Breaking the top 4 again?
David Moyes arrived at Goodison 6 years ago now and has built a balanced and hardworking outfit regularly challenging for a European place (official 5th best team in the league.)
They excelled 3 seasons back when they clinched the 4th Champions League spot, they then had a slight dip a season later with a mid-table dwelling before storming back to 6th and 5th respectively.
The suits at Goodison should also be commended for keeping faith with Moyes who had a relegation battle on his hands in the 02-03 campaign. They just survived the drop with a 17th place finish but returned the following year to storm into the 4th spot with a little help from a local lad called Wayne. Rooney burst onto the scene with an audacious long-range exocet over the top of a fumbling David Seaman on live TV (mmm, ain’t seen that before!). Rooney, a product of the youth team set-up was eventually bought by Fergie after a brilliant Euro 04. The Scouse outfit have consistently brought along young prospects who have broken into the senior side such as Victor Anichebe, James Vaughn and Leon Osman, who all have bright futures with the club.
On the transfer’s side, compared to their neighbours, the resources for Moyes have been on the light side but he has bought in some bargain belters over the years. In the current team, the elegant Arteta & free scoring Cahill are the standout midfielders who would both go for double figures these days, it seems ludicrous that they were bought for a combined fee of £3.5 million! Andy Johnson arrived from Palace 3 years ago for 8 million & the under-rated Tim Howard arrived after a decent loan spell. Yakubu came from Middlesbrough and is now established as one of the Premier Leagues most consistent strikers. The acquisition of Lescott, Baines and Jagielka has made Everton into one of the meanest defences in the Premiership – 33 goals against, just 2 behind Arsenal & 5 behind Liverpool.
If anyone can break up the big 4 again then it’s surely Everton, sorry Spurs fans, but you are dreaming once again, another season of mediocrity beckons.
The Blues will need to sign a few new additions if they are to push on. Russian striker Roman Pavlyuechenko who was a big success at Euro 2008 has been linked but is desperate for Champions League football, so it’s highly unlikely Moyes will sign him. One exciting prospect could be the arrival of Aaron Lennon, the speedy winger doesn’t seem to fit into Ramous’s plans and would be the kind of signing the Everton fans would relish.
Under Moyes Everton have transformed themselves into a top 6 side, and my money is on another top 6 finish for the 2008/09 season.
Best of British on a budget*
