Moyes is not just another brick in the wall: Cahill

Australia’s Tim Cahill has said Everton players would “run through brick walls” for David Moyes, insisting trust in the manager had been key factor in the Merseysiders’ recent revival.

Injuries, and an inability to spend their way out of trouble, contributed to a difficult start to the season for Everton.

But lately the Toffees have hauled themselves out of a sticky situation with a seven-match unbeaten run that includes last weekend’s 2-0 win over cash-rich Manchester City, a result that saw Everton go 10th in the Premier League table.

“The manager and players don’t become bad overnight and it isn’t a fluke what we have achieved in the past,” Everton midfielder Cahill told Monday’s edition of the Liverpool Echo.

“The manager buys players he can trust. We would run through brick walls for him and the poor run hurt us as much as it hurt him.

“We were letting him down. Even when you have got knocks, you play and that says something about the relationship here.”

Cahill also said the way in which Everton’s board had backed Moyes since the Scot’s arrival at Goodison Park in March 2002, had also helped cement their place in English football’s top flight.

“The patience of the club is something. The relationship the chairman (Bill Kenwright) has with the manager is an honest one,” Cahill said.

“The patience shown is a credit to the board and I think it is a good lesson to other clubs because in the modern era of football it is hard for managers.

“They get the blame for everything, but it is the players who cross the line,” he added.

Cahill said it was important Everton used their recent good form as a springboard to challenge for a European place, as they have done in the past few seasons.

“Sometimes everything just falls into place and now it is about kicking on, keeping momentum and the attitude and making sure we are always fitter than the other team,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“If we make sure we are fitter, stronger and always up for it then we will do well.

“We have got the grit back and playing here is an absolute delight. I think that for me is what got us to where we were in the past.”