Features

Moyes may fall on his sword

Author: John Harris
Date: 11/01/2010
Football betting

Everton are the latest side to be challenging the notion that teams can be too good to go down from the Premier League.

Leeds United and Newcastle United are just two recent examples that make a mockery of that ill-advised assertion. Perhaps the Toffees could be next.

Manager David Moyes has been restricted by a chronic injury list and a dearth of transfer funds, performing remarkably well to lift the Blues from relegation candidates to European hopefuls in the last few seasons.

However, he has hinted this term that he is growing tired of life at Everton. He has voiced concerns over his willingness to continue, his readiness to fight for the cause.

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The fiery Scotsman should be lauded for the job he has done on Merseyside but perhaps it is time for him to move on.

Since someone came up with the term 'big four' to refer to Manchester United, sportsbook favourites to win this season's Premier League title Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, Everton have been the only team to gatecrash that elite party.

But 2005 is but a distant memory now. Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka's injuries have obviously had an impact, but Moyes may never be able to lift Everton to the promised land of the Champions League with his current budget.

Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Manchester City have spent big in order to replicate Everton's surge into contention five years ago and now Moyes' men are also-rans in the race for the top four.

Fans are becoming restless, longing for the glory days of yesteryear, but they should stop looking at the stars - they should concentrate on looking up from the gutter they currently lie in.

Moyes earned his stripes managing Preston North End and has enhanced his credentials during his spell at Everton, where he has spent the best part of seven years but, if his comments earlier in the season are anything to go by, he is reaching the end of his tether.

Moyes commented: "I have a lump in the back of my throat, I'm choking, because I'm finding it hard to say we're making progress."

Wise money would go on Moyes being out of Goodison sooner rather than later. By the end of the season perhaps. If Everton continue to slide, he could even be pushed before falling on his sword.

That would represent a sad end to an excellent spell in charge for Moyes, who remains one of the country's finest younger managers.

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