Everton
Everton’s revival has the feeling of permanance
Quietly and almost imperceptibly, Everton are having quite a season. David Moyes has developed a squad with the depth, quality and resilience to last a campaign, and his methods have been emphatically vindicated.
What is so impressive is, unlike other clubs unexpectedly challenging for fourth spot, Everton have not channelled their resources on the league, but have also excelled in the Cups. In 2004/05, when they finished fourth, even their own fans were shocked. This season, though, they have not benefited from favourable circumstances or players enjoying the season of their lives. People are no longer shocked to see Everton in fourth.
In recent games, Moyes’ side have illustrated the fundamental ability to win tight games in which they have failed to dominate. It is the hallmark of a very good side. Against both Reading and SK Brann, Everton were largely unimpressive, failing to dominate and scrappy for much of the games. Yet, on both occasions they were able to find extra quality to triumph, testament to the side’s footballing ability, physical fitness and the cohesiveness that exists within the club.
The sense of pulling together could easily have been disturbed by Yakubu’s late return from the African Cup of Nations. How a manager reacts to misdemeanours from one of his star players – particularly if he himself has brought him to the club – is a key test of his managerial skills. A fine balance must be struck between dishing out a fair punishment and being pragmatic with a vital commodity to the club. Moyes’ handling of the situation was exemplary. He dealt Yakubu a firm hand – missing one game – but then put his anger to one side and returned him to the starting line-up. It was a textbook example of punishing the offender without punishing the club. The incident was dealt with but not allowed to escalate and engulf the club – which is exactly how it should be.
Yakubu’s significance was reaffirmed in his commendable performance at SK Brann. Though somewhat enigmatic, he possesses pace and is a fine finisher. This controversy notwithstanding, he has gone some way to justifying his manager’s £11.25million outlay, with 12 goals in just 24 Everton appearances to date. His signing was indicative of a club confident in its abilities and not content with merely treading water, aiming for more than scraping into the Uefa Cup. It is true that, in Andy Johnson, Everton made a similarly noteworthy signing the previous summer. But that was exactly the point: the message was Everton have become a club who made major signings to improve upon, rather than replace, the quality already there.
Everton’s progress this campaign has seldom been spectacular, even allowing for the 7-1 win over Sunderland. Their success has been built upon unglamorous qualities: resilience, tenacity and coherent team strategy.
Above all, Moyes has established a defence who are exceptionally difficult to break though, as 16 clean sheets in their 39 games is testament to. Tim Howard is an increasingly reassuring presence in goal, Joseph Yobo is a commanding figure and Phil Jagielka is now thriving at centre-back. However, the season’s defensive star, ignoring his underwhelming England displays, has been Joleon Lescott. Adept either as a domineering centre-back or a solid full-back with the ability to create goals, his selflessness and self-improvement are exactly the qualities Moyes is looking to develop.
The squad are well-honed in what Moyes requires of them, preventing the side losing its organisation when key individuals are out. Where Everton’s squad of ‘04/05 may not have survived a few injuries, the depth today is such that Moyes is confident enough to approach every competition with relish. The League Cup and Uefa Cup are not ‘distractions’, as they once might have been: they represent genuine chances for a trophy. Alongside this, Everton have undemonstratively overtaken Liverpool in the race for fourth, the result not of a particularly fine run but 26 games of endeavour and consistency. Their league position does not feel like an anomaly that will inevitably be rectified by the season’s end. Rather, after years of solid building, Everton’s revival has the feeling of being something permanent.
Will Everton finish fourth?
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Good Article but Everton wil have to continue to spend Big to cement the improvements and stay in and around the top 4 places.
Let’s Hope we get to spend Champions League money this summer.
It can happen.
The Board must come up with the funding for more continued additions to the side. I think DM is the right man, very good manager, will spend, but not overspend. Has the troops on board, talent plus attitude.
I equate the Efc improvement to our USA “football” NE Patriots success. Good players, great teamwork, reasonable spending. Team orientation NOT just for the individual.
Got it just about right m8..
It’s incorrect to report that Everton have shown only unglamorous qualities. Player such as Osman, Arteta , Piennar and Fernandez are classy intelligent players. The fact that the squad can still get results without them is commendable, but Everton have played really entertainingly at times this season.
Moyes main aim this year must be to retain the majority of the squad - including Piennar and Fernandez who are on loan.
Bob from Boston.
Totally, totally agree. As Patriots Fans we see the similarities. If we are going to be American owned, can it be Bob Kraft.
Still gutted 2 weeks on - but Everton getting in the Champions League will help the healing process.
Well observed although Tom Maher’s point is good - however Tom the fine play has been a little lost recently, though the results keep coming.
What I want to add about Moyes is that he is bringing good character as well as football qualities to Everton. Both on and off the pitch (in their charity work for instance, check it out) these players are decent people, not arrogant publicity-seeking decadents. The Everton Christmas party will never be in danger of resembling one from up the East Lancs road, at least while Moyes is there. OK Yakubu let Moyse down briefly, but to visit his ailing father, not to hit the night lights. That sums it up. Could Moyes be building something like Shankly did, against much greater odds? I hope so!
Very good article Tom. Do you agree that, to really break into the top 4 for coming seasons, it is a necessity for a club like Everton (without a rich benefactor) to be into the Champions League Group stages come the autumn this year? If not, do you feel it is likely clubs with more cash (e.g. Villa, Man City, Spurs) could usurp the toffees next season?
In the long term yes, Everton would need to make it into the group stages, as you get little money from the qualifiers. That said, money isn’t everything, and Everton’s solid progress looks set to continue. They are building in a very prudent way.
Top 4 fnish is realistic and therefore achievable.
TEAMWORK overcomes the greatest of odds and Everton appear to have it in abundance. The depth in the squad has meant the team can go the distance without losing any of its effectiveness. Finally the club infrastructure is solid, with key personnel being in place for a length of time enabling confidence to be built.So Europe and Champions league note we are on our way.