FANS COMMENT

In Praise of David Moyes

In the light of recent "searing, intense" analysis and criticism of our manager, I believe it is time to speak in favour of David Moyes. I speak not in his defence, for I believe he has no sensible charge to answer. Neither are these the words of an apologist. For he has even less need to apologise. No, the apologies are all due to him from those who persistently and unfairly attack him, drawing on amateur tactical 'analysis' and a willful disregard of his immense qualities.

Firstly, David Moyes is not perfect. But to suggest he is tactically naive is simply untrue. He has every coaching qualification under the sun and to talk to him is to appreciate that he has a deep-rooted understanding of the game. He has motivated lost causes (Kilbane and Bent to name two) into playing out of their skins when most required to do. And where he as failed on this front (Beattie and Van der Meyde) the problem surely rests with the individual players.

His team selection is usually governed by lack of resources. His selection of substitutes for Monday's game against Villa was criticised — but who should have been on the bench — van de Meyde perhaps? Can you imagine the torrent of abuse, sorry 'analysis' which would have followed if he had brought him on to see him lazily — and fatally — lose possession at a critical moment. Or if, even more bizarrely, he had followed the suggestion of one of your correspondents and brought on the barely fit Nuno in place of Stubbs?

He has raised fitness levels in the vast majority of the players he inherited from Walter and Archie (and yes let those who damn David Moyes remember the sight of those two patrolling the touchline like a Glaswegian club owner with his favourite henchman) and has sustained standards of fitness which have meant that players have endured less niggly injuries and when they do, they recover more quickly.

And then there's Arteta. Lescott. Cahill. Howard. AJ. Yobo. Neville. Outside of the moaning corridors of Goodison Park, the rest of the football world witness these as excellent astute buys. And as for the youngsters — put Hibbert up for sale and just see how many takers you would have. Plenty, my friends, plenty.

But your 'analysts' and your 'critics' do not see these things. They do not watch the Villa game and savour just how wonderful it is to watch a young lad coming back after a career-threatening injury, playing only his second full game, running an experienced team of defenders ragged with his whole-hearted and yet intelligent display. They do not feel the hairs stand up on the backs of their necks when Arteta produces a piece of skill which made Gavin McCann look like a sub in a bad pub team. They responded to yet another imperious performance by Lescott as an opportunity to gripe ("he should be in central defence"). And they do not appear to enjoy what was when all said and done a thoroughly absorbing and decent game of football.

But then nothing changes. Holding up the motto to justify permanent black-hearted moaning has been a long-held tradition at Goodison. If you know your history... Thus, people called for the heads of Catterick in 1964 and Kendall in 1981. David Moyes should take comfort in the past.

But he should not need to. Nobody could have done the job as well as he has done it for the last five years and nobody could do it better now — not that the analysts ever suggest anyone, perhaps they should ask Peter Johnson for his famous 'list of four'.

So no apology, no defence. David Moyes is the best man for the job and with your help and powerful support he will get better and better.

Responses:

To me, it's telling that you make no mention of the Spurs debacle, which was the quintessential moment of the season for David Moyes — the path he was going down and how his attitude was subsequently changed. Those critical fans whom you despise deserve the fullest credit for getting on his back and letting him know full well the 'wonderful' work he was doing for Everton was simply not good enough. For me, that speaks far more in volume than any eloquent praise you may offer up. It's not support that will make him better — it's criticism!
Michael

Can't agree more with Rob Patterson's view. I think he's absolutely on the money.  And consequently was dismayed at the above comment  by Michael. I'd hate to work with/for someone who saw criticism as the key to success.

For the club that Everton is at the moment, Moyes is doing great.  And if you were to spend any time with the man — which I have — you will know he burns with a pride in Everton football and desire to match and exceed any exploits previous managers have achieved. And that's good enough for me.
Nick West

If I spent any time with him (God forbid!), I'd want to know why his players can't play joined-up football?

I'd want to know why they indulge in ridiculous bouts of head-tennis during every single game without fail, when a chest and trap is what's called for, so the ball can be controlled and laid off to a fellow teammate.  Oh I know — that's what they do in training... that's how they injure themselves...

'I'd want to know so much more about what underscores our limited-to-poor performances, all the tactical limitations people have pointed up on the website ad nauseum.  Monday's game was indeed a great game of football and for a while there in he first half I really believed we were gonna beat the living shit out of them.  But as it wore on an the inevitability of it all unfolded in that oh so predictable manner... well, surely even you guys must have felt somewhat down-hearted when that goal went in? 

Unfortunately, when I'm watching a game orchestrated by Moyes, it's the insight and analysis of the critics that rings true in my ears constantly, and not any of this sycophantic acceptance of mediocrity that will forever hold us back.
Michael

Surely, if Moyes was the tactical maestro you make him out to be, we would have won at Villa on Monday because we would have kept the ball better (rather than Tim Howard hoofing it downfield for James Vaughan to try and get his head on it) and not allowed the opposition to take control of proceedings so decisively in the second half?

And while Vaughan did put himself about a lot and give the Villa defence plenty to worry about, he was all too often called upon to play the "totem pole role" and head balls from the back, or when he did have the ball on the deck, there was only the well-marked AJ for company in attack.

No one can take away Moyes's reputation for motivating players but for me I'm not yet convinced that he has what it takes to take this team to the next level of footballing quality.
Lyndon

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