Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

It's not just about the money

By Ged   Dwyer  ::  03/09/2011   42 Comments (»Last) Firstly, I?ll state the obvious: we need a chairman who has more common sense than Kenwright and who has more money than Kenwright.

But, just as important, we need a manager who has more common sense than Moyes and who isn't the chairman's lapdog.

Here's just two more reasons why Moyes must go:

He has fallen out with or couldn?t manage nearly every striker who has been at the club while he's been in charge; Rooney, Radinski, Jeffers, Bent, Beattie, Johnson, Vaughan, Yakubu, Beckford... I'm sure there's others too. THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY but it is all to do with Moyes, and his tactics and management of his strikers. An absolutely ridiculous situation.

Four years ago, the team was almost there. Pienaar and Arteta were two of the most important players we had and it was essential at this time that the manager bought well. We were probably 2 or 3 players away from having a really good balanced team. We needed a wide man, an aggressive natural ballwinner, and a tricky goalscorer would have been great.

But Moyes wasted £31 million bringing in Fellaini, then Bily and Heitinga. None of them were needed and none of them have justified their fee. That's £31 million that never improved the team. Bringing in not necessarily the best players but good players who would have given us the right balance was more important than bringing in the so-called big signing that the naive Moyes was obsessed with at the time.

I know all the usual comments will be posted with regard to Fellaini. I know some Evertonians will think Moyes couldn't possibly pay £15 million for a player who just isn't that good, and I know they desperately want us to have a 'Gerrard type? player. But as a defensive midfielder Fellaini just isn't good enough as he can't tackle properly, isn't quick enough to cover the defence properly, and has no engine. His size makes him awkward in the tackle. But I acknowledge our pathetic local media keep on feeding the hype.

Can anyone tell me when Fellaini has ever had a shot from outside the box that was on target, never mind one that hit the back of the net? Surely a big requirement from a so-called top midfielder. He doesn't take free kicks or penalties. Not exactly what you'd expect from your £15M player.

His most influential game last season was when he was pushed forward in the last few minutes of the West Ham home game and he scored his only league goal. This is his best position.

There is no need to argue about this. Just look at the facts. We won only 5 league games last season when he was in the team and our best two runs were when he was injured (first in October when we beat Liverpool and Stoke at home and drew with Spurs and Blackpool away and then at the end of the season). I thought a £15M player is supposed to improve performances. He is at his best when the going?s good but, when the team is struggling, his game falls apart. Again, not what you want from a player that cost so much.

I have nothing against Fellaini himself, I like his attitude, but he was not the player we needed and, unbelievably, he wasn?t even the player Moyes wanted at the time of signing him.

Giving Moyes money to spend is not the answer (remember him wasting the Rooney money on players such as Beattie, Krøldrup, Simon Davies and Van der Meyde) but giving it to a new manager who will use it wisely is.

As for Arteta leaving. I was amazed he stayed for as long as he did. He signed a new contract at the start of last season and this was the cue for the deluded Evertonians to start giving him stick during games. I hope these Evertonians are proud of themselves now!

He was instrumental in most of the big wins last season: Liverpool, City, Chelsea at home and the vital win away to Newcastle that finally got us clear of the relegation zone. All games Fellaini missed by the way. Arteta was a tremendous servant to the club and a great footballer even when not at his best. Taking a drop in wages to get away from this nonsense and away from Moyes says it all.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY!!!

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