Fans Comment
Colin Dempsey

The Summer of Love
3 July, 2004

Rooney: Together with Moyes, tthe dream ticket

I cannot believe that out of something so positive there has been such a negative reaction to confirmation that Everton Football Club have the best young player in Europe.

The tabloids went crazy admittedly, the broadsheets patronisingly advised us all on what was now best for young Wayne and his 'England' career. More importantly though, The New York Times recognised a 'teen makes history' and the whole world clamoured for who, what and where was Wayne Rooney.

Yeah sure, I would quite liked to have heard a mention about Everton from the young lad during the press conferences, but this is where I fall into the trap most others do ... he is a young lad ... new to a squad and a manager and FA rules. Probably burned by all the vultures who have been out since he burst onto the scene... you can just imagine the headlines, 'Rooney puts club before country' .. put that with a missed penalty and you get burning effigies.

Instead, I was put at ease by the words of Steven Gerrard 'that a lot of credit must go to David Moyes' for the performances of Wayne Rooney.

This, in my mind, is the closest thing to anything we have heard from the Wayne Rooney camp in the past month. Forget the nan at the bingo and lets think about it seriously.

Last year it is no secret that Wayne Rooney was not happy with Moyes .. his career was stumbling and people were writing him off before it had all had chance to start.
A young lad cannot have all the wisdom of who or what to believe. He goes on instinct.

When he banged in his second against Croatia and got the Pele II tag ... I am sure that even the most cynical people involved in the world of Rooney must have thought .. you know what, things have turned out pretty well.

He now has all the sponsorship deals in waiting that any agent could possibly want .. he has a few who want to make money out of him and will no doubt advise him in ways some of us will cringe at (see, he has signed up for the Sun now!), That though is just the way it is. I can stomach that — if his true integrity keeps him a Blue for now until he can honestly stand there and say he has given it his best shot and will get a 'glamour' move.

Before that happens I believe that the boardroom moves this summer will turn things around. Well I think Trevor Birch will turn things around. Even Kenwright is learning hard lessons now. Gone is the romance of the Carter Chairmanship and the bid to revive the good ol' days. A streamline board that will make tough decisions.
If rumours are right that Moyes has been given ten games ... then maybe there IS a reason for that. I doubt if either is true.

In the very worst case scenario Rooney may be sold - but Trevor Birch will get full value.

It will only be a decision engineered by the Rooney camp — or Chelsea will be paying more than enough to put us back on track. This will be seen on the pitch. My relief to hear that Trevor Birch is still touting the groudshare (still undecided on that) at least makes me think Rooney's genius will not pay for a construction site.
Rooney looked like he was pulling an average England side to the top of the pile. He did that with Everton the season before last. He has that kind of ability. If Wayne Rooney does leave, players will be brought — in which case Moyes will have a side in his own image. Two years ago I believed we had the best young manager and best young player in the country. I still believe that.

Either can bring us success. If we get the dream ticket the sky is the limit

I think last season things went wrong when the old guard realised that their time was up and did their level best to put the manager under pressure. Moyes had to ride it out.

Some of them have gone .. others will go next year. If we get ridiculous money for Rooney watch how fast those contracts are settled. As a result of events this summer, we now have a chance to pull away. This summer has marked a step forward for Everton Football Club both on and off the pitch.

Colin Dempsey

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