Everton manager David Moyes is having to cope with a squad of just 18 outfield players and the club now being up for sale

Everton supporters need to be patient with David Moyes as he will handle their current situation and flourish reckons one of his former Premier League rivals.

On October 9, owners The Friedkin Group announced that the Blues were up for sale, less than 22 months after they completed their takeover of the club. The Houston-based company also came in for severe criticism for the way the summer transfer window ended with Moyes being left to work with a squad of just 18 outfield players, including solitary options in the striker, right-back and left-back positions.

Despite this, the 63-year-old oversaw an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions before Everton finally suffered a first defeat of the season, 2-0 at home to Chelsea last Saturday. The Blues now face another stern examination this Saturday as they travel to Arsenal for a fixture in which they haven’t tasted victory in front of fans for over 30 years.

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However, speaking courtesy of CasinoHawks, Tony Pulis, who led Stoke City into the Premier League and also managed Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion in the competition, said: “It’s a difficult situation at Everton. They’ve spent a hell of a lot of money on the new stadium, I haven’t been there, but they tell me it’s absolutely fantastic. With that money going into the stadium, obviously there’s a shortage in other areas.

“It goes back to Bill Shankly’s days where he said: ‘You can have the best stadium, the softest seats, and if the team loses then you’ll have no one sitting on those seats. You can have a football ground at the back of a coal mine with just terraces and supporters getting absolutely soaked week in, week out, but it will be full if the team is winning.’

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“I think the balance of the two is so, so important, but David Moyes will steady the ship. He’s a good manager.

“Obviously, he’s a true Everton supporter and look what he’s done at the football club first time round and now this time.

“But the supporters again have to be a little bit patient with the situation. It’s a great club, great football club, and fingers crossed they get a couple of wins and get up and running.

“David’s teams are always very, very difficult to play against. They’re well organised, he gets them well set up, well-motivated, and you need to be there because the players expect you to run around and have a go.

“So yeah, it’s a difficult situation for him, but it’s not a situation that he can’t handle and flourish from.”