Colm Kavanagh is a bit upset over recent pronouncements about Joseph Yobo
Taking the Michael, Michael?
Not really permanent?
Welcome to today's Everton cookery lesson! Today, we take one quote (with a pinch of salt) from the Chief Executive, Michael Dunford, and cynically ask the questions that need to be asked in response.
"Joseph has been here on loan for a year. When the deal becomes permanent, which it will, the funds will have to be found from this year's budget, of which the Premiership prize money is part."
First, the good news: we're told that the deal will become permanent. Excellent news indeed as Joey Yobo has shown his class in the Premiership this season. However, weren't we told this some months back, by Mr Dunford, that Yobo's signature "and services" had already been secured? Did we not initially take the player on a year's loan deal but then agree a deal with Marseille making Joseph Yobo, officially, an Everton player? If we didn't, then someone, to put it mildly, was rather economical with the truth back then.
The performance of David Moyes this season, in steering this once proud football club back to the higher reaches of the Premiership, has been nothing short of remarkable. With one foot sitting uncomfortably in Division One, David Moyes inherited a squad of walking-wounded, underachieving and ageing players — players brought in by his predecessor, Walter Smith, in a bid to avert almost certain relegation to the Nationwide. The spectre of demotion after 99 seasons of top-flight football saw the Everton board afford the experienced Scot one last throw of the dice. Another chucking away of club funds without due care or thought.
In came David Ginola, with Aston Villa laughing themselves stupid in amazement, as Everton FC helped reduce Villa's wage bill. We also paid over the odds for Coventry City's Lee Carsley — two million big ones. Carsley and Ginola arrived to find themselves on a payroll that also included crocks like Paul Gascoigne, Jesper Blomqvist and our very own financial albatross, Duncan Ferguson — all players with no sell-on value.
That is the financial mess that David Moyes inherited. Did he complain? If he did, well I didn't catch it — and I'd like to think I've paid close enough attention to most things uttered from our manager. He speaks in such simple understated language. Moyes, since day one in the job, simply got on with the task in hand. Initially, survival was the name of the game and that was achieved with games to spare — amazingly for those who remember those dark days and nights at Middlesbrough and West Ham United, just before Walter's tenure expired.
A summer of wheeling and dealing by Moyes saw one purchase arrive at the Club — Richard Wright coming from Arsenal, presumably with some of the Jeffers money still owed by the Gunners? One solitary purchase. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum? The School of Science? The Millionaires Club? (Of course, we also purchased one Joseph Yobo, if all we heard was to be believed, a matter of months after his arrival!)
To this very day, David Moyes has yet to complete the signing of any other player he so desires to see in an Everton shirt. Those who have arrived at Goodison Park this season have done so on loan from other clubs — an indication, as if needed, that the finance available for squad strengthening at Goodison Park remains literally non-existent. Li Tie, Rodrigo, Brian McBride, Espen Baardsen (officially the worst ever keeper to don an Everton shirt?) and Ibrahim Said all arrived to add some depth to the squad as players on short-term loan contracts from elsewhere. Only one of these named players remains.
Moyes's achievement in leading his team to the brink of European qualification via a league position (something not achieved for a very long time by previous Everton managers) has been duly lauded by all and sundry. His fellow managers have recognised the impact he has made on club and supporters alike. The vice-chairman also has been quick to praise the efforts of Moyes:
"I couldn't be more proud of him," said Bill Kenwright, "our improvement is down to him. We won't lose him. He is totally committed to the club. He lives, eats, sleeps and breathes Everton, which I know every time I speak to him. He's going nowhere. He's here to do a job for us and he will take us where we should be."
Fine sentiments indeed, Mr Vice-Chairman. I echo those sentiments. We have, in David Moyes, without question, the finest young managerial prospect in the game today. His rise has been meteoric. A year ago it was, mainly, "David who? Preston?" Now he is both well-known and respected by one and all — a man you don't mess with! Alongside that young English striker (whose name escapes me!), he has become Everton Football Club's most valuable asset — an asset craved by others in time to come if we, as a Club, do not match his ambition and his desire to restore Everton Football Club to the pinnacle once again.
With the season just gone being our 100th in the top-flight, it was a season of occasion, reflection and acknowledgement. We had many functions, a gathering of Blues from yesteryear, etc. and I think it was on such momentous nights like these when Mr Moyes appreciated what exactly makes this Club of ours so wonderful. Moyes has sensed the true meaning of "Evertonianism" since day one with his famed "People's Club" quote. Now, I think, it is safe to assume that Mr. Moyes himself is now one of us.
It is time to back this wonderful young manager we have — a wonderful young manager who, with little or no money to assist, has steered Everton into 7th place in the Premiership — earning the Club £7M in very valuable prize money. What would he achieve if given the same financial muscle as his counterpart across the park? Actually, reverse psychology here — what would Houllier achieve with little or no money, as Moyes has been forced to deal with?! A frightening prospect for both clubs if we witnessed a role reversal!
Michael Dunford is on record as stating, back in 2001:
"Over the current financial year we hope to break even. Every year we budget to finish fourth from bottom of the Premiership and go out of both cup competitions in the first round. We are very prudent in our budgets and anything above that is a bonus. But sometimes you have to stick your head above the parapet and take a gamble on players. We have to invest in the team. "Unless we can catch up in three years, we will become also-rans. We will have to be content to become a mediocre mid-table club. We have bought players in the past we have not been able to afford. But we have learned from those lessons."
"Over the current financial year we hope to break even. Every year we budget to finish fourth from bottom of the Premiership and go out of both cup competitions in the first round. We are very prudent in our budgets and anything above that is a bonus. But sometimes you have to stick your head above the parapet and take a gamble on players. We have to invest in the team.
"Unless we can catch up in three years, we will become also-rans. We will have to be content to become a mediocre mid-table club. We have bought players in the past we have not been able to afford. But we have learned from those lessons."
Have we? "Duncan, Duncan Ferguson; Duncan, Duncan Ferguson!" Almost three years on, I believe we are no longer a mediocre mid-table TEAM. We have anything BUT a mediocre manager, unlike his turgid predecessor who slowly drained the life out of Everton Football Club.
The earlier quote from the Chief Executive indicating the monies available for the manager to spend are few and far between and that most will be used securing the services of Joseph Yobo is pure spin. I am no mathematician but, with the full house signs placed outside Goodison Park more than ever over recent seasons and ourselves finishing in our highest position for many seasons, I simply find myself baffled to hear that money will not be so readily available for our manager to go out and buy, to strengthen the side as he sees fit.
Actually, I found that quote to be insulting to the intelligence and a disgrace to the motto, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. David Moyes, I repeat, has bought one solitary player (with monies owed?) since becoming Everton manager. One! He has restored pride and earned a tidy sum of money for our final league placing. If that money goes anywhere else BUT the well being of the team then it is nothing short of a disgrace. It will betray the manager and betray the fans that have endured so much in recent seasons before finally seeing happier days.
The regular 40,000 attendances at Goodison Park demand that the custodians of our great club financially back the Moyes inspired snowball. Is it a good time to ask what Paul Gregg's position at Boardroom level is? Have we still got all our eggs in the one basket, ring-fencing a ground move that will not happen? If so, I have a novel suggestion — abandon any notion of moving from Goodison Park (until we're in a position where we can afford such a move) and invest in both the present manager and his team (as you foolishly did with his predecessor) and invest in the future — the creation of a Youth Academy at Everton we can be rightly proud of.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum is stirring again... please do not nip it in the bud for the sake of saving a few quid.
Colm Kavanagh 15 May 2003