Just seen this article on the Guardian (it's not new). It makes me think that Moyes might be a better fit than I had believed. A lot depends on whether he continues to ruin all forwards that cross his path.
David Moyes: the manager's tactical strengths and weaknesses
While Moyes has often frustrated big sides in the Premier League he has rarely beaten them – especially away from Goodison Park
Michael Cox
The Guardian, Thursday 9 May 2013 14.42 BST
The forward promptings of Everton's Leighton Baines, left, are crucial to the David Moyes strategy. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP
A solid shape
David Moyes is a particular fan of "segmenting" his training pitch to encourage players to cover space efficiently. One format involves the playing area divided into 24 equal squares, so the defence play high up the pitch, the wide players stretch the play, and the attackers rotate position.
Another setting has the pitch divided lengthways into six narrow bands of 12 yards each – the back four must occupy the nearest four "bands" when the ball is on one flank, then the middle four when the ball is in central positions. There's also a strong importance placed upon positional responsibilities at transitions from attack to defence, with players ordered to organise themselves immediately, usually into two banks of four.
Reactive tactics
Moyes travelled to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to witness Chelsea's strategy ahead of Everton's trip there on the final day of the campaign. It was no surprise – it's hard to think of another Premier League manager so frequently found by television cameras in the stands, scouting upcoming opponents.
It sums up Moyes's approach – whereas other managers believe paying too much attention to the opposition affects self-belief, the Scot is a naturally reactive manager who varies his side's approach to nullify the strengths, and expose the weaknesses, of a particular opponent. Sometimes this reactivity can become negativity, and while Moyes has often frustrated big sides in the Premier League he has rarely beaten them – especially away from Goodison Park.
The value of width
The defining feature of Everton's play this season is the crossing of Leighton Baines from the left, where his partnership with Steven Pienaar is arguably the best wide combination in the Premier League. One of the key parts of Moyes's strategy is creating overloads – two-versus-one and three-versus-two situations – in wide areas. The movement of Leon Osman from a central position towards the channel often confuses opposition defences, who are reluctant to be dragged out of shape, and end up defending a stream of crosses. "We like our attackers to retain width whilst ensuring team-mates still occupy space in the middle of the field," he told the Elite Soccer magazine this year.
Ball retention in advanced positions
Compared to many other managers recently appointed at big clubs, Moyes is not overwhelmingly focused upon ball retention – Everton possess the 11th-best pass completion rate in the Premier League. However, when Everton do have possession, they keep the ball in advanced positions; 33% of their passes are played in the opposition third of the pitch – which on paper sounds entirely logical, but it's the highest percentage of any Premier League team, with Marouane Fellaini and Osman, two attacking midfielders, the most prolific passers. (The opposite would be a side like Swansea – 23% in the final third, with two defenders their most frequent passers.) Moyes's sides may not focus upon possession play, but nor are his sides ever guilty of sterile domination – he encourages positive outcomes, ie crosses and shots, at the end of attacking moves.
Switches of play
Moyes has always appreciated calm, patient midfielders who are happy knocking the ball calmly from flank to flank. Mikel Arteta was key when fielded in central midfield, and Moyes's purchase of Darron Gibson from Manchester United provided Everton with another reliable, unfussy passer in that position, which means Michael Carrick should continue to play an important role.
One of Moyes's favourite training sessions involves two small-sided teams attacking into three mini-goals, which are spread across the width of the playing area. The idea is to encourage players to attack down one side, realise the opposition are blocking the path to goal, and then play a quick lateral pass to attack from the opposite wing. The results are evident in Everton's play.
Michael Cox is the editor of tactics website zonalmarking.net
David Moyes: the manager's tactical strengths and weaknesses
While Moyes has often frustrated big sides in the Premier League he has rarely beaten them – especially away from Goodison Park
Michael Cox
The Guardian, Thursday 9 May 2013 14.42 BST
The forward promptings of Everton's Leighton Baines, left, are crucial to the David Moyes strategy. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP
A solid shape
David Moyes is a particular fan of "segmenting" his training pitch to encourage players to cover space efficiently. One format involves the playing area divided into 24 equal squares, so the defence play high up the pitch, the wide players stretch the play, and the attackers rotate position.
Another setting has the pitch divided lengthways into six narrow bands of 12 yards each – the back four must occupy the nearest four "bands" when the ball is on one flank, then the middle four when the ball is in central positions. There's also a strong importance placed upon positional responsibilities at transitions from attack to defence, with players ordered to organise themselves immediately, usually into two banks of four.
Reactive tactics
Moyes travelled to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to witness Chelsea's strategy ahead of Everton's trip there on the final day of the campaign. It was no surprise – it's hard to think of another Premier League manager so frequently found by television cameras in the stands, scouting upcoming opponents.
It sums up Moyes's approach – whereas other managers believe paying too much attention to the opposition affects self-belief, the Scot is a naturally reactive manager who varies his side's approach to nullify the strengths, and expose the weaknesses, of a particular opponent. Sometimes this reactivity can become negativity, and while Moyes has often frustrated big sides in the Premier League he has rarely beaten them – especially away from Goodison Park.
The value of width
The defining feature of Everton's play this season is the crossing of Leighton Baines from the left, where his partnership with Steven Pienaar is arguably the best wide combination in the Premier League. One of the key parts of Moyes's strategy is creating overloads – two-versus-one and three-versus-two situations – in wide areas. The movement of Leon Osman from a central position towards the channel often confuses opposition defences, who are reluctant to be dragged out of shape, and end up defending a stream of crosses. "We like our attackers to retain width whilst ensuring team-mates still occupy space in the middle of the field," he told the Elite Soccer magazine this year.
Ball retention in advanced positions
Compared to many other managers recently appointed at big clubs, Moyes is not overwhelmingly focused upon ball retention – Everton possess the 11th-best pass completion rate in the Premier League. However, when Everton do have possession, they keep the ball in advanced positions; 33% of their passes are played in the opposition third of the pitch – which on paper sounds entirely logical, but it's the highest percentage of any Premier League team, with Marouane Fellaini and Osman, two attacking midfielders, the most prolific passers. (The opposite would be a side like Swansea – 23% in the final third, with two defenders their most frequent passers.) Moyes's sides may not focus upon possession play, but nor are his sides ever guilty of sterile domination – he encourages positive outcomes, ie crosses and shots, at the end of attacking moves.
Switches of play
Moyes has always appreciated calm, patient midfielders who are happy knocking the ball calmly from flank to flank. Mikel Arteta was key when fielded in central midfield, and Moyes's purchase of Darron Gibson from Manchester United provided Everton with another reliable, unfussy passer in that position, which means Michael Carrick should continue to play an important role.
One of Moyes's favourite training sessions involves two small-sided teams attacking into three mini-goals, which are spread across the width of the playing area. The idea is to encourage players to attack down one side, realise the opposition are blocking the path to goal, and then play a quick lateral pass to attack from the opposite wing. The results are evident in Everton's play.
Michael Cox is the editor of tactics website zonalmarking.net
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