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David Moyes: Is Real Sociedad boss on verge of being sacked?
By Andy WestSpanish football writer
David Moyes is in trouble.
The Scot's Real Sociedad team are marooned near the bottom of La Liga - they could be in the relegation zone by the end of the weekend - and a limp performance in Friday's 2-0 defeat against lowly Las Palmas has left his future in serious doubt.
Although Moyes, 52, could still survive through the international break, the club's board have been holding talks this weekend which may result in his imminent sacking.
This is how the story is unfolding.
At crisis point?
Moyes's potential departure from the Anoeta has been a slow burning story for the last few weeks, but in the last couple of days it has started to accelerate quickly.
Sociedad, known throughout Spain as 'La Real', have made a poor start to the season, winning just twice (both away from home) and have nine points from their opening 11 games.
But the real crisis point arrived with Friday's defeat at Las Palmas, which quickly led to reports that the San Sebastian club's president Jokin Aperribay is poised to act and end Moyes's time at the club, perhaps even before the first anniversary of his arrival in Spain on Tuesday.
After La Real's recent struggles, Friday's trip to Las Palmas was always billed as a significant encounter for Moyes's regime, but the general feeling was that his job was safe unless his team delivered a disastrous display.
Unfortunately for the former Everton and Manchester United boss,'disastrous' is pretty much the right word to describe the way his team performed - or didn't - against a Las Palmas outfit which had previously only won one game all season.
The hosts were clearly superior, deserved their goals from Jonathan Viera and Sergio Araujo, and were rarely seriously threatened by Moyes's team. It took no time at all for furious criticism to emerge from La Real fans - along with serious demands for the manager's head.
Media and fans furious
Until Friday night, the majority of Real Sociedad fans were, while frustrated with their team's results and sceptical about Moyes's ability to turn things around, not yet ready to express outright hostility.
But that all changed immediately after the loss against Las Palmas.
'Moyes' was a trending topic on Twitter in Spain after the game, with very few of the accompanying comments offering sentiments of support. Indeed, many of them finished with the hashtag #MoyesDimision ('Moyes resign') or #MoyesVeteYa ('Moyes go now').
The media was similarly critical, with a summary of the game in local newspaper Diario Vasco complaining that "when this team takes one step forward, it takes two back", and adding that their efforts on Friday night had been directed by "impulse" rather than a clear plan.
Real Sociedad suffered a sixth loss in 11 league games on Friday to increase the pressure on manager David Moyes
As noted by Mikel Encinas, the editor of newspaper Mundo Deportivo's coverage of the club, the main cause of anger was not the result itself but "the image presented by the team".
Most damning of all was a comment piece by Diario Vasco's Inaki Izquierdo, who concluded that Moyes "still bears the impression of someone who has only just arrived and doesn't understand the club, the players, the league, the city, the opponents, the referees, the languages, the stadia, the timetables…"
Moyes himself accepted that Friday's performance was below standard, acknowledging after the game that "the players have to improve, and so do I".
However, he also refused to quit, insisting that he wants to stay with the club until the end of the season, when his contract is due to expire.
Whether Aperribay feels the same way remains to be seen.
Early optimism to sceptical indifference
Initially, the appointment of Moyes in replacing Jagoba Arrasate a year ago prompted enthusiasm in San Sebastian, especially when his first two months in charge yielded a creditable draw in the all-important local derby against Athletic Bilbao, and an improbable home victory over Barcelona.
But the early bout of positivity gradually subsided into indifference and by the end of last season, which saw La Real finish in 12th position, the jury was still out.
Fears that the team were destined for another season of struggle - despite a significant summer outlay in the transfer market (see below) - were further heightened by a mundane start to the new season which saw the team draw their first two games 0-0 and then lose 1-0 at Real Betis.
Moyes is enduring a torrid time in Spain and is still waiting for a first home win of the season
Starting the season without a single goal in 270 minutes was not exactly the way to get the fans onboard, and a 3-2 home defeat against Espanyol in the next outing put Moyes under more pressure.
Still, though, there was a widespread acknowledgement that the team's performances had deserved more: Espanyol's winner was a scrambled effort in injury time, and La Real had created chances to take at least a point from the game at Betis.
A 4-0 win at Levante at the end of October bought Moyes some more time, and although that was followed by a 3-2 home defeat by Celta Vigo, it was widely thought he would be given until Christmas at least.
