ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Where did things start to go right?

Full of optimism and expectation last night, I sat down to watch the game. Buoyant from Kev and Nev's pre-match spiel and even forcing a smile at Barnes' ridiculous, incessant drivel ? I was in good spirits.

The manager's intentions were clear from the start and a very attacking line up was announced. I raised an eyebrow, as I'm fairly sure that that line-up would get totally overrun in the middle against even a mediocre Premier League team, but trusted that he'd done his homework... We proceeded to get completely overrun in the middle of the park, long-ball tactics resumed and it turned into one of the most shambolic games of football I've had the displeasure to view.

I'm not going to break the game down and analyse where it went so horribly wrong ? others with a superior football brain are much better at doing that than me ? but I wanted to question where it all started to go right!

We've been a big club in steady decline for 15 years or so (barring FA cup success). When David Moyes took over we were perennial relegation fodder and yet somehow we're now competing for European places in the league, taking points from the established Champions League contenders domestically, and now competing on the European stage ourselves. But admittedly playing a dire brand of football.

We hear that Kenwright doesn't have the financial clout to move us onto the next level, it's his train set, blah blah. We hear that Moyes has the tactical nous of Mr Bean, etc.. Yet, somehow this pairing have increased expectation to a level far beyond our wildest dreams in a few years! We've got the backbone of the most talented squad that I can remember, have broken our transfer record twice in two seasons, and have tied our star players down to lengthy contracts. Now that sounds like investment from the Board to me.

The media regularly refer to David Moyes as being one of the best managers in the league. He has the ability to get the most out of his players, picking up Manager of the Season awards along the way. Talented young players and seasoned international seem to want to play for him. This all sounds rosy yet the Board and the manager seem to make glaring mistakes.

I think the displeasure and frustration from the fans comes from the fact that we always feel that we're almost there, and yet we're never sure whether our young, talented, dynamic, direct, hardworking, passing team are going to annihilate the opposition or whether our toothless and headless team are going to revert to hoofball and capitulate.

This is not meant to be a distraction from the shite we saw last night, but I'm genuinely looking for answers from my fellow blues.
Ben Howard, London Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:24:00

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Michael Kenrick

Ben, look on the field of play. That should provide all the answers you need. When did we last annihilate anybody under Moyes? He doesn't know the meaning of the word. The switch to playing attacking football after he's spent the best part of six years getting them to defend, defend, defend... well, you reap what you sow.

Dave Lynch
1 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:31:08

Ben.
I can’y tell you the last time we anhialated the opposition.
But i can tell you of the many times we where anhialated under Moyes.

Paul Tran
2 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:26:47

It’s simple. Below the big four you have a host of mediocre teams who are well-organised with the odd flash of inspiration. They beat each other regularly and win a few games by the odd goal. The ones who pinch the most wins finish higher.

That explains our fluctuating finishing position and why this season we could finish anywhere between 5th and 12th.

The football world is looking for teams to challenge the big four. The problem is that the rest of the league is so focused on organisation and not losing that these opportunities are never taken. We are unfortunately, one of these clubs that thinks by playing the same dour, hoofball tactics with more expensive players, we will be more successful.

Watching this improved squad is like watching a grand prix where the cars never get out of first gear!

Tony Marsh
3 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:29:43

Ben the trouble with the Moyes has stopped us being relegation fodder and has improved our league placing theory is that we dont know how well another manager might of done given the backing Moyes has had these past few years.As for this look at the squad now compared to 5 years ago >that is also subjective.
Every other club in our tier of the league have improved thier squads and the likes of Spurs Necastle ,Man City etc are all stronger than they were 5 years back.I think Moyes has been very lucky at this club.Low expectation of the fans and a 4th place finish have saved Moyes from the chop.I cant stomach watching the shite we play much longer and I want Moyes out ASAP.

Allan Hobbs
4 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:37:16

I’d like to know what you all think getting rid of Moyes will achieve? Whoever comes in will be working with the same set of players and backed by the same board so what’s the difference? Look whats happened to Bolton; I dont want that situation thankyou very much, I prefer stability not a club thats prone to change just because of a few bad results.

