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Feeling Blue Paul Trail offers some constructive criticism of David Moyes and then looks forward to the task ahead 29 April 2004
Lying in my bed at about 3:23 last Saturday, listening to the scores coming in on Five Live, wishing I was at Goodison Park... Distance and costs restricts me to the amount of games I get to go these days, and I gave up my season ticket when I left Merseyside. As it turns out, I fork out more money anyway by paying for each ticket separately but still
The commentary moves to Goodison briefly were that knobhead John Hall barks Gravesen off injured, Nyarko his replacement. Well thats creative isnt it! Linderoth and Nyarko in the middle. Why not go 4-3-3, or pull Rooney into the hole and put McFadden on, or move Kilbane into the middle and McFadden wide left? Either way, it didnt sound like the right change, and Moyes has now baffled me a few times this season.
I like Moyes and I dont want to harp on too much about his failings just now, but some of his decisions have been about as bad as his predecessor as far as Im concerned:
Well, Peter Clarke got over 10 games under Smith, Kevin McLeod got a chance, Phil Jevons got a chance, Michael Branch got a chance, Danny Cadamarteri got a chance, Jamie Milligan got a chance, Tony Hibbert got a chance, Richard Dunne got a chance, and of course he bought Francis Jeffers through and got around 8M for him. Seems good business now does it not? How many of the kids has Moyes played since he came in? Of course, hes handled Rooney impeccably; hats off to him for that. Nick Chadwick got a chance to some extent and even with a goal ratio of: 4 games started, 4 goals scored, is behind Kevin Campbell and Francis Jeffers in the queue despite those two starting 13 games this season without a Premiership goal between them. What more does he have to do to get a chance? Tony Hibbert seems to be finishing the season the way he started it: axed. Peter Clarke has been given the odd chance, Kevin McLeod got 1 minute in the Shrewsbury Town debacle last season, and that was it. And dont get me started on Leon Osman!
Well, Peter Clarke got over 10 games under Smith, Kevin McLeod got a chance, Phil Jevons got a chance, Michael Branch got a chance, Danny Cadamarteri got a chance, Jamie Milligan got a chance, Tony Hibbert got a chance, Richard Dunne got a chance, and of course he bought Francis Jeffers through and got around 8M for him. Seems good business now does it not?
How many of the kids has Moyes played since he came in? Of course, hes handled Rooney impeccably; hats off to him for that. Nick Chadwick got a chance to some extent and even with a goal ratio of: 4 games started, 4 goals scored, is behind Kevin Campbell and Francis Jeffers in the queue despite those two starting 13 games this season without a Premiership goal between them. What more does he have to do to get a chance?
Tony Hibbert seems to be finishing the season the way he started it: axed. Peter Clarke has been given the odd chance, Kevin McLeod got 1 minute in the Shrewsbury Town debacle last season, and that was it. And dont get me started on Leon Osman!
Linderoth, Carsley and Nyarko have all tried and, generally speaking, failed to fill that void. How must this effect the confidence of established international players such as Scot Gemmill and Niclas Alexandersson whove gone all season without as much as a sniff? Yes, yes, these two players are not the answer for Everton Football Club, but would it have hurt to give either of these a chance? I always though Gemmill was alright anyway. Not a world beater by any means but a steady reliable player who could at least pass a ball, not bad to bring on when Gravesens having another one of them days. While Alexandersson, well Watson was injured for a while so why not try Niclas for one or two games while McFadden was struggling, instead of pulling Rooney out of position. I just fail to see how this is good for both personal and squad moral amongst the players. Particularly when Alex Nyarko can wander back from his two-year holiday and pretty much slip right back into the fold.
Linderoth, Carsley and Nyarko have all tried and, generally speaking, failed to fill that void. How must this effect the confidence of established international players such as Scot Gemmill and Niclas Alexandersson whove gone all season without as much as a sniff? Yes, yes, these two players are not the answer for Everton Football Club, but would it have hurt to give either of these a chance?
I always though Gemmill was alright anyway. Not a world beater by any means but a steady reliable player who could at least pass a ball, not bad to bring on when Gravesens having another one of them days. While Alexandersson, well Watson was injured for a while so why not try Niclas for one or two games while McFadden was struggling, instead of pulling Rooney out of position. I just fail to see how this is good for both personal and squad moral amongst the players. Particularly when Alex Nyarko can wander back from his two-year holiday and pretty much slip right back into the fold.
When Ferguson has played, weve generally scored more goals and won more games, I think. I was at Leicester when he got sent off and he was stupid there and he knows it. On the other hand, if players deliberately try to get you sent off, they deserve to be strangled. Im sure the FA didnt think twice about issuing him the four-match ban he deserved, but were generous to Everton in saying they could have the ban served either now, in a few games time, at the end of this season and the start of the next, or just at the start of the next. Would it not have made more sense to have the suspension served at the end of this season and the start of the next? They said it made more sense to serve it then as Duncan was injured. Im not convinced. He developed a groin strain the day before we were due to play Middlesbrough and has now been suspended for four games and now hes not sharp enough, apparently, and like already stated on ToffeeWeb news snippet what exactly are reserve games for? At the end of the day, 8 goals in 16 starts is a good ratio for any striker and thats better than anyone elses contribution this season. Get him back in the team and make use of what were paying him for for the love of God hes on enough.
When Ferguson has played, weve generally scored more goals and won more games, I think. I was at Leicester when he got sent off and he was stupid there and he knows it. On the other hand, if players deliberately try to get you sent off, they deserve to be strangled. Im sure the FA didnt think twice about issuing him the four-match ban he deserved, but were generous to Everton in saying they could have the ban served either now, in a few games time, at the end of this season and the start of the next, or just at the start of the next. Would it not have made more sense to have the suspension served at the end of this season and the start of the next?
They said it made more sense to serve it then as Duncan was injured. Im not convinced. He developed a groin strain the day before we were due to play Middlesbrough and has now been suspended for four games and now hes not sharp enough, apparently, and like already stated on ToffeeWeb news snippet what exactly are reserve games for? At the end of the day, 8 goals in 16 starts is a good ratio for any striker and thats better than anyone elses contribution this season. Get him back in the team and make use of what were paying him for for the love of God hes on enough.
Now Im not going to start blaming everything on Moyes because its not all his fault. Hes handling everything well and with a lot of dignity. He knows hes not infallible himself and hes got some job on his hands. The Board are much more to blame. There appears to be no money available to him (sound familiar?) but if you look at that squad now, nearly all of them are out of contract by the end of next season. Hes going to have to sign carefully because that whole squad is about to change.
Basically, whatever way you look at it, thats one very small squad. With the amount of players soon to be out of contracts, we are not going to get much money for any players we do sell on. And, with the Board not giving Moyes anything to play with, I cant help but worry about the club over the next two seasons. Moyes is going to have to sign carefully and sign well. What happens if he puts all his eggs in one basket on a player, signs him for about 5M and then hes shit?
I dont envy Moyes, I sympathise with him; and no I dont want my Walter back, and Id like to look at this as constructive criticism. He doesnt deserve the backlash thatll inevitably come his way if things do go wrong; I just hope hes correct when he says he thinks were still moving in the right direction.
Buckle up. Its going to be a bumpy ride.
Paul Traill
2004 ToffeeWeb
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