David Moyes: Time to get tough
Everton manager David Moyes says it's time to get tough with his side after the club's poor start to the season.
Everton has played five Premier League games without a win. The club sits in 19th place with two points and only West Ham United has had a worse start to the Premier League year.
Moyes has said that it's been one of the most frustrating spells he has experienced as manager of the club. He's admitted that the time may have come to get tough with his team in order to get results.
Moyes said: "Maybe I need to get tougher with them.
Maybe I need to go back to some of the old ways. We'll soon see what they're like then.
I've been telling them for a long time that they are good players and a good team. Maybe I need to change what I am telling them."
The manager toughening up could benefit the side in many ways. However, there is a slight chance that it could have a counter effect and destroy morale within the team.
Time to get tough
Every Everton player is playing for his place in the side. Moyes has given a number of individuals the chance to do well at the start of the season and they have not played well. Players will concentrate
harder if their place is in doubt and this should mean fewer basic errors.
A tough approach means a manager will encourage his team to get a result in any way possible. This could mean that Everton does not play attractive football over the next few weeks but if points are on
the board then this is irrelevant. Sometimes results are all that matter. As it is now, it seems he almost couldn't possibly make things worse.
A tough, angry and vocal manager can rub his attitude off on the team. An aggressive manager can inspire the team to play more for the club and the fans. Everton will take a more ruthless approach into
games and this will make the side harder to break down and deadlier in attack.
Moyes added: "They have to earn the right to play for this team.
Now is the time when I have to do something about it.
We're capable of so much more and it's in times like this that the lead comes from the manager.
So I have to be the one who has to change my outlook in what I expect from them from now on."
A big danger
There is a big danger that a tougher approach could have an even worse impact on the team. There are some talented but very young players at Everton. These young players
have to be nurtured and helped through tough spells during a long season.
There is always the risk that a few players will get annoyed or upset with a tough approach. This could lower morale and mean that squad harmony is threatened.
Betting advice
Everton has too much quality across the club to be in the bottom half of the table by spring next year. However, the club will be hard pushed to get into the European places
for next season.
Everton will react soon so don't be afraid to back the team in any of the next three or four games. Moyes is a very experienced manager and he will handle the club in the
right manner regardless of his approach.
It's difficult to find players to back when a side is not scoring goals and playing well. However, keep faith with the Everton strikers and back them to score at any point
in a big game.
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