Ten years for Moyes, but how much longer will he stay?

Moyes will hope for more moments like this on Tuesday in the Merseyside derby

On March 14^th 2002 at Goodison Park, a 38-year-old Scot named David Moyes was unveiled to the media as the new manager of Everton Football Club. Presumably, Moyes himself could not have forseen the impact of the words he uttered that day. ‘I am joining the people’s football club’, he declared. Who would have thought that almost ten years later, those words still ring true to the majority of the blue half of Merseyside? Even more remarkably, who would have thought that the man who said them would still be in the job? The people, it is clear to see, love Moyes. For anyone unfamiliar with Everton or the workings of modern football in general, lasting ten years at one club must mean the manager is doing pretty well.

Indeed, Moyes has performed wonderfully at Everton for a decade and there are no signs that his performance at the helm is on the wane. Saturday evening saw an excellent 1-0 home win against Tottenham, to add to the scalps of Manchester City and Chelsea already taken this season. Results like these are nothing new to Moyes’s Everton. They have helped him guide the club to consistent top-half league finishes for several years, with perhaps his greatest achievement coming in 2005 when Everton ended the season in fourth place, displacing their great city rivals Liverpool and disrupting the ‘top four’ that had previously been thought of as ‘unbreakable’. Since then the club have finished inside the top eight in all but one season. An FA Cup final in 2009 was another highlight, and they have enjoyed several well-earned European journeys under the stern ginger Glaswegian. In the decade he has walked the corridors at Goodison, Everton fans will most likely tell you that they are in a much better state than they once were.

Moyes’s success has come against a backdrop of severe financial limitations. Many fans feel that a lack of new investment and a lack of transparency over club economics from owner and chairman Bill Kenwright has hindered the club’s progress. Still, it is a testament to his managerial abilities that Moyes has been able to operate in a manner that belies the restraints that have clearly prevented Everton from again becoming one of English football’s dominant forces. He has been astute in his recruitment of players season after season, with perhaps current skipper Phil Neville his most underrated and influential acquisition. Overseeing Everton’s academy has yielded fruit, too. Moyes professes that a certain Mr. Rooney is the most talented player he has ever seen at the club. Several other signings such as Tim Cahill, record signing Marouane Fellaini and the recently departed Mikel Arteta have helped endear Moyes to the supporters. Apart from Fellaini and very few others, Everton have been forced to spend small under a burden of debt and rely on offloading and loan signings to reform and bolster a squad that has also been extremely unfortunate with injury. Yet still Moyes has soldiered on and in 2012 Everton’s current 7-game unbeaten run sees them in ninth, just two points off the men in red across Stanley Park.

The question ‘what next?’ has been sounded many a time with regards to David Moyes. He has the unwavering support of Kenwright and the board – something that is refreshing to see in today’s game and one of the reasons he has been able to celebrate ten years in charge. However, with concerns over the club’s long-term ambitions and whispers of managerial movements elsewhere, it is not imprudent to suggest that Moyes may not be at Everton much longer. Many believe Moyes would fare expertly at a club who can provide the funds he likely craves. Moyes himself is a highly determined character and may see the lure of riches and potential trophies at other clubs too tempting to refuse. He has been touted as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford, as well as being linked with the post at Chelsea and at Tottenham. But for now, what is clear is that Moyes loves the club, and the club and its people love him. What is also clear is that whatever happens in the near future, it will be a long time before the words ‘David Moyes’ and ‘Everton’ don’t fit snugly together in a sentence.

