- 5 months ago
Everton boss David Moyes on the impact Jack Grealish has had since signing for the club, the latest injury news and the threats posed by Aston Villa
Finch Farm, Liverpool, UK
Finch Farm, Liverpool, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00David, first of all, can we get your reaction to Jack Grealish being named the Premier League player of the month?
00:04I'm really pleased for him. He's worked incredibly hard and he's looked after himself.
00:10It looks a bit better in the summer and made sure he's come back with the right mindset to produce.
00:17And he has produced for us. He's made a big difference to us.
00:19So we're pleased for him. It's just the start for Jack and hopefully there's a lot more to come.
00:25Just the start, what's been the real key though? Is it something you've done or is it purely down to Jack himself?
00:29No, it's nothing down to me. It's down to Jack Grealish and probably every footballer wants to play.
00:36And actually managers have a really difficult job.
00:38Every week we've got, we can only pick 11 players and it's very hard and I understand it.
00:42I've got the same problem here at this club at the moment as well.
00:45We've got a lot of good players who I can't play all the time.
00:48But I think Jack wants that feeling that he can play and he can be selected.
00:54And when he does that, then I think he produces and he's done it really well for us in the games.
00:57It does seem to be a real symbol of optimism around the place as well.
01:01I mean, talk amongst the fans this weekend is of making another statement against another side
01:05that was challenging last season up for the European spots as well.
01:08Because obviously you've already been in Brighton over the season.
01:10How do you see it?
01:11Yeah, well, I mean, I guess you're talking about Aston Villa there.
01:14Well, I've got great respect for the manager and great respect for Aston Villa and what they've done in recent seasons.
01:20They've been amazing and it's really difficult to explain until you're in Europe regular and you're playing Premier League games how difficult it is.
01:30And I think they've done it brilliantly well.
01:33I know they've not quite got to the levels they wanted to reach maybe in getting to the finals, etc.
01:37But certainly regarding the league position, they've done a brilliant job, Aston Villa.
01:41And, you know, they've signed well.
01:44They've bought a lot of really good players.
01:47So, look, it's a huge game for us.
01:49You know, one of the teams who everybody would expect to be up near and around the top.
01:53How do you feel then now about the building blocks that you've put in place during this past transfer window?
01:58Well, I think we've tried to get the first part done.
02:01I remember saying to you, Vinny, a few times that I don't think we could do it all in the one transfer window.
02:05And I don't think we have.
02:06And I don't think that, you know, I don't think any club could suggest they have.
02:10And, you know, what you need is you need your players who you bring in to help you and make the team better.
02:17We finished the season really well last year.
02:18We finished the season brilliantly well with the players we had.
02:21So the players we've brought in, we hope, can add to it.
02:24But if they do as well as the players did last season, I'll be more than happy.
02:28There's a chance we've had to speak to you since deadline day as well.
02:30Just wonder what impression Merlin Roll has been able to make.
02:35Because it seems that he's made a favourable impression on the group.
02:37Yeah, I've been pleased with what I've seen, I have to say.
02:41But look, he's another young boy coming in from a different league.
02:45Different speed, different intensity.
02:48But he'll be able to handle it.
02:50I've got no doubt about that.
02:51And he'll give us an addition to midfield.
02:55I thought we were a little bit short there with the numbers we had there.
02:58And he gives us another player.
03:00As everybody's well aware, you know, AFCON comes around as well in mid-December.
03:05We're likely to lose two or three players to AFCON.
03:08So, you know, we've got to make sure that we're ready for that period as well.
03:12Anyone you can liken him to?
03:13No, not really.
03:16He's quite different.
03:17No, he's a tall, tall boy who's got lots of really good attributes.
03:21But, you know, he's a German under-21 international.
03:25I think there's their hopes that he'll go on to become a full international.
03:28For him to do that, he has to play well forever.
03:30And we hope that we give him the platform to do so.
03:33Just with Merlin and other signings as well, but I'm thinking in particular as well of Jack and of Keenan coming in.
