The new man has been in the job for only a day and he is already making all the right noises about Everton's prospects under his management.  While David Moyes stressed that his first and only focus was today's crucial home clash with Fulham, he also made it clear that he wants his team to play entertaining football and, above all, to get into the habit of winning matches.  Coming on the back of Walter Smith's more conservative strategy of playing for a draw during times of difficulty, Moyes' words come as a breath of fresh air.

The arrival of a member of the new school of football management who appears to be enterprising and enthusiastic shouldn't be under-estimated as a catalyst to over-turning the depression that had set in at Goodison as we struggled against the almost continuous run of injuries and poor results that has afflicted this campaign.

In stark contrast to the suit-and-tie style of Smith, Royle and latter-reign Kendall, Moyes' "tracksuit manager" image brings hope of a boss who can greater empathise and identify with the players.  Moyes brings a completely new managerial ethos, new training and coaching methods, and an apparent determination to succeed.  Regarded as a student of the game, he has earned his official UEFA coaching badge and has a track record of wanting the freedom to manage his own way.

As Everton look to the bight future of the Kings Waterfront project, this opportunity for revolution on the playing field should not be under-estimated in importance or possibilities.  Far too often accused of living on past glories and being stuck behind the times, Everton's selection of Moyes could signal the beginning of a new, youthful and dynamic era at the Club — providing, of course, he is able to steer us to Premiership safety between now and mid-May.

The next two games against Fulham and Derby will tell if the "new broom" factor has been enough to spur what is essentially a decent team back to winning ways.  If Moyes can get some points under his belt early on, his arrival at the club alone may be enough to save the Blues from the drop and provide him the platform to build for the future.

There is a real sense of anticipation among the supporters about the Moyes reign and it is up to us all now, having fought amongst ourselves over the merits and de-merits of the Smith era, to get behind the new manager, the team and the club as a whole as we enter the final crucial stages of the season.  

Let Goodison be silent no more!

Lyndon Lloyd

©2002 ToffeeWeb, 16 March 2002