DAVID MOYES IS PRICELESS
Everton boss strikes a blow for principled club
Even King Fergie would agree football is the winner
In defeat at Burnley, Ferguson saw why he's besotted with the game.
JOLEON LESCOTT is a competent, if unexceptional, defender. On the Ferdinand scale, more Anton than Rio.
For a centre-half, a decent eye for goal. Premier League class, not world class. A stand-in for England, not a shoo-in.
The type of player you would be happy to see step up for a qualifier against Belarus but would be dismayed to see marshalling the defence in a major championship.
Yet one who, if you take the stance of David Moyes at face value, is worth a damn sight more than £18million. In fact, one who is priceless.
Only it is not Lescott who is priceless . . . it is the principles of Moyes.
And with Mark Hughes almost conceding defeat in the one-club auction for the international fringe player, the Everton manager is striking a blow for a hard-working, principled club. A reminder that football flesh might always be for sale, proper values are not.
Hughes will say his club are entitled to make an offer, Everton are entitled to reject it. Fine. The madness of the transfer system allows it.
But the sad by-product of the Lescott saga was that a great club was not only being fiscally bullied . . . it was in danger of being demeaned and undermined.
Moyes - and owner Bill Kenwright - have done the game a magnificent service by standing firm. But Moyes did it not merely because he rates Lescott considerably more highly than I do.
He has toiled long and hard to establish Everton as a team that punches above its financial weight. So much above that a fifth place League finish and a journey to the FA Cup Final were achievements that mildly surprised rather than shocked.
Proud
He is rightly proud of his accomplishments. Proud that he has found a way to compete without the aid of a billionaire benefactor.
It is that pride that made him bridle against the thud of City's financial sledgehammer on the Goodison Park door.
I would welcome City - or, indeed, anyone else - gatecrashing the Big Four. But it doesn't mean we have to be comfortable about how they are going about it.
Moyes clearly isn't . . . and it became a matter of honour for him. He accepts the restrictions that Kenwright's ownership puts on him. But for him, the condition of not being able to spend big is not having to sell.
To release - even for such an astronomical sum - a key component of a plan that he has so carefully put together would have been taken as a personal insult. And as an insult to the club he is trying to nurture.
Kenwright has clearly felt the same. Yet his unwavering support is all the more commendable when you consider the practicalities of the situation.
Privately, as he scanned the ominous balance sheet, he must have known that this was a freakish opportunity to sell a player for several times his true worth.
He must now realise he has an £8m asset back on his hands. Not an £18m one. And there would have hardly been a blue revolution on Mersyside if Lescott had marched to Manchester.
But if Kenwright had sanctioned a sale without Moyes, their working dynamic would have been destroyed. It would have been the beginning of the end of Moyes' admirable reign.
Of course, a formal transfer request would have left Moyes with little option but to sell . . . but with his pride, and his relationship with Kenwright, intact. Instead, Lescott only privately expressed his wish to talk to City.
Why no formal transfer request? Because he knew that should a move to Eastlands fall through for some reason, he would have been a pariah.
And to openly declare he no longer wanted to play for Everton would require bottle, honesty and a degree of integrity.
Qualities which - amongst cash-obsessed players - are in painfully short supply.
But qualities which, thankfully, we can still find in some managers and their chairmen.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Andy Dunn
This article has 31 comments
Although as a big EVERTON fan i am not altogether sure wether if joleon had stayed he would have been the same player for the season the longer Phil Jagielka had been missing.A few times last season it was Phil that saved lescotts skin at times.HEe is a good player but not a great one,and i,m sure had he,d stayed maybe one more season we would have seen a great player.All said tho we must not be fickle and wish him well and hope he just was,nt blinded by the wad dangled in front of him.The first few games we have seen him look wobbly and also a mystery injury before a international.Maybe he is just fed up warming the bench up for England.Good luck city.cos boy your gonna need it.
By Dave S. Posted October 11 2009 at 8:30 AM.
Everton fans hoping we do a leeds, well we have been there and done that 30,000 in div 3 and came back with more supporters than you.Now since you hoped that on us I hope you end up there and lets see if your fans stay around which I doubt after you all scarpered when when arsenal buried your bitter shambles of a club..
By Bluze. Posted August 30 2009 at 2:46 AM.
