Everton, Premier League

There is a fierce ambition burning within David Moyes. The Scottish manager dreams of establishing Everton as regulars in Europe. And, having had his obvious talent backed by a generous summer budget, the 43-year-old will be aiming for a top six spot this season.

Of course, Everton have been in Europe before under Moyes. In the summer of 2004, Wayne Rooney was sold, while Marcus Bent and Tim Cahill were the only significant recruits. As the club had finished 17th the previous season, it was hardly outlandish to predict them for relegation.

Yet the former Preston manager managed to install tremendous steel and resilience in the side. Moyes tended to favour a 4-5-1 formation, with Bent as the sole forward; while the tactics do not please the footballing aesthetics, they proved remarkably effective. Despite scoring just 45 goals – the same as 20th-placed Southampton – Everton continued to shock the critics and, remarkably, vaulted their way into fourth place.

The 2005/06 campaign promised much but soon plunged into disaster. However, a terrific run of home form saw Everton end the season only just outside the top half. Although 11th place was something of a disappointment, it provided further proof of how astonishingly the side had performed the season before.

To their enormous credit, the Everton board continued to believe Moyes was the right man for their job. They did not restrict him to spending only what money he brought in. Sensing the nucleus of a very competent side was there, in players such as Phil Neville, Joseph Yobo, Mikel Arteta and Australian World Cup star Tim Cahill, they allowed him to spend close to £15million to take Everton to the next level.

The key signing was clearly Andy Johnson; Everton scored a paltry 34 goals in 05/06, at least 11 less than all the sides who finished above them. The 25-year-old proved his goalscoring ability at Premiership level with his outstanding tally of 21 goals in the relegated Crystal Palace side of ‘04/05.

Though his chief asset is obviously his instinctive finishing ability, Johnson has many more dimensions to his game. He possesses an excellent work-rate and is adept at playing alongside James Beattie in a 4-4-2 formation; but, as proved by his showing during the win at Tottenham, he also excels playing as the target man in a 4-5-1 formation.

At £8.6million, Johnson was considered by many to be slightly expensive. But he has started the season in tremendous fashion, netting on his debut against Watford before delivering something close to the consummate lone striker’s performances in the 2-0 victory at Tottenham. He worked the flanks tirelessly, while his pace was always a threat on the counter-attack. However, the moment that best encapsulated the qualities Moyes was so desperate to secure was Johnson’s superb run between two defenders in the 66th minute, which was followed by a clinical finish to secure Everton’s first win at White Hart Lane since 1985.

The man who provided the cross was vice-captain Phil Neville. Signed from Manchester United only last summer, the tenacious Neville embodies the spirit and determination his manager is obviously such a believer in. That, allied to the obvious quality of the squad and lack of huge names a la Wayne Rooney, is the reason for Everton’s excellent start of seven points from three games.

Another summer signing, Tim Howard, should prove a fine replacement for the retired Nigel Martyn in goal. Howard would certainly have been most impressed by the ease Everton’s central defensive pairing handled Tottenham’s forwards. Joseph Yobo’s class at Premiership level is well known. But Joleon Lescott’s assuredness in his first competitive start for the club provided early vindication of Moyes’ decision to spend £5million for the highly rated former Wolves player.

Everton have recruited men to improve their fortunes at both ends of the pitch. But tellingly, they have not signed anyone new in midfield; the manager is rightly comfortable with the options they already have.

Tim Cahill’s role may change somewhat this season, owing to Johnson’s signing. If the England striker plays alongside James Beattie, as he will surely do in the vast majority of home games and several away, then Cahill will no longer have the freedom afforded to him when he was Everton’s main goal threat in a 4-5-1 formation. But the man who scored two World Cup goals against Japan is surely a good enough player to adapt to his new role without curtailing his attacking effectiveness too much.

James McFadden is a man who divides opinion. What is beyond doubt is that he has an enormous talent; if he can build on his seven goals and three assists last season, he will become a regular match-winner. Brilliant passer Mikel Arteta is an excellent player who deserves to be playing for a club who finish higher than 11th in the Premiership.

That is something Everton should certainly do this season. Indeed, the general quality of the squad is surely greater than when the club finished fourth in 2005. Providing key men can remain fit and Johnson can deliver a goal tally similar to the one he achieved with Crystal Palace in the Premiership, then a Uefa Cup place looks achievable.

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