Striker can enjoy a new lease of life at Goodison

Jan 4 2005 By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

THE SIGNING of James Beattie means that Everton have had an excellent first half of the season, and receive a very positive half-term report from me.

Alright, so the wheels have come off in the last two games, but they have the chance to put things right tonight against a very beatable Portsmouth.

No doubt Beattie will be paraded before the game and I'd expect his appearance to get the crowd really fired up.

The fact that he chose to come to Everton and not Aston Villa says a lot, and I believe he will make an immediate impact.

He has known for a while that he was going to leave Southampton during the transfer window, and I know from personal experience when I was about to leave Brighton, you just want to go. There's nothing worse than just hanging around.

He had become a bit stale at the Saints, but will have a new lease of life now.

From watching him, I'd say he is an excellent team player who works hard and will get you goals. He is also a good target man who should thrive on the supply he will get from Kevin Kilbane and Leon Osman, as well as creating plenty of chances with knock downs and flicks.

As I have said before, he is also a good lad to have around the club which is important because team spirit has been one of the bedrocks of Everton's season.

It's amazing really that they are where they are, given what a mess they were during the summer.

First of all they were thrashed 5-1 by Manchester City to finish last season with their lowest ever points total. Then the summer itself descended into farce with the row over the ownership of and investment into the club between Bill Kenwright and Paul Gregg, as well as they will-he-won't-he? Wayne Rooney saga.

Even when David Moyes did make a couple of signings, Marcus Bent and Tim Cahill didn't get too many pulses racing.