Has Moyes pulled off another bargain-basement miracle with Stracqualursi and Drenthe?

By David Anderson

Published 12:58 19/09/11

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It would be easy to say David Moyes has dropped a clanger after watching Yakubu score twice on his Blackburn debut against Arsenal.

Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal: Daily Mirror match report  

On the face of that display from Yak, it would appear strange that Moyes bombed him out at Everton.

He showed he has lost none of his killer instinct with his two finishes.

Yet I feel Moyes was right to get rid of the Nigerian striker.

He clearly felt he couldn't get anything more out of him and with money so tight, it was best to get him off the wage bill and generate his £1.5million transfer fee.

Whether that was a failure of man management on Moyes' part is another issue.

But he was right to get rid if he felt he could no longer contribute to Everton.

There was also plenty of evidence at Goodison on Saturday that the Yak won't be missed.

Apostolos Vellios looks a real find for Everton and his header for his first Blues goal was superbly executed.

He had shown another glimpse of his class the previous Saturday when he came close to scoring what would have been a stunning goal against Aston Villa.

Denis Stracqualursi also looks useful after he set up Royston Drenthe for his goal from a flick-on.

Stracqualursi's pedigree looks good and he was joint-top scorer in the Argentine first division last season, including a hat-trick against Boca Juniors.

He's a natural No 9 for Everton in the mould of Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Bob Latchford, Graham Sharp and Duncan Ferguson and has the physique to cope with the demands of English football.

Argentine football is notoriously tough and Stracqualursi should have no problems adapting.

Drenthe also looks another shrewd acquisition and has power, directness and an eye for goal.

Considering he generated £11.5million in fees, Moyes has still managed to boost his attack.

No mean feat, but then Everton fans are well used to his miracles.

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