a wily scotsman

So far this summer, it would be fair to say that one club is somewhat dominating the transfer limelight. While Michael Owen’s shock move to Man United made waves, it is the exploits of Florentino Perez and Real Madrid that has captured the attention of world football. That they continue to spend obscene amounts of money in the face of a global recession is equal parts shocking and stupid, but there’s little doubt that such audacious transfer dealings will benefit them in the long run.

However, few clubs can follow Madrid’s lead because most of them do live in something resembling the real world. Yeah, footballers will continue to earn in a week more than people usually make in a year, but for British clubs especially, the recession is hitting home. The really interesting thing then, will be to observe how managers at British clubs attempt to add to their squad, and if they can cope without the financial power that has led them through the past decade or so. I think some managers will struggle, but if they do, all they need to do is take a leaf out of David Moyes’ book…

While no major signings have been made by Everton this summer so far, the wily Scot has been quietly going about his business and has struck a few deals already. After trialling the young American midfielder earlier in the year he has brought in Anton Peterlin on a year’s contract. While the 22 year old is pretty much a complete unknown and was previously playing in the fourth tier of US football, Moyes clearly has seen something he likes.

He impressed on a 10 day trial and Moyes said that he was impressed with his “attitude and undoubted ability”. At 22 it is certainly a gamble, but you have to say that when Moyes gambles, he usually wins. The signings of Tim Cahill, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka were all gambles at the time, they playing in the Championship and many clubs had looked at them but no one was quite committed enough to take the plunge. Moyes though saw something he liked, made his move and has turned them into top class international players.

The move from Ventura County Fusion to the Premier League is certainly a bigger leap than from the Championship, but at 22 years old, Peterlin has time to develop, and Moyes has shown he is a dab hand at bringing the best out of players too. Of course, it’s not the signing that most Everton fans were hoping for, but the thing is, Peterlin has cost us just about nothing, and can spend a year in the Reserves attempting to prove himself. If he has what it takes then fantastic, a practically free player. If not, we just let him go, and have lost nothing. It’s a risk free gamble, and hell, with the world in recession, that’s a gamble worth taking.

Furthermore, Moyes has also brought in a couple of youngsters, completing the signing of Southend United’s youngest ever player Femi Orenuga (despite competition from Manchester United, where he had a trial) and young German defender Shkodran Mustafi from Hamburg. There is also talk that Luke Garbutt, Leeds’ highly rated full back, could be set to join the Toffees, and it goes to show that Moyes is placing a lot of faith in youth.

While none of these players are likely to make the first time in the next season or so, they will be perfectly placed to develop in Everton’s academy, that in recent seasons has seen the emergence of talent like Leon Osman, Wayne Rooney, James Vaughan and Jack Rodwell. Indeed, it is the faith that Moyes has in his young players that has brought these players to Everton, as they know that if they are good enough, they will be given a chance.

Securing the long term future of the club by bringing in such youngsters with potential is another smart move from Moyes. With a move towards the introduction of restrictions on foreigners surely only a matter of years away, to bring in young players and to establish the club with a reputation for giving youth a chance will set Everton in good stead for when clubs inevitably have to return to producing their own talent, and will mean that less money needs to be spent in the next few years as these players make the step up to the first team.

Because while the recession will pass and football will continue to make money like it is going out of fashion, I think football will never again quite amass the same amount of wealth as it has had over the past few years. Football will always be big money business, but such hard times are bound to have a lasting impact on all facets of society and people will be less willing to throw money at football clubs, knowing full well what can happen – just look at Newcastle United.

As a club who never had too much money to begin with then, Everton especially will need to spend wisely, especially to continue their progression towards the Champions League, and to try and break the ‘big four’ once more. Moyes then, is clearly the right man for the job, and over and above all the deals I’ve mentioned so far, it is the recapturing of Brazilian striker Jo on loan for another season that shows you just how resourceful Moyes can be.

The Toffees will welcome back Yakubu, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe from injury next season, as well as having Louis Saha in and out of the treatment room, but we are still light of a top class striker. Jo came in for the second half of last season and did an excellent job. While 5 goals in 11 games may not sound too impressive, he scored important goals coming straight into the side after playing little football for Man City in the first half of the season.

And while Jo is certainly not a top class striker yet, he will be one day, He’s only 22 years old and will develop quickly. He has spoken of how much he preferred Goodison to Eastlands already, and the opportunity to have a full pre-season with Everton will allow him to really bed in properly as part of the squad and develop great on and off pitch relationships. He didn’t set the world on fire last season no question, but after coming straight into the side, I think he did admirably.

What’s more, his time on the pitch for the Toffees last season largely coincided with the absence of their most creative player, Mikel Arteta, and so once he returns from his cruciate injury, Jo can expect a whole lot more service and that will only mean one thing: more goals. The great thing about Jo though, is his work ethic. He showed an absolute willingness to work his arse off for the team and that is the common characteristic of every one of Moyes’ signings (except perhaps Yakubu, on whom the jury is still out).

In building a squad that has not only a lot of quality but a truckload of commitment and determination Moyes has crafted a team that will always give it their all and will get results even when they have no right to – just look at last season, when we won games without strikers for a substantial period. What’s more though, he has managed to do it on a budget, and by the evidence of this summer so far, will continue to do so.

He has chanced his arm on a few youngsters and brought in a quality loan signing, and while these aren’t the signings that supporters crave, they are essential to maintain the squad and secure the club’s future. It also means that he has his money still in the bank, and don’t you worry, he’ll spend it, as he did last season on Fellaini. Whether we see Joao Mouthinho, Steven Defour, Marcus Berg or even Kyle Naughton joining the Toffees, you can bet on one thing: that Moyes will do what is best for the long term future of the club.

So while Real Madrid will be splashing money left right and centre, and no doubt the big four in England will spend their fair share too, you have to remember that football isn’t actually all about money. Real Madrid won’t win the league because they’ve spent the most money, and indeed they may well feel the repercussions of their spending spree sooner than they think. The hands of Florentino Perez are not safe hands for a football club to be in during these harsh economic times. They’d be far better off in the hands of a dour Scotsman, and that is why we Evertonians have the saying: in Moyes we trust.

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