I read some of the recent posts about David Moyes?s future with Everton, about his lack of transfer funds, about how he has worked miracles, about how it would be an error to sack him, how there is no-one any good to replace him, and so on, with a distinct sense of Déjà Vu.
Turn the clock back to January 2002. We are staring at relegation ? again ? just a couple of points above the drop zone and goals hard to come by. Sounds familiar.
Walter Smith had looked as if he was making progress for a while, but fans are calling for Smith?s head on a plate. Sounds familiar...
And Smith?s supporters and apologists are in full voice too.
"It amazes me that some Everton fans think simply sacking Walter Smith would improve the team,? wrote one fan to the Echo.
?Any new manager would have the same financial constraints Smith has had to put up with,? wrote another.
?He is definitely the right man for the job,? another one wrote that week. ?We are lucky to have Walter in charge.?
And even if we were to sack Smith, another refrain went, no-one would want the job - especially not that up-and-coming David Moyes. ?David Moyes has already turned down a couple of jobs recently, ? said one post. ?Would he think that Everton is any more suitable? Would any ambitious, young manager want to risk his reputation at Everton??
George Graham, whose name had also been mentioned as a possible successor to Smith, defended him. ?They are at the wrong end of the table, but I don't think it is anything to do with the manager. I think Walter is excellent,? he said.
And Neville Southall chimed in: "Walter Smith should get a knighthood, not the sack. It's laughable that they're criticising Walter.?
Gary Stevens similarly rushed to defend Smith. ?Everton have been unlucky. Someone has to galvanize the players and Walter is a man motivator.?
Ken Rogers in the Echo described Smith as, ?The quiet hero? of Goodison, working on a shoestring budget while, ?Leeds United has spent £90M in the transfer market. The phrase is: 'speculate to accumulate'." Right. Worked for them.
You see almost word for word posts every day ? inserting Davey Moyes name for Smith. The similarity is really startling. The fact is that all those claims on Walter Smith?s behalf back in January 2002 were wrong. Does anybody really wish today that we had never unloaded him? And all those fans defending Davey today are also wrong. His time has come. All respect to David Moyes, but we need new leadership, a fresh perspective and a reinvigorating new start.
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As for the 2002 squad it wasnt a lot worse than this current lot with the exceptions of Baines, Jags, Pienaar, Coleman and Cahill. Oh yes, there was a striker we refused to use that year as well they didnt think he was ready for the Premisership!
Although i am starting to wonder what if he does go? I say stick with him for this season at least, he seems a decent man and he's earned the chance to turn it around. Smith never took us anywhere near the Top 4. In fact, he never took us into the top HALF! I was glad when he went!!
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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