Dark days indeed for Moyes at the Stadium of Light
SINCE leaving Everton and taking the Manchester United job nearly four years ago, it has not been the best or easiest of times for my former manager David Moyes.
And this week, just when he thought things could not possibly get any worse for him at Sunderland, the recording of his comments to a BBC reporter were released. And it did not sound good. Although he was captured ‘off camera’, or ‘off microphone’, and after his interview had finished, his words to Vicki Sparks were unacceptable. He simply should not be using language, even in jest, to suggest she would ‘get a slap even though you’re a woman’. It is not appropriate in any circumstances.
If you go back to Ron Atkinson’s abhorrent racist comments a few years ago, or the behaviour and language of Andy Gray and Richard Keys on Sky Sports towards a female linesman since then – all leading to their dismissals – it is no defence that they thought no one was listening.
I have known Moyes for nearly 25 years, so therefore all of my adult life, and I have total respect for him personally and professionally.
But he let himself down and there is no excuse for what was said. The defence, from the few people who have defended the Sunderland manager, was that it was ‘banter’, there was laughter afterwards from both, and a light-hearted slant to his tone. I’m not having that.
If I had never met him and didn’t know the man, I would still argue he was not joking.
It was a threat, and a warning shot to a reporter to be more careful with her line of questioning. And he should have been more careful with his words.
They were not the sort of comments that he would have made to a man, and I firmly believe that. So why say them to a woman? The fact she is inexperienced, or asked a question he didn’t like, is not a defence. He should have handled it differently. And Moyes knows that.
I didn’t really see a great deal wrong with her question in the first place. Everyone knows that Sunderland’s owner Ellis Short has not been to many matches this season, so the reporter was perfectly within her rights to ask if his presence put added pressure on Moyes. The pressure was already on him after the 0-0 draw with Burnley a couple of weeks ago but Moyes could have found a better way to deal with Sparks’ query. Managers are not at their best in the postmatch environment, especially if they have not had a good result. Throughout this season we have seen most of the top managers lose their cool, with Jose Mourinho the latest to try and ridicule a journalist on Match of the Day last weekend.
Of course, I have not been in that position, and can only try to appreciate how much pressure managers must be under nowadays. But I think I would have a bit more nous to handle the media with a bit more respect. Quite rightly, the FA have asked for observations from Sunderland and Moyes but that should be the end of the matter.
He made a mistake but he doesn’t deserve the sack. But why Moyes has not been sacked from the Sunderland job for their results, performances and league position is beyond me.
IN fact, given the fate of other managers at the wrong end of the Premier League – four of the bottom five have been sacked – and Short’s notoriously trigger-happy finger at this time of the season (Moyes is his sixth manager in as many years), it’s a miracle the Scot is still at the Stadium of Light. It is also a surprise that my ex-Everton and Preston boss has not been able to turn things round at Sunderland. But he was dealt a pretty lousy hand by Short.
Sunderland were already at a disadvantage because the FA took so long to appoint Sam Allardyce. But there were problems at the club before that.
Since Short sacked Steve Bruce in November 2011, Sunderland have been in a relegation battle every season.
And his solution to the problem? Sack the manager, get a lift, beat Newcastle, and survive. Just.
But the players Moyes inherited were not good enough, while the calibre of players he brought in was dubious.
I’m sorry but if Victor Anichebe is your main summer signing, and one of your best players, of course you’re going to be in trouble.
After the sorry spells with Manchester United and Real Sociedad, Moyes wanted to get back into football, and Sunderland is a big Premier League club, with passionate supporters.
But he hasn’t looked happy since taking over and you can tell something is amiss at the club.
Despite all that, I thought he would turn things around.
Sadly, it looks like the only reason he has survived is because the club can’t afford to sack him.
Which suggests Moyes will still be there next season, as I can’t see him quitting.
When and not if Sunderland go down, he may want the opportunity to bounce straight back up and restore his reputation.
He also knows that it won’t be easy, especially if Short really has lost interest and refuses to properly invest in the squad.
As their north-east neighbours Newcastle are finding out, the Championship is not straight forward – even for the favourites who have spent well. Because of the players he was able to off-load, such as Andros Townsend and Moussa Sissoko, Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez could bring in new faces who would be able to cope with the demands of the second tier. And so it has proved.
It’s a shame but there will be no Tyne-Wear or Tees derbies in the Premier League next season because Newcastle are going straight back up while Sunderland and Middlesbrough are going down.
And in Sunderland’s case, with Short at the helm, I fear the worst. They don’t have the players to sell and re-invest, and they have far too many players on far too much money.
It won’t be a Newcastle Unitedtype fate, with a quick return to the top flight, for Sunderland next season.
It looks more likely it will be a Leeds United or Sheffield Wednesday-type of demise on the horizon, with the possibility of years out of the Premier League.
And who knows, even a spell in League One.