VIEW FROM THE BLUE

Just the ticket

Andy Johnson: Offers the potential for a brand new era in the modern history of Everton strikers

I can't quite believe that my last column was written over six months ago! In the 10 years I've been running an Everton website, I'm pretty sure I've never let it go this long without penning an article about my beloved Blues. A promotion at work, a house move, three separate illnesses, a hospitalised two year-old, the arrival of my second daughter, and the site restructuring we have just unveiled here at ToffeeWeb all since the turn of 2006 have contributed significantly to the silence emanating from the "View from the Blue" pages.

There has been one additional factor, however, and that is perhaps the deepest sense of disillusionment and frustration with the state of Everton than at any time in my 20 years of supporting the club. On top of the continuing absence of any signs of the Board attracting inward investment and the failure (refusal?) on the part of the manager to sign a striker during either of the last two transfer windows, the manner in which the golden opportunity presented by the 4th-placed finish in 2004/05 had been flushed down the "swannie" had left me utterly dejected.

My feelings about last summer's transfer shenanigans and their effect on our European campaign were made well known in a previous column and there were some who were bemused by my reaction to what I perceived as a massive error of judgement or absence of ambition. I feel somewhat vindicated — though I take no pleasure in saying so — in my passionate post-deadline day lament by the fact that David Moyes's side have just set an unwanted record for the lowest goals tally in the club's long history. And, for the record, I'm still angered and saddened by the season just passed; 11th place represents for me a miserable failure in the context of the achievements the season before with what was, on paper, an inferior squad.

So, it is somewhat fitting that the return of some free time in which to put some of my thoughts down "on paper" has coincided with the arrival of a striker in the form of Andy Johnson. Not just a striker, mind you, a proven, out-and-out goalscorer — the distinction where the current Everton squad is concerned has to be made! For James Beattie is an accomplished striker who has yet to achieve his potential in the Royal Blue Jersey but he would probably agree that, irrespective of his 20+ goals haul for Southampton a few years back, he is not what you'd regard as an out-and-out goalscorer.

While the inflated £8.6m fee we paid Crystal Palace for Johnson's services makes more than a little uncomfortable, I am, of course, mindful that there are times when you have to break the bank and pay what needs to be paid to land the right sort of player. And I do think that Andy Johnson is the right sort of player on a number of levels.

First and foremost, the lad has pace, which will be invaluable in what is an otherwise one-paced squad. Joseph Yobo and perhaps James Vaughan aside, there really isn't anyone else in the line-up with any real speed so having Johnson as a mobile outlet in the front line should vastly improve the options for the midfield going forward. As Tomasz Radzinski and Francis Jeffers before him proved, having a fast target to aim for with balls down the channels can be a particularly potent weapon. Marcus Bent never really got the chance to prove he could fulfil that need as he was so often deployed as a lone striker and by the time Moyes had resorted to 4-4-2, his attitude had irrevocably gone "south."

Johnson has the potential to be the ideal foil for James Beattie, an Alan Shearer to Beattie's Chris Sutton, if you will. I don't throw the Shearer comparison out their lightly either. From what I have seen of "AJ," his style bears some striking similarities to the recently-retired Newcastle and England striker. He is physically strong, hard to muscle off the ball, has a terrific shot, and is an accomplished penalty-taker.

Indeed, his above-average return from the spot is one of the chief arguments some fans used to express their misgivings over the possibility of signing Andy Johnson, both this summer and last. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if he himself wins most of the spot kicks he takes; his speed and physical prowess make him a handful for defenders and probably force his markers into last-ditch challenges that draw fouls in and around the box. Again, another nice attribute to have in the side.

If Johnson can score 15-20 goals a season, £8.6m won't seem like such a massive transfer fee after all. Le's face it, it is a decade since an Everton player scored more than 15 goals in a single campaign — no coincidence, therefore, that AJ's transfer is being lauded as the most exciting since that of the man who accomplished that feat, Andrei Kanchelskis — and no Everton striker since Gary Lineker 20 years ago has managed more than 20. A reliable goalscorer is something Blues fans have been waiting for for far too many years, and if it means shattering our transfer record for the second time in 18 months, then so be it!

Of course, there will be those who feel that that much money could have been better spent on a cheaper foreign alternative, thereby leaving more funds available to strengthen the squad in other areas. Certainly, our need for another creative wide player or another Arteta type for central midfield is, in my opinion, greater than Moyes seems to believe, and a top-class central defender is a must but won't come cheap.

It should be borne in mind, however, that with foreign players often come periods of adjustment, clashes of culture and unpredictable temperaments. Moyes, through his pursuit of domestic or British-style players (e.g. Bellamy, Parker, Beattie, Forssell, Neville, etc) seems to adhere to that belief more than most Premiership managers. It may have contributed to a more dour style of play this past season but where Johnson is concerned, he seems to be right on the money.

Andy Johnson is a Moyes-type player; honest, committed, enthusiastic, strong and resilient. If he can stay injury-free, he could more than repay his expensive fee. The key for Everton, of course, will be continuing to strengthen in key areas and to keep the likes of Mikel Arteta and Joseph Yobo at Goodison to provide the backbone that the team needs. There would be no quicker way to waste the £8.6m spent on Johnson than to weaken the team in other areas of the pitch.

The attitude and determination to succeed of one Andy van der Meyde could also be key. If he can avoid further injury and knuckle down and achieve the fitness required to succeed in the Premiership, he could double the effectiveness of the acquisition of Johnson. As he showed fleetingly last season, the Dutchman possesses the flair and delivery on the flanks to really benefit both Beattie and Johnson. His desire to stay at Goodison is pleasing; 2006/07 will be key for him if he does indeed stay.

Andy Johnson is just one player but his arrival has really lifted the spirits among the fans and appears to have sent a signal of intent that Everton are ready to compete once more after letting everyone down this past season. In that rant of mine back in September, I argued that having a player with pace leading the line would transform both the pattern of our play and possibilities for the midfield in the final third of the field. We now have that player, and as the curtain comes down on the Duncan Ferguson era, one that had become characterised by a lack of pace and movement and route-one football, it is fitting that we are, hopefully, ushering in an entirely different chapter in the modern history of Everton strikers.