Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

To win the cup Moyes must learn from the past

By Anthony   Jones  ::  02/04/2012   61 Comments (»Last) I am delighted we have reached the cup semi-final. I am no fan of the Board of Directors, and I have been a fairly harsh critic of David Moyes, but I am an Everton fan so I enjoy the club?s successes when I can.

I believe that we will turn Liverpool over in the semi-final because it means more to our players, and because it means more to our manager and fans. They have already won a cup this year, and are thus assured participation in European competition. Also, we have a good record of rising to the occasion against the league?s more successful clubs, at least when we are not playing at the respective clubs? own grounds.

We are not favourites to win the trophy, however, as Chelsea and Tottenham field very good teams when they are motivated. Moreover, both clubs are under pressure to win silverware due to their relative standing in British football, and their big spending owners/directors. To make the challenge bigger still, it looks as though one of these two clubs will fail to reach the Champions League this season.

Moyes has previously guided us to an FA Cup Final, and a Carling Cup Semi-Final, both of which featured Chelsea. I am not predicting that we will face Chelsea again if we reach the final this year, but these two games are etched into my memory as big cup-ties that were immensely disappointing. Please see the quotes below from the two match summaries. BBC Sport, January 2008:

?Chelsea were the better team for large phases of the match but, once Yakubu equalised shortly after Mikel's 64th-minute dismissal, Everton looked the team most likely to win a pulsating tie.?;

?Everton all too often gave Chelsea too much time and space?.

BBC Sport, May 2009:

?Hibbert was not the only player at fault ? he should have received more support from Leon Osman on that flank ? but the amount of space they were leaving invited trouble, and Chelsea took full advantage to equalise after 21 minutes.?;

?By now, Hiddink's side were completely on top, with the Toffees unable to keep hold of the ball, let alone use it constructively. Everton did at least tighten up at the back, with the exception of the hapless Hibbert who was caught out time and time again before the break.?;

?Even after his reshuffle, Chelsea were still enjoying the lion?s share of possession?. It is likely that six or seven players from the 2009 FA Cup Final will play if we reach the final this year. Though the same could be said of Chelsea, I am concerned that our more senior players, who are arguably now past their best, will be three years older by the final. Add this to the absence of Pienaar, and a manager who has shown little care for the phrase ?carpe diem?, and I can?t help but fear a repeat of former capitulations on the big stage. I hope I am proved wrong.

For what it?s worth, I would love to see Drenthe and Gueye start on the flanks (if available) in the semi-final (and hopefully the final), to ensure that Jelavic is not isolated on the large pitch. I would also like to see Barkely come on if we go behind in either game. I would be tempted to put Coleman in as right back to provide more attacking balance, as he was superb for Blackpool at right back.

Regardless of the personell, I don?t see how a 'contain and counter' philosophy will ever win us a trophy. I hope that Moyes puts his faith in the players this time around, and encourages them to win the cup rather than edge it. I hope he learns from the past...

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