The Mail Bag
Roll on 2010-11 — time to take a tilt at the title?
Comments (72)
So that's the season over then, we've given it a bloody good go in the second half to recover from our injury-ridden start (which in itself is worthy of note) but ultimately come up just a little bit short in Europe (undone by the dastardly Portugeezers) and the Premier League (what no prize for 8th).
Yet, despite this relatively mediocre final outcome and the lack of any European adventures, next year I actually think 2010-11 will represent our best chance yet to scoop some silverware and to have a genuine go at the title.
Yes, it sounds like madness, but there is some method here for 3 reasons:
1. We have a first team capable of beating anyone (Sky 4 included) This year saw us finally record some sustained results against the big boys, with wins over both Chelsea and Man Utd (and we deserved a win at the Emirates), not to mention rolling over pretenders Man City twice, deserving better against Villa twice and being robbed by Liverpool.
With Jags, Arteta and the Yak back, Heitinga and Fellaini have overcome initial issues to look like real class acts, the likes of Baines, Pienaar, Saha, Cahill all creating/scoring and Howard and Neville being pretty solid, our first team looks good; and what's more....
2. We have a half-decent squad too For once, we've got Premier League quality cover and options in virtually all positions:
- Goal: Nash, Turner or Ruddy
- Defence: Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Senderos, Coleman Midfield: Billy, Osman, Rodwell, Gosling (when fit)
- Forward: Anichebe, Vaughan
All of which means that...
3. We could have a proper, calm pre-season Granted we could still do with more pace and endeavour on the flanks (Donovan was a great addition), some less-injury prone cover up front and another left-back option... but generally we could go into a pre-season without needing to completely rebuild in the transfer market.
Also, without the qualifying rounds of the Europa League to worry about, we shouldn't get drawn into unnecessary games.
Also, compared to our nearest challengers, we have comparatively few players involved in the tiring, injury-producing clamour of the World Cup (okay - Baines, Pienaar, Howard, Cahill and Heitinga aside).
4. It should be another 'open' league Whilst many fret about the addition of extra challengers (and to be fair, they appear relatively accurate this season, considering we're going to finish 8th), I actually think this could work in our favour in terms of evening out the points and allowing more teams a crack at finishing high up.
Sure, we're not going to be improving our squad in the transfer window, but I can't see the existing teams strengthening that much either. Neither Man Utd or Liverpool will spending a fortune on players this summer due to their financial plights (especially with Liverpool losing out on CL), indeed the latter could even lose one of their 2 only real matchwinners. Abrahmovich has the cash but is less willing to splash it than he was; O'Neill's already evidently arguing with Lerner about the return for expenditure to date; and Wenger is unlikely to change his habit of a lifetime to splurge on big names.
Of course Spurs will spend serious money (seriously, where DOES it all come from?) but it's likely to mostly go on yet more promising midfielders, which just leaves Man City who WILL spend VERY big, most likely on the stars of the World Cup, and WILL improve their squad... although it's potentially only later in the season that they'll really gel.
Add all that together, take away the distraction of European football (for 1 season only hopefully), divide it by at least one inevitable disruption (Pienaar departure?) but multiply it by fans optimism leaves me with the conclusion that, with a little bit of luck, we actually really could be up there challenging for the title next season.
So COYB and roll on August!
Chris James, Posted 25/04/2010 at 17:08:10
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Must be joking.
You're wrong to speculate that we will win the title. That is obvious.
I just wonder by how many points.
Of the elite, on this season's evidence, we should have no fear. I say that in full recognition or our porous defence that I hope will be corrected. We beat Man U & Chelsea, City twice, conceded last minute equalisers away to Arsenal & Villa and were unlucky twice against a crap Liverpool team.
I don't envisage much activity at Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, Villa or even Chelsea, probably Spurs too, as they are investing in a stadium. Arsenal may lose Fabregas. Chelsea will have a very old team. There is a strong chance of Torres going if Liverpool don't get bought & buy a tilt at the title.
