All-in-all, Moyes put his faith in the above because he wanted to spend the cash he had on the current squad; retaining Arteta, Rodwell and hopefully Pienaar. That was a deliberate choice on his part, but it has left us incredibly one-dimensional in midfield. The lack of pressure we exert on opposition defences means that both midfield and especially defence are under far more pressure in games than they should be with the nett effect being the silly mistakes that inevitably accompany the lack of an outlet.
If he wanted to spend the cash on existing squad members, why was this? That may seem like stating the obvious; why wouldn?t you want to retain the players mentioned above? However, I would contend that this summer was the right time for a clearout. Of the above players, the only one I would have been desperate to keep was Arteta. We had chances to get decent money for Yakubu and someone would have taken a punt on Saha. It was obvious to anyone but the most blind optimist that Pienaar wanted away and we?ve now blown our chances of getting decent money for him, as he?ll go on a free next summer or for pennies in January.
I also think we should have cashed in on Rodwell. We can?t afford to continue to act as a nursery for Man Utd, City et al; let them do the nurturing. Rodwell will be gone within two years anyway in my opinion. We may get more money for him then, assuming he continues to improve, but selling him now along with Pienaar and Yakubu would have provided the cash to get right and left sided wingers AND a striker.
Worst still, I think Moyes?s strategy was based on principle ? not tactics, or concerns over squad depth. £6M was not enough for Yakubu, apparently. Pienaar for £10M? Not nearly enough for Moyes, who felt that Everton?s offer to Pienaar was generous and if he didn?t like it then he could see out his contract. There?s £16M written off and it was clear that we could have got £20M + for Rodwell; but I think Moyes felt that it would imply we are a selling club again, when he has been insistent that we are not. £36M down the river to prove we don?t need to sell? Bonkers.
The worst part now is that we are stuck with the hand Moyes has dealt himself until January at the earliest. If, as is likely, we are still trying to escape the treacle of the lower half of the EPL, he will have to buy big to get us out of it. If Yakubu has started finding the net regularly by then, Saha becomes the new Lazarus, or Beckford finally steps up; the problem may have gone away and we just have to resign ourselves to mid-table mediocrity for the second year running with the allegedly best squad we?ve had for 15/20 years. However, if the current performances still persist, we won?t be able to give Yakubu away. Pienaar will be off for nowt and selling Rodwell in haste in January will not maximise the funds he could generate if sold in the summer. On top of that, Moyes is well known for not wanting to do business in January anyway (Donovan being a magnificent exception).
Moyes has got it spectacularly wrong and for once I can?t see a gung ho, back?s to the wall approach getting us out of it. I hope I am very wrong.
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Unless we are actually winning trophies and in Europe, Rodwell will be off, regardless of what we as Evertonians might want, and I was just trying to be pragmatic. My valuation of Rodwell was based on what I also read in the summer.
Let's face it, not many could have predicted the way things have gone for us so far this term and with a little bit of luck and a bit more belief that comes with it, we would all be giving Moyes a lot of praise for some fantastic planning right now. We all have to take risks when strategising and the ones DM took have come back to haunt him. He's not perfect by any means but give the bloke a break - we will improve from this position and the Club needs to support him financially somehow - however, that's another story and another debate as we know............COYBB
As Marc said, only the papers were talking of people coming in for players and their values ? where is the evidence that they existed? I am concerned about our position, but hope that things will steadily improve as from Saturday.
(Oh, and as an aside, before you start blaming Kenwright for everything, isn't it about time the players got stick for the obscene amount of money they get paid for playing a game! It is players and to a lesser extent agents who are bleeding clubs dry!)
So, having defended Moyes for his summer of love for the squad, I'm one of those who have/will continue to berate him for not yet knowing his best team and his tactical ineptitude ? especially against so called weaker teams... Simple fact is; the pressure for once is fully on Moyes ? and he's not coping too well, is he?
Before the season started, I wanted the club to tie down Pienaar's contract and if that meant the same deal as Arteta then that's what they should have done because if other clubs are really serious about him then they will be back with serious bids instead of waiting to get him on the cheap. Pienaar is one of our most important players and if it is the board who are refusing to improve Pienaar's contract then it is their mistake and like so if it is Moyes's decision. But, as I said, if it is the board's decision then I can understand Moyes taking the risk of letting his contract run down if there is a chance of him re-signing as long as we qualify or are at least pushing for a Champions League position (especially with the quality we DO have in the squad).
