ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Away glory is the key

Earlier this season I wrote that for Moyes to take the team forward he had to deliver a key victory away from home, as ultimately that's where good teams turn into great teams, as any number of sides can do the business at home. He duly delivered with the Carling Cup Quarter-Final win at West Ham.

He now needs to move to the next stage and deliver a key victory away from home in the league, something which as far as i can recollect he has not managed so far in his time in charge. Before the Moyes Boys wade in and say that some fans will never be satisfied, I am not being unreasonable but simply stating the obvious ? ie, you have never 'arrived' in football and you always have to look to the next challenge

The games which stand out for me are Man City and the obvious fixture at the end of March. Victory in one or preferably both of these games will really signify that things are on the move and that we are a coming force.

If City can do it at Old Trafford it's high time we did it at Anfield.
John Doolan, UK Posted 12/02/2008 at 18:49:14

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Ross Bloom
1 Posted 12/02/2008 at 21:42:48

I think that we have already delivered some great victories in the league away from home.

You look at wins at Spurs back in August, Bolton away and West Ham away in the league, fair enough I hear what you're saying about beating the Big 3 on their own turf but we can't beat any of them at home so that needs to be addressed first and foremost IMHO.

Mick Mac
2 Posted 12/02/2008 at 21:34:08

John I know what your saying but winning across the park is that all that matters, we have had some great results away from home, winning one away game against RS like we have done before but losing 10 away and drawing another 8 is that what you want? City beat manu for the first time since 1974, but look at their away record this season, is winning at Anfield such a challange, than winning at Spurs, you dont get more points just bragging rights. I had a conversation today about Moyes and this might sound a bit heavy but I believe Moyes will leave Everton next season if he isnt giving the funds he deserves from the board, his contract expires in 2009 and unless he can compete with the likes of Erikson and Redknapp in the transfer market am sure he would say fuck this I have worked miricles on peanuts, ok I can accept the likes of Man U and the other so called sky 4, but not teams like pompey, Villa and City outbidding me, think about you might get your wish mate

Kevin Mitchell
3 Posted 12/02/2008 at 22:29:47

You're dead right, John, a victory at Anfield would not only give us bragging rights for a few months but more importantly would make a serious statement of our intent to challenge the top teams again next season.

Phil Roberts
4 Posted 12/02/2008 at 23:00:15

Moyes has only recorded 31 wins away from home so far and none of the big 3 are there - - mind you against the other big 2 the record in that time is
Arsenal lost once each to Chelsea and United
Chelsea lost once each to Arsenal and United
United lost twice each to Arsenal and Chelsea.

So not exactly something done too often. We could also take it that they treat us with more respect than lesser sides so out out stronger sides than they would with teams like Derby and Boro and Fulham and Toon

Roger Jones
5 Posted 13/02/2008 at 00:13:50

Mick, I don’t see Moyes departing quite that soon - unless SAF retires, that is. I do worry that Moyes might find the temptation too much to resist when that vacancy comes up, as it must eventually and the pressure to go would be all the more if, at that point, lack of funds remained an issue here.

Anj Stam
6 Posted 13/02/2008 at 08:22:58

Mick, I agree.This is why BK and the rest of the board have to come up with sufficient funds for top/quality players to keep Moyes happy, and if not, just sell our soul(club) unfortunately to billionaire investors who can provide. Only then Moyes position is safe & he gets the players he wants and transforms us into a dominant force that we should be, not only in the league but Europe as well.

Tony Williams
7 Posted 13/02/2008 at 08:55:27

Unfuckingbelievable............Did I not read somewhere that this season, away from home, we have recorded more away wins by January than we did the whole of the season before, including, as said above wins at every Wafer cup game and Spuds, West Ham and Bolton.

Just because we cannot beat ManUre(A minute away from a point) and the Chavs (did get a point) away from home, who has in 4 years? we have yet to play the redshite and Arsenil... Poor post

Patty Beesley
8 Posted 13/02/2008 at 09:29:45

We need to beat the RS - all the more sweeter if it was at Anfield, because otherwise they will make up 3 points on their game in hand, and we don?t want that do we?

Lee Spargo
9 Posted 13/02/2008 at 12:30:04

I’d love to beat Liverpool at Anfield, but the key to that game folks is not losing, provided we win our home games, and we should still be sitting in 4th in a couple of months time.

Chris Briddon
10 Posted 13/02/2008 at 12:55:52

When you consider that Liverpool haven’t won away at any of the big3 for years, you don’t ask much do you!

If we finish 4th, win the UEFA cup, will there still be some Moyes doubters saying ’ Ah yes, but we didn’t win at Anfield so he’s not up ti it!’

Andrew Laird
11 Posted 13/02/2008 at 13:05:20

I think you are being harsh, If you look at the results this season alone in the Uefa cup we had 3 good wins away. Kharkiv was an excellent result to qualify and we have then beaten 2 teams including breaking an unbeaten record of 30 years at Alkmaar. I would certainly rank this season?s european jollies to the 2 we had in 2005 as better progress wouldn?t you?

Paul OHanlon
12 Posted 13/02/2008 at 13:12:21

Before we start talking about beating the top teams away from home we need to get our best players fit and available!

We’ve been without Pienaar now for 7 games and that’s set to continue for the foreseeable future. He’s been a BIG loss for us IMHO, with a number of players trying to fill that left side position without much joy. Arteta’s now out too for god knows how long and Baines can’t seem to shake off his ankle injury. Manny’s also doubtful for tonight, so we’re looking at playing Neville in midfield!

We’ll struggle to beat anyone away from home with these players missing, let alone the top Premiership teams.

Can only imagine how frustrated Moyes must be at the moment in time, having to play big games such as tonight without his best players.

Matthew Morgan
13 Posted 13/02/2008 at 15:57:32

I don’t think John is being harsh, only realistic. Most people in this thread have moved on to beating the top 3 teams, but this is not the only point i think john is making. The games John is talking about is like he said the CC at West Ham, that was a huge game and we won. The city game will be a huge game and one we really need to win. The liverpool game for me is massive as they are the main challengers to 4th place. So yes we have done quite well away this year, the point is that we need to continue to do that and the games seem to get bigger and bigger.

Tony Williams
14 Posted 13/02/2008 at 22:11:30

Hurray, we have been a top 3 side, Brann are reigning champions aren’t they? ;-)