Stability counts for a lot. So does a good start. So here's wishing for a rapid return of the boss (Fellaini), Pienaar to repay our faith in him by re-signing, and some professional pre-season management for a change. I see Saha as playing fewer games from hereon in. I see the Yak regaining his spunk & goal boots. I anticipate good things from Anichebe, I think he has what it takes. I'd love a marauding centre forward.
At 250-1 we are most definitely worth a punt, especially on each-way. Target is 40 pts by Xmas. if that happens then it's game on.
I'm glad that we appear to be included in the group of eight teams that have broken away from the rest of the league but I'm concerned we don't have the resources to push on. Utd/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool have enough support, resources and assets to make the big purchases. Spurs and City have the cash by other means. We're on par with Villa and that's about it.
Yes we can beat any team on our day, but over 38 games this season or next season we don't have the quality or consistency to break the top four, and we don't have the money to change that.
Our aim over the next couple of years should be to make Everton a viable, investable business and to raise our international profile by performing well in Europe. We'll miss out on that next season, but maybe having fewer games to play will give us an advantage over Villa, Spurs, City?
At 250-1 ... you're wasting a pound.
Last time we won the championship (which was incidentally, only 3 years prior to them winning their last championship) it was possible for a team to come up from nowhere and do it. If memory serves me correct, the 85 championship side only used about 14 outfield players.
It is a different game now. With the big (resource) teams having a bench full of 100 grand a week players.
One benefit I see of the strengthening of the other teams is their ability to take points off the Sky 4.
Regarding our own performances - remember - this season was the first time we'd beaten Chelsea under Moyes. And we've still to do anything meaningful away. But on that score hopefully we are moving in the right direction.
I really had a sense that this could be the case during the month of death... but now, as the season closes, I've settled down a bit.
With two games to go, we are 23 points behind the league leaders, even having taken four points off them this season.
We are within our rights to speculate and I do think we will put Villa, Spurs and Liverpool in their place next season but can you imagaine what City fans are expecting of next season? They and Chelsea are talking about spunking £60m+ on Torres and, without getting into the money argument, it makes you think.
Champions League — a definite maybe. Champions? Maybe not.
Here's what's happening next season. We ARE challenging for the EPL Silverware and with every good reason. Pick the team that finishes above us this year and eliminate their same key guys we lost to injury this season. Go ahead, pick. They would go tumbling down the Table as we did. And once they got the key players fit again, back up the Table they would go. As we did.
The top slot is there for the team talented enough, and with the grit, to go take it. EFC is indisputedly talented enough. The grit TBD (Just like everyone else by the way).
The main thing is our health, re-signing Landon (He can't wait to come back), and Rodwell's blossoming. If money (it has it's place, no question) is the be-all, end-all, how did Moyes put this team together? With a shrewd eye for talent, not some owner's deep pockets. The guys we have love playing for Moyes and the Goodison faithful. This is obvious.
Injuries at a minimum is the key. We're right there. Right there. Can't wait to be part of next season's celebration. Imagine the EPL Cup being carried out to mid-field at Goodison. It's going to be fantastic.
The Sky 4 will not be any better next year and we have the potential to be much better as will City courtesy of Arab billions. I don't rate Villa and Spurs aren't consistent so why shouldn't we be in with a shout if we can strengthen the squad? OK, it'd be a tall order but at Oxford who would have seen the 85/6/7 silverware?
The thing to me is our team's health. We have everyone ready to go next season's start? Look out everyone else. Mr. Moyes has managed to build a side with minimal finance. And that side has thrown the gauntlet down for months now, even as Landon departed, others were injured, and yet others returned from injury.
I think we cannot over-estimate how Moyes has built the team. Our players are "Moyes Players". If we talk here about how he's molded the team without the benefit of major funding, does any EFC follower not understand that our players know this too? And that they have a natural, vested interest in proving Moyes proven correct?