Paul (of the "silk purse and sows ears" comment). You made me laugh so much! Why? Because you criticised Liam for not using "capital letters" and then did the same yourself. Also, failed to end your first sentence with a full stop using a commar instead?
Great stuff!
Ste
By ste. Posted August 15 2009 at 9:46 PM.
Andy,
Remind me again Lescott falls under Anton's scale! after what i have just seen of Rio, Anton's scale must be very low! Rio is way overated who at club level is good when playing along side Vidic.
Lescott is the all round defender who at times seems to find it very easy whatever level he has played at.
By Jamie O'Keeffe. Posted August 12 2009 at 8:13 PM.
Very average player, his mistakes in the Cup final cost Everton.. Drogba done him for the equalizer while Anelka beat him twice and ran clean through for two one on ones and should have made it 4-1
By Kerry. Posted August 10 2009 at 7:39 AM.
Where to start? First of all - Everton don't value Lescott at £30 million. They're not holding out for that sum. Why don't City and their fans realise that the player is simply not for sale.
Regarding his wages - he's on £45K a week, which makes him a top earner at the club as that is the wage ceiling. It's an insane sum that in the modern game is considered sensible.
To the City fans gloating about how the good times have arrived and they're basking in glory etc. You've won nowt. And I'd bet very good money that in 12 months and even 2 years you'll have still won nowt. High profile players are not trophies - just ask Newcastle.
Regarding the article itself - enjoyed it, but thought Andy was very harsh on Lescott as a player. He really is class, although he's no Jagielka ;)
By Nick. Posted August 9 2009 at 10:11 PM.
a lot of people on here clearly don't know how business works, suggesting a debt-free club will 'do a Leeds' and that owners with a huge (partly cultural) sense of pride in their endeavours and an almost 0% rate of faliure in the business world will simply give up if things don't go instantly to plan.
also when a club's owner has stuck with a comparatively low profile manager who they didn't appoint despite a dissapointing end to the season, doesn't that just show that they are perhaps less fickle than you might think they are because of your stereotypes about foreign owners?
that's before you even consider the fact that they've drawn up a 'ten year plan' for the on and off field development of the club.
why not just stop hating City and accept that whether they are hugely successful or not - them at least being IN the top-table card game is here to stay for the relative long-term.
By Sam. Posted August 9 2009 at 7:11 PM.
Your opinion of Lescott smacks of someone who has barely watched him. He is a joy to watch. Moyes rates him far more highly than you - have a think about that.
By Jonny. Posted August 9 2009 at 7:03 PM.
Have a group of fans such as city's ever got up so many noses so quickly? Not content with having a brand ew stadium given to them in exchange for a legoland embarassment,but they now flaunt the wealth of their owner as if it's theirs!
Man city are owned by a rich man, and as such can be sold or closed down by the stroke of a pen. Having spent £200m already they will want to see a return on that money a.s.a.p. The more they see players saying no,the more they will realise that city will never be a big4 club-nor will they be a Villa,Everton,Spurs et al. You are a Newcastle &Leeds in waiting, and most of us cant wait!
By Steve. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:16 PM.
City fans wake up and smell the coffee,you have got loads of money that you definetly needed, but the players you have bought are mercenarries who kiss your badge for money,a manager who is out of his depth and backers that will pull out sooner or later then you will be back in division 3
By Allan. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:17 PM.
Stop acting like spoilt brats City fans. Everton are not bartering. The Club is under no pressure to sell players by the bank. Lescott will not hand in a transfer request because he is proud of his contribution to the Club and doesn't want to leave on bad terms. Everton Football Club is one of great togetherness... No matter how much outside influences try to breach that it makes us feel even more resolute.
Bring on 09/10... Keeping Lescott is like signing a new player as I was fearing the worst! Moyes is magic!
City spent a lot last season and couldn't even get 7th-place in the league to qualify for Europe. How bad is that? Keep spending your money City, as it just makes finishing above you (again and again) sweeter.
By Andrew Halpin. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:08 PM.
Great article Steve.
Man City= The trash with the cash.
By Tony Kelly. Posted August 9 2009 at 1:33 PM.
Can we please get something clear about how WE do our business. It was EVERTON who made our bid public, NOT CITY. Since then MH has answered questions from the press regarding Lescott. One more thing, if Everton value Lescott @ 30mil +, why is he only on around 40k a week, and not a top earner???
