All Moyes needs is a chance
Matthew Barry highlights two under-achieving areas: the midfield and the Board
13 February 2004

I may also be accused of having a knee-jerk reaction to last nights result, but as we've all heard time and time again the league doesn't lie.

Too many times now this season we have heard "we were unlucky, it was down to missed chances, the luck isn't with us at the moment".

Players and Managers will always offer these as an explanation of poor performance or a condemning defeat.

BUT the ability of the players in these teams have to be measured against the opposition or the players in the same positions in other squads.

In Everton's case we have a mixture of unquestioned premiership class and on the other hand Nation wide division 1 level players.

Every Evertonian wishes we were still considered one of the big 5. Having come so desperately close to European football last season, I suspect we all hoped we'd move into the middle 8 bracket hovering around uefa cup spot. At this point you need to consider the squads who we are competing against and whether man for man do they have the advantage regardless of form.

Nigel Martyn has proved to be an inspired signing, given the frailties of Gerrard and Simonsen as back up for Richard Wright.

With our first choice back 4 in place I think we can definitely hold our own. Yobo and Weir were awesome for most of last season and Stubbs has shown in certain games this season that he can raise his game. (Although I am still not convinced he has the desired quality). The fullbacks are good solid performers and in Watson a surprise goal scoring threat.

Then we reach the midfield. Think of our current collection of midfielders and then look how we compare with our peers.

Fulham have proved to us this season that although with only one proven striker (Saha) they can count on a top class midfield to create and score goals. Malbranque, Davis, Clark, Inamoto, Legwinski.

Man City - Reyna, McManaman, Sinclair, Barton, Bosvelt, Wright-Phillips.

Charlton - Although with Parker now gone, they still have Euell, Jensen, Stuart and Di Canio when he plays in a withdrawn role.

Birmingham - Dunn, Lazaridis, Hughes, Savage

Aston Villa - McCann, Solano, Hendrie, Hitzelsperger

Middlesborough - Juninho, Mendieta, Zenden, Doriva, Greening

Blackburn have suffered since the sale of Dunn and Duff. Both replaced by an expensive division 1 signing and a player with potential from and inferior league.

Although they invested heavily in the unfortunate Barry Ferguson they have struggled.

As far as our forwards are concerned I think that any manager outside of the top 4 would like to take their pick.

So the conclusion is as we have all been saying for so long, the problem lays within the midfield area.

As Colm said, it's all about the boards inept ability to back the manager. I'm sure withstanding Bill, everyone in boardroom are content with relying on Moyes to pull off above expected league finishes for as long as possible. Clearly this season has proved this is not feasible.

The only way forward is investment. The question to ask the board, is WILL and WHEN money will be given to the manager to rebuild.

Am I worried about relegation? NO

Over the past 10 years we've stared down the barrel too many times in far more precarious circumstances to start panicking so early.

With teams like Wolves. Leicester and Leeds performing as they are the light at the end of the tunnel is still very visible.

Come the end of the season, the board need to make one simple decision - Only 2 of the starting 11 last night were Moyes signings, the rest were signed or developed under Smith.

Do they want to back a manager hell bent on DOING GOOD for Everton, hell bent on restoring our FORMER glories, bringing good quality European completion to Goodison for the first time since 1995? or

Do they want to stand still, struggle with a squad half full with Nationwide quality players and a prodigious talent kicking his heels thinking why should he carry the hopes and prayers of Evertonians on his shoulders. Then for the manager to decide enough is enough and move across to ManchesterUnited and become Ferguson's heir apparent.

It'll happen and the board can stop it.

But the question of will they do something still continues?

Matthew Barry

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