RBM Roundtable: David Moyes returns as Everton manager
Yesterday at 08:00 AM
Our group chat on what we think of the Blues bringing back the 'Moyesiah'
A whirlwind week is now behind us where Everton sacked Sean Dyche after a series of uninspiring performances, with the real drama being that the decision was announced merely hours before an FA Cup Third Round fixture.
Under-18s coach and former first team fullback Leighton Baines stepped into the breach ably assisted by club captain Seamus Coleman as the Blues dispatched League One Peterborough United in routine manner to move into the next round of the competition where they will now play AFC Bournemouth. The Cherries have been intertwined in the Blues' recent history and could yet play a part in another episode of the club's story in Goodison Park's last season.
The Toffees' new owners The Friedkin Group, ink barely dry on their takeover documents, moved quickly if somewhat predictably by bringing David Moyes back into the fold to stabilize the club as we bid farewell to the Grand Old Lady and herald a new chapter in the club's existence at their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock.
The crew here at Royal Blue Mersey chimed in with their opinions on a few questions, starting with thoughts on Moyes, who has been out of work since the summer following the expiry of his contract at West Ham United who chose to go in another direction with Julen Lopetegui (since sacked and replaced by Graham Potter, who was being linked with the Blues too).
What are your immediate thoughts on Moyes' return?
Geoff - Feel it's the right appointment. His understanding of the game and what he's got at his disposal is far superior to Dyche's.
Peter - I have always said that you should never go back and this is no different for me...... However, there needed to be a change as Dyche was a broken record this year in his tactical decisions and his inevitable post-match comments. In a perfect world we would have done enough for him to finish off the year but that was not going to happen so his departure was needed. I do think he should have been thanked by the Friedkins.
John - A steady pair of hands that points to a pragmatic approach rather than spectacular.
Tom - I always felt it would have been better for Sean Dyche to limp on to the summer and a proper reset could take place then. But once his tenure unravelled David Moyes was the only sensible option. The team's position in the table requires an experienced head, while the make-up of the squad suits a pragmatic style over an expansive one. Moyes ticks both boxes, and the fact he has a deep connection with the club is another bonus.
Kevin - Given the situation of flux at Everton currently, with a new board, a decision yet to be made regarding DoF Kevin Thelwell (which will impact the team's future style of play) and the possible unavailability midway through the campaign of TFG's desired long-term targets, Moyes is a sensible appointment. He's available, competent, has been managing in the Premier League up until last season and has genuine affection for the club.
Pat - A change was definitely needed. I wish the deal was only short-term until the end of the season, but I'm hoping I eat my words.
Trent - Could feel this in my bones. As soon as the Dyche departure was announced my mind said that Moyes would get a phone call. He is a reliable and thoughtful boss; West Ham certainly probably wishes they had kept him instead of the course they chose. In any event, he will bring reliability, accountability and organization - perhaps even some goals and confidence too; there were worse options.
Calvin - Would have liked to see TFG show some more ambition, but at the same time the timing of the Dyche sacking was such that there are not a lot of very good candidates available this time of the year. I am a bit surprised at the two-and-a-half-year contract, but I feel Moyes wouldn't have signed for anything less than that either so this is the best we could do.
Everton's most stable and successful period in recent history was under Moyes. Can you see a return to that?
Geoff - Yes, the next 5 months is tricky but when we get past that I can see a mid table side. Some good wins maybe some bad defeats but last time I checked you get 3 points if you win 1 game, better than 3 creditable draws followed by defeats!
Peter - The eleven years that Moyes spent at Goodison has to be seen as successfuI. Everton reached the FA Cup final in 2009 and finished in the top eight of the Premier League nine times. Those lofty finishes resulted in Champions League qualifying once and Europa League involvement six times. I can see Moyes steadying the ship and the two-plus year contract says that he will be around for the start of the rebuild.
Will we get to those heights again? I am not sure but it has to be better than what we have seen recently. Let us agree that Moyes was never fired and his understanding of the club is massive. He has to be supported by us and he has to be supported by the new owners.
John - I think it is possible but there is a lot more pressure on him this time. New stadium, new owners, the fans will be more expectant than 2002.
Tom - Hopefully! He finds the club in the a similar position to the one it was in when he arrived in 2002, struggling at the wrong end of the table after years of under-performance. Staying up is the sole ambition this season, and I think most Evertonians will take a nice, boring mid-table finish next year.
After that? I'm not sure. TFG has big ambitions and may look for a more attacking coach to take the team forward. But so did Farhad Moshiri nine years ago and look where that got us.
Kevin - He has every chance in the summer, with the promise of new investment in the squad.
Pat - I think the team is definitely there. That was the one thing that always perplexed me with Dyche in charge. I genuinely think we have the quality on the pitch, just poor coaching. Moyes had little to no money and a weaker squad when he was last in charge here—I'm hoping with Moyes at the helm of our current squad, results could improve after he has some time to settle in.
