2012-13 English Football Season

[Heath]

Sup. Posting this from my phone as currently without Internet at home.

I think a lot of what has been said in this thread exposes a degree of ignorance about Moyes. Having followed Everton closely throughout his tenure I'd say I'm reasonably able to pass judgement on his reign.

I think Moyes has done an excellent job with transfers. Look at the profits on Lescott, Arteta and the prices we'd get on Baines, Fellaini, Coleman or Jagielka if we sold them. Look at the squad Moyes inherited from Walter Smith which had Paul Gascoigne and David Ginola in it,  all way past their prime,  and look at Everton now. He snapped up Nigel Martyn on a free, who single handedly stopped us getting relegated in 2003/04

Psy points to Yakubu and Bilyaletdinov as expensive failures. Look up how many goals Yakubu scored in his first season with us. I believe it was 22 until he got injured. And frankly what manager hasn't got expensive failures?

Moyes was certainly culpable of rather dour football initially but we have played some excellent football the past three years or so, now that he has painstakingly assembled one on a shoestring budget. I think you can criticise him for saving the draw rather than gambling for a win, which has been our downfall this season. Look up that Steven Gerrard quote after the Goodison derby that I posted. Moyes is nowhere near as dull as people suggest.

Re: league position vs a cup. I would love a cup. But more than that I want an Everton that can be fitting of its history. Would a League Cup achieve that?  No. Would taking us to the CL? Yes. An FA Cup wouldn't get us a lot of money that we desperate need or new owners willing to invest, but consistent European football might. We've had decent cup runs. A few semis, but an FA Cup Final under Moyes.

More generally, do you guys remember what a joke we were pre-Moyes in the PL? We stayed up on goal difference. Twice! Every year was a perpetual relegation battle. For Everton fans to be hoping for CL football, on our budget, is a grreat testament to Moyes' ability.

I think Moyes is a great choice for United. I'm sad to see him leave Everton because I know we will struggle to replace him, and I shudder at the thought of "Everton manager, Mark Hughes." However I'm happy for Moyes because I think he deserves this, a chance to run a club that will back him financially. For all the criticisms of Moyes, the main thing he's guilty of is raising expectations at Everton, and making it much easier to be an Everton fan. SAF is probably the toughest of all acts to follow, but given time I think Moyes can be a success there too.