I wrote the following last year after the semi:
I realise this is long but I think I've found a few reasons for the problem (if not necessarily the whole solution)
The Everton Mentality is both the reason for our (relative) success & our failings
I am now convinced that this is the reason we fail so often against the Big Teams & Liverpool (whom we treat as a Big Team). It is also the same reason we fail to hit the ground runningin the PL but the very same reason we only thrive in adversity.
Our record in the Premier League is (continually) one of coming from a position of adversity to finish with a flourish: I believe we get ourselves into this position because of our Mentality.
This is how it works: Almost to a man the Everton squad is (and has been under Moyes) made up of the following types of players:
Cast-offs (not quite good enough) & Loanees: Gibson, Heitinga (unwanted in Spain), Jelavic (cast-off as Rangers were desperate for cash - but possibly an exception (below)), Strac, McFadden, Distin (fell out with Portsmouth over a large unpaid debt to him), Neville (no longer wanted at United), Pienaar (twice in his case), Howard, Mucha (free), Hahnemann - previously Saha, Beckford
Movers-Up: Baines, Jags, Cahill
Bargain Buys: Coleman, Vellios, Gueye
Local Players of Average Ability (which of course almost every club has): Hibbert, Osman, Anichebe, Duffy
Some Exceptions to the above (Good for the club.) Fellaini (large fee), Rodwell, Barkley (potentially), - previous examples: Donovan, Arteta (until, perhaps, he fell out with "The Philosophy") - of course one would include the exceptionally talented player in this category (Rooney - but he had to move on from the Everton of 2004 to flourish at a bigger club
Exceptions (Bad for the club.) often big names or big price signings - often those "not buying into the philosophy" - Drenthe & ultimately Saha (both "cast offs") fall into this category, previously Yakubu, Billy, Beattie, Johnson (to a degree) - also those like Jeffers who "got too big for his boots" shall we say & Yobo (latterly).
The above is probably not unique to Everton & NOT ENTIRELY a reflection of the players' abilities but a statement which, when read with the manager's philosophy/message makes sense - he's brought players into the club that match his image & mentality for the club. It may well be that many other clubs have the same make up of players (although I suspect it is NOT the case for the so-called Big Clubs who, by & large spend big & buy players who SHOULD have a different mentality to ours (should be better - should be winning things etc. etc) - if you fail at Man U (or your time is up) you get shipped out pure & simple). It's worth remembering too that Moyes has had a board that have given him the support to develop this rather than the typical 2-3 years that other managers usually get. Now the players Liverpool have bought are certainly expensive but their results in the league don't seem to have borne fruit - perhaps (it seems) they've bought badly to a large extent but on the other hand they still have 3-4 particularly good players & enough of the right mentality to get a cup or two here or there (and the same applies to all the other teams that win things).
How the Moyes Philosophy Works Well For Everton:
Our record from the position of adversity - Us against the World - is second to none. However it seems to be that we only get the results in this adversity. It also works against the so-called "Lesser Sides" - it also works, almost without fail, in the 2nd half of the season when we have (got) our backs to the wall - conversely it seems to fail at the start of the season when we're not under the same pressure or the message isn't getting through adequately - nor does it work particularly well when we occasionally get ourselves into a good position (such as the first half of 2004-5 when we pretty much limped over the line in the 2nd half of the season) - or in a big cup match (SF/Final). So we accept that Moyes has a good eye for a decent player at the right price, the right philosophy in adversity, enough ability to get the best out of the squad against eminently beatable opponents etc etc. But I think it seems to be very very hard to get the players ON-MESSAGE (or more probably to "CHANGE THE MESSAGE" in such a way as to get the right results) against the "better sides". Whatever the message on that day is must be sending out the wrong signals viz a viz these sides relative strengths. Perhaps there is an element of too much caution against these sides but, to be honest, on their grounds, as we're apparently inferior to them, we might need to just go for it and forget the losses that may well accrue - that seems to be the philosophy some sides sometimes take to Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. Sooner or later a breakthrough can come if you keep knocking on the door even if, once in a while you get a 4-0 hammering at Arsenal for your troubles - we certainly have given the bigger teams a bloody nose at Goodison so we are more than capable of at least giving it a go away from home - we have been ahead on their grounds but we always come up short. So, if one goes for the win and accepts the consequence of losing as a result then less long term damage can accrue - if that forms a part of the message!
