Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Youth is our Hope
By Jimmy Daly :: 07/07/2011
20 Comments (»Last)
I, just like 99% of Evertonians, also scour the internet looking for news of transfers in or out. The only constant being, there are none. I, however, do not subscribe to the fact that we are now a "small" club.
We are the club who have more years in the top flight than any other; we have won Division titles, FA Cups, European trophies and Charity Shields... and ? before you all start on about it being a hundred years ago, it does not change the fact. How many supporters of other clubs would like to say the same?
Are we, and have we been for some time, going through tough times? Yes... but not to the extent of other clubs. Just take a look at the lower divisions, and see which clubs would have been catergarised as "big" clubs just years ago (they won league titles etc): Forest, Leeds, Sheff Wed, Ipswich, Derby, Burnley... and many others.
Now you will probably take offense at the likes of Derby, Burnley and Ipswich, but truth is at one time or another they were the shit. Moving forward to the new millenium, "where are they now?"
Have other clubs passed us? Yes... But on a larger budget than we can muster. There are for example only three other Premier League clubs who have a combined owners' wealth less than ours: Bolton, Swansea and WBA. There are only seven in the championship that have less: Burnley, Birmingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Milwall and Scunthorpe.
So, when you put that into perspective, Kenwright (or wrong, whichever your leaning) and Moyes have not done a bad job. How many of the other Premier League teams that spend a lot more than we do, on average, finish ahead of us? Other than the obvious three or four seasons when we absolutely survived by the skin of our teeth.
Also do not forget that the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool have spent time out of the top flight, that I can actually remember.
The damage was done in the mid-eighties when the then board did not invest in an ageing team, and it obviously was not helped by the lack of revenue that we surely would have had, had we been allowed to play in Europe.
Yes we do have an ageing stadium; it is correct that we do not have the funds to spend big. But, more importantly, yes we do constantly "punch above our weight".
What we do have is an excellent fan base and week in week out fantastic group of supporters who spend their well earned money to follow the blues, home and away. Most pundits will agree that EFC is perhaps the best supported away team in the Premier League; we also have, regardless of its demeanor, a ground that, when rocking, is the only place to be.
I believe that we will rise again to the heights of the 60s and 80s, and we will do it with the present people in charge. The way forward is through our youth, with a sprinkle of loans and "lower division" gems. This coming season could be a defining season for us ? not in terms of winning the league, or even a top four finish, but rather in who we get to step up from the youth that we have.
COYFBB
Reader Comments (20)
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2 Posted 07/07/2011 at 23:28:26
As for the issue with surviving on what we have and doing well, there's only so long that can last and while others around us spend we will be squeezed out of the top 6 very soon. The way the policy looks at the moment we are turning into a mid-table team within the next 2-3 years.
3 Posted 08/07/2011 at 06:21:17
The damage was done when Kenwright failed to secure the Kings Dock.
4 Posted 08/07/2011 at 07:46:59
I believe there are four or five young lads making a name for themselves who will be ready to come through in the next two years. If these go on to be top drawer players the whole future of the club changes course.
If they go on to be solid pros in the Hibbert/Osman mould they will still save us a lot of transfer money we don't have, or generate decent fees on the transfer market for a manager who gets value for money with what ever pittance he can get his hands on.
I don't believe that Man Utd would be in the position there are in today had Fergie's fledglings not all come through within a few years of each other, as it goes that core of players went on to dominate for near a decade.
Moyes IMO makes it difficult for youth to come through due to his inclination to go for an experienced head over a young up-and-comer and his reliance on his favourites even when bang out of form.
I don't see this as a completely negative thing. It ensures that only players who are absolutely up to standard get through and it makes the young player hungrier and more determined to stay in once they get their chance.
5 Posted 08/07/2011 at 08:01:54
We finish above teams we have better players and are a bigger club than and finish below sides with bigger squads and better players. 7th/8th is under current constraints is bog standard ? nothing more.
6 Posted 08/07/2011 at 10:04:40
7 Posted 08/07/2011 at 11:30:13
Under this regime we're a feeder club, ergo we can't build a team.
8 Posted 08/07/2011 at 10:57:18
I agree with much of the article, but cannot accept that BK's or the board's efforts have matched that of Moyes in any way shape or form. They are there to back him with funds and to ensure that the club maximises all revenue streams by providing the facilities that can help enable this. In fact all their development proposals have been abject failures, and Moyes has had to continually muddle through with very little or even no nett spend. Therefore I cannot see how they can claim any credit for this..... as for all intents and purposes they've only been spectators like the rest of us. I've even heard some say "at least they've stuck with Moyes", as if this was at all praiseworthy, or in someway justified their existence when again, I cannot imagine how or why they wouldn't have stuck by him.
