Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

A nice gloss

By Ste   Kenny  ::  01/02/2012   3 Comments (»Last) What a game, what a performance and what a result. Everybody deserves enormous credit but a special mention to Fellaini, Denis and Heitinga. The three of them were awesome; the spine of the team has never looked so strong and so full of energy.

Special mention to Moyes to who got everything right. I thought playing Hibbo against Dzeko was suicide. It turned out to be a masterstroke. He timed all the subs right and the balance between defence and attack was perfect. It was also clear how motivated the whole side was.

I?m as happy as larry, whoever Larry is, and probably will be for the rest of this week, although it?s a bit disturbing how much of an effect Everton?s results have on my mood, but that?s one for the dog to worry about.

For me though this result changes nothing, only reinforces my opinion that the manager is finished at Everton. MK called it lottery football and I can see where he?s coming from. Last time out we got played off the park (or if you prefer Blackburn were the better team stylistically) by one of the worst sides in the league. This time out we defended like Trojan warriors and attacked like the Mongol hordes. For me the reason is that Moyes main motivation at Everton is to enhance his own reputation.

I know that no team plays to their full capacity every game but we have been so far below that level for the whole of this season that it brings more questions than answers.

Heitinga is clearly a top drawer centre half. Why when we have struggled for consistency and communication at the back has a player of his quality been sitting on the bench or playing in midfield for the best part of two seasons? This is not a knee jerk either. I?ve been saying for along time he?s our best defender and best footballer in that position.

Why has Moyes persisted with Saha for so long? Seeing Denis perform the way he did last night and to be fair every time he?s been on the pitch just makes this seem so strange. I?m not just talking about his work rate. He holds the ball up well, challenges for everything in the air, puts himself about and takes up good positions in the box. For big parts of last season and this, Louis has given us nothing whatsoever. If last week he was first choice, why this week he can leave for free? Clearly Moyes hasn?t been impressed with him so why has he persevered with him for so long? In my eyes there?s no rhyme or reason to his decision-making.

This performance also made me wonder why we start every season so slowly. Time after time we handicap ourselves with a poor start and leave ourselves playing catch-up. Everybody can see the level we are capable of and despite a few good player?s leaving over the past few years we are still capable of beating most in this division. The fact relegation has been openly talked about at the end of January says we have underperformed. There was only one player in the side last night who weren?t here at the start of the season. So if personnel is such a big issue how did we win tonight?

The last question brings me on to the next one. What?s the plan? When Moyes took over Walter he had a clear plan of what he wanted to achieve over the first five years. He followed it to perfection and we could all see his method in reducing the average age, upping the quality and changing the style of play. I can?t see any type of pattern in what were doing at this point. Perhaps with the Idiots running the club planning too far ahead is a waste of his time?

Last night?s performance was a marvellous one and it was a great night to be at Goodison but it doesn?t mask the under performance we have seen for the best part of this season and if, as we so often do, fail to capitalise and kick on from a good result it will be in vain. Credit where it?s due, Moyes has done brilliant business to get two underperformers out the door and replace with two footballers. I just hope this means results reach a level were capable of producing.

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