The Arse End

This depressing phenomenon wasn't apparent in David Moyes' first season. He took over 9 games from the end of 01-02 and we posted 13 points from those 9 games. Just about digestible, as we were, lest we forget, in a spot of bother.

I think it was the tail end of the 03-04 season that I started to wonder and become despondent about a blue phenomenon. That season we grabbed 11pts from the last 10 games, losing 5 of them. But you kind of forget and a brief early or mid season run of form puts the thought to bed.

The run in to the 03-04 season proved to be the absolute nadir. We were a disgrace for the large part, culminating in that buttock-clenching 1-5 embarassment to the great Man City. The last 10 games yielded 7 pts and just 1 win. But who to blame?

Season 04-05 was broadly one of absolute wonderment. Until January. That was when we sold The Grav to Real Madrid. He was my personal favourite. We'd finally found the role for him and he was sublime. I knew as such because of the gushing praise coming from fans of Man U, Newcastle, West Ham, Chelsea and even the occasionally objective kopite. But Thomas departed and we duly imploded. We lost 6 of the last 10 games that season, and yet it was (rightly) considered an achievement.

Season 05-06 was bizarre. We BEGAN that season with the worst run in premiership history. Losing 7 of the first 8 and scoring just 1 goal (in our only attack at Bolton). We grabbed our first point against the eventual champions and duly recovered. The final quarter ranked as modest, with 13 pts from the final 10 games.

However it was at that season's end that I almost posted this article here on TW. The business end of the season is, be definition, when things are sorted out. Far better to hit form in Feb/Mar than Aug/Sept. But we just coudn't do it, and by some way. Someone or something had to be responsible.

I mused that, given DM's penchant and reputation for fitness and condition, it couldn't be fatigue. Also in just about every season, we've had something to play for, either avoiding relegation or qualifying for Europe. So it surely couldn't be motivation?

By this stage all the players were his and, yes we had to acknowledge our (very) limited financial clout, but they were the same players who put decent runs together early or mid season more than once. I decided it had to be either a) lack of tactical acumen (somewhat implausible), b) man management problems, or c) that DM actually suffers some form of depression himself that transfers to the players.

Strong evidence for this last point is blindingly obvious since the Fiorentina game. We battered them (more than they battered us), we deserved it and we lost out. But the fall-out has been terrible and Davie's body language and manner (watch the interviews) shows a man either broken or heavily depressed by events. One could argue that it's understandable, with a season that promised so much, so many plaudits from so many quarters, so many players operating a the top of their game, and then...

I held my pen back (or rather, keyboard) on the subject and, last season, felt vindicated as we turned in our best ever final quarter under DM, losing only 2 and gathering 16 pts. Not earth shattering but, by comparison, very respectable.

And then there's this season. As just noted, it promised so much. We looked strong, young, fit, fast, eager and (fuck me) stylish. I was at the West Ham (a) Carling QF and it was reminiscent of the 80's. We just looked in complete control whole game. Being Everton we just did enough, rather than taking them to the cleaners as ManU would always try to. It could have ended up being not just a good season, but a great one.

First the other scourge of Davie Moyes (lower league cup opposition) left us shocked and disappointed. But here we are again in the last quarter, the business end of the season, when the Geordies are on a roll, when Villa have returned 10 - 0 in 2 games, and we're at it again. 3 games left, but in the 7 that count we've picked up 8 pts.

Now this season there's been the added issue of injuries and absence, usually to our best players, and the impact this has had on our season. Arteta's long struggle with his stomach problem (ask Alan Curbishley about that), Cahill, Baines, Fernandez, Yakubu, Pienaar et al. So there is mitigation, perhaps lots of it, but we're back where we always have been with David Moyes, sleepwalking towards the end of the season and throwing points away at every turn.

Oh yes, we have also been robbed this season (a fair description) by pathetic decisions by referees and linesmen. We all know the games. As much as 10 or 12 pts could have been attained had we had the luck of the devil worshipping Beneathus.

So what's my conclusion? For this season we have most definitely suffered shit luck and misfortune. No two ways about it. This season also has seen us play with a swagger and a style we haven't seen for 20 years. To counter that, as many of you have in excelsis, we've played shite and hoofed the ball on far too many occasions. Who's to blame for that?

Conclusion no. 1. There is an inescapable problem under Davie Moyes when it comes to the last quarter of the season (i.e. the most important part of the season). Our record is abysmal. In only one season (last season) did we deliver anything even approaching acceptable.

I honestly believe there is an issue of depression here with David himself. But it must go deeper than that. I don't honestly know. These 10 games are when things get decided, the tough get going and the big games come thick and fast. If a manager and team can;t get motivated now then I do wonder.

Conclusion no. 2. DM just needs to "go for it" sometimes. I'm reminded of a performance that some might recall. Early October 2002, I was in Antibes, having just got married there and we watched Everton at Old Trafford in la Gaffe. For 87 minsit remained 0-0, but we played fucking fantastic. By that I mean we asked as many questions as they did, if not more. Our whole philosphy was get it, carry the ball forward, move it, make space, attack. I was so proud. This was a team that contained such world class players as Unsworth, Li Tie and Lee Carsley. The star and the engine was Thomas Gravesen, Rooney came on as sub and almost won it for us. The fact that ManU scored 3 fortuitous goals in the last 3 mins didn't alter the general perception of the match. We took the game to them and they didn't know how to deal with it. YESSS! I thought, this is it. We finally have a manager who a) believes in attacking football, on the floor and, he actually means it when he says he wants to win EVERY game, and b) he's convinced a team of average players that they can actually do it, whoever they're playing.

Sadly, that brazen philosophy isn't on display much these days. We give the fat 4 far too much respect every time and it sucks. Even when we play mediocre teams, DM will often shuffle experienced players out of position than give some of our young bucks a chance (Vidarsson a prime example). And now even when we do "go for it" a la Fiorentina, it almost seems churlish to say it, but I actually think we made it much harder for ourselves by playing so many long balls, 50/50 balls etc , rather than just keeping the fucking thing and biding our time. If players move intelligently (and that's a BIG assumption) then, amazingly, holes do appear. Just watch the first 30 mins of Arsenal giving the RS a lesson at Anfield 2 weeks ago. A bit more luck and it would have been over by half time.

I guess I'm rambling slightly so let's close. There is a massive issue with our motivation, fitness, focus or whatever it is that reduces our final quarter every year (but 1) to dross. Then there is a 2nd issue of attitude when we play the fat 4 in particular, and occasionally against lesser lights.

This season's misfortunes from shit referees and injuries/absences have skewed the stats. But they don't make good reading. In David Moyes' 6 full seasons we have won 16 out of 57 games in the final quarter, amassing 65 points in 6 seasons out of a possible 171.

Is it luck? (this season, maybe). Is it management? (to some degree, it has to be). You can almost set your watch by it,and that's the worrying thing for me. Doesn;t seem to matter where we are and what we're doing, because from March onwards were just not at the races.

And then there's the thing of attitude. Why not go out and believe you can win every game? Look at Villarreal, remember Bayer Leverkusen a few seasons ago, even Celtic. It can be done. We actually did it a few years ago with this manager. We've lost the spunk.

Spunk and motivation. Is this the route to greater things?

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