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What?s Changed?
Comments (26) : I?m sure you?re all the same as me. When Everton loose, it puts me on a downer for the next few days at least; but what?s changed recently is that I don?t get disappointed ? just fucking angry. And that?s what hurts the most.
This is the best team sheet I?ve ever seen as an Evertonian. We have a choice of two international goalkeepers in Mucha and Howard, we have two international centre halves in Jagielka and Heitinga, the most talented midfielder not to get in Spain?s World Cup winning squad, and a supposedly proven goal scorer in Yakubu up front.
Not only this but we don?t have any injury problems to major players and there was no transfer ordeals with any of our best players leaving. Yet Moyes still persists in the 4-5-1 formation that does not work without Cahill and he still plays Osman on the right over a Russian international winger that cost us £10 million ? money that we can hardly afford to waste on a player that warms the bench.
Last night, me and my Dad were listening to City FM around the kitchen table with my Mum in the front room. And it struck me that this really was a return to the old days. When good ol? Walter was in charge, that was our Saturday afternoon; turn the radio on at 3, listen to Everton loose, turn it off at 5, then have a good old cry on my Dad?s shoulder as to why Everton were rubbish and how we shouldn?t have let Nick Barmby leave. Not much has changed at all really apart from I don?t cry to my dad anymore I just rant to my girlfriend instead.
Grahame Sharp mentioned in his commentary last night about a game against Bristol Rovers ten years ago that we lost in the League Cup and I couldn?t help but reminisce, if that?s the right word, about the old days. And I came to the conclusion that we're not much further on.
Yes, we no longer have to worry every season about avoiding relegation... but, on the other hand, Walter never did get us relegated, though he did try his best. We now have a manager who, very much like Smith, has an immediate objective of not to loose. No team has ever or will ever be successful simply by avoiding defeat. Everton as a football club are better than that and, whenever I see us playing 4-5-1 against anyone but the top 3, my heart sinks because you know that we just won?t go out and attack.
I hate to say this but, under David Moyes?s management, this will never change. As a team, it seems we peaked with the Cup Final defeat against Chelsea. Ever since, we?ve just gone steadily backwards; but, this season, teams are catching us up and going beyond us... and, as they continue to progress at the same rate, we go backwards ? it's going to get to the point that we?ll be stuck in mid table.
But what?s really pissed me off is that we can no longer rely on keeping a clean sheet whenever we're not playing quite so well up front. Recently, we?ve been so poor defensively and that?s completely unacceptable considering that?s supposed to be Moyes?s strongest point. We have Distin, who is playing shite at the minute, keeping out a Dutch international who himself has been off this campaign. All-in-all, only Jagielka is holding steady at the back and that is the one area where we should never be struggling in.
So yeah, that?s it really. Rant over. But, if it doesn?t change and change fast, we?ll be struggling to finish in the top half this season, and that?s the worst part of it. Because if we finish there once, I doubt we?ll make it back to the position we were in a few seasons ago.
Maybe Moyes?s time is up; maybe he?ll get us out of this mess..., but one thing is for sure: last night reminded me of a time I thought our club had been through and successfully come out the other side... Maybe not.
Reader Comments (26)
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2 Posted 22/09/2010 at 17:23:30
Have you lot seriously never noticed how other teams also have barren spells? Spurs were shite at the start of last season but the fans weren't moaning in May.
If you lot were chairmen there'd be a new manager every week.
3 Posted 22/09/2010 at 17:46:42
4 Posted 22/09/2010 at 18:25:56
I'm the opposite; I don't get angry, I'm disappointed.
5 Posted 22/09/2010 at 18:05:56
I was going to write a piece entitled "Moyes- the Myth" detailing, in essence, fuck all has changed under his tenure.
But why bother, it's preaching to the converted.
Mostly, we've all wished it was'nt true and acomodated his preferred hoofball because he is our manager, a decent man, constrained by a litany of oft quoted shite, and, by dint of job duration , an evertonian.
It is complete bollox that we are having yet another shit start to the season and complete bollox that we are back to where he started.
