The Mail Bag
Is that why we get 'em cheap?
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Whilst personally sorry to see that Lars Jacobsen has suffered a quite serious injury whilst on International duty, I am not alltogether surprised. One glance at the Dane's career shows that his injury record is such that he plays more regularly for his country than he has ever done for his club. Given that Saha is similarly unfit for duty, last season's loanees, Gravesen and Gardener never were, and Shandy Andy never will be, I'm beginning to believe that Moyes has a penchant for signing crocks ? or perhaps that's all he can afford!
It's rather been a feature of his tenure and it's truly amazing that he has achieved so much whilst indulging in players of such doubtful history, medically speaking. Just think Pistone:- re-signed after missing more games than he played... and then never seen again! Baines:- signed whilst recovering from serious injury and in need of protection throughout last season; even good players such as Cahill, Arteta and Pienaar are delicate, to say the least... I'm sure you'll get my drift.
Yes, Moyes can spot a bargain but I'm sure in most cases he's in a queue of one in being prepared to take a chance on players who will spend more time on the treatment table than they ever will on the field!
Phil Marchant, Posted 11/09/2008 at 09:08:10
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I must admit when I read before the game that Moysey was looking to play him this weekend, that it for some reason made me feel that some damn international duty was going to cause us an added headache and unfortuantely I was right. :(
I seem to recall back in November 1983 Howard Kendall signing Andy Gray from Wolves. At the time from several quarters there were questions asked -ranging from "What are Everton doing signing a crock?" to "He?s injury prone and he?s got dodgy knees". Similar to some of the responses to our signing Peter Reid earlier that same year, a couple of years after he had suffered a serous injury - ironically playing against Everton!!
In fact, I seem to recall that before his injury, several clubs were interested in signing Peter Reid and a likely figure of £600,000 was being quoted. At that time, 1979-80, that was a pretty high transfer fee. When we eventually signed him the figure was £60,000 - presumably because of his history of injuries. The fee for Andy Gray I seem to think was around £150,000 - only 3 years after he had cost Wolves £1 Million, again the fee was lower probably due to his "medical" record. However, the rest as they say is history and these two "crocks" didn?t do too badly or us did they !!?
I am not suggesting that Jacobsen or Saha will have a similar impact. But let?s give them a chance ? they have only just signed for us and already you are having a go at them. I don?t expect either player is happy at getting injured, indeed Saha offered to forgore any salary until he played a gesture deserving of some praise I would of thought. Let?s give these guys a chance ? some of you are just too ready to dive in and slag players off.
On a brighter note Castillo and Fellaini both played 90 minutes in both games for their country and came back unscathed.
Initially, it looked like a dislocated shoulder and the poor lad was in obvious pain. He walked off, rather than be stretchered off, but the way he was holding his arm it wasn’t clear whether it was dislocated or broken...
As for your observation "that Moyes has a penchant for signing crocks", you are very selective in your list and just about all of them can be debunked. Injuries happen in football. Fact.
Shame about Lars though.
He fell awkwardly and dislocated his shoulder last night...hardly Moyes fault...I blame Kenwright...KENWRIGHT OUT!!!
Even Big Dunc for all his size was repeatedly unavailable for long spells and young Vaughan has been a serial sicknote ever since his debut.
What the poster is saying is that many of Moyes signings have come cheap because others won't take a chance on them. Some he?s won out on and others have been, well, just sucks.
What happens then is that people think of a couple of occasions where it may be true then spout it off in the boozer/forum/living room.
That is exactly what this article is & in my opinion its crap. I’m not saying Moyes has never taken a chance but then again outside of the sky4 or mega rich clubs what manager hasnt?? But Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar & Baines(mentioned) were never injury prone when we signed them.
Secondly Lars injury has never been an issue in his career & as Art Greeth as already said you cant compensate for bad luck.
We didn’t see him play because none of our central defenders were injured in this time frame.
I only wish people would spend the same amount of effort in supporting the team as they do in trying to find the latest reason to slate moyes.
He’s the best manager we have had in many a decade and if someone knows of a better manger for us then please suggest.
Otherwise put up and shut up!
Or maybe he got injured, was a bit unlucky and this injury doesn’t give the basis of a massive generalisation over the whole structure and mechanics of Everton Football Club. Moyes signed Yobo, Lescott, Jags, Yak, Pip, Howard, and many others like Kilbane, Bent and the rest of the class of 04 which went the season pretty much injury free.
Cahill injury prone for last year and half, we got him 4 years ago. Arteta had 1 major injury, that doesnt make you a crock.
Since the cup final appearance in 89? we have experienced nothing but relegation dogfights (barring the somewhat fortunate cup win in 95?).
That was until a certain Mr Moyes took over and within a short timeframe got blues fans back to expecting a European campaign every year.
All that you people can do is criticise him for buying "crocks". I think Moyes has done a fantastic job on a shoestring budget. He has put Everton at the top of the "best of the rest" table while only spending a fraction of what others have spent.
I was not familiar with toffeeweb in the pre-Moyes days but I can only imagine what you all used to say during the Mike Walker and Walter Smith days not to mention Kendall (phase 2 and 3).
Of course David Moyes has to gamble on players that others wouldn?t touch. He has to gamble because we can?t afford the five 15-20mil players that you all expect. He got us to the champions league with Kilbane and Bent as regulars in the team!!
Get a grip and get behind the best manager that we have ever had.
I did. I saw him play a couple of times in Widnes for the Reserves. He was also an unused sub for the first team a couple of times but, being fourth choice centre-back, we fortunately didn?t need to play him, and therefore didn?t.
It doesn?t last long, however. Usually a run of good results will fully restore my faith. Sometimes it?s a memory, like the one I just had after reading Larry Bird?s post (above). Did he (DM) really get us to the Champions League with Kilbane and M Bent featuring regularly? It seems hard to believe from this distance, but, yes, he really did pull that off. Fucking incredible, isn?t it? Bent and Kilbane... jesus.
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1 Posted 11/09/2008 at 12:58:50
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