Everton have made several major decisions during a summer of change, but one of them could come back to haunt the club if things do not go according to plan.
With the new Premier League campaign already underway, pressure is beginning to build around the decisions being made behind the scenes at Goodison Park. The Toffees have worked hard to reshape David Moyes’ squad, bringing in fresh faces while also allowing experienced players to leave.
However, former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has offered observations about Everton’s squad that have given supporters plenty to think about.
The biggest concern is whether Everton have done enough to maintain the balance between experience and youth.
That question became particularly relevant after Idrissa Gana Gueye departed the club following the expiration of his contract. Everton subsequently moved to strengthen the midfield, with Hayden Hackney arriving from Middlesbrough.
Hackney has already provided an encouraging response to the doubts surrounding his move. His Premier League debut against Crystal Palace impressed Shearer, who highlighted the youngster’s composure, work rate and ability to win the ball back. Shearer also praised the partnership between Hackney and Harrison Armstrong, suggesting the pair gave Everton a strong foundation in midfield.
Yet that praise does not completely remove the concern.
Everton are taking a calculated gamble by relying on younger players to handle the pressure of Premier League football. Experience remains extremely important, particularly for a side attempting to establish itself after several difficult seasons.
The situation surrounding Harrison Armstrong has also demonstrated just how complicated Everton’s transfer strategy has become.
Nottingham Forest reportedly made a substantial offer for the young midfielder, with figures around £40 million being discussed. The possibility of selling one of Everton’s promising academy products caused considerable concern among supporters.
Moyes himself made it clear that he wanted Armstrong to remain at the club. The Everton manager praised the midfielder’s contribution and acknowledged how important he could be to the team.
That is where the potential regret comes in.
If Everton had allowed Armstrong to leave, they would have risked losing a player who could become increasingly valuable both on the pitch and financially. For a club trying to build a sustainable future, selling a talented young player too quickly can sometimes create a problem that money alone cannot solve.
The same argument applies to Everton’s wider transfer strategy.
The club have been active in the market, but supporters understandably want recruitment to improve the team rather than simply create movement within the squad. Recent reports have suggested further major changes could still happen before the transfer window closes, adding another layer of uncertainty around Moyes’ plans.
Everton’s opening weeks have already shown why patience will be required.
They produced an impressive victory over Crystal Palace before securing a dramatic draw against Bournemouth, with James Tarkowski scoring a late equaliser. That result showed character, but it also exposed areas that still need improvement.
Shearer’s recent praise for Everton’s younger players should therefore be viewed as encouragement rather than a guarantee of success.
Hackney and Armstrong have shown enough to excite supporters, but the Premier League is unforgiving. Young players will inevitably experience difficult matches, and Everton must ensure they have enough experienced figures around them when those moments arrive.
That is why the decisions being made now could prove so important later.
If Everton’s new-look squad succeeds, the club’s recruitment strategy will be praised as a bold step towards a brighter future. But if injuries, poor form or a lack of depth become problems, supporters may look back at some of these decisions and wonder whether more experienced options should have been retained.
For now, Moyes has reason to remain optimistic.
Everton have shown signs of becoming more energetic, competitive and difficult to beat. Thierno Barry has also started the campaign strongly, including a hat-trick against Preston in the Carabao Cup, giving the manager another reason to believe his team can improve.
But the season is still young.
The real test will come when Everton face difficult stretches, injuries and pressure from teams fighting around them. That is when the wisdom of the summer decisions will become much clearer.
For Everton, the message is simple: bold decisions can transform a club, but they can also create regrets.
And if the youngsters continue developing as quickly as Shearer believes they can, Everton may eventually look back on this period and realise they made the right call after all.