Give Pearce a Part-time Chance, We've Got Nothing to Lose

Last Wednesday’s friendly against Holland provided some interesting revelations about this current England team. For one, Fabio Capello’s work over the last few years has yielded little fruit, save for the necessary (and welcome) introduction of a new generation of players to take the mantle from the forever disappointing ‘old guard’ when it comes to the international scene. It was the under-21 coach Stuart Pearce who took charge in the 3-2 defeat last week and for the most part he was correct in fielding a youthful team to aid several players in their transition to the senior side. He was explicit in stating his motives: ‘It is disappointing but the object of the exercise was to learn.’ He would have learned that it is not a question of a lack of ability, but a lack of experience that is a problem, and will be for any side featuring players such as Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jones, Fraizer Campbell or Chris Smalling. Even the older heads are not exactly used to the national setup – captain Scott Parker, at the age of 31, was earning just his 11th cap, and Gary Cahill his eighth. Until Arjen Robben’s last minute winner England had done well to fight back from two goals down, belying the relative inexperience of the squad in terms of collective caps.

Subsequently, the question was raised to Pearce about a summer job. He replied that he is available should the Football Association be unable to install a new manager before the upcoming European Championships. Since then, general secretary Alex Horne has revealed that the new man will not be appointed until near the end of this season. This would give a month, perhaps five weeks, for the new man to imprint his ideas upon those who will wear the white shirt in Ukraine against France on June 11^th. It is a meagre amount of time for any incoming boss to really get inside the heads of his players, for that is what is required if England are to succeed in any way. Pearce, however, knows his players extremely well, especially those whom he took to the 2009 under-21 Championship final. There is some pedigree there, despite what may be said about his managerial ability. Five years with the under-21s in an age where managers come and go as quickly as Lionel Messi is a sign of excellent loyalty to his country and it would be harsh not to allow him his shot at the big time.

Nobody is trying to convince anyone otherwise, but the side currently and bizarrely ranked fifth in the world by FIFA are not exactly favourites for this competition. The rejuvenated French, the youthful and efficient Germans and the love-in at the Spanish camp headed by Xavi and Iniesta are all well ahead of England in most ways. Were Don Fabio still in charge, that familiar national expectation that builds up the Three Lions to a footing akin to winning a World War would inevitably be astronomical. Were anyone new in charge (for example, a certain Mr. Redknapp of White Hart Lane, N17) that expectation increases several-fold, understandably but wrongly. With Pearce in charge, that expectation would certainly be diminished. This is not a bad thing. England might just be able to get on with the job of getting past France, Sweden and Ukraine without a public outpouring of anger, exasperation and eternal condemnation for their country’s footballers. Who knows where a good run in the group stage might lead?

Seeing as England are in all probability not going to win the Euros, let us spare the country the ‘build ‘em up high to knock ‘em down low’ mentality and give Pearce a chance to do what he can with a team that will need more than just the period between May and June to be moulded into a competitive force on the world stage. Another shake-up in terms of squad selection and possibly captaincy so close to a major tournament is going to do more harm than good. Psycho, as he became affectionately known, has missed penalties when it matters and therefore has something in common with several players. He might just impart some wisdom and that personal touch. He’s been there before as a player. He’s already there now as a manager.

Premier League Team of the Year 2011

It's one thing to come up with a team of the season, but another thing entirely to come up with a team of the year. It has to take into account accumulated statistics, consistency over two separate halves of two separate seasons, and general overall performances for whichever clubs are fortunate to possess the players who make the difference. Add in a summer transfer and a new lavish contract and we have two clubs contributing to a player's inclusion in this prestigious blog. So, here it is.

Premier League Team of the Year (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper – Brad Friedel (Aston Villa and Tottenham)

In terms of consistency in 2011, there is no goalkeeper equal to the big American in the Premier League. He has not missed a league game since the 2004/5 season, and is subsequently the current record holder for the most consecutive appearances in the top-flight. Oh, and he is 40 years old. To have moved clubs in the close season and still managed to have kept his rightful position as Spurs’ number 1 (usurping Heurelho Gomes in the process) says it all about his temperament, approach to the game in the autumn of his career, and of course his ability as a shot-stopper.

RB – Micah Richards (Manchester City)

Roberto Mancini must have had good reason to offer Micah Richards a new five-year contract in the summer of 2011. An FA Cup winner’s medal aside, stellar performances, particularly in the latter part of the last campaign helped them keep a league-high 18 clean sheets and propel them to third. Again a consistent performer, Richards has been constantly on City’s team sheet this campaign while they challenge for the title, and his impressive performances have merited a regular place in a competitive line-up. His technical traits have all improved, while his beast-like strength and speed on the ball has made him a threat in attack as well as a top defender.

