Premier League preview: Everton
The blue half of Merseyside always begin the season slowly and come good towards the end.
Manager David Moyes will do everything in his power to ensure they have a strong start to this season, and now the next step for Moyes is to bring a trophy to Goodison Park.
The Toffees pose a good threat on the attack and look solid defensively, but they should do better than last season’s eighth position in the league. There’s no European football this season, and if a trophy doesn’t come, then getting into Europe will be a realistic aim.
Keeping his players fit will be key to the kind of season Everton will have. Talking of key players, the news that Mikel Arteta has committed his future to the club for the next five years will be a major boost for Moyes.
Most of the attacks go through the Spaniard, and he was sorely missed for the first half of last season after being sidelined with a long-term injury. Also, the signing of Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov proved to be a shrewd one last season, and he took on the mantle of playing goal creator in Arteta’s absence. The two played together when Arteta returned, and this season they will create a lot of chances for their teammates.
Arteta was wanted by several clubs this summer, but now that he has his future sorted, it is up to Moyes to keep hold of the likes of Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar. Both are pivotal to the club, and it would be difficult to replace them should they leave. Pienaar has been solid in many of his games for Everton, and tying him down to a new deal would be a major signing for the Toffees.
Jagielka was one of Everton’s star men a couple of seasons ago after struggling to get into the team since his move from Sheffield United. The competition for places in the defence is fierce, with Sylvain Distin, Jagielka, John Heitinga and Joseph Yobo all fighting to be the regular centre-backs. Yobo and Disitn are experienced campaigners, but Jagielka, who is attracting the interest of Arsenal, should be the man to partner Distin in defence.
One of the smallest players in the Premier League always grabs so many headers, and if Tim Cahill doesn’t score more than one header this season it would be something of a disaster.
Something Everton may have needed over the years is someone who can score plenty of goals.
Louis Saha has tried, and so has Yakubu, but none can stay fit or perform on a consistent basis. The purchase of Jermaine Beckford from Leeds United, who scored 31 times in over 50 games last season, could be the man to fit the bill.
The emergence of Jack Rodwell will no doubt please the fans, and like Arteta, he also committed his future to the club. The highlight of his career will no doubt have been scoring his first league goal against Manchester United in last season’s 3-1 win at Goodison Park. Expect him alongside Marouane Fellaini to form a strong partnership in midfield.
As an Everton fan, the aim is always to beat Liverpool on derby day and do better than the Anfield outfit at the end of the season. A break into the top four is a step too far for them, but be sure of a top-eight finish once again for Moyes’ men.
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