The portrait often painted of David Moyes’ Everton as a pragmatic, up and at ‘em outfit is inaccurate and unfair. During his later years on Merseyside, Moyes’ team was capable of producing some sublime football, centred on the silky skills and quick minds of Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas, and Marouane Fellaini, among others.
There is, however, an enduring image of the Scot’s biggest wins coming by way of backs-to-the-wall efforts against more esteemed adversaries – customarily frenetic clashes played out to the backdrop of a cacophonous Goodison Park. Another favoured manner of victory was to steal a rousing last minute winner after a sketchy display.
Manchester United have already had a taste of the latter type of triumph under their new manager when, a fortnight ago, they turned around a 2-1 deficit to overcome Stoke City.
On Sunday against Arsenal, United battled to their single goal win in exactly the style that Everton, on so many occasions under their boss of eleven years, saw off the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and United themselves.
Moyes’ current side were drilled to swamp the Gunners range of inventive stars, while never launching any attack of their own without a watchful eye on the back door. Phil Jones was asked to sit deep in midfield and take responsibility for protecting a disciplined back-four – a task he astutely accomplished until required by Nemanja Vidic’s injury to drop into the heart of defence.
Wayne Rooney’s marvellous display was more notable for its hard-running than any examples of otherworldly artistry (England fans with an eye on the World Cup should be concerned as to the condition in which their key striker will head to Brazil if he has another six months of this heavy labour between now and then).
When Moyes made changes late on, the forward thinking pair of Shinji Kagawa and Robin Van Persie were the men to make way. On came Ryan Giggs, with his two decades of experience in winding the clock down, and the height and presence of Fellaini.
Every tackle was determinedly contested by a United body and, as Arsenal committed more and more men to attack, red shirts shuffled in behind the ball forming a barrier that their visitors could not breach.
Moyes’ team got over the line. Any Evertonian witnessing the action unfolding wouldn’t have expected anything different once Van Persie had headed the afternoon’s opening goal.
With regards to their method of play, this less than flamboyant Manchester United side isn’t one that we recognise. As Moyes’ reign evolves, however, one suspects that its results will be of exactly the sort we are used to.
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