Everton legend backs David Moyes' work

"Without a doubt it's more difficult now for a club from outside the 'big four' to win a trophy.

"It's purely and simply about money now.

"If somebody threw some money into David Moyes's hand and he could buy certain players then I'm pretty sure his team would have no problem getting into the top four and challenging for honours but obviously that's not available for him.

"I'm just happy that David gets the players, whoever they are and wherever they come from, to work for the team. That's a good sign that things are okay."

Even though Everton were one of English football's most affluent outfits during Wilson's spell at the club between 1964-69, he admits that the finances in the game then do not compare to the fortunes 21st Century Premier League superstars now earn.

He said: "Most of us would be happy to play now because of the money.

"It's absolutely staggering now when you consider what the wages were like in those days.

"But when people ask me if I'd like to play in today's game, there's one major reason why I say 'yes' - I'd be younger."

One criticism levelled at modern football is that the ball players and artists are being squeezed out at the expense of athletes who can run all day but Wilson admits that nobody is perfect.

He said: "Perhaps we've overstepped a mark now to some extent in regards to focussing on fitness over the basic skills.

"We did miss out on the athletic side but it's a matter of using what you've got to the best of your ability.

"There will never be a perfect player who can do everything. You realise what you're good at but you need to know your weaknesses too and you must try and cover them up or not let anybody know what they are."

While several generations of England sides have been trying to live up to the standards set by Wilson and company's world-beaters, the former left-back believes that each individual should only be judged by the era he played in.

He said: "You've got to live in your own time. It's pretty easy for people of our time to say 'it was much better in our day' but everything moves on and you've got to accept that.

"All I can say to any group of players is 'Did you perform in your own time?' and I can say to myself 'yes'. Considering the equipment I had and the way I used it I was okay.

"The serious players who were good in my time would still manage today.

"A lot of things have gone forward since then when it comes to playing the game such as pitches and the actual ball they play with."

Nevertheless, Wilson, who made 116 appearances for Everton, believes that at least one of his former Goodison Park team-mates would have been ideally suited to the modern game.

Before Alex Young's arrival from Hearts, Everton had a tradition of using muscular centre-forwards in the mould of Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton and Dave Hickson but the player known to his adoring fans as 'The Golden Vision' proved to be something quite different.

Wilson said: "Alex Young was a gifted player. These days people might look for someone a bit more aggressive but he had quality - that's without a doubt.

"I'm not sure Harry Catterick was too happy about Alex's approach in that respect but he was just right for playing against those physical players.

"The way he performed, the way he played the game, he could play today.

"He'd have no problem - he was 30 years or more ahead of his time.

"He was an excellent footballer at a time when most centre-forwards were powerful.

"Everton have been well known over the years for having a big number nine but we were one of the first clubs to change from that with the partnership that Alex had with Roy Vernon in that they were both small."