s crucial that the senior members of the squad maintain their impressive early form.<\/p>\n However, one player has struggled to deliver his best performances over the last few weeks, with the club needing to make the call and move Vitaliy Mykolenko<\/a> on in the near future.<\/p>\n The Ukrainian left-back, who joined the club in January 2022, has featured in every minute of the club\u2019s Premier League campaign to date under Moyes.<\/p>\n\n Why Everton made the right decision selling McNeil<\/strong>
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