Our home form - first half of the season is very poor (wins = losses) - 2nd half is excellent (8 wins for every loss).
Our away form - is constant throughout - atypically an equal number of wins-draws-losses but we lose (by & large) away to the Big Teams & don't lose (almost without exception) to the rest. So it's clear for all to see that the problem is both getting off to a good start (first half of the season) & finding a way to win at the better teams (because we certainly can beat them at home). There are some reasons for this & some exceptions - for example we have the number on City BECAUSE our Mentality against them is spot on (something here about the Lescott factor I believe means that the "Victim" Card is played by Moyes where it has generated 8 wins out of 10 matches against them.)
How the Philosophy Fails Everton: I believe it fails precisely because he has gathered together a squad of players who are made to feel part of this "small" or, if you prefer, "financially poor club" that can fight together - in adversity - it's a constant message we hear from the manager - but unfortunately hasn't got the message across in the form of a Winning Mentality to go out & take on the United's in their own back yard. I really don't know how you can get the same players to both "feel superior" to the Sunderlands, Fulhams, Blackburns, West Broms of the PL & suddenly switch them on to feel better & believe they are better than sides that clearly are (judged on finishing position alone) better than us - United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool chiefly - & quite reasonably knowing that these teams have better playing squads as well (bringing in the money equation one assumes). I think that the message gets through when the chips are down but not from the start of the season when we're not in this position of adversity. The manager has, it seems, built this fortress mentality, which gets the results from adversity but how do you find an answer to give the players the right - yet different - message - to kick start the season and, maybe equally important, to overlook this "in this together, backs to the wall" mentality when taking on clubs that have a wealth of talented players & (one presumes) the manager & the players know (or are made to believe) that these opponents are "bigger, stronger, better financed" clubs than ours?
How it might be changed:
I'm not picking on individual players because (some would legitimately argue) they aren't quite good enough (some would bracket the likes of Neville, Hibbert, Osman etc in this argument) but (perhaps) new players and certainly a new message are needed. In any event, with few exceptions, most people are comfortable with the team selection from the players presently at the manager's disposal so it's hard to argue - for the most part - he's not doing the majority of things right.
One solution may be to change the Message & change the captain. Neville most definitely sends out the current "Moyes Message". A good manager finds a way to let his players down gently. Surely to change the captain when he's at the back end of his career is legitimate & shrewd management. Neville has the manager's ear - he sends out the same message but, if we change the message then we need to change the messenger. Again this argument isn't about not playing Neville per se.
We clearly have succeeded in being a very efficient unit by-and-large in finishing in the top 7 or 8 every year with the limited resources we have. Perhaps we need to identify more (good) players or at least some more who buy in to a new mentality or find more money to bring in the right players with a winning mentality ("Alan Balls" say). Jelavic might well be one of those players (an "exception") but to move on up we seem to need to change the message now we've bedded in to the better end of the table & start to believe a newer message that probably requires less fear in some games. We have shown in recent weeks we can take on sides & blow them off the pitch so there has to be a reason we cannot take the right mentality into games against Liverpool, Man Utd, surely? It is because I believe, somehow, having built up this team collective strength to beat the rest that the players know what's expected of them in matches that SHOULD be winnable (and maybe they accept that as the get-out option) - surely the results show that that message is NOT the same against "better sides" (at least not on our travels nor indeed in these big Cup matches (semis, finals etc.)
The WRONG message:
Everton (Moyes) should
NOT have been calling Liverpool favourites for this match. It may well be true, you may well think it but the manager needs to, at least for these big matches, send out the message that "we are favourites" or at the very least "it's an even contest" if that kind of message doesn't suit him. It's true you set yourself up for a fall when you say "we are favourites" but at the same time calling yourselves the underdog probably sends out something of a wrong message as well - maybe you're letting yourself down for a fall, perhaps it's a defence mechanism, perhaps it's bluff.. Perhaps the Clough/Shankly "we are unbeatable" message is what's needed!!!