Next season is ours. Ours. OURS!!
COYB
Landon's coming back. He's not staying at Galaxy, even if they win the title (which I expect). There's a variety of ways a deal can be brokered beyond the straight cash = player deal.
Plus, either Rodwell's a stud or he's not. Over everything, this seems to be most overlooked. I say next year is THE year for Rodwell. Why not? No comparisons to other Englanders, FFS. That's national business, not EFC's. I say the kid explodes next season.
Given good luck in the health department (same as every team), I'm coming over to witness EPL Silverware being lifted at Goodison.
COYB
Its also a double-edged sword, if the team is challenging at Christmas, the transfer window opens and our players are in the spotlight, especially as they won’t be cup-tied in Europe.
Realistically, challenge for 4th and really go for both domestic Cup competitions.
Having a full & fit squad (with no Euro distractions) from the start would this season have put us in the mix certainly for 4th possibly for the top 3 and, considering there's not much in it between them, why not a title challenge???
- Manure — without Rooney — are beatable
- Chelski — are getting older
- Arsenal — are perrenial also rans
- Liverpool — have lost the plot, not to mention probably their manager and star player.
- Citeh — are in transition
- Villa — are bottle merchants
- Spurs — have spent a hell of a lot of money and, if they don't finish 4th, won't be splashing the cash much. (Actually if they do finish 4th the bonus payments for the players will cripple them, as it did when Portsmouth won the cup.)
I say yes, we can challenge for the title next season and 250 -1 is worth a tenner of anyone's money. BELIEVE and convey that from the stands at Goodison.
If we keep everyone and have a fully fit squad and make a good start, then we can certainly be up there in the top 4. It's all going to come down to the start and avoiding injury.... another slow start and we're buggered. Arteta out for any length of time, we're buggered.
We're also relying on Saha and Yak being able to lead the line and score regularly for an entire season.
There's a lot of ifs and buts, but with a bit of luck, a bit of consistency and a decent start we're capable of a top 4 finish. I think a title challenge is optimistic, if not perhaps a little foolish — I hope to be proven wrong.
Assuming we keep the squad as it is, the challenging for the top 4 is a must. The title is a bit beyond us, but hey, I like to dream as much as the next guy! Bring on the open-top bus parade!
I've not seen any negativity on this thread... Just an avoidance of hyper-positivity.
We are all gushing about our prospects, albeit some are doing it with a healthy dose of realism.
Aside from that, we need the obvious right back (unless Coleman is good enough), right midfield and a forward. Have we got circa £20M without selling one of our star players? I doubt it... UNLESS Kenright is indeed selling club in the summer — and then Happy Days.
Watch Hibbert when he has a player willing to show for him, he always passes to him and 9 times out of 10 the pass will get to him.
His defending is not in doubt and his forward play, as shown yesterday, albeit against a lesser side, is nowhere as bad as many (including me) think it is.
Next season (as things stand) we will start with only one long term injured player:– Gosling. It's bound to make a difference.
I will only start believing that Everton are genuine top 4 material when I can look forward to trips away at Burnley, Bolton and Hull, for example, knowing that we are going to get 3 points.
Sure, on our day we can beat any other team in the division but that doesn't mean we are realistic contenders.
Without sounding too much like a depressed blue, is there not a case to say that we are actually further away from winning the league in terms of league standings when compared to the previous 3 or 4 seasons?
The other main area of weakness is with strikers. Look at the top 7 teams, virtually all of them have at least 3 proven top strikers on their books. We have two, and of them Saha can't be relied on to play more than 20-30 games a season, while Yakubu is still struggling to return to his best form. Vaughan will probably leave us this summer; Anichebe looks best when he's used as an impact sub; and Beckford (if he comes) is untested at this level. Most of our goals in recent weeks have come from midfield. The obvious problem is that we don't have the funds to bring in a big name striker, so Moyes will have to keep shopping around for those clever loan deals and promising teenagers.
