 A SIGNIFICANT piece of contract business took place earlier this week and Everton should be breathing a sigh of relief it came out in their favour. When you have a player as consistent as Lee Carsley has been this season, it doesn’t really make sense to wait for the end of the season to come before making a contract offer - especially if he happens to be on a 12-month deal. If, as a manager, you really want to keep them, it makes sense to get the business sorted out in February/March time because you don’t want other clubs having a chance of pinching your best players. It would have been puzzling had Carsley left a team that will be playing European football next season for one that could well be fighting relegation again, but it has to be stressed he was well within his rights to talk to Wigan Athletic. Personally, I believe it would have been in Everton’s best interests to get Carsley and Alan Stubbs tied up long before the end of the season, as they proved time and again that they have what it takes to play at the highest level. I suppose it would have also made economic sense, too. Everton will have had to offer Carsley improved terms to sign to counter Wigan’s offer, but would that have been the case if the business had been done in spring? Exactly. Carsley deserves full credit for the way he has handled the situation, as he has been open and honest throughout, and I would hope he has just as influential a part to play during the next campaign. Picking a player of the season was an incredibly difficult task, given the way Mikel Arteta, Joleon Lescott and Andrew Johnson played, yet Carsley undoubtedly finished with top marks. He is clearly a model professional. Hopefully, though, Everton will learn a valuable lesson from this. Carsley may be getting on slightly but it would have been a travesty if he had walked away for free. Simply, you can’t put a price on his experience, professionalism and commitment. Wonderful achievement THE disappointment amongst Liverpudlians will still be acute today but they should not lose sight of what a marvellous achievement it was to reach the Champions League final. I felt Rafa Benitez’s side played very well but one ingredient was sadly lacking - a slice of luck. The first goal was always going to be crucial and the Gods were smiling on Filippo Inzaghi. The tournament has changed dramatically in the last few years and the strength of the teams competing has never been higher, so for Liverpool to reach two finals in three years is a wonderful achievement. Losing always hurts but just ask yourself this: how many other teams would happily swap places with them now? | 
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