ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Top Four Potential?

The new season is almost here, and for me yet again every team other than the top four is just there for a hiding by the big boys thus keeping the Asian market happy. Hope and dreams is what makes fans come back year after year, and for us a top 4 place is everything, and we're, in terms of competition, nothing untill that happens.

So, the question is, does anyone realistically think we can do it this year? It again looks like Liverpool will be the one to catch as their new signings don't seem any better than they have (though granted there's still a long way in the window to go). And if it is a yes, what will need to change from last season?

I am hopeful, but more than likely we'll be there to make up the numbers as usual and be 'pleased' with qualifying for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy of Europe - the Uefa Cup. But as I write, the possibility of over taking Liverpool to 4th is closer than ever, and that is our new season wish, and a lot more bloody likely than theirs of winning the league!
Nick Entwistle, London Posted 12/07/2008 at 09:20:23

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Stan Wooding
1 Posted 12/07/2008 at 15:21:46

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Yes, we must be in with a great chance of catching them next season-after all we got within 12 points last time and with all our summer signings........

Scott Milne
2 Posted 12/07/2008 at 15:07:25

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I think the key point is that there are still 6 weeks left in the transfer window and any number of things could happen - not only here, but at every other club in the league.

We have as good a chance as ever now to break into the top 4, Liverpool seem to have the same approach to transfers as we have - selling to buy. Have to say that their new signings so far are nothing to shout about - Degen couldn’t get into the Swiss 1st XI and I’d say that Dossena’s not any better than Valente : never mind Baines or Lescott. Read somewhere that Arsenal were throwing in a bid for Barry, so fingers crossed!... Add the fact that they’ll be without Mascherano, Lucas and Babel due to the Olympics, can see them struggling at first.

Speaking of, Arsenal seem to be a bit of a revolving door this summer, so who knows how settled and consistant they’ll be come the new season.

Don’t think anyone will be catching Chelsea or Utd, but Liverpool and Arsenal are definately going backwards : we just have to make sure that it’s Everton, not Villa, Spurs or City that are the ones to make the step up.

barry Heyes
3 Posted 12/07/2008 at 15:03:29

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This is going to be a dodgy season and I think were going to have to settle for a top ten spot or slightly higher and hopefully a few good cup runs, while we blood a couple or lots of our youngsters in to the team! The prices clubs are qouting for average players and the wage demands from them is just going crazy and they will end up bankrupting a lot of them other teams in the long run! So it’s looking like finch farm and the countries best youngsters are the way forward for us, although we do need to buy the odd class player from the transfer market, but they need to be up to the Everton only the best will do standard, and not just buy players for the sake of it!. And this club will go forward each and every season and we will be the best team in the premier again.

Adam Harris
4 Posted 12/07/2008 at 15:27:58

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Once upon a time Greece did the impossible and won the euro’s in 2004.

Blackburn have done it and it will be won by someone other than the sky 4 again.

Alan Codd
5 Posted 12/07/2008 at 15:41:17

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Unfortunately it appears billy bullshit and his lying henchmen have stripped the club of every asset it owned and we do not have a pot to piss in.
Hopefully kenwright will soon be exposed for the calamitous bungling idiot that he his and he can not live behind "hes an evertonian" crap forever.

Gavin Ramejkis
6 Posted 12/07/2008 at 16:24:15

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Adam Harris the Euros is nothing like the EPL and at the time Jack Walker bought Blackburn the league by spending a fortune amassing the best players which is exactly what the top teams do now, which is what Everton used to do back in the sixties. Blind faith in a smaller squad and what would have to be almost immortal ability to achieve fourth through no injuries and suspensions would be nice but I’m not holding my breath.

Brendan McLaughlin
7 Posted 12/07/2008 at 18:30:55

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I think next year we will have enough problems maintaining our "best of the rest" tag never mind seriously expecting to displace one the top four. Spurs shot themselves in the foot last season with their managerial problems & I would expect them to do much better this time around. Having said that, Ramos has it all to prove. I expected Aston Villa?s improvement to continue apace under Martin O?Neill but the "loss" of Barry will be a real test of O?Neill?s managerial ability. As for the rest I think it would be expecting too much of Mark Hughes to transform Man City that suddenly, Keegan won?t cut it at Newcastle & God forbid that "Appy Arry?s" lot should pip us for 5th spot.

I agree that not only do we have to improve considerably to achieve 4th but we also need one of the teams above us to go into meltdown. I have a suspicion that the most likely contender is Arsenal. They seem to be suffering some form of inner turmoil with the amount of big names looking to leave the club. Of course it would be much more satisfying if we could do it at the expense of Liverpool. Here?s hoping as far as Torres is concerned that "second season syndrome" is much more than an old adage.

Marko Poutiainen
8 Posted 12/07/2008 at 19:21:06

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We were as far away from Liverpool as they were from Manchester United. So who thinks they can challenge for the title without any new signings?

We have lost Carsley and brought in no-one. Plus we have several players missing the pre-season, some might miss the start of the season.

The small squad really showed in the latter part of last season and there have been no moves to address this issue yet, in fact it’s the opposite.

Kevin Tully
9 Posted 12/07/2008 at 19:51:02

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Nick,
The year we finished above Liverpool we lost 13 games, they lost 14. Last season we lost 11 games and Liverpool lost just 4. The Mancs won the title losing 5 games on the way. So we are a long way off 4th spot going by last seasons stats.

We need to improve our results against the "Sky Four" to come anywhere near fourth spot. Who would've thought success would mean finishing fourth ?

Steve Pendleton
10 Posted 13/07/2008 at 00:14:56

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Will need Gerrard and Torres to do an anterior cruciate to get above those pricks. Now, where’s my voodoo doll!!