So, to summarise: The Mentality gives us the strengths we have, but it only takes us so far - to move on we need to change the Mentality (and Message) - if that takes new players & that needs money we don't have then we have to go with what we have - of course there is the danger that a new message & new players lead to a loss of team harmony. If we go with what we have instead of just conceding ground to the so-called better sides we have to change the playing mentality against them and send out no message at all. If the new message or Philosophy is about trying to move on & the results do not accrue perhaps the confidence would be compromised. It's certainly not a easy problem to fix.
----------------
My view today:
Hoof Ball against Wigan
11 back for corners at 0-3
Neville marking space
Barkley not trusted for more than 10 minutes
Fellaini stinking the plsce out - barely one decent pass all game.
Moyes came in on the back of a disgraceful 3-0 loss at Boro in the Cup. He should find new employment and move on.
Martinez at least hss a game plan - the respect of his players and needs to come to Goodison right now.
-------------------
Wigan deserve all the credit this result will surely generate from many quarters -even despite the mauling at the hands of Liverpool last week (a common problem for Wigan on many occasions they are outplayed BUT they have a manager who won't lie down and accept that a run of bad results will see them relegated. They have a (siege) mentality which (to use Everton jargon) sees them "fight above their weight" - they will attack even if it means they might die. They have consistently bought cheap and performed well - surely signs of good management. I wish them well in the rest of their season and FA Cup campaign - just hope that, should the opportunity to manage Everton present itself to Martinez he won't be drunk on an FA Cup success and refuse (I suspect he also might have a point to make to Liverpool where the opportunity to manage was missed/denied).
So what of his ballsy performance and how does that compare with ours? Well Everton were sadly lacking in midfield with 2 lightweight centre mids - I'm not a big fan of Heitinga in centre mid but he would have been a bit more forceful than the defence minded (and here, non-tackling) Neville and the quick to lose possession Osman (carrying all too much of a load without support from the captain). I believe that Neville, at 35, is way past his best, his body shape on winning a pass is too slow and far too willing to pass sideways and backwards. The ineffective Mirallas and Pienaar were of no use out on the wings, seeing the ball far too infrequently.
The body language and lack of communication from the Everton players as each goal flew in was palpably inadequate - was there a training ground bust up? Why was Fellaini so disinterested, spraying passes to opponents at will? Why was Jelavic left alone up front to manfully fight for everything? Why wasn't Anichebe, having an excellent season, allowed to fester on the bench? Why was Barkley left for 80 minutes (until far too late, AGAIN) before given a handful of minutes to do anything (perhaps he deserved a penalty for one run)?
Where are Moyes' balls? 3-0 at 35mins - that's still nearly an hour to do something? Well, another 10 minutes pass by - no subs are warming up! Pathetic!! Where was the total dress down to Neville that he should have been giving him (after the half time break he should have left him back in the dressing room and sorted it out!!). Sorry Phil - thanks but no more!
Sorry Marouane - we've missed Champions League football but, on £70K a week you ARE required to give a toss for your employer - so kindly go.
Moyes - well, you came in on a 3-0 thumping at Boro that saw the back of Smith - you're going (to Germany I suspect as no-one with any brains over here will hire you now). Sorry, game over and thanks.
As for Mr. Friend - thanks for disallowing Saha's 5th against Blackpool (bringing play back), thanks for killing 2 decent Everton moves to stop play without good cause, thanks for taking the wrong temperature of this game and ignoring some Wigan challenges at the expense of not similar ones from (the losing side) Everton - you are pretty awful as a ref - almost a Lee Masonesque performance in fact) - thanks for missing the foul on Heitinga for their 2nd goal, thanks for booking Fellaini for his inability to get out the way) - but even allowing for your injudicious performance Everton deserved nowt.