Iain Love:–
Chelsea are ageing but at the weekend Ancelotti said 5 youth team players will be entering the squad and they'll be adding 2 or 3 worldies with a few going out.
City are in transition but it's a pretty dramatic one isn't it? What would we be saying on these pages if we were talking about signing a £60m+ striker...?
Agree on Villa and Liverpool – and Man Utd to an extent – but unfortunately they do have Rooney, just as at the moment LFC do have Torres and Gerrard. When we really start challenging Man Utd at Old Trafford, I'll think about writing them off.
Spurs – frightens me the amount of money they spunk up the wall without CL cash to spend so I'm praying City get 4th as the money won't make a blind bit of difference to them – to Spurs, Villa and LFC, it'll mean everything. But, all round, I think we've got better claims next year than them.
Arsenal – perennial also-rans? Had they won their games against Chelsea and Man Utd, they'd have won the league wouldn't they?
Realistically I think fans will be thinking like this for next year:
Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal – we could win the league.
City – Champions League place, depending on who comes in we could win the league
LFC - Champions League best Europa Worst, anywhere 3rd to 6th.
Spurs, Villa Everton – let's have a crack at the Top 4 but Europe is a must.
It doesn't look like we're going to get into Europe next year now... will that mean we lose Pienaar and others? Will it mean no-one will want to come our way?
It's been a funny old year... the Sky 4 have each lost between 6 and 8 games this season which is 3 times more than you can usually to win the league – is that a blip or is it a portent of things to come? Hopefully for ours and football's sake, it's the start of a trend, I just hope we don't look back at the season as a chance which we missed out on big time to get into that club.
In effect, we gave the other teams a start and it was a case of playing catch-up. Going into this season, we had four long-term injured players – but that was something that we knew even before the 2008-09 season ended. It was therefore vital that we brought in players as our squad was depleted. However, we didn't do anything, as I stated earlier, until virtually the close of the transfer window.
The last couple of seasons we have managed to get away with very poor pre-seasons in terms of adding to the squad. I am sure that there were many anxious Evertonians scanning the football press & football news websites for any indiactions of new players coming in. I don't think that we can afford to have a third successive pre-season of leaving all our transfer dealings to the last minute.
Compare the reactions of Arsenal and Everton last summer when the new "Rich Kids On the Block" Man Citeh came flashing the cash to buy themselves a Centre Back or two. Everton tried to resist and drag the situation out whilst Arsenal reluctantly accepted the reality of the situation – they accepted the money for Toure and gave themselves several weeks time in which to bring in a replacement/replacements.
In contrast, once the Lescott situation was sorted, we had about 2 weeks before the end of the transfer window. Distin and Heitinga are good signings in my opinion, but wouldn't you have liked to see them at Everton for the start of the 2009-10 season? And wouldn't it have been great to have had Heitinga available for the Europa League matches?
So come on Mr Moyes and Mr Kenwright — get your acts together and start the planning for 2010-11 now!!!
I don't think we're nearly good enough to tilt at the title, but I do agree we have a realistic shot at third or especially fourth IF everything goes perfectly for us. Not playing in Europe next year is likely to help us, as long as we can convince our players to stick with us. We also ideally need to add a quick winger and a striker and left back.
Most importantly we need to get lucky and avoid lengthy injuries to our key players (Arteta above all, but also Howard, Baines, and Pienaar in particular).
Even then, we probably also need other teams to falter. Tottenham, City, Liverpool and Villa all have squads about as good as ours in my opinion, and City and Spurs in particular are likely to add players. We have to hope their new signings don't work out and that they hopefully pick up a few key injuries (it's got to be someone else's turn!). If we can catch a bit of the rub of the green, we'll have a real chance.
Game on!
They are the 2 weaknesses that need addressing over the summer; the scoring more goals situation requires some more pace to be introduced into the side.
