Fans Comment
Peter Roberts

Beattie: The Right Choice for Everton?
05/01/11

James Beattie: Can he fire the Blues into the Champions League?

Goodison Park and it’s faithful have been warmed by the news this week that James Beattie has completed his £6million pound move to Everton, a new club record. As will every Evertonian, I wish him well and I hope he continues his goalscoring form that he had at first Blackburn, then Southampton.

But is he the right choice, and has he made the right move? No, seriously, this is a question I have now been bugged by for ages. Yes, Beattie is a proven goalscorer, 76 goals in 233 games, almost a goal every three games, eclipses easily the goalscoring feats of any of our strikers currently on our books. With the imminent departure of Kevin Campbell to West Bromwich Albion, Beattie is a good replacement. Strong in the air, good-footed and he knows where the goal is. You want another reason? We have the worst goalscoring record in the top 7, with only 27 goals in 22 games. We have largely relied on 1-0’s to get us the three points, and whereby this has worked in our favour, I’m not personally sure it would work next season, or even the remainder of this season, particularly if we’re chasing the Champions League for next season. A striker like Beattie is just what this club needs, and the fact that we were competing with Villa for his signature just emphasises the ambition of this club. Villa, no mugs themselves when it comes to the transfer market, were favourites. Moyes and Beattie only knows what the former said to the latter to convince him that Everton was the right choice. Will we find out? We’ll leave that question for David.

But there are several weaknesses in Beattie, as there is in every player. Yes, even Thierry Henry has weaknesses, the supreme that he is. I personally feel he isn’t that good in the air. When was the last time you saw him score with his head? But I digress. Beattie, for a start, hasn’t played since November, and is obviously short of match fitness. That was clear in the Cup match at the weekend against Plymouth, despite having a hand in the first two goals. He is also injury prone, like a certain suspended Ferguson, another big-money earner like Beattie. So I do wonder, even with the miracles that Mick “Basil” Rathbone has worked with several players when they’re out with injuries, whether he will see more of James than we will.

Another point I’ve just briefly mentioned so far is the money. As far as I know, when we were discussing terms with Beattie, we were offering within the region of £23,000 a week. In perspective, that is £1,196,000 a year. For a team who are apparently in the region of £42million in debt, that is a large proportion of the money just going to one player. He may not be on the same amount as Ferguson, but without doubt he will be one of the club’s top earners. I’m just a little worried how that will reflect on the team. I know for example Leon Osman is trying to negotiate a new contract, and justly deserved, following his recent starring displays (Portsmouth at home, if you need a reminder).

This may have an adverse affect on the team. I very well hope it doesn’t, but the team spirit that has been so essential to our form this season will need to stand firm, even in the wake of a big-name signing arriving at Bellefield. The spending may not even stop there. If the Fortress money does appear, which we’ll find out the answer to in 10 days time, then Moyes has a little bit more leverage in tempting other players to follow Beattie’s example. This may rattle the team as they may now have to fight for their right to start in the position they’ve been occupying for the entire season. People like Cahill and Carsley, if the name Scott Parker arrives all of a sudden, as he may do, given he’s been linked with us for what seems like an eternity, may find themselves down the pecking order.

These next three weeks will probably determine Everton’s aspirations for the remainder of the season, particularly how the team rallies to being touted with big clubs (Gravesen to Real Madrid or dare I say, Man Utd), and what part of Beattie plays of that remains to be seen. I have faith though in Moyes to teach him the ways of the Moyes revolution that has taken place since July here and which has irritated subtly a lot of pundits and opposition fans alike. I hope, James, you prove me wrong over the next few weeks as you build up your fitness and match fitness to be a hero here as you were at Southampton. You still have a long way to go yet

Peter  Roberts

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