Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 0 Liverpool 2: You can’t blame Moyes if he goes
In suggesting at the end of last week that he is struggling to take Everton forward, David Moyes sounded like a man paving the way for his own departure. [LNB]Although he has denied that it is his intention, if he did choose to leave after seven-and-a-half seasons at Goodison Park, then it would be hard to blame him. All men, however humble, will ultimately seek a platform appropriate to their talents and one wonders if Moyes has now outgrown a club at which he has achieved plenty and often threatened to achieve more.[LNB]Fresh challenge: Has David Moyes taken Everton as far as he can?[LNB]That Moyes's progress on Merseyside has stalled is due partly to the circumstances in which he works and partly because of the change in standing of at least one of those clubs with whom he has previously competed for the fourth and final Champions League place.[LNB]While Manchester City and, to a lesser extent, Tottenham and Aston Villa have invested in their teams, Everton have struggled to give their talented manager the financial backing he needs to take his club forwards.[LNB]As he previewed the derby match, he sounded like a man who had begun to lose faith in his ability to continue punching above his weight. Without a new stadium to build towards and with a crippling injury list, it is understandable that he appeared downhearted.[LNB]Unless Everton change hands in the near future which looks unlikely Moyes will not compete for the major trophies he deserves. And even the most hard-hearted Evertonian would surely not begrudge him an opportunity to exert his considerable influence as a coach and assessor of players elsewhere.[LNB]Standing in the rain as this distinctly moderate derby reached its conclusion, Moyes must have wondered if anything will go right for him again. His team were by far the better side and still lost 2-0. As such, they now sit perilously close to the bottom three. [LNB] Despair: Everton are low on confidence, as shown in front of goal against Liverpool[LNB]Everton will not get sucked into a relegation struggle. Even the patched-up side he fielded yesterday are better than that. It has, however, been disconcerting to hear of him questioning his own capabilities. Not a man prone to drama or hyperbole, the Scot suggested in weekend newspaper interviews that he was 'choking' on the back of his team's struggles and he also appeared to ask fundamental questions of some of his players.[LNB]'They should be shaking my hand and thanking me for signing them,' he said. 'Maybe they should walk to the ground with the supporters to remind themselves just what this means.'[LNB]His comments appear to point to a rare period of self-doubt rather than genuine concerns for a group of players who rarely appear anything other than committed to their manager. Nevertheless, the issues still cut right to the heart of a dilemma that is staring Moyes straight in the face.[LNB] Injured: Phil Jagielka[LNB]Injured: Mikel Arteta[LNB]Injured: Phil Neville[LNB] In many ways, yesterday's game served only to mirror Moyes's situation. His Everton side deserved much, much better. So, in many ways, does he.[LNB]Even without key players such as Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville, Jack Rodwell, Louis Saha and Leon Osman, Moyes's men smothered Liverpool for most of the afternoon. Despite the fact that they were playing without a centre forward the hopeless Brazilian Jo really is not deserving of the description and key players such as Tim Cahill are still looking for real form, Everton managed to play the majority of the constructive football.[LNB]How they lost, perhaps even they will never know. It is just not their time at the moment. But they will improve as the season unfolds.[LNB]Players returning from injury will see to that. Moyes is not the type of manager to allow transient difficulties to defeat him and he has pulled his team out of worse scrapes than this. The point is that anything Moyes achieves at Goodison Park will be relative. Relative to circumstance and to financial standing. [LNB]At Liverpool, Rafael Benitez's dubious abilities have been bolstered by big-name players and the financial leeway brought about by Champions League qualification. Across Stanley Park, Moyes has no such life raft. The financial landscape of the Barclays Premier League continues to move in only one direction and the pertinent question is this: when does Moyes put himself above the needs of his club?[LNB] Everton 0 Liverpool 2: Rafa rides his luck as dominant Everton are kept at bay by ReinaLiverpool are on a roll: 'Lucky' Rafa Benitez admits Reds stole derby win againast Everton Everton boss Moyes: I'm choking because this club just isn't progressingFA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW: Leeds in line for United, West Ham face ArsenalALL THE EVERTON FC NEWS FROM AROUND THE NET[LNB] Explore more:People:Phil Neville, Leon Osman, David Moyes, Louis Saha, Rafael BenitezPlaces:Liverpool, Stanley Park, Goodison Park
