Fans Comment
Paul Tran

What's Next
2/5/06

Cast your mind back to May 2005. As we were heroically hanging on to 4th place, think about this: If I had come on this website and said in a years time we would finish 9th/10th/11th, still be playing dull, dour football, get bundled out of Europe at the first stage twice, more early exits in both domestic cups, we would have even fewer strikers, another negative goal difference and we would sign two young footballing defenders and let them go, you would have laughed at me.

Or, if I was called Alan Green, you would have sent me hate mail! Funnier still, the people who hurled abuse at Green seem to be the people praising Moyes for his managerial prowess during the last year.

I'm as guilty as anyone. I had a strange idea that last season was a means to an end. We would 'do a Greece' with our workmanlike squad and than use our new-found money and credibility to buy some better players and play better football. In this poor league I felt that would make Uefa Cup qualification a good bet and a bit of continuity to look forward to.

Moyes has given us our highest and lowest Premiership finishes. Four years into his reign, we still do not have a coherent transfer policy, we have a squad thin on numbers and quality, and the football is dire.

In those four years how many thrilling footballing performances have there been? Go deeper, look at these four years and despite the similar football each season, our finishing position has fluctuated. That shows me that our fortunes lie as much on good/bad luck, winning/losing 1-0 and the momentum created by good/bad periods of form, rather than any tactical or motivational input from the management.

When we play attractive, attacking football, am I the only Evertonian who feels it's almost happened by accident? Good sport/business coaches identify what works, repeat it and improve it. Why haven't we built on these rare good performances?

As far as I am concerned, the 'high expectations' were raised by Moyes saying we were the top team on Merseyside, by Kenwright and others' constant references to Moyes's "greatness" and by Kenwright's assertions regarding our wealth. I'm not asking for top four finishes, I'm asking for watchable football and genuine progress, as opposed to the week-to-week sticking plaster approach of the last year.

One thing I've noticed this season is that teams who have taken a bolder, faster, positive approach (Tottenham, Blackburn, Newcastle, West Ham, Wigan) are above us, while down at the bottom Portsmouth's positive approach has seen them leapfrog over the 'keep it solid, try not to lose' neanderthal approach of Birmingham and West Brom. Even the high priest of English dullness, McLaren, has managed two exciting cup runs while blooding a dozen young local players. Food for thought for Moyes, I hope!

Let's quash this nonsense about money. The big four are out of our league — why aren't we competing with the rest? It's all about getting the management right. People point to Leeds's failure due to overspending. I think their real failure was getting the management wrong. They also had a "promising young manager" who talked a good game, spent the money but couldn't (and still can't) deliver at the highest level.

What kind of Everton do we want? One that's grateful to be in the Premiership, like Fulham and Charlton, or one that has a positive outlook thinking and doing big, rather than just talking big?

If you think Moyes can do this, I'd love to hear exactly how he's going to do it. Never mind talking about Smith and Walker, never mind last year's fouth place. I get stick for talking about the old days. What's he going to do in the future that is so compelling? Please tell me the positive reasons for keeping Moyes.

It looks like the FA are going for English mediocrity rather than the best man. Make their loss our gain. Before Kenwright gives Moyes more money to waste, he should go to Martin O'Neill, tell him we're a bigger club with a bigger fan base and bigger history than Newcastle and tell him that we need a manager proven at the highest levels both as a player and coach, one who can get the best out of players, get his clubs punching above their weight and winning trophies. Why shouldn't he want to come and make himself a hero here? Who knows, it may even make us attractive to investors? Go on Bill, put your sales pitch to good use for a change!
Paul Tran


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