ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Progress, or lack of it....

Well, Liege have just scored a penalty and we look out of it (not that their 2nd goal really mattered, but we aren't going to score again).

I have been a Moyes supporter ever since Kenwright took a gamble on the promising young manager from the Championship but I now have to ask ? has David Moyes done as much with Everton as his talent will allow? 5 years and more in charge and he still persists in picking players who are either colourblind or simply cannot pass to a team mate. The back 4 are entirely clueless when it comes to retaining possession (something which is amplified when we play in Europe) - look at the way Liege (or Fiorentina, or even Kharkiv) players keep the ball even when under pressure, whilst the likes of Hibbert, Neville and Baines simply hoof the ball up field. If the manager cannot get across such a simple message to the players then he must take responsibility for the fact that they either won't or can't pass the ball properly.

Moyes has done an admirable job and has for me at least restored some pride in being an Evertonian, but if we really want to break the top-4 monopoly (which I don't believe is a realistic goal in this day and age without bilions at your disposal) we need to step back and look at how much further he can take us. Even I can see that Cahill doesn't play well in a 4-man midfield, and why play Hibbert and not Neville at right-back with Castillo (who has been decent in Blue so far) in Midfield? Decisions like this make me scratch my head and have started me questioning Moyes for the first time.

If I was Kenwright I would withdraw the contract offer (yes I realise this leaves the door open for Newcastle to pounce) and see how the next 2 months go - with no UEFA and Carling Cup we should be able to concentrate on getting a good league run together, but if we are still below half-way at Christmas then I think it may be time for a change.
Neil Adams, Bristol Posted 02/10/2008 at 20:29:23

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stephen stuart
1 Posted 03/10/2008 at 07:30:06

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The so-called progress is there for all to see - NONE. The notion is a fallacy. Football is not about progress - it’s about winning trophies. Everton under Moyes have won NOTHING. They play shit football and still earn buckets full of money for it. It’s time for Moyes and Kenwright to fuck off and leave this club alone.

Shane Corcoran
2 Posted 03/10/2008 at 08:08:11

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Stephen, by that rationale you’d be happy with us fighting relegation each year as long as we won the Carling Cup? Maybe Moyes has done all he can but at least give the man credit for turning a complete shambles into at least a top half if not top six club.

stephen stuart
3 Posted 03/10/2008 at 08:30:53

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Thanks for your comment, but you’d be wrong about me wanting an annual relegation fight.

What you need to understand is the word ’progress’ has become a metaphor for ’not winning anything’ and has become acceptable for a number of clubs as a way of operating. This is inherently negative in its approach. Maybe why Moyes is seen as such a master of it??

You don’t hear Chelsea or ManUtd wanting to make progress - No, they want to win all the competitions they enter. Everton’s own championship winning teams were not playing for progress. Believe it or not Everton have not always been a ’shambles’ but there ya go.

However, the current regime is behaving in a way that suggests progress is good enough. I will continue to contest this view as long as it continues and as long as I could be bothered. Moyes has brought about the current mess - and I know no one more negative than him - so much for ’progress’

Joe McMahon
4 Posted 03/10/2008 at 08:44:49

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To be honest I agree - Progress???. Is progress not being in a relegation fight every season after 6 years, playing the game so bad that it’s embarrasing?

I’m fed up with his negative ways, he can’t blame everything on money. If Martin O Neil had Moyes budget, would we see more attractive football........too fucking right we would.

Neil Adams
5 Posted 03/10/2008 at 12:49:30

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The added problem is that nowadays with the mangerial merry-go-round that certain teams seem to persist with (Newcastle, Spurs, Man City etc) that continuity has somehow become equated with progress.

Much is made of the fact that Moyes is the 3rd longest-serving manager in the EPL, however if Messrs Ferguson and Wenger had won nothing after 6 years in charge they would probably be picking up their P45.

Don’t get me wrong - great strides forward have been made since Walter Smith left. However I now feel the "Moyes-iah" tag might be a little optimistic and a new continental attitude might be the only way forward.

Rijkaard and Gullit are currently looking for work aren’t they?

Shane Corcoran
6 Posted 03/10/2008 at 13:27:33

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I agree with your general points but all I was saying is that Moyes does deserve praise. He has made progress from when he took over. The point you all seem be making is that more progress needs to be made now, i.e. win a trophy or break the top four again and I don’t disagree. But just a little credit for then v now is required.

John McAllister
7 Posted 03/10/2008 at 13:22:17

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The pages of the mail bag are full of criticisms of David Moyes with many suggesting we should get rid of him.

I work on the basis that there's no sense in throwing away something unless you can replace it with the same or preferably better. Therefore, if you expect us to take your suggestion seriously, then I would expect you to have at least one name in mind as a replacement. And it must be someone who we can realistically see as coming to Everton - there's no way the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Scolari etc would come to Goodison now [or in the future].

So who will it be?