Moyes: Players and I are driven to succeed

, 15 March, 32comments  |  Jump to most recent

Marouane Fellaini: Set to start for the Blues against City despite his nadir last weekend against Wigan
David Moyes has dismissed suggestions that he and his players lack ambition after their humiliating cup exit at the hands of Wigan last weekend and insists that they are still aiming for Europe this season.

The team and manager alike have come in for stern criticism in the past week, with some believing that another cup exit at a crucial juncture suggests that club, under Moyes, has reached its limit.

"The quality of the players, the style they've played in, the way we've gone about our job has rightly so put Everton at a level where the expectancy was that Everton have got a chance of top four, Everton have got a chance of winning one of the cups," the 50 year-old Scot said in the Daily Mail.

"When that doesn't happen then it's a big shock, but it was a big shock to us as well, we didn't expect it.'

"It is insulting to Everton to say the club has gone as far as they can go," he said, "because this is a club where we always have to find ways of moving forward.

"I don't think the result last week was anything to do with tactics or motivation or anything else. If people are talking about a lack of ambition from me or the players then I'll really love to know what their definition of ambition is.

"All year I've tried to bang the drum to finish fourth and win a cup. I am driven to succeed and so are the players so I will need them to explain to me what they mean."

Predictably, Moyes was prodded on how the cup defeat might affect his contract situation and he responded by saying, "It doesn't alter anything. The decision at the end of the season will be made by me and the players and how well we all do together, how high we finish in the league. It's never changed."

Marouane Fellaini was a particular topic of discussion after the Wigan game in which he was substituted with just over an hour gone following arguably his worst performance in an Everton jersey so far.

His manager indicated that the Belgian will start tomorrow against Manchester City, however, and used his comments to remind supporters of the positive contribution he has made to the Blues' season so far.

"I have spoken to him,' Moyes expained. "We have looked at the game, studied it and he knows that he should have played much better. His reaction to that wasn't the correct one and I've told him about it. He has played a big part in our season. Most people had a really disappointing day.

"Yes, he may have some making up to do to the fans, but you have to also look at the good stuff he has done for us this season. For the most part he has been outstanding and made a massive contribution."

Moyes will again be without Phil Jagielka and Tim Howard again this weekend as they recover from an ankle injury and fractured vertebrae respectively.

While the American goalkeeper is making good progress and could be back sooner than most bone breaks would allow, Jagielka still has an open wound caused by Adam Le Fondre's studs in the home game against Reading two weeks ago and will likely miss the Stoke game on 30th March as well.

"He's progressing but it's slow because he's got an open wound in his ankle," Moyes is quoted by ESPN.

"[His comeback could be delayed], but we're not sure because it's a cut right on his ankle bone," the manager continued. "It's been stitched up but part of it is still open so we need to wait on that healing."

On Howard, Moyes said: "He's got two broken bones in his back. He can't do any diving around or running at the moment.

"The good thing is that they're both non-weight bearing bones, which means he could be back a bit quicker than you normally would be after a fracture. We're hoping and pushing to get him back as quickly as we can."

Quotes or other material sourced from Daily Mail



Reader Comments (32)

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Iain Johnston
3 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:18:42
David, we would love to explain to you what we mean, but, as the Club as a whole doesn't communicate with the fans, that will never happen.
The same team will start tomorrow or he'll drop Coleman to play Neville at fullback to recall Gibson.
Phil Sammon
4 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:24:50
"It is insulting to Everton to say the club has gone as far as they can go," he said, "because this is a club where we always have to find ways of moving forward.

--------

Yes it is Dave...but who is saying that? It's not the fans. We are saying that we have gone as far as we can with you at the helm!

The sad thing is, I don't think Moyes is far off being a great manager. He is just so flaming stubborn that he refuses to adapt. All this never playing youngsters, persisting with those out of form, dragging everyone back for corners. It's all easily correctable stuff that he seems determined to ignore.

Robbie Shields
5 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:35:36
Sorry Phil, IMHO Moyes is and always has been far off being a great manager, simply because he is completely tactically inept and can't read the game. I've said for years he should go into the Top Balcony and watch the game from there, you see exactly who is and who isn't showing for the ball, in or out of position, etc. etc. but he stays on the side lines. All the other problems he has, square pegs round holes, youth policy, player favorites etc etc I believe are all manifestations of his basic tactical ineptness, that's all.