I realise this is long but I think I've found a few reasons for the problem (if not necessarily the whole solution)
The Everton Mentality is both the reason for our (relative) success & our failings
I am now convinced that this is the reason we fail so often against the Big Teams & Liverpool (whom we treat as a Big Team). It is also the same reason we fail to hit the ground runningin the PL but the very same reason we only thrive in adversity.
Our record in the Premier League is (continually) one of coming from a position of adversity to finish with a flourish: I believe we get ourselves into this position because of our Mentality.
This is how it works: Almost to a man the Everton squad is (and has been under Moyes) made up of the following types of players:
Cast-offs (not quite good enough) & Loanees: Gibson, Heitinga (unwanted in Spain), Jelavic (cast-off as Rangers were desperate for cash - but possibly an exception (below)), Strac, McFadden, Distin (fell out with Portsmouth over a large unpaid debt to him), Neville (no longer wanted at United), Pienaar (twice in his case), Howard, Mucha (free), Hahnemann - previously Saha, Beckford
Movers-Up: Baines, Jags, Cahill
Bargain Buys: Coleman, Vellios, Gueye
Local Players of Average Ability (which of course almost every club has): Hibbert, Osman, Anichebe, Duffy
Some Exceptions to the above (Good for the club.) Fellaini (large fee), Rodwell, Barkley (potentially), - previous examples: Donovan, Arteta (until, perhaps, he fell out with "The Philosophy") - of course one would include the exceptionally talented player in this category (Rooney - but he had to move on from the Everton of 2004 to flourish at a bigger club
Exceptions (Bad for the club.) often big names or big price signings - often those "not buying into the philosophy" - Drenthe & ultimately Saha (both "cast offs") fall into this category, previously Yakubu, Billy, Beattie, Johnson (to a degree) - also those like Jeffers who "got too big for his boots" shall we say & Yobo (latterly).
The above is probably not unique to Everton & NOT ENTIRELY a reflection of the players' abilities but a statement which, when read with the manager's philosophy/message makes sense - he's brought players into the club that match his image & mentality for the club. It may well be that many other clubs have the same make up of players (although I suspect it is NOT the case for the so-called Big Clubs who, by & large spend big & buy players who SHOULD have a different mentality to ours (should be better - should be winning things etc. etc) - if you fail at Man U (or your time is up) you get shipped out pure & simple). It's worth remembering too that Moyes has had a board that have given him the support to develop this rather than the typical 2-3 years that other managers usually get. Now the players Liverpool have bought are certainly expensive but their results in the league don't seem to have borne fruit - perhaps (it seems) they've bought badly to a large extent but on the other hand they still have 3-4 particularly good players & enough of the right mentality to get a cup or two here or there (and the same applies to all the other teams that win things).
How the Moyes Philosophy Works Well For Everton:
Our record from the position of adversity - Us against the World - is second to none. However it seems to be that we only get the results in this adversity. It also works against the so-called "Lesser Sides" - it also works, almost without fail, in the 2nd half of the season when we have (got) our backs to the wall - conversely it seems to fail at the start of the season when we're not under the same pressure or the message isn't getting through adequately - nor does it work particularly well when we occasionally get ourselves into a good position (such as the first half of 2004-5 when we pretty much limped over the line in the 2nd half of the season) - or in a big cup match (SF/Final). So we accept that Moyes has a good eye for a decent player at the right price, the right philosophy in adversity, enough ability to get the best out of the squad against eminently beatable opponents etc etc. But I think it seems to be very very hard to get the players ON-MESSAGE (or more probably to "CHANGE THE MESSAGE" in such a way as to get the right results) against the "better sides". Whatever the message on that day is must be sending out the wrong signals viz a viz these sides relative strengths. Perhaps there is an element of too much caution against these sides but, to be honest, on their grounds, as we're apparently inferior to them, we might need to just go for it and forget the losses that may well accrue - that seems to be the philosophy some sides sometimes take to Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. Sooner or later a breakthrough can come if you keep knocking on the door even if, once in a while you get a 4-0 hammering at Arsenal for your troubles - we certainly have given the bigger teams a bloody nose at Goodison so we are more than capable of at least giving it a go away from home - we have been ahead on their grounds but we always come up short. So, if one goes for the win and accepts the consequence of losing as a result then less long term damage can accrue - if that forms a part of the message!