Ultimately, the title of the article is probably accurate and very telling.... youth is possibly our ONLY hope, which must be quite damning of every other facet of the operation. Maybe that bumper crop of talent is just around the corner, but it all sounds more "hope" than strategy.
9 Posted 08/07/2011 at 13:07:20
If we produce a gem and get 10/15m we can re-invest that money. Clearly we want to try and hold onto our best players but buying and selling is what makes the world go round.
We need to focus on our strengths, one of which is we can potentially offer 1st team footaball to young players while the top4 or 6 can't. Currently we are the best of the rest and in with a shout of europe playing in the most exciting league in the world that is surely worth something.
10 Posted 08/07/2011 at 14:37:29
Senderos's effort for us will live long in my memory, I remember when (can't remember who against) Baines overlapped and the opponents broke down his wing, Neville then came burning past Senderos while having to run diagonally from his right back position to block the player off. If he hadn't the guy was through on goal.
How could Duffy do any worse than that!?
I asked before on here when had Moyes actually given a young centre back a chance at centre back, the only person anyone could come up with was Peter Clarke on the odd occasion for 3 months.
Come on Moyes, the War (chest) is over, give the naive a chance...
11 Posted 08/07/2011 at 16:06:17
12 Posted 08/07/2011 at 15:37:15
13 Posted 08/07/2011 at 17:37:58
That always excites me as I'd much rather our brilliant new CF or CM be a youngster come through the ranks than a £10m mercenary from Europe.
With that in mind, I really hope that the likes of Vellios, Duffy, Barkley and maybe Forshaw have cracking pre-seasons and get the chance to blend in with the more senior pros.
Who knows, by mid-season this could be a cracking team:
Howard
Coleman Jags Duffy Baines
Arteta Fellaini Barkley
Osman
Beckford Vellios
14 Posted 08/07/2011 at 20:54:11
15 Posted 08/07/2011 at 22:56:11
16 Posted 09/07/2011 at 12:10:05
Jimmy, that's happening now; we have a board who do not invest in an ageing team.
17 Posted 11/07/2011 at 09:18:01
18 Posted 11/07/2011 at 17:52:35
19 Posted 12/07/2011 at 07:30:54
Jimmy I totally agree with the great majority of the points that you make. It's very interesting to compare and contrast Everton and Liverpool in ceratain attitudes in the late 1980's/early 1990's. Liverpool lost Rush to Juventus around the same time that we lost Lineker to Barcelona ( within a year or so). When the signs were that these players were going to move back to England - Liverpool made sure that they got Rush back what did Everton do ? Did we make a move for Lineker - who after all was at that time probably the most prolific English born striker ? No we sat back and let Spurs move in.
Now I know there are some who will say that Rush failed in Italy, Lineker did well in Spain etc. It was easier for Liverpool. Not so - we made feeble efforts if any to sign Lineker back. If you look at some of our signings at that time they were not exactly "top quality" - with Beardsley an honourable exception. Having won the League and the Cup Winners Cup in 1984/85 we signed Lineker in the summer. Two years later as Champions in 1987/88 we signed who ?
Kenwright is an all too easy target - the lack of leadership and good management goes back to the 1980's. Yes we were hit hard by Heysel and the resultant ban. But with better and more imaginative planning we could have come through better than we did.
Youth is certainly a good part of the answer. many very successful Everton teams have included a good number of players who came through the junior teams. The 1969-70 team had Wright, Labone, Harvey, Husband,Whittle and Royle. The 1984-85 team may not have had the same numbers but was skippered by Kevin Ratcliffe who had come through the junior ranks.
Investing in a youth development programme has been good enough for Ajax!! So why not Everton - so come on Moyes be bold and give youth a chance.
20 Posted 12/07/2011 at 07:52:03
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1 Posted 07/07/2011 at 23:17:40
Senderos... yes, fucking Senderos brought in. What did that tell Duffy? People on this site calling out for Coleman to play wide midfield long before it occurred to the coach. Baxter? Is he any good? Well, we will never know while Moyes's favourites draw breath. Hope and Barkley better be superstars if they want to get into this great team.