We’re 7th in the league, making a good start and we’re still in the UEFA cup, I think its time everyone calmed down eh.....calm down calm down calm down!

Kevin Sparke
5 Posted 21/09/2007 at 14:30:16

"We proceeded to get completely overrun in the middle of the park"

No, we didn’t Ben. We had the lion’s share of attacking possession and took the game to them. Our fault lay in the fact that we lacked the guile, the imagination and perhaps even the necessary skills to turn attacking possession into goals, particualarly in the first 45 and final 15 of the second half.

I’m sick, you’re sick, we’re all sick, but let’s try not to re-write history eh?

I do see what you are trying to say, but apart from some very crisp easy on the eye passing the Metalists offered little else in midfield.

I know this is an unpopular thing to say but I predict we’ll stick at least two past them at their place... they’re as fragile in the middle as AJ’s confidence.

David Jenkins
6 Posted 21/09/2007 at 12:08:58

`The other man`s grass is always greener`.So goes the old saying. And this is the message that keeps bugging my mind as I read through the posts screaming for the head of David Moyes.

Whatever level our team reaches,we always think we should be doing better. Finish mid-table and we`re only three players from challenging for Europe. Get into Europe and we expect to carry off the trophy. Not only that but we expect our team to play like the Arsenal and not like Chelsea (look where just winning got the Special One!). And so it goes on, the endless pursuit of perfection.

But before the cries for change reach panic proportions (and we know Blue Bill always listens to the fans, don`t we?) let's take a rain-check. Let`s remember what happened at Charlton and Bolton. They both felt that their long-serving managers `had taken them as far as he could go`. Well, not quite. One club is now in the Championship and one well on the way to it! So be careful what you pray for. To get rid of Moyes would cost the club about half what he paid for the pedestrian Yakubu but would bring absolutely no guarantee that his successor would improve matters.

Indeed, given the other`s experience, it might just get a lot worse!

Paul Tran
7 Posted 21/09/2007 at 15:13:56

David, our great club’s decline began in the late 80’s when the people in charge actually stopped thinking we could do better. As a result, ageing players were not replaced quickly enough, inferior players were brought in and the club’s decision-making imploded.

It isn’t a case of whether you make a decision, its making the right choices. Charlton made two poor choices and made the right one too late to stay up. Bolton have replaced a good coach with a cheap, untried option. Did Chelsea make a bad choice replacing Ranieri with Mourinho? Did West Ham fail by replacing Pardew with Curbishley and staying up?

If I had come on here six years ago and said in six years time we would have won nothing, had no significant cup run, repeatedly broken our transfer record, be playing awful football and that some people would think the manager is a genius I would have been laughed at.

Name me another manager who has had six years at a job with no sniff of a trophy, playing dull football, despite having a loving chairman who puts him under no pressure for genuine results.

For every person who says the grass is greener, there’s another who says if you stand still you get left behind.

Andy Ellams
8 Posted 21/09/2007 at 16:57:10

The problem we have at Everton is that clubs like Man City, Newcastle, West Ham and Portsmouth look like being on the up. Maybe not this season, but certainly within the next couple. So if we are stuck with Moyes who can’t take us on, even when he has had money to spend then I really do fear the worst. I don’t for one minute think we are relegation possibilities, but then again if things don’t improve can we keep Cahill, Arteta, Lescott and co ?

Brett Shaw
9 Posted 21/09/2007 at 18:48:02

Paul - I thought "our great clubs decline" occurred on or about the time we were not allowed to compete in the Champions League ( as it is now), thanks to the "best fans in the world" from across the park !!

Dave Tootill
10 Posted 21/09/2007 at 19:25:02

At least admit Walter was worse. With Arteta the only footballer, it’s bound to be tenuous.

Alan Clarke
11 Posted 21/09/2007 at 20:59:37

Moyes has not raised my expectations of what we should be acheiving. This club has been around for a lot longer than this ginger muppet. I have always had high expectations of Everton because we are Everton FC Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. Moyes is not living up to my expectations in the same way Walter Smith didn’t either.