Our home form - first half of the season is very poor (wins = losses) - 2nd half is excellent (8 wins for every loss).
Our away form - is constant throughout - atypically an equal number of wins-draws-losses but we lose (by & large) away to the Big Teams & don't lose (almost without exception) to the rest. So it's clear for all to see that the problem is both getting off to a good start (first half of the season) & finding a way to win at the better teams (because we certainly can beat them at home). There are some reasons for this & some exceptions - for example we have the number on City BECAUSE our Mentality against them is spot on (something here about the Lescott factor I believe means that the "Victim" Card is played by Moyes where it has generated 8 wins out of 10 matches against them.)
How the Philosophy Fails Everton: I believe it fails precisely because he has gathered together a squad of players who are made to feel part of this "small" or, if you prefer, "financially poor club" that can fight together - in adversity - it's a constant message we hear from the manager - but unfortunately hasn't got the message across in the form of a Winning Mentality to go out & take on the United's in their own back yard. I really don't know how you can get the same players to both "feel superior" to the Sunderlands, Fulhams, Blackburns, West Broms of the PL & suddenly switch them on to feel better & believe they are better than sides that clearly are (judged on finishing position alone) better than us - United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool chiefly - & quite reasonably knowing that these teams have better playing squads as well (bringing in the money equation one assumes). I think that the message gets through when the chips are down but not from the start of the season when we're not in this position of adversity. The manager has, it seems, built this fortress mentality, which gets the results from adversity but how do you find an answer to give the players the right - yet different - message - to kick start the season and, maybe equally important, to overlook this "in this together, backs to the wall" mentality when taking on clubs that have a wealth of talented players & (one presumes) the manager & the players know (or are made to believe) that these opponents are "bigger, stronger, better financed" clubs than ours?
How it might be changed:
I'm not picking on individual players because (some would legitimately argue) they aren't quite good enough (some would bracket the likes of Neville, Hibbert, Osman etc in this argument) but (perhaps) new players and certainly a new message are needed. In any event, with few exceptions, most people are comfortable with the team selection from the players presently at the manager's disposal so it's hard to argue - for the most part - he's not doing the majority of things right.
One solution may be to change the Message & change the captain. Neville most definitely sends out the current "Moyes Message". A good manager finds a way to let his players down gently. Surely to change the captain when he's at the back end of his career is legitimate & shrewd management. Neville has the manager's ear - he sends out the same message but, if we change the message then we need to change the messenger. Again this argument isn't about not playing Neville per se.
We clearly have succeeded in being a very efficient unit by-and-large in finishing in the top 7 or 8 every year with the limited resources we have. Perhaps we need to identify more (good) players or at least some more who buy in to a new mentality or find more money to bring in the right players with a winning mentality ("Alan Balls" say). Jelavic might well be one of those players (an "exception") but to move on up we seem to need to change the message now we've bedded in to the better end of the table & start to believe a newer message that probably requires less fear in some games. We have shown in recent weeks we can take on sides & blow them off the pitch so there has to be a reason we cannot take the right mentality into games against Liverpool, Man Utd, surely? It is because I believe, somehow, having built up this team collective strength to beat the rest that the players know what's expected of them in matches that SHOULD be winnable (and maybe they accept that as the get-out option) - surely the results show that that message is NOT the same against "better sides" (at least not on our travels nor indeed in these big Cup matches (semis, finals etc.)
The WRONG message:
Everton (Moyes) should
NOT have been calling Liverpool favourites for this match. It may well be true, you may well think it but the manager needs to, at least for these big matches, send out the message that "we are favourites" or at the very least "it's an even contest" if that kind of message doesn't suit him. It's true you set yourself up for a fall when you say "we are favourites" but at the same time calling yourselves the underdog probably sends out something of a wrong message as well - maybe you're letting yourself down for a fall, perhaps it's a defence mechanism, perhaps it's bluff.. Perhaps the Clough/Shankly "we are unbeatable" message is what's needed!!!