03:40If they're a success throughout the season, what can that do for the club's ability once again to move in the transfer window
03:47and bring in players of that calibre, equal calibre, if not better?
03:51Yeah.
03:52Well, I think we've got to be careful that we don't step above where we're stationed at the moment.
03:56I think stability might be a pretty good word for Everton.
04:00I think we...
04:00I wouldn't say we got it back last year because we were fighting ourselves out of a position of, you know,
04:05it could have been difficult and we could have been in a worse position.
04:07So I think try to get the feeling that we're a stable club,
04:10whether that be finances, whether that be performances on the pitch,
04:13whether it be just getting into the new stadium and everybody finding their way around.
04:20But look, we've given everybody something to shout about at the moment.
04:23The supporters are excited.
04:24We're really excited.
04:25There's a brilliant atmosphere inside the training ground.
04:29The players are training well.
04:30So we've got to hope that we can use it and build on it and improve as we go along.
04:34Jordan Pickford, I'd imagine, would be a key figure in that stability as well
04:39and talk of him or talk of the club opening contract talk.
04:42So then we're wanting him to stay for the rest of his career.
04:45What are your thoughts on it?
04:46And could you tell us at all where contract talks are at, if at all?
04:50Well, I think he's a really good age for a goalkeeper.
04:52He's getting more experienced as he goes along.
04:54He's the main goalkeeper for England and he's done brilliantly well since I've been here.
05:01And to be honest, when I've watched him over the years,
05:03I had him at Sunderland as well when I first started.
05:05So, yeah, no doubt that we'll be doing everything we can to make sure that we get Jordan re-signed.
05:13So Jared Branthwaite out on the grass, what was he at in terms of his recovery?
05:17Jared's getting closer, but no, he's not quite there yet.
05:21But he's certainly getting closer and hopefully we'll get him back because he's a huge player for us.
05:25He's a player who we get big value and lots of hopes for him.
05:31So we're looking forward to getting him back.
05:33Any idea when he can join in with the group?
05:35No idea at the moment, but I think we'll be a few weeks before we're at that stage.
05:39And just to go back to Jack, one final thing, David.
05:43Obviously, with that Player of the Month award,
05:45how hopeful are you that he's put in the performance in now that we'll see him recall to the England squad?
05:50Because we obviously spoke about that being a motivating factor for him.
05:54Yeah, I think it is a big motivation for him.
05:56And, you know, he's put a marker down, that's for sure.
05:59But I don't pick the England team, I'm glad I don't,
06:02because there's so many good players to pick in the England team.
06:05The England team played really well against Serbia in the result
06:08and there were some really good performances by players.
06:10So Jack will need to keep playing well if he wants to jump above them.
06:13So let's hope he does do.
06:15Thanks, David.
06:16Thanks, Vinny. We'll go to Simon at Premier League Productions.
06:18Hello again.
06:19How are you doing?
06:20I'm good, how are you?
06:21You're normally drunk this time at lunchtime, are you not?
06:24You're not a few drinks from now?
06:26Unless I'm talking, I'm doing it.
06:34I'm all right.
06:36Let's move on quickly.
06:39Just to come back to Jack and Kiernan as well,
06:42just the creativity that's also got the end result now as well.
06:46What do you do, if anything, out on the training ground
06:50that's maybe different that has brought that?
06:52Well, the only thing I could say what I've done
06:56is try to give them an opportunity to play.
06:58I mean, they need to play well enough to stay in the team.
07:00That's first and foremost.
07:01Because we've got other people at it as well
07:04who could probably be in those positions as well.
07:07But you're right, I think Kiernan and Jack have given us creativity,
07:10which we've not had before.
07:11I think Kiernan's a really good footballer, has been.
07:17He didn't play as much at Chelsea, a little bit like Jack.
07:19But I saw both of them, good British players
07:23who I thought could give us something which would make us a bit better.
07:27I mean, the important thing for me at Everton
07:28was to try and make the team a bit better
07:30than where we've been in recent seasons that we could do.
