A New Era of Ambition for Everton
Everton manager David Moyes is taking a bold approach to the current season, encouraging his players to aim high and dream big. Unlike many managers who avoid discussing European football for fear of jinxing it, Moyes is embracing the possibility of reaching the top five in the league, which could secure a place in the Champions League.
The Toffees are currently sitting in eighth place ahead of their home match against Bournemouth. A win in this game could see them move up to sixth, surpassing rivals Liverpool and Brentford. With a top-five finish potentially leading to European qualification, Moyes believes that the club should be aiming for the stars.
‘I think Everton should be kicking around those places, I really do,’ said Moyes. ‘All the years they were not were wasted years. Everton should be attempting to be (in Europe).’
Moyes acknowledges that the team may not be good enough to achieve this goal, but he remains optimistic. He wants everyone at the club to have a positive mindset and believe in the possibility of success.
‘We might not be good enough to be it, we might be short, people might write something (later in the season) because I was talking about it but I have been trying to make Everton more positive,’ he added.
Moyes also reflected on the challenges faced by the club in the past. Fifteen years ago, during his first spell as manager, Everton struggled to break through the ceiling of the top teams. Despite some efforts, the goal of reaching the Champions League felt impossible each year.
‘We did it once (in 2005) so it wasn’t. But now, the competition in the mid-band of teams, someone in 15th could maybe still get to Europe if they go on a run. So if we can just keep nudging the points along… we’ve had a couple of disappointing draws but they’ve helped.’
With a clean bill of health, except for Jack Grealish, who is out for the season, Moyes feels confident in his squad. At 62 years old, he is no longer in management just for relegation battles. Instead, he wants to focus on achieving higher goals.
‘Looking back I think now, “My goodness, those years in Europe made some difference to West Ham (his former club) as a football club”,’ added Moyes. He believes that European football can attract better players to the club and improve its finances and reputation.
‘Some difference to the finances, the way people see it. We had a semi-final, a quarter-final and final in three years.’
With the FA Cup already out of reach, Moyes is eager for the team to remain involved in other competitions. He feels that at his age, it’s time to look up rather than just focus on avoiding relegation.
‘Next weekend, because we are knocked out of the FA Cup, I’ll be sitting twiddling my thumbs so I want us to be involved. I am too old to sit here and say I’m just going to try and keep us away from the bottom of the league.’
