Source: Liverpool_Echo
NIGEL MARTYN: Joleon Lescott saga will prove costly to Everton unless it gets solved
THE curse of the 'overhanging issue' strikes again - when football clubs find themselves dealing with a massive issue off the pitch, results take a hit.
There is no logical reason why it should happen but I know from experience - and a bitter one at that - that it does, regardless of what people say to the contrary.
During my time at Leeds, of course, Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate were involved in an extremely serious court case but it had nothing to do with the rest of the squad.
Yet from the moment they were in the dock, we were never the same team.
It shouldn't have had an effect. I was training as hard as I always did and my will to win never dipped and I'm pretty sure everyone else felt the same.
Yet for some reason, the magic that made us such an irresistible force disappeared and it heralded the break up of a side that could and should have achieved great things.
Now I am not for one moment suggesting that Everton are heading for such a dramatic fall from grace nor am I comparing Joleon Lescott's predicament to the one that my two former colleagues went through, but it's pretty clear to see that Manchester City's bid to sign him is having a negative impact.
