A 'bubbling undercurrent of anger' at Hill Dickinson Stadium

[Getty Images] Arriving at any big game should be filled with anticipation and excitement, but sometimes fear rears its ugly head. Turning up at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, I felt a bubbling undercurrent of anger and trepidation. Until recently, Everton were used to battling against relegation, but with the return of David Moyes and the move to a world-class stadium, those days were disappearing into the rear view mirror. The new American owners were initially welcomed with open arms, after the previous regime's mismanagement had led to relegation fears alongside points deductions and large fines. Everton fans are now understandably worried that they have stepped out of the frying pan and into the fire. The summer transfer window was a shambles, leaving the club incredibly short on the pitch. While just about everyone else strengthened their squads noticeably, Moyes was left in limbo. Solid work had constructed a solid base, so Moyes would have expected a decent level of backing going forward. Instead, they sold their best player Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City and flogged their back-up striker without replacing him. There are massive gaps in the squad, meaning a viable first XI will be impossible if the team suffers only a couple of injuries. This isn't just likely, it is inevitable. Maybe it was naivety by the club, but was it something more serious? The attempt to cash-in on academy graduate Harrison Armstrong wasn't just naive, it was tone deaf to everyone else's feelings at the club - from the manager to the entire fanbase. Clearly, those upstairs are not communicating well with the manager or, it would appear, listening to him or anyone at all. Is this just another club obsessing about their data models over all human football knowledge? If the numbers suggest this is how to act during the transfer window, then the numbers are wrong. If the results take a dive, Moyes will still be the flak-catcher-in-chief, not those who made bad decisions that he would never have considered. Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here .