No need for the wrecking ball

By Chris Kirwan
July 7 2003

The lack of transfer action at Goodison is causing some to panic about the forthcoming season for the Blues. But while a certain amount of tinkering is required there is no need for wholesale changes.

I’m sure Moyes recognises that last season’s midfield quartet were somewhat lacking in the creativity stakes. But while this is a slight worry he is not prepared to compromise the hard-working nature of this part of his side. Hence he has targeted Sean Davis.

Davis is the type of player that would enhance the Everton midfield. He does possess attacking attributes, but these come hand in hand with his willingness to work back and fulfil his duties to the defence which he sits in front of. What the Blues don’t need is a player who will not fit into the system and ethos that Moyes has brought to the club.

Every summer a Barcelona president comes in a bandies around names that he will add to the wage bill. Yet in recent years the Catalan club have been outshone by the likes of Celta and Deportivo. It is not the names that bring success, it is the system and the balance of the side.

Everton have been linked with Berger and Dunn this summer, but failed to follow up on the initial inquiry. One has to assume that Moyes weighed up the situation and believed that there were better options available. It would certainly seem a less risky option to ship in another couple of loan signings than splash out £25k a week on a player that was deemed surplus to another club’s requirements, and I for one would like to see the Li Tie deal completed.

We all love to see entertainers, but I would rather see the Blues stick to the system that was so successful last season. I hope that if Fulham price Everton out of the running for Davis that the club doesn’t go and spend the money earmarked for Davis on somebody less suitable. It is if the Blues lose sight of the importance of the Moyes system rather than a lack of transfer action that will lead to a long, painful season.