Moyes could come unstuck away from the Toffees

21Feb 2013

England - Premier League

Everton boss David Moyes will be celebrating his 11th anniversary in charge of the Toffees next month, but with widespread rumours the Scot could be leaving Goodison Park for pastures new in the summer, Hannah Duncan looks at whether he could cut it at a top four club...

The Premier League managerial sack race is hotting up as we approach the 'business end' of the season with Arsene Wenger, Roberto Mancini and Rafael Benitez all lingering pretty close to the gallows. But for top-flight veteran David Moyes, it's looking to be another successful season at the Everton helm.

The Scot is fast approaching his 11-year anniversary at Goodison Park and while the Toffees have not won a single trophy in that period - although are at 6.0 to win this year's FA Cup and 2.32 to reach the final - Moyes' reign is widely considered one of the most successful in English football through a combination of consistency and shrewd transfer dealings.

His tenure on Merseyside has led Moyes to be considered the 4.9 favourite to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when his fellow Scot finally hangs up his hairdryer.

And last week Moyes admitted he is yet to decide on his Everton future, with his contract at the club due to expire at the end of the season. But if he were to move on to pastures new, could he really do the job expected of him at a 'top four' side?

During his time at Everton, Moyes' record in the transfer market has been remarkable. While he hasn't necessarily made any 'marquee' signings, he's consistently brought in players on the cheap - relatively speaking - who have fitted perfectly into the Toffees' style of play and added something to the squad.

Marouane Fellaini joined Everton from Standard Liege in 2008 for £15m - a fee which now looks to be a bargain, given the Belgian has turned into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Nikica Jelavic moved to Goodison Park from Rangers last January for just £5.5m, while Tim Howard converted his loan spell from Manchester United to a permanent switch in 2007 for just £3m.

Not forgetting the likes of Tim Cahill (£1.5m from Millwall in 2004), Thomas Gravesen (£2.5m from Hamburg in 2000) and Steven Pienaar (originally signed in 2007 from Borussia Dortmund for £2m).

This shrewdness would serve him well elsewhere, even at a club with money to burn - and particularly at penny-pinching Arsenal. But it does bode the question whether he is capable of a 'big-name' recruitment drive, or whether he has simply chosen not to go down that road at Goodison.

But tactically speaking, whatever players he has at his disposal, Moyes has always got them to perform consistently season after season, without doing anything revolutionary (and often coming under criticism for being too negative in his approach).

That is, except, against bitter rivals Liverpool.

When Moyes finally departs Goodison Park, whenever that may be, the one thing tainting his lengthy reign will be his side's record against the red half of Merseyside.

In 21 Premier League games over the past 11 years, Everton have won just three and have lost a staggering 12. And even in recent seasons, as the Toffees have started exerting their authority over their nearest and dearest in terms of league position, they have still endured a pretty dismal derby record.

And while that may be tolerated at Goodison all the time fans can sense improvement and stability, Manchester United and Arsenal supporters are much less likely to put up with regular derby defeats against Manchester City and Tottenham.

Everton can be backed at just 1.76 to finish above Liverpool in this season's match bet and at 1.71 for a top six finish, but they remain relative outsiders at 9.2 to finish in the top four this season.