CB – Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

“He comes from Serbia, he’ll f**kin’ murder ya”, goes the song from the Stretford End. Very fitting. United’s team captain will challenge for every aerial ball and will most likely win. He makes block after block, times his tackles to perfection, and has been 2011’s best central defender in the league. Soon after scoring in the win against Chelsea which all but wrapped up United’s 19^th title, Vidic was named the Barclays Player of the Season. This season his return to the side after injury coincided with a run of clean sheets after United’s earlier uncertain form. News that he will miss the rest of the season is a huge blow for the club.

CB – Phil Jones (Blackburn and Manchester United)

It is hard to believe that this boy is not yet 20. The praise he has received from peers has been overwhelming. Now being talked of as a new Keane or Duncan Edwards, despite being a natural centre-back, Phil Jones has had a fantastic breakthrough year – not allowing the media hype to affect his performances for club, and now country. He finished his time at Blackburn in stellar fashion – notably keeping a clean sheet at Arsenal – prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to pay £16m for him in the summer. At United he has simply flourished, playing more games than any of his team-mates this season.

LB – Leighton Baines (Everton)

Being left out of the England squad to South Africa may have, on some level, helped Leighton Baines. Since that disappointment, and especially this year, he has, by a distance, been Everton’s best player. Baines is an ever-present on David Moyes’s team sheet, and for good reason. He has been the league’s highest assisting defender in 2011, contributing quality crosses from the left, while also taking responsibility for most of The Toffees’ penalties and free kicks. He possesses a wonderful left foot, and has often left Goodison Park applauding the left-back’s style and composure on the ball.

DM – Scott Parker (West Ham and Tottenham)

It is perhaps a little bittersweet that Scott Parker is playing the best football of his career after he has turned 30. This year has undoubtedly been his most productive year, despite undeservedly being relegated with West Ham. He earned the Football Writers’ Player of the Year due to his committed defensive midfield performances for the stricken Hammers. His subsequent transfer to Tottenham has given him the ability to showcase his passing and controlling of games in a team of real quality, forging in particular a wonderful partnership with Luka Modric in midfield. It is no coincidence that he remains unbeaten for Spurs when he has played for them.

CM/CAM – David Silva (Manchester City)

Since Manchester City became genuine title contenders, all the talk has been of this little Spaniard. Constantly referred to as the league’s best midfielder, he has it all: dazzling trickery, the ability to accelerate away from opposition players, fantastic determination, and a lethal finish – pretty much everything required to be a playmaker. He has chipped in with his fair share of goals, and has assisted with 9 already this current season. In Silva there is an air of a young boy just enjoying his football, while keeping his team flying high atop the Premier League as 2011 ends.

CM/CAM –Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham)

There was a time in 2011 when Rafael van der Vaart carried Tottenham single-handedly through games to victory. The exceptionally talented Dutchman produced the goods and the goals, at times from nowhere, to ensure Spurs had something to shout about come May. He ended last season as their highest assist-maker and top scorer; the latter is a stat that is all the more remarkable considering he is not even a striker. This incredible form continued after the summer break, when van der Vaart equalled a Tottenham record by scoring in five consecutive league games.

ST – Demba Ba (West Ham and Newcastle)

Another player who has benefitted from performing well for a relegated team, Demba Ba has been a terrific addition to English football. He is a no-nonsense striker with a devastating eye for goal, and since joining West Ham in January has scored 18 goals in the league – 11 of them this campaign. Alan Pardew at Newcastle has given him the perfect tactical set-up with which to add to his tally, and he has repaid his manager’s faith. He has two hat-tricks already this season for the Magpies, while his goals and link-up play has contributed to their best start in years.

