Moyes Loses More Than Lescott.

Everton fans like to tell everyone about their history, not the details, just the fact they have 'History'. When Evertonians wake up on Monday morning, they should jot down August 23rd, 2009 in their journals with an entry proclaiming that the club has hit an all time low.

Having just been defeated by Premier League newcomers Burnley, they find themselves bottom of the table with no points from a possible 6. A goal difference of -6, after just two games doesn't sweeten the pill either. This is hardly a reason for mass panic, Tottenham Hotspur showed us that a team can go several months without a win, yet still obtain a respectable league position. What should be of genuine concern to the Everton faithful is the deteriorating behaviour of their manager.

If you read articles about David Moyes, the words 'bright' and 'young' are never far away. This earnest young Scotsman (who's actually older than Mark Hughes) commanded a great deal of respect for his stewardship of Everton with a limited budget, but lost a great deal of credibility once Manchester City decided that Joleon Lescott would be better suited to life in East Manchester.

City made a formal bid of £15 Million for Lescott, purely an opening gambit that was rejected out of hand. By the time a second bid of £18 Million was lodged, City fans realised that the best place to track the progress of their clubs pursuit of Lescott was the official Everton website. Moyes wasn't happy and began a series of diatribes against City that bordered on the fanatical. He started with the standard "He's not for sale" tag, just as he had with Wayne Rooney. He then accused City of being disrespectful and demanded an inquiry into alleged tapping-up. He might be 'bright' and 'young' but even the most casual of fans know that you can't 'tap-up' a player who has handed in a written transfer request.

Everton were thumped 1-6 by Arsenal because of City, The Toffees beat Czech village team, Sigma Olomouc despite of City and the latest humiliation at Burnley was because City 'Haggled' over the price of Lescott. The man who said Joleon Lescott wasn't for sale at any price was now saying City were at fault for not making a ridiculous bid in June. The confirmation of David Moyes's failing grip on reality was confirmed when he added that Ronaldo's move from United to Real Madrid was transfer business as it should be. Sorry Davy boy, but the world and his wife knows that, that particular deal was sorted out 12 months earlier.

Everton promote themselves as 'The Peoples Club' despite the fact that one man, Bill Kenwright, is very much in charge. He has left his manager out to dry on this occasion but will doubtless be pleased with the £17 Million profit his club have made on the deal. People will scoff at the price City paid for Lescott - let them. We have secured the youngest of England's 4 recognised centre backs, playing as a competant stand-in left back for both club and country is not a bad attribute either. The World Cup is only 10 months away and Lescott not only wants to be on that plane, he wants to be in that starting line up. He needs City, City need him, Everton need the money - everyone should be happy. Evertonians should hope David Moyes now concentrates on managing his players rather than entering into PR wars he is never going to win.