Disappointed but optimistic

If last night was a disappointment, it is only a sign of how far we have come.

Five years ago Evertonians would have been ecstatic at reaching a Carling Cup semi-final, never mind sitting in fourth place in the league and looking good in Europe but Moyes has given Toffees the license to dream beyond mid-table consolidation.

Everton are not in a false position in the league but their results against the teams immediately above them have demonstrated the massive gulf in quality that exists in the Premiership.

Some before the game suggested that if ever there was a chance to end the Chelsea hoodoo (it’s now eight years since we beat them), it would be in the semi-final at Goodison. They were missing Terry, Lampard, Essien, Mikel and Drogba and were apparently not the force they were under Mourinho.

In reality, they came up against a supposedly makeshift side that had a centre half who probably cost more than the entire Everton team combined. They were resilient in defence and exhilarating when they counter attacked, swarming forward like bees in those hideous illuminous shirts. They are probably the best team to play at Goodison this year but when they can dip into the market for an emergency £15m striker, it’s the very least you would expect. Avram Grant was meant to be a regressive step and yet Chelsea look a much more convincing side even if the ’sexy football’ that was promised has not quite arrived.

Everton have hit the glass ceiling in fourth place as they struggle to make the leap towards the elite and the regular Champions League football that entails. Foreign investment would be the obvious solution given that all of the clubs challenging at the top are owned by foreign billionaires but there is no guarentee that this will work as evidenced across the park with Statler and Waldorf at Anfield.

 

‘The fans are revolting!’
‘Yeah, we knew that already’

Everton’s best bet is to stick by David Moyes and to stick by Bill Kenwright who although he has had criticism, has allowed Moyes to build a challenging football team within the club’s meagre budgets.

My only hope is that last night will not make our talented nucleus of players believe that winning trophies is now beyond us. Rome was not built in one Carling Cup campaign. We’re getting closer.