Roy Keane Praises David Moyes’ Transformative Impact on Everton but Urges Immediate Sale of Two Underperforming Stars
Roy Keane, the outspoken former Manchester United captain and Sky Sports pundit, has heaped praise on David Moyes for his remarkable turnaround at Everton since returning to the club in January 2025. However, following Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on May 3, 2025, Keane was quick to single out two players—Michael Keane and Abdoulaye Doucoure—as liabilities Moyes must offload immediately to sustain the club’s upward trajectory. Keane’s comments, delivered with his trademark candor, highlight both Moyes’ brilliance and the lingering weaknesses in Everton’s squad as they navigate their final season at Goodison Park.
Moyes’ Remarkable Revival at Everton
David Moyes’ second stint at Everton has been nothing short of transformative. Taking over a side languishing in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone, Moyes inherited a team low on confidence and plagued by attacking woes, having scored only 15 goals in 19 matches under Sean Dyche. Since his arrival, Moyes has overseen an impressive run, with Everton losing just twice in 15 league games and climbing to a mid-table position. The Toffees have scored 18 goals in 14 matches under Moyes, with improved shot accuracy (44% compared to 29% under Dyche) and a more proactive style, averaging 8.3 high turnovers per game compared to 7.2 previously.
Keane, speaking on Sky Sports post-match, lauded Moyes’ impact: “David Moyes has been outstanding. He’s come into a club that was sleepwalking towards relegation, and in a few months, he’s got them playing with belief, structure, and a bit of flair. The players are responding to him, and you can see the fans are buzzing again. He’s showing why he’s one of the best in the business at getting a team organized and fighting.” Keane also highlighted Moyes’ tactical tweaks, such as deploying Jake O’Brien as a hybrid right-back and granting attackers like Iliman Ndiaye more freedom, which have revitalized Everton’s play.
Moyes’ ability to build on Dyche’s defensive foundations while introducing a more progressive approach has been widely praised. Everton’s recent form, including a gritty 1-0 win at Brighton and a 4-0 thrashing of Leicester, demonstrates their newfound resilience and attacking intent. Keane noted, “Moyes has taken a squad that was down in the dumps and given them a clear identity. He’s not a magician, but he’s close to it with what he’s done in such a short time.”
Despite his admiration for Moyes, Keane was scathing about the performances of Michael Keane and Abdoulaye Doucoure in the Arsenal defeat, insisting that both players are holding Everton back. The match, which saw Arsenal secure a late victory through a Gabriel Magalhaes header, exposed defensive frailties and a lack of midfield control that Keane attributed to the duo.
Michael Keane: The 32-year-old centre-back, whose contract expires in the summer of 2025, struggled to contain Arsenal’s attacking trio of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz. Keane was caught out of position for Arsenal’s equalizer, failing to track Martin Odegaard’s run, and was outmuscled by Magalhaes for the winning goal. Keane, who has attracted interest from clubs in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, has been a peripheral figure under Moyes, with Jake O’Brien and Jarrad Branthwaite preferred in central defense.
Keane did not hold back: “Michael Keane’s been at Everton for years, and he’s had his moments, but he’s not at the level Moyes needs to push this team forward. He’s too slow, too hesitant, and he’s costing them in big moments. Moyes has to be ruthless—sell him now or let him go for free in the summer. He’s not part of the future.”
Abdoulaye Doucoure: The 32-year-old midfielder, also out of contract in 2025, was equally culpable in Keane’s eyes. Doucoure, who started the season as a key figure under Dyche, has seen his influence wane under Moyes, with the manager favoring younger, more dynamic options like Orel Mangala. Against Arsenal, Doucoure was overrun in midfield, losing possession 12 times and failing to provide defensive cover, which allowed Arsenal to dominate the second half. Everton’s interest in Sunderland’s Chris Rigg and Dan Neil suggests Moyes is already planning for a post-Doucoure midfield.
Keane was blunt: “Doucoure’s been a good servant, but his legs are gone. He’s not got the energy or the quality to compete in a midfield that Moyes wants to build. You can’t carry passengers in the Premier League, and right now, he’s a passenger. Moyes needs to move him on—today if possible.”
Keane’s call to sell Keane and Doucoure aligns with Moyes’ broader vision for Everton as they prepare to move to their £760m Bramley-Moore Dock stadium in the 2025-26 season. With 13 senior players, including the duo, out of contract this summer, Moyes faces a pivotal transfer window to reshape the squad. The Friedkin Group, Everton’s new owners, have pledged financial backing, and Moyes has expressed a desire to target “value” signings, such as Sunderland’s Rigg and Neil, to blend youth with experience.
Moyes himself has acknowledged the need for ruthlessness, stating after the Arsenal match: “We’ve made huge strides, but there are areas where we need to improve. Some players have stepped up brilliantly, but others haven’t, and we’ll have to make tough decisions to keep progressing.” While Moyes did not name Keane or Doucoure specifically, his comments suggest that both players’ days at Goodison Park are numbered.
Keane’s remarks have sparked debate among Everton fans. Some agree with his assessment, pointing to Michael Keane’s error-prone performances and Doucoure’s declining athleticism as evidence that the club must move on. Others, however, argue that both players have been loyal servants and deserve respect, with one fan on X stating, “Keane and Doucoure have given their all for Everton. Writing them off like this is harsh—they’re not the only ones who struggled against Arsenal.”
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher, while praising Moyes’ impact, offered a more measured take: “Moyes has done a fantastic job, but he’s working with a squad that’s got limitations. Michael Keane and Doucoure aren’t the future, but they’ve been part of the fight to keep Everton up. Moyes will know when to make the call.” Alan Shearer, another pundit, echoed Keane’s sentiment, suggesting that Everton’s recruitment must focus on “younger, hungrier players” to replace aging stars.
As Everton prepare for their next match against Manchester City on May 10, 2025, Moyes faces the delicate task of maintaining momentum while addressing squad deficiencies. The Arsenal defeat, while disappointing, does not overshadow the progress made under Moyes, who has lifted Everton to a position of relative safety and restored fan optimism. However, Keane’s warning about Michael Keane and Abdoulaye Doucoure serves as a reminder that sentimentality has no place in Moyes’ rebuild.
With the summer transfer window looming, Moyes’ ability to act decisively—potentially offloading the duo and securing high-caliber replacements—will determine whether Everton can transition from relegation battlers to European contenders. For now, Keane’s praise for Moyes’ brilliance is tempered by his insistence that tough decisions are non-negotiable. As Keane put it, “Moyes is doing a brilliant job, but he can’t afford to carry dead weight. Get rid of Keane and Doucoure, and Everton will be in a much better place.”
