The new Fergie? Everton boss David Moyes tipped as perfect candidate for next Manchester United manager
David MoyesHere's a thought what might David Moyes have done at Arsenal over the past seven years?
With players like Henry, Vieira, Fabregas and Van Persie, would he have won at least one solitary piece of silverware in that time?
For that matter, what would Arsene Wenger have achieved at Everton?
Would he have led them into the Champions League on more than the one occasion managed by Moyes in 2005?
Its all hypothetical and by no means a criticism of Wenger, who has altered the DNA of a club, if not an entire league since pulling up at Highbury in 1997.
But what of Moyes, who on Thursday marks a decade in charge at Goodison Park, making him the third longest serving manager in the Premier League and right now the stand-out British candidate to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United?
What of his achievements in a very different landscape to that travelled by Ferguson or Wenger or Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola for that matter?
Contenders
Those latter two are the usual suspects whenever a shortlist of contenders is drawn up for Fergusons seat.
The United manager himself is always in his best fence-sitting mode whenever the issue of his successor is drawn up.
Things change too quickly in football, is his usual response.
Not where Moyes is concerned, they dont.
That might have been the case with Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and countless other pretenders but for 10 years Moyes has been a constant.
Largely unspectacular yes. But quietly and under the radar, the 48-year-old Glaswegian has stuck to the principles that are a requirement for any man who will succeed Ferguson when he eventuall! y retire s.
Ferguson has made it a policy not to be drawn on his replacement. Which is why it is a measure of his respect for Moyes that he chose to name check him when last discussing the future beyond his time.
Its a dangerous game, he said. At this moment, there are maybe half a dozen managers doing well in the Premier League. Only half a dozen because all the rest of them are fighting for their lives.
Some are doing great jobs with the resources they have and David Moyes has been unbelievable. I put him in the top six because what hes done at Everton has been quite miraculous.
Ability to produce miracles. Check. Development of homegrown talent Wayne Rooney, Jack Rodwell, Ross Barkley, Leon Osman. Check.
Talent spotting Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini. Check.
The glaring omission on Moyes CV is a piece of silverware.
But working within the strict parameters of Goodison Park, how many other managers would have achieved more than the Scot?
Mourinho? Guardiola? Wenger?
He might not be as fashionable as his continental counterparts, but by the time Ferguson calls it day within the next three years, Moyes might just be the last man standing.
Sports psychologist Michael Finnigan worked alongside Moyes at both Preston and Everton.
And the behavioural expert is convinced United need look no further for a ready-made replacement when the time comes.
I heard an interview with Ferguson recently when he was talking about David, said Finnigan. He was reverential about him. I was listening trying to read between the words and it was clear how much he rates him.
What he likes about Moyes is that they are peas in a pod. Ive met Sir Alex a few times and Im always watching him like a hawk.
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The minute he walks out of the room Im making notes about the way he addresses people, what he did, what he said. I dont ever want to forget lessons like that.
I think he likes Moyes aggression. He likes his no-nonsense approach. Dont mess about with David Moyes he will punch your lights out.
He is a hard man. A centre half. Uncompromising. A tough, tough man. Hes incredibly focused, ambitious, driven.
These are all qualities you would attribute to Ferguson. You wouldnt want to fight with Ferguson, even though hes 70, because hed bite your ankles.The toughness, the aggression, the ruthlessness. Not many human beings have that quality.
Moyes doesnt suffer fools. Football management is all about good cop bad cop. The manager has to be bad cop. Moyes is very comfortable in that role, just as Ferguson is.
You need to surround yourself with good cops - the Brian Kidd type. We used to call it the jolly up guy.
The guy, who after the manager has had go, puts his arm around you and says: Dont listen to him. He loves you really. He thinks the world of you.
Moyes would need to keep that backroom team around him.
Finnigan is an expert when it comes to the mind-set of top class sportsmen.
He was the man who helped Darren Clarke to his incredible British Open triumph last year, worked with Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff, as well as Sam Allardyce during his glory years at Bolton.
While he is adamant Moyes has the mental strength to take on the hardest job in football, he believes his technical expertise also makes him an ideal candidate.!
He is a student of the game, he said. You look at what hes done with the players hes brought to Everton, who werent big names, but hes turned them into top players.
Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Tim Cahill. Players who didnt cost much. Tim Howard. He didnt do it at United, but has had a great career at Everton.
The way he brings young players through is part of Uniteds DNA. They are desperate for the next young player to come through. Homegrown players. Moyes does that.
Look at the Everton first-team squad with Seamus Coleman and these lads whove come through. He gives young players a chance.
I know Phil Neville and he thinks the world of Moyes. He sees a lot of similarities between him and Ferguson.
Moyes wants to be at the top of the game. He has the self-belief and confidence to do that. Hes an awesome individual.
Would you like to see David Moyes succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United? Have your say.
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