Imagine any team without their top scorer, best defender, and best midfielder. We were also without Neville for a long period; whatever his attributes as a player, he is our only leader on the pitch who is able to organise the team. (Heitinga may be able to take this on next season though.)
Fellaini had a virus at the beginning of the season and lost a stone in weight. We had the Lescott saga, and we had to bed in Bily, Distin and Heitinga. Our bench was full of untried kids, and we also suffered some shitty luck in the first few games, along withy the confidence sapping 6-1 defeat on the opening day.
We can't possibly have the same injury list or bad luck in the last couple of games, and I hope we don't send Bainesy or Jags to the World Cup. If Pienaar goes, well fuck him. Apart from Rooney, no player has gone on to better things after leaving us lately. We will give a few people a fright next season, and I hope we knock Liverpool down another peg or two.
I am not bothered about new signings. If we keep our current squad fit, we are still four players better off than the start of this campaign.
We need a striker that gets in amongst them a la Andy Gray. Both Yak and Saha are bleeding static when good crosses come in. Cahill will do it but we need a more aggressive, clinical finisher up there. Let's face it, that's why we are 8th this time — too many wasted chances and bad last passes have let us down.
THAT'S why we are behind the RS. We have played better than them for most of the season, but just don't cut in the the last phase. A big problem that has to be addressed before next season. What we do not need is another right back!!!
Without our best ball player and playmaker we've been frequently starved of quality posession in the middle of the park. Yak is only now beginning to recover his fitness from that chronic ankle injury, and Saha has also been injured. If all those three can get and stay fully fit for most of the season, we've got the players to score a lot of goals.
I do agree we could do with another good quality striker as cover though. Saha is quality but is likely to pick up niggling injuries especially if over-played, it's unclear whether or not Yak will regain his full sharpness, and 'm still not convinced Anichebe has got what it takes to lead the line on his own.
James Flynn, you are my kind of Evertonian. Don't be depressed by TW negativity. There are many on here who would bitch if we won the EPL next year and the CL the following year. We have a lot to be positive about.
Add a "Donovan" on the right and a Bellamy up front and we could be in business.
Robbie Keane? I wouldn't say no...
Any idea what price is on Donovans head?
I've never seen an actual number mooted for Donovan. All I've ever heard is Moyes say that he would cost much more than you would expect, and more than what all but a few Premier League clubs could afford (ie, not including us). Which suggests a figure well in excess of £10m, maybe more than £15m. Probably the exchange rate doesn't help currently..! But who knows...
A couple of things we don't necessarily need, but would be nice: a pacy right winger, how much would it take LA Galaxy to sell Donovan and would we have the money? If not, could we at least get him on another 10-week loan?
If we do have some money, a striker is the most important. The jury is still out on Yakubu and anything we get out of Saha is a bonus. Both those reasons apply to Vaughan and I'm not convinced Anichebe and Baxter are going to make it in the long run at GP. Soldado would be a good bet but I'm not sure Moyes will have any money this summer. A bargain basement striker would be ideal if Moyes can find another rabbit in that hat.
Also, keep hold of the players we do have, Pienaar (Bosman or not), Rodwell, Fellaini, etc need to stay for next season.
I think we can and should aim for the title, but anything in the top 4 will be deemed a success.
Lastly, a little bit of luck would be nice, no more long-term injuries (Gosling already!) and some fair referees for the derby matches, and you just never know...
But what has been great this year is it is no longer talk about how many Everton players would get in the united team , oh no , this year people ask how many united players would get in our team ....and for the first time for years I can look the RS fans at work in the eye and say that our team is better....and mean it , and detect a worried little laugh that follows....bloody lovely!!!.....COYB !
But what has been great this year is it is no longer talk about how many Everton players would get in the United team, oh no... this year people ask how many United players would get in our team.
And for the first time for years I can look the RS fans at work in the eye and say that our team is better.... and mean it, and detect a worried little laugh that follows.... bloody lovely!!!.....COYB !
