Sharpys top lip
Player Valuation: £60m
Carsley: Club doesn’t need me
IT was an unassuming response typical of the man. With many Evertonians wondering what the future holds for Lee Carsley, the player himself cannot see what the fuss is all about.
“This football club will be fine whether I decide to move on or not, it’s not a big decision,” he says. “The main thing is they have players like Joleon, Tim, Ossie, Hibbo and lots of the young lads on long term deals and they are the future.
“There are a lot of good players in this team and whether I stay or go will have no bearing on how the club does in the future.”
Carsley does himself a disservice. As one of only two players – Tony Hibbert is the other – to have remained at Goodison since David Moyes’s arrival in March 2002, the Republic of Ireland international has been integral to Everton’s success under the Scot.
This season alone, only Phil Neville and Joleon Lescott have made more outings than Carsley, his dogged midfield determination a driving force behind the lengthy runs in the League and UEFA Cups and quest for another European qualification.
But after 197 appearances and 12 goals, including a famous derby matchwinner in December 2004, Carsley could well be pulling on an Everton shirt for the final time tomorrow when Newcastle United visit Goodison.
The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to decide whether to sign a one-year extension, with Derby County waiting in the wings with an offer to take him closer to his Midlands home.
Carsley was in this situation last season, eventually spurning interest from Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers to extend his Goodison career.
And he says: “It will be a footballing decision when I make it. It’s not a big deal. The club will get plenty of money in the summer to strengthen and will go out and have the pick of who they want.
“I have had seven fantastic seasons here and will have ended the majority of them in the top seven. I am undecided over what I’ll do at the moment – I’ll enjoy the summer and then speak to the gaffer and see what happens.” Carsley, Hibbert and Joseph Yobo are the only players expected to line up tomorrow who appeared when Everton last hosted Newcastle in a crucial end-of-season encounter.
That was three years ago, when Moyes’s men won 2-0 on a memorable May afternoon to effectively seal fourth place and a Champions League
Tomorrow, only a point is required to stave off the late charge of Aston Villa and guarantee fifth place and a second successive UEFA Cup qualification.
“I remember last time being a fantastic day, a tough game, and a great end to the season,” says Carsley, whose £1.9million signing from Coventry City in February 2002 was one of the last acts by outgoing manager Water Smith. It was a huge achievement, although we had to wait for Liverpool’s result the next day so didn’t have the chance to celebrate that night.
“We will definitely use that experience this time too, it will help us to deal with things. The fact we’ve been in this position before could prove invaluable to us.
“But there is some disappointment that it’s boiled down to the last game when you look at the opportunities we’ve had to close it down already over the last month. So for it all to come down to the final day is a bit disappointing.”
Having been in and around the top four for much of the season, a run of six points in their last games has allowed neighbours Liverpool to run away with fourth place and leave Everton facing tomorrow’s end-of-season nail-biter.
“I think we let Liverpool off the hook badly,” admits Carsley. “As soon as they went in front of us, we never really gave them a challenge or put pressure on them to get results. We keeled over a bit.
“But it’s no coincidence that we haven’t played as well since Tim Cahill’s been out injured. He’s a massive player for us and at times we’ve been without Mikel Arteta as well.
“If you take them out of the side and it’s the equivalent of Manchester United being without Rooney and Ronaldo.”
Last week’s defeat at Arsenal ensured a record of just one point from eight games against the ‘big four’ this season, indicating where Everton have fallen short.
But Carsley says: “It isn’t down to a lack of belief. We have proved we can beat any of them on any given day, but whether we can sustain it over the season I don’t know.
“We have raised the bar for ourselves but that’s how it should be for a club this size. We should be a permanent fixture in the top six.”
No matter where he begins next season, Carsley at least has part of his future already mapped out.
On Tuesday, the midfielder will accompany his nine-year-old son Connor, who was born with Down’s Syndrome, for an activity week at Dunfield House in Herefordshire.
“Connor’s helper could not go so I am,” says Carsley. “We’ll be going white water rafting, rock climbing, nature walks and stuff, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“We’re going on the Tuesday so it will be a bit different from things on Sunday. Hopefully I will be drinking champagne on the school coach!
“I’ve never done anything like it before, but I’ve been volunteered and it’s my debut. It will be fantastic.”
Once again, it was a response typical of the man. Should Carsley opt for pastures new, the likeable midfielder would be a huge miss both on and off the field at Goodison.
1.9m What a servent he's been to our club. Unsung hero is the word that comes to mind. Even thou we do need a younger an better defencive midfielder, He's been fantastic for us. An i'd love him to get another 1 year deal as he deserves it. Plus he'd be great cover to come in when needed.
Well done Lee, if it is your last game toorrow. I'll be giving you a standig ovation that you deserve. Thanx for the memories....
