20 Aug 10:36
During his speech at my recent wedding my older brother reeled off a list of incidents that occurred whilst we were growing up (inevitably involving himself in laughter and myself in tears), after which he'd refuse to apologise for it since it was all part of my development... By contrast, he then pointed out that it's because of him that i'm an Everton fan and said "Ant, I'm so sorry".
It's tough being an Evertonian, and the David Moyes era (now starting his 5th Premiership campaign) has taken us to highs and lows that we've not seen for a long time. Some might call him the yo-yo manager, with alternating seasons of unexpected success and unacceptable failure. But it's not just that - each year we confound expectations, doing better or worse than predicted. We're now "due" a good year, and people are touting us as potential UEFA cup qualifiers. So one of the two patterns of Moyes will no longer exist - we can't have the good season we're due, and confound expectations. What's going to give?
I've long supported Moyes, and like the look of what has to now be described as "his team". The whole team are on contracts that he's offered, so we're fully into his legacy. The only issue is that he's created two teams: either dependable and reliable workmen (the spine that got us into Europe in 2005); or cultured and entertaining. Moyes has created a slight paradox in that he's brought in several players that seem capable of producing the latter, but his natural conservatism make him often favour the former. It's as if he's bought himself a sportscar but would still rather drive his Mondeo.
Throughout the team he has choices between solidity and flair, and this season is the time to mark out the future of the club - now's the time to shift from one to the other. Is Moyes ready?
This choice is best evident at center back, where Moyes has retained the services of Davey Weir and Alan Stubbs, and they vie for places with the elegant yet occasional lapsing Joseph Yobo, and newboy Jolean Lescott - English, but young and untried in the Premiership. On paper the Yobo-Lescott partnership could be our rock for several years, but both require nurturing. I can't fathom why Yobo isn't an automatic starter week-in week-out - give him the armband, and make him ours. When it comes to the crunch Moyes seems reluctant to err too far from his known soldiers (remember Kroldrup and Ferrari?) which is frustrating. It's not just that Everton fans want Moyes to select Yobo and Lescott, but he needs to make them work. And I'm doubtful he can do that if he's in two minds about whether to be playing them in the first place.
At full back we look stronger than we have for a long time. Tony Hibbert is local, dependable, tough tackling, quick, and improving. If he can sort out his woeful crossing he should be knocking on the England door, but he's a rare breed these days and an automatic No. 2. On the other side Nuno Valente had a very promising first season last year, and on top of a great World Cup should be even better. With Sandro Pistone and Phil Neville capable of filling in at either side, we're looking good. Unless, that is, Moyes picks up the Mondeo keys and goes with Gary Naysmith.
Our midfield is tactically problematic because we have the players for a 5 man midfield, but are trying to switch to 4-4-2.
We could still play the men who delivered Champions League football - Kilbane, Cahill, Carsley, Arteta, Osman - but these have been augmented with a few technically gifted internationals - Neville, Davies, Van Der Meyde. The issue is how do we move from 5 into 4? The holding birth should be Phil Neville's (with Carsley as back up) and Davies, Cahill or Arteta alongside him. I like seeing Arteta - as our most creative midfielder - out wide, and Cahill - one of the Premiership's best goalscoring midfielders - in the middle. Simon Davies is a real enigma, possessing immense skill, technique and vision; a high work-rate; but seemingly out of his depth. I think he's a classic Everton player - does well in a good team, does bad in a poor team. He's been impressive pre-season, and if the team is playing better this year than last, we should see an improvement. The boo-boys are after him, unfairly, but I think he'll shut them up.
Leon Osman, like Hibbert, is a player I love. He's got bags of ability, a great attitude, and - better still - it's obvious what he needs to improve. Hopefully this season he can make the step up from Premiership quality to international quality, by becoming a little physically stronger. Osman can dictate the match against mediocre teams, but is too anonymous against the very best. And then there's Shandy Ven Der Meyde. We're a team desperate for pace, excitement, and ability down the flanks. He will provide cameos for us this season - he'll come off the bench, beat a man, and those fans who boo Simon Davies will sing his name. I just hope the club is helping him off the pitch so that he stays fit, has the right attitude, and can move from providing clown-like cameos to a sustained threat in the first 11. Either that or Moyes can use his Mondeo keys and pick Kevin Kilbane.
Up front looks sexy. For the first time since Tony Cottee we have an exciting, pacey striker who's a proven goalscorer at this level. Andy Johnson seems to have an exemplorary mental attitude and all the attributes to compliment James Beattie. The two have the potential to make us very very happy. My main concern is that both have had big transfers and there might be a temptation to become complacent. AJ's attitude should prevent this, and Beattie last season learnt what he needs to do. If he can become more consistant (rather than be unplayable for 6 games then anoymous for 8), we have a great chance to score more goals than we've done for a long time. Pre-season the hype has all been about Victor Anichebe, however, the teenage Nigerian. I like him a lot because he's uncomplicated. He's strong and quick, and does the simple things simply. He'll receive the ball, hold it up, lay it off. Nothing outrageous, but highly promising. and he knows where the net is. Add James Vaughan into the mix and we've got a superb first choice pairing, and excellent options off the bench and for the future. Then again, Moyes might nip out in his Mondeo and select James McFadden.
I don't want it to sound as if i'm taking the piss out of Naysmith, Kilbane and McFadden. I think they've all been great signings, and after all a Ford Mondeo is a good car if you're used to clapped out Escorts. But they're squad players and if we're going to progress to where we need to be - European football year on year - then Moyes needs to do two things: choose class and make it work.
[Submitted by AJE]
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