But then came the debacle at Las Palmas.
Big spender
Whatever complaints Moyes may have about his time in Spain, insufficient backing from his board in the transfer market cannot be one of them.
Considering the size of the club and their relative lack of resources, Real Sociedad spent heavily in the summer to put the most expensive squad in the club's history at Moyes's disposal.
Asier Illarramendi returned to Real Sociedad, just two years after leaving the club for Real Madrid
The biggest signing was midfielder Asier Illarramendi, who was brought back 'home' from Real Madrid after a disappointing couple of seasons at the Bernabeu for a club record fee of around 17 million euros.
Another big money signing was Brazilian striker Jonathas, who had impressed last season with Elche, while the arrival of Portuguese winger Bruma on loan from Galatasaray was another which increased expectation.
The club's board also secured the services of highly-rated young Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 23, who had spent the previous season on loan at the Anoeta and attracted serious interest from Valencia as they sought to replace injured first choice keeper Diego Alves.
The team's failure to progress despite such a heavy outlay will likely be a major factor in the club's decision over the future of Moyes.
What next?
If Moyes does survive through the upcoming international break, his task will hardly get any easier when action resumes in a fortnight.
La Real's next opponents are Europa League holders Sevilla, followed by a daunting trip to Barcelona at the end of November.
And after a cup rematch with Las Palmas and a local derby with Eibar, their year ends with meetings against Villarreal and Real Madrid.
Real Sociedad's next five games
21 November: Sevilla (h)
28 November: Barcelona (a)
3 December: Las Palmas (a) - Copa del Rey
6 December: Eibar (h)
13 December: Getafe (a)
If Moyes does leave sooner rather than later, however, the man supposedly in the frame to replace him is Juan Antonio Pizzi, who was controversially sacked by Valencia at the end of the 2013/14 season to make way for Nuno Espirito Santo.
But there would also be plenty of pressure on the club's president Aperribay, who put a great deal of his personal reputation on the line by making such a big effort to snap up Moyes a year ago when a deal had already been drawn up to appoint ex-West Brom boss Pepe Mel (now back at Real Betis).
Many fans have included Aperribay in their criticism of Moyes, arguing that if the decision to appoint the Scot has proven to be erroneous, the man who made that decision should also be held responsible.
By Andy WestSpanish football writer
David Moyes is in trouble.
The Scot's Real Sociedad team are marooned near the bottom of La Liga - they could be in the relegation zone by the end of the weekend - and a limp performance in Friday's 2-0 defeat against lowly Las Palmas has left his future in serious doubt.
Although Moyes, 52, could still survive through the international break, the club's board have been holding talks this weekend which may result in his imminent sacking.
This is how the story is unfolding.
At crisis point?
Moyes's potential departure from the Anoeta has been a slow burning story for the last few weeks, but in the last couple of days it has started to accelerate quickly.
Sociedad, known throughout Spain as 'La Real', have made a poor start to the season, winning just twice (both away from home) and have nine points from their opening 11 games.
But the real crisis point arrived with Friday's defeat at Las Palmas, which quickly led to reports that the San Sebastian club's president Jokin Aperribay is poised to act and end Moyes's time at the club, perhaps even before the first anniversary of his arrival in Spain on Tuesday.
After La Real's recent struggles, Friday's trip to Las Palmas was always billed as a significant encounter for Moyes's regime, but the general feeling was that his job was safe unless his team delivered a disastrous display.
Unfortunately for the former Everton and Manchester United boss,'disastrous' is pretty much the right word to describe the way his team performed - or didn't - against a Las Palmas outfit which had previously only won one game all season.
The hosts were clearly superior, deserved their goals from Jonathan Viera and Sergio Araujo, and were rarely seriously threatened by Moyes's team. It took no time at all for furious criticism to emerge from La Real fans - along with serious demands for the manager's head.
Media and fans furious
Until Friday night, the majority of Real Sociedad fans were, while frustrated with their team's results and sceptical about Moyes's ability to turn things around, not yet ready to express outright hostility.
But that all changed immediately after the loss against Las Palmas.
'Moyes' was a trending topic on Twitter in Spain after the game, with very few of the accompanying comments offering sentiments of support. Indeed, many of them finished with the hashtag #MoyesDimision ('Moyes resign') or #MoyesVeteYa ('Moyes go now').
