FAN ARTICLES

Then and Now

Following Saturday's dismal performance and in the wake of reading through the depressing quagmire of articles, mail-bag submissions and largely articulate dissection of our current failings, my memory drifted to a time under the stewardship of David Moyes when things weren't so bad.

Cast your mind back to Saturday 24 November 2007, the stattos out there will recall instantly the result, other's like myself the performance. Everton played Sunderland, the result 7-1 and a performance under David Moyes possibly considered to be our finest to date. Mikel Arteta put in a virtuoso performance, Yakubu and Cahill each grabbed a brace, and the midfield was ably marshalled by Lee Carsley.

David Moyes was quoted "That was probably the best performance in my time here, some of our passing and movement was just outstanding. It was how I hoped to get an Everton team playing, and I hope we see Everton playing that way more often, hopefully it's the first of many. Mikel Arteta's first 45 minutes was nothing short of magical, the things he did on the ball and the opportunities he created for us were just something else."

The starting XI that day: Howard, Neville, Valente, Yobo, Lescott, Carsley, Arteta, Pienaar, Omsan, Cahill, Yakubu.

Sunderland as an opposition were undoubtedly poor on the day with a evidently naive Roy Keane fielding a side that was taken to the sword by a team in its pomp, full of confidence and riding the crest of a wave of an ubeaten run.

Fast-forward three years and we witness a team regarded by many as being technically more superior to the one that demolished Sunderland but devoid of the qualities demonstrated back then.

What is evident to me and it doesnt take a FIFA pro-license to come to such a judgement is that we are conceding goals far too easily, have players playing outside the remit of their specialist position, and a strike force that is by-and-large past its sell-by date.

Arteta's form has been cited as one of the reasons for our alarming dip this season, any wonder considering that he has John Heitinga supposedly playing the anchor role? There are too many square pegs currently in round holes and the only person that can take responsibility for this is David Moyes.

Collectively we need to improve 100% in the coming weeks and games, David Moyes has faced crisis before, the million dollar question is can he do it again? His body language and that of the players would suggest real uncertainty. The days of steam rolling teams such as Sunderland may have long-gone given the fact that most teams have upped the ante, the technical ability has undoubtedly improved, and the model of coaching defined and developed.

The question that I am asking: Is David Moyes yesterday's man?

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