Moyes treating league and cup campaigns equally

Lyndon Lloyd , 1 March, 13comments | Jump to most recent

David Moyes says that he is not prioritising his team's push in the FA Cup over the chase for Europe, insisting that, despite his small squad, he is treating each game 'on its merits.'

One point in nine over the last three games has seen Everton's Champions League prospects fall away dramatically but the manager has not yet given up hope of a top-four finish and remains focused on qualifying for Europe.

“I still think we've an outside chance of finishing in a European spot," he is quoted in the Mirror," whether that be the Europa League or Champions League. While we've got that, we'll have to keep driving on in the league games.”

“I don't think you can ever prioritise one over the other. If we did, we'd be resting players in the Premier League for the cup.

“I see other managers do that, and I've done it myself, and you get criticised for it.

“I think all you can ever do is take one game at a time and move on.”

“Of course, we have to worry about the size of our squad, but I can't really change that.”

A win for Everton over Reading tomorrow would ensure some ground gained on either Tottenham, Arsenal or both this weekend as the North London rivals will face off on Sunday at White Hart Lane and the Blues will have to hope that West Brom can capitalise on the instability at Chelsea and spring an upset at Stamford Bridge to help close the gap on Rafael Benitez' side in fourth.

The Blues also have to travel to all three of those teams between now and the end of the season which offers further hope that the dream of the Champions League is still alive.

Quotes or other material sourced from The Mirror

Reader Comments (13)

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Christopher Kelly
1 Posted 02/03/2013 at 05:50:46

Well not we're not getting fourth so the emphasis SHOULD be on the cup IMO.

And for all those who say "Well we'll get more money if we finish higher in the table"...I say "We won't see it anyways." lol FML

Rory Slingo
2 Posted 02/03/2013 at 06:44:31

The extra money from league placing is only a fraction compared to what the club receives from the TV deal anyway. Not an inconsequential amount but not worth sacrificing the possibility of winning a Cup for a few million squid.

Matt Traynor
3 Posted 02/03/2013 at 07:03:57

Rory old chap, the money from league placing is PART of what the club receives from the TV deal. Certainly a couple of league placings would be worth more than a run to the final of the League Cup, and this is likely to become more so when the increased money comes in next year.

Currently the split of TV money in the league is 50% to clubs equal share, 25% facility fees (for live TV appearances, guaranteed minimum 10) and 25% "prize money" for league placing.

Rory Slingo
4 Posted 02/03/2013 at 07:08:10

Cheers Matt, I didn't realize as much as 25% of the split was from league placings. But in terms of dollar amounts, hasn't each league place been worth about £1m-2m in previous seasons, iirc? What I meant was, I don't think it would be that big a deal if we finished 8th instead of 6th, for example, if in doing so we won the FA Cup.

I'm not saying either that winning a cup and finishing higher in the league are mutually exclusive. But if we had to prioritise one over the other, I'd go for the chance of actually winning some silverware even though focusing on the league could be more financially rewarding.

Also, if the split stays the same for next season then even though the 25% we get for league placings will be worth more, so will the other 75% which is a much larger figure.

Paul Andrews
5 Posted 02/03/2013 at 07:58:32

And there you have it. The Moyes negative mentality in a nutshell. Always err on the side of caution.

"I still think we have an outside chance of finishing in a European spot, whether that be in the Europa League or Champions League"

We are currently in a "European Spot" in the table. But we have an "outside chance" of making it. That sets the lads up with a positive attitude for today and the rest of the season David.

How much longer do we have to put up with his negative, dour glass half-empty attitude?

Matt Traynor
6 Posted 02/03/2013 at 07:56:40

Rory, I can't recall off hand but think each league place is worth around £800k. The team in 20th place gets £800k, and the team in 19th £1.6m, and so on to the top team getting £16m - effectively the first prize, although in reality they'll bank another £8m (on top of the guaranteed 10 appearance fees) for being shown around 25 times on TV.

The new domestic TV deal has an additional package of live games, and not seen if there'll be any change to the split. The overseas TV deal (currently £18m per club per annum) will continue to be split equally (despite Liverpool's protestations). They haven't finalised all territories yet, but all will have the ability to broadcast all 380 games, and it will be worth much more than current.

I agree with winning a pot, but the CL thing has always clouded it. The EPL is desperate to preserve 4 slots (there are those in UEFA who would like to see it reduced), and that can be worth big money to clubs as well, not just in terms of TV. When Spuds were in the CL for a year a couple of years back, they got a separate sponsor for their shirts for CL games - a £10m deal. When Man U lost to Barca a few years ago, I read a report that said Man U actually made more than Barca in all revenues, and it was just over £100m (which seemed ludicrously high).

Donald Twain
7 Posted 02/03/2013 at 08:37:07

Great! Can't wait to tell my children 'I was there' when we won a share of 25%.

Patrick Murphy
8 Posted 02/03/2013 at 10:13:12

Let's scrap the domestic cup competitions after all they are only a distraction from gaining a few quid from league placings. Is this what the sport has come to? If it is we might as well put our season ticket money in the stock market and watch as the shares fall or rise according to which business we have chosen to support.

I'm not bothered about how much the club earns - it will only be wasted anyway - but winning something, a meaningful lap of honour and the Captain raising the Trophy isn't that why we support our club? Or have I lost the plot with age?

Nick Entwistle
9 Posted 02/03/2013 at 10:26:10

Winning a pot doesn't help with winning the league, Patrick. But you're not going to be winning the league unless you get into CL first. So from that perspective, its more important.

And that we'll never play the likes of Barcelona again, only Metalist bloody Kharkiv etc.

But this is what I don't like, that a European competition is dominating the competitive aspect of the domestic championship.

It would never happen, but if one place was given to the champions, one for each of the cups and a play off for the last place between 2nd and 5th teams (even as low as 4th through 7th depending on cups) then team could not budget with CL in mind.

You'd share the wealth, the same teams wouldn't be relied upon to compete in the CL each and every year and therefor the best players wouldn't be off limits to the also rans in the Premier League.

Kevin Elliott
10 Posted 02/03/2013 at 10:30:29

Patrick Murphy. Well said.

Mike Kennedy
11 Posted 03/03/2013 at 09:21:03

Winning a cup is more important than league placing. Who can remember or care how many times we have come 4th in our history. I want Everton to win every game and I would dearly love CL. It ain't going to happen. We have a difficult run in and we are starting to wane. The RS, unfortunately, will over take us and I don't see us passing Spurs, Arse & Chelski. It's a shame we didn't win the games that were for the taking earlier in the season. But it has been a good season so far and could get better.

Harold Matthews
12 Posted 04/03/2013 at 21:53:18

I'm just hoping we can beat Wigan who appear to be a very good side away from home. They also have pace and a shrewd coach who will try to exploit our weak spots through the middle.

Trevor Lynes
13 Posted 04/03/2013 at 22:37:07

I'm a bit concerned about their striker, Kone. Most of the sides seem to have a big striker and with Heitinga in defence I am apprehensive of us playing against quite a list of big, strong, pacey front men (mostly if not all, black players). The likes of Kone, Kebe,Lukaku, Cole and Benteke are all of this ilk.

I was pleased when Kebe limped off after Jags got injured. We would have struggled against Kebe I reckon. I just wish that big Vic could make the same impact... he has all the physical attributes.

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