Not enough mental toughness to win ugly a la Man U; no matter how avarage they play always have the ability to get past the line.

Imagine us with a top class center mid with presence, mobility & who can play, and lets say someone like Yakubu pre achillies or Demba Ba up top. Someone who can net 20 from lone striker.

Top four no problem.

However glass ceiling rules are in place and the necessary increase in transfer budget and wages isn't in our scope the way we operate.

The big miss is the 15- 20 league goals man. "He" is gold dust and would turn some of those draws into wins. They can turn an indifferent performance into 3 points and get you out of jail. Thats why, in the main, they cost. Unless there is a miracle free knocking about.

As it stands we finish about where we should. You basically need 70 points to finish in the top 4 and we just don't quite have enough.

Why? 14 draws thats why.

Some of the draws were down to Reffs, some down to mistakes, some were due to sitting back on a lead, some were just in the shit happens catagory.

But the real reason, especially in the 2nd half of the season was lack of real investment in the last 2 windows.

14 draws, win say 4, not a lot in the grand scheme of things and we are up there. Win only 2, Vs Spurs and Arsenal and thats a net gain of 8 points and it's all in our own hands.

All for the want of a nail....it was that close, Kenwight, that close.

I know that Moyes has done a good job, but I wonder what a manager with the vision of Dortmund's could have done.

Three areas I would like strenghtened:

1. Goalkeeper. Jack Butland should have been bought but I'd settle for McCarthy from Reading.
2. Midfielder. James McCarthy of Wigan – good player, I like him a lot. Also, I would like Honda from Moscow but I don't think this is a runner as he is likely to stay in Russia until January when his contract runs out so wages will likely be a stumbling block.
3. Forward. We need a proven goalscorer. I can likely see us settling for Gary Hooper from Celtic who I don't think is good enough.

The Arsenal game highlighted this for me. A tight game and in the last quarter they bring on Podolski, Walcottt and Chamberlain. It's the same every time we step onto the pitch, particularly against the better teams. How are we to compete with that? To gunfights we bring sticks. There's no level playing field here and don't assume it will ever change.

Fucking January. Just when we needed it most we brought in no-one. What a let down .

Draws are killers. We've drawn more away from home than any other team, and at 14 are joint highest with Norwich. Which is fine, providing you win all your other games... like Reading.... or Southampton.... or maybe away at the Sky 4.

When we made Champions League in 2004-5 we drew 7 games, the least in Moyes tenure.

The main reason why is lack of goals and conceding stupid goals. This isn't down to lack of decent players - those goals are in Jelavic, so why have they dried up? Our lot can defend too so why the lapse in form / concentration for too many games this season.

All roads lead, eventually, to Moyes and then finally to Kenwright.

We never seriously outperformed our 2011-12 campaign in the first half, so were never going to do the same in the 2nd half.

A thread just made for Timpeter, as his #586 cut and paste from other posts demonstrates!

That said, Chelsea's underperformance this season definitely gave us a chance of cracking the top 4 this time around. Too many draws cost us - and those draws were the result of some woeful defending. We've never looked more shaky at the back during Moyes' era. Ageing central defenders? Increasingly attack-minded wing-backs? Howard losing it?

Whatever the cause, there was a month long period sometime after new year where we looked like we'd concede every time the opposition swung in a cross. It cost us too many points, and we couldn't quite pull it back.

A pot of gold + David Moyes = no CL football

No cash + Mourinho/Klopp/Guadiola = no CL football

Both corporate and team management need to change for us to move forward.

PS. To answer the question.....because Jelavic has had a crap season and we drew so many games we should have won.

You don't see the irony?! You stalked Nick first!:
"Where is Entwistle's post though on a thread just made for him".

On the other hand, we are only 4 goals short of C.L. spot, if we would have turned 4 draws into wins = 8 extra points.

Jelavic was an unknown quantity last season, of course he was going to marked more tightly this season, and he definitely spends too much time out of the box.

The Pienaar-Baines axis has been well sussed, I can't believe it took opposing managers so long to work it out! Laudrup had them well shackled during our 0-0 at home to Swansea - they haven't clicked since.

Small squad was going to come into play at some point, but playing regularly with the same team should be an advantage as well.

Refusal to bring in the likes of Oviedo and Barkley when Pienaar & Neville were dogshit has hampered our chances.

No support for new signings has been the main factor, two decent players could have helped us get over the line, and injected a fresh impetus throughout the whole club.

This Board have no ambition but to make a killing one day. 6th/7th will do nicely, as long as Sky and season ticket money keep the wolf from the door - job done as far as they are concerned.

Due to the number of respondents the survey is closed. Thanks for the feedback, although not the insults some people left in the comments box.

