macdog

Hypothetically speaking, should David Moyes leave, who would be happy to 'Start Again'?
 
What I mean by that, is start building a 'team' ala Althetic Bilbao or Ajax? We've got some big earners now in our first team squad and some of them just don't seem "hungry" enough for me. They turn up, play, get paid. I understand that this is true for the majority of professional footballers but I'd rather see 'winners' and triers within the squad.
 
A lot has been made of David Moyes and his youth policy, some agree it works, others don't but i'm in a position now, where i'd like us to start afresh. I wouldn't care if we languished mid-table for a season or two, if it meant gelling a new breed of players togther. Ajax have proved it on a much larger scale. Yes, they're an incredibly big club. CL nearly every year, one of the best academies in Europe but so are Everton!! Ok, so we're not CL contenders every year but we've got a great youth set-up and we're always hearing about the great players and kids that we're bringing through, yet rarely get to see them play.
 
Ajax have created a team. A team where each man (or boy depending on how old they are aha) know their positions. They know they have to go out and wear the red and white proudly. They have to prove that they're good enough for the biggest club in Holland and so far, it's working. Positively creating a team combined with youth and experience is hard work, it takes time (look at Villa and Liverpool). They've taken a bashing from their supporters and pundits alike but they're slowly and surely going to create something 'better' than what they had. If Villa survive, they'll be twice the team next season, I have that feeling. The shite on the other hand, seem to slowly be pulling it back from a torrid opening half to the season, it'll only benefit them in the future. If they add some consistancy to their game, they'll be a good (not great (yet)) team again.
 
Marcelo Bielsa, did (or is doing) a similar thing at Athletic Bilboa. Only recruiting Basque players. It's a little inconsistent still but they play some of the best football i've ever seen. If we did "start again" and we were 10th/11th come the end of the season but playing some beautiful, hardworking football, not afraid to "have a go", I think i'd be quite content. It would be building for the future for sure and not a quick fix but I wouldn't mind?
 
This idea has come about from the frustrations of recent showings and last nights "substitutions". I felt like crying.
 
Some of you state that our younger players "aren't good enough yet"...if the comparison is made against our current first team squad, then only one name should really ring out, Steven Naismith. If we're using SN as a marker to judge how good our kids are, then they must be atrocious and we really do have to start again.
 
Some of our kids ARE good enough. I sense they are. The little time I've seen them play for Everton or reading the reports about how well they've done out on loan at their respective clubs, I genuinely believe they are good enough. Lundstrum is the latest youngster to get glowing reviews, yes it's League one but he's bossed their last two games...shown technical ability above and beyond anyone in that team/league. If someone would like to point out "but it's League one"...a League TWO team in Oldham Athletic knocked a nearly full strength Liverpool out of the FA cup and also forced our strongest 11 into a replay. A moto I stand by, "if you're good enough, you're old enough" and with enough opportunities I am genuinely, genuinely convinced that some of our lads would be.
 
5 Who ARE good enough (IMO)

Barkley - Has been a little inconsistent but had he been given the game time, I think it'd be ironed out and he'd grow consistency in his game. No reason he couldn't be used as a substitute at the end of games, when Ossie or Pienaar grow tired.


Duffy - Shown at Burnley and Scunthorpe respectively, he's a monster and got a great head on his shoulders. Our defense have been shakey at best, set-piece defending have been crying for a fearless defender to throw everything at the ball.


Lundstrum - See above.


Vellios - Not good enough to start but has shown in the times that he has been used as a substitute, he can be a threat. He can bully defenders and get them thinking about turning toward goal. I love Vellios. He's sexy as hell and i think more game time would truly benefit his game.


Oviedo - Ok, not technically a youngster but a decent outlay for seeing out games. Can run...and run. Got technical ability. Just needs to improve on his decision making but the signs are there. Pienaar has been looking very leggy of late, come the end of games and he needs relieving slightly earlier than the 88th minute.

 
So with those in mind, who would I release? By the way, this is my opinion and not influenced by others.

Heitinga - Sell, for whatever we can get. Massive earner, needs to get off the books.
Neville - From playing, assistant coaching, fine. No more playing please.
Fellaini - Get the money for other youngsters, good ones!

 
Who would I drop?

Howard - Great back up keeper, I shit myself every time a ball goes into the area.
Distin - Just not showing enough for me, reliable yes but seeming less and less like his former self.
Pienaar - Controversial I know but as a 'Winger' or Wide player, he's just not been the same player as last year. Could it be fatigue? Possibly. I just don't get him atm.
Jelavic - Yes, it might be a 'blip' but Mirallas looks far more dangerous as a striker, his finishing it clinical. I want to see Super Kev upfront...get back to Olympiakos goal scoring.

 
What do we need?

A wide man. A proper one. Not a striker playing on the wing. Or a CM playing on the wing. A proper winger. Someone with pace and tekkers, would be delightful.
Striker. Still need one, not sure who we could get but someone dangerous, like Wolfswinkel or Lukaku.

 
I've forgotten what else I wanted to say and even if I could, I've forgotten how to structure sentences, so this is a problem. But to summarise I'm willing to start again, take two years to mount a serious push at the "glass ceiling" which is the top 4. Take time to encourage our youth, to get them playing football and give our team a 'driving spirit' to succeed. I want Everton to be dangerous, to not just 'look for a point' ever, I want to approach matches to win...ruthlessly. I'd rather we went all out for a win and lost 5-4....just go out for blood. I want hunger and desire to be bought back into the team, i'm missing the grit and determination. When we were in Europe, we had it, we wanted to win because we hadn't experienced it before (that team)...I want that again. I want to win.