ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

5-year plans

Reflecting upon recent events, my primary concern is not solely that we missed out on a chance of silverware (gutting that this was)... but more importantly where that leaves the 'mental attitude' of the players.

I am with Moyes in his desire to build things over time. Principally, how else can he take us forward? I am concerned however with the effect the defeat will have on certain key players.

The assumption is that Moyes will continue to build upon what he has with the hope that, sometime soon, we arrive at the trophy winning table. However, if Lescott and Arteta were to go... then we are not rebuilding... we are merely 'keeping going' on the hamster wheel of the 'also rans'. That's not Moyes's fault.

Moyes needs to demonstrate the club's commitment to get Everton back in our rightful place... he needs the finances to do this. That's the real issue as we move forward from the Chelsea game.

ps: Regarding Lescott, let's make this again a salutory lesson in not promoting any Everton player to the England set-up. Cries of this player that player for national squads, in our position, is ridiculous bordering on the suicidal.
James McPherson, Liverpool Posted 28/01/2008 at 08:25:14

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Paul OHanlon
1 Posted 28/01/2008 at 15:25:34

Regarding the mental attitude of the players...I think the weekend break would of helped them immensely. A tricky away tie (or an easy looking home tie against League One opposition!) in the cup on the weekend could’ve come a bit too soon after the Chelsea defeat and could’ve really knocked confidence if we’d lost that too.

As it is, we didn’t have a game, the players have a had a few more days to get over the disappointment and plenty of time to focus on the job in hand against Spurs. Whereas Spurs will only really start to prepare for our tomorrow, after playing yesterday at Manure.

Regarding the PS bit...try telling that to Phil Neville!!! I’m sick of reading his articles bigging up every player in the squad. We can see how good they are, we don’t need him to tell us and everyone else in the world!

Rob Wilkinson
2 Posted 28/01/2008 at 16:11:07

I was thinking along the same sort of lines but about the african cup i mean joey the yak and peanuts all comin home @ the first hurdle its not a confidence booster is it???

Michael Hunt
3 Posted 28/01/2008 at 17:00:26

Rob, Having them back is a confidence boost. If Nigeria and S.A. doen’t get out their groups it is not Yak, Joey or Peanut’s fault because the teams did not progress in spite of them not because of them. They are their teams best players!

Mike Allison
4 Posted 28/01/2008 at 17:21:35

"ps: Regarding Lescott, let’s make this again a salutory lesson in not promoting any Everton player to the England set-up. Cries of this player that player for national squads, in our position, is ridiculous bordering on the suicidal."

I disagree with this completely. If a player feels they’ll never get in the England squad whilst with Everton no matter how well they play then they’ll want to leave. If they feel they can fulfill their ambitions whilst with us then they’ll stay. Having players in the England squad makes us higher profile and more attractive to potential transfer targets, as joining us will mean playing with England internationals and, if they’re English, show them an example of how their own ambitions can be fulfilled.

Incidentally, in the Lescott example, surely other teams want him because of how he’s played with us. He was generally regarded as not having done himself justice with England.

Neil McKinney
5 Posted 28/01/2008 at 18:09:39

Well said Mike. I don’t believe that Moyes and others lauding Lescott for the England set up is the reason the "big" clubs come sniffing. Do you think other club’s don’t pay attention to quality players at other club’s?

However, this is one of the other factors that perpetuates the domination of the Big 3, if anyone looks half decent at a smaller club, in they swoop with £80,000 a week and the promise of consistent CL football and off they pop. With the current trend, we’re all just feeder clubs to the Big 3. I hope that with Lescott this does not develop, but if they come in with an offer, sometimes the club are powerless to stop the move.

EFC are building something worth being a part of, rather than just another name at a club with an abundance of stars, Lescott could be a legend here. I hope he sees that!

COYB!!

Alan Clarke
6 Posted 28/01/2008 at 19:04:39

The article I read was in the News of the World about Lescott. Why do we pay lip service to this rag? I also see Lescott is after a new deal at Everton. I?m sure a lot of the speculation is from his agent saying pay him more or he?s off. They all do it, Ronaldo was linked with a move to Real then a week later he?s signed some bumper deal with Man U.

I fully expect Lescott to have signed a new deal with Everton by the end of next week.

I also expect us to trounce Tottenham who the press seem to be paying a lot of attention to for beating Arsenal?s youth team.

Chris Briddon
7 Posted 28/01/2008 at 19:07:31

The key to the reaction after last week, is to not think ’we’ve missed our chance’ but ’This is where we want to be’. Hopefully the Chelsea game will give players a taster fro bigger things and the desire to experience them more often.

That’s how you get what Chelsea have - the desire to keep winning.

Charlie Skinley
8 Posted 28/01/2008 at 20:39:11

Chris - agree with you mate, the players can hopefully take something from the fact they got Everton to one of our biggest games in years, yes we fell short in the end but they got us that far. The fact is if we are to have a realistic chance of finishing 4th then every game now is a ’big one’ and experiences like that will hopefully help.

I suppose we will have an idea over the next 2 or 3 games what effect the Chelsea game had on the boys. And with the hopeful quick return of our African lads then that will be like 3 great new signings arriving...... competition for places again!

Mark Griffiths
9 Posted 28/01/2008 at 20:48:39

I am a bit worried about the game on wednesday, no Cahill, on top of the ANC players missing.

Tottenham seem to be playing very well at the moment and look pacey and penetrating.

I know we have been playing excellent and have that winning habbit, but I guess I really want us to beat them so much I am probably looking for any cracks we have, any thoughts??

Charlie Skinley
10 Posted 28/01/2008 at 21:35:33

Mark I have the same worries. I know some fans want Moyes to play 4-4-2 but we never look comfortable playing that formation but with Cahill out he might have to. And an unfamilure formation against an inform team is dangerous

Peter Grealey
11 Posted 28/01/2008 at 22:25:57

Mark and Charlie I agree to a certain extent. I feel it?s important for us to play 4-5-1 against Spurs as they are starting to play quite well. One of the main reasons is how well they keep the ball which is something we?re struggling to do at the minute without Pienaar in the side. Having said that, having Fernandes back is a big boost and with Osman back to full fitness i still think we stand every chance of taking all 3 points. If I was a spurs fan I?d be dreading the thought of Andy Johnson and James Vaughan running at our rubbish defence for 90 mins. We played 4-4-2 at White Hart Lane earlier on in the season and look what happend. I feel it?s going to be an open game with plenty of goals but i fancy us against anyone at Goodison Park. COYB!

Roy Coyne
12 Posted 29/01/2008 at 03:13:20

I have to admit I hate our players going to play for England. Too many in the past have gone there content and come back unsettled. As for Lescott, I think over the next season or so we will have to fight to keep him if we are not progressing as ambition will dictate just as much as cash.