Everton, Premier League
Season Preview - Everton: Last season may prove a difficult act to follow
2007/8 in a nutshell: It was a performance like that in 04-05, which managed that season to earn Everton a place in the Champions League. Unfortunately for the Toffees, Liverpool this time managed to snatch fourth place after a 1-0 win in the Merseyside derby. Barring that, it was a much better campaign than the [...]
2007/8 in a nutshell: It was a performance like that in 04-05, which managed that season to earn Everton a place in the Champions League. Unfortunately for the Toffees, Liverpool this time managed to snatch fourth place after a 1-0 win in the Merseyside derby. Barring that, it was a much better campaign than the miraculous 04-05.
Everton managed to strike together two good cup runs (League cup and Uefa Cup) which have been hard to come by in recent seasons. Chelsea were too much in the former competition, and despite a hard fought come back in the first leg, the Toffees were knocked out by a Joe Cole goal. In the Uefa Cup it was all down to the fact that Everton are based in England. If Everton were a team outside England, they would have won the penalty shootout! It is just a hoodoo most English clubs seem to have inherited from the nation.
On a less glamorous note, the Third Round exit in the FA cup must have been one of the lowest lows that all Evertonians have felt. With how the cup panned out, with all the giant killings, and a final fought between a mediocre Premier League team up against a mediocre Championship team, it really was a shame that the Blues were knocked out by League One outfit - Oldham Athletic.
Summer Activity: Sadly for Evertonians, at the time of writing, there have been no new players who have graced the Finch Farm turf since last season. The door into Goodison seems to be jammed, and only the door ‘out’ seems to be in operation! Lee Carsley has left to go to Birmingham, where his family are based. Johnson has recently left to go to Fulham and Manuel Fernandes’ loan has finished and he has returned to Valencia. Others linked recently include Joao Moutinho and Stephan M’Bai, but nothing has materialized on either front.
Key Men: As proven last year, when the Yak is fed, he will score. The Nigerian, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta provide the flair in a somewhat starless squad. The Basque playmaker and Australian socceroo were both out for long spells last year and if fit, could really have helped the Toffees to push and possibly cling onto fourth spot.
Rising Star: Young Jose Baxter, looks to be a really classy youngster. A scouser, born and bred in Liverpool, he is only 16 and has a great career ahead of him. He scored a glorious goal against Nottingham forest in pre-season, and has managed to break his way into the first team.
Jack Rodwell is another that has impressed during July, with a string of solid games, and a possibility of a starting place against Blackburn next Saturday. Other more recognizable names include James Vaughan, whose career has been blighted by injury, as well as Victor Anichebe, and finally young Dan Gosling, signed from Plymouth Argyle for one million pounds last January. He hasn’t made a start in a competitive game yet due to injury, but looked sharp in pre-season.
Manager: David Moyes has been frustrated of late at the lack of funds available at Goodison, and if he cannot secure certain signatures due to this lack of cash, he may not renew his contract. The Scot has stated however that he is close to signing a reported 60k/week deal which will last for five years. If that goes through, it would befantastic news for Evertonians as all the ‘Moyesiah,’ as dubbed by fans, has done is bring the club success.
Prospects for 08-09: Evertonians have reason to be slightly worried. Despite finishing just behind the indestructible big four, with no new ‘big name’ signings, the squad still seems somewhat weak. If key players stay fit, and the squad doesn’t start to fall apart due to an abrupt end in a cup run (Fiorentina) it could still be a respectable season for the Toffees. I reiterate, if the Yak scores, and Arteta, Cahill and Pienaar stay fit, then the Merseysiders could possibly finish above their Red neighbours and repeat the heroics of 04-05. But despite this optimism, it seems likely that Everton won’t be as successful as in recent years so reaching European competition again would be a great achievement.
Footballing World Prediction 9th
Tags: Daniel Gosling, David Moyes, Everton, James Vaughan, Mikel Arteta, Steven pienaar, Tim cahill, Victor Anichebe, Yakubu Aiyegbeni
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