ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

(not such) Great Expectations

With just a couple of weeks to go before the season gets underway, I have given myself a rest from agonising over the ground move to ponder on how we can expect to fare `on the field of play`.

I assume that the `official` aspiration will to be to hang onto a `top half` spot at all costs and the club`s lack of enthusiasm in the transfer market tends to bear out the absence of ambition to `kick on` from last season`s sixth position. We now know (because no less a luminary than Richard Scudamore admits it!) only the top four matter. It therefore figures that, apart from a `second hand` European entry via the Uefa Cup, the rest of us are playing to avoid relegation. What a prospect that offers! Sixteen managers all obsessed with `keeping a tight ship`, `working hard` and `hoping to nick one`! When we complain about the quality ? or lack of it ? that Everton dish up, we can take succour from the fact that the same suffering is routinely being inflicted on supporters of the game throughout the length and breadth of the country.

I guess it is an indication of the progess under David Moyes that Everton are no longer at short odds to go down. On the other hand, there can be little or no prospect of an improvement on last season`s 6th place slot. Indeed, without Fernandes or an adequate replacement, we will do very well to repeat it.

You will have gathered, I`m sure, that I`m not a little disenchanted by the apparent failure to build on the relative success of 2006-07 but if,as the CEO of the Premier League believes, `the rest` don`t really matter, perhaps I should be taking a much more discerning view. Clearly,`Tenth is good` is the mantra our esteamed Board accepts ? why should I be any more ambitious?
Neil Whiting, Wem Posted 26/07/2007 at 14:24:10

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Blue Karl
1 Posted 26/07/2007 at 20:43:19

Cheer up, mate! We may be a shambles off the pitch ( anyone tried renewing Evertonia or Prog sub today on-line will find it doesn’t work - again! ) but on the pitch we have good players and a good manager. There will be numbers in to bolster the squad and we have to play our part too. Top 6 again and a decent Cup run... COYB!

Barry
2 Posted 26/07/2007 at 22:56:08

Eh mate could you at least wait till the season starts before getting into doom and gloom mode over how we are going to fare. The squad that finished last season so well is strong enough to make a good start to this campaign and as we have seen in past years a good start can take you a long way.

In addition to the squad we had last year there are another two quality signings so far and reports would suggest another two or possibly three to follow. Add to that da silva, Vidarson and Boyle and we are well set to give it a go this year. Whatever happens lets at least START the campaign with a clean sheet and a positive mindset.

Remember a lot of the teams spending big are trying to catch US up. Our young team is very settled, with a system they understand and this could enable us to get out the blocks quickly while other teams are finding their feet.