Trent - He's got to rebuild the club in many ways, but he can do that and, therefore, yes. It will be the most successful period of the team's history since David Moyes last led the side; whether that means we're as good as back then or just better than we have been remains to be seen.
Calvin - I feel the English football landscape has changed drastically since then, and with just about every club able to spend now, Everton are no longer in that second tier of clubs just outside the top six.
That said, he did see some success with West Ham in recent times, so let's see what he can do.
What is your one favorite characteristic of the Scotsman?
Geoff - His man-management. Can't recall any big fallouts with players other than the Dutch pair of Drenthe and Van der Meyde who were loose cannons anyway. His belief in giving a chance to younger players like Rooney, Barkley, Vaughan, Anichebe, and Baxter among others is something we've sorely missed.
Peter - Calm, steady and self assured. Which is three characteristics, but they all lead to less drama.
John - He brings a passion and energy to what he does. His determination.
Tom - His man-management. He was forensic in his recruitment, bringing in players not just because of their ability but their attitude and professionalism, building a side with a indefatigable work ethic and strong team spirit. You only have to look at all the messages from former players expressing delight at his appointment to see the kind of relationships he built.
Kevin - He's straightforward, makes no excuses and players typically respond to that honesty.
Pat - Pure nostalgia for me. He was the manager in charge when I first started supporting the club.
Trent - His teams don't generally give up on him or on the mission and his defensive acumen are tied number one for me; he is also good at building confidence in players, which this team desperately needs.
Calvin - His teams tend to play a certain way, but he is also not against tweaking things against specific opponents either, which was our biggest criticism of Dyche.
How could things go wrong under Moyes? What are the red flags?
Geoff - Time is not on his side this season. I don't think the players will need much encouragement to shake off the Dyche strait jackets but it's controlling that transition to "normal" football.
Red Flags? None really, he'll no doubt try to bring some trusted players like the West Ham Czech pair of Coufal and Soucek but I'm okay with that in the term of his contract.
Peter - The Friedkins and Thelwell have to get this transfer window right. It is hard to know how much money we have and we certainly need a shakeup. If they get it right, things will improve. If not, the last few weeks of this season will bring more drama in which I do not want to partake.
John - Everton don't score many goals and Moyes' record in managing strikers was not always the best. I do fear that he has a mentality of battening down the hatches when in front.
Tom - Everton could go down - just ask Sunderland fans. The squad is still very limited with little cash available to strengthen the squad this month. A nervy few months lie ahead and survival is far from certain.
Kevin - The underlying metrics in his last season at West Ham are concerning - 13th in xG and 18th in xGA (both inferior to EFC). They conceded 74 goals; only the relegated clubs allowed more.
Can he work under a Director of Football? Is he able to hit the ground running? He won only two of his first twelve games at WHU after arriving in late December 2019, losing nine - before finishing the season strongly.
Pat - Too much pressure. I'm sure this is not an easy role for anyone to step into given Everton's current position in the table. I'm glad it's a familiar face though who understands the fans and the club.
Trent - He needs to find goals, so unless he can, we won't be too different than what we just experienced under Sean Dyche.
Calvin - Things did look a bit uninspired last season at the Hammers and concerns that he is past his prime are bound to come up. There is no doubting that he has a great eye for player scouting, and we'd always thought that if he returned to the Toffees it would be in an upstairs role.
What is a realistic expectation for Everton for the remainder of this final season at Goodison?
Geoff - Realistic expectation is a finish around 14th or 15th which would be a success.
Peter - We have a solid defensive record which Moyes also loves to impart in his teams. If the shackles are taken off going forward then I think that we will move away from the relegation zone so that we can enjoy the new stadium in the league that we belong.
John - Be more competitive and actually attack teams. There is no issue, for me, with going away at certain grounds and playing on the break. But setting up for a draw at home is not acceptable.
Tom - To stay up, it is that simple. A few early wins to build up a decent cushion from the bottom three would ease nerves. But if you offered me 17th place now I would take it.
Kevin - To guide us safely clear of being dragged into a relegation fight. Anything above 12th would be a staggering accomplishment, but realistically a decent run in the FA Cup and finishing 14th would be a significant achievement.
Pat - Moyes had a good tenure with West Ham. I could see us making a bit of a run in the FA Cup, but ideally the expectation would be to survive the drop this season and then give Moyes all he needs to succeed in the next few years of his contract.
Trent - 11th place on the table. A big jump but still not where he had the side once upon a time; he's a man, not a miracle worker.
Calvin - We have a better squad overall than last season, so there's really no reason why we shouldn't match last season's 15th place finish, deduction or not. I feel pretty confident in saying that Moyes gets us to safety this season as we bid Goodison farewell.
