Beckford capture no brainer for shrewd Moyes

New Everton signing Jermaine Beckford has already split opinion amongst his new club’s supporters without kicking a ball in anger in a blue shirt.

The former Leeds United hit-man has caused debate with his signing at the Merseysiders about whether his arrival signals a lack of ambition by the manager in the transfer market.

The 26-year-old’s record at club level is something to be admired at 80+ goals in 3 seasons but it’s the level at which those goals were scored which is being called into question.

Despite coming to national prominence in the F.A. Cup this year with top displays against Manchester United and Spurs the majority of Beckford’s strikes have come in the 3rd tier of English football. It’s that fact which has caused many blues to suggest that he may not be good enough to perform at the top level of the sport in this country and that the Everton manager is scraping the barrel in the transfer market. Though that opinion carries some weight it could also be argued that the pro’s of the signing far outweigh the cons.

Jermaine Beckford is certainly a flamboyant player and character who has many different attributes to his game. A player with pace to burn as well as tremendous physical strength and a knack of being in the right place in the right time. A striker who knows where the goal is. Though he is to say the least an unpolished jewel.

Ask any Leeds fan what they think of Beckford as a player and they’ll all tell you that he has the potential to be a top striker with his ability but has a problem which is less of a physical issue than mental. A lazy player which a big time Charlie ego who constantly courts the spotlight is what his main criticisms are consistently but when put in perspective, those aren’t any problem at all.

Whether he’s a high confidence personality or not, at 26 Beckford will surely realise that this is his chance at the big time. Everton have revived his career when at one point he looked as though he was set to be left behind by the game when he was released by Chelsea as a teenager.

What’s more is at Everton, at the top end of the top league in England and in a team based on togetherness and work ethic, surely he knows he cannot get away without putting in a hard shift each and every time he wears the Everton shirt. David Moyes has his team well drilled and well gelled in combining craft, guile and industry with invention and flair, there is no room for passengers in his Everton team. As a man manager too, the Glaswegian has it well within the scope of his power to iron out any bad habits in his new player’s game.

It’s also worth mentioning that while on the subject of the Everton manager, David Moyes has form when working with these type of players. The Scot has a tremendous track record with bringing in promising players from the lower leagues or obscurity in a foreign league and turning them into top class footballers. Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott to name but a couple of players who Moyes has transformed at Everton since taking them from the lower leagues. Beckford is a similar case in how he is eager and hungry to prove himself in the Premier League but at his age the pressure is on to deliver immediately.

Another plus to the transfer is the good business sense it represents.

Jermaine Beckford was a highly sought after commodity in the Championship in January of last year and in the event of him not making the grade at Everton he could be sold on at a profit at some point in the future due to his arrival not costing the club anything in the way of a transfer fee.

His acquisition also makes good sense on a footballing level with the current Everton squad.

The current strikers at the club are a mixed bag to say the least in terms of form and fitness. With Yakubu labouring last season whilst getting over his recent injury; Louis Saha going off the boil in the latter stages of the season after an explosive start; James Vaughan likely to be loaned out again to build up his fitness and Victor Anichebe being converted into more of a striker-cum-midfielder Beckford will at least provide stiff competition for those already leading the line.

It’s important to remember that Everton have to be realistic when in the transfer market too. Though the supporters would like to see the arrival of some marquee signings, that is not likely to be a realistic prospect in the current financial climate in football. The sad fact may be that Everton may need to sell before they can buy this summer and with the manager more eager to keep his current roster of players than add new ones, free transfers and loan signings may be what’s on the menu for the Goodison club. Should that be the case then surely signing one of the best free transfers on the market very early in the window can only be seen as a good thing.

One would hope that the transfer activity will not conclude with this move and that more heavy duty moves take place between now and September 1st but in the undesirable scenario where it does not, this should be seen as a good move by the club.

Jermaine Beckford has everything to gain and Everton have nothing to lose so the winners of the situation will undoubtedly be the Blues. A striker who can stick it in the net with a point to prove for no outlay whatsoever. A player who if nothing else will represent a profitable business move for the club’s money men if nothing else.

At the very least, any supporters who question Beckfords signing can allow their new addition a season to try and prove himself to them. The only way he’ll be able to do that is by scoring goals in the Premier League when his chances come.

Your move, Jermaine.

Terry McAllister

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