The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Toronto Villa]

If GH can't continue and we do get Moyes, I hope he gets off to a better start to a season than he's done in recent years at Everton. Heaven knows what this place would be like if in December we're sitting 3rd from bottom.

His Everton teams nearly always finish above Villa though, so he must be doing something right.

Risso, I've got nothing against Moyes. I just hope some people will understand that even with very good managers it doesn't go perfectly all of the time. Moyes will make us solid, if unspectacular, and I've said before, maybe he needs a change in order to meet his goals.

[KevinGage]

That's my biggest concern too.

He's well within his comfort zone there, he might bemoan lack of funds from time to time but with that comes an awareness (except from the most delusional of Everton fans) that 5-7th consistently is actually quite good. Probably says a lot about this division that you can be as low as third/fourth bottom in Dec -with only one home win on the board- and still finish  in and around the European places.

[WikiVilla]

Is all the Moyes speculation confined to Villa fans talk or is there a wider rumour mill that he'll be here next season ?

[Toronto Villa]

That's my biggest concern too.

He's well within his comfort zone there, he might bemoan lack of funds from time to time but with that comes an awareness (except from the most delusional of Everton fans) that 5-7th consistently is actually quite good. Probably says a lot about this division that you can be as low as third/fourth bottom in Dec -with only one home win on the board- and still finish  in and around the European places.

In the end, MON made us consistently on par with the likes of Everton. Solid, but unable to break into the upper echelons of the PL (yes, I know Everton did manage it once). The one thing that none of us really know is that Moyes had received the financial backing of his club more often when he was close, or in the summer of any of those seasons would have achieved 4th or better on more than the one occasion? And by saying that, would he be able to take us to that level, because he'd likely have that backing?

[KevinGage]

That's ultimately what it boils down to, yeah.

The other issue is that, yes, he might have been just one or two players away at Everton from achieving that. At Villa he'd pretty much have to start again. Not completely from scratch -there is a solid enough base there- but they're not 'his' players, not schooled in his methods and approach.

Can he get a positive reaction from the existing crop and add the players he needs to help us go the extra mile? That's the challenge and -if I'm honest- I have my doubts.

Against that, his record at Everton means that he would at least deserve a chance to utilise a bigger budget -if his current club continue to not play ball. It's unlikely that he'd be considered for the top 4 jobs, despite Everton fans waffling on about him only leaving for the Man U job. Even Tottenham would probably think they can do better now should 'arry bail in the not too distant.

[hawkeye]

Moyes is a very unecxiting manager, i dont see much difference in his style to MON. His achievement ranks along side MON with a smaller budget and more time. I would not be jumping up and down if we got Moyes, it would be a solid appointment, thats it, solid.

[KevinGage]

I think it would be a bit more than that Hawks.

To me, a Hodgson or similar would be a solid choice. We'd be hard to beat, defensively well drilled, unlikely to ever go down. But not threatening the upper echelons of the division.

Moyes would represent a gamble of sorts, the gamble being that he can replicate some of his success at Everton here and even improve on it. So for me that doesn't make it a safe, or solid option. We'd be looking to improve, not stand still or tread water.

[hawkeye]

KG i am just basing my comment on the style of football Everton play, it has allways been agricultural. Do Leopards change thier spots?

[hawkeye]

Shit I have just realised that I am agreeing with TV

[KevinGage]

Any time I've watched them in recent seasons they've improved in that regard.

I don't recall much kick and rush from them at VP earlier in the campaign, nor last season. Very much quick interchanging, short passes and all that lot. They seem to reserve the more physical stuff for the likes of Arsenal, but even that shows a bit of nous, being prepared to mix it up a bit and play in a manner that least suits the opposition. We have a vulnerability at the back with two lumbering CB's = move the ball fast on the deck in and around them. Arsenal can be got at physically = dish out the rough stuff.

Neither approaches are particularly radical, but it beats playing the same way regardless of opponent.

[hawkeye]

KG I would take Moyes over this regime, no problem. He would at least organise the defence so that we would not be the soft centre that any attack would love to play against. I cant recall whatching Everton under Moyes play anything other than dull conventional football.

[Matt Collins]

Everton have played good stuff this season. With better forwards they'd have been challenging the top 6.

I really don't see why moyes would leave unless we promised him a wedge of funding that I doubt we have

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Who was our first choice, then?

All polls at the time showed it was Jol. I know he did not want to come but Houllier was not even mentioned until the later stages ........

[Greg N'Ash]

Our funds may not be unlimited but they're in a different league to everton's. Moyes could never go out and buy a Bent say. With the best will in the world he's always going to struggle to build a team there and keep it. He's not going to get the call from any of the big 4 realistically so the chance to build something here with improved financies would probably appeal.  Either that or stay at Everton indefinately

[dave.woodhall]

We are the best job Moyes, or any other British manager, could hope to get.