Bear with me a while before I get to the main point and you cast me down as a complete lunatic. I have two very important things to say first of all: One about Davy Moyes and the other about our great club and where I see them going.
Firstly I have always said that, whenever there has been a crisis, or a mini-crisis on the playing front at Everton, David Moyes has always emerged on the other side of these crises the better for it.
Here are the examples of which we all know:
Crisis #1 The Beginning: Averted (albeit not of his own making)
2002: Staring relegation in the face David Moyes steers the team to safety - in fact it takes barely 30 seconds for people to believe the miracle will happen after David Unsworth plants the ball in the Fulham net.
2003: After the crisis that preceded his arrival Everton finish an amazing 7th place - comfortably the best season in many a year for the team
Crisis #2 2004: Averted
After the euphoria of the previous season the team sinks to a low of 17th (although it must be said much of this came about with the string of losses at the back end of the season rather than a consistently poor season of results. The following season the side played magnificently, against all the odds after the departure of Rooney (clearly the main man at the time). Players like Big Dunc came back to play their part in a memorable season (04-05) culminating in 4th place and a place in the Champions League (Qualifiers) - all this against the backdrop of apparent rebellion and fan discontent about the lack of signings.
Crisis #3 2005-6 Averted
After the euphoria of the previous season the start to 2005-6 could not have been any worse. Rock bottom after a couple of months the side looked in serious trouble. Yet a magnificent performance in a draw at home to runaway leaders Chelsea put the show back on the road and, after Christmas a great run of results saw the side finish 11th.
After the above crises things had been relatively plain sailing - with 3 Top 6 finishes, consistent qualification for UEFA/Europa League and even a magnificent FA Cup run (beating top sides like Liverpool, Villa and Manchester United) before falling 2-1 to Chelsea with a weakened side in the final.
Crisis #4 2009-10 Averted
The injury crisis - started in late 2008 with the loss of Yakubu and exacerbated in February 2009 with the loss of kingpin Mikel Arteta and a couple of months later with the loss of centre half Phil Jagielka continued unabated into the new season - hardly a week went by without another player being sidelined for several weeks. Yet the magnificent team spirit that the manager has engendered has seen this latest crisis averted. Indeed some of the signings brought about by the Lescott affair have been seen to be extremely prudent - Johnny Heitinga looks quality, to name but one and the manager is now moulding a side of extremely hard working skilful team..
So here's the 2nd part of this missive:
Everton are on the verge of being a VERY VERY VERY good side.
Aided and abetted with the great team spirit it's plain to see that just about all the players are pulling their weight in one direction - whether it be to win the Europa Cup, the FA Cup or whatever this season there is the nucleus of a side with huge potential. I seriously believe that the loss of Mikel Arteta has been the making of Steven Pienaar, the defensive crisis has seen the blooding of the likes of Seamus Coleman and allowed Johnny Heitinga to settle in well. Even Tony Hibbert has shown glimpses of confidence in the opponent's half of the field. Louis Saha, when he's really in the mood is a top-class striker, Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini have given 100% and more for the cause in unfamiliar and difficult roles.
You need to ask yourself - how many players have been asked to captain the side this season - I'm losing count - Neville, Howard, Yobo, Cahill, Osman, Hibbert, Yakubu...
So, to The Thing we Dare not Speak of:
Whisper it very quietly but, some of you may already know this little known fact.. Everton were Champions in 1891, 1915, 1939, 1963 and 1987 - are we really capable of winning it next season - given the current squad, team spirit and the very probable likelihood that many of the key players will be overlooked (especially after injuries) for WC2010 and many of those that will go to South Africa will, probably, not be there for the duration.
Is this a realistic possibility - with some of our rivals struggling to assert their (traditional) authority on the Premier League?
Firstly I have always said that, whenever there has been a crisis, or a mini-crisis on the playing front at Everton, David Moyes has always emerged on the other side of these crises the better for it.
Here are the examples of which we all know:
Crisis #1 The Beginning: Averted (albeit not of his own making)
2002: Staring relegation in the face David Moyes steers the team to safety - in fact it takes barely 30 seconds for people to believe the miracle will happen after David Unsworth plants the ball in the Fulham net.
2003: After the crisis that preceded his arrival Everton finish an amazing 7th place - comfortably the best season in many a year for the team
Crisis #2 2004: Averted
After the euphoria of the previous season the team sinks to a low of 17th (although it must be said much of this came about with the string of losses at the back end of the season rather than a consistently poor season of results. The following season the side played magnificently, against all the odds after the departure of Rooney (clearly the main man at the time). Players like Big Dunc came back to play their part in a memorable season (04-05) culminating in 4th place and a place in the Champions League (Qualifiers) - all this against the backdrop of apparent rebellion and fan discontent about the lack of signings.
Crisis #3 2005-6 Averted
After the euphoria of the previous season the start to 2005-6 could not have been any worse. Rock bottom after a couple of months the side looked in serious trouble. Yet a magnificent performance in a draw at home to runaway leaders Chelsea put the show back on the road and, after Christmas a great run of results saw the side finish 11th.
After the above crises things had been relatively plain sailing - with 3 Top 6 finishes, consistent qualification for UEFA/Europa League and even a magnificent FA Cup run (beating top sides like Liverpool, Villa and Manchester United) before falling 2-1 to Chelsea with a weakened side in the final.
Crisis #4 2009-10 Averted
The injury crisis - started in late 2008 with the loss of Yakubu and exacerbated in February 2009 with the loss of kingpin Mikel Arteta and a couple of months later with the loss of centre half Phil Jagielka continued unabated into the new season - hardly a week went by without another player being sidelined for several weeks. Yet the magnificent team spirit that the manager has engendered has seen this latest crisis averted. Indeed some of the signings brought about by the Lescott affair have been seen to be extremely prudent - Johnny Heitinga looks quality, to name but one and the manager is now moulding a side of extremely hard working skilful team..
So here's the 2nd part of this missive:
Everton are on the verge of being a VERY VERY VERY good side.
Aided and abetted with the great team spirit it's plain to see that just about all the players are pulling their weight in one direction - whether it be to win the Europa Cup, the FA Cup or whatever this season there is the nucleus of a side with huge potential. I seriously believe that the loss of Mikel Arteta has been the making of Steven Pienaar, the defensive crisis has seen the blooding of the likes of Seamus Coleman and allowed Johnny Heitinga to settle in well. Even Tony Hibbert has shown glimpses of confidence in the opponent's half of the field. Louis Saha, when he's really in the mood is a top-class striker, Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini have given 100% and more for the cause in unfamiliar and difficult roles.
You need to ask yourself - how many players have been asked to captain the side this season - I'm losing count - Neville, Howard, Yobo, Cahill, Osman, Hibbert, Yakubu...
So, to The Thing we Dare not Speak of:
Whisper it very quietly but, some of you may already know this little known fact.. Everton were Champions in 1891, 1915, 1939, 1963 and 1987 - are we really capable of winning it next season - given the current squad, team spirit and the very probable likelihood that many of the key players will be overlooked (especially after injuries) for WC2010 and many of those that will go to South Africa will, probably, not be there for the duration.
Is this a realistic possibility - with some of our rivals struggling to assert their (traditional) authority on the Premier League?
