David Moyes leads Everton into their 100th season in the top flight
insisting he won't tolerate under-achievers.

The youngest manager in the Premier League confronts Spurs at the opening of
his first full season among the elite, demanding `hungry players looking to
improve themselves'.

Moyes is more than aware he is in control of an under-achieving club who
have languished for too long, but who will celebrate being the first English
club to play 100 seasons in the top level.

Cynics will say it is the only thing the Goodison Park club can celebrate
after years of relegation battling, with Moyes determined to stamp his own
authority and personality on the club from the off.

He is likely to have new signings Richard Wright and Chinese World Cup star
Li Tie - along with 16-year-old Wayne Rooney - in his starting line-up
against the Londoners, with other new boys Juliano Rodrigo and Nigerian
defender Joseph Yobo on the bench.

Rooney, 17 on October 15, is set to become Everton's second youngest league
player - only Joe Royle played younger. Royle was 16 years and 288 days old,
while Rooney will be 16 years and 307 days when he runs out against Spurs.

Almost all last season's squad are still at the club - despite speculation
there would be a summer clear-out.

Long contracts and few takers in a cash-strapped industry mean Moyes is
having to blend old with the new, and in Rooney's case, the very raw.

But he makes it clear: `I want players to come in here and show me that it
means something to them.

`If they don't, then we will get other ones in who do. We all want young,
hungry players looking to improve themselves.

`Isn't that what we all want? We don't want fat cats who don't want to
succeed and are quite happy.'

After a tough summer with little money to utilise, Moyes added: `The
expectation has risen among Everton fans recently, but shouldn't they have
great expectations here?

`With the size of the club and the support we carry, we have to go with it
and be big enough to take that expectation head-on.

`But there is a touch of realism here from the fans. They understand we have
to do build good foundations in a period of time. We cannot go for a quick
fix, and risk things falling apart again.

`So we have spent our money as wisely as we can, but it will only be proved
wise if the players prove what they can do when they cross the white line.

`It's been hard work getting players in. If we had had our way we'd have
brought in some British players but the market here is very sensitive.

`Our one main signing has been Richard Wright, who I hope will go on to be
England's next goalkeeper.

`The players I have brought in have mainly been on loan and that gives me
and the supporters time make up their mind by watching them.

`It will take time for it to gel together. Yobo, who is an excellent player,
will have to at some time get settled in here after his injury problems.

`Players need to be integrated when they come from a different continent.
It's the same with Rodrigo.'

He added: `But generally we have the same squad that we had last season and
those players will have to perform.

`Hopefully they will do that better than last season - with the new
additions helping to achieve that.'

� Daily Mail / ESPN Soccernet 2002