The Lescott affair has really set David Moyes against Manchester City. He seems to be overwhelmed by an idea that his club represents the very antithesis of City's riches. In doing so, he has tried to invoke an almost class-war - depicting his side as the popular working-class team that is high in spirit but blighted by rich oppressors - the biggest offenders of which are a nouveau riche City side that is full of players too distracted by their own pay packets to care for one another and the team.
Whilst it is true that the team-spirit at Everton seems very good, from all one can tell, City's isn't at all bad for a team that has largely only been together for a season. Of course, this stability is key to creating the long-term bonds that enable a good team spirit, and City are not currently in the position for that to be particularly high, but in coming seasons the turnaround of players should decrease dramatically and the added stability would help add to a growing sense of togetherness amongst the players.
Considering all the possible negative influences on the team spirit, all of which probably come down to a sense of instability and insecurity, the club could be in a far worse state than it appears to be in from the outside.
However, Moyes has sung to popular theme of mine - which is that, no matter the outcome of the race for fourth, wholesale changes in management and players would be detrimental to the club's development.
The press coverage in the build-up of this game should leave no illusions about the respective popularities of City and Everton across the nation. Arteta targets six wins from eight, Phil Neville reckons he might make the leap to South Africa, Moyes continues to be lauded for his work on a small budget - whilst Mancini is asked whether he will be sacked at the end of the season, the stability of the squad is questioned, and City's conduct in the transfer deal for Lescott is again brought into question. It was perhaps a bit naive of me to think neutrals would be happy for the increased competition in the Premier League, but City have certainly lost some public popularity (better read as sympathy) for the increased success the money has brought to the club.
To be fair, I don't think it's 'just' the cash that Everton are put out by. Naturally, there is a little jealousy here but you didn't really hear complaints from Goodison about Chelsea when Mr Abramovich waltzed down the Kings Road.
ReplyDeleteNaturally a lot goes on behind closed doors so I'm not saying that this is definitively what happened but from an Evertonian's point of view the Lescott saga really tarnished City's image. As soon as it became clear that City wanted him, it was clear to everyone that he wanted to go. The initial bids were rejected as they were too low and a protracted media-based battle took place.
The comment which got up a lot of noses at Goodison was Hughes' (paraphrased) "I heard what Moyes said, yes, but we'll talk to the people who make the decisions". To a manager as idolised and as intrinsic as Moyes is, that really wasn't well received.
Eventually the transfer was completed a week (if memory serves) before the transfer window closed. It was certainly after the first game of the year where he played in the 6-1 defeat to Arsenal. Sparky's comment (made even more acute as it was from a former toffee) coupled with this protracted purchse meant Everton were left with a very unsettled player and then very little time to purchase players, never mind give them a proper pre-season. That, I think, was the sour cherry on the mouldy cake.
As a toffee my entire life I've always felt a bit of a camaraderie with City. The media comparisons (or worse, the non-comparisons) between us and our respective red neighbours shows a very similar tale. To see a kindred spirit suddenly turn and effectively tread on us left a bitter taste in our mouths.
I can't think of one single Evertonian who shed a tear of Mark Hughes' departure.
Oh, and for what it's worth, I hope you finish higher than Liverpool! :-)
Guruchild, whilst I agree with pretty much everything you have said. Moyes needs to give over now...I had sympathy for him at first as I too didnt agree with the way it was done (im a city fan)...but I believe he did a similar thing when he bought Lescott from Wolves.And if thats the case then he is out of order. Lets face it..it happens all the time.
ReplyDeleteGuruchild, a lot of good points there. Just to clear things up, I was a little upset with how City dealt with the Lescott thing too. I think it was the first instance that City used the money in a brash way (perhaps I should say the first time successfully, as a €100m Kaka bid was a bit outlandish), and I think it was that transfer more than anything else that has tarnished our reputation across all the league - which is perhaps a bit unfair, but these things do stick evidently.
ReplyDeleteThe Hughes comments were always going to rankle and were poorly played on his part. But as Steve says, it is over now - something Moyes seems to qualify everytime he brings out the Lescott thing, only to mention it again the next time!
But anyway, Distin and Heitinga looked more than adequaye replacements last night, and I hope you finish above Liverpool too!