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| Defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup was a bad day at the office |
The outpouring of vitriol from Everton fans last weekend must've taken David Moyes aback, but he only has himself to blame.
The FA Cup defeat at home to Wigan was a proper beating and many an
Evertonian wanted a word. The Gwladys Street faithful seem divided and the loss
of respect for their honest, hardworking and long-serving manager is sad but
predictable.
In November, Moyes said he would wait until the end of January before
discussing a new contract but in the middle of February he said,
“.....I want to see how the team do. I want to see if we’ve got a
realistic chance of getting into Europe, or if we can get to a cup final. I
want to see how well we progress and what we do.”
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| Messrs. Kenwright and Moyes enjoy good relations |
For an experienced manager it was an extraordinary statement but not
without precedent. In 2001 Moyes’ friend and rival Sir Alex Ferguson made a
similar gaffe: he said he was going to quit United in a year's time. The team lost form and,
crucially, Sir Alex lost the ability to impose discipline on his squad. United finished third, in a four year stretch where there were two other third-placed seasons too.
More uncertain individual and collective performances could be
avoided by the signing of a new Goodison contract - failing that the Everton chairman
Bill Kenwright could pull the same stunt as Peter Kenyon did at United. The
spur for Sir Alex’s change of mind was the chief executive’s plan to replace
him with Sven Goran Eriksson.
“I’m not having him take over my f***ing team!”
Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Moyes are the three longest serving
managers in English professional football; they have earned the rare right to
decide whether to stay or go. Every manager, though, has a shelf life and, with
his ill-timed statement, Moyes gave the players a marker pen and asked them to
fill out a best before label and stick it on his forehead.
The uncertainty surrounding the ownership of Everton must also be
wearing for all concerned. Kenwright has been trying to sell the club for years
and even though the price is right, around £125 million, there have been no
takers.
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| Moyes' record as boss, coach and talent developer is top, |
To prospective buyers the club must seem old fashioned and
overshadowed. Goodison Park is a classic football ground but matchday income is
limited and the near neighbours with their bulging, if slightly dusty, trophy
cabinet, American owners and fancy football are more glamorous.
It would be like buying Espanyol.
With his straightforward, grinding football, the Glaswegian has done
his damnedest to elevate Everton above the Red mist. Only Sir Alex can match his three LMA Manager of the Year gongs. His work ethic, eye for a
player and man-management are beyond reproach. Many a club, here and abroad,
would love a manager of his calibre.
Moyes is 50 next month and maybe he has decided it is time to move
on. A win at Anfield on May 4th would be a fitting leaving present.
One of the big problems in finding a buyer for everton is that their ground is too small. building a new one would cost tens of millions,thus psuhing up the investment even more. everton wont be an attractive buy whilst they remain at goodison, but I doubt the current owners can afford the new ground they need.
ReplyDeletethe current owners are killing EFC no investment in 14 years other businesses would of gone bust in that time #kenwrightout
ReplyDeleteHe deserves a chance at a big club, Jonny. So if he does go I would hope it's not to a club of a similar stature. Only Chelsea are likely to change this summer so does this mean he'll have to go abroad?
ReplyDelete