Moyes out

Barry Thompson
6 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:38:39
Oh I see, now that you've explained it that's OK then.
Dennis Shaw
7 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:28:19
Ambition Mr Moyes to me personally as a fan -

*Compete against the Man Utds, Arsenals, Liverpools of the Prem take the game to them attack don't just sit back and play for a draw ( it doesnt work)

*Try and win something we don't expect miracles but we do expect to put a performance in Chelsea in the Cup final, Liverpool and Wigan in the semis not acceptable.

*Sign players in the summer and January window the squad is too small and too weak to be ambitious. If Billy Liar leaves it too late with half arsed attempts at buying players for considerably less than they are worth at the 11th hour then criticise him, pull him up about it, embarrass him but never accept it and back him.

We don't expect miracles but we do expect to be entertained and to see effort and pride something you continually fail to deliver.

Steve Edwards
8 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:21:58
So where exactly are we to finish for you to sign a new contract? 4th. Well that won't happen. Win a cup? Oh, we are out of both cup competitions. 5th? Long shot and you've been there before. We end up playing an extra shed full of games in the Europa League with a squad that is'nt big enough to compete for the Champions League places in the PL. Why not just tell the truth, you are not signing a new contract because your putting yourself in the shop window, hoping the 'right' club makes a move for you.

The problem is Davey, if the 'right' clubs are not interested then you are stuck with us again. The trouble with that outcome is a lot of us don't fancy you anymore after your little shenanigans. The safest job in football may not be that safe anymore.

Paul David
9 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:48:00
"I don't think last week was anything to do with tactics".

Where do I begin?

Phil Sammon
10 Posted 15/03/2013 at 23:52:09
Robbie

Yeah, you're right with all of that.

I would be very happy to see him leave now, but he has done a lot of good for the club.

But yes, tactically he is awful. I think that blame should also be aportioned to Round and other high ranking coaches. Surely they can't all be patting Dave on the back telling him, 'You're doing a great job.'

Barry Rathbone
11 Posted 16/03/2013 at 00:01:06
Ambition Mr Moyes?

Exhibit a: FA cup semi final against the worst shite side in living memory.

Exhibit b: Wigan Athletic

Exhibit c: Leeds

That's the last 12 months for a start ..... don't worry mate there's loads more but while we're debating the finer things of life show some respect for this truly magnificent club and make a decision regarding your contract.

Tony Gill
12 Posted 16/03/2013 at 00:17:17
Whilst I agree with all the anti moyes comments, but if we would have beaten Wigan we would have been in the fa cup semi final and 5th in the prem. so does one awful 90 minutes define a season?
Gavin Ramejkis
13 Posted 16/03/2013 at 00:34:10
Tony, you don't get league points for an FA Cup match, are you on mushrooms?
Si Cooper
14 Posted 16/03/2013 at 00:54:47
Personally I believe the manager and the players do have ambition, as I can't imagine they ever go onto the pitch hoping to do anything other than win.

It is the fact that they don't seem prepared for the brand of ambition that the opposition tend to show on these occasions that baffles me.

Jackie Barry
15 Posted 16/03/2013 at 01:22:36
The guys more delusional than I thought, crikey is he losing the plot? If it wasn't to do with tactics then what on earth was it to do with?
Harvey Miller
16 Posted 16/03/2013 at 02:14:24
Moyes should say he had an awful day because HE had it wrong on Saturday.
Wrong team talk + Wrong tactics + Wrong selections + No reaction = loosing position.
I know he wont but he has to go. Go now Moyes!
Harvey Miller
17 Posted 16/03/2013 at 02:49:03
Such bullshit, cant take it anymore.
How about Stubbs/Sheedy, their team is on top now.
Tim Jones
18 Posted 16/03/2013 at 03:21:19
How can he put things right if he can never admit to have got it wrong?
James Stewart
19 Posted 16/03/2013 at 04:01:35
Season is over. The time for action was last week. Too little too late. Same old.
Paul Andrews
20 Posted 16/03/2013 at 05:35:35
Looks like he is signing his contract to me.
Steve Guy
22 Posted 16/03/2013 at 08:11:05
Every line in DM's statement defensive and laughable. I shall be in the Upper Bullens this lunchtime and will be fascinated to see how he sets up the team to play the Champions, I imagine it will involve Phil Neville in some capacity, hopefully just handing out the lucozade but I doubt it. Osman v Toure ? Jelavic again ?

