David Moyes takes up the microphone for the first time in a pre-match press-conference since his return to Everton, discussing Wednesday’s game against Aston Villa with the assembled journalists.
Moyes finally appeared over 10 minutes late, grinning and holding up an Everton shirt.
Moyes thought Dyche was doing “a really good job” and he had no expectation before calls last Tuesday that there would be a change in management.
This period is not going to be easy but TFG feel they can make a difference to the club. They want to get us back on track. Winning matches is always a priority. Damage has been done over a long period of time. The new stadium looks the business, looks elite, so we need some new players to suit.
It’s been difficult but I need to impress players, and persuade them to come. I need to take Kevin Thelwell’s advice when it comes to new players. Scoring goals is vital and must be addressed.
Enjoyed training with the players, we had a bit of fun, a bit of laughter as well.
Moyes talked about Baines and Coleman and their qualities in supporting him. Coleman still wants to play but Moyes believes he is a great leader.
Moyes confirmed Alan Irvine, Leighton Baines and Billy McKinley will join his backroom team. He will look to bring in a set piece coach as well.
Broja needs another scan when the swelling goes down. Hopefully we will have a better idea in a few days.
Moyes says he is not returningHH to the Everton he left, but that Everton are not getting the same Moyes either. He says he is more experienced and “hopefully wiser”.
He fondly reflects on his first stint at the club and adds he will be “forever grateful” for getting a second chance.
Looking at this season, his plan is to pull Everton clear of trouble and then assess where to go from there – similar to what he did at West Ham United, an experience he believes will help him in this stint.
“My idea is to try and do everything as quick as I can here… I will be here to stabilise it, hopefully take the club in another direction. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Moyes has been close to coming back to Everton three or four times.
“I’m going to try to play to win as many games as I can to get the club out of this position, and then think more about the preferred style once we have that foundation.”
Moyes reflected on the two upcoming games and how tough the opposition will be. He says he is hoping the crowd will get behind the players.
Asked whether he believes this is a side in a relegation battle?
“We have a lot of work to do to get up the table.”
Moyes is convinced the new owners wish to build a ‘better’ Everton – what makes him think that? He believes the club’s efforts have been stifled by financial issues over recent years and those issues may be close to being resolved. He thinks the new ownership is ambitious and the new stadium represents an opportunity that is exciting for everyone.
“I am hoping I can lead the team into that arena.”
Moyes says “I felt as if I left a brilliant team with great characters, the staff around here were amazing… the biggest compliment I could give would be to the players I had. It took me a bit of time to build that but I thought most years we made progress.”
Moyes says there was almost a feeling the club had hit a glass ceiling when he was last here. He says now he wants to build the club up again and get back to where he thinks they should be. He thinks the new ownership can be helpful on that front.
Moyes says he doesn’t understand everything that happened in his absence but says he does not believe those who oversaw the troubles of recent years came in with bad intentions.
“It was too big an opportunity to turn down, I want to try and show I can do it again.”
Moyes has told Calvert-Lewin that he needs goals from him right away and he’d better start delivering.
Watch: live from Finch Farm on YouTube at 4:30 pm GMT
In an earlier interview with the EvertonFC.com website, Moyes had this to say:
“It’s absolutely brilliant to be back. I always thought that maybe I’d be lucky enough to get the opportunity to come back. I had an unbelievable time here before, 11 years, which was exceptional.
“I’m probably coming back to a completely different Everton from the one I left a long time ago. It would be great if we could get it back in the same condition. Everybody who works in the building and has been here at the time before understands exactly what we mean with a great feeling around the training ground, with a great togetherness, whether we were out together or working together.
“I hope I can get that back but the one thing I do know is that I’m back at a club which I’m really fond of and want to be successful. I want the club to be successful.
“Hopefully I come back with knowledge and experience which I can pass onto the players and everybody round here, everybody at the club.”