By Dave Ashley. Posted August 9 2009 at 1:43 PM.
Another city fan here.
What you people who are dooming city to do a 'leeds' fail to understand, is that leeds are doing a city!, we have been there, we know what its like to drop down to the old 3rd division and now the good times are here we can bask gloriously in them. To all the fans of lesser clubs who slate us, just ask yourself how you would be if a billionaire took over you club!?. And as for the owners getting bored, well they are in it for the long haul believe me, this new city are here to stay, get used to it.
By Ken. Posted August 9 2009 at 1:16 PM.
A brilliant article and so very true.
Have been blues fan for 57 years and while we are not mega rich we are proud and honourable club. We go about our business with professional ethics and a code of conduct.
Well done Bil & Davie.
By Alan Bennett. Posted August 9 2009 at 12:37 PM.
When Moyes bought players from lower league teams he did it the fair way by talking to the club and manager and got their permission before going to the player.
Hughes goes out and say that his patience is running out and unless Everton sell now he will look elsewhere, even though Everton have already told him they won't sell. So who is he talking to? Not Moyes and Kenwright since they've already told him no. What he's doing is to tell Lescott to hand in a transfer request so he can get him to ManC. That is a breach of the regulations that exist in football.
I don't have any problems with ManC suddenly getting alot of money to sign players to lift them up the leaguetable, all clubs sign players in the hope of finishing higher. But when they try to unsettle a player under contract with another club when told to look elsewhere.. it shows a lack of integrity and sportmanship from the manager.
By Peter. Posted August 9 2009 at 10:23 AM.
paul and dom are missing the point like Adebayor misses from 2 yards. Moyes did the Lescott transfer properly through Wolves and not through the media like Hughes. I read a brilliant article the other day saying that Hughes has turned into an odious cretin. Spot on.
Man City fans have got the biggest chips on their shoulders. I love have they have to convince themselves that they are a big club when everyone else knows the real truth - they are a decent sized club who haven't won anything in years but have someone with more money than sense owning them.
Everton, Liverpool, Man United, Aston Villa and Arsenal fans (truly big clubs) are all hoping that the chairman gets bored and you go the way of Leeds
By Sparkysparkedout. Posted August 9 2009 at 9:25 AM.
Well I agree with some of the article and not other parts. With Johnson being sold for £17m and £35 offered for Terry, the versatile Lescott, who is a better fullback than Johnson and a younger, faster CB thab Terry (Who is a much better leader I'll grant) then the £30m valuation of Lescott is a fair one. Two positions for the price of one, decent goals scored too.
Also I fail to see how City finishing in the top 4 is any better than the established "big 4" it's still a financial advantage that other teams can't compete with that would get them there.
By Everton Carter. Posted August 9 2009 at 9:09 AM.
Man City = scruffs with dough!
By hercules. Posted August 9 2009 at 9:18 AM.
So you Everton fans coming on here slating City would not want any oil rich billionaire coming in and taking over your club cos I know 1 Evertonian that does and its Bill Kenwright! He knows you need the money and he would sell tomorrow like a shot. Your all whinging hypocrites, get over it, cos if you lot don't get taken over then you will be joining Leeds, Norwich and the like cos having no money means you shop at Aldi rather than Harrods.
By dom. Posted August 9 2009 at 8:44 AM.
That has got to be the most stupid post I have ever seen in my life, what have city done to be mentioned in the same breath as likes of the likes of Real Madrid and Milan?
Even with the new mercenaries whos only loyalty lies with their bank balance City will struggle to finish top 6.
Lets see if all the City fans are still shouting when the new owners get bored and walk away leaving a wage bill that cant be paid.
Another Leeds on the cards me thinks then we can all start talking about Man City in the same breath as Stockport and Port vale..
By Lance. Posted August 9 2009 at 8:10 AM.
when you talk about the Real Madrids of this world....when you talk of the Milans and Barcelona s ....you now have to talk about CITY in the same breath....!!!
By nick shaw. Posted August 9 2009 at 7:49 AM.
The blinkered "fans" of crappy Man City are a complete joke. You may have a massive budget for players who only come to your club for stupid wages and an easy ride. But the fact is that your club is managed by a no hoper and someone who has no idea about tactics or strategy. You will never break into the top 4 and you will be YET AGAIN a laughing stock this coming season. It would be great to see your financial backers drop the club and then what would you do with the wage bill ???
