David Prentice: Everton spend in haste, repent at leisure
IF you've ever left Christmas shopping until the last minute, you'll understand the perils of panic buying.
You dash around desperately, spend more than you intended and end up with something not as appropriate as you'd hoped you'd get.
The same theory applies to football's transfer market, as Evertonians can grimly attest.
In 2006 the season started on August 19.
Everton had long since snapped up Tim Howard, Andy Johnson and Joleon Lescott, familiarised them with team-mates, tactics and team pattern, and hit the ground running with three wins, two draws and the most handsome derby win for decades.
In 2007 the season started on August 11.
Everton had already signed Phil Jagielka, Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines - and enjoyed three wins and a draw from their first five games.
Then the Blues decided to abandon their policy of shopping in the Spring sales.
In 2008 the season started on August 16.
No-one signed until August 26. Even the manager admitted the team was not ready to win Premier League matches.
And a wretched start proved him one hundred per cent correct.
In 2009 the season started on August 15, Everton's first acquisition didn't land until August 25.
The start to the campaign? Well I'm sure you've spotted the pattern.
Spend in haste, repent at leisure.
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gosh I wish we all as smart as Mr Prentice, perhaps he should ask for Davey's job.Of course not having any money until stupid city came along may just have something to do with it
Or don't you mean David?
Spend at leisure, Repent with haste.
I wasn't sure on Distin him being 32 and all. Then I realised. David Moyes knows far more about getting the best out of players and managing a football team than I do. And he has the track record to prove it. And in Distin's singular case, he's been brought in to do the job until Duffy is 1st team capable and has more experience.
As for the lack of spends. Its all about Kirkby. It has to be.
Not saying its right, but Arsene Wenger talked about that very thing only a week ago. That now Arsenal are no longer constrained by stadia moves....
Make your own minds up.
Well I agree with you on that we should be quicker to conclude our transferbusiness, to let the new fellas get some time to gel in, and learn the system etc... However I think it's kinda bold to draw any conlutions of how the time of signing players effect the teams performances in the start of the season :-) Sure those past four seasons have gone the way you're insinuating and it could well be the case, but I wouldn't bet any money on it ;-)
Mr Prentice that well known footy genius opens his gob again and out spews more rubbish. I suggest you get yourself across to Anfield mate and sit in their press box - you talk as much sense as the average Norwegian.
Rafa - got his acquisitions early and how many have they won? Have they not lost as many league games already as they did all last season?
Draw your conclusions from THAT Mr Prentice - and then shut up and let DM do his job.
I remember Mick Lyons Scoring a perfectly good goal at Goodison leaping above Alec Lyndsey to power a header past Ray Clemence.The goal was disallowed despite Lyons Being onside and not fouling Lyndsey.I know because I was in line with the incident.I had the pleasure of speaking to Mick Lyons a couple of years ago and he told me that the referee would not explain his decision. Yet another Derby Day injustice!
You're the gretaest! JMHO
Superior thiknnig demonstrated above. Thanks!
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