David Moyes has spent over a decade managing clubs in English football, hitting his peak over the last couple of seasons after some strange yo-yo performances by the Merseyside club in prior years.
He has earned a spot in the Champions League and secured UEFA Cup play twice, likely a third time straight this year around, all on a budget that would please Arsene Wenger. Even the 10 million + pound signings have looked quality, especially in light of 20 million + flops such as Veron, Shevchenko, and Keane from the Big Four.
More importantly than all of this is that a vacancy in one of the Big Four management is likely to open in the next few years, so let’s examine each case.
Chelsea
The London hotseat would probably be the most dangerous place for him to go simply because Roman demands results and prefers them over stability, which Moyes has brought to Everton for three years. The upside is that this is the job most likely to become available, and needs a manager (should Hiddink depart like he says he will) like Moyes who can build a team to compete in the future. Given his nose in the transfer market and a slightly larger budget than Everton can afford, Moyes at Chelsea for years to come could be a deadly combination, but only if Roman gives him time.
Manchester United
Sir Alex is going to retire; Sir Alex wants to win two more European trophies; Mourinho is taking over next year; Mourinho wants to stay at Inter and then move to Spain and then back to Chelsea and then Man U and then the Portuguese national team (where will he find the years?) and then conquer the universe.
The rumors have been circulating, but realistically Sir Alex will retire in the next few seasons. He is approaching 70, has won everything there is to win (of real importance) at least twice, is a Manchester United legend, and has so far outlasted all of his rivals, superstars with super-egos, etc.
Ferguson has spoken of the importance of stability, so it is doubtful that a “project” coach like Mourinho will appeal to the United hierarchy. However, everybody loves to win, and no one denies Mourinho’s knack for it. Regardless, Moyes should be considered, if only because Sir Alex has lauded him as a fantastic coach. On the downside, Moyes has never won anything but a League 2 championship, and does not have a proven European record, but to be fair, he doesn’t have the squad depth to be competitive on so many fronts. With a squad like United, he might showcase his talents on the continent as well as in England.
Arsenal
I consider David Moyes to be Arsene Wenger-lite, minus the pseudo-intellectual pretensions and the preference for all things French.
In all seriousness though, David Moyes might be the ideal replacement for Wenger should he leave. He knows how to stretch a budget, which the “selling club” Arsenal apparently need; he knows how to get the best out of players (such as Mikel Arteta); and as far as I can tell, he commands respect and loyalty from the players, club and fans.
What more could Arsenal want? They haven’t won with Wenger for quite some time, and so maybe the time is right for fresh blood, a new approach to signing players, etc. Give him a few years to seriously compete for the Premier League title, the Champions League, and the FA Cup, and see if he can’t hit the heights that Wenger has.
Liverpool
Rafa Benitez just signed a five year contract, so I doubt Liverpool will be in the market for a new coach anytime soon. It would also be outrageous if the Reds signed their crosstown rival’s coach, especially when Moyes referred to Everton as “the people’s club” in contrast to ‘pool. The odds of this happening are probably slimmer than Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi playing together at Real Madrid.
Conclusion
All in all, I’d say it is time for the Everton man to step onto the big stage and test himself. He has proved himself to be wel above adequate in managing at the highest level of English football, but hasn’t had the resources to build a squad with the depth and quality to compete in multiple, top-level competetions. He has the experience yet he is young enough to be appealing to any club who wants someone to stay for many years. Sorry Everton fans, but if Moyes has the ambition, he should move on to one of the Big Four.
BORING!
Why is it everyone assumes the lower managers want the top four jobs? Infact there shouldn’t even be a top four and if there is it should be the Sky four. I am sick of hearing oh well Man United should pick Moyes as the successor. It is like people are trying to make out that being with a team that is not in the sky four is training for a position at one of the sky four clubs.
Moyes is at Everton and will be for a very long time, he is proving to be a successful club you do not have to spend billions and clubs like Manchester City, Spurs and Newcastle need to follow that example.
“Sorry Everton fans, but if Moyes has the ambition, he should move on to one of the Big Four”
Well, sorry Sebastian; that closing comment says a lot about you, your appreciation of football and football as generally portrayed in the media nowadays. As Tommy as previously posted, your “Big Four” is in fact the “Sky Four”; I mean, WTF are Chelsea?
Leaving your awful modern monetarist (and therefore transitory) summation, from a managerial point of view, Moyes could possibly fit at only one club apart from Everton, and that would be Manchester United. Only they have an inkling of the commitment he would require. However, his would probably be a very different team from that Alex Ferguson has crafted. Moyes has proven ability to galvanise a small modestly talented squad with a hard-work ethic and pick-up bargain players and promote youths who fit the mould; so far so good. But spending big has often backfired for him, and he has yet to handle the big egos that will inevitably come with a position at one of the “Sky Four”; witness his treatment of sulky Everton players past and present, he’s far more likely to cold-shoulder a very expensive ‘superstar’ than put an arm around their shoulder. I can’t imagine Roman liking that. No, I can’t see him fitting in at any London club with their ability to attract players from all nations along with their snidey agents. Liverpool is a complete no-go, he’d never be accepted at Anfield. Old Trafford is the only possible destination, and even that looks unlikely. No, my tip is for Celtic Park after his work for Everton is done…
You have no clue about football!
I think Moyes and Hughes (at Blackburn), Big Sam, etc. are all more suited for the clubs that they have had success with.
A club like Everton offers Moyes stability and patience. This is not something he would be afforded at a big club like Chelsea or Manchester United.
Also, at these smaller clubs, the manager scan put their stamp on the team. Bolton was a hard working team that physically beat teams up. Blackburn had a hard working team as well.
You put these managers at clubs that are full of glitz and glamour players, I have a feeling that the managers tactics and style of play would not mesh well.
Besides, I think Moyes will be at Everton for a while.
And I think that Man U and Chelsea will always go for the “sexy” hiring anyway.
Keep in mind that he was not a success right away, and not every year was a good year at Everton for him. Do you think somebody like Chelsea would have the patience for that?
As much as I want Moyes to stay at Everton until he retires, I understand if he wants a bigger challenge. Anyone worth his or her salt professionally (I don’t care what your job is), wants new challenges, so moving to a team with a much larger budget might be tempting. One factor would be any potential family issues that such a move might ignite.
I hold Moyes in the highest regards, along with Steve Bruce. I’d like to see either one rectify the disaster that is Newcastle. A big club with great fans and a beautiful 50,00 seat stadium desperate for success and stability.
p.s Arsene Wenger IS Arsenal.
this really pisses me off …the big 4
tell me about history of football……arsenal..a possiblr match for everton…..liverpool no history before the early 70′s ….man u..nothing before the 90′s …chelsea. a championship side that won the lottery…if chelsea are bigger than everton i am a dutchman…..the so called big 4..i have shit em…..efc 4 ever
Why would he leave a football giant like Everton for inferior clubs like Chesea and Newcastle? Do me a favour!!!
Everton 9 times champions.
Its History that makes you a big Club in Football,
Not a rich owner.
We are a true Giant of English Football and always will be.
We also have a better squad than Man Utd, Rodwell,Felliani,Arteta,Pienaar,Osman,Billy,Jags,Baines,Neville,Heitinger,Billyetdinov,Saha,The Yak,Big Vic,Cahill.