By Mark. Posted August 9 2009 at 7:36 AM.
City fan here!
For years so called BIGGER clubs have flexed there financial muscle and taken players from US so called smaller clubs. NOW at last City can compete in the market at the very top end and have the right to do so, we have done nothing wrong!
Lescott is not worth 22million and I'm glad we haven't paid that, he is a top class player though.
As soon as City got the HUGE injection of cash we were always going to replace Chelski as the most hated or maybe envy'd club in the game.
We will go and buy other players and Managers like Moyes who can only dream of the sort of money we have will always moan, look at Taggert accross the road from us, all of a sudden he has to dip into the Championship for free transfers and even he is having a pop at us.
City have been where Everton are and City being City we could very easily go back there..BUT...at this moment in time I'm basking in the riches we have and look forward to welcoming many many more players to the revolution.
Good Luck Everton and I hope you finish 5th again...as long as we finish 4th....ha ha :)
By Scott. Posted August 9 2009 at 6:43 AM.
Paul, why are you saying Moyes DOESN'T act with principles and integrity?
Lescott from Wolves. Approach made to the club, a fee agreed, terms agreed, player signed.
Same for Cahill, Same for Gosling. The only club that can feel hard done by a little was Sheff UTD as we got Jagielka for his minimum buy-out. Surely that's a whinge for Sheff UTD's lawyers for drawing up such a low value contract in the first place.
When you think that Moyes and Everton have said all summer that nobody is for sale, then in the days weeks ahead you see "I was a brilliant player, show me respect" Hughes and lottery winner Cook openly talking about Lescott (amongst others) and how they would love to sign him is NOT the way of doing business.
Like it or not, it's "Tapping up." It's all to common in todays game and it's about time to FA grew some balls and started coming down hard on it.
By Mike. Posted August 9 2009 at 5:34 AM.
No doubt one or two fans of Manchester's smaller club will shake their head's and wonder why after being linked with Puyol,then failing to buy Terry,they now cannot persuade Lescott to put in a formal transfer request! I would suggest that the player can remember Everton being winners in 95- and Lescott's dad barely remembering the last time city won a trophy!
By Steve. Posted August 9 2009 at 3:33 AM.
One of the funniest comedic pictures I have ever seen. Kenwrights sweating face is priceless!
By Jason Broome. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:48 AM.
steven berrington, your so wrong!! what are you chatting about here!? a player who plays in the lower leagues who is not yet proven des not compare to a team like city buying a proven 'top class' player like lescott from a better team. man city have got nothing on everton except money, there rubbish in fact, and i seriously do hope they collapse & copitulate like leeds united, southampton, norwich, charlton & all the other bigger clubs of there time!! moyes has done the right thing, and city are dismayed by the lack of repsect we dont have for them, money does not = top 4 or quality, it = greed, not passion for the game, not true 'football' blood, you fans need to start realising that the game is goin backwards, needs to find its roots again, and moyes, kenwright & Everton have started & are doing that! to buy a player from a lower league, for acceptable money& an opportunity is kindly looked upon by all involved, you ask wolves, sheffield Utd, Plymouth, go-on!? see what reply you get, jus like when we sold rooney, an amazing player, but the £20+ million helped us sign Cahill, arteta etc.... so end of the day its a difference completely so basically shut up! you obv jus jealous, and angry that you dont always get what you want!! EVERTON top 4! COYB! In Moyes We Trust! EFC 1878 - peoples club!
By liam mackin. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:13 AM.
Moyes is making silk purses from sows ears mate, where are your Capital letters.
By Paul. Posted August 9 2009 at 1:10 AM.
the same davy moyes who went about it in the right way to purchase these players out the championship,players who were only showing potential now full blooded internationals and top premiership standard,courtesy of davy moyes.in moyes we trust.
By steven berrington. Posted August 9 2009 at 1:02 AM.
is this the same david moyes who took joleoon lescot and other players at everton from smaller clubs cos everton had more money than championship and league one clubs and now mr moyes is upset that man city are doing the same and he is talking about principles and integrity what a joke that is
By paul. Posted August 9 2009 at 12:20 AM.