Everton seal biggest signing of the year
There have been plenty of ups and downs at Goodison since Moyes’s arrival but unlike the previous decade, the pluses have certainly outnumbered the minuses.
His predecessor Walter Smith – who in typically gentlemanly fashion recommended his fellow Glaswegian for his former position – was forced to rebuild his side three times over in less than four seasons and his generally ageing Everton teams were unable to climb out of the bottom half of the table.
Indeed, Joe Royle’s Andrei Kanchelskis-inspired class of 1996 who finished sixth were the only Everton side to finish above the halfway mark in the 10 years of Premier League football before Moyes’s first full season in 2002-03 when a seventh place spot was enough to earn him the first of two LMA Manager of the Year awards.
Such a finish this season wouldn’t even have Moyes anywhere near to being considered for such a prize but that is testament to the Scot’s raising of expectations at Goodison Park brought by three European qualifications in the last four seasons thanks to fourth, sixth and fifth-place finishes.
Gifted young players are now signing for Everton rather than leaving because of Moyes’s record of developing their talents.
But while a good manager with a patient board can take a team from being Premier League’s also-rans to contenders for a European place, the hard work starts now for Moyes as he attempts to take the final but hardest step of all.
Against all the odds, Everton have already secured one top-four finish under Moyes but proving that it wasn’t a fluke will be a mean feat for him.
Players who would have improved the squad a couple of years ago will no longer increase the quality. This summer has shown Moyes just how hard it is to recruit for those kind of performers as he attempts to break through what seems to be a glass ceiling between the quartet of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool and the rest of the top flight.
Despite the current financial uncertainties in the world at large, overseas billionaire sugar daddies are the latest must-have for Premier League outfits and Everton are supposed to be one of the clubs hoping such a benefactor will come to their aid. But there are only so many top-class players to go around and they generally want to join clubs in the top four so they can play Champions League football. So if you’re outside that group you find it’s the most exclusive of elite clubs to try and break into – even if you’ve got the kind of funds Manchester City are currently benefiting from.
If Everton were ever to make it through to the Champions League proper under Moyes then it would be a massive bonus for them but given that the 45-year-old has just been handed a deal believed to have made him the highest earner in the club’s history, Evertonians will just be hoping he repays them with a piece of silverware of any kind as their wait for a trophy heads towards a 14th year.
The ups and downs of Everton under Moyes
2002: March 13 – Approached by Everton to replace sacked boss Walter Smith.
March 15 – Becomes new Everton manager. Moyes makes an instant impact as Everton win three of their first four matches under his leadership. They escape relegation, finishing seven points above third-bottom Ipswich.
December 5 – With Everton fifth in the Premiership after four successive 1-0 wins in November, Moyes is named Barclaycard manager of the month – the first Everton manager to land such an award for more than three years.
2003: January – Everton suffer surprise 2-1 loss to Third Division Shrewsbury in FA Cup third round.
May – Everton beaten on final day of season by Manchester United and Blackburn take final UEFA Cup place. Moyes named League Managers’ Association manager of the year for the first time
2004: The promise of Moyes’ first full season in charge fades and the debt-ridden club spend the tail-end of the 2003-04 campaign battling against relegation.
May – Everton escape the drop but their 5-1 defeat on final day of season sees them finish 17th.
August – Everton bow to pressure and sell star striker Wayne Rooney to Manchester United in a deal worth up to £27million.
September – Everton make encouraging start to season and climb to third in Premiership with 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
November 12 - With Everton still third after 12 games, Moyes agrees new five-year contract.
2005: May - Everton break the big-four cartel by finishing fourth in the Premier League, above city rivals Liverpool, to qualify for the Champions League. Moyes is named LMA manager of the year for the second time in three years.
August - Everton’s Champions League ambitions end at the earliest opportunity as they are beaten in qualifying by Spain’s Villarreal.
September – Things get worse for Moyes as Everton are hammered 5-1 by Dinamo Bucharest and crash out of the UEFA Cup as well.
October – Everton’s league form mirrors their European disaster and they sit bottom of the league, resulting in calls for Moyes’ head in some quarters.
2006: May – The club stick with Moyes and recover to finish 11th.
2007: May – Steers Everton into the UEFA Cup with a sixth-place finish.
December 12 – Everton beat eventual UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 at Goodison Park in a UEFA Cup group stage match.
2008: March 12 – Moyes’ side lose on penalties to Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup last 16.
May – Everton finish fifth to qualify for the UEFA Cup again.
September 29 – Admits FA charge of improper conduct in relation to an incident against Stoke on September 14.
October 2 – Everton crash out of the UEFA Cup in the first round to Standard Liege.
October 14 – Moyes signs new five-year contract at Everton.
