By John P
September 16 2005

I have never seen a striker play so awful after a big move since Andy Cole. 6.5 million of our money down the drain for a player who was gladly shown the door by Southampton and their fans. A 6.5 million pounds striker who has scored 3 goals since his arrival.

Is that the sort of player who we should be pinning our hopes and dreams on? A player that rules himself out of one of the clubs biggest european nights because his "toe didn't feel right"? If we can make 2million of our money back off this lad we should do. Free up his wages and sign someone else combining the sale of that money along with whatever is left from the bid off Kuyt. I understand that it has been a few months since that bid was made but there must be some money left! We should be able to sign a striker that can atleast score more than 3 goals in one season!

The rumours surfacing more and more about his lifestyle is leaving the club in a bad predicament. Are we to act on the information from Saints fans and our own blue noses? Get him in and get him tested. If the club can prove he has been doing something he shouldn't then we can sack him on good grounds. His career is over anyway. Beattie should never wear an Everton shirt again, let alone an England one. There was once a time when we took so much pride on this club. To wear the badge was an honour for this historically rich club. To know that you are wearing the same number as some of the greats like Neville Southall, Beardsley, Linekar, Reid, Speedy, Sheedy, Labone and the legend himself Mr Dean. I've got more respect for Amokachi than Beattie. He came on in the FA Cup and took the game by the horns and declared "this game is mine!".

You may be a secret manchester united fan, or barcode fan...but the club pays your wages so play your heart out for each second of that 90 minute clock or step down and let someone else come in and do it. Tim Cahill, although in need of rest, does it time and time again. He knows how important this club is to us. He knows how important this club is. He wears his heart on the sleeve for all the fans to see. Tiny Timmy has only been here for a short period and has become an idol to so many fans but James? The only thing he has said recently is that he wants the number 9 shirt off Duncan Ferguson. Beattie doesn't even deserve to be at this club. Time and time again I hear people trying to defend him. "He's plagued by injuries, he'll turn it around!" is a common one I hear. He's scored 3 goals in the space of a season. How much more time should we give him? Another season perhaps? I'm sure Beattie would really find his scoring ability then....in the Championship...

We need to act now, we where too slow to sign a decent striker in the summer and we have an opportunity to make amends and push for a top 6 place by signing someone in the Winter. So let's dig in deep yet again and show them that even after all the time we spent on the floor over the last few seasons we can still come up fighting with the "Never say die" attitude.