FAN ARTICLES
Remember the Grey Old Days
Comments (34) : Smith did make some good signings though in Dacourt, Materazzi, Carsley and I always thought Tal was a half-decent player but there were also a lot of bad ones like Ginola, Nyarko and Gascoigne to name but a few. I can remember some high-scoring games during his management and there was the exciting emergence of Jeffers and his partnership with Campbell. Richard Dunne was looking like a decent prospect and Hutchinson for me was our most important player, linking up well in midfield with Dacourt, Gemmill and Barmby.
I couldn't understand why Smith refused to offer Hutchinson a new and improved contract and brought in Gascoigne as a replacement. Before you know it we've got a team resembling Dad's Army, the exciting prospect of watching a defender being played as a striker, and a manager refusing to buy or bring through young players. And then there were the television interviews from Bellefield which on grey, rainy days should have come with some kind of guidance warning before being broadcast.
Now flash forward to this pre-season and we have a squad as good as any in the Premier League and better than at least 16 other clubs. We have a team spirit second to no one. The squad has a good blend of youth and world class, experienced players; the players Moyes has brought in this season look like they can play a bit and score goals.
We have two players who could walk into any first team in the Premier League but have stated their love and desire to play for our club; we have two of our best football kits (home and away) since the Puma kits from about eight years ago... and there is no more Kirby bullshit to worry about. Happy days eh?
Moyes has made some mistakes as all managers do but he has assembled a squad of real talent that I suspect will get stronger with his ability to spot a young star in the making. When I look back at those grey old days of Smith, I realise how grateful I am for what Moyes is doing.
Reader Comments (34)
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2 Posted 09/08/2010 at 14:43:31
3 Posted 09/08/2010 at 15:05:55
4 Posted 09/08/2010 at 15:36:46
5 Posted 09/08/2010 at 15:36:46
6 Posted 09/08/2010 at 15:59:38
I know we had a tremendous 2010 but the league is a marathon not a sprint so lets see where this season takes us.
Optimism should not be blind and the Wolfsburg result is a timely reminder of the danger of overconfidence.
7 Posted 09/08/2010 at 16:15:20
So anyway, sod it we have had to put up with some shit over the last I don't know how many years, with little or no reason for any real hope that we can win anything.
No I do not think we will win the league (but I bloody love the fact that people are even suggesting it is possible) I do belive we can finish in the top 4 and have every chance of winning a cup.
FA cup winners and the champions league!!!!
Maybe just maybe and that is progress for me.
8 Posted 09/08/2010 at 16:20:32
9 Posted 09/08/2010 at 16:42:30
10 Posted 09/08/2010 at 17:18:07
If Moyes is "an efficient manager capable of making Everton finish from about 7th to 10th", who took us to 5th (twice) and 6th place finishes in recent years?
11 Posted 09/08/2010 at 18:18:03
and 4th and 17th!!
12 Posted 09/08/2010 at 19:38:24
13 Posted 09/08/2010 at 20:02:45
14 Posted 09/08/2010 at 20:11:17
On another note, rather good news over at Villa. Perhaps our closest rival in terms of spending power and squad quality has a major setback!! We had Lescott/City last summer (and just about kept Davey), they have Milner/City this summer and lost their manager!!
15 Posted 09/08/2010 at 20:21:44
As an aside amazed at how many villa fans thing Lerner is a twat and o'neill had gone as far as he could.
16 Posted 09/08/2010 at 20:57:30
No way will Moyes go to Villa. I also don't understand your amazement, substitute Kenwright for Lerner, Moyes for O'Neill & hey presto you're back on Toffeeweb territory!
17 Posted 09/08/2010 at 21:40:21
18 Posted 09/08/2010 at 22:22:54
19 Posted 09/08/2010 at 22:31:17
Let's all rejoice in the fact that we have an excellent squad that is not only balanced, settled and extremely driven but under the leadership of a superb manager.
Arteta signing that contract is just the lift we needed; now we CAN challenge ? I am in no doubt of that whatsover. Let's be positive from the off and beat Blackburn, Wolves and steamroll Villa.
It's about time we show the Prem we mean business; we get no credit, recognition, or respect from our peers, but we don't need it, what we do need is silverwear!!!
City can blow millions on mercenaries, who would be at Hull if they would earn as much. The fact is we are a TEAM we are EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB!
20 Posted 09/08/2010 at 23:03:15
Any advance on superb?