So, to summarise: The Mentality gives us the strengths we have, but it only takes us so far - to move on we need to change the Mentality (and Message) - if that takes new players & that needs money we don't have then we have to go with what we have - of course there is the danger that a new message & new players lead to a loss of team harmony. If we go with what we have instead of just conceding ground to the so-called better sides we have to change the playing mentality against them and send out no message at all. If the new message or Philosophy is about trying to move on & the results do not accrue perhaps the confidence would be compromised. It's certainly not a easy problem to fix.
----------------
My view today:
Hoof Ball against Wigan
11 back for corners at 0-3
Neville marking space
Barkley not trusted for more than 10 minutes
Fellaini stinking the plsce out - barely one decent pass all game.
Moyes came in on the back of a disgraceful 3-0 loss at Boro in the Cup. He should find new employment and move on.
Martinez at least hss a game plan - the respect of his players and needs to come to Goodison right now.
-------------------
Wigan deserve all the credit this result will surely generate from many quarters -even despite the mauling at the hands of Liverpool last week (a common problem for Wigan on many occasions they are outplayed BUT they have a manager who won't lie down and accept that a run of bad results will see them relegated. They have a (siege) mentality which (to use Everton jargon) sees them "fight above their weight" - they will attack even if it means they might die. They have consistently bought cheap and performed well - surely signs of good management. I wish them well in the rest of their season and FA Cup campaign - just hope that, should the opportunity to manage Everton present itself to Martinez he won't be drunk on an FA Cup success and refuse (I suspect he also might have a point to make to Liverpool where the opportunity to manage was missed/denied).
So what of his ballsy performance and how does that compare with ours? Well Everton were sadly lacking in midfield with 2 lightweight centre mids - I'm not a big fan of Heitinga in centre mid but he would have been a bit more forceful than the defence minded (and here, non-tackling) Neville and the quick to lose possession Osman (carrying all too much of a load without support from the captain). I believe that Neville, at 35, is way past his best, his body shape on winning a pass is too slow and far too willing to pass sideways and backwards. The ineffective Mirallas and Pienaar were of no use out on the wings, seeing the ball far too infrequently.
The body language and lack of communication from the Everton players as each goal flew in was palpably inadequate - was there a training ground bust up? Why was Fellaini so disinterested, spraying passes to opponents at will? Why was Jelavic left alone up front to manfully fight for everything? Why wasn't Anichebe, having an excellent season, allowed to fester on the bench? Why was Barkley left for 80 minutes (until far too late, AGAIN) before given a handful of minutes to do anything (perhaps he deserved a penalty for one run)?
Where are Moyes' balls? 3-0 at 35mins - that's still nearly an hour to do something? Well, another 10 minutes pass by - no subs are warming up! Pathetic!! Where was the total dress down to Neville that he should have been giving him (after the half time break he should have left him back in the dressing room and sorted it out!!). Sorry Phil - thanks but no more!
Sorry Marouane - we've missed Champions League football but, on £70K a week you ARE required to give a toss for your employer - so kindly go.
Moyes - well, you came in on a 3-0 thumping at Boro that saw the back of Smith - you're going (to Germany I suspect as no-one with any brains over here will hire you now). Sorry, game over and thanks.
As for Mr. Friend - thanks for disallowing Saha's 5th against Blackpool (bringing play back), thanks for killing 2 decent Everton moves to stop play without good cause, thanks for taking the wrong temperature of this game and ignoring some Wigan challenges at the expense of not similar ones from (the losing side) Everton - you are pretty awful as a ref - almost a Lee Masonesque performance in fact) - thanks for missing the foul on Heitinga for their 2nd goal, thanks for booking Fellaini for his inability to get out the way) - but even allowing for your injudicious performance Everton deserved nowt.
