ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

...but to forgive is divine

I just read the Echo article on Andy van der Meyde and it has made my day to see that, firstly, his daughter appears to be over the worst and, secondly, how he has voiced his love for our club and his desire to stay with us and work for his place.

I mentioned in another post how I am a big fan of David Moyes, he has turned our club from being the next Nottingham Forest to a European outfit. Many of you reading this feel his style of football is less School of Science and more Arsenal circa 1993 but for me, my one and only gripe with the manager is his failure to use of AvdM as effectively as he could.

I know Andy has been injury-plagued and screwed up last month but considering what he has been through and his passion to remain on Merseyside I think he deserves an opportunity-and not just the token substitution 10 mins from time, I think we will only see him return to his former dynamic self if he gets a lengthy run in the first time.

Furthermore, considering the impact made by Steven Pienaar among other in midfield up to now has been nonexistent and calls from Evertonians for more creativity are becoming widespread, surely Mikel and Andy on either flank looks like an excellent proposition?
Neil Styles, Dublin Posted 28/09/2007 at 16:40:38

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Lyndon

I'm with you on this one, Neil. When you read about what the poor guy's been through with his daughter (my elder little girl was in the hospital for 3 days with a nasty case of gasto-enteritis a couple of years ago and that was hard enough!), you can't help but have enormous sympathy for him and question why Moyes has taken such a tough line with him.

But it seems as though Andy has been one of the first to admit that he's made mistakes in his time with us (most notably his after-hours exploits) but on top of his kid's illness and having to settle in a foreign country, he's also had his house broken into twice and his dog stolen!

Of course, we don't know what his attitude has been like in training, for example, or what his personal relationship is like with the manager but I'd love to see him get a couple more chances to resurrect his career and give is some much-needed creativity down the flank.

Neil Millichip
1 Posted 28/09/2007 at 23:28:30

I Think the guy has been through hell with his daughter being so ill and having his house burgled. I hope he’s had his slate wiped clean and he can start afresh. I would love to see the Andy van der Meyde of old and Arteta in the same Everton team. It’s up to him to show DM that he’s back to his best.

Ste Birkett
2 Posted 28/09/2007 at 23:52:09

Definitely makes you rethink the situation and want him to get another shot. It doesn’t really explain the earlier foul ups but perhaps he has finally turned it around and should be given a run.

Not sure that Pienaar should simply be dismissed in the meantime, though. He’s only had a couple of starts and has showed the odd glimpse of flair, so he deserves more time as much as VDM. More, really.

Nick Whitham
3 Posted 29/09/2007 at 01:10:08

That article has really put a different spin on things for me.

X

Richard Murray
4 Posted 29/09/2007 at 02:08:01

Are you guys joking?

I feel for the guy, but I’ve heard him give similar speeches several times and then a couple of weeks later he’s mouthing off somewhere, not turning up for something or drinking whatever he can.

I don’t care what he has to say about the club anymore. When he looks fitter and proves himself on the pitch, then I’ll listen again.

I hope he does too, but we’ll have to wait and see; he’ll probably be in the papers talking about Moyes or something next week.

Kieran Doyle
5 Posted 29/09/2007 at 02:43:40

Thought this thread was about AvdM?? What are ya talking about other managers for?

James Elworthy
6 Posted 29/09/2007 at 17:05:41

VDM has never had a good game for us since we signed him, I am sorry about his daughter but the rest of his problems are self inflicted.
Hopefully we can get rid of him at the first possible opportunity and with his wages freed up sign a better wide player like Giles Barnes of Derby who will be for sale in Jan

John Murphy
7 Posted 29/09/2007 at 18:14:39

James Elworthy I disagree with what you are sayin about AVDM. For me, everytime he has played he has played well. Without a shadow of a doubt he is the best crosser of a ball that we have in our squad. If we give him a run in the first team, starting tomorrow at Middlesborough, I know he will come good. Lets all give him our full support if he is in the squad tomorrow.

James Elworthy
8 Posted 29/09/2007 at 18:26:59

Like in the Derby when he got sent off, I cant remember him doing one solitary thing since he was here, I will support him as long as he plays for us but we must be desperate if we are turning to him.

Ged
9 Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:12:05

Give him chance number 84.

It's sad to hear about his daughter and no doubts it's had an affect on him but he?s still picking up thousands a week.

If he was not a player he would still have to graft and earn his wage to support his family through the difficult time.

The club still charges us over £30 a ticket regardless of whats going on in our personal lives.

We demand at least 100% effort from the players for it.

Roy Coyne
10 Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:08:04

Having spent a few days at Alder Hey this week with my grandson, and remembering what it was like when my daughter was in there, I do feel for Andy and his partner. Its an awful time for anyone and if it was just something about this I?m sure Moyes and Kenwright would have been sympathetic as a player who has his thoughts elsewhere (understandably) is of no use on the pitch.

But sadly Andys track record is poor to say the least so I think I will trust Moyes judgement on this as he knows the full picture. Let's hope the baby gets well soon as there are more important things than football.

Roy coyne
11 Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:22:29

Ged I dont understand what his salary has to do with it Im sure he would sooner have his daughter well than all the cash in the world like any other dad

Tony Marsh
12 Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:19:39

As much as I have sympathy for AVDM regarding his his sick child please dont be fooled in to thinking that Shandies reasons for wanting to stay on Merseyside is because of his love for the club.You might think I am being harsh but the truth is the partner he has had the child with comes from Seacombe on the Wirral and thats the main reason for him staying put.The other reason he wants to stay is no other club in Europe would be daft enough to pay him £28k plus a week for being a drunken bench warmer.Sorry buts thats how I see it.Football and love of Everton has very little to do with it.

James Elworthy
13 Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:31:25

My god i agree with you Tony Marsh.
28k a week for doing sweet FA, send him down the mines for a week or two.
He was a bad buy by Moyes and probably has earned more per minute of playing time, since he has been here, than Pistone and Dunc did put together.

Ged
14 Posted 29/09/2007 at 19:41:24

Reread my post Roy, I didnt infer that. Naturally his daughter will take priority over anything.

Im questionning his desire. He was in trouble with club long before his daughter was born yet he still picks up what we’d lucky to earn in a year, weekly.

For that I would have expected at least some sort of contribution from him for the past two years (minus an assist for a goal against Boro).

Michael Newton
15 Posted 29/09/2007 at 21:04:20

Forgiving is for confession boxes not for overpaid underachieving football players. I agree he hasn’t played a single decent game yet

Roy coyne
16 Posted 29/09/2007 at 22:21:56

Fair point Ged