If we are going to have a realistic chance of the top 4 next season we need a new decent striker. Saha will be a year older and as good as he is on his day, we're not going to get more than half a season out of him.
Also James Flynn, there are a lot of similarities between Everton and the red sox so I'd recommend people follow them if they've any interest in baseball.
Two words - 'perspective' and 'consistency'.
Everton win the title every 24 years & next season it's time to do it again.
Yes I'm being optimistic and putting the other teams down and bigging us up. I'm a fucking fan and I'd be well pissed if Moyes was saying that to the players.
As a realist / outside pundit I'd say Everton will again be one of the teams challenging for a Euro place but risk being left behind by the money spent by our rivals.
But I'm not, I'm a fan who thinks with a full and fit team with some additions like Donovan, who I suspect wants to come back to us and play against some of the best teams in the world and fucking WIN instead of USA shit unrecognised league.
N'Zogbia is the best player outside the top 8 and, IF Pienaar goes, a cheap alternative. Bellamy may be a cunt but lets face it so is Rooney / Drogba / Ronaldo. And would be a loan signing with bags of pace and proven Prem ability. Come on, this is a fans' forum — not a pessimists one; want that, support Villa.
My point is though, we don't win the title EVERY 24 years. A good example is 85 and 87. That's a 2-year gap.
This every 24 year thing is just a pattern.
It's a nice idea we will win the league every 24th year, but if we do, it will be more down to the quality of players and manager than some old wive's tale.
I've got £50 with a mate we finish Top 4, I'll be having £50 on it with a bookie when the odds come out for Top 4 and have already put £10 e/w on is winning the league at 250/1.
So I'm putting my money where my mouth is re: where I think we'll finish to the tune of £120 (to date — I'm sure there'll be more to follow).
Considering likely to finish 8th this season I'd say that was pretty optimistic betting.
How much are you putting on us winning the league?
God knows what your "go and support Villa comment was supposed to mean" by the way. Lost.
I note you have picked up on the fact that Everton have also won the title during seasons other than "every 24th year"; however, that also forms a pattern of sorts in relation to the 24 year rule, insofar as, between our 24-yearly wins, we either win the title twice or not at all, on an alternating basis. As you can see:-
1891
No title success until
1915
Two "non-24 yearly" title wins in 1928 & 1932
1939
No title success until
1963
Two "non-24 yearly" title wins in 1970 & 1985
1987
No title success until
... 2011?
So not only can we expect to win the title next season & again in 2035, but we should also win it twice in between. Hopefully, Liverpool will still be awaiting their next league success at that point!
As for the Villa comment, their fans are so pessimistic, it's untrue. Maybe that's why they are bottle merchants, ie positive thinking.
Again, sorry mate.
Our minds are designed to see patterns in everything, but they don't form rules. Next season we have a 1/20 chance (without taking anything else into account) in winning the league. The fact that we won the league 24 years ago doesn't change that. The hard work still needs to be done!
There doesn't seem to be an argument amongst us that Moyes has put together a talented side. Maybe this guy or that, but overall a talented side.
The talent has been proven with wins or top sides used to EFC as cannon-fodder or at least a guaranteed 3 points on the schedule. No win against the top teams was a fluke. They were ready and came at us and were beaten.
The only thing not proven was finishing off a lesser side or a team above us we had outplayed. Here's the difference this season between us and those at the top, absolutely the difference between us and the 4 teams immediately above us. Like the rest here, I'm not in the locker room or at the practices. My belief is that the players well know they should have finished higher this season. That the quality of their play the second half of the season should have yielded better results in the Table. I also believe they'll come out next season determined to eliminate this problem.
Everything (especially injuries) being even, finishing teams off (grit, killer instinct) is where we have to step up next season. I just feel we're going to do it. It's the last step to winning a title. Yeah I'm optimistic. Everything I see signals I should be. I'm also a realist. We have to finish teams off. I think we will.
