This could be Everton's year
This could well be the season that Everton finally realise their ambitions of breaking back into the top four bracket in top division of English football. After their first, brief entry into the Champions League in 2005 following a fourth-place finish the season before, David Moyes’ men have always threatened to return to the continental competition without quite managing to do so.
However, the way they have started this campaign is promising. The wily Moyes has pulled off during pre-season what he always does: a miracle. With limited economic resources, Moyes has managed to strengthen an already strong squad.
Even though he let go off a stalwart like Tim Cahill and an upcoming talent in Jack Rodwell, he plugged the lack of creative talent in his midfield by signing back permanently the South African Steven Piennar. Following the acquisition of Nikica Jelavic in January, he further bolstered his frontline by picking up the exciting young Belgian Kevin Mirallas, who was sensational against Swansea on Saturday.
And playing away from home at the Liberty Stadium, a ground where the best of sides come unstuck, Everton showed just how good a team they are. Keeping Swansea penned into their half with a very good ball retention strategy, the Blues dominated for large parts of the first period, eventually taking the lead through Victor Anichebe.
Even though the Swans managed to get back into the game for a brief while, Everton’s experienced backline, led brilliantly by the American Tim Howard, rode out the danger before roaring back with a spectacular counter-punch goal.The defence to attack nature of that goal was a particular testament to the way Everton played on the day.
Following an Everton corner and with Phil Jagielka out of position up the field, captain Phil Neville fell back into defence to plug the gap left by the centre-back. Neville picked a Swansea lofted ball intended for Michu and from near the corner flag looked up to spot Marouane Fellaini near the 18-yard box. Receiving the ball from his skipper, the Belgian turned and jogged into the space in front of him before releasing Pienaar down the right flank with a delightful through ball.
Pienaar raced onto the pass and did not hesitate for a second before playing in Mirallas down the centre. The forward in turn tried to place a first-time effort past Michel Vorm, with the deflection off the Swansea keeper taking the ball onto the bar, with Mirallas making certain of scoring by diving in and heading the ball into the back of the net.
Everton have everything that a side looking to make a push for the Champions League places needs. On any given day, Howard is among the best keepers in the league, and has one of the most experienced defensive backlines in England in front of him. Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are a solid centre-back pairing and they have another sensational defender in Johnny Heitinga ready to fill in, like he did in the Swansea game, if needed.
Barring Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines is the best left-back in the country whether it be at defending or going forward to provide an extra man on attack and whip in delightful crosses. Tony Hibbert or Seamus Coleman provide solid options on the right to complete the backline.
With the guile of Leon Osman and Pienaar, the world class huffing, puffing and muscling of Fellaini and the pace of Anichebe and Mirallas up front, Everton have an immensely efficient outlet ahead of their defence, with an ability to press forward quickly or release pressure by hoofing high balls up front.
With experienced internationals like Darron Gibson, Jelavic, Steven Naismith and others waiting in reserve, Everton do not have to fear too much about attrition levels as well. Keeping in mind that Everton are a club that historically gets stronger in the second half of the season, things should only get better from here on.
Since taking over at Everton in 2001, Moyes had finished 15th, 7th and 17th in the League before a drastic improvement saw them leap up to fourth in 2004-05. A disappointing 11th-placed finish the year later was soon wiped away with a UEFA Cup spot in 2007 achieved by finishing sixth in the table. Two further fifth-placed finishes were then yet again followed by the relative lows of eighth, seventh and seventh the last three years.
However, right through that last period, Everton started the season in tatters, often finding themselves near the relegation zone before seemingly rising from the ashes post-December. This time around, they have made a fabulous start, picking up 10 points from their first five games. And with ties against Southampton and Wigan Athletic coming up, they have a very good chance to keep this strong run going.
If that does turn out to be the case, Moyes’ men, with one of the lowest budgets in the Premier League, could well find themselves in the dizzying heights of Champions League football yet again next year. That would then also mean that their big stars like Fellaini, Baines, and Jagielka would all stay, further allowing Moyes to build an eventual championship-challenging side.