As time goes on, I think it’s fair to say that it may reflect favourably on David Moyes’ short tenure as Sunderland manager. After pursuing him for years, the former and current Everton manager only lasted a season at the club at a time of great turbulence.
On reflection, Sunderland was an utter basket case during these years.
The constant chopping and changing of managers along with consistent turnover of the playing staff ensured the team Moyes was left with was a broken, ill-disciplined side with huge wage packets keeping them at the club.
Despite his best intentions, Ellis Short saw millions of pounds of his investment being wasted and by the time Moyes joined the club, the tap was running dry on further transfers.
That being said, this didn’t stop another disastrous signing in the shape of Didier N’Dong, who cost £13 million and went on to be absolutely hopeless. Quite how much Moyes knew of this player is questionable but he’ll always be guilty by association.
Sunderland Training Session Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
The 2016/2017 campaign was an utter disaster once that last-minute winner went in for Manchester City on the first day of the season. Moyes recruited familiar Everton and Manchester United faces but very few of them made any impact of note.
Coupled with injuries and dodgy statements to the press about ‘being in a relegation battle’ after two games, it unfortunately appeared as if it was never going to work at Sunderland for him.
An early heavy defeat at home to Everton and a last-minute defeat to Crystal Palace after being 2-0 up were signs of an ailing team. Moyes looked despondent, depressed and disillusioned, and unlike previous years, there seemed no fight in the team.
In truth, quite how much the manager was to blame for all of this is questionable.
Certainly, he has to take some of the flak but one could suggest that it was a sinking ship no matter who was in charge of the club at this time — which was further reinforced by successive relegations.
On this day in 2017, Sunderland AFC released a statement to confirm Moyes’ departure, with Ellis Short appearing disappointed it didn’t work for him on Wearside, given how strongly he’d sought him.
I pursued the services of David Moyes for a considerable period prior to his appointment last summer, which makes the announcement of his departure difficult for everyone concerned.
Having worked tirelessly throughout the campaign to avoid relegation from the Premier League, David has chosen to leave the club without compensation, which is testament to his character.
In the days ahead we will take some time for reflection, and then focus on recruitment and pre-season as we prepare for our Championship campaign. We wish David well in the future.
In addition, Moyes also released a short statement.
I would like to thank Ellis Short and the Board for giving me the opportunity to manage Sunderland and the fans for always being so passionately supportive of their club.
I wish the players and my successor well in their efforts towards promotion back to the Premier League.
As previously stated, Moyes’ time on Wearside is appearing more of an outlier, with a successful spell at West Ham following this, whilst he’s also made a solid start to life as Everton manager.
Unfortunately, and depending on your opinion, it seemed like it could’ve been the right man at the wrong time on Wearside.
West Ham United Trophy Parade Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images