07:34Kiernan's, I think, already played more minutes this season
07:37than he had in all of last season.
07:38And that's clearly helped him as well, hasn't it?
07:41Yeah, absolutely.
07:42It looks as if...
07:43I mean, the first couple of games he played very well.
07:46Even in the friendly games at the start, he played well.
07:48But it looked as if he just needed to get the 90 minutes
07:50under his belt in some of them.
07:52Now he looks fine.
07:53He scored a great goal.
07:54He's involved with the assists as well.
07:57So he's an important player for us.
07:58He really is.
07:59And he's only just started.
08:00So we're hoping that he continues to grow.
08:03There's a lot of talk about Jack,
08:05but Kiernan's done brilliantly well, I have to say.
08:06You mentioned the new stadium.
08:09I think there's only two teams in Premier League history
08:11that have ever moved into their second stadium, as it were,
08:15and won the first two home games there.
08:18So what do you do, or what have you done,
08:20or what can you do that gives you that advantage
08:23that also doesn't give the opposition?
08:25Because they're going in thinking,
08:27that this is brilliant.
08:28I've got to say, it is brilliant as well.
08:30It's a great stadium, and everybody should enjoy it.
08:33I think what we've tried to do is drum home to the Everton supporters
08:37how much we need you, need you the same as you were at Goodison,
08:40because Goodison was so good for us.
08:42The supporters were so good there.
08:44And I have to say, certainly the first league game,
08:47and for 50,000 to turn out in a League Cup game against Mansfield
08:50was a great achievement in itself.
08:52So I have to say, I think the supporters have helped us greatly.
08:56They got us over the line at Brighton.
08:58You know, we had to save a penalty to get us through and get the result.
09:01So it's got us off to a good start, and the sport was fantastic.
09:05And just one more for me.
09:07How's the left-back slot looking for this weekend?
09:12Mikko's around.
09:13We'll need to see if he's going to make it or not.
09:15We'll need to see.
09:15But, yeah, hopefully he might be OK.
09:19And was it a knock from him, or just a fitness thing?
09:22He'd felt something in the game against the Wolves,
09:26and he'd made us known,
09:28but he felt that he was fine to go to Ukraine and go with them.
09:31But once he got there, he felt as if maybe he wasn't quite right,
09:34so he came away from it.
09:36We'll get back to my vent, huh?
09:39Thanks very much.
09:40We'll go to Julia at Radio Merseyside.
09:42Hey, David.
09:44Just one more on Jack.
09:46I know he'd said here in an interview after,
09:49I think it was the first game against Brighton,
09:50and he felt he'd fallen out of love a bit with football
09:53and wasn't enjoying it.
09:54And then he said here, he really loves it again.
09:58Did he say that to you before he joined?
09:59And also, what is it about Everton that seems to fit Jack Grealish
10:03and vice versa?
10:04I think where he comes from and how he interacts with people,
10:09I think is acceptable here.
10:10I think Everton supporters want a bit of interaction with the players.
10:16Would like flair,
10:18but want them to know that they're going to be honest and hard-working.
10:20I think Jack's incredibly honest.
10:22Jack would be the first one to come in and tell you when he's not playing well.
10:24He'd be the first one to say that he didn't do well enough on a situation.
10:28But I think he should take the plaudits just now
10:31because he's not had many for a while now.
10:33And to win a player of the month in the Premier League
10:36with the level of new players that have come into the league,
10:39the new signings that have been bought in for clubs
10:41who are paying hundreds of millions,
10:43you'd have to say it's a big privilege
10:46to be given that accolade as Player of the Month.
10:49And I'm pleased for him
10:51because everybody knows he's back again.
10:54Someone who has had some really good positive results
10:57coming in for him at the moment,
10:58some reviews, is Michael Keane.
11:00He's obviously stepped up while Jared Branthwaite has been out.
11:03I just wondered how you've assessed what he's done.
11:05I think he'd signed, didn't he?
11:06Expect him to be called upon as a substitute when needed.
