My analogy with the Titanic is I believe very apt: they said it was unsinkable; they said it was the best ship ever built; they got complacent because of all the plaudits coming their way; the Captain had concerns but was told to keep quiet and get on with it; they hadn't prepared for adversity; they were too slow to react to the impending disaster; finally, the ship sunk rapidly with cries for help being ignored.
In my opinion, holes first started to appear when we failed to invest in reinforcing the squad when we got into good positions (CL in 2004, Europe in successive seasons, and FA Cup Final etc). I also think Destination Kirkby proved very divisive amongst fans who, for the first time I can remember actually started a vitriolic exchange of views in large numbers. This didn't help the vocal support and the atmosphere the team had been used to at GP, although away support has always been fantastic. I also believe that DK took the management and team's eye off the ball and prevented consideration of further team investment.
But the Lescott situation was a real watershed that we have never recovered from with Moyes standing up to Earl and Green ("The men who make the decisions" according to Mark Hughes) and becoming totally obstinate with a player who wanted the opportunity to make himself a fortune. (No matter where you stand on that one, it was what the player wanted and was endorsed by a number of the senior players.)
And it wasted the whole of pre-season preparations. I think this lost Moyes a lot of respect amongst the squad and combined with the wranglings over his bumper contract caused further issues amongst the players. I posted at the time that I felt Moyes should go then as I could feel the famous "spirit" evaporating...
Enter a certain John Heitinga on record wages and, all of a sudden, players are starting to ask for better contracts. Pienaar and Arteta for starters... and let's not forget to compliment Cahill and Rodwell for expressing their feelings for the club by not making excessive demands. However, I believe the rot was setting in already and, despite a positive finish to the 2009-10 season, only 8th place was achieved and no Europe to look forward to.
Enter the 2010-11 season and we have Elstone telling us there is a transfer budget available to David Moyes and David Moyes telling us that there is no money available but he has the best squad of players ever. As I said, I have always admired David Moyes for his honesty but feel that in this he was being economical with the truth.
In the meantime, back to the engine room where we have Blue(?) Bill telling us he is continuing his 24/7 search for a new buyer/investor/benefactor, which all and sundry, including the players, must be sick of hearing. We start the season with an enormous amount of misplaced optimism with some fans believing "We're gonna win the league"!!!
We play well enough in patches (except v Newcastle) but without conviction, like a side of wannabe top 4 players but without the killer instinct that top sides have. Our famous team spirit is not in evidence anywhere, with Heitinga, Beckford and even Coleman arguing with team mates on occasion and even the Yak not wearing his customary grin anymore.
As the iceberg approaches, will the captain go down with the ship or are the crew willing and able to repair the damage? I fear the Captain has lost the plot and is showing real signs of panic, which is not good for the crew nor the passengers ? especially with the public criticism of Jermaine Beckford, who in my opinion has been the pick of the strikers this season (assuming Tim Cahill is a midfield player). Anybody can see this is not motivational and is not typical Moyes.
I conclude by saying the iceberg will come rapidly in the form of Chelsea, Wigan and Man City... and I hope for Titanic contributions from the players, manager and supporters ? otherwise, I can see a Titanic consequence in the departure of David Moyes and the further decline of our once-great club... while Bill and his buddies continue, er, 24/7.
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The possession under pressure was so majestic that you could hardly call it pressure, the movement, the one twos, the triangles, angled passes, flicks, dummies, control, creativity ? it makes Arsenal look like a team full of Nevilles and Hibberts... how many passes in the entire match were lofted? Two? Football like you say from a different planet. So good it was rediculous. They'll probably have to look for a different sport to do because they've mastered this one... and I don't think I'm even the slightest bit over the top!
With that in mind, my gripe is that too many of our lot aren't even playing at their own, comparatively modest, levels or, in some cases, not at all!
There is only so much any manager can do once players cross that line ? even for Mourinho. But one wonders what our lot do on the training pitch. While they can't all be Messi, certain skills and basic playing ability can be acquired and honed, notably taking free kicks, corners, shooting, ball control, passing properly (even without trying to reach the heights of the fancy stuff Barca served up tonight). Hence don't buy that the utter shite from some and the below par form of others is because the precious little dears are on some strange planet called a slightly different bit of the park.
Also, where is the personal professional pride and commitment to do well for self and team? For some, it's gone missing... while, for some others, it's simply lacking.
Ah well rant over and as always and whatever COYBs, but not without giving players the verbals as well when deserved... (eg, what's Dutch for you're a fucking disgrace?)
Now there's a point! ROUND! Is he the ruyt assistant for a non-dynamic, defensively minded manager?
One of my relatives was released by Everton because he was too small, and my abiding memories of going to watch him in Netherton, was Andy Holden standing on a podium a la Hitler, screaming ?Get rid of it!?, ?Close him down!?What we need is a football revolution, and the model is already out there and runs around in a Barca shirt.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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