5th is the new 4th

Alan Humphreys
23 Posted 16/03/2013 at 08:53:06
Tim (681) nail on the head for me. No culpability whatsoever.
James Morgan
24 Posted 16/03/2013 at 08:07:27
He's the guest that won't leave.
Please...just go (crumples in to deflated heap on the floor)
Philip Quilliam
25 Posted 16/03/2013 at 09:36:36
As a matter of interest can any of you calling for Moyes to go suggest an acceptable and realistic replacement? Presumably you are looking for a tactically astute manager with a track record of winning anything, playing attractive football and brininging on youngsters and willing to work for a club that is flat broke and can't afford a pot to piss in. I am sure the world of "Premiership Manager" is full of such individuals but in the real world...........
Chris Wilkins
26 Posted 16/03/2013 at 09:53:04
@Philip

We should be trying to get Louis Van Gaal, a great manager who has all the qualities you mention in your post, I also believe we have a good chance of getting him.

Colin Glassar
28 Posted 16/03/2013 at 10:13:12
Sounds to me like Moyes realises there's nothing out there for him or, at least, no one prepared to pay him the 4m plus that BK gives him. Sounds to me like Davy Moyes has made up his mind to stay on.
John Keating
30 Posted 16/03/2013 at 10:43:39
Philip
I'd actually go for Tony Hibberts dog. His barks worse than his bite.
Mind you I wouldn't just give him the job straight away I'd also interview Mike Basset - England Manager - and his brother Bertie.
Barry Rathbone
31 Posted 16/03/2013 at 10:46:50
Philip 720

I thought everyone had got past this naming someone just to shoot them down, if you love Moyes and the annual "Wigan" debacle (feel free to substitute Liverpool, Shrewsbury etc as you see fit) then just say so.

James Morgan
32 Posted 16/03/2013 at 10:47:37
Philip, it's clearly impossible for any other manager to come in and improve on Moyes so let's not bother, eh?

We will be immediately relegated with a new manager, it's a guarantee.

Ray Griffin
33 Posted 16/03/2013 at 11:07:16
Mancini's post-match press conference after our 1-0 win last season
"It's all my fault, I didn't prepare the team for this game properly"

Compare that to DM's utterances.......

Joe Bibb
34 Posted 16/03/2013 at 11:30:43
Let's all jump into a time machine:

We lose 3-0 in an FA Cup Quarter-Final away from home. The Manager had been here less than 3 years. Walter Smith says "disappointing" 16 times in his post-match interview.

Now leap forward to the present day. Moyes says that it was just one of those days, a Manager that has been here 11 years... Guess which one was sacked?

Philip Quilliam
35 Posted 16/03/2013 at 11:39:58
James and Barry. Even you guys must accept that when DM leaves (and he certainly will sooner or later) Everton will need a new manager - unless you think we can do without - so we will really need to bother. In the real world where we will need to offer the job around our planet who would realistically be on a short list? What do we have to offer? Try to look at it from outside because I love Everton and believe we are a great club with great traditions but who in the managerial spectrum would view us through such rose tinted glasses? I belive that our expectations need to be tempered by the fact that we are a broken club with no money and an aging ground we have a reasonable squad with a couple of top class players but that certainly needs considerable investment. Seems a bit like a poisoned chalice to me and without dragging in any old Johnny come lately who is after a 5 year contract that will ensure a big pay off if it goes tits up who is there? Louis van Gaal is a good shout but he is 62. Any unproven manager is a risk and it will be a personal opinion whether it is a risk worth taking at this point. However we may have no choice but I worry that a return to perennial battles against relegation may be the outcome.
Thomas Windsor
36 Posted 17/03/2013 at 09:31:40
Let Moyes finish the season off he deserves that, but after that it time to move on 11 years to long at the club without a trophy.

Next season look, around for a younger manager with fresh attacking ideas , I just hope we don't qualify for that Europa League — it goes on too long and drains our small squad.

James Morgan
37 Posted 18/03/2013 at 13:43:11
Philip, nobody could've been sure what David Moyes would've done but we took a chance and luckily it worked out and overall he's done a decent job, but now I think it's time for a change.

I doubt we would suddenly become relegation fodder with the squad we've got, unless we got some useless clown in charge like Gary Megson.

Our next manager may get us top 4, he may lead us to silverware and play great football, week-in, week-out; then again, he might not, who knows?

I just think a freshen up is required, and Moyes probably needs it too.


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