MOYES HAS STAYING POWER
He aims to reward Cats for sticking with him
LAST man standing David Moyes aims to prove that stability holds the key to Sunderland’s survival this season.
The Black Cats are the only club in the bottom six to have stuck with the same manager who started the campaign.
It’s an unlikely stat for a club who have operated a revolving-door policy for several years.
And while Moyes is the grateful beneficiary, unlike so many of his predecessors who have been fired at this stage of the season, he is determined to show the club are right to keep faith with him.
Experience
Defeat at home to Burnley today could see the Black Cats marooned at the foot of the table but it’s understood that chief executive Martin Bain will stick with his fellow Scot whatever happens this term.
“There are a lot of good managers who have lost their jobs which is sad,” said Moyes.
“But I’ve got a lot of experience, a lot of Premier League games under my belt and the players here have a lot of experience of this situation so let’s hope we can pull it together.
“It might prove that it works for some clubs because I think, over the piece, changing managers isn’t the answer.
“Having stability at a football club would always outweigh changing unless you’re a club that’s always changing managers and
spending money. But if you want to build a club, you’ve got to have that stability.
“Football management has changed, however. There are less and less people who will get the sort of time that Cloughie, Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger had, or I had at Everton.
“I also think the new breed probably expect they won’t be in jobs an awful long time.”
Despite leading Sunderland to just five league wins this season and only one in 2017, Moyes’ self-belief remains intact.
He added: “I’ve got lots of confidence in my own ability and I also get on well with the chief executive.
“You should always have a good relationship with your owners and chief execs but I don’t take it for granted.”
Moyes claims Jermain Defoe’s shock England recall this week after four years in the international wilderness has given everyone at the club a lift.
“We’re keeping everything crossed he doesn’t come back injured. Hopefully this shows players around the country you can come to Sunderland and play for England,” said Moyes.