Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Another Strong Second Half?
By Scott Brady :: 10/01/2012
25 Comments (»Last)
It is fair to say that Everton are known throughout the entire Barclay?s Premier League as being notoriously slow starters. The 2011-12 season has seemed to follow all the symptoms of yet another Toffees slow start, having only won 7 of the 19 games so far. Now that Everton are once again at a halfway point of another Premier League season, the time is now to question can David Moyes shape another strong second half for the Toffees?
In fact the previous last three Premier League seasons have seen Everton noticeably improve in the second half. As these statistics show;
- 2010-11 Season: 22 points after 19 games; 54 points after 38 games ? improved by 10 points in second half of season.
- 2009-10 Season: 22 points after 19 games; 61 points after 38 games ? improved by 17 points in second half of season.
- 2008-09 Season: 29 points from 19 games; 63 points from 38 games ? improved by 5 points in second half of season.
Secondly, a new January signing or the introduction of a new young talent. Both of these undoubtedly give a boost not only Everton supporters but also to the players. An example of two January signings that made huge impacts in previous seasons at Goodison Park are American International Landon Donovan and Brazilian striker Jo. In the instance of Donovan his return this season could aid Moyes in gaining another strong second-half finish. Furthermore equally an introduction of a young talent has in previous seasons helped freshen up Everton. An example could be the rise of Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell in the middle part of the 2008-09 season. The two youngsters breathed excitement among supporters and players and another introduction of young talent could be the way forward for David Moyes once more.
Thirdly, the trademark improvements in the second half of the season for Everton could also be attributed to the fact that other Premier League teams may play a larger number of games in a season. As many Premier League teams due to commitments/ progression in other competitions such as, Champions League, Europa League, and the FA Cup, end up playing quite a few more number of games. Therefore Everton players may have an edge in terms of fitness and sharpness in the second half of the season as other teams could end up playing more games and in quicker succession. In fact, Everton only played 44 games (excluding friendlies) last season which must have been in the bottom half of the total amount of games a Premier League side had played.
So is it possibly for David Moyes to shape yet another strong second half of the season? If you were answering looking at the evidence of the past three seasons, it would be a resounding yes. However, the 2011-12 season could be seen as being heavily different from the past three. For one, it is now well documented the club have financial problems, Secondly, lack of severe investments could hamper any significant improvements in January. Thirdly, over the last three years, the club has lost top players in the form of Pienaar, Lescott, and Arteta which can only make a possible Everton trademark resurgence in the second half of the season even harder for David Moyes?s side.
But, aside from David Moyes?s team now having a larger and steeper rock face to climb on the mountain of improvement, the three possible reasons for improvement that have served the club so well in previous seasons can still be achieved. In the likes of Landon Donovan returning, the possible chance of putting in youngsters in the shape of Duffy and Gueye and Barkley, the "let?s prove everyone else wrong" mentality, and the fresher the team could be in comparison with other Premier League clubs, gives David Moyes and his team the opportunity to shape yet another strong second half of the season.
Reader Comments (25)
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2 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:03:33
they are stupid stats because if we only get 5 points in first half then of course we will improve on the first half of the season (id like to hope)
3 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:05:23
4 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:08:26
Why are they stupid stats?
They are factsand prove that in the last 3 seasons we have been more productive, points wise, in the second half. Suprisingly like our matches, when we score more after half time. Maybe Moyes plans it that way!
5 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:17:45
6 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:18:42
Read my point again.
What is your point?
7 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:25:06
Think we'll struggle to get past the 40 points mark, personally - all this could have been foreseen with the strike force that we started this season with.
8 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:32:11
9 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:57:21
Can anyone tell me who's replaced them.
Thought not.
In terms of the Medieval Dark ages of Europe circa 5th to 10th centurary a.d. can anyone tell me that Everton is not wollowing in this particular time zone.
If you dont believe what I'm saying then ask the illuminati, hee hee. Fuck it at 54 years of age as if I give a shit.......!
10 Posted 10/01/2012 at 23:28:20
"They are facts and prove that in the last 3 seasons we have been more productive, points wise, in the second half. Suprisingly like our matches, when we score more after half time. Maybe Moyes plans it that way!"
My point - "if we only get 5 points in first half then of course we will improve on the first half of the season" - meaning obviously we will be more productive in the second half.
What a waste of time.
11 Posted 10/01/2012 at 23:33:17
12 Posted 10/01/2012 at 23:36:25
It's like saying cos there's not been an accident on the M6 since 1970 then the M6 is the safest road on the planet! But the Gubmint sorts out crashes on the M6.
I know conspiracy etc, having said that, who operated the camera that followed the Lunar lander when it took off from the moon's surface? Maybe it was the guy on the grassy knowl. :-)
13 Posted 10/01/2012 at 23:47:20
14 Posted 10/01/2012 at 23:56:27
Then we get an easy cup-tie like Reading last year, the expectation becomes high again & the players don?t deliver. Personally I suspect that it?s the fear of making a mistake that?s affecting too many of our players ? this of course comes down from our manager.
I would also add to your point about the fitness levels of EFC players. Moyes is generally pretty good at getting 100% effort out of his players (Saha is the exception), but at the start of the season most clubs are putting 100% effort in, so we struggle. As the season wears on, some of the teams don?t compete as much, for one reason & another, and our effort then becomes a major factor.
15 Posted 11/01/2012 at 00:24:48
16 Posted 11/01/2012 at 00:09:28
#316 Dean Adams ? happy you found it of interest!
#366 John Cox ? I agree with your point on lack of creativity and we simply have not replaced Arteta and Pienaar!
#381 Brian Donnelly ? thank you for presenting some very interesting points.
I do believe that my second-to-last paragraph does show my strongest feelings about the situation of the club, and how this year a strong second half on the season could be unlikely.
17 Posted 11/01/2012 at 01:02:04
18 Posted 11/01/2012 at 04:36:24
19 Posted 11/01/2012 at 04:37:16
20 Posted 11/01/2012 at 05:52:02
21 Posted 11/01/2012 at 08:57:49
22 Posted 11/01/2012 at 10:47:36
Barkley and Vellios are along with Gueye our only hope for a good finish to the season.
Gueye and Vellos up front with Barkley in the middle alongside Fellaini.
Suddenly it all looks bright, but thatdepends wheter Moyes will play these huys enough so that they can make a difference.
The first half we hardly saw Barkley and Vellios., and Gueye has just recently been allowed to start games.
Moyes, Do it right!!!!
23 Posted 11/01/2012 at 16:00:57
24 Posted 11/01/2012 at 22:44:51
25 Posted 12/01/2012 at 09:29:59
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1 Posted 10/01/2012 at 22:03:04
Answer
NO