ST –Daniel Sturridge (Bolton, on loan, and Chelsea)

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has recently questioned why Daniel Sturridge was allowed to leave the club in 2009 under old management. It is clear now that he would gladly have him back. Being loaned out by Chelsea to Bolton in January 2011 proved crucial for the 22-year-old, and has resulted in a breakthrough year for the speedy forward. He was magnificent for the Trotters, and scored 8 goals in just 12 appearances. He has returned to Chelsea with confidence and as a genuine goal threat. A further 8 league goals since August has kept the misfiring Fernando Torres sat firmly on the bench, which says much about Sturridge’s current form.

ST – Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

There are not enough superlatives to describe this player in 2011. A round of applause from Thierry Henry after his stunning volley against Everton might just do his year justice, for van Persie is one goal from equalling Henry’s club record of 34 goals in a calendar year, and just three behind Alan Shearer’s all-time record in the same period. 33 goals in 32 league games is the kind of form Messi and Ronaldo are so used to, so it is not outrageous to say the Dutchman is, in terms of form, up with the greatest players in the world this year.

Losing at Chelsea Won't Result in a City Train-wreck

Last night's entertainment - El Cashico, if you will - at the Bridge revealed what most of us knew, or at least thought. Manchester City are not unbeatable. I even called it myself, feeling Chelsea would overturn the shock concession of a goal less than two minutes into the game and come away with the three points. Of course, gut feelings from fans count for very little unless they are somehow in André Villas-Boas's inner circle. For the first 20 minutes, City were dominant, and for periods were unplayable. Sergio Aguero and David Silva looked sharp, as they should be with the talent they both possess. Behind them, Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry were passing through Chelsea's midfield with relative ease. It has been that way throughout most of the season. Before last night, the same, or similar setups in City's formation had seen them drop just four points since the beginning of the campaign. For all we can say about their unbelievable spending power, it is still quite a feat to manage, especially considering the potentially volatile individual egos strutting around the dressing room at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini has kept City on a steady course, and has not allowed his players to become too arrogant about the fact that they are many people's favourites to grab the Premier League trophy from the steely Govan knight who resides across Manchester.

It is perhaps more of what Chelsea did after the first quarter of their rain-soaked clash with City that changed the game. They dropped much deeper and their defensive line was much less at risk from any runs in behind from the tricky duo of Silva and Aguero, or from the raw pace and power of Mr. Balotelli up front, which was seen 98 seconds after Mark Clattenburg blew to kick things off. Tasting defeat for the first time thanks to Frank Lampard's substitute heroics from penalty spot may not be a bad thing for Mancini's men. It has showed them that they are vulnerable at times, and they will no doubt strive to right wrongs and plug defensive gaps that are there. There is little that needs reassessing in tactical domestic terms (their brief European adventure aside) because of the quality of their players and the subsequent quality of their play going forward: 49 goals scored in the league says as much. They have suffered little through injury: a huge factor for any championship-challenging team, and perhaps most importantly the strength of their squad will go a long way to guiding them through the difficult winter period. Mancini, however, must improve his side's discipline if they are to keep up their push for silverware. Against weaker teams losing a man will not, and has proved not to be too detrimental to their results, considering City have usually been in winning positions for large periods of matches. Against the stronger teams, it is a different story, as Gael Clichy's dismissal showed last night. For the final half an hour, there was a sense of inevitability that the ten men would succumb to AVB's boys. Yet losing at Chelsea will not spark a derailment of City's title aspirations. They are too good for that. Starting against Arsenal next week, we will likely see improvement and a powerful message that they are not going to be dropping down the table anytime soon.

Transfer Deadline Day

Just what is it that makes Transfer Deadline Day (TDD) so enthralling to watch as events unfold (and then fold back up as the inevitable “dead in the water” phrases are circulated on Sky Sports News and the Twitterverse simultaneously)? Is it Jim White’s many phones? Bryan Swanson’s special touch screen? Talks of helicopters flying from London to Newcastle at the eleventh hour? Or the dramatic cutaway to the chimes of Big Ben as the clock signals the end of another window? There really is nothing quite like it. Of course, we accept that it is massively hyped up by the media and by us fans who lap it up with glee, but it is extremely entertaining viewing when all is said and done. I personally would have given awards to SSN’s coverage of the summer 2008 deadline day, if there were such accolades - remember Berbatov and Robinho? Oh, and January 2011 wasn’t bad either...