21 Posted 09/08/2010 at 23:14:40
22 Posted 10/08/2010 at 02:23:05
I take it you haven't rang the Samaritans yet, Andy? I dread to think what you are going to be like when we actually drop 2 points. "Moyes Out?" Probably.
Brendan, I was going to pull Chris Butler up on efficient" but you did it for me. Any advance on superb? Yes, OUTSTANDING.
23 Posted 10/08/2010 at 11:39:56
Ciari.... Ferguson couldn't afford Rodwell or Arteta. Man U haven't spent cos they've got no money.
When we debate about other squads we forget that it's teams not individuals that are successful. Every side needs average players. We have a decent blend.
On the Walter Smith issue I thought at the time we would be better off going down. It was depressing and Richard you're right it was 'grey'. He made some terrible mistakes but at the same time he was let down by Collins, Barmby & Ball especially.
This season should be interesting!
24 Posted 10/08/2010 at 21:38:58
You could moan all day then... right up your alley ay chaps?? do me a favour and JOG ON :)
Oh and thanks you very much Brenden O'Doherty - good to see the wrist slitters are only few and far between on here sir ;)
Cue the Allardyce hating fan "YE DONT KNOW WHAT YE DOIN" when we drop 2 points haha.
Some people ay... you just gotta love em.
Chow :D
25 Posted 10/08/2010 at 23:55:11
David Moyes has too many faults to be called a superb manager. One of his faults is that his teams have never won anything, anywhere. Until that glorious event happens we are entitled to be sceptical about claims that we will do so under Moyes. Past experience suggests that we could still be awaiting our first points in mid September. I shall be delighted if we make a good start. I shall also be surprised. Hibbert at CM anyone?
26 Posted 11/08/2010 at 00:16:06
Just because I dont begin every post with "I love Moyes" doesnt indicate how I feel about the job he is doing Are you for real? I mean how did you get that I was from the "not good enough camp" from my post.
FFS! You praise (rightly) Brendan OD for his contribution but ignore the fact that he backs me for taking some member of the anti-Moyes brigade to task.
OK Andy Crooks might be a miserable so & so but at least he takes the time and effoert to read the fucking thread and see where people are coming from!
27 Posted 11/08/2010 at 06:28:52
28 Posted 11/08/2010 at 08:05:44
But anyway I am defintley looking forward to the new season. I can really see us getting a trophy in our cabinet. The obvious factors : injuries, big players performing and cutting out silly mistakes have to come into play but that is true of every team in the league so I think we should all be optimisitic because we have no need to fear anyone in the prem. Blackburn in my opinion are one of the worst sides in the division and if we apply ourselves properly we will do the business. Heres hoping!!
29 Posted 11/08/2010 at 11:25:44
30 Posted 11/08/2010 at 13:59:03
31 Posted 11/08/2010 at 14:50:45
32 Posted 11/08/2010 at 18:48:48
First of all, I would make it clear that I would not wish Walter to be back. In my view, he did a fine job with, compared to David Moyes, buttons to spend. He behaved with dignity, he kept a club in utter turmoil in the Premier League and was treated badly.
Secondly, Walter is a winner. Yes, of course it was in Scotland, where, according to many on this site, anyone can succeed. Well, have a look at those who have tried in that pressured environment and failed. Martin O'Neill, for whom I have the utmost respect, would testify to how hard it is to do well in Glasgow.
Also, Walter Smith took a side who wouldn't have been in the top twenty in Britain to the final of the Europa League; he deserves respect from Evertonians.
We now have, in your words, the leadership of a superb manager. A manager who I admire but who has won nothing. We have gone, in more than eight years, from a skint club who won nothing to..... er a skint club who have won nothing.
David Moyes has built a good squad and I want success as much as any Evertonian. We can achieve that this year but how about some realism?
33 Posted 11/08/2010 at 19:39:47
Yes, Dunne. A product of our youth academy, given away for a paltry £2.5m.
Also miss that inability to come back into a game when we went behind. If we got in front first, then maybe we could hang on. But coming from behind? Forget it.
"It's disappointing". Never gutted like I was, just "disappointed."
Yes, Walter Smith is an honourable man. His achievements with Rangers can't be under-stated. But he was out of his depth in the PL at a club of our stature.
34 Posted 11/08/2010 at 22:40:50
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1 Posted 09/08/2010 at 14:35:27
Just out of interest..who are these two players who could walk into any first team in the premiership?