Emotional ... David Moyes gets a big farewell from Everton.Source: Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
He's considered by many as David Moyes' greatest signing at Everton, so it was only fitting that Tim Cahill returned to Goodison Park to help farewell his former manager.
In a sign of the Socceroos star's deep respect for Moyes, Cahill made a 5000km dash to appear at the manager's last home Premier League game before replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Cahill had played for his MLS side New York Red Bulls in Foxborough, Massachusetts only 15 hours earlier.
The visit also presented Everton fans with another chance to officially say goodbye to club icon Cahill, who scored 68 goals in 278 appearances over eight seasons before moving to the US last year.
Cahill was given a guard of honour by the Everton team as he and outgoing skipper Phil Neville joined Moyes on the pitch after a 2-0 win over West Ham.
The Australian warmly embraced Moyes, the man who provided the biggest break of Cahill's career when he signed him from Millwall for what turned out to be a bargain price of 1.5 million pounds ($A2.3 million) in 2004.
The 50-year-old reserved his most fervent praise for the home support, who gave Moyes a fantastic reception before, during and after the game.
"I thought we played as well as we have in a long time," Moyes said.
"We scored a well-worked goal in the first half and but for a couple of great saves and a few bad misses we would have had more.
"The crowd showed today what a big club Everton is, and I think today that was their part in it all. It was an emotional time during the second half because they got right behind their football club. They got the team that second goal.
"I think the crowd today showed what Everton means to them.
"I count myself extremely lucky. I have had a really good chairman and board who will let me get on with things. That is what Everton do: they want stability."
The result confirmed Everton's top-six finish in the Premier League, while West Ham are yet to ensure a top-half place.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce admitted that West Ham were lucky to lose by just two goals after goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made a string of fine saves to deny Everton during a ninety minutes in which the away side failed to get a foothold.
Hard acts to follow ... now Everton need to fill a vacancy.Source: Ian Kington / AFP
It is a harder job to replace David Moyes at Everton than it is to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, writes Sky Sports' Peter Beagrie.
David Moyes leaves Everton in a fantastic position, but where do they go from here?
Everton made Moyes one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League because he can get an extra percentage out of a squad when others can't. They have good individuals, but their success has been built around a work ethic.
We've seen them play without any strikers and still get results. Look at the way he has turned Darron Gibson from a Manchester United fringe player into an integral part of the Everton team who commands respect from the fans.
For me, there was only one choice for the Premier League champions because Moyes is cut from the same cloth as Sir Alex Ferguson. He's very astute tactically, he gets the best out of his squad and he doesn't get much wrong in the transfer market either.
He hasn't had a lot of money to spend, but look at Marouane Fellaini. They spent £14million on him - a huge sum for Everton to splash out on one player - and this was a guy that many people had never heard of. Here was a footballer who looked a bit freakish - 6ft8 with an afro - but what a player he's turned out to be. They could sell him for £30million now.
So while there was an obvious candidate for the Old Trafford vacancy, I'm scratching my head to come up with an obvious successor at Goodison Park. People mention Roberto Martinez and I look around the Championship for options and I'd need to think long and hard before I could tell you the best man for this job.
Age: 50
Date of birth: April 25, 1963
Place of birth: Glasgow, Scotland
Playing career
Position: Centre-back
Teams: Celtic (1980-1983), Cambridge United (1983-1985), Bristol City (1985-1987), Shrewsbury Town (1987-1990), Dunfermline Athletic (1990-1993), Hamilton Academical (1993), Preston North End (1993-1999)
Playing honours
Celtic
Scottish League Premier Division (1): 1981-82
Preston North End
Football League Third Division (1): 1995-96
Managerial career
Teams: Preston North End (1998-2002), Everton (2002-2013), Manchester United (2013-)
Managerial honours
Preston North End
Football League Second Division (1): 1999-2000
For me, it is a harder job to replace Moyes at Everton than it is to replace Ferguson at Manchester United.
So, who are the candidates for the latest vacancy in English football?
ROBERTO MARTINEZ
The Spaniard, who interested Liverpool last summer, has won many admirers with his brand of football at Wigan and his ability to work on a budget may appeal to the Goodison hierarchy.
NEIL LENNON
The Celtic boss may feel he has done all he can in Scotland, especially with the loss of Old Firm games. Has European experience, having beaten Barcelona this season, which would appeal to the Toffees.
VITOR PEREIRA
The 44-year-old has enjoyed two hugely successful seasons since succeeding Andre Villas-Boas as Porto coach and is out of contract in the summer, which means Everton would not have to pay compensation. Unknown quantity in British football, however.