Arriving at the present, it appears that the current TDD did not yield that marquee signing that leaves everyone talking, in terms of both reputation and transfer fee (though still managing to keep us sports enthusiasts on the edge of our seats beyond 11pm). An example of such a recent signing would evidently be Fernando Torres, a proven striker on the world stage, heading from the banks of the Mersey to the extravagance of the King’s Road in Chelsea for a British record £50 million (ignoring his post-transfer toil in front of goal). Others in this ‘elite’ band of players signed for ridiculous amounts of money include Andy Carroll, who, although not of the same reputation as his Anfield predecessor, managed to leave the country astonished with the drama that his move from Newcastle generated.

Yes, August 31^st did bring us transfers involving players of considerable proven quality, but it is unlikely that many will consider any of these world class talents. Instead, the bulk of these marquee arrivals to the Barclays Premier League, especially from abroad, were done, somewhat more sensibly, earlier on in the summer. Sergio Aguero stands out as perhaps the most high-profile signing of the summer with his £38 million move to the blue side of Manchester, while their rivals across the city acquired David de Gea for £18 million, undoubtedly a goalkeeper with world class potential. Liverpool and Chelsea also both strengthened their squads sometime before the deadline.

The names we saw flashing across the Sky Sports ticker last night were not particularly gobsmacking. North London appears to be an exception to the ‘get it done early’ policy, especially on last night’s evidence. Harry Redknapp seems to like it. Both Arsenal and Tottenham bought (and sold) late, the Gunners especially –and about time – but the names hardly jump out of the page: Mertesacker, Park Chu Young, Benayoun, Santos, Arteta, Parker. Perhaps the clearest indication that TDD wasn’t a blockbuster in terms of substance is the fact that the highest fee paid for any player was £12 million for Raul Meireles to go to Chelsea. It is probably the expectations of the modern football fan that wishes to see the huge fees paid for top players coming to England, but it was almost lukewarm content last night, and it is realistic not to anticipate such action every TDD. Only the season will tell whether all these deadline day signings help their clubs to success. However, TDD was, as a spectacle, as good as ever for viewing, and there is no doubt that we will be seeing more of the same from Jim White and co for many transfer windows to come. And we’ll love it.

Villas-Boas Needs Longer Than a Season, Roman!

New dream team? Villas-Boas and his coaching staff

With many players returning to their respective clubs this week to begin the rigorous pre-season fitness regimes that will undoubtedly rid them of all holiday thoughts, Chelsea's players will return to their Cobham base with a renewed sense of optimism following the ludicrous sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on the final day of last season. Despite the Italian's take-notice European record at AC Milan and a league and FA Cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge, Roman Abramovich was dissatisfied by Chelsea's failure to win any silverware in 2011. The Russian oligarch has waved his wad of cash again to pinpoint the man he believes can replicate the great José Mourinho's domestic success, but surpass his semi-final woes in Europe.

As fate would have it, he has chosen another Portuguese and former protegé of the Special One, Andre Villas-Boas, formerly a scout when Mourinho ruled over these parts, and subsequently went on to manage Académia de Coimbra and Porto in his home country. His stint with the latter brought him tremendous plaudits and recognition by the European elite for an unbeaten league season in which they finished 21 points clear of Benfica. Throw in a Portuguese Cup and a Europa League triumph and you can see what motivated Abramovich to fork out £13.3 million for his services. Villas-Boas is breaking records even before his Chelsea team have kicked a ball in a competitive match. He is not only the most expensive manager in history but is, at 33, the youngest manager in Premier League history (the same age as Didier Drogba). Quite some feat when you also consider he had never played football professionally - highly unusual for any coach.