I will analyse the results and post them later today or tomorrow.

If there was more money we would have more and better players.

Moyes does what he can with what he has and, in my opinion, does it very well. Of course it's frustrating at times and he is certainly not above criticism but moaning on about individuals, tactics and attitude doesn't really wash with me as, however you cut it, it all comes back to money.

Now, why we haven't got money is another question.

It's not all about money. Money didn't play a part when we lost to Wigan at home, draws with Norwich, QPR, losses to Norwich, Reading.

Generally, more and better players means more games won. There will always be results that don't fit. I expect Man Utd didn't think that they should have lost to Everton. It happens. The more money you have, the more players you have of an higher quality, the more you win.

I don't think it is all about money but it can't be ignored. It's at the heart of every discussion like this. If you have a go at Neville, for instance, if we had more money and more and better players he wouldn't be on the field.

Giving youth a real chance and picking players up young like we did with Coleman is the only way we will get out of the financial mess we are in. Blowing 15m on one player is not. I would have no problem cashing in on the likes of Fellaini if there was a long term plan but sadly there isn't

Closed already?

Under Moyes this club squanders opportunities left right and centre without breaking sweat. The familiar money excuse will get parrotted as per but THIS seasons circumstances left the door wide open.

Only Utd and City turned up this year with the rest in transition - if ever 10 yrs of stability should have born fruit this was it.

Predictably and entirely in line with previous form our star striker becomes a shadow of his former self ageing favorites keep out promising youth and amidst the usual debacles we gradually drift towards our comfy 7th/8th berth.

We didn't get 4th because no-one at the club has the balls to go for it.

The assertion that we're a top four side, that is being held back by the bloke who Put the top four side together is, well.....

The squad doesn't fulfill it's potential for all the reasons even Moyes supporters agree with - favorites, dour, choking - but because many are happy with 7th/8th it's allowed - sheer madness.

Accepting the known Moyes defects and inviting trophyless seasons in perpetuity seems sacrilege to me - there again I take EFC seriously.

I congratulate Mr Moyes for assembling the squad that he has.

However, I condemn him for making them play the way that they do. Many correspondents have claimed that any new manager would demand millions of pounds to build a new team.

My assertion is that the existing squad is capable of much more than Mr Moyes extracts from it. Therefore, any attack minded incoming coach would release these players from the miserable, defensive mindset that Mr Moyes has instilled into them.

The current group of players is fine, obviously needing a few, younger, additions, but Mr Moyes needs a radical change of mindset. If he is incapable of that then thank you, and goodnight.

We might also do so when we`re back in 17th!

Either way, it will be interesting.

Moyes hasn't really underachieved or overachieved with this squad at his disposal. What he has done well with, is getting this squad together with the budget he's had. The board are the ones who are at least 90% of the reason we didn't get top 4

If Moyes in his next job goes even 2 years without a trophy he will be given the boot, he will no longer get the security and unlimited support he received with Bill.

If he goes to Chelsea or Schalke next season and fails with more money hopefully the myth will finally be smashed once and for all and finally prove that he is an average, bottling failure.

The lunatic comment "it doesn't matter he hasn't won a trophy" over Swansea and others killing the money argument just sums it up.

It's virtually a perversion this obsession with defending Moyes.

Please read this BBC report on the game, and show me where it might indicate that "we sat back and invited Fulham back into the game".......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20107627

Yes, we drew a game we should have won, but hey, sh*t happens in football, and you don't always get what you deserve.

And you continue to contradict yourself. I'll say it again — the assertion that we're a top four side, being held back by the very bloke who put the top four side together, is just bonkers...

Ross makes a very pertinent point about Moyes though his supporters should realise that he is only still here because the board have no standards and low expectations not because he has been a roaring success.

11 shots to 10 and 59% possession in the Norwich game.

26 shots to 8 and 61% possession in the Fulham game.

21 shots to 12 and 54% possession in the Reading game.

You're talking nonsense Ross.

Pete - 800 - 'But hey, sh*t happens in football, and you don't always get what you deserve'.

Can't disagree with that mate except to add that it has happened three or four times too often this season. Fourteen draws is what, four or five too many?

I'm not so sure... Everyone gives Moyes credit for putting together a good group of players. Many people say the teams he's assembled have gotten better and better over time. So it's not really that unreasonable to expect that this great group of players should be playing better and better football, finishing higher up the tale, getting closer actually winning trophies. "Oh No", says his supporters... "You expect these players to actually play well on a consistent basis, they are not superstars!!"

It's the self-belief of that team and its capabilities where it matters — not at Finch Farm but on the stadium pitch in the heat of the battle — where Moyes has consistently failed and only on the rarest occasions come even close to succeeding.

