MCKENZIE: THE BIRCH FACTOR

Thursday 3 June 2004, 09:10

Duncan McKenzie believes that new faces both on and off the pitch will bring a breath of fresh air to Goodison.

The Former Everton striker admits that last season was a disappointment but is determined to look at the positives. Despite one of their poorest seasons in living memory, McKenzie thinks that the appointment of new Chief Executive Trevor Birch will do a lot to help the Blues next season.

"You've always got to look forward, we really do have to be positive," he told evertonfc.com. "It's just a question of bringing in a couple of new faces.

"We've had one behind the scenes, Trevor Birch who has come from another one of my old clubs, Leeds United. I was told down there how good a job he has done so hopefully he will come into Everton, do similarly there and shake things up a bit. I think it will give everyone a lift, it really will."

McKenzie, who made over 60 appearances for The Blues in the 1970s, feels that the side exceeded expectations in the 2002/03 season but thinks that with some hard work Everton can get back up to where they belong.

In his playing days the Grimsby-born star was always the entertainer and McKenzie believes that a few new high-quality signings will boost the squad. The former Leeds forward is sure that if the players feel stronger and more confident then they are bound to perform better on the pitch.

"I felt we slightly over achieved the season before last," he admitted. "This season I just feel as if the players didn't have that same edge and belief that they had had last year.

"It was sort of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' - trying to maintain a) that high level and intensity, and b) the luck factor. When we finished seventh we had so many 1-0 victories when things went our way.

"This season results didn't go for us and confidence seemed to lapse a little bit and really if you're going to play with two small guys up front you've got to have perfect service.

"It's very frustrating for the fans. They'll be asking how we can put it right but it's just a question of hard work, one or two new faces of course and getting the balance back into your team.

"If you get one or two new faces in the squad it freshens everybody up. Particularly if it's a player who the people roundabout will say: 'Wow, he's a good player'. They can look to the new player and emulate him.

"If Everton move forward by bringing in a couple of players it'll excite not only the fans, but the players around them. I think that lifts everybody's morale and confidence. Football is a subconscious thing, it really is. So much is taken for granted about players having ability or they can run or they can jump or head a ball but so little is taken into the feel good factor."