Just a few months ago, there was concern at Everton over their Premier League future as they prepare to move to Bramley-Moore Dock.
The Toffees opted to sack Sean Dyche at the start of the year, a decision which raised some eyebrows as he was seen as the kind of manager who knows how to beat the drop.
Everton brought David Moyes in for a second spell at Goodison Park, and he has now steered the Blues to a 17-point gap above the bottom three with nine games to go.
Paul Merson, writing ahead of Everton’s Merseyside derby meeting with Liverpool, has now shared what Moyes has done to well and truly prove him wrong.
Paul Merson says David Moyes has done a ‘mind-blowing’ job at Everton
Merson initially predicted that “it won’t work” for Moyes in his second spell at Everton, which has not proven to be the case.
The Arsenal legend held his hands up and admitted that Moyes “proved me wrong”, though he stressed that he always felt the Scot was a “top manager”.
“David Moyes has done a mind-blowing job at Everton,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda. “He proved me wrong when I said it won’t work for him the second time at Goodison Park.
“I had no doubts about him being a top manager, no question about that! I just thought Everton as a club changed a lot from the last time he was here.
“It just shows how top managers can work their magic whenever they want!”
What David Moyes has done in Everton training that has worked a treat
Ahead of Moyes’ arrival in the middle of January, Everton were the second lowest scorers in the Premier League, with only Southampton having scored less than them.
However, the Toffees have been more dangerous in front of goal since Moyes took the reins. Indeed, they have scored in each of their past six games.
In February, Jarrad Branthwaite revealed that Moyes has placed a big emphasis on improving Everton’s attacking play on the training ground.
“I think before he came in, we had that defensive resilience, the structure and I think he’s maybe brought in the bit of attacking flair, attacking knowledge and structure,” he told ToffeesTV.
“Everyone knows the positions to be in and we’re creating loads more chances. I think you can see that throughout the games that he’s been in charge.
“We’re working on different positions for the attackers and different runs to make to open the defence and I think you can see it’s working.
“The more times we get the ball in the box as well, we’ve got a bigger chance of scoring.
“I think that’s something we’ve been focusing on – to put it in dangerous areas and see what comes from it. We’re doing well so far, so let’s hope it continues.”
Moyes has also rejuvenated a number of players at Everton, such as Jake O’Brien.
