Everton new signing Beattie critical of treatment by Eriksson
Striker James Beattie, unveiled by Everton on Wednesday after a record transfer from Southampton, said his treatment by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had hurt his club form this season. Beattie has five caps and has not been picked by Eriksson...
Striker James Beattie, unveiled by Everton on Wednesday after a record transfer from Southampton, said his treatment by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had hurt his club form this season.
Beattie has five caps and has not been picked by Eriksson since November 2003.
After scoring 14 league goals last season, the 26-year-old has netted just three times in 2004/5.
"The thing that has disappointed me the most was the fact there was no explanation for why I was omitted from the Euro 2004 squad,' Beattie told reporters.
"It really set me back and disappointed me quite a lot. It would have taken just two minutes to say 'you didn't do this or you can do this to get back in'.
"Being out of the squad was bad enough, but that was really bad. I'm sure that if I can get in the team and score some goals I will be back in Mr Eriksson's thoughts in no time.'
Beattie became Everton's record signing when they paid Southampton six million pounds ($11.26 million) on Tuesday to beat Aston Villa to his signature.
He scored 76 goals in 233 games for Southampton in a six-year spell and Everton manager Moyes believes Beattie can improve on that record at Goodison Park.
"He still has a lot to do but he is coming to his peak and his best years will be with us,' Moyes told reporters.
"The goals he brings are the biggest thing as we need to score more, but we also wanted a big centre-forward and he fits into that roll.
"This club has had some great centre-forwards and for me James might be a mix of Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp."
Everton are fourth in the Premier League after scoring just 27 goals in 22 matches. Moyes says Beattie will be the first of many major signings.
"This is a start. I have a bigger plan in mind about the type of players I want to bring in,' Moyes said.
"We sold Wayne Rooney for 27 million pounds (to Manchester United) just before the (August transfer) deadline and Tomasz Radzinski for two million before that.
"We have taken in £29 million and spent six.'