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The Big Interview

No single person is more important than the Everton team

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Lee Carsley talks exclusively to Betfair about the secret of Everton's recent success following the Toffees' qualification to the UEFA Cup knock-out stages

Another season, another rush of Premier League managers getting sacked. So far six out of 20 clubs have parted company with their boss and the next victims won't be far away.

When managers plead for patience they always quote the story of Sir Alex Ferguson who took three years to get it right before the trophies began to flow. But a more relevant story is to be found just down the motorway from Manchester at Goodison Park where David Moyes is now into his sixth full season in charge. He's been given time and patience - and without massive resources has handed back a team to compete in the top half of the Premier League and that is now into the knockout phase of the UEFA Cup.

Midfielder Lee Carsley is one of a handful of players to have shared that journey which makes the 32-year-old superbly qualified to know the job that Moyes has done.

"What he's done with Everton has been simply fantastic," says the combative Republic of Ireland international midfield player. "I think it's fair to say that a few clubs could look at him as an example of how giving a good manager time will bring success. When you consider where the club was before he came and where we are now it says everything. The ambition and approach of the club has changed completely. When he came we were fighting relegation, now we start a season expecting to be capable of finishing the top six and doing well in Europe. That has come from having so much stability."

Wednesday night's dramatic UEFA Cup victory over Zenit St Petersburg was Everton's seventh victory in nine games and the late winner another example of the spirit that Moyes has created.

"That's probably the key to what we are doing," says Carsley. "I don't think anyone can look at us and say we have got real stars. There are a lot of good players, don't get me wrong, and some very good individuals but there's no single person who is more important to the team than anybody else. If you are Manchester United or Arsenal or Chelsea with brilliant players then you can turn on some dazzle. We know we're not like that. We're a hard working team and proud of it.

"And again I think that's probably the gaffer's biggest achievement. Just as the club has kept stability with him, so he's kept things pretty settled around the squad and he tends to bring in new players one or two at a time. It means that they get brought into the culture of the dressing room rather than what can happen at clubs when you get five or six new signings together, you get a sort of 'them and us' atmosphere. I'm sure he checks out what they are like as people as well as players pretty thoroughly before he signs them too. It keeps the strength of the group together.

"What's been different this season is that we have got a better goal threat than we've ever had before. I know that last year Andy Johnson arrived and took on the responsibility but now we've also got Yakubu and Tim Cahill getting on the scoresheet regularly, and Victor Anichebe is showing unbelievable promise. When you get a young lad from within the ranks coming through to put pressure on the senior players it's only for the good.

"That's probably the biggest improvement we've made because what separates the top half clubs from the rest is that they've got competition among the strikers. You look at most of the sides in the top half of the table and they have four front men fighting for two places. It's tough on the ones who aren't playing but it's right for the club."

Last season Carsley played all but 44 minutes of Everton's entire campaign, but this year he's lost his ever present record.

"The higher up the League you go the more you need to swap the squad around. We've played 22 games already this season and there's plenty more to come so you need to be able to give people breaks. The manager took me out after I'd played for Ireland because he felt I needed a breather. You don't like it but you realise he's right. Since I've been back in the side and playing regularly I've got my fitness levels up and it makes a difference.

"The run we're on now? We've found a way of playing that suits us. We've had just one up front and Tim Cahill breaking from behind and it makes us solid but with a goal threat that's difficult for other teams to pick up. That's back to the manager again!"

Away from the football field Carsley is actively involved in the Down's Syndrome Support Group of Solihull. His eight-year-old son Connor suffers from Down's and together with wife Louisa the Everton star puts time and effort into raising funds to help other parents deal with the day to day demands of caring for their children.

"We were lucky because we had the resources to pay for treatments but it's not so easy for others. So the group helps provide things like speech therapists, Christmas parties and days out for the kids and rest and support for their parents."

Betfair have provided a £50 bet with the proceeds to go into the group's funds. Carsley says: "I'd like a double with Betfair Multiples on Amir Khan [1.17] and Floyd Mayweather [1.64]. My heart wants Ricky Hatton to win but I'm afraid my head says he won't do it."

Lee Carsley plays for Everton

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