But his supporters want it both ways: that he has done a great job assembling the team AND he has them playing above and beyond their capabilities (aka "overachieving"), BUT that this is still not and never can be good enough for them to actually achieve anything because of the perennial money gulf.

That's the bit which is truly bonkers. Classic self-serving "knife to a gunfight" mentality that will be the epitaph on Moyes's Goodison memorial.

John - He has amassed a lot of points and built a good side. The problem is, that after building a side capable of amassing points, he proceeds to revert back to negative 'hold onto the lead' for the latter parts of the game. His constant substitution of Mirallas only serves this point. Good managers use these periods to hit on the counter, Moyes sub's his most likely player to be able to hit on the counter.

Mark - Our squad isn't good enough to finish top 4, but considering we were knocked out of the league cup early doors, our squad wasn't that weak that Moyes couldn't have selectively rested a couple of players here and there. We look tired now and the likes of Osman and Baines (2 good players early on in the season) haven't been rested once. Surely home to some of the weaker teams we could have given people a week off. The best managers do this, not mad rotation but giving a player the occasional rest. Moyes doesn't and we're seeing the effects.

I have no doubt that Moyes sets his players up correctly for a game, but he can't react to situations once they arise on the pitch. When was the last time you can honestly say that Moyes reacted well to an opposition during a game?

They have been caused by a number of things, at least 2 of which you can't do anything about: bad refs and (coz I like a bit of alliteration) bad bounce – I was going to say "Distin moments" but there are 4 or 5 who could and do qualify (you know who you are).

Note to some quoting stats possession etc... possession might be nice to watch, I mean we all appreciate joined up footy, but in the end that and stats aren't as is said, worth a bucket of warm spit.

It's about WINNING... with a side order of glory.

So; things you can maybe do something about short term... sitting back on a 1-goal lead, Mentally and Physically.

Physically is a short-term fix... Oi, You, NO!

Mentally is a medium term fix... getting rid of the KITAP1 philosophy.

That is solved by getting rid of it's prophet Moyes... Before anybody dives in, the team didn't suddenly get the KITAP1 commandment sent down on tablets of toffee from Everton Brow... I have seen no reports of burning bushes around Finch Farm (the odd burning car but no spontaneous combustible shrubs)... Moyes, Pure and simple.

The long-term problem. LMF, bricking it, bricking it on toast vs the usual 4 suspects. No real problem with Spurs: win some lose some, they're just like us really only down in Harringay. Same with City, all fur coat and no knickers, no better than they should be, I remember them in the 3rd Division, ffs etc.

To get rid of that will take mucho positive thinking and it won't, on past form, be coming from Moyes any time soon. He buys into it (memo to Davie: there is no such thing a good draw).

11 years, Davie: Steadied the ship: tick... 7th place trophy via KITAP1: tick. Works well with the smallest squad in Prem, tick... Kenwright keeps me starved of real dosh for more players though, tick. Well done and thank you, Davie, don't spend the £25M you trousered all in the one shop; all the best, drop in and see us when you get settled.

So there you have it: 14 draws, a cautious coach who has one financial hand tied behind his back, who chooses, or so it seems, to use his one free hand (mostly) to wave the players back to defend rather than forward to attack.

So no need for the 'lack of money' excuse, Davey boy – where are your 'stream' of YOUTH PLAYERS? — After all, you have had 11 YEARS!!!

For a large part of the season we created more chances than any other club in the league, dominated possession and played attractive football (for instance Fulham was like an exhibition match at times we were so much in charge).
However we simply didn't turn enough of the chances into goals and that meant that we were vulnerable to any poor decision against us turning the game (we had plenty early doors).

At the start of the season this wasn't necessarily anyone's fault.
Jelavic's performance the year before suggested he was the real deal and the likes of Naismith (who actually looked capable of playing football and scoring goals in pre-season), Vic and Vellios as understudies plus Felliani and Mirallas pushing forward suggested we had enough. Once Jelly went bad though it was abundantly clear we needed more firepower.
Moyes should have given Vellios more time and maybe a start or two for McAlney - Jelavic has been a passenger at times, but the main problem lies with not buying someone to reinforce in January.
Hence we're going to finish 6th or 7th and be out of Europe.

It's strange that although Davey Moyes talks of being in the Celtic first team at an early age himself, he has always seemed very reluctant to give youth its chance at Everton. Perhaps he believes his own experience did him no favours.

I do feel that, whilst nearly all managers bleat on about having insufficient funds to compete, few are prepared to take a chance on the ones they see grow up.

The results are easy enougt to follow and I will let you draw your own conclusions.

