Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

Fulfilling expectations

By Roman   Sidey  ::  23/06/2011   52 Comments (»Last) With most of the debate on Toffeeweb over the past week being about David Moyes?s performance, and what people would expect if he had a transfer budget to compete with the big boys, it was perfect timing that the following article should make the rounds.

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/7000635/F365-Says...

The article on football365.com discusses the issue of managers not being accountable, as they are secure in the idea that if they stay in a job whilst not doing well, they still get paid, and if the club they manage decide to sack them, then a lump some of millions is probably coming their way.

The question being asked: why aren?t managers given clear-cut expectations as conditions in their contracts? Additionally, if clubs do expect a certain level of achievement from their gaffer, as appears the case with Chelsea, why aren?t these clubs covering themselves from hefty payouts to people they don?t see as fit to run their team?

In relation to Everton, some valid questions could be: what is the board?s verbal, if not written, expectation of Moyes? Did Kenwright and Co give him a clear cut target of where the club would be in five years (the end of Moyes?s current contract)? Do they revise said expectations annually, or even biannually? And, finally, has he achieved or come close to achieving any of them?

In response to the final question, one would think Yes, as there has not been any mention of him being sacked in the three years since Moyes signed his unbelievable contract, despite some very lengthy spots of bad form.

Based on Everton?s performance over the last few seasons, most (or just a lot of) Everton supporters would probably agree that the board has an expectation that Moyes:

1) maintains Everton?s top flight status
2) keeps the wage bill at a manageable level
3) publically respects what the club does for him and gives him to work with.

The question this author asks the members of this group is: if you were the Everton board, what expectations would you put in Moyes? (or anyone who manages Everton) contract? Bearing in mind, not fulfilling these targets does not necessarily mean the manager would be sacked, but other options such as no contract renewal, missing out on cash bonuses, etc. could be put in place.

For the record, some ideas (not all of which would end up in a final draft of a contract) are:

1) Win at least 17 games in a season
2) Lose 10 or less games in a season
3) Take maximum points off promoted sides
4) After 10 games, be in a stronger position than at the half way point of the previous season
5) Win a trophy within 3 seasons of contract
6) Win all games in which Everton hold a lead 7) Win away at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man Utd
8) Reduce both long- and short-term injury list
9) 33% clean sheets
10) Score 60+ goals in a season

Now, before people blow up saying this list is totally unmanageable, remember, that is a brief outline of some ideas a contract could have written into it. Most, if not all of them are individually within reason when considering our financial situation. To expect all 10 of the above mentioned goals would be totally unreasonable, yet, if you were to narrow down three or four of them for Everton, it really could be achievable.

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