Fans Comment
Anthony Newell

Where’s the next 3 points?
26 September 2005

I just wish I had something to distract my attentions from the ‘car crash viewing’ which is unfolding.  However, the Ashes has finished and I can’t escape.  Saturday hurt in the pit of my stomach like seeing Rooney with that stupid grin donned in grey & blue Pringle outside Old Trafford.  I would like to air my own thoughts in an effort to inject some realism into the hysteria that is developing

Get behind Moyes - you don’t have a choice!

Ok, lets make no bones about it – we are in the shit and need to get out fast.  Nothing like bottom place to focus the mind.  The second half aside, the game against Wigan was heartening in that Everton went for it from the off and were unlucky not to have scored and gone ahead.  The fact they shit themselves and went Route One not long after conceding is a cause for concern, though, and smacks of panic which we could well do without.

It would appear that some of the luck we had last season in terms of results and injuries is starting to even itself out and we just have to take the rough with the smooth.  The fact that we have nobody in reserve who can score goals compounds the situation but I suppose you would have to ask who sent Chadwick, Jevons et al packing.  Panicking, pointing fingers and calling for blood isn’t going to help though; like it or not, Moyes is with us for the long term so you may as well get behind him.  Do you honestly expect Kenwright to tear up his freshly extended contract?

This doesn’t however mean we can’t turn it around when we get bodies back and the sooner the bloody better.  I genuinely believe that Krøldrup and Van der Meyde are quality and I also believe that Beattie, irrespective of his knockers (my Dad included), will score goals for us — the likelihood enhanced by a regular strike partner who would default to McFadden (though I would prefer Vaughan ASAP) at least until January comes around.

Incidentally, I would replace Weir with Ferrari and make Neville captain.  If the manager can’t see that were desperately lacking leadership, then we do need to worry.  It is unfair to judge a player until he has had a decent run of games, unblighted by injury.  I do not honestly think that Beattie prefers to sit around on his arse creating excuses for his big toe.  I think he is already aware of the pressure from those with limited patience and shoving said toe up one’s fundament would not assist with the shots-to-goals ratio.

“Super-size Me”

I had the misfortune, having not attended yesterday’s game to come across the shoddily produced Score Interactive patronised by that prick Crooks.  I would however agree with Mr Peacock that hysteria is enveloping the modern game.  I would add that everything these days needs to be dished up fast, results included, to what appears to be a new brand of ‘fast food’ supporters who have nothing but short memories and even less patience.  This new legion expects success on a plate and equally wishes to punish, point fingers and apportion blame just as quickly.  Uefa Cup / Champions League success quickly?, yes...  Super-Size me! I can’t help but think that the Chelsea route of buying your success has augmented this development.  I for one have a longer memory and have sampled Everton served up shit of a superior vintage

As we already know in this country, the media relishes destroying success and achievements just as quickly as they are glorified.  It is interesting to note just how quickly the words “6 pointer” and crisis have entered the media’s early season vocabulary.  It’s like Christmas: it just gets advertised earlier each year.  Sack a manager after 6 games into the new season, you must be joking!

Act in haste, repent at leisure

Let's get flaming real here to hopefully prevent all this crap becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Yes, the aggregated run of results since Christmas has been diabolical and things DO need to change...  but new players don’t just come into a side and fit in straight away — and there is nothing you can do about injuries.  Moyes didn’t sign Krøldrup crocked did he? Did he look into his crystal ball and see that Beattie would play fuck all games so far? The size of the squad doesn’t help the cause of resting players like Cahill either

Moyes is chastised for not bringing in a striker over the Summer and I for one was livid when the final click of refresh on the transfers page revealed jack shit.  Part of me thinks that this was piss poor and unacceptable when players like Darren Bent and Kevin Phillips were available on the cheap.  However, the other side of me thinks that Moyes has become ultra-cautious not wanting to sign players who could rapidly be labelled duck eggs (James Beattie and Dicky Wright to the fore).  I hate to use this cliché but I genuinely believe we have too much quality to go down.  I wouldn’t feel the same if we had Smith in charge and the likes of Cleland, Hughes (of the Mark and Stephen flavour), Alexandersson, Gemmill, Ginola to rely on; left sided players on the right, defenders up front and all me arse

Moyes is an intensely proud man and I for one would prefer someone in charge who hurts like we do just as much as jumps in the air when we win.  Did we have that from Smith? Did we shite, he was greyer than John Major.  Having said that, pride and emotion isn’t enough to turn the tide so I wouldn’t rule out the idea of Moyes drafting in some fresh ideas in the form of a temporary assistant if the situation worsened.  I believe he would be man and savvy enough to do this if needed

I’m sat here backing things to turn around though I’m not sure when.  My guess is that it will be dictated by how quickly we get players back fit.  I am looking at the fixture list and wondering where the next points are coming from.  Knowing Everton, they will come at Shitty with Beattie scoring a hat-trick (big toe permitting).

Anthony.  Newell

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