In fact, since some of most severe "realists" here feel 4th place is attainable, what's the big difference between your "realism" and the expectations of us "hyper optimists"? If you can get 4th in an ultra-competitive league, for Goodison's sake, you can lift the Silverware.
Come on, we all feel it. Next season's going to be exciting for us. It's there to be had and we can take it.
Everton are going to win the League in 2011. I feel sure of it now!
(BTW James Flynn, we don't call it a Cup... it's the League Trophy.)
It's not a matter of "feeling" we'll win and having the "positive waves" influence our standing this time next year (Yet we all accept home field advantage as a very real thing. Hmmm).
It's looking at what we have when healthy and what we've done. Who's been better the second half of this season? And that's with our leaving points on the field we should have taken.
We can win it all next season based on how we've played with (most) everyone healthy lately. Do we need good health? Yes. A bit of good luck. Yes. Finishing lesser teams off we've out-played? We won't top the Table without those points.
But we have the side to get it done. That, I'm positive of.
We all want the best for the club and I think we'd agree that if can strengthen in the right places, start well, maintain consistentcy and get the results against the Sky 4 we got this year but deservedly beat LFC this time - all of which are more than realistic - then anythings possible next season.
Take it easy - and as always - COYB!
Moyes has severe limitations as a manager, which has been pointed out many times on this site. Fundamentally, he doesn't have the tactical nous to compete at the highest level. We are also burdened with his allegiance to players like Neville and Cahill who are not part of a Championship winning outfit.
It's also foolish to think we won't pick up injuries. Look at what happened to Arsenal. Injuries to a few key players and they were out of the game.
Methinks, we'd be lucky to finish in the Top 4 next season.
You gave every description of a side destined for relegation, yet still mentioned Top 4 "with luck". Either pull your EFC tail out from between your legs or admit you're some other team's fan in here to play around. We're good enough to win it all. Will we? Let's see what happens. Just like Manu, Chelsea, etc fans will have to see. EFC is as good as any of em. Any of em!!
Why should the choice be relegation or winning the league? Of course, we all hope to win the league, the Champions League and the World Club Championship all in one year, a la Barcelona. Would you bet your house and your mother's house on it happening? No.
We have severe limitations that will prevent us from making the move into the highest levels. Unless those weaknesses can be eliminated, we will struggle to compete with the big boys.
The only difference I see is that in my mind if we're good enough for Big 4 (again, I'm part of a large group believing that, you included), we're good enough to lift the League Trophy in the air this time next year. How great of a difference is that really? You can't call that maniacal. You'd be as happy as me, if not more, watching the Trophy being lifted at Goodison next season.
If we were Newcastle United fans and I was talking this way about next season, maniacal would apply to what I'm saying. But what I'm saying is I've seen the same thing as everyone else in 2010. We have the talent.
With some good luck no question (every winning team gets some), particularly with injuries and general good health, and our yougsters' continued improvements, we have as good a chance as any of the 7 teams above us to win the thing in 2011. After all, none of us here think ManU, Chelsea, Arsenal, etal are better than us now. Besides, this season is the last kick of the so-called "Sky 4" era.
Anyway Dale, you say 4th "with luck" and I'm saying, with luck, lifting the Trophy. 4th aint bad in a league who's top half is stacked. But 4th is at the lower end of our capability. We've done 4th recently. We now have the guys to win it all next season. I'm here saying it and will continue to do so.
I think Moyes has assembled the team that knew this season would be a great one, then bodies starting dropping and here we are in 8th. All the points missed 2010? We're pissed off and the players have to be furious. They KNOW they're better than everyone else.
I've never been to England, let alone Liverpool. What's the best hotel Everton-wise? My job keeps me on the road internationally. If I can, I want to be at Goodison this time next year. The tumult, the pandemonium! How exciting! I know there are some here who've seen trophies lifted for EFC. There's millions of us who haven't and I'm one.
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1 Posted 25/04/2010 at 22:32:45
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By the way, you've forgotten about Mucha the keeper.