Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

The Benefits of Change

By Nick   Entwistle  ::  01/02/2012   26 Comments (»Last) The purpose of our team is play up to the lone striker. If he?s slow, on his heels and doesn?t make a run in effort or for position, is it a wonder that malaise spread to those who sought to benefit him?

Last night the team showed everything that Saha had lost. Effort. Tenacity. Desire.

For two games someone who reflects all (though possibly only) these qualities has spearheaded the team. He will run through brick wall. Make Cahill?s efforts look like Jo?s. 110%? Not enough. Stracqualursi has shone like a beacon, and with the faithful?s heartfelt appreciation no player can hide anything less than the exertion he expends.

We knew he was a trier, because you simply don?t see players make diving headers when flat on the grass. He puts in the shift we would all like to believe we would show if magically picked for our team. The status of cult-hero is quickly attained because you cannot fool the fans, and the fans know what they see. He?ll earn his sooner rather than later.

I don?t want to be overly critical of King Louis. He hasn?t shown anything near his true self this season so we?ll leave it for Harry Redknap to reveal if these failings are through temperament or simply time catching up with the man. He?s scored some brilliant goals for us, and many important ones too. Good luck to him, I hope he can pick up a winners medal come the end of the season.

Now nobody can cast doubt on my support for David Moyes. It's been shown in Doddy-like proportions. But sycophancy is not part of the Moyes Supporter?s make-up. And questions we have on his overall ability are similar to those who are not so in favour. Why has this change taken so long? Was it the Argentine?s time to adjust since his arrival, or and end to Moyes?s patience with Saha? Or did he simply strike lucky?

The transfer window has been a great positive for Everton, but there?s a lot Moyes should have done before the fresh impetuous of talent, and a failure to blood The Stracq in a starting role is one of many puzzlements.

Though to the manager?s enormous credit, Fellaini now has a midfield partner that has elevated his own performances to the continued imperious displays his potential, transfer fee and new contract demand. The signing of one Darron Gibson!

The Fallaini-Rodwell partnership has never worked. With Heitinga or Neville ? terrible. Yet derided in similar terms to the arrival of Lee Carsley, Darron Gibson could with great surprise prove to be of equivalent importance. Proving perhaps up with the best of Moyes?s signings in price and quality, as catalyst for Fellaini?s improvement, I believe Gibson?s is up there on effect alone.

So is it any surprise with these changes in front and behind him, Tim Cahill is playing his best football of the season? With Donovan?s arrival and the transformation of Heitinga pushing on for player of the season, the team are finally able to get us excited, to watch without the usual dread and fear.

I can see us dismantling Wigan, especially with Pienaar?s return and the welcome addition of Nikica Jelavic adding to the new found optimism.

Change has proven to be a good thing. Delivered through any combination of fault or design, I for one will not complain how. ?I do not want a good General, I want a lucky one?. Maybe we?ve got something of both.

Finally, I?m made up for Count Stracqular. The only question is ? whether he performs in daylight?

Come on you Blues!

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