Source: Team_Talk
Grant deserves real credit - Moyes
David Moyes has sympathy for Avram Grant - but not his club - as Portsmouth prepare to bow out of the Premier League.[LNB] Debt-laden Pompey face Moyes' Everton at Goodison Park in their final top-flight match before returning the Championship on Sunday.[LNB]Relegation concludes another chapter in a sorry saga of financial mismanagement at Fratton Park - an affair which has seen them sell several star players and enter administration.[LNB]Yet although they have struggled at the bottom end of the table all season, manager Grant has somehow defied the odds to lead them to next weekend's FA Cup final.[LNB]Moyes said: "He has done an outstanding job to keep them focused and going in the right direction.[LNB]"Look at some of the results they had in the FA Cup - everyone felt they would go out along the line.[LNB]"They put out Birmingham and Tottenham at Wembley, which I don't think anyone had down to happen.[LNB]"He deserves a lot of credit for the way he has kept it together and held together a club which is obviously in a terrible condition.[LNB]"He has done a good job but that doesn't mean there is any sympathy for Portsmouth and the way they have handled their affairs.[LNB]"They've overspent to try to get success - at Everton we've not.[LNB]"We've kept the purse tight and done what we can within our means.[LNB]"It is hard for any club to be £138million in debt - it is wrong.[LNB]"It should not have been allowed to get into that position."[LNB]Sunday's game has little riding on it for either side.[LNB]Pompey have been destined to finish bottom for some time and their players will inevitably be looking ahead to their likely last hurrah together at Wembley next Saturday.[LNB]Everton also know they will end their campaign in the eighth position they currently occupy having fallen short in their late charge for a European place.[LNB]Yet the Toffees have lost just two of their last 23 games, and gone unbeaten in 10, and Moyes has no intention of easing up.[LNB]"It is a Premier League game, one of 38, so we have to win it," the Scot said.[LNB]"I want to get into the 60s points total - last season we got 63 and we have got a chance of getting to 61.[LNB]"Under the circumstances and the problems we have had, I think that would be a gallant effort."[LNB]Everton were ravaged by injuries throughout the early part of the campaign and lay 16th with just 15 points from 14 games.[LNB]Their form since early December has been that of title challengers and Moyes is confident looking ahead.[LNB]"I think everyone has got a deal of optimism because of the way they have seen the team play," he said.[LNB]Moyes will soon be able to turn his full attention to his main business of the summer - squad refinement.[LNB]He has no intention of making major signings but needs to add depth and is anxious to tie key players, notably Steven Pienaar and Jack Rodwell, to new contracts.[LNB]Moyes said: "I don't think it will be a busy one - the biggest thing is we keep the players we have got at the club.[LNB]"It is for the board and chief executive to re-sign the players we have got and if they do I will be happy.[LNB]"Hopefully add one or two additions, then I'll be looking forward to next season."[LNB]Another event taking place this summer is the World Cup and Everton will have several players involved, including Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar, Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu.[LNB]Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville are also potential England players.[LNB]"I think it is good for your club if you have people there," said Moyes, who will be without Neville on Sunday after the 33-year-old underwent minor surgery on his left knee.[LNB]"They have got to experience that level. I am pleased and there are one or two I think will really benefit, so I am looking forward to seeing how they do at the World Cup.[LNB]"I hope one or two will come back with greater self-belief and confidence and realising they are top players. That is what I want."
