David Moyes - Transfer Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations - Part 2
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Everton, Transfers | 13 April 2006
Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision rightPhilip C. Mcgraw
In terms of reviewing Moyesy’s Everton transfer record, we got as far as the end of the 2003/4 season. His response to our worst ever (well sort of) points tally was to get rid of loads, and of course we had the Paul Stretford inspired move of little Wayne to the outfit recently described, quite seriously, by one of the Glasers as ‘a great franchise’. You bet buddy, it sure is.
While all that was going on at the end of the transfer window, we were doing OK thanks, due in no small part to some inspired signings, starting with;
Marcus Bent – A total snip at a measly £450 grand, and really the man who made the 4-5-1 system actually work. A truly athletic centre forward, and working from Latchford through to Super Kev or Big Dunc, it is really hard to think of anyone else who has fallen into that category. Worked himself into the ground for the Blues, and looked superb until he got into the box. His ‘cool slot’ at home to Boro was probably off out for a throw in until it was deflected, but no matter. Even after he’d lost his way at Everton, we still saw his best goal, a last minute special at Southampton. And we sold him for a hefty 400% ish profit. Good business. HIT
Tim Cahill – It seems likely that Timmy would have gone to Palace had their annoying yet kind of likeable chairman Simon Jordan not kicked off about agent’s fees. That would have been a tragedy for Everton. A fantastic signing, not the most gifted footballer, but one who plays ‘on the edge’, gets on referees tits but gives just about everything he’s got. His Zebedee-esque spring, out springing former spring Champ Gary Speed, is a pleasure to behold and has resulted in loads of goals. Seemed to suffer in the first half of the season by having more defensive responsibilities. A classic box-to-box midfielder. Incontrovertible HIT.
James Beattie – Great to see Everton out-do someone in the transfer market, OK it was Villa, and there was some weirdness over wages between Kenwright and Ellis, but Moyesy ‘got his man’. Hideously bad to start with, injuries and that half-witted sending off against Chelsea hampering any progress. Has always seemed to score his goals in bursts through his career, hopefully we’ve not just got to the end of one. Been pretty consistent in the past 3 months, his beasting of the Arsenal defence was great to see, as were his more subtle goals against West Ham and Fulham. A proper centre forward? On balance, just about a HIT.
Mikel Arteta – Having seen a couple of Old Firm (yeah OK it’s not proper football) games appear to pass him buy, it looked like we may be getting some fancy dan Spaniard who couldn’t hack the ‘rigours of the English game’ or something. Quickly it emerged that this kid had loads of skills and he has played a major part in our revival this season. Hard to know whether he should play out wide or in the centre but wherever, he is a class act. Also survived an assassination attempt during the Bucharest home game. But would we love him as much if he looked like Luke Chadwick?(who, come to think of it, looks like Peter Crouch) – possibly not. Superb. HIT
Simon Davies – Oh dear. Moyesy seems to have been after him for ages. Looked OK for Spurs and Wales without being outstanding. Started OK and showed some glimpses, in the Villarreal and United home defeats, that he was up to the task. At the moment, this looks like £3.5 million wasted on an injury prone, lightweight player who can only either put in weak crosses which don’t reach, or balloon them miles past everyone. A haircut wouldn’t go a miss either, Jonathan Creek. MISS
Per Kroldrup – First of all, ignore all that crap, don’t believe it for a second. But, this is a strange one. Per seemed to look like a ‘classic ball playing centre half’ in that Thailand tournament, then got injured, then got fit, then never played, then ‘had one' against Villa. And that was it. The worst thing about it was that this went some way towards proving the bilious and unbelievably biased Alan Green right about something, but only by accident. A bit of a mystery, and then we cut our losses, got Stubbsy back and all was well in the world, kind of like it never happened. Weird, and total MISS.
Phil Neville – Probably a decent signing, when we all wanted a forward, but not entirely clear why. He has a good attitude, if shouting loads, clapping your hands, and coming over to applaud the fans at every given opportunity is the yardstick. Distribution-wise he can look like Hibbo in disguise, and a left back he can look well dodgy. Whether he’s better than a fit Carsley in the ‘holding role’ in midfield, dunno, we’ll see. But midfield is probably his best position. NOT SURE YET
Nuno Valente – Another European Cup winner, but looked like he’d have been well out his depth in the Watney Cup at first. His ‘evasive action’ at Bucharest was frightening and upsetting to watch, and he looked like Pistone without any of the positive traits at first. As our season started to turn around, he’s looked good, and can ping a mean cross over. The sort of player you could see looking really good in a really good side, hopefully that will be Everton. HIT
Other new faces to appear in this spell;
Guillaume Plessis – Known for eternity by the top right hand corner of the Park End for that lame ‘get the French kid on’ shout, couldn’t have been any good or that’s just what would have happened.
John Ruddy – Looked decent against Blackburn, in a way a pity Westerveld came in but thems the breaks.
Matteo Ferrari – There is talk of him sticking around, and before the Arsenal game he was showing real signs of settling in. As long as he doesn’t fall into the ‘really good on loan and then total shite when signed’ category, then why not?
Andy van der Meyde – Just not played enough. Looked good Boro home, Blackburn and Birmingham away, but we just need to see more of him, or maybe, a little less of him but more often.
No managers get them all right so on the whole Moyesy’s record is pretty good. Per walks away with the worse signing award, he’s Bosko Balaban like in that regard. The best, well, Martyn is great but it has to be Tim Cahill, who has embodied the spirit which has given us some better times recently.
Next up we'll preview the team desperately looking to hold off it's rivals for a Champions League place whilst desperately hoping they don't suffer some injustice at the hands of said rivals. Sound familiar?
Comments
I think Moyesy got it right when he got rid of Bent and Per when he did. Bent was offering nothing in his last few months and his departure has allowed Faddy to grow in confidence with some time up front.
What about his re-signing of Stubbs? What seemed like desperation in January has proved to be a masterstroke. It does show the amount of pig-headedness on both sides last summer. We could have done with Stubbs earlier in the season when the defence collapsed.
Let's hope Moyesy has his wits about him this summer - can't be doing with any last day deals.
We're in for Dickov! Oh what unconfined joy that fills me with.
AND Arteta out for the season.
14th place here we come.
Good write up fella. Can't disagree except that I feel we can't judge Beattie yet. He has a lot more to do to be worth his price.
I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing flaws in Neville too (outside of looks) .
Beefy
