2013 — A Pivotal Year?

As it is that time of year, a time when we all sit back and reflect on what has gone before us and what awaits us in the future, I thought I would attempt to quantify where Everton are and where we are going to be.

Thirteen years prior to the end of the 20th Century, Everton were Champions of England; now, on the threshold of the thirteenth year into the 21st Century, what is the future for Everton FC and its supporters?

There is little doubt that this season has given us plenty of hope but also a few serious concerns. Sixth place at the end of the calender year and still within a few tantalising points of CL qualification is undoubtedly a sign that progress has been made. However, for all the good points won against Tottenham and Man Utd or Arsenal and Man City, there are those lost points against Reading or Fulham or QPR and Norwich to consider.

Goalscoring has not been a particular problem, although there have been many chances spurned and fortune has not always favoured us, it is the defence which has been strangely out of sorts for many of this season’s fixtures.

Even during today’s game when the defence generally played well, chances were given and chances were taken by the opposition. This inability to keep a clean sheet has in many ways hamstrung our season and it is quite unbelievable that a David Moyes team could be so averse to keeping the ball out of its own net.

What was shown today, and what many have been aware of, is the lack of quality in depth that Moyes has at his disposal. If you count today’s starting 11 and those who were unavailable to participate, that makes 17 players.

Out of those 17 players, Hitzlsperger and possibly Anichebe would not ordinarily be in Everton’s strongest starting 11 so that means a squad of 15 decent first-teamers to choose from. Even that 15 includes Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville and Darron Gibson. Hibbert and Gibson are too often unavailable due to injury and Phil Neville is probably past his sell-by date.

Take them three out of the equation and we are left with a paltry 12 players who you could say were good enough to be trusted with a first-team outing. When you add in Mirallas’s injury problems, that leaves us with 11 players: Howard, Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavic, Naismith, Coleman, Mirallas.

So it is a minor miracle that we are anywhere near the top 4 — never mind with an outside chance of actually claiming a place in that elite group.

But what does the future hold for the Club and the team? Well, your guess is as good as mine; can David Moyes continue to squeeze out every possible point between now and season’s end with a threadbare squad?

Will he and our top quality players continue to ply their trade at Goodison Park, when they could be showing off their positive attributes in an altogether different environment? Will progress be made off the pitch?

Given the character of the man, I’m pretty sure that David Moyes would love to lead Everton to the promised land and I would bet that most of if not all of his players would also be of that mind.

But for how long will their collective patience be tested, they are ultimately professional people who have a duty to themselves to perform at the highest level attainable and unlike us fans can leave if and when they see fit.

So another fan of Everton FC, Bill Kenwright, who some have spoken of as Mr Everton Mk 2 – John Moores was the first – has a real problem on his hands. How does he manage to keep his most valuable asset, ie, David Moyes onside and simultaneously convince the star players to remain at Goodison Park?

To be honest, he has probably used up all the good wiil he ever had in the past few years, so a charm offensive is unlikely to bear much fruit... So what else could convince them that Goodison Park is the place to earn their living? Apart from strict hard cash – and he doesn’t have that in abundance – there is little else that could be used in his negotiations.

They all know of Everton’s specialness: the fans... the humour... the passion... the family atmosphere.

So 2013 is nearly upon us; whilst I’m pretty sure it will be the usual roller-coaster ride of emotions with its fair share of highs and lows, it does look as if it will be a pivotal year in the long and proud history of Everton Football Club.

I hope that all Evertonians and Everton have a healthy and prosperous 2013.

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