MICHAEL LAUDRUP
Winning a trophy in his first season in English football has only enhanced the Dane's reputation, having been lauded for his work with the Swansea side in the short term. Has managerial experience in four countries in addition to a glittering playing career.
PHIL NEVILLE
The Toffees captain is scheduled to leave the club to extend his playing career but could possibly be tempted to stay if it was as manager, having turned down a job on the coaching staff. Will assist England Under-21s this summer but would be a leap of faith by the Everton board.
MARK HUGHES
Hughes, a former Everton player, has already expressed his interest. Sacked by QPR in November, his appointment would likely be unpopular among the majority of fans.
Big shoes to fill ... David Moyes will succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.Source: Martin Rickett / AAP
David Moyes faces the daunting task of following in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson after being officially confirmed as the manager of Manchester United on a six-year contract on Thursday.
Ferguson's shock retirement announcement the day before left United looking for a new manager for the first time since the legendary Scot succeeded Ron Atkinson in November 1986, but the Premier League champions moved quickly to appoint Moyes.
The 50-year-old, who has been at Everton since 2002, will take over from Ferguson on July 1.
Ferguson, who has won 38 trophies during a record-breaking 26-year spell at Old Trafford, revealed that he had personally recommended his fellow Glaswegian.
"When we discussed the candidates that we felt had the right attributes, we unanimously agreed on David Moyes,'' said Ferguson in a statement.
"David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic. I've admired his work for a long time and approached him as far back as 1998 to discuss the position of assistant manager here.
"He was a young man then at the start of his career and has since gone on to do a magnificent job at Everton.
There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club.''
Moyes has only presided over two matches in the Champions League and has failed to win a trophy in his 11-year tenure at Goodison Park, but he is widely admired for having led Everton to six consecutive top-eight finishes in the Premier League despite operating on a shoestring budget.
"It's a great honour to be asked to be the next manager of Manchester United,'' he said in a statement released by his new employers.
"I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done for the football club.
"I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isn't something that comes around very often and I'm really looking forward to taking up the post next season.''
Earlier, Everton confirmed that Moyes would leave the club at the end of the season, after he quickly emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Ferguson.
"The manager met chairman Bill Kenwright early yesterday evening (Wednesday) and confirmed his desire to join Manchester United,'' read an Everton statement.
"The chairman, on behalf of the club, would like to place on record his thanks to David for the massive contribution he has made to Everton since his arrival in March 2002. He has been an outstanding manager.''
Kenwright has confirmed that Moyes will take charge of Everton's two remaining matches of the Premier League season, at home to West Ham United on Sunday and away to Chelsea on May 19.
Moyes will lead United for the first time on their pre-season tour of Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong in July, with his first official game set to be the Community Shield against the FA Cup winners at Wembley Stadium on August 11.
Ferguson, 71, took training with the United squad as usual on Thursday morning, ahead of his final home game against Swansea City on Sunday.
Both he and Moyes have cancelled their scheduled pre-match press conferences on Friday, with Ferguson expected to address United's supporters directly after Sunday's game.
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez was installed as the early favourite to succeed Moyes at Everton, but the Spaniard said he had received no contact from the club and was only thinking about his side's FA Cup final encounter with Manchester City on Saturday.
Welcome ... the football world reacts to news of Moyes's appointment.Source: Glyn Kirk / AFP
Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick have welcomed the appointment of David Moyes at Old Trafford and paid tribute to his success at Everton.
After Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed his retirement following 26 years in charge, the Premier League club announced that Moyes would be his successor on Thursday.
And the early reaction from within the dressing room suggests that the players view the Everton boss, who will take up his new post on July 1, as the ideal man for the job.
Ferdinand, who has played under Ferguson for over a decade at Old Trafford, said: "It was important the club made a decision quickly and got it all sorted before people could start making rumours.
"The club have acted impeccably in that respect.
"It's great to see the new manager coming in, we've never had a problem with him here at United, he's a very honest man from the players you speak to and he's done a fantastic job at his previous club Everton.
"I'm sure he'll be very, very open and sympathetic to the traditions of the club and try and continue that and not come in and try and make crazy changes in terms of the whole characteristics of the club."
United and England midfielder Carrick has also been impressed by Moyes' work at Everton and is eagerly awaiting the start of a new era.
"He's done a terrific job at Everton," he said.
