ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

What a loan of rubbish!

However unfashionable it is to criticise David Moyes these days, you can't help wondering who advises him on the signing of peripheral/loan players. In the last six months he has managed to unearth three absolute gems in Wessels, Gravesen and now Gardner.

I can't imagine that he had ever seen the German goalkeeper "perform" or, indeed, studied his record much. One thing that is certain, however, is that he unearthed the natural successor to Dickie Wright!

As far as "Mad Dog" is concerned Moyes's old mate Strachan really worked one across him there for virtually every newspaper in Scotland had reported for months that the old boy's legs had gone and Celtic couldn't wait to get rid.

And so we come to Anthony Gardner, Spurs' permanent "Sick-note" almost since the day he joined them. Quite how he managed to get Euro cup-tied is a mystery about a man who makes about a dozen appearances a season! But apart from the fact that he's out until Easter, he'll be a useful addition for the run-in, wont he?

Now I know that to write in this vein is to evoke the wrath of those for whom Moyes is God but before you tell me how successful have been the loan signings of Pienaar and Fernandes, consider how much more comfortable we would feel if the three players I have mentioned were even slightly capable of making a meaningful contribution. Then you could say Moyes was a prudent manager!
Neil Manders, Bebington Posted 07/02/2008 at 09:38:53

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Lyndon Lloyd

They key word is "peripheral", Neil. Had any of the three been brought in as regular first-teamers, then I think you'd have a point. Of the three, only Gravesen disappointed me because we are so short of quality in midfield.

Mike Allison
1 Posted 07/02/2008 at 18:29:03

How desperate are some of you to slag Moyes off?! Where does this come from? Get over it.

I love the way that you idiots refer to anyone who supports their (currently quite succesful) team’s manager in some ridiculous hyperbolic way. I don’t think ’Moyes is God’, but that doesn’t stop me supporting him. Anyone with an ounce of footballing common sense would support Moyes as a ’total package’, despite legitimate reservations one may have.

I’m sorry mate, but Moyes is a pretty good manager and he’s made us a pretty good team. Try not to get too upset by this.

Peter Fearon
2 Posted 07/02/2008 at 19:02:11

The fact about David Moyes is that no matter how his tactics, his substitution policies and his complacency is sometimes infuriating, you only have to look elsewhere to see how lucky we are to have him. Rather have Roy Keane? Bryan Robson? Steve Coppell? Steve Bruce? I don’ t think so. This is not a great generation of British managers but David Moyes is becoming one of the best. And His greatest days are ahead of him, as are ours.

Micky Norman
3 Posted 07/02/2008 at 19:27:54

Gardner out till Easter????????

Pete Gunby
4 Posted 07/02/2008 at 19:10:05

Moyes deserves credit and praise for the job he has done. Given similar circumstances I doubt many could have done better and most would have failed. It’s nice to be able to argue about tactics, subs, loans and line-ups while fighting for a C.L. spot. We appear to be on the rise and have a good, young and improving squad. If not Moyes, who should get the credit.
Of course, if we trip up down the stretch i’ll be joining all you loyalists with the pitch forks and torches. There is a good chance by the end of the season Keegan will be availible, so we may have that to fall back on.
Onward and upward, COYB.

Jeremy Benson
5 Posted 07/02/2008 at 20:09:59

One word: Arteta

Worth getting through dozens of crocks....

David Nicholls
6 Posted 07/02/2008 at 20:26:52

It’s very harsh to critisise Moysie’s record in the transfer market. Ok, there’s been a few flops during his tenure but which manager gets it right everytime? I consider Arsene Wenger to be as astute in the transer market as anyone but even he paid big bucks for Jeffers and Wright. I honestly can’t see Walcott justifying his price tage and he let the excellent Bentley leave for Blackburn.
You can pick fault with any managers transfer dealings but all things considered I think Moyes is, to say the least a very prudent manager.

Jimmy Green
7 Posted 07/02/2008 at 22:05:57

Moyes has used the loan system brilliantly, examples:

Arteta, Yobo, Pienaar, Fernandes.

Admittedly there have been some sh*te, ie Graveson is probably the best example.

Its a little unfair to pass judgement on Gardner just yet, let the lad play a few games then judge!

PS, he?s not out til Easter>>>read>>

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=512632&in_page_id=1779

Tony Williams
8 Posted 07/02/2008 at 23:09:43

Neil, in the way of fairness why are you dismissing the loan deals of Pienaar and Fernandes? Pienaar has been one of our best players this season so you can’t just focus on the poor ones and conveniently forget the good ones.

Wessels looked good at the start of the season, it was only the terrible Oldham game where he showed us how poor he has become with sitting on the bench for 3 months.

Gardener and Graveson were panic loans brought on by the loss of Stubbs and the failing to sign Fernandes respectively, they would never have been here if the two players mentioned were still with us at the time.

Moyes is not God, he is a fairly competent manager. One which I am glad is taking our club forward and to use loan deals to have a dig at hm is beyond pathetic

John Murphy
9 Posted 08/02/2008 at 00:23:26

Add Howard to the successful list!