2025/26 David Moyes

[wandyr79]

I’ve seen countless posts like this, especially on X, though the “look at West Ham now” argument pops up on here too. There’s clearly a section of the fanbase that would happily see Moyes stay for another decade. But if recruitment under TFG is strong, there’s no reason Everton couldn’t move for a top-level manager when the time is right, and in my opinion, that moment shouldn’t be ruled out at the end of Moyes' contract just because Moyes is the safe option now.

I think it is natural to be cautious about getting rid of Moyes this summer. If Moyes is here for the next 10 years then it means we are winning stuff. This is a different ownership to the one he was previously under. So, yes I would be happy to see any manager stay in the role as Everton manager for a 10 year stretch.

I am on the wary side of getting rid of Moyes, too early. I think the majority of us know that this is not meant to be a long term appointment. I can understand the West Ham shouts as this is the most recent example, and a direct example, of getting rid of a manager when they are on a steady ground of a squad build. He did wonders for them in Europe, but still they got rid and yes, look at them now. Was that a bad decision to sack Moyes, when there was not a strong reason to do it. I would say it was, so it is pertinent to use that as an example in our situation.

He has been here for 12 months, we have gone from 1 point of the relegation zone to 2 points of 6th, in that time. Apart from not really liking him as a person or his style of football, is there any strong reason to jump the gun and go for this 'top level' manager, in the summer.

 

[toffeeblue9]

What flaws are they? He got absolutely every last drop of potential out of us last time he managed us and we were banging our head against the Sky 4 glass ceiling every year. We are 8th. There isn't a manager in world football who would have achieved more with us this season.

I was with you until the last sentence. I think that's probably demonstrably untrue, but I'd also say that our current points total is absolutely fine and possibly marginally ahead of where you might have realistically hoped we'd be right now.

Think there's been some things we could debate about selections, transfers, tactics, cups etc which are probably mostly just down to opinion, but the brass tax of points on the board - he's currently on track to deliver about 56 if he kept up the current points per game. That's probably a little ahead of where I was expecting this season (not loads), and I think I'd need a really convincing argument from anyone if they disagree as to why our expectations should have been higher than the current points total and league position before the season started.

 

[Gilbert..]

I’ve seen countless posts like this, especially on X, though the “look at West Ham now” argument pops up on here too. There’s clearly a section of the fanbase that would happily see Moyes stay for another decade. But if recruitment under TFG is strong, there’s no reason Everton couldn’t move for a top-level manager when the time is right, and in my opinion, that moment shouldn’t be ruled out at the end of Moyes' contract just because Moyes is the safe option now.

Theres a difference in Moyes 12 months here and Moyes 5 years at west ham.
In 12 months time i might have a different opinion to what i have now.

 

[blueboy72]

Yes, the great Carlo Ancelloti had us 10th with a better squad.

He had us 2nd at Christmas, then
Lost James for a lot of the remaining games, Allan was out for 3 months, he lost both full backs and was playing Godfrey and holgate at full back. DCL and richarlison missed games. He was probably being forced to play tom Davies at times.

We were one win from 7th and 3 wins from the top 4.

 

[DanB90]

What is it they say about looking a gift horse in the mouth?

 

[efcste97]

Yes, the great Carlo Ancelloti had us 10th with a better squad.

It’s February, mate. If we finish 8th come May, that would be massive, it would be our biggest achievement since Koeman got us into Europe nearly a decade ago. Honestly, after the last few years, I’ll be happy wherever we finish. The point is, Moyes is absolutely fine for now. What isn’t true is the idea that he’s the be-all and end-all of Everton, just as it’s weird to argue he should be sacked.

If recruitment is done properly and with the future in mind, it removes the constant worry about whether the next manager can “get the best” out of certain players. Recruitment should be about the club’s long-term direction and if actual talanted players are signed, a manager in a couple years, like a Emery type, should be able to take them to the next level (if moyes hasn't already)

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

I was with you until the last sentence. I think that's probably demonstrably untrue, but I'd also say that our current points total is absolutely fine and possibly marginally ahead of where you might have realistically hoped we'd be right now.

Think there's been some things we could debate about selections, transfers, tactics, cups etc which are probably mostly just down to opinion, but the brass tax of points on the board - he's currently on track to deliver about 56 if he kept up the current points per game. That's probably a little ahead of where I was expecting this season (not loads), and I think I'd need a really convincing argument from anyone if they disagree as to why our expectations should have been higher than the current points total and league position before the season started.

It's not demonstrably untrue at all. The great Carlo Ancelloti had us in 10th. Mourinho and Conte both flopped at Spurs with far greater resources. Moyes took us to fourth. Probably the worst squad to ever finish fourth in this league having finished 17th the year before. I don't there is an equivalent achievement in premier league history. Leicester won the league but they actually two world class players and a top quality striker. We had Marcus Bent up front.

 

[toffeeblue9]

He had us 2nd at Christmas, then
Lost James for a lot of the remaining games, Allan was out for 3 months, he lost both full backs and was playing Godfrey and holgate at full back. DCL and richarlison missed games. He was probably being forced to play tom Davies at times.

We were one win from 7th and 3 wins from the top 4.

Fair enough, would you accept the same sort of mitigation if Moyes finished 12th or 13th from this position we are currently in?

 

[Exeter_Gently]

What is it they say about looking a gift horse in the mouth?

It stinks?

 

[DanB90]

It stinks?

That’s the one.

 

[toffeeblue9]

It's not demonstrably untrue at all. The great Carlo Ancelloti had us in 10th. Mourinho and Conte both flopped at Spurs with far greater resources. Moyes took us to fourth. Probably the worst squad to ever finish fourth in this league having finished 17th the year before. I don't there is an equivalent achievement in premier league history. Leicester won the league but they actually two world class players and a top quality striker. We had Marcus Bent up front.

No, what I mean is that saying "there isn't a manager in world football who would have achieved more with us this season" is an enormous leap. I shouldn't have used the word "demonstrably" as it's actually fairly subjective.

I'm largely very pro-Moyes in our current situation and stage of development, but saying he's literally the best man in the entire world for the current job at Everton and that nobody in the world could have possibly achieved more is way too far for my taste - I doubt even Moyes thinks that.

I think he's probably the *right* man for where we are given the context, but the best in the entire world? Not for me.

 

[blueboy72]

Fair enough, would you accept the same sort of mitigation if Moyes finished 12th or 13th from this position we are currently in?

I don’t want Moyes in charge next season

 

[toffeeblue9]

I don’t want Moyes in charge next season

No, but you're making excuses for Ancelotti finishing 10th after (by your admission) having us 2nd at Christmas.

If Moyes had similar excuses (with a worse squad), would you accept them as mitigation if we dropped down 4 or 5 places from here?

 

[MikeH72]

He had us 2nd at Christmas, then
Lost James for a lot of the remaining games, Allan was out for 3 months, he lost both full backs and was playing Godfrey and holgate at full back. DCL and richarlison missed games. He was probably being forced to play tom Davies at times.

We were one win from 7th and 3 wins from the top 4.

Mate, I’m not sure how to break this to you, but we’ve had injuries this season as well.

 

[MisterJ]

Moyes has Everton’s away days on track and now seeks home comforts

Players travelled back with the fans after the victory at Fulham but the side has struggled at their superb new stadium

www.theguardian.com