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On the Subject of Second Best...
Comments (16) : The impression I have from reading the ToffeeWeb site is one of great despair amongst the fans. The questions seem predominantly to revolve around why the club is yet to bring any new players in (and yes, I know that Lars Jacobsen and Castillo have now joined), but the fans ? buoyed up by Moyes?s talk of only buying the best have been expecting better. Now I will freely admit that I have seen nothing of either Jacobsen or Castillo, and they may well be both world class, however at this point in time the mood does seem to be that neither are.
Everton finished 5th in the league, a position which reputedly brings a lot of prize money with it, following a new and more lucrative television deal and following the sale of James McFadden in January (and now the sale of AJ). To the layman therefore it would appear that the club must have money ? and indeed, this has been further compounded by the Chairman (idiot that he is) publicly stating that there is money, and that it has been there from the start.
I label him an idiot in this respect because saying there is money and then not spending it pushes the blame onto David Moyes for the club?s situation. In addition, there is the feeling that the money is being saved up for Kirkby and after his statement that the money is there regardless of the Kirkby decision Kenwright is rapidly approaching the point where, in my opinion, the fans will no longer believe a word he says. It has always surprised me that EFC seem to drift from saying nothing to saying too much ? still? I mean, who in their right mind would wait until now to buy a player?
The fact of the matter is, is that the fans' (certainly mine) expectations have not been met ? no Moutinho, no Riera etc, etc. However, it has just struck me in light of the SWP debacle and him apparently being offered £80k per week that perhaps Moyes is doing the right thing not spending any money (always assuming he has any to spend). If indeed there is money to spend and that Moyes wants to buy Moutinho ? but for whatever reason he cannot ? then having a couple of players in on short term contracts or loans makes a lot of sense in a certain light. Loaned players cost less (one would assume) than a paid for player, and if they are rubbish then there is no obligation to keep them after the end of the season. So, if we accept Moyes?s wish not to buy players of a lesser quality than he would like, and if he cannot buy Moutinho, maybe loaning in Castillo is a good idea?
Of course, there will be risk in this approach just like any other ? saving the transfer budget until January or next year could become a case of shutting the stable door once the horse has bolted.
I have always marvelled at Everton?s seeming inability to capitalise on a strong position ? finishing 5th and with a relatively successful Uefa Cup run could be seen to be a perfect springboard for attacking the dominance of the top teams in the league. However, I am not a football manager and maybe Rodwell, Baxter, Jacobsen and Castillo will storm the league and Moyes will have performed another miracle. After all, that is his stock in trade, isn?t it?
Reader Comments (16)
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2 Posted 29/08/2008 at 09:05:42
We should have strengthened the midfield last January (following the departure of McFadden) when we had a realistic chance of finishing fourth. We didn?t, and our lack of strength in depth was sorely exposed.
Now, we have witnessed another three months of failure to significantly reinforce the squad. Any rational football observer would surely have to conclude that Everton will not be as successful as last season.
With ?blethering Bill? and ?dithering Dave? at the helm, perhaps our transfer dealings were always going to be a travesty. I just wish I hadn?t built my hopes up.
3 Posted 29/08/2008 at 09:34:56
Or playing devil’s advocate here, maybe its not as easy to sign players as one seems to think?
I think West Ham are a good example of poor management. The regime of the last chairman left West ham deeply in the shit, with stupid wage bills and debt. Now it seems they are having to balance the books. But he threw the cash about didnt he? He put the money in though? Thats what we want right? We can then buy anyone, even players that dont really want to play for us. Lets just hope that doesnt upset the squad unity, which is something that cant be bought, and EFC are continually praised about.
4 Posted 29/08/2008 at 09:52:03
5 Posted 29/08/2008 at 09:57:39
6 Posted 29/08/2008 at 09:48:24
I remember Moyes being criticised for signing Nigel Martyn. "What do we need another ’keeper for? ...we’ve already got Richard Wright" (If you remember correctly, Richard Wright had been a success up to that point). However, during that season, everyone thanked their lucky stars that Moyes had brought in Martyn.
I also remember the summer before we finished 4th. People on here, were slagging off Moyes and the Board, because half the players only had a year left on their contracts. As it happens, this worked out very well for us. Everyone was fighting for a new contract, and we ended up finishing fourth.
Last summer, Moyes and the Board got loads of stick because they didn’t sign David Nugent, and everyone thought it was because Moyes didn’t have a penny to spend. We then signed Yakubu before the transfer deadline. Enough said...
7 Posted 29/08/2008 at 10:25:22
8 Posted 29/08/2008 at 11:42:36
10 Posted 29/08/2008 at 12:21:07
11 Posted 29/08/2008 at 13:19:54
12 Posted 29/08/2008 at 13:19:17
Also, when he was fit, Saha kept Ruud Van Nistelroy out of the MU first eleven...
13 Posted 29/08/2008 at 14:25:21
I reckong Moyes should now for Jimmy Bullard and Alan Smith and forgert Moutinho.
Another shout, what about Jermain Pennant from the shite, I reckon Van der Meyde will do a job for us this season too.
14 Posted 29/08/2008 at 14:34:23
I have high hopes for Castillo, any black guy who can go to Serbia and win people over must have something about him. I don?t exactly watch the Serbian league but I?ll bet there are some tough hombres knocking about. As long as he can pick up the higher pace of the Premier League I think he?ll be good. All speculation until he?s been here a while of course.
I?m certainly a little happier with the squad now, but we needed four midfielders and have only signed one. Three more please, including that elusive left footed winger, although I?d certainly be happy with Milner as his left foot is good anyway.
15 Posted 29/08/2008 at 14:42:29
16 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:10:21
The fans expect a big name so we should be held to ransom and pay over the odds. Are you really serious?. Do you think this is Top Trumps or something?.
The RS pay 20mn for Robbie Keane. So he’s a better striker than our Yak is he?. By your logic he is!. Keane so far 0 goals in 4 competetive outings. Yak 2 goals in 2.
Could it be some ’fans’ need to stop playing the computer games for long enough to realise that ’big names’ mean fuk all. Good players are what counts and Moyes has a better-than-average record of finding them.
17 Posted 29/08/2008 at 16:17:22
With Pennant in the squad, Arteta could be switched back to centre midfield in a free role.
I think Moyes should now promote Lescott to team captain!
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1 Posted 29/08/2008 at 08:28:37