George Telfer or Jim Pearson over Duncan MacKenzie?

Gordon Lee was the only man in Goodison ever to think that way.

Harry Catterick signed Ernie Hunt, didn’t really know what to do with him, then a couple of years later did the same with Henry Newton.

I remember thinking that Heitinga would be a preferred choice under our then new 'ball playing' manager, Bobby Brown Shoes. It was a bit of a shock to see him left out almost completely, especially as he'd put in some good performances for us at CB over the years. I think he won a Player of the Year award during his stay with us?

As for Vinny, well, he was just cursed or genuinely disliked by Big Joe.
I remember Vinny coming off the bench early on against Norwich and playing out of his skin. Creating what turned out to be the match winning goal for Paul Rideout and winning the Man of the Match award.

He then got injured and missed our next game away at West Ham with Martin Tyler saying that JR had stated that Vinny would have been involved tonight but he was injured in training. The game was live on MNF, and that line always stuck in my mind.

He then got back into the team away at Leicester scored a tap in that finished a wonderful team move. We were 2 up and flying, then both Vinny and Duncan got themselves sent off and we cling on to a 2-2 draw.

The following season, Samways got a few appearances, scored a lovely goal away at West Ham and was then promptly left out of the entire squad for our very next game against Reykjavik!

It was very strange to this then 14 Yr old but, as the title suggests, Big Joe obviously just didn't fancy him!

Peter - I am not sure Harry Catterick ever quite felt comfortable with Keith Newton either - accomplished full back as he was, his time at the club was relatively short lived.

I really admired Harry Catterick and he is still my favourite manager overall but I did attend the recent Heritage Society presentation comparing Catterick & Kendall. The panel were of the view by the end of the 60's, Harry's appetite was waning - combined with his health worries which perhaps were manifesting around then we can only speculate, but he did seem to lose the Midas touch in the transfer incomings after nearly a decade of pretty good purchase record.

Aye, Ken - trading Johnson for Belfitt being a good example, imo. Losing a player with a future to gain a player who didn't even really have that much of a past.

Interesting point you raise about Keith Newton, Ken. He was signed in the aftermath of Sandy Brown’s infamous own goal in the derby game. Keith immediately replaced Sandy at left back. He very rarely if ever played for us on the other flank, the position filled by the late Tommy Wright.

Yet when both Tommy and Keith were available in the England squad Alf Ramsey seemed to prefer Keith at right back. Tommy’s appearances in the 1970 World Cup happened after Keith suffered an injury at right back in the opening game against Romania. Keith was preferred for the quarter final against West Germany. If I remember correctly he laid on both England’s goals.

I never thought Keith Newton was a more complete full back than Tommy Wright. It appeared Harry Catterick was of the same view. Was he an upgrade on Sandy Brown at left back? I am not sure he was. Both Keith and Sandy struggled with injuries after 1970. Catterick ended up using Henry Newton, a midfielder signed in October 1970, to plug a gap at left back.

On his arrival in 1973 Billy Bingham inherited Henry Newton. Billy clearly didn’t fancy him, quickly selling him to Derby where he won a league championship medal in 1975.

Harry Catterick sold Alan Ball in 1971 after, it was claimed, a tempestuous row. At the time I thought that was a disastrous mistake and I still do. It is one thing for a fringe player to be ignored or sold, but discarding the engine of the team was criminal.

Just watched David Moyes presser for the Newcastle game, the very first question hit at players not playing in their natural positions, his response dismissive, clearly he would rather play Garner and Branthwaite than Myko or Patterson despite agreeing Garner should be in midfield. Trying to BS people into thinking both are comfortable at full back and better options than the fullback he has. O'Brien will probably play at right full back and Branthwaite on the other side. 4 centre halfs. Gordon will be laughing his socks off. Garner will be back in the middle and I wouldn't bet against McNeil starting in place of Harrison. Beto will get the nod for this one..

Moyes is getting right on my nerves and I’m turning into a full-on member of the Moyes-out Brigade. I can’t see us ever getting any better with him as our manager, and if he stays we’ll need to sign about 10 new players to replace the perfectly decent ones he’s in the process of ruining.

If we get a new manager in, we’ll ‘suddenly’ have 5 ‘new’ decent or high-potential players and only need to sign about 4/5 in the summer. This of course comes with all kinds of risks if we can’t get the right person in.

It’s a depressing position to be in, knowing that you’re basically stuck going nowhere.

Great win, this team are doing my head in, never mind Moyes, I'm not sure what to make of this Jekyll and Hyde team but blimey what a win! To a man they fought for that but what a world class save from Pickford!

So… we keep Moyes, but only let him be in charge of away games. Bring someone else in to do the home matches?