FAN ARTICLES
Pleasing Progress
Comments (8) : Looking back to the side he inherited in 2002, with the likes of David Ginola and Richard Gough, Everton have come a very long way on a limited budget. Moyes?s predecessor Walter Smith was all about short-term options to try and cover long-term problems. The acquisitions of Gascoigne and Ginola were meant to cover deep-rooted problems that stretched from the playing staff right to the boardroom. Moyes has brought stability to what many people may have seen as a sinking ship in Smith?s time in charge. He wasn?t scared to suspend a certain Duncan Ferguson after they had a ?disagreement? ? something that many managers would have taken the easy route out of. A prime example being West Ham getting rid of the ?bad egg? Nigel Reo-Coker. Maybe under stronger management this undoubtedly talented player could?ve blossomed for the Hammers, rather than just being sold off.
Very shrewd acquisitions over the years have resulted in a very committed and talented Everton squad for the new season. Cahill, Arteta, Yobo and Howard come to a combined total of less than £10M. Johnson was a bargain at £8.6M when looking at the massively inflated transfer of an arguably equally talented player in Darren Bent. Add that to the recruitment of two young potential future England internationals in Lescott and Baines for £11.5M combined, the team we have is high quality and low cost when comparing it with the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and more recently Manchester City.
One of Everton?s most important qualities is the lack of any ?superstars?. Undoubtedly we have one of the most talented midfielders in the league in Mikel Arteta, but the superstar egocentric personality will never exist at Goodison whilst Moyes is in charge.
With so much money being thrown around in the close season, I feel that Moyes?s tactics are now reaping rewards. Ideally every manager would like to have all of their new signings available for the first day of pre-season training but Moyes?s ability to persevere in bringing in only the right players in terms of ability, age and personality has resulted in a team that many people are now beginning to feel may actually be able to compete in the upper echelons of the Premier League.
After a summer were other teams have dominated the transfer headlines, the potential double-signing of Fernandes and Yakubu may raise a few eyebrows and also make some people look at Everton on the fixture list in an entirely different light. The five-year plan Moyes talked of in 2002 has changed Everton from Premier League strugglers into a hardworking, well respected and very efficient side. If the small but talented squad can stay injury free, this may very well prove to be a historic season for Everton.
Reader Comments (8)
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2 Posted 19/08/2007 at 17:16:12
3 Posted 19/08/2007 at 18:11:59
4 Posted 19/08/2007 at 19:05:27
You can have the best players in the world, but if you don’t know how to use them they are not worth diddly-squat.
We have arrived at a point where we should be beating so called lesser teams comfortably, but it just does not happen.
We have to move on to the next level.
DM should know after 5 years in charge what it takes, lets hope it improves football wise and the results i am sure will follow.
5 Posted 19/08/2007 at 21:37:07
6 Posted 20/08/2007 at 17:36:37
7 Posted 21/08/2007 at 21:26:58
8 Posted 22/08/2007 at 01:23:13
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1 Posted 19/08/2007 at 16:26:02
or perhaps even a piece of pace and brilliance from yakubu? I agree..we’ve changed out squad for the better, its going to have a bit of everything in it now.