We desperately needed a good right winger so that is a position he has failed to cover before the start of the season. Maybe because we payed too much for Yakubu, he was expecting too much in return for a player past his prime, so maybe that is another failure. But I thought that the Yak could have something to prove and that we should keep him anyway (so long as there were no ridiculously high bids for him).
As Lynn say's hindsight is a wonderfull thing and it now looks like Pienaar is on his way out because we will probably finnish mid-table but beforehand I could understand Moyes's decision. So, apart from signing a right winger, I have not got a problem with Moyes in the transfer market this season, in fact, I actually think he has done very well again ? especially with the embarrassing amount available.
The problem I have with Moyes is not so much with buying and selling players but managing and coaching. If only Moyes could pick the players and someone else coach and manage them because, eight times out of ten, I like the type of player Moyes goes for. The problem we now have is that, because Moyes has not got what it takes to manage bigger numbers, more options and expectation, he may have single-handedly lost Pienaar and maybe other players with his wrong selections and tactics, which is one of a number of reasons why he needs to go (but not until we get out of this mess).
We are all moaning about a lack of striking options at the moment but, if the right players were played in the right formation with a bit more attacking intent, then we would probably be talking about something else... I can't make my mind up about Beckford until we play more to his strengths i.e. two up front or even some decent delivery.
On the subject of selling Rodwell ? for me, it is a definite NO-WAY. He would be one of the last players to sell. Here are a few I would get rid of first and if that meant the whole lot to generate money or Rodwell, then I would choose the former: Neville, Distin, Hibbert, Osman, Saha, Anichebe and Vaughan.
Not buying a quality striker is/was a big mistake. The Yak will have to put the ball in the net if he wants his move; we will have to wait and see if he can rediscover a bit of form.
Pienaar could yet sign a new contract but I don't think he will, as he and his agent think he should be getting in and round what we are allegedly paying Arteta -? £75 grand a week!! ? which is more complete madness; no way is he worth that kind of money.
I do believe Rodwell will be sold unless we find a sugar daddy for the club; in the current climate we live in, finding a buyer who's is going to put their money were their mouth is not going to be easy.I've been supporting Everton for 30 years,but lately I'm beginning not to give a toss any more. I'm fed up at being disappointed, head down, the weight of the world on me because we cannot win a frickin football match against the likes of Brentford. Everton FC were and are an important part of my life... but my daughter is more important!!
As for your post about selling Yak, Rodders & Stevie P. I agree with selling Stevie P to Landon coming back or the straight swap for Robbie Keane or Bentley and if someone offered £4 m for fat Yak I'd bite their hand off! But I'm sorry sell Rodders for £20m? You must be 'avin' a larff, my son! I would want at least double that as he's a more complete player and person than Shrek! But pray tell who would you replace him with?
Oh and, by the way, the man to blame for the whole shambles is Moyes!
We are toothless and lack passion and fight.... what is going on !!!!
Moyes blames the strikers, well he bought them and they were perfectly good before they got here, as was Distin. But it can't be your fault Davey can it? Because nothing ever is, either the players don't listen, the ref's against us,the grass isn't green enough but oh no, never the great Davey's fault!
Stop being so inflexible with your tactics and change them... or, if you won't, we the fans will change you!
How has Bily been ruined? You asked ? By having his arse sat on the bench, that's how ? and watching Osman play every game! Moyes is now played out with 4-5-1 but is too strubborn to change it, future Man Utd manager? ? don't make me laugh!
Who would I start with tomorrow? Well here goes:
HowardBainesDistinHeitingaNeville (c)GueyeArtetaFellainiPienaarBeckfordYakubuSubs: Mucha, Coleman, Jagielka (He's suffering a dip at the moment), Cahill, Silva, Bilyaletdinov, Agard
Yes that's right (and I quote): "Everton will be playing 4-4-fucking-2!" Let's have a go at the opposition for once.
But of course it'll be the usual 4-5-1 "In Moyes we're bust!"
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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