Sheffield Wed, Leeds... Everton?
Gary Evans fears, as we all do, for next season unless David Moyes can bring in some new faces
6 May 2004

For the first time since 1994 (you could say I've been the eternal optimist in recent years!) I am extremely uncertain about the Blues' future. Next season, I really do believe, could be it. The end of what we all take for granted. The end of our reign in the top flight.

Well, no amazing revalation there, you yell! Watching the demise of Leeds and looking where Sheffield Wednesday find themselves nowadays, I really fear next season. All the newspaper articles, all the reports on Sky about the inevitable relegation of our former bogey team. Do you think we'd get similar treatment? Do you think Sky would have a reporter outside an empty Goodison? No chance.

The media would treat us as what we are sadly becoming. A Leicester, a Crystal Palace, dare I say it, a Leeds. We are a great club but to the media we are anything but.

The standard of play is not acceptable for our club. The standard of management at the highest levels of the club (and I do not mean team management) is a disgrace. This season I have witnessed game after game when you could see players actually look clueless.

The answers? I am a mere mortal and can see no miracle cure. There will be no Abramovich (He didn't exactly go to a poor club with no prospects, did he?), there will not be 5 more Rooneys coming through the ranks.

This summer is crucial and I strongly believe that what takes place in the coming months will have a great bearing on our season in 2004/05.

Firstly, DO NOT SELL ROONEY. As poor as the team has played this year I feel that the backbone of a good team is there. Yobo, Gravesen (bear with me!), Rooney, McFadden, Osman - All these need to stay. I have no idea what we have in terms of money. None? 5 Million? Who knows? But we need to get 4 or 5 quality players.

How we need a Matt Holland for example. But he's doing nicely at Charlton thank you very much! Muzzy Izzet at Leicester could be an intersting buy. He would be my second choice, however. I know there'll be Blues screaming at their screens but Robbie Savage has made noises that he'd come and he has always impressed me whenever he plays against us. Can you really say that he never gives 100%?

Another Robbie, I reckon, would really make a difference. Fowler & Rooney up front anyone? Come on, you can see it can't you? I know he's struggled badly at City. He is one of the best strikers still! I say, get him if it at all possible. Ferguson and Campbell will only play small roles next year. We need more attacking options.

So who else from the lower priced players? James Scowcroft, Jermaine Pennant, John Fortune - all good players of quality. Yes, they are not the Henris, the Gerrards, but we are not in that league at present.

There is a great left midfielder (bets left foot I've seen for a while) playing for French Champions Lyon, Florent Malouda — the next big thing in French football! He would be a steal! Unfortunately, I cannot see any of this happening.

A summer of looking forlornly at the papers, watching with envy as yet another player goes elsewhere. IS this good enough? Of course not.

Yet, until the club decides to back our manager, a man with great potential, until this happens all i can see is another season of frustration. This time though i think the outcome will be worse, much worse. Trips to Elland Road may not be a thing of the past after all.

Gary Evans


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