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Vinny Ferguson

Conspiracy Theory #112
16/09/04

This is pure conjecture so bear with me…

Wayne Rooney: child prodigy, from the age of 10 on Everton’s books and hailed as the 'great white hope'; 'the next Dixie'. From humble origins his world is taken over and eventually his heart and head swells with pride and self importance, respectively. When he enters the full team he realises that he can star on this small stage and is confidant he can be a ‘galactico’ on bigger stages.

David Moyes: young, thrusting manager, potentially a great; labels us ‘the Peoples Club’ and is instantly revered; Aware of his remit to bring Everton back to greatness and man manages a team of journeymen and aging has-beens to Magnificent 7th in first season. He is a man-manager and a strong personality. He seeks advice on how to manage his rising star and is advised (Alex Ferguson as mentor) to bring him on slowly, allowing him to mature, physically and mentally, and grow into his role of Everton great.

Two egos; two determined individuals. Rooney is now rubbing shoulders with boyhood heroes and other players whose interests aren’t the best for Everton. The regimen at Goodison under Moyes is getting tiresome. The senior players voice their concerns and complain, causing strife in the dressing room. There are public falling-outs and players that Rooney admired as a child are sent home in disgrace. Rooney is asked to play out of position on the right flank and is angry and impatient at his manager. His family don’t help and side with Wayne against Moyes.

The dressing room is split and cliques form the performances show a lack-lustre, uninterested Everton and we slide down the table.

Moyes knows the culprits and knows the answers to the problems. But he can't get rid of the senior players who have been given lucrative contracts by his Chairman and will happily sit in the reserves if need be to continue to bleed Everton dry. If he pushes Rooney out he knows that Evertonians won’t forgive him. He happily gets rid of 2 of the instigators in the dressing room revolt and they move on and downwards to finish of their careers in small clubs. Their parting shots call on Rooney to leave Everton for a bigger club.

The board knows the situation and back the manager over the players but warning to play it cannily. Music to Moyes’ ears.

The European Championships happen and Rooney is a success performing in a way that he has never done in the Premiership with its faster pace and closer man-marking. He is hailed as the next Pele; better than Maradonna; and all the while his arrogance grows.

Now Rooney has some strange ‘bed-fellows’; none stranger (save the Auld Slapper ) for a lad from Croxteth but the urbane self serving Stretford who manages to alienate Rooney from the whole city of Liverpool by his crass Public Relation exercises.

Newcastle Utd prompted by Stretford, make their move and Rooney is forced to submit a transfer request and the rest is sad history.

Moyes having got rid of the rebels without a clue from the dressing room can now mould a small squad into his team. A tour to the USA without one of the dressing room clique that undermined him brings his small squad together.

The main instigator of the strife, with one year of his contract to go and now a bit part influence to the team, is brought back into the fold by his manager. This years start for Everton is their best ever in the Premiership.

Vinny  Ferguson

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