Faith is the key as Goodison moves on from Joleon

Lying dangerously at the bottom of the table, Everton FC’s fall from grace has left the club in an unfamiliar position yet with an all too familiar feeling of helplessness, as another self-cultivated gem has been snatched away by the jaws of aristocracy.

Take into consideration the long drawn out nature of the saga, the un-timeliness of the situation and a genuine lack of defensive cover, the Joleon Lescott debacle provides much more than just a selection headache for gaffer David Moyes.

The transfer of the 27-year-old has been the second most lucrative deal for Everton behind Wayne Rooney’s move to Manchester United, and Lescott has become the second costliest British defender, behind Rio Ferdinand.

But it was more than simply the transfer of a centre-back. For Moyes and the Goodison Park faithful alike, it’s about making a statement to new-found wealth and it’s about loyalty that a club like Everton is founded on.

The minute Manchester City signalled their intentions and tabled their offer the deal reeked of a hidden agenda. No disrespect to Lescott, the Birmingham born titan of a defender has served the club well, representing the Toffees on 113 occasions and scoring a vital 14 Premier League goals along the way. But was he worth £24m?

My theory, like a true conspiracist, is that it was a deliberate ploy to undermine the once impenetrable surroundings at the club and implement a policy of divide and conquer.

With City now intent on replacing Everton as the fifth spot specialist, this leads one to believe that the pursuit of Lescott was more than just shoring up a defence that already boasted Bridge, Richards, Toure, Kompany, Dunne, Zabaleta, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Onuoha and now Sylvinho, I think you see my point.

Surely the City bosses were well aware of the financial situation on Merseyside. Surely Mark Hughes is not ignorant to the fact that Moyes does not have a plethora of gifted replacements to call upon on the eve of the new season. And therefore surely the Eastland’s club, with their quick-route styled approach to success, made their intentions clear to undermine the stability that has become synonymous with Everton FC.

However let’s not lament any further, the time for change is now and I believe that I speak on behalf of all Everton and football fans in general when I say we have total faith in David Moyes. Once an uncompromising central defender himself, the Scot has overseen the transformation of not only Lescott but Phil Jagielka to, from obscure Championship players to regular England internationals.

And in both Jagielka and Yobo, the fiery Scot is somewhat blessed with two very able replacements. The former has even established himself as one of the elite defenders of the competition before suffering a cruel season-ending knee injury back in April against non other than Man City, meaning he is unlikely to feature again in 2009.

Although Moyes is quoted as saying that Jack Rodwell’s future lies in the centre of defence, comparing him with one Rio Ferdinand, there is certainly a need for the club to dip into the transfer market and exercise their options from the Lescott transfer.

David Moyes has stressed this point by acquiring the services of 24-year-old Russian midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov in a £10m deal from Soviet giants Lokomotiv Moscow.

Before the transfer window closes on Monday, Moyes is quoted as saying he intends to introduce more new faces to the club, “I would be disappointed if we didn’t get at least four, maybe more,” the Everton manager told the club’s website.

“We’ve made quite a bit of progress I feel and maybe I’ll be able to announce something shortly, but not yet.”

With European football now a usual expectation for the Goodison Park faithful, we will have a look at possible alternatives to ensure the club maintains its elite position.

Sylvain Distin: Portsmouth club-captain and French defender Sylvain Distin could quite possibly be the likely replacement for a fee of around £5m. Goodison insiders recently insisted they were close to a deal with the centre-back who boasts substantial Premier League experience. However he is certainly not a prospect for the future and considering his age and the fact he is in the last year of his Fratton Park contract the money requested is perhaps not warranted.

Steven Taylor: At the tender age of 23 the versatile Newcastle defender may prove a more viable option. Since the Magpies were relegated Taylor has been in search for a move away and Goodison Park might just be the right venue for the England hopeful. If I was Bill Kenwright this home-grown England talent would top my list.

Philippe Senderos: The much maligned Gunner spent a somewhat unsuccessful season on-loan at Italian giants AC Milan and has since returned to the Emirates still in search of greener pastures. The towering centre-back has age on his side, only a year older than Taylor, however has impressed more at international level than for his club side to the frustration of many. With the sale of Toure perhaps he might have more of a say in Arsenal circles.

Brede Hangeland: The highly rated Fulham defender has established himself as one of the most imposing centre-backs in the league and subsequently attracted attention from many clubs, particularly Arsenal. With the money from the Lescott deal the board will look to swoop in on the Norwegian captain and make a clear statement of intent along the way.

Ever Benaga: Valencia’s Ever Banega’s proposed loan deal has collapsed with the Spanish side instead attempting to sell the player permanently to recoup such much needed cash.

Robert Huth: The 25-year-old German international provides an imposing 6 ft 3 in figure at the back and is an aerial asset for any defence. Appearing 19 times for Germany is no mean feat and with his club side recently relegated, Huth may be looking to the exit door to resurrect his career that once boasted regular appearances for Chelsea.

Ryan Shawcross: Liverpool target Ryan Shawcross represents all the attributes that Everton FC wants in a replacement for Joleon Lescott. The 21-year-old Stoke City stalwart will however cost the club a substantial amount of the profit earned, £9m to be exact, with the Daily Mirror claiming Moyes is more than willing.

Gary Cahill: Bolton defender Cahill is another figure on the Everton radar as a player that has thrived under the new found trust and expectation thrust upon him by all at the Reebok. He would however cost around £10m having just signed a new three-year contract with the Wanderers.

David Wheater: 22-year-old Middlesbrough custodian has pledged his future to the club despite reported interest from many Premier League sides and could prove a difficult task in wrestling him from the relegated sides’ grasp.

Tore Reginiussen: The highly-rated Norway international is just 23 and has been tracked by a host of Premier League clubs over the past 12 months following a string of impressive displays for club and country. The versatile defender has expressed his desire to join Everton after been quizzed about the reported interest and could prove a shrewd piece of business.

Editor’s choice: I would be happy with most names on the list and hope that more than one will join the ranks. However the most vital factor is to select the candidate that has the leadership abilities and great aerial and physical presence to compliment his partner in crime Joseph Yobo. A player that can steer the defence around the park whilst dominating the 18-yard box without hesitation and a healthy supplement of goals as a bonus. Brede Hangeland and Steven Taylor.

By: Joshua Kepreotis