Premier League - Moyes 'demented' by player hunt

Eurosport - Mon, 10 Aug 15:58:00 2009

David Moyes says he feels 'demented' by his failure to significantly add to his Everton squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

FOOTBALL david moyes everton coach - 0

The Everton manager, who has rejected bids for Joleon Lescott and Louis Saha this summer, knows he is in a race against time to bring in new players ahead of the club's Europa League play-off tie against Czech side Sigma Olomouc later this month.

The two-legged clash will dictate whether or not the Toffees have a season of regular European fixtures and the income that brings, and Moyes admits he needs to act now to reinforce his squad ahead of the first leg at Goodison Park on August 20.

"We are not ready as far as the squad goes, we want more players in," Moyes said.

"We let a few go in the summer - Andy van der Meyde, Lars Jacobson, Nuno Valente - and we have not replaced any of those players yet.

"If we want a run in Europe we need more players quickly. The search goes on, it has never stopped all summer and I am feeling a bit demented with it all now!

"Apart from a couple of clubs, the transfer activity around the country has been limited. But for us, to have finished fifth and reached a cup final, to improve on that costs a lot of money.

"But we don't have that money. So trying to find players who are cheap, do not want much wages and will come here to improve us, well, it is not easy."

So far, Moyes has only brought in Brazilian striker Jo on loan from Manchester City and a clutch of untried youngsters who will be in the reserve squad.

He remains hopeful of a positive outcome in his bid for Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos, although the clubs are believed to be still some way from agreeing a fee.

"We have a good team but what we do not have is back-up, and that is what we are trying to get," Moyes said.

"The bid for Senderos has been with [Arsenal] for a while now and maybe it is getting closer."

Moyes saw a much-improved performance from his players when Everton beat Malaga 2-1 at Goodison Park, with Manchester City target Lescott playing the full match and getting a rousing reception from home fans.

And it seems Moyes might have won the battle to retain one of his prized assets.

His stubbornness not to be pushed into a deal for the defender - selected again in the England squad for the friendly with Holland - looks to have paid off.

It is believed Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has held further talks with City and told the Eastlands club the Toffees do not want to sell to one of their direct rivals in the battle to claim a Champions League berth.

And Everton's reluctance to part with their big-name players was underlined when Moyes recently rejected an £8 million bid from Turkish side Besiktas for Saha.

"Louis is someone we had a big bid for. But he didn't want to go and we didn't want to sell. It's great news Louis wants to stay," he said.

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. Hey all you fellow blues, don't worry about the­ money! Here's the thing, while there might not be­ much in the pot don't forget we don't owe­ anyone anything either! Lesscott, well he want's to­ go so lets cash in.(he can go with my blessing as long­ as he remembers who plucked him out of obscurity! and­ it will make brilliant business sense) Hand on heart­ anyone that reads this, if you had the chance to treble­ your annual income would you turn it down. Money is the­ cancer of our beloved footy (ask any Leeds fan). In­ Moyes we trust! Oh yes thanks to those Red Noses for­ some encouraging comments, The Corpy must be adding­ something to the water!( only joking! we need Blue and­ Red in the top four every year), Merseyside for Ever!­
    Arteta's Butler (he will be back stronger and­ better)

    From Bibster, on Tue 11 Aug 6:32PM

  2. All you reds fans kissing moyes ar$e! you obviously­ don`t live in liverpool and have to work next to bitter­ and twisted blue noses all day!
    Everton to go down I­ can only hope!

    From Stu G, on Tue 11 Aug 9:45AM

  3. moyes going for top 5 or 6 spot.. mark hughes - sacked!­ haha

    From john t, on Tue 11 Aug 2:18AM

  4. As a life-long Liverpool supporter I acknowledge that­ Everton & Wigan more than Stoke & Hull cost us­ title no 19 last season. That truly hurts. But it would­ not erude my appreciation of David Moyes. The team­ spirit @ Goodison Park is priceless. New Players in or­ not,good luck to Everton for the new season.

    From Nice N, on Mon 10 Aug 9:44PM

  5. Why do everton not have any money?? Is it to do with­ the new stadium?? I cant imagine that the wage bill is­ over the top plus they have not paid out massive fee­ since last summer but surely the tv and season ticket­ money has been recieved. Where does it all go?

    If a­ team like sunderland and tottenham can splash out then­ why not everton?? The toffees are my english side but­ its hard to take when teams who will be fighting for­ survival are spending millions and we have to sit down,­ shut up and watch the show.

    From Pocket Rocket, on Mon 10 Aug 9:17PM

  6. same old, same old you say that every year David Moyes.­ Everton are the best of the rest, no doubt, regardless­ what people think, plus FA Cup Finalist, however we­ have no monies? So where's the monies gone?­ I've been a Everton fan since 1967! So please I­ know what i am talking about, plus not an armchair fan­ either, i went to see Blackpool v Everton pre-season­ last week, round trip of 400 miles, i live in Newbury,­ Berkshire.

    From Peter S, on Mon 10 Aug 9:07PM

  7. well give you jenas and bentley for arteta moyesy. give­ arry a call.

    From bazspur5, on Mon 10 Aug 9:02PM

  8. Good manager Moyes did well to keep the team afloat -­ as did Lescott at the beginning of last season, any­ true footy fan admires Everton for finding some of the­ best English players.

    From Tab N, on Mon 10 Aug 8:36PM

  9. go for Nsofor Obinna and you will not regret buying­ him.

    From senate, on Mon 10 Aug 7:51PM

  10. I would dearly love to see Everton break into the top­ four (again), but please not at the expense of­ Liverpool! I've always admired David Moyes and­ would be very happy to see him succeed with the Blues.­ When people say he should be at a 'bigger­ club', I disagree, because he has become almost­ synonymous with the Everton image of a community club.­ Well done David, keep up the good work, and hopefully­ success will come, either by a wealthy owner's­ millions, or by more careful additions to the squad­ that enhance its quality but at no extravagant cost.

    From AR WB, on Mon 10 Aug 7:49PM

  11. If you get your skates on and your cheque book out, you­ can still buy Tuncay for £10 million; I suspect that­ Everton's problem is that they don't really­ have any money.

    From Paul P, on Mon 10 Aug 6:26PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    we need to get some one in fast for Mr B kenwright no­ top 5 this season good luck blue boys. from j

    From jlcam1, on Mon 10 Aug 5:59PM

  13. i no where your heads at moyes,wot do u have 2 do 2 get­ players 2 come 2 us ? moneys more inportent than workin­ under a class coach,can any 1 tell me wotts a bad wage­ in football 2day?

    From ian.mcnally, on Mon 10 Aug 5:23PM

  14. Thats right keeping hold of our best players , lets­ hope we can bring in a few more , may i also say thank­ you to the2 liverpool fans for their praise cheers lads

    From TERENCE E, on Mon 10 Aug 4:57PM

  15. good on moyes for sticking to his guns i'm an lfc­ fan but i don't hate everton iv'e admired them­ for not crumbling under pressure from man city's­ persistance! they'll be in top six no probs.

    From richardbeddoes100, on Mon 10 Aug 4:17PM

  16. good luck moyes on getting new signings......everton is­ practically the best team outside the top 4 nd i­ believe you could break into the top 4 if you have a­ richer owner.
    from a reds fan, YNWA

    From SarderS, on Mon 10 Aug 3:52PM
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