The last day of the transfer window never fails to be both gripping and ridiculous at the same time.
Fact and nonsense become irrationally blurred as the most tenuous, poorly sourced suggestion temporarily dominates the mind.
The financial restraints at Goodison Park have rendered the last few insufferable: like standing outside the most fantastical sweet shop, peering sadly through thick glass, disgusted and jealous at the gluttony of richer, greedier children.
Well if ever there was an argument for saving up your pocket-money then January 31, 2012 was certainly that.
To quote just about every Evertonian I have spoken to, or overheard, or read: what a day.
Going to sleep with the impending signing of Nikica Jelavic flitting around my head was one thing but waking to the suggestion that Steven Pienaar could rejoin on loan was something else altogether.
I’ve been a fan of the Croatian since his Rapid Vienna days and couldn’t be happier with that, but Pienaar! – Pienaar was my favourite player!
Now in my early experiences of journalism I have learnt that it always pays to make a head-start on your work to buy time later on.
Which sounds easy enough in theory … completely out of the question however if you happen to be an Evertonian of the cynical persuasion.
Knowing I would be watching the game between seven and ten-thirty, it made sense for me to click ‘Add New’ on the dashboard of this blog and begin “Nikica Jelavic’s signing represents …’ as early as possible.
Well the phrase ‘I’ll believe that when I see it” takes on real significance for Evertonians around this time of year: we refuse even the tiniest amount of credit to suggestion until it is definitively proven beyond any possible doubt.
There is also, like I said, a superstitious part of my mind.
Nothing too outlandish, but suffice to say were the deals which I had been preemptively praising to fail for any reason, somewhere in between delusional perception and emotional logic, I would have held myself singularly responsible for their failure.
My sin would have been selfishness I suppose, putting my free time above the age-old, sacred mysticism of the football fan or some other such bollocks.
The way things have turned out, I think it only fair that I claim personal credit for both signings… only kidding, hats off to Moyes and Kenwright there; I will risk the wrath of dissenting Evertonians here and put my genuine feelings about Blue Bill below.
Kenwright has often suggested he fights tooth and nail for Everton – something many supporters do not accept.
Without meaning to blanket the other problems at the club, a last-minute deal to re-sign a player we all loved shows he is in touch with the club in a way that most chairman are not, and that he is willing to go the extra mile for the good of the team.
Pienaar arrives at the perfect time.
The brilliant performance against Manchester City was blighted only by the erratic, unproductive play of Royston Drenthe and consequently the burden placed on Leighton Baines.
Baines is currently performing below his exceptionally high standards and I believe the lack of assistance he has received from Gueye, Drenthe, Anichebe and occasionally Bilyaletdinov (good riddance) is at least partially responsible.
The partnership between Baines and Pienaar was not only a mainstay of our team, it was the most effective, most enjoyable aspect of our greatest team in years, a partnership that allowed our two best players to optimize their attacking talents and create chance after chance after chance.
The prospect of having that back with someone of the quality of Jelavic and the enthusiasm of Denis Stracqualursi to finish gives fans real optimism, which has been absent all season.
And let’s not forget the departure of Louis Saha to Spurs which probably ranks alongside James Beattie’s exit in terms of relief.
Saha has been an absolute drain on the team this season; his inability to hold the ball up has restricted the midfield; his ineptitude in front of goal has cost us points; and his terrible work-rate has alienated him from both fans and teammates.
Furthermore, he has been given an incredible amount of time on the pitch compared to Stracqualursi who I have felt for a long time would offer more.
The Argentinian’s performance against City was without doubt the most uplifting individual display of the season, the only thing it lacked was a goal, and even then he was inches away.
From start to finish, he gave the best centre-half in the country and Joleon Lescott the runaround, even getting the latter booked with a neat bit of footwork; he deserved every second of the standing ovation he received when substituted.
The performances of John Heitinga and Tony Hibbert typified the dogged determination we have craved all season. but Stracqualursi played the biggest part in lifting Goodison from the bitter misery of the past few months to the sort of compelling atmosphere that has accompanied and assisted all of our great victories.
For me, this was David Moyes’ best day as Everton boss.
I have long bemoaned the unpleasant goalpost-moving of modern football, and I don’t mean that Ryan Air wally.
Manchester City, a club that outdoes even Chelsea for financial vulgarity, represents everything that Everton do not: wealth, the waste of wealth, and the ability to compete.
The infinite gulf in boardroom power makes Moyes’ tactical victory on the pitch all the sweeter.
To bring in two quality players on the same day, first rate.
I have been throwing the phrase “put that in your pipe and smoke it, Blue Union” around my head throughout this entire writing experience but now that the big moment has arrived, I fear I have changed my mind.
It would be easy to say such a thing, and believe me I probably still will, but it struck me that investment in the squad (Jelavic, Gibson, almost Pranjic) and retention of key stars (Pienaar) are two of the Blue Union’s main gripes.
Now that we have a few decent players in, I don’t anticipate some sort of cheery reconciliation between Dave Kelly and Bill Kenwright (Blue Reunion? – sorry, had to) but I do expect some supporters to get off his back, and the same for Moyes.
Of course there are sections of Evertonians who are simply too far gone in terms of Kenwright, and possibly so too with Moyes (which, now that I’ve mentioned it, is beyond moronic) but no fan can argue that the performance both in the boardroom and on the pitch on Tuesday gave us the best day we have all had in a long time.
By Chris Smith
chrissmithfootballblog 