Troy Deeney in disbelief at ‘Crazy’ Everton contract decision
Everton giving David Moyes a two-and-a-half contract to succeed Sean Dyche was “mental”, Troy Deeney has said.
Speaking on talkSPORT (16 January, 1:22pm), Deeney couldn’t understand why The Friedkin Group hadn’t appointed Moyes on a shorter-term basis ahead of a transformational summer on Merseyside.
Arguing that the Toffees’ relocation to Bramley-Moore Dock later this year is the perfect opportunity for a change of direction, Deeney labelled the re-appointment of Moyes as nothing more than “nostalgia”.
He said: “I thought the two-and-a-half years [contract] was mental, I thought that was crazy.
“I understood the ‘six months to the end of the season and let’s revisit’, totally understood that – you’ve got 13 players out of contract in the summer.
“It’s all nostalgia, that’s the only reason they’ve gone back to David Moyes. If it wasn’t David Moyes, who else would they get?
“It’s a great job in the summer for somebody – whole new rebuild, new stadium, new ownership. It’s really exciting, but for this moment right now, [it’s just] nostalgia.”
Everton stuck between eras old and new with Moyes appointment
Despite a new era being on the horizon, there’s no denying that a wave of nostalgia has swept over the blue half of Merseyside since Moyes’ re-appointment, with several ex-players congratulating them.
There’s also no doubt that Moyes’ first spell in charge of the Toffees was a successful one, turning them from perennial strugglers to regular contenders for European places over the course of 11 seasons.
Moyes returns with the Blues mired in relegation trouble once again, yet the awarding of a contract until summer 2027 suggests The Friedkin Group see him as part of the long-term vision for their new club.
Dan Friedkin and Co. will likely have anticipated a backlash from the Goodison faithful had they offered a legend like Moyes a derisory six-month deal, and the 61-year-old will have wanted a longer-term deal.
However, if Moyes only keeps his new side up by the skin of their teeth with no improvement in the style of football, the Friedkins could face an even bigger backlash if they choose to part ways in the summer regardless.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have been offered the chance to sign a two-time Premier League winner on a free transfer.
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