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Reading Lyndon Lloyd's most recent
Viewpoint article I can sense an enormous amount of
frustration reaching boiling point. The fans are screaming for an influx of
talent — particularly into a midfield area bereft of natural creativity
— but, to date, we've seen none of the numerous players linked with
moves to Everton actually put pen to paper. Frustrating for all — be that
the manager or the fan waiting patiently for the first picture of a new
signing holding an Everton scarf aloft (kissing the badge is optional).
The thing is though, the whole transfer market is in crisis — the arse
has fallen out of it. Do not be swayed by the lunacy on show at Chelsea as
I am convinced that will end in tears. With the state of Everton's
finances we would be mad to blow our entire pot on one player whose club
is asking, in the current climate, a ridiculous price. The Sean Davis
transfer "saga" echoes very much the Mart Poom "saga"
of a year ago. He ended up leaving Derby County for a lot less than
Everton offered. Sean Davis may or may not follow a similar path out of
Craven Cottage. Oh, hang on, Fulham haven't even got the Cottage any more...
Do not be held to ransom!
The temptation is great, thanks to Fulham's stubbornness and our needs,
to say "Sod it!" and splash the cash that we can ill afford at this stage of
the season. We're in a position now where we feel that we have enough
faith in Moyes to request that the Board throw cash (that we simply
haven't got) at players who may, or may not, be worth a given fee. There
is a valid argument that the Board should back Moyes to the hilt right
now, as they backed his predecessor. However — and I'm really loathe to
admit this — but I think right now is not the time to buy players simply for
the sake of bringing a new face into the Club. Keep the powder dry, Davey
— there'll be times this season when patience in the transfer market might
well be rewarded.
Clutching straws and seeing everything through blue tinted glasses,
we'll see the re-birth of Everton careers for the following: Ferguson,
Alexandersson, Nyarko, Linderoth. The more romantic will buy that and
believe they will all contribute. The more cynical will wish to see them
elsewhere and off the wage bill (bar Linderoth perhaps). If they do come
up trumps, then well and good; the club gains and these players actually
earn their money for a change.
We finished a creditable seventh last season with a very limited squad,
held together by the managerial skills of Moyes and no little spirit from
the players themselves. Even with no additions, I see no reason why Everton
cannot, again, compete with those other teams who have genuine belief that
a UEFA Cup place is with their reach. The bottom line is that the
Premiership title is well out of our reach — no matter how we'd all dearly
wish to see Everton mount a serious challenge for the top spot. It simply
won't happen. Not this year and, I bet, not next year either.
We're
building a decent looking team on fragile foundation at the moment with a
lot of doubt in the background about our financial stability and the
never-ending saga of the ground move debate (I await some semblance of
common sense from within the Board, sooner rather than later, and accept
that our future lies in the home we own). The sooner we realise and accept
that we cannot afford to move from Goodison (at present) then the better
for our team, which is the one area where we should be spending the few
shillings at our disposal.
It has often been said, despite the hyping of the product by Sky
Sports and their like, that the quality of football in the Premiership
isn't quite what it says on the tin. I say this — not by any means a slur
on the efforts of our own team — but that's been a bit of a leveller in the
past twelve months. As clubs like Leeds (not so long ago participating in
Champions League semi-finals...) have hit the buffers, both on and off the
field, our own slow prosperity has appeared somewhat meteoric in the eyes
of those who don't really follow the Club.
Two seasons ago, we were in
danger of disappearing down the plughole to Nationwide football, envious
eyes being cast upon "lesser" clubs who were in a position to
redevelop grounds and financially back their respective managers. "Who the fuckin' 'ell are you?" they would sing, mockingly, at
the travelling, faithful, Evertonians from the plush new seats in their
shiny new stadiums, as they more often than not sent us home pointless.
"Oh
where are you now, Sunderland and your ilk?" I might ask!
I genuinely believe that, if the same bunch of players who earned us a
seventh place finish apply themselves in the same manner this upcoming
season, then we can again expect a season of more highs than lows. If we
can add to the squad, on our terms, over the coming months, then fine.
Of
course it is a thin line between success and failure and Everton, more
than any other team, turned defeat into three points last season. The
manner in which Tomasz Radzinski snatched a last gasp winner against
Southampton left us all elated but on another day, in another season, we
might not have seen Richard Wright pull off a wonderful save from someone
like James Beattie when we were losing 0-1. There's your thin line between
three points and none.
Before a ball is kicked, we'll all have our own opinions about those we
consider the "opposition" for UEFA Cup places. Weigh up the pros
and cons of each team and then compare with our own present squad. I see
no reason why we cannot at least compete as we did last season. It's true
that we've raised the bar another notch and the expectancy for success has
returned to Goodison Park.
No bad thing, you'd say.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
is an ideal we'd all love to see come to fruition each and every season
but it cannot be just yet that we utter such fine statements of intent and
truly believe those words. Until some real financial backing is found for
the team (and I do not mean find a Russian fairy godfather!) we'll forever
compete above our weight in the current game. On the terraces, I believe we
remain one of the big five clubs. On the pitch we are a mid-table team
hoping to peer above that station and dreaming of Europe.
Keep those shillings in the pocket Mr. Moyes — do not sway to ransom!
Colm Kavanagh
20 July 2003
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