Why do you think Everton will miss out on a top four finish this season?
Failure of the board & senior managers to secure new players for the squad during the January transfer window 72%

David Moyes’ not signing a new contract has affected the squad 15%

David Moyes’ tactics (formation, substitutions, loyalty to players such as Neville) 42%

Player errors – Johnny Heitinga (against Villa) and Phil Neville (QPR) 18%

A small squad unable to cover for injuries 44%

A small squad unable to rest tired players 44%

Team preparation resulting in losses to teams such as Reading and Sunderland 17%

The form of some players such as Jelavic (lack of goals) 46%

Other teams have far more resources than Everton 40%

Refereeing decisions went against us 16%

Too many draws (likely to be a symptom of some of the options above) 56.00%

Fixture listing and congestion (A fat spanish waiter thought this was very important) 1%

Several of the above 15%

Several options could be selected that is why the total runs to more than 100%

Peoples comments:
goalkeeper costs us 6-8 points a season more than he saves us

Dont have that arrogant confidenence , like to be underdogs - Good teams know they are better and perform

The loss of roughly 12 points in games we controlled, failed to secure - and I feel Moyes' caution is to blame for this - and either lost/drew due to conceding late goals. Top 4 place would have been secure but for this.

Bill Kenwright and David Moyes

Poor Defence for most of the season

What an infantile, trite, shallow survey. Doesn't merit a response to legitimize it in any way
This respondent actually answered the questionnaire???

WE do not have a squad good enough to compete for top 4 because of inadequate funding.

Lack of quality players to fill in & a reluctance to play fringe players

youre shite you horrible wool c**t - You don’t know me! Wool? I live in Skem but I am from Walton!

General Malaise. No spark down the stretch.

tim howard's howlers

Shitheads like you who don't know how to support a good set of players and fantastic manager. Wish you'd fuck off. Prick.
Where have I criticised Moyes or the squad? I don’t like Neville but I think Moyes’ is a good, but not brilliant ,manager, not a Pep Guardiola. We have a good Squad!

I feel formation compacted opponents penalty areas resulting in no space for Jelly to play his game

no investment

Moyes is not good enough

No attacking nouse as with all previous seasons.Team simply not good enough.

Failure to use the youngsters ie Velliosl, Barkley etc..

Tim howard is a terrible goal keeper. costing just as much if not more than he prevents

This season has Everton performed better or worse than you expected ?
Far above what I expected (I expected relegation) 0%

Above what I expected 34%

What I expected 50%

Below what I expected 14.00%

Far below what I expected (I expected to win the league or a trophy) 2%

Only one option could be selected

Lack of ambition from the fans right up to Bill is holding us back. If the fans actually hoped for more than 7th every year, Moyes actually attacking and aiming high for once and Bill actually attempting to move the club forward.

We have a strong squad and it is being held back by a shambolic, unambitious idiot in Bill, a cautious, tactically inept manager and the majority of fans who think that average and cup failure every year is overachieving.

People were all behind the poll on this site when they wanted Moyes out but when the numbers changed they started twisting and turning like a twisty turny thing saying that the numbers meant nothing and that it wasn't the majority, even though it was over 50%

Who knows who the first 100 posters were, could have been 100 MOB, could have been 100 Apologists, whomever got on first coloured the results.

"Lack of ambition from the fans right up to Bill is holding us back" - Here it is again....it's the fans fault bullshit. Ok then Ross, it's your fault that we have not reached 4th this year, you haven't done enough in you fight against Moyes/Bill. Stupid, but you started it!

The same "moron," provided the most consistent league returns in a generation.

His "strongest squad," is one of the smallest in the Premier League.

The "average, bottling failure," has a win-ratio that dwarfs the majority of his predecessors.

Also, I've yet to meet a single Evertonian who "hopes to finish 7th."

I worded this question to establish fans' expectations of the current squad (levels of realism) not their desires (win everything on offer).

Every Blue I have met wants to win a trophy, I have never met Kenwright, so can't comment for him. But I think my survey proved that most lay the blame here upon the board.

Tony #907, in answer to your post. You are right anyone could have ticked those boxes, I hope though that these results represent the thoughts of ToffeeWeb users and hopefully Evertonians as a whole.

As I said, fair play for settling one up but the sites limited numbers mean that it is probably not really representative of Evertonians as a whole.

I put my money where my mouth was, and backed us at odds of 5/1 at the bookies to finish in the Top Six.

That's right, the bookies were offering odds of 5/1.

From memory, they had both the RS and Newcastle as finishing above us, so in that respect alone, we have over-achieved this season.

I trust some others also took advantage of these generous odds, and backed the team, as the results of this survey indicate that most people expected us to be sