I was one signing away from turning Everton into title challengers, says Moyes

Former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes believes he was a centre forward away from turning Everton into title challengers.

The Scottish manager, who most recently managed West Ham United, spent 11 years on Merseyside working hard to keep Everton competitive on a comparatively shoe-string budget, and he drew plaudit from all quarters of the football world for his achievements at the club.

The quality of Everton’s football coupled with the fact that they achieved relative success season after season, made Moyes one of the most sought-after managers in the Premier League.

In fact, he was hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson to be his replacement at Old Trafford when the United legend called time on his illustrious career in 2013.

Moyes looks back on his time at Everton with great pride and revealed that he thinks he was just one player away from turning the Toffees into title challengers.

“I was here 11-and-a-half years and when we finished we had a great team,” he said on Sky Sports.

“I think our style was as good as anybody and I think we were a centre-forward away from being contenders for the Premier League.

“We had Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Sylvain Distin, Phil Jagielka, you could go on with the players we had. It was a terrific team.”

During his final season in charge, Everton finished 10 points off a Champions League place having drawn 15 times, more than any other side in the division, yet they only lost seven times during the campaign.

The club have spent big money since Moyes left the club but not all have been successful with the former Preston boss questioning their attitude.

He added: “I think it’s good they’ve spent money but we signed fantastic players with a great spirit, we had a great ethos at the club and what the club stood for – I think they’ve gone off that, a little bit.

“I don’t know who made all the signings over the past few years, was it the owner, the sporting director or coach? But I know when I was here it was me, and I was always supported by Bill Kenwright.

“There’s a lot of players who have come in and I’m not sure I would put all of them down as Everton-type players. But, for example, Richarlison was a great player for Watford last season, and he’s got a good chance of improving too.

“You’ve got to be hungry, with a desire and energy, but you’ve got to have that style about you where you can play. You’re under pressure here. The crowd are demanding, but they also want to see you’re committed.”

The Scotsman parted from Everton to replace Ferguson at Manchester United, but Moyes’ time at Old Trafford did not work out as expected. He was sacked after just 10 months in charge of the club and replaced initially by Ryan Giggs and then by Louis van Gaal.

He has failed to reach the heights of his Everton career since leaving Goodison Park, faltering in a brief stint with Real Sociedad in Spain, while also leading Sunderland to relegation from the Premier League in 2017.

Everton next face Arsenal in the Premier League as they look to bounce back from defeat against West Ham last time out.

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