"He's been there a long time and has had great success with the resources he's had. It's obviously a big change because this club's been run for so long by one person.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting him and getting good training in pre-season and looking forward to a good future.
"He's honest and fair to his players as far as I'm aware. He sets high standards just as he expects high standards of ourselves."
Former Manchester United striker Sir Bobby Charlton has given his backing to new manager David Moyes as well.
"I have always said that we wanted the next manager to be a genuine Manchester United man," said Charlton.
"In David Moyes, we have someone who understands the things that make this such a special club.
"We have secured a man who is committed to the long-term and will build teams for the future as well as now. Stability breeds success.
"David has tremendous strength of character and recognises the importance of bringing young players through and developing them alongside world class talent.
"At United, I think David will be able to express himself.
"I am delighted he has accepted and I'm looking forward to working with him.".
Other reaction:
Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio: "After 12 years at Everton, he has proved the quality and the style he has got because we all know you have to have a specific style.
"Manchester United is not only about a winning mentality, the style is important, and I think Moyes has proved he deserves to go one step forward and work at the top level.
"In my opinion, he's the right man - only time will tell if he is right, but in my opinion, David has done an amazing job in the last 12 years at Everton."
Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez: "He's a good manager. I think that he will have a very good team, so I'm sure he will compete at the top and he can win trophies with a big club," said Benitez.
Aston Villa's Paul Lambert: "Absolutely fabulous manager. I think if anybody can do it, and keep the continuity, David can do it. I think he will be able to handle it, no problem."
QPR chief Harry Redknapp: "It is a fantastic opportunity for David. He has worked hard for the last ten years at Everton. It is difficult to follow Sir Alex but it is good to see a lad like David, who has done his time in the lower leagues as well, get such an opportunity."
Steve McClaren: "I think it's a fantastic appointment. He has a near identical work ethic, character, competitiveness to that of Sir Alex but he's got that longevity at Everton - to build a club and sustain that success year in, year out, at their level.
"The key thing is he will have Sir Alex at the side of him and if they get on, as I know they do, it's the master and the apprentice. He has to be open to that help. The experience Sir Alex has got will be invaluable.
"United had a plan. It's not about short-term success, it's not about sustaining it for the next one or two years, it's the next 26 years. He could be the next manager to do that. That's how they're thinking."
Bust up ... Roberto Mancini and David Moyes will resume EPL hostilities this weekend.Source: Dave Thompson / AFP
As Roberto Mancini snatched the ball from David Moyes and then squared up to the Everton manager, sparking a ruckus that saw both sent from the sideline, there seemed little prospect of Moyes handing City their biggest gift since Sheikh Mansour rolled into town.
But two years on from their 2010 dust-up on the sideline, Moyes did just that when his Everton side staged a remarkable comeback at Old Trafford to draw 4-4 last season. The draw meant City could go ahead of Manchester United if they beat them at the Ethiad- effectively the Barclays Premier League title was now City’s to lose. As history shows City took their chance and became champions.
When City travel to Merseyside this weekend, Everton again have the chance to play a major part in the blue half of Manchester’s title hopes, but this time it will be a little different. Moyes will not be bearing gifts this time round, only the threat of ending City’s fading title hopes will be on offer. The twelve point gap that United hold over City with just 10 games to play means that a loss will be fatal and a win will merely keep their fading hopes of back-to-back Premier League triumphs on life support. The worry for City is that beating Everton is something they have struggled to do.
In Mancini’s four seasons at the club he has beaten Moyes just once in the league and lost five of their seven meetings. Their one victory came at home, with all of Mancini’s trips to Goodison having ended in defeat. For what is largely agreed to be the world’s richest club, their inability to get the better of the rather more modest Everton seems somewhat odd. The key factor appears to be Moyes. The Scot is very much a manager that caters his approach to fit their opponent and with this in mind it seems he has found the key to getting the better of Mancini.
When the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in December, Everton succeeded in turning the match into a battle, denying City time on the ball to pick passes and build pressure.In possession they looked to utilise the power of Manuel Felliani, who terrorised the City defence. Despite Fellaini’s recent drop in form, he is again likely to figure heavily in Moyes’ plans for City. Whilst Felliani will be a concern for Mancini he will be more focused on ensuring the complacency that has derailed their title defence is not again on display. After last season’s success, most predicted City, with their huge financial backing, would go on to dominate the Premier League.