Apparently at Chelsea reputation now counts for very little. Inability to deliver on the big stage will cost a manager his job regardless of past triumphs, something that Ancelotti, Scolari, Avram Grant, and even Mourinho himself will testify to the high heavens. A record of five managers in seven years does little to disprove the notion that Abramovich is a very impatient man. What he covets more than anything is that elusive big-eared trophy that Barcelona currently have locked away in the catacombs of the Nou Camp.

With plenty of time (and more money) Villas-Boas can stamp his brand of football on the club and transform them into the force they have only sporadically been in the past four years. He possesses the charisma and enthusiasm that will be vital to reviving the club's fortunes in Europe. Key squad players such as Lampard and Drogba are in the autumn of their careers, and Abramovich must let Villas-Boas buy players of his own accord for that classic blend of youth and experience with a view to replacing the old guard. He must not intervene in the transfer market as he has done so in the past (the acquisition of a certain Spaniard smacks of it, and we all remember the shambles that was Shevchenko). Of course, having swamped the club with his own personal fortune Abramovich will feel he has the right to do what he wants, and this is acceptable to an extent but it should not be to the detriment of the team or the manager. If Chelsea fail to win any silverware this season Villas-Boas should not pay for it with his job. As has been repeated and proven countless times, stability is the first foundation for success. It would be a shame if Abramovich's ego and lust for footballing domination blinded him to this crucial ideal.

My Top Five Managers 2010/11

"Some complete... person..."

5. Ian Holloway (Blackpool)

Although the Seasiders felt the agonising pain of relegation on the final day of the season, no one can doubt the hugely positive impact they have had upon the Premier League, and none exemplified that impact more than their infectiously vibrant manager, Ian Holloway. From his not so serious rant over the World Cup in which he lampooned FIFA and UEFA (“you’re wrong!”) to the entertaining football his team displayed throughout most of the season, Holloway was a breath of fresh air to a league that has too often lacked the sincere characters willing to speak their mind. Let’s hope he’s back soon.

4. Tony Pulis (Stoke)

Pulis has turned Stoke from potential relegation candidates into a proven Premier League club. By coaching his players to play to their strengths, he has overseen a remarkably encouraging season in which the Potters reached the first FA Cup final in their history – thrashing Bolton 5-0 in the semi-final – and therefore a shot at European football for next season. This coupled with a strong 13^th place finish in the table, has firmly embedded them as a top flight club. He has made good decisions to develop his squad, notably with the acquisitions of Kenywne Jones and Jermaine Pennant.

3. David Moyes (Everton)

No matter how limited the Scot’s resources appear to be at Everton, David Moyes has proved season after season that he is one of the top managers in the country. Very few managers could guide the Toffees to consistently high finishes in the Premier League with such a small transfer budget. Of course, Moyes may wonder what might have been had Everton not endured a horrific start to the season and injuries to several key players such as Mikel Arteta. Regardless, Moyes knows the club like the back of his hand and has forged extremely strong bonds with his players. If Everton obtain investment in the future, who knows what could be achieved.

2. Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)

There may be those who suggest City should have achieved more than just a first trophy (the FA Cup) in 35 years and automatic qualification to the Champions League group stages after spending the best part of £500 million since being overrun by a gazillionaire in 2008. However, the Italian has still managed to meet expectations and City are now a serious force in English football, no matter how many detractors they may have. He has been under enormous pressure to deliver success and has handled it well. Question marks remain over his squad harmony, but further investment is likely and Mancini appears to be ticking the right boxes.

1. Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)

There are very few words to describe what Sir Alex has accomplished in the season he became United’s longest serving manager. A record 19^th Premier League title and a possible 4^th European crown is just the story of 2011. Indeed, it is impossible to forget the innumerable honours he has gathered unto the people of Old Trafford in the past 25 years. It has been repeated so often that this has not been his most ‘vintage’ squad, but in all honesty this only makes United’s glory sweeter. A phenomenal unbeaten home record was the foundation of success, as well as a certain Little Pea proving there can be no doubt of Ferguson’s mastery in the transfer market and in the dressing room. Sir Matt will be smiling.