Because, don't be fooled, we are in a fight for survival in this league and no one at the club, and many fans don't seem to know it.
6 Posted 22/09/2010 at 18:23:48
It's no secret were making chances. That Barcodes game aside, we've performed like the good team that we are in every game.
I'm frustrated too, Adam, we all are. But let's get some perspective. If we start converting these chances instead of wasting them which we inevitably will start doing, then we start winning games. Quite simple.
I believe the stumbling block now is completely mental. We're low on confidence; don't underestimate this. It has its effects on all teams. If we've got any of this characteristic spirit left we're so famous for, now is the time to see it. Sacking Moyes is not the answer
7 Posted 22/09/2010 at 18:13:19
8 Posted 22/09/2010 at 18:40:13
9 Posted 22/09/2010 at 18:43:03
I don't know where we go from here but after 5 weeks into the season we have only 1 piece of silverware to go for, the FA Cup... and Tranmere will probably knock us out of that. The only thing that might make us feel better is if we beat Liverpool twice (not much chance of that either).
10 Posted 22/09/2010 at 19:12:57
11 Posted 22/09/2010 at 20:04:35
This is Moyes team
Howard
Hibbert Jags Distin Baines
Arteta
Heitinga
Osman Fellaini Pienaar
Beckford
Whereas mine is:
Howard
Coleman Jags Heitinga Baines
Fellaini
Bily Arteta Pienaar
Cahill
Beckford
12 Posted 22/09/2010 at 20:54:26
Really? Why would that be then?
Good article by the way. Thanks.
13 Posted 22/09/2010 at 23:28:36
14 Posted 22/09/2010 at 23:56:32
I really don't think Coleman is anywhere good enough as a defender yet, but he is great going forward. I'd therefore play him wide right with Pip behind him at RB, similar to how Spurs get the best out of Bale.
15 Posted 23/09/2010 at 05:29:59
Another strange one! Moyes bought Billy for decent money and doesn't seem to back him, leaving him consistently on the bench! Not sure what others make of him, I thought he'd be super keen this term to get a regular spot in the side!
16 Posted 23/09/2010 at 07:55:17
17 Posted 23/09/2010 at 10:20:21
Howard<
Hibbert Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Fellaini
Coleman Arteta Pienaar
Cahill
Yakubu
And if Yak is still out of form, I'd move Cahill up front, and put Bily where Cahill was, as he is an attacking centre mid, NOT a fucking left winger. Also Neville can issue his "rallying cries" from the bench, as in footballing terms, no fucking way should he be in the team.
However, all of the above is in vain as no doubt Moyes will play Neville and Osman week in week out and continue to play players out of position.
Sort it out Moyes, it's not rocket science.
18 Posted 23/09/2010 at 11:07:21
Both players are out of their depth here.
No matter how many times you polish a turd it's still a turd
19 Posted 23/09/2010 at 12:34:46
Now I'm not saying it's a dead cert he's going to be brilliant (if and when played centre mid), however he has never been given the chance - so to write him off completely would be wrong.
We all know he's got a cracker left foot and is capable of scoring quite a few, so why not give him a go. Anyway it can't be much worse than the shite we've been served up so far this season.
20 Posted 23/09/2010 at 13:13:06
Spelling 'loose' to mean 'lose' is a regular occurrence on these, otherwise well-proofed, pages. Even more so this season.
Perhaps we're just bad losers?
21 Posted 23/09/2010 at 16:00:44
A run of a few bad results doesn't make us a bad team and I'm sure things will soon settle down when we find a bit of form and confidence. In fact, until the Newcastle game we had been playing some good football.
22 Posted 23/09/2010 at 16:51:43
23 Posted 23/09/2010 at 18:53:20
24 Posted 23/09/2010 at 19:53:39
25 Posted 23/09/2010 at 20:26:00
Coleman should not be right back, he is a very poor defender at present.
26 Posted 23/09/2010 at 22:38:34
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1 Posted 22/09/2010 at 17:27:43