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
Man United
28
23
2
3
37
71
2
Man City
28
17
8
3
27
59
3
Tottenham
29
16
6
7
15
54
4
Chelsea
28
15
7
6
26
52
5
Arsenal
28
13
8
7
21
47
6
Liverpool
29
12
9
8
20
45
7
Everton
28
11
12
5
9
45
8
West Brom
29
13
4
12
2
43
9
Swansea
29
10
10
9
4
40
10
Fulham
28
8
9
11
-5
33
11
Stoke
29
7
12
10
-8
33
12
West Ham
28
9
6
13
-9
33
13
Newcastle
29
9
6
14
-10
33
14
Norwich
29
7
12
10
-18
33
15
Sunderland
29
7
9
13
-9
30
16
Southampton
29
6
10
13
-12
28
17
Aston Villa
29
6
9
14
-26
27
18
Wigan
28
6
6
16
-22
24
19
Reading
29
5
8
16
-21
23
20
QPR
29
4
11
14
-21
23
This has not been the case.
Poor showings like the recent 3-1 defeat to Southampton have become far too common and, unlike last season, United have rarely let them off the hook by slipping up themselves. Mancini, for his part, has tried to rectify the slackness he has indentified but his method of doing so has been questioned by many. Public criticism of his players has become a familiar part of the Italian’s press conferences in the hope of getting a positive response from his players.
“I’m not rude with my players. I say what I think sometimes and if I think it could be good for my players to understand they could play better, they can do more, I say this because I don’t lie,” Mancini responded when questioned on the merit of criticising his players in the media.
Joe Hart and Samir Nasri have been the players most often on the receiving end this season but they are not the first. Even in last season’s title-winning campaign, Mancini seemed eager to orchestrate tension in the squad. With Mario Balotelli in the team and Carlos Tevez going AWOL he did not have to try hard, but it is obvious that he feels it is part of a successful squad. This rationale appears to be aimed at stopping players from becoming too comfortable, but this season it seems to have burnt his players out rather than sparking them into life.
This is not the sole reason for their difficulties. They have now become the biggest target in the league. At first their wealth made them a target, but then they became successful as well, making them the biggest challenge for any team in the Premier League.
With little to lose and everything to gain, teams have roused themselves for a shot at glory against the champions. Putting out an extremely motivated side is what Moyes specialises in and perhaps explains why City have struggled so badly against Everton. Unlike their bitter rivals United, City have not yet been able ingrain a mentality that is strong enough to consistently cope with the challenges that face them.
Pablo Zabaleta, the City right back, has conceded as much.
"We are a team [built] over the last four years; it's not really easy for a team to build up the mentality to try to keep winning every year, like top teams around Europe,” Zabaleta said.
"Probably this year we needed to show we wanted to retain the title and it's been very difficult. So we know that we need to do something more, give something more, try to do better, to create that strong mentality that we need."
On Saturday they will face a team, who under Moyes, has developed the mentality City will need if they want to dominate the Premier League into the future. It may not have elevated Everton to the heights City have achieved in recent seasons, but it has consistently made them greater than the sum of their parts. The same cannot be said for Mancini’s team yet.
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Watch Everton and Manchester City lock horns, LIVE and Exclusive, and in High Definition, at 11.40pm (EDT) on Saturday on Fox Sports 3 and 3HD.
Itchy feet ... Is David Moyes finally on the move from Goodison Park?Source: Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
Everton manager David Moyes says he will wait until the summer before deciding on his future.
The 49-year-old's current contract at Goodison Park expires at the end of the season and speculation is intensifying about his long-term future.
Ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Oldham, Moyes admitted he had spoken with Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright but he has no plans to decide anything until the current campaign is over.
"I've spoken with the chairman and I want to see how the team do," he said.
"I want to see how we do in the cups and the league and it is more than likely that I won't make a decision until the end of the season.
"You can ask me every week but I will probably give you the same answer."
Next month marks the 11th anniversary of Moyes leaving Preston to begin his reign at Everton, with his tenure regarded as a success despite him not having won a trophy during his time with the club.
The Toffees are enjoying a good season, and are in contention to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second time under Moyes' management after their debut in the competition in 2005-2006.
Having only lost four games and taking 42 points from 26 matches so far this season, the Toffees are sixth in the Premier League table.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard earlier stressed the importance of Moyes staying with the club, but he insists that it should not be the concern of the players.
"The manager he needs to stay, everyone knows that," he said.
"It is no secret but that is an outside issue and that doesn't concern, currently, the players.
"We have to focus on the task and that is playing and performing, and he focusses on getting us ready for the games and performing and it [his future] is not something he talks about and we just get on with it."