11:09But he's really stepped up, hasn't he?
11:11Yeah, and it's very difficult to have players,
11:14have enough players who can go into the first team
11:15and make sure that the first team doesn't look any different.
11:19I think Michael's experienced enough,
11:21played plenty of games here before.
11:24But I think he might have needed just a little bit of attention as well
11:26and understanding.
11:28And he's played really well, Michael.
11:29He really has.
11:30He's done great in the games.
11:32No, he has to keep it up
11:33because there's big competition for those positions.
11:36And his performances have warranted getting a good mention
11:41because he's played well.
11:43You say there, so Jack and Michael Keane there,
11:45as a manager, how do you deal with that?
11:47When a player maybe feels, I don't know,
11:49either left out or just things are not going right,
11:51how do you deal with that?
11:51Because that's not necessarily something you can do in training, is it?
11:54Do you have to have conversations with them?
11:56Yeah, well, that's part of the management job.
11:58I mean, the footballers all want to play.
12:03When you come to a club,
12:04you're hoping that you're one of the ones
12:05who's starting the 11 every week.
12:07But we can't start the 11.
12:08I think when you've got more cup games
12:11and more European football,
12:12it means that your squad can be rotated a bit more
12:14than it is when you don't.
12:16But, no, it's part of the job.
12:18It's not the nice part as a manager
12:20because it's never fun telling players
12:21that you're not starting them
12:22or maybe you're not playing them in a certain game.
12:25But it's part of it
12:28and you have to live with it.
12:29I've done it enough times now, you know,
12:31and it's never easy,
12:32no matter who you're not selecting.
12:35Somebody in your squad
12:36that has had some headlines this week
12:38is James Garner as well.
12:40He's had a lot of positive reviews as well.
12:42He has played, I was counting off,
12:43I think it's five positions he's played
12:45since the start of the summer.
12:47Is that what you look for in a player at the moment?
12:49You might need that versatility
12:51and someone that's just willing to play anywhere.
12:53And also, he's in his last year of his contract as well.
12:56So, are you quite keen to keep him?
12:59Well, I don't know if he's in the last year of the contract.
13:01I'm sure there'll be a clause in there
13:03where we've got him.
13:04So, I couldn't even answer that question.
13:05I couldn't answer that.
13:07But, yeah?
13:08I'm going to clause as well.
13:09Yeah, we're right.
13:10OK, so...
13:12But he's a versatile player, isn't he?
13:14He's an incredibly versatile player
13:15and we're very fortunate to have him.
13:16And actually, again,
13:18I got asked a question about earlier there
13:20about the England team and the players in.
13:23I think if I was on the England staff,
13:25I would be keeping a close eye on Jimmy Gardner
13:28and the way he's performing at the moment.
13:30I think he's playing really well
13:31and I think that Elliot Anderson
13:32has played brilliantly well
13:34for Nottingham Forest and for England.
13:35But Jimmy Gardner, I think,
13:37is playing exceptionally well
13:40and obviously a young English player.
13:43Thanks, Julian.
13:45We'll go to Rory at the Press Association.
13:47Hi there.
13:50Just to continue a bit of the grievous fest today.
13:53Obviously, the relationship he has with Villa
13:55is a long and deep one.
13:57What do you think it means to him these days
13:59to play against Villa
14:01and is it a good one for him to come into in good form?
14:06Well, I think it's a question for Jack,
14:08not for me.
14:08I don't know.
14:09I can't really answer the question.
14:10But all I can say is I went to watch Villa
14:12in Crystal Palace last Sunday night.
14:15There was hundreds of Villa fans came up to me
14:17asking me, how's Jack?
14:19How's he doing?
14:21Everybody loved him as far as I can see.
14:24Maybe they tell me different.
14:26But that was the feeling I got.
14:28He's just turned 30 as well.
14:30Just a bit on...
14:32I don't know.
14:32I guess over the years,
14:33you'll have come across people
14:34who show the hunger to really flourish
14:36and go again after that point
14:38and some who maybe have had their best days by then.