The media was similarly critical, with a summary of the game in local newspaper Diario Vasco complaining that "when this team takes one step forward, it takes two back", and adding that their efforts on Friday night had been directed by "impulse" rather than a clear plan.
Real Sociedad suffered a sixth loss in 11 league games on Friday to increase the pressure on manager David Moyes
As noted by Mikel Encinas, the editor of newspaper Mundo Deportivo's coverage of the club, the main cause of anger was not the result itself but "the image presented by the team".
Most damning of all was a comment piece by Diario Vasco's Inaki Izquierdo, who concluded that Moyes "still bears the impression of someone who has only just arrived and doesn't understand the club, the players, the league, the city, the opponents, the referees, the languages, the stadia, the timetables…"
Moyes himself accepted that Friday's performance was below standard, acknowledging after the game that "the players have to improve, and so do I".
However, he also refused to quit, insisting that he wants to stay with the club until the end of the season, when his contract is due to expire.
Whether Aperribay feels the same way remains to be seen.
Early optimism to sceptical indifference
Initially, the appointment of Moyes in replacing Jagoba Arrasate a year ago prompted enthusiasm in San Sebastian, especially when his first two months in charge yielded a creditable draw in the all-important local derby against Athletic Bilbao, and an improbable home victory over Barcelona.
But the early bout of positivity gradually subsided into indifference and by the end of last season, which saw La Real finish in 12th position, the jury was still out.
Fears that the team were destined for another season of struggle - despite a significant summer outlay in the transfer market (see below) - were further heightened by a mundane start to the new season which saw the team draw their first two games 0-0 and then lose 1-0 at Real Betis.
Moyes is enduring a torrid time in Spain and is still waiting for a first home win of the season
Starting the season without a single goal in 270 minutes was not exactly the way to get the fans onboard, and a 3-2 home defeat against Espanyol in the next outing put Moyes under more pressure.
Still, though, there was a widespread acknowledgement that the team's performances had deserved more: Espanyol's winner was a scrambled effort in injury time, and La Real had created chances to take at least a point from the game at Betis.
A 4-0 win at Levante at the end of October bought Moyes some more time, and although that was followed by a 3-2 home defeat by Celta Vigo, it was widely thought he would be given until Christmas at least.
But then came the debacle at Las Palmas.
Big spender
Whatever complaints Moyes may have about his time in Spain, insufficient backing from his board in the transfer market cannot be one of them.
Considering the size of the club and their relative lack of resources, Real Sociedad spent heavily in the summer to put the most expensive squad in the club's history at Moyes's disposal.
Asier Illarramendi returned to Real Sociedad, just two years after leaving the club for Real Madrid
The biggest signing was midfielder Asier Illarramendi, who was brought back 'home' from Real Madrid after a disappointing couple of seasons at the Bernabeu for a club record fee of around 17 million euros.
Another big money signing was Brazilian striker Jonathas, who had impressed last season with Elche, while the arrival of Portuguese winger Bruma on loan from Galatasaray was another which increased expectation.
The club's board also secured the services of highly-rated young Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, 23, who had spent the previous season on loan at the Anoeta and attracted serious interest from Valencia as they sought to replace injured first choice keeper Diego Alves.
The team's failure to progress despite such a heavy outlay will likely be a major factor in the club's decision over the future of Moyes.
What next?
If Moyes does survive through the upcoming international break, his task will hardly get any easier when action resumes in a fortnight.
La Real's next opponents are Europa League holders Sevilla, followed by a daunting trip to Barcelona at the end of November.
And after a cup rematch with Las Palmas and a local derby with Eibar, their year ends with meetings against Villarreal and Real Madrid.
Real Sociedad's next five games
21 November: Sevilla (h)
28 November: Barcelona (a)
3 December: Las Palmas (a) - Copa del Rey
6 December: Eibar (h)
13 December: Getafe (a)
If Moyes does leave sooner rather than later, however, the man supposedly in the frame to replace him is Juan Antonio Pizzi, who was controversially sacked by Valencia at the end of the 2013/14 season to make way for Nuno Espirito Santo.
But there would also be plenty of pressure on the club's president Aperribay, who put a great deal of his personal reputation on the line by making such a big effort to snap up Moyes a year ago when a deal had already been drawn up to appoint ex-West Brom boss Pepe Mel (now back at Real Betis).
Many fans have included Aperribay in their criticism of Moyes, arguing that if the decision to appoint the Scot has proven to be erroneous, the man who made that decision should also be held responsible.
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