Today was very much a time of reflection for us Toffees.
Looking back at Moyes' past 11 years in charge put into perspective the sheer change the man brought to our club, and with the change came countless transfers in and out of the club.
This is when I began to think about who has been our most important signing over the past two decades.
Some players sprung to mind...
The list could go on and the majority of them would probably be Moyes' signings.
However would any of this 'change' be possible if it wasn't for one of Walter Smith's signings in 1999?
When Kevin Campbell first came in on loan from Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, Everton were 18th in the table.
Campbell had previously played (and starred) for clubs such as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, however his £2.5m move to the Turkish giants was soured by claims of racist chants from the home supporters.
Campbell wanted out and Walter Smith was in dire need of a striker, Everton were currently on the end of a 4 game losing streak after succumbing to a double from Sheffield Wednesday's Benito Carbone.
Talks were brief and before the end of the following week Campbell had flew into Liverpool to finalise his loan deal to Everton.
Walter Smith put Campbell straight into the first team for the vital relegation scrap against fellow strugglers Coventry City.
Campbell's impact would prove vital as he'd go on to score 2 goals as Everton helt on after big-money flop Marco Materazzi compounded a awful season at Everton with a silly sending off.
This catapulted Everton into 16th place with 6 games remaining.
Campbell went on to score 2 against Newcastle United away from home in the next game to secure a vital 3-1 win against the Toons, and then did the same against a poor Charlton side at Goodison.
6 goals in 3 games was awarded with the Player of the Month award in April, making him the first loan player to win the award.
Everton needed 2 points from their remaining 2 games to guarantee Premier League safety, however this would not be easy.
Chelsea were sitting in 3rd position after a fantastic season with a FA Cup Final to look forward to, West Ham United had defied all odds and were sat in 5th – above Everton's fierce rivals in Liverpool.
Everton were quickly torn apart at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea dominated in a game of where Campbell failed to make any sort of impact.
The final game of the season was an important one for Everton, although our goal difference was far greater than Charlton and Southampton – we still needed a win on the final day to secure another season in England's top division.
Everton tore West Ham apart in a emphatic 6-0 win, Campbell grabbed himself a hat-trick to secure Everton all 3 points – Kevin Campbell had scored 9 goals in 8 games, making him Everton's leading goalscorer.
He would later end up signing on a permanent basis for Everton, but long before his winning goal in a 1-0 derby-day win at Anfield – Kevin Campbell was christened by the Everton support simply as 'Super Kev'.
Looking back at Moyes' past 11 years in charge put into perspective the sheer change the man brought to our club, and with the change came countless transfers in and out of the club.
This is when I began to think about who has been our most important signing over the past two decades.
Some players sprung to mind...
- Tim Cahill.
- Joseph Yobo.
- Leighton Baines.
- Nigel Martyn.
- Lee Carsley.
- Mikel Arteta.
- Phil Jagielka.
The list could go on and the majority of them would probably be Moyes' signings.
However would any of this 'change' be possible if it wasn't for one of Walter Smith's signings in 1999?
When Kevin Campbell first came in on loan from Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, Everton were 18th in the table.
Campbell had previously played (and starred) for clubs such as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, however his £2.5m move to the Turkish giants was soured by claims of racist chants from the home supporters.
Campbell wanted out and Walter Smith was in dire need of a striker, Everton were currently on the end of a 4 game losing streak after succumbing to a double from Sheffield Wednesday's Benito Carbone.
Talks were brief and before the end of the following week Campbell had flew into Liverpool to finalise his loan deal to Everton.
Walter Smith put Campbell straight into the first team for the vital relegation scrap against fellow strugglers Coventry City.
Campbell's impact would prove vital as he'd go on to score 2 goals as Everton helt on after big-money flop Marco Materazzi compounded a awful season at Everton with a silly sending off.
This catapulted Everton into 16th place with 6 games remaining.
Campbell went on to score 2 against Newcastle United away from home in the next game to secure a vital 3-1 win against the Toons, and then did the same against a poor Charlton side at Goodison.
6 goals in 3 games was awarded with the Player of the Month award in April, making him the first loan player to win the award.
Everton needed 2 points from their remaining 2 games to guarantee Premier League safety, however this would not be easy.
Chelsea were sitting in 3rd position after a fantastic season with a FA Cup Final to look forward to, West Ham United had defied all odds and were sat in 5th – above Everton's fierce rivals in Liverpool.
Everton were quickly torn apart at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea dominated in a game of where Campbell failed to make any sort of impact.
The final game of the season was an important one for Everton, although our goal difference was far greater than Charlton and Southampton – we still needed a win on the final day to secure another season in England's top division.
Everton tore West Ham apart in a emphatic 6-0 win, Campbell grabbed himself a hat-trick to secure Everton all 3 points – Kevin Campbell had scored 9 goals in 8 games, making him Everton's leading goalscorer.
He would later end up signing on a permanent basis for Everton, but long before his winning goal in a 1-0 derby-day win at Anfield – Kevin Campbell was christened by the Everton support simply as 'Super Kev'.
