Fans Comment
Dutch Schaeffer

The 2006 Squad
3 January 2006

I’m not going to get into the whole ‘do we sack David Moyes’ debate. Personally I don’t think we should even consider it, after all this is a manager who has won the Manager of the Year award not once but twice since he took control. He also qualified us for the Champions league. Think back to the dark days of Walter Smith and try to remember if you could even dream of a manager who could win manager-of-the-year awards and bring Champions League football to Goodison Park?

I thought the start of 2006 was instead a good time to take a look at each individual member of the squad and offer an opinion.

Nigel Martyn
David Moyes's best transfer. Unfortunately, age is beginning to catch up with him and his future as our No 1 has to be nearing an end. It's funny how fans are always quick to slaughter Dickie Wright when he concedes four goals against Bolton but hardly anything is said when Martyn concedes seven in the games against Aston Villa and Bolton. I hope Martyn stays for a while longer but surely only as back-up keeper.

Richard Wright
Has had chances but always seems to blow it bigtime. I’m sure there’s a good keeper hiding in there somewhere but low confidence and somewhat harsh criticism from the fans have all but ended his Everton future. I think Moyes knows Wright will not be the long-term answer and his Goodison future will surely come to an end soon.

John Ruddy & Iain Turner
It’s hard to judge these youngsters as neither of them has made the first team. Moyes has the right idea by sending them out on loan and hopefully in a few years time one of these will provide the long-term answer. I’d love to see Antti Niemi brought in for a few seasons until one of these is ready to step up.

Per Krøldrup
There has to be a reason why Moyes delayed his debut so long? He looked completely out of his depth when he finally played in the 4-0 hammering against Aston Villa. Maybe he just needs a run of games to settle... after all, he has a big reputation in Italy. Moyes should either give him the run of games or sell him in January and admit he was a £5M mistake.

Gary Naysmith
A squad player. Naysmith has never looked good enough for the Premiership and I’d love to see him used in some kind of a swap deal with Ranger or Celtic. I was a bit surprised when Moyes handed him such a long-term contract in the summer?

Joseph Yobo
He made a couple of costly mistakes early on in the season but Yobo is easily our best defender. His pace is so important since he’s normally partnered with Captain slow-boat Weir. Yobo is one of the few players we have that I could see being poached by a ‘bigger’ club.

David Weir
Walter Smith’s best buy. Weir has been a great servant to the club but his time has come to an end. His lack of pace is embarrassing. Weir also makes a rather lame Captain failing to inspire the team most of the time. Weir has been a great player but he should be a back-up squad player now.

Nuno Valente
Valente is starting to get to grips with the Premiership and looks more composed with every game. He should have the experience to make the left-back position his own for the next couple of years.

Tony Hibbert Fans often complain that his passing lacks quality but I personally think it’s a bonus when he crosses for a goal. Isn’t it the job of the midfield to provide passes and set up goals? You can’t fault Hibbo for his defending. He never shirks from a tackle and has just the right amount of pace. Should be the Everton right-back for a number of years to come.

Alessandro Pistone
He was very lucky to get a new contract from Moyes who was clearly forced into offering it due to injuries to Naysmith. Pistone has quality but has always lacked heart and passion. Hopefully Moyes will try to sell Pistone once he’s fit.

Matteo Ferrari
Haven’t seen enough of him to judge whether his loan move should be made permanent. He has looked decent enough so far and hopefully, if his price-tag is low enough, he could be a useful squad player.

Philip Neville
I use to hate him in an England shirt but Neville has proved himself a very important part of the Everton team. Neville always gives 100% and occasionally plays a pass that proves his Man Utd calibre. Neville should be made Captain and played in the centre of midfield. Seeing that he travelled with the squad to Sunderland even though he was suspended confirmed that he is a class act both on and off the field.

Lee Carsley
I never realised how important Carsley was to the team until he got injured this season. Moyes would be wise to seek out a similar type of player for a long-term replacement. Hopefully Carsley will be back soon and can be an important player for us over the next couple of years.

Leon Osman
Over the last few games, Little Leon has proved himself a very useful player. He’s got a great touch and always looks to attack and get a goal. Hopefully he can continue to play a part in the long-term Moyes plans.

Mikel Arteta
I think Mikel is our best and most important player. Arteta is a pretty complete midfielder. He has great vision, good passing, works hard, and his set-pieces are so important. I worry that he’s too good for a long-term Everton future and pray he doesn’t do a Barmby or a Rooney.

Tim Cahill
Is finally getting back to the form that made him so important last season. Everton always struggle to get goals and maybe we rely on Cahill’s ability too much. Fantastic in the air, good work ethic and decent control. Hopefully an Everton player for a long time to come.

Simon Davies
Still has something to prove. At times has looked a good player but still hasn’t established himself as one of our more important players. I’d like to see him get more goals and get back to the form he showed in his early Spurs career. The jury is still out...

Lie Tie
What has happened to him? Looked decent enough when he was on loan but since has become the invisible man. If Moyes sees no future in Tie, then how about selling him?

Andy van der Meyde
I haven’t had a chance to make an opinion of him due to the annoying injuries. He made an all-too-brief cameo run of games and looked decent. I hope he can be the player to add pace and goals to the Everton side but I fear injuries are always going to be around him.

Kevin Kilbane
Looked as if he had become complacent and his form dipped like it did in latter seasons with Sunderland but the last couple of games Kilbane has looked improved. Hopefully, he can continue to play a part at Everton but Moyes might want to consider selling him while he can still raise a transfer fee.

Marcus Bent
A useful player but not good enough to be a starting player in the Premiership. Unfortunately he scores far too few goals and continues to frustrate when wasting a hard fought chance. Should be sold in January to raise funds.

James McFadden
If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I would have said McFadden was completely out of his depth in the Premiership and should be sold immediately. But recently Jimmy has shown some promise. A couple of goals and a few decent performances have earned him some more time but the jury is still out.

James Beattie
Say it quietly, but Beattie is actually starting to look like a player worthy of his big transfer fee. The injuries look behind him and now that he’s back to fitness the goals are slowly becoming more regular. Six so far this season shows that he’s beginning to find his form again. If he can continue to improve, he could once again become the player so highly rated at Southampton. His hard work and chasing lost causes are making him a fan favourite.

Duncan Ferguson
I’m going to cause some controversy and call Big Dunc a legend. Few players have been as important and influential to Everton. Dunc loves the club and, even though his legs have gone, I still think he can play an important role in the team. Against Charlton he was named Captain and inspired the team in a way no-one else can. Dunc can still terrorise opposing defenders and his defending headers are also proving very valuable. I hope he doesn’t retire this season; I’d love to see him continue for the rest of the season. Moyes recognises how important Dunc is and won't want to lose him. How about a player-coach role next season?

James Vaughan
Jamie is a romising young striker who should be sent out on loan once he’s fit again. Already the youngest goalscorer in Premiership history, hopefully he has a big future with Everton. Does he have the pace our strike force clearly lacks? Certainly completes the hat-trick of strikers called James at Everton.

That’s my admittedly amateur opinion on the squad anyway. I’m sure Moyes knows much more then I do.

Dutch Schaeffer

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