Don’t be so defensive about David Moyes, Everton!

Looking at the history of the men who have been given the honour of guiding Everton Football Club through battle in the upper echelon of the English and European Leagues, some interesting numbers jump out.

David Moyes left us this week with a solid record, and a lot of people sorry to see him go – myself included. I got pretty nostalgic and saddened to hear that man who aptly named us “The People’s Club” was moving on – I’d always hoped that we could repay his grit and determination to make us succeed with a trophy, but it wasn’t to be. Perhaps if he had achieved some silverware, the temptation of Old Trafford might not have been as strong. However, I was also reminded of the countless times when I was cursing Mr Moyes for his baffling substitutions or starting line-ups and it made me wonder why, with such a gifted squad, we were unable to win anything under him.

The Club’s history of managers since the early 1960s tells us quite a lot, and one statistic in particular might shed some light on this matter.

Here is the history in chronological order, showing the trophy count and win percentage:

When looking at the data in this manner, it shows that while David Moyes didn’t win any trophies during his time at Everton, he did have a pretty good win percentage of 42.1% (fourth highest). The three previous managers with higher win percentages all won trophies (even if it was just a Charity Shield, in the case of Colin Harvey) and even one manager with a slightly lower win percentage won two trophies (take a bow, Joe Royle). So what could possibly explain the fact that Moyes didn’t win anything in his eleven years at Goodison with this in mind?

I have a suggestion, and it I sincerely hope that this is factored in to the thinking of Bill Kenwright and the Board during their hunt for a replacement: playing mentality. The four managers who have won us some silverware since the 1960s were all attacking-minded players during their playing careers: attacking midfielders or forwards. Those who have failed to win any silverware were all previously defenders or goalkeepers. If we sort the above table first based on total number of trophies won and then on win percentage, a new pattern emerges.

If we remove Howard Kendall’s second and (sigh) third return roles to the club, which many saw as being a desperate attempt to recapture the glory days of the mid/late 1980s, then – with a sole exception of Billy Bingham – the best times at Goodison have come with an attacking-minded manager in charge.

Evertonians can regularly be accused of complaining about negative tactics put forth by the former man in charge. David Moyes, despite the adoration that he received from most quarters of The People’s Club, also earned himself the nickname “Dithering Dave”, in no small part due to his seeming inability to transform games through the timely introduction of effective substitutions. It was rare to see a potential goal scorer standing on the touchline when we were a goal down with ten minutes to play – more likely we’d see a central defender or holding midfielder gracing the hallowed Goodison turf in place of a forward.

Despite my admiration and overall sense that David Moyes did a fantastic job on an absolute pittance at Everton, I cannot help but wonder what might have been and what might yet be with a change of mentality around the place. Moyes no doubt took us up a notch from the glory (ahem) days of Walter Smith, Mike Walker, and Co but I am left in an uncertain middle ground: I am disappointed to see such a great bloke and class act leaving our great Club, but am desperately hoping that we bring in an attacking-minded manager to replace him.

If my suspicion is true, then the former playing positions of rumoured replacement managers might be quite telling as to what to expect.

• Malky Mackay: Defender
• Slaven Bilic: Defender
• Rafa Benitez (oh behave): Sweeper
• Jose Mourinho (dream on dreamers): Midfielder
• Roberto Martinez: Midfielder (defensive)
• Paul Lambert: Midfielder (defensive)
• Martin O’Neill: Midfielder
• Neil Lennon: Midfielder
• Michael Laudrup: Midfielder (attacking)
• Gianfranco Zola: Forward
• Mark Hughes: Forward
• Jurgen Klopp: Striker/Defender
• Roberto Di Matteo: Midfielder

So it seems that the majority of possible candidates are either former forwards or midfielders. Encouraging? Possibly so! Rule out the ludicrous (Rafa and Jose) and the defensive minded ones, and only consider attacking minded former players and we’re left with: Lennon, Laudrup, Zola, Hughes, Klopp, and Di Matteo.

I don’t think I’ve heard a single Evertonian think Lennon or Hughes are even worth mentioning, so we’re down to Laudrup, Zola, Klopp and Di Matteo – none of which are half-bad in my opinion. Of that list, I would love to see Gianfranco Zola at the helm – he is the perfect fit for Everton and brings the attacking mentality that we need to go up a gear. He just took Watford to third in the Championship with a 50% win percentage and the joint highest goal difference in that league (most goals scored out of all teams). He knows the English game inside out and backwards and would likely come cheaper than the rest, something that Bill Kenwright will no doubt be keen on.

Everton’s former great, Neville Southall, came out endorsing Zola today and I have to say I am completely on that bandwagon. Bring in Zola, Mr Kenwright!

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