14:40And from what we're seeing,
14:41I guess Jack's looking on the right side of that balance.
14:43I think you have to do all the right things now.
14:45I think when you start to get to 30,
14:47how you look after yourself,
14:48how you train,
14:49your preparation,
14:50all the stuff which make you perform.
14:53And let's be fair,
14:55we've all been there.
14:56Some of you might be under 30 in here,
14:58but not many of you by the looks of it.
15:01But I have to say,
15:04when you're an athlete,
15:07you have to keep yourself right.
15:08But I have to say that
15:09modern football is allowing you
15:11so players to play longer.
15:14We've seen it.
15:15We've seen some brilliant players.
15:16Ashley Young was a great example of that.
15:18If you keep yourself right
15:20and keep preparing
15:21and doing the right things,
15:22you can have a really long career.
15:24And just very generally,
15:25from the international break,
15:26any other...
15:27You've had a couple of slightly longer journeys than others.
15:29Have you got any other concerns
15:30in terms of availability?
15:31Yeah, we've got a concern about
15:32Ellie and Dye.
15:33He's got a knock.
15:35So we'll need to see.
15:36We're not sure how he'll be for tomorrow.
15:38Thanks, Jorge.
15:39We'll just finish off with Will.
15:46Hi, Zay.
15:47Just check on Asnu and Paterson.
15:49How are they getting on?
15:52Yeah, they're both back in training.
15:54Paterson's not had any football yet,
15:56so I wouldn't put them down
15:58as sort of match ready yet.
15:59really.
16:00But he's been back now,
16:01the best part,
16:01in a week or so.
16:03Young Adam as well
16:05got a game at Doncaster
16:07a week ago as well.
16:08So just beginning to get them
16:10back in amongst it.
16:11So, yeah,
16:12they're back fit.
16:14Are they match ready to play?
16:15I'm not 100% sure.
16:17Just going back to Aston Villa,
16:19the relative subset of all the subset of the Advers,
16:22is that something you think
16:23everyone can imitate?
16:24Obviously, they went down,
16:25come back over,
16:26got themselves,
16:27ask maybe where they are.
16:28Is that something that Everett can aim towards,
16:30you think?
16:32Well, I think you always want to look for role models
16:35who you could possibly look to see
16:37who you could sort of do similar.
16:40What I will say,
16:41and I probably usually know better than me,
16:42but I think they've probably had 100 million put into the club
16:45probably over the last five or six years every year or so,
16:49which is great commitment from the owners
16:52and great commitment from everybody at Aston Villa to do that.
16:55We're only at the start,
16:56so we've got a long way to go to catch them up
16:58as far as that goes.
16:59Because they've been building a really strong team
17:01for quite a few years,
17:03since Dean Smith,
17:04and since at that time,
17:06they've been building up all the time, really.
17:08So, I think Villa have shown everybody
17:11that they've been a really good side
17:13and getting to semi-final cups
17:16and not quite making it,
17:17but they've certainly been in around the top six
17:20of the Premier League as well.
17:20Which is fine for me.
17:22Going back to the deadlines,
17:23there were some support
17:24who maybe was the likes of seeing a new right back come in.
17:26Did you try and get one in?
17:27Because obviously there was 12-4 pass
17:28and maybe going out on loan as well.
17:30Yeah.
17:30That was bad, didn't you?
17:31Yeah, we tried to get...
17:32There was a few players we didn't get in
17:34in which we wanted.
17:36Would I like to strengthen defensively if we could have?
17:38That's what we were looking at,
17:39but for different reasons,
17:41we just didn't get one over the line in the end.
17:46So, that's why I said it was going to be always difficult
17:48to get it all done in one window.
17:49We just couldn't.
17:51Probably our main focus really
17:53was always to try and get new attacking players in
17:55to give us something different.
17:57But we didn't quite get, you know,
18:01a right back or another centre back
18:03who could maybe play right back as well in.
18:05That would have given us at least an extra player.
Comments