Everton relegation verdict emerges despite David Moyes appointment
Everton are not guaranteed to avoid Premier League relegation after appointing David Moyes as manager, Michael Ball says.
The ex-Toffee believes the Scottish head coach is reliable, but the Blues are still in danger of dropping to the Championship.
With the Merseyside outfit just one point above the relegation zone, the 61-year-old doesn’t have the luxury of time at Goodison Park.
Writing in his Liverpool Echo column (14 January), Ball said: “He’s a safe pair of hands, but it doesn’t mean that survival is guaranteed. We know about how David goes about his business and he’s a different style of manager than when he first came into the football club many years ago.
“We know that the bedding-in period will be a lot shorter for him. He’ll need to get to know the players, but I’m sure he’s been watching a lot of our games, where we need to improve in our style and how we go about things.
“Moyes knows he’s got to hit the ground running, and he won’t have the luxury of having time to acclimatise.”
David Moyes needs to avoid relegation at Everton
Moyes will be under massive pressure to help the team he previously managed for 12 years maintain their English top-flight status.
The Toffees have been fighting for survival over the last few years after mismanagement from Farhad Moshiri, and that trend continued this season under Sean Dyche, which led to his eventual sacking.
With the arrival of The Friedkin Group (TFG), the Blues have seen a massive change in the atmosphere around Goodison, which has only grown more positive with Moyes’ return.
Everton are one of few clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League and the Scottish manager needs to make sure that record stays.
The Merseyside outfit also can’t let a negative outcome be Goodison’s lasting memory, as they plan to move to Bramley-Moore Dock for next season.
However, the 61-year-old will undoubtedly have a big task on his hands, considering the lack of personnel in certain positions.
The former West Ham manager will certainly need help from the new owners to strengthen his squad in January and boost the chances of survival.
In other Everton news, a push is being made to sign a midfielder after an £83million transfer reveal.
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