Everton in Europe

It’s been a difficult few weeks for Everton fans, taking in the torturous fightback from Manchester United last week and qualification for yet another European final for their rivals across Stanley Park. Liverpool may be set for another stab at the trophy they’ve already won five times (just in case you haven’t heard them mention that before), but on Saturday evening Evertonians had their own adventure on the continent to plan now that they are practically assured of a place in next season’s Uefa Cup. The tournament may not boast the glamour, razzmatazz and certainly not the money of it’s bigger brother, but for club starved of success looking to re-establish itself on the big stage it is a welcome boost. The gulf financially between the top teams and the rest has never been greater and with the increased TV and European competition cash the big clubs will continue to pull the ladder up behind them. In a season where all of the competitions were monopolised by the ‘big four’, Everton’s finish at the top of the ‘best of the rest’ table on a realistic budget is to be commended.

Despite qualifying for the Champions League two seasons ago and more early cup exits this time around, this has been David Moyes’ best season as Everton manager. There is flair, determination and a balance about the side and unlike previous seasons it is easy to select the best eleven players which is always the mark of a good team. Unfortunately, due to injuries to key personnel like Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson at different periods of the season and the (supposed) unavailability of Tim Howard against his previous employers this has not always been possible, but Everton are a match for anyone with their first choice team on the pitch. The lack of players available to Moyes has led to promising cameos from James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe but when you’re called to bring on Andy Van der Meyde or James Beattie to find a goal, it suggests a squad as deep as a paddling pool. With more players to call on in cases of injury or in requirement of fresh ideas the gap between Everton and Arsenal and Liverpool, two sides that Everton took four points off this year, would not be as dramatic as the league table suggests.

Moyes’ prudent transfer policy has earned him the ‘dithering Dave’ moniker in the past, but his recruitment this season has been exemplary. Andy Johnson provided much needed pace and firepower in front of goal and established himself as a fans favourite for his contribution to the home wins over Liverpool and Arsenal amongst others and Tim Howard was the safe pair of hands in goal that the Toffees just weren’t going to get with Richard Wright. But it is the much less heralded signing of Joleon Lescott has proved to be Moyes’ masterstroke, playing anywhere across the defence and looking like he’s been doing it for years rather than spending his entire career in the second tier of English football. Talk of dodgy knees and inexperience meant little and while mention of a transfer window move to Real Madrid may have been premature but the defender would not look out of place in any team in the league.

Everton cannot realistically challenge for the Uefa Cup next season with the squad they currently possess. Getting rid of the dead wood such as Beattie, van der Meyde and Wright and keeping hold of Arteta, Yobo, Lescott, Cahill and Johnson is a priority but the squad overall must be improved in the summer. The disastrous Champions League campaign of two seasons ago will have taught Moyes some hard lessons and unlike that summer money will be thrown at the wrong players indiscriminately. Joey Barton, the enfant terrible of the Premiership and boyhood Evertonian is talked about seriously as an arrival but it must be considered if his considerable talent is worth the squad disruption that will inevitably follow. Everton must also ask themselves if they are prepared to sign a player who assaulted a teenage fan in Thailand. Another Huyton born Evertonian, David Nugent has been mentioned as a partner for Andy Johnson but even that poses a problem as a challenge to Moyes’ favoured 4-5-1 formation. Whatever happens, David Moyes has performed well this season and is deserving of every Evertonian’s trust again this summer.

Edit: published on ToffeeWeb.