Column

Pleasing Progress

With the imminent arrival of Manuel Fernandes and the potential signing of Yakubu from Middlesborough I feel that Everton have managed to implement a unique transfer and team development strategy. If we take a step back to when David Moyes first took charge of Everton, he talked loosely about a five-year plan. March saw his 5th anniversary and after substantial pessimism amongst Evertonians in the first two months of the close season, David Moyes's determination to bring in only the right players to Everton is coming to fruition.

Looking back to the side he inherited in 2002, with the likes of David Ginola and Richard Gough, Everton have come a very long way on a limited budget. Moyes?s predecessor Walter Smith was all about short-term options to try and cover long-term problems. The acquisitions of Gascoigne and Ginola were meant to cover deep-rooted problems that stretched from the playing staff right to the boardroom. Moyes has brought stability to what many people may have seen as a sinking ship in Smith?s time in charge. He wasn?t scared to suspend a certain Duncan Ferguson after they had a ?disagreement? ? something that many managers would have taken the easy route out of. A prime example being West Ham getting rid of the ?bad egg? Nigel Reo-Coker. Maybe under stronger management this undoubtedly talented player could?ve blossomed for the Hammers, rather than just being sold off.

Very shrewd acquisitions over the years have resulted in a very committed and talented Everton squad for the new season. Cahill, Arteta, Yobo and Howard come to a combined total of less than £10M. Johnson was a bargain at £8.6M when looking at the massively inflated transfer of an arguably equally talented player in Darren Bent. Add that to the recruitment of two young potential future England internationals in Lescott and Baines for £11.5M combined, the team we have is high quality and low cost when comparing it with the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and more recently Manchester City.

One of Everton?s most important qualities is the lack of any ?superstars?. Undoubtedly we have one of the most talented midfielders in the league in Mikel Arteta, but the superstar egocentric personality will never exist at Goodison whilst Moyes is in charge.

With so much money being thrown around in the close season, I feel that Moyes?s tactics are now reaping rewards. Ideally every manager would like to have all of their new signings available for the first day of pre-season training but Moyes?s ability to persevere in bringing in only the right players in terms of ability, age and personality has resulted in a team that many people are now beginning to feel may actually be able to compete in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

After a summer were other teams have dominated the transfer headlines, the potential double-signing of Fernandes and Yakubu may raise a few eyebrows and also make some people look at Everton on the fixture list in an entirely different light. The five-year plan Moyes talked of in 2002 has changed Everton from Premier League strugglers into a hardworking, well respected and very efficient side. If the small but talented squad can stay injury free, this may very well prove to be a historic season for Everton.

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