Yet any attempts to make a new home have hit stumbling blocks. In 2003, the Toffees wanted to build their new home at the Docks but they couldn’t fund the move and lost their space to the impressive Echo Arena. More recently a bid to move to Kirby was blocked at the planning stage. Plans to expand their current ground have been discussed but it would involve demolishing the surrounding houses, tearing the very fabric of the club in the process.
These setbacks have been hard for fans but it could have been a whole lot worse without the managerial magic of David Moyes. Since his arrival in March 2002, he has been working miracles of what has been predominantly a shoestring budget. Despite breaking the bank for Fellaini, Yakubu and Andy Johnson, he has brought in Baines, Cahill and Jagielka for relatively small fees and the likes of unknown Apostolos Vellios, this season’s top scorer so far and a bargain at just £50,000. The squad is also full of academy players, Hibbert, Osman, Anichebe, Baxter, Rodwell and Barkley, plus a certain Mr Rooney, have all been brought through by the Scot and made themselves fixtures in the first team.
During his tenure he has taken the club to fourth in the league, gaining a shot at Champions League qualification, three UEFA Cup journeys and an FA Cup final appearance despite spending a fifth of the money that Tottenham has which is an amazing achievement but it cannot go on forever.
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When the transfer window reopens on January 1, the likes of Rodwell, Barkley, Baines and Jagielka will be linked to teams fighting at the top of the tree, where Everton want to be. If the offer is big enough then they will be allowed to leave. Similarly, if a job at one of the top clubs becomes available, Moyes will be linked with it. He is one of the country’s top managers and has done wonders on Merseyside but a transfer budget and the chance to fight for trophies might tempt him away.
Times are tough at the People’s Club and the longer they go without change the bigger the problem becomes. At the moment the club is stagnant and a cash injection could rise back up the table. But if the manager jumps ship things could get even worse.
Written by Joshua Robbins for FootballFancast.com. Will the skies get brighter over Goodison? Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991.
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