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David Moyes is widely respected and has contributed significantly to the success of the Premier League since his appointment as Everton manager in 2002. His personal attributes include intelligence, loyalty and dignity whilst his proven football skills include expertise in team building. To show the esteem in which he is held, his fellow professional managers voted him as League Managers Association Manager of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2009. He also serves on the Committee for the League Managers Association in an executive capacity.

Howard Kendall - in his first spell - is generally regarded to have been the best manager of Everton ever when producing a golden era in the early to mid 1980s (54% win ratio). Despite a lack of silverware, Moyes has been the next best (42% win) and certainly better than the Joe Royle (39%) team of 1994-97.

Generally his transfer signings have been impressive though there have been some mistakes. Per Koldrup (£5m) played just one game in top flight and was voted by The Times as the worst transfer in the history of the Premier League. James Beattie (£6m) scored just 13 goals in 76 appearances and Simon Davies (£4m) rarely played well at Goodison. But most managers have dropped a clanger or two.

His refreshing honesty means he readily admits to his mistakes but he has managed to get his side to play close to its full potential during his eight years in charge.

Moyes has never managed with major financial investment so comparison with the best managers is unfair. His team has work to do this season but could still deny Bolton and Liverpool a place in the top six despite an awful start to the season. Everton are 3.0 for a top six finish.

Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to have endorsed Moyes as his natural successor once he retires. The thorny dilemma is that in waiting to receive this accolade the Toffees might hit a downslope and tarnish his reputation in the process. He is second favourite, behind Jose Mourinho, at 6.8 in the Next Manchester United Manager Market.

So is this his last season with Everton? One senses that he is overdue a new club and a new challenge. Loyalty is noble but not always a virtue, in career terms staying when there is no more to be done could be a mistake. Whether he gets the call from Old Trafford remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure; Moyes deserves the chance to test himself at the very top level with an elite club.

By Paul Moon

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