ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Player selection

No, this is not another FM post. I was just reading about the 10 worst signings of the season here.

Note that three players here : Nugent, Richardson and Smith were prominently linked with us last silly season. Sometimes we should step back and appreciate the scouting acumen of our manager to recognize what constitutes a bad deal.

Kudos to Moyes for NOT buying some of these players when the pressure was on to expand the squad. Looking forward to some quality additions this silly season.
Nigel Gregson, Sydney, Australia Posted 18/05/2008 at 06:58:58

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Jamie Carroll
1 Posted 18/05/2008 at 16:48:11

The thing with all these player?s who Moyes didn?t/couldn?t sign and then went on to have bad spells at those clubs, do people not realsie that if they did sign for Everton, then under Moyes, their careers might have prospered?

Keith Glazzard
2 Posted 18/05/2008 at 16:39:11

Silly season lists surround us. Top Ten Best Transfers at Virgin included our Phil Jagkielka, and I’ll go along with that.

Moyes must have some well-formed ideas about the quality of player he wants to add this summer, and where he needs to strengthen the squad. I hope he gets what he wants, and will be very surprised if he will settle for less than quality - proven or potential. Mind you, there is always that old bit of advice - be careful what you wish for.

And anyone who knows what he is wishing for tell me this - at what stage of this silly season / real season did we hear the name of Yakubu last year? And he wasn’t a bad signing.

Jay Harris
3 Posted 18/05/2008 at 17:07:04

I?ve heard that Moyes seeks advice on potential buys from a number of people within the game before he signs a player.

It obviously works because he?s had significantly more success than failure.

Keith Glazzard
4 Posted 18/05/2008 at 17:10:30

Good point Jamie - maybe any of these could have been fitted in and produced the goods. Average players sometimes do very well in good teams just as good players can struggle in poor teams. And Moyes has the ability to bring players on, no doubt.

Which is why we may now be at the watershed - he?s said himself that he wouldn?t want to just be able to go out and buy the ?best? (ie most expensive). So let?s see how he balances this one - the need for quality in the setup he already has.

Chris Rhodes
5 Posted 18/05/2008 at 20:03:44

Anyone else heard that Moyes is to sign some wonderkid called Suleman Kai? Can't find anything though.

Rob Foy
6 Posted 18/05/2008 at 21:48:51

Yup, the Yak was first mentioned in early August last year

Jimmy Craven
7 Posted 19/05/2008 at 11:56:21

I dont agree that Richardson has been a bad signing, hes had an injury hit 1st season but has looked impressive. The player that has been over looked that every evertonian would have loved to see in a blue jersey this time last season...joey barton, he should be the worst signing of the season.

Lets not forget why we lost to oldham, Wessels. Not all of Moyes signings work out.

Richard Harris
8 Posted 19/05/2008 at 11:49:03

I’m looking forward to the day when we are sucessful enough not to be linked to players such as Nugent, Richardson and Smith who will be hyped and then disappoint. At least we could be linked to better quality over-rated players !!

Peter Roberts
9 Posted 19/05/2008 at 13:09:06

Jimmy, in Moyes?s defence, Wessels was A) a free transfer and B) a one-year deal.

We all know Moyes?s signings don?t always come off but the majority do and I think that?s what we?ve got to be grateful for. People point and laugh at Voronin over at the Loft but he was also a free transfer so apart from wages what did they lose? Nothing.

The majority of the signings in that list were all bought for big money, with the exception of Sidwell ? meanwhile, has anyone seen Ivanovic since he arrived at Chelsea? Has anyone even heard of him?

Davey Militwtitch
10 Posted 19/05/2008 at 14:52:37

Lee Carsley has announced he is leaving.

I am really gutted to lose such a strong character and consumate professional from our ranks. Whoever we replace him with has got some boots to fill.

Good Luck for the future Lee, You will be sorely missed.