Anthony, although your post has merits, I would argue that Naismith has become the whipping boy when in actual fact he has hardly played for months and has been brought on as a sub late on in most games. I would save your criticism for the more senior pro's in Everton's ranks who have left the club down in recent weeks including : Osman
Baines
Pienaar
Heitinga

Wow. You go to great lengths to state it's not a personal attack, and then go in two-footed. To use a football analogy.

Ok I'm sure we can all remember players who were "WTF" picks, some of them still give me nightmares today. The player you single out was a bargain for us, given our circumstances and that of the "new Rangers" at that time. Whilst he's been a let down overall, I don't think he's been that bad. Maybe if he recovers fitness he could be the foil to Jelavic that he was north of the border, or maybe it's like Barlow and Angell all over again. More nightmares.

I am not his biggest fan, but I don't think he goes out to pick players / make subs just to piss us off? For me, he did that last season with the Anfield white flag, and post-match comments. But that's just my view, and each to their own, etc.

There is some merit to this although the Naismith example is harsh the lad has hardly played. What about the insane persistence with Heitinga when he was beyond shocking? With Duffy sat rotting on the bench. The dropping of players in form to accomodate his favourites as seen as they are half fit again. Mucha out for Howard and Osman over Barkley this week for example.

What message does it send out to the young players who can't even get the small amount of time that Naismith gets? It does seem a tad strange to keep bringing him on for no apparent reason, we can only assume it is a financial thing such as appearance money. If I was Naismith I wouldn't be sure whether it was a compliment or an insult to keep coming off the bench late in games unless it was related to appearance money.

James #376"What about the insane persistence with Heitinga when he was beyond shocking? With Duffy sat rotting on the bench"

What experience has Duffy had compared to Heitinga? How many first class games in any league? How many world cup finals has he played in?

On those grounds we should not have Fellaini, Baines, Pienaar, Jellavic, Anichebe or Osman in the team and then we'd have to play a team of untried academy players. Look where that's gotten Villa.

Villa have a plan, Eric. They'll improve. Beyond that response I'm not sure what you're actually trying to say.

That experience always trumps inexperience? How does anyone ever get experience in that case?

Yesterday, the old pros were fucking up over and over again. If that's what happening then you might as well have youngsters doing it - the performance might be the same (it might not of course, but it couldn't get worse) but at least they'd be gaining experience.

Heitinga made an error yesterday that a Sunday league player would be gutted about. So what use is experience if the experienced person is still shit?

Ernie "Villa have a plan, Eric. They'll improve"

So dropping down the league and into the Championship division is a good plan? and an improvement?

Well Eric & Ernie,Villa were the topic in the pub last week so just thought I'd throw in my twopenneth! A couple of us had seen Villa recently,and noticed that they had a few good,young players. They have no money,and YES they might go down but,perhaps,YES they do have a plan long term. . I remember when Gordon Lee had a problem with a few players playing BillyBigBoots,over money (Latchford,Todd,Pejic) and he said that he'd rather go down fighting with young keen players. It was about the time he gave Sharp,Megson,McBride &Ratcliffe a chance. . Perhaps a moral in there,perhaps not. Just sayin' like!.

My mate texted me to say that Gordon Lee also blooded Mcmahon and Richardson during that period, so more food for thought on that point. Sort of emphasises Ernie's argument...

We can't do any worse than Osman, can we. And I don't say that in a provocative, semi-jokey, argumentative way — I say it in tired, tired desperation.

Moyes is aware of Naismith's limitations hence has rarely started him in preference over others when he has had options. His thinking is to re-iginte the previously fruitful partnership Naismith had with Jelavic at Rangers to generate goals, but as we all know it hasn't worked. That's why he put him on on Saturday over others on the bench.

Moyes has always made puzzling buys and played them on a regular basis. James Beattie, Simon Davies, Phil Neville, and the dreaded Leon "Hospital Ball" Osman to name a few.

Naismith is a Scotish Premier League player who is out of his depth down here. Not his fault Moyes picks him but I reckon Naismith should move back north to further his career as he is lost and will never make the grade.

Ally McCoist found out how different it is with the big boys when he came down from Rangers. Naismith has had his go and that's that. Take Osman back to Rangers with him please.

Some more of Moyes's "puzzling," buys...

Jagielka, Arteta, Martyn, Cahill, Lescott, Baines, Fellaini, Gibson, Mirallas, Howard.

Fact is that we have no depth, a look at our bench compared to any of the teams above or around us confirms that. All very well saying play the youth but only time will tell how good they are. May be that they are substandard, Moyes can see this and he doesn't want to lose points in what has been up to now quite a close league with every point worth fighting for.

As the European dream diminishes perhaps we may get to say a few more youth players step in.

Gary Reeves, it was Kendall who blooded Kevin Richardson, not Gordon Lee

Well Peter,I did say that was my mates tip-off. Am trying to rack my brains myself and I can't say difinitively (lots of players around that time),but have done a little digging and according to Wikipedia my mate is right.

Everton's own site suggests you're right Peter (Kendall's first season),so I think we'd go with that over Wikipedia! Apologies.

Tony - remind us, how much did Moyes pay to sign Leon Osman as one of his 'puzzling buys'

Moyes has signed some exceptional players over his 11 years, Felli, Martyn, Cahill, Arteta, Baines, Pienaar, Jags, Mirallas.
But, he has signed some awful players, Castillo, Bilyaletdinov, Davies, Naismith.
But, every manager has signed a duffer, Fergie signed Bebe, Veron so I think overall in terms of transfers Moyesy is one of the best in England, but in terms of trophies.. oh dear.

I think some of Moyes poorer signings like Castillo or Naismith have been forced by the lack of funds. But that still never excuses the fact that he has continued to use these players ahead of youngsters who are desperately in need of experience. Surely in these next few weeks there is a case for giving game time to the likes of Barkley, Duffy, Oviedo, Kennedy and McAleny.

Peter Bell @ 141
According to the Official Site, Kendall introduced Richardson in November 1981.

There's no doubting Moyes can't half spot a talented player and made some great signings over the years, the problem is all down to his tactics.

The team is out of shape: he will play players out of position to accommodate his favourites. Heitinga has stank Goodison Park out so how the hell do you warrant putting Jagielka at right back and playing Heitinga centre half?

Some players are undroppable and they know it. Baines, Pienaar and Oman have been let-downs over the past few weeks, great as they are... whether it's tiredness or not, then rest them and let the likes of Barkley, Oviedo and Garbutt have a run out.

If a youngster makes a mistake, that's it — dropped for months on end... but let one of his blue-eyed boys have a stinker and not a problem; they are still selected the following game.