Why getting rid of Rooney has sparked Everton

Nov 30 2004 By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

SELLING Wayne Rooney was the best thing Everton could have done in the summer.

You may think I am mad to say it, but I believe if the teenager had stayed at Goodison Park, David Moyes's team would not be in the position they are in now, never mind the financial implications.

Think back to when he was tearing through the Euro 2004 tournament for England, and anyone connected to Everton must have realised then that he was going to leave the club - it was only a question of when.

Then there was all the speculation about his destination, speculation that would only have increased the longer he stayed.

No matter what Everton did on the pitch, every week the newspapers would have been full of stories wondering when he would leave, which is no good for any team.

When he eventually left, it must have been a breath of fresh air for the players he left behind.

All right, they thought, Rooney's gone but at least we know where we are. On top of that they would have been determined to show that Everton were not just Wayne Rooney plus 10 others.

His departure allowed Moyes to draw the rest of the squad together and gave everyone a determination to give a little bit extra for the cause.

When added with the tactical plan Moyes has introduced - which shows that Rooney was not the only one making the most of his time at Euro 2004 - it has led to the position the club is in now.

At Newcastle on Sunday, even when they were 1-0 down and having to cling on to that scoreline, you sensed the players always felt they could get back into the game.