Moyes’ departure from Everton renders obsolete the citing of the renowned triumvirate, Ferguson, Wenger, and Moyes, as shining examples for stability in the manager’s office.
In a little over 24 hours, two men, whose positions we could rely upon amidst the ceaseless frenzied spinning of the unseemly managerial merry-go-round, had been altered markedly. Moyes’ time at Old Trafford will answer many unknowns about the manager, questions which weren’t fully addressed during more than eleven years at Goodison Park.
There is a rather lazy assumption that Evertonians have been plunged into despair by the loss of their chief protagonist. That is not entirely true. You will do well, however, to find a supporter of the Merseyside outfit who does not feel a debt of gratitude to Moyes. Upon being granted his big chance, the then 38 year-old bounced in from Preston North End and instantly set about restoring pride and professionalism to a famous club – one which over the previous 15 years had been allowed to drift helplessly into sweeping mediocrity.
Those who paint Moyes as the arch-pragmatist are off the mark. His Everton team of 2009 produced some thrilling football in the course of finishing 5th in the Premier League and reaching an F.A. Cup final. The first-half of this season at Goodison Park was defined by an attractive and high-octane style of play.
That swashbuckling approach has eroded somewhat of late, and a side which contains some wonderfully expressive footballers has scored one goal in its last four games.
The current generation of Manchester United follower has been reared on a fearless team which seeks to operate exclusively on the front foot. Every one of Ferguson’s many triumphs, and indeed some of his failures, have been the harvest of an unerringly cavalier attitude.
Whatever Moyes’ style, his players will be fit and fully cognisant of their individual duties. A tendency for his charges to freeze when opportunity knocks – a trait which clings to the Scot’s record all the way back to his Preston team of 2001 being swatted aside by Bolton Wanderers when they stood 90 minutes from the Premier League – is one which will not be forgiven at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Repercussions to perceived failure will stretch way beyond the type of parochial and passionate fanbase whose irregular barbs Moyes took barely concealed exception to at Everton.
During this earth-shifting week, Everton have primarily filled the bit-part role of ‘collateral damage’. The Merseysiders’ palpably deflated chairman, Bill Kenwright, is now tasked with applying the same keenness of eye in the search for a candidate to replace his departing manager as was evident in Moyes’ initial recruitment.
Wigan Athletic’s progressive Spanish boss, Roberto Martinez, has emerged as an early front-runner for the vacancy. Martinez’s appointment wouldn’t inspire a procession of Toffees to hurtle themselves, lemming like, head first into the Mersey. Correspondingly, that eventuality wouldn’t engender any deal of hope for the likelihood of Moyes’ achievements at Goodison being matched, let alone improved upon.
Kenwright cannot afford the expectations, which Moyes’ body of work have so elevated, to decline. From there, Everton’s collective sense of belonging on their present lofty footing will all too quickly spiral into the inertia which clawed at every aspect of the club at the conclusion of Walter Smith’s time in L4.
When August’s 2013/2014 football season dawns at Old Trafford and Goodison Park, the respective men prowling their new home touchlines will attract the attention of a rapt audience. The eyes trained on Moyes will be cast from the world over. The fortunes of Manchester United’s manager, and his Everton successor, are certain to feature large in the narrative of what will be a heavily anticipated Premier League season.
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