Everton FC: Why Saturday's Quarterfinal Tie Is Simply Must Win for David Moyes

On Wednesday, David Moyes celebrated 10 years in charge of Everton, an impressive feat considering how frequently managers come and go in the harsh climate of the Premier League.

Back in 2002, he took over a club truly detached from its illustrious past, continually treading water in the lower rungs of the Premier League.

Over the past decade he has transformed this one-time underachieving squad, and gradually lead Everton back to being on the brink of genuine success once again. His nine full seasons have produced seven top-eight finishes, with Moyes ensuring the Toffees have been continually in and around the European spots.

In recognition of his success, three LMA Manager of the Year trophies rightly decorate his mantelpiece, and his overall win ratio of 40 percent in the Premier League trumps several other highly heralded managers, including Harry Redknapp, Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes.

In 2005 his side stunned the league by finishing fourth. They have also made several decent forays into Europe and have recently produced some fine domestic cup form, culminating in a League Cup semifinal in 2008 and an FA Cup final in 2009. Hopefully 2012 will add to these recent runs.

All of these feats were depicted in detail by most media quarters earlier this week, as Moyes' 10-year anniversary and his accomplishments at Everton were rightly given the buildup and platform they deserve. 

Yet despite all this clear success, there will always be a minority that choose to devalue his reign at Goodison Park due to the lack of physical silverware he has landed. An illogical stance to many, yet considering the team Moyes chose on Tuesday night, it seems he may have began listening to some of these voices.

Moyes is clearly desperate for silverware, and rightly so. It is something all managers crave and he has stated this on many occasions. Yet shuffling his pack and choosing to rest six key starters from his in-form side for a Merseyside derby—the crux game of a season for many—is simply seen as unforgivable by many natives of the city.

Merseyside derbies are often feisty, energy sapping affairs which frequently see red cards bandied about. Moyes clearly wanted his troops fresh and available for Saturday's quarterfinal tie with Sunderland, with no added injuries or suspensions looming over his side. However the way his side limply went down 3-0 to their bitter rivals may well have left him ruing this decision.

Tuesday's debacle ensured that the actual day he clocked up 10 years in charge turned into a rather low-key, sombre event, almost entirely lost in the aftermath of the derby defeat.  Not only has the result riled fans and dented his squad's confidence, but by so blatantly focusing on Saturday, Moyes has now inadvertently cranked up the pressure on his side for Sunderland's visit.

In truth, he cannot be entirely accountable for Tuesday's weak showing. Several individuals gave inept performances and, had his side at least given a half-valiant, plucky effort, perhaps his selection may not have been as heavily scrutinised by fans.

Yet altering the lineup so significantly on Tuesday, it is clear where Moyes' priorities lie. Now he must ensure this calculated gamble pays off with the surrounding attention, expectations and pressure all raised for Saturday.

If this is not enough, what adds to the Toffees' task is how the severity of the derby defeat will have abruptly halted the recent momentum gained after victories over Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham. Suddenly the Toffees's tyres have burst, and momentum can be a particularly challenging facet to simply conjure up.

Surely Moyes would have been wise to use 2010 an example of when to toy with such a crucial element of the game? Back then, he chose to keep an almost identical side over a crunch 10-day stretch, where Toffees faced Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United. The momentum was maintained and his selection policy proved wise with his side recording three straight victories.

Come Saturday, should the Toffees win, they are at Wembley. Fans would swallow the derby defeat a little easier and the manager would be vindicated by many more for his surprising selection choices. Moyes would still have the possibility of landing silverware in his 10th full season in charge, and the club would be nicely poised for a typical late-season charge at the top eight of the Premier League.

Lose and the season would suffer a potentially fatal sucker punch. Suddenly incentives and dreams are quashed. Moyes could well have trouble rousing his troops for the final 10 games in the Premier League with so little on the line. 

Considering his own contract is precariously running down, and with a pending managerial merry-go-round likely to transpire this summer, should Everton lose on Saturday it could even lead to some truly radical implications for the club. Would the Toffees be able to stand in his way should the likes of Tottenham come calling in the summer?

Tuesday's showing has angered many sections of the Toffees' following. As a result, they will be fervently demanding a performance this weekend, which may create an almost hostile atmosphere for the home team. Impressive recent results will be instantly forgotten should fans see individuals wilting under this added expectation.

Without meaning to paint a pessimistic picture, the Toffees have not exactly flourished with the pressure on them this season. When facing a powerhouse side they have generally produced admirable efforts. Yet against supposed inferior opposition they have often struggled to impose themselves.

Sunderland are not at all inferior, in fact, under Martin O'Neill they are rather formidable, only experiencing defeat four times in the 18 games he has taken charge of. Remarkably Moyes has never lost against a Sunderland side, although the difference on Saturday is that there is now added expectancy on the result, and Moyes is working with some damaged morales in his squad.  

On paper it should be an exciting clash. Moyes will have to muster up all his management skills to ensure his side produce the form they have been showing in recent weeks as expectation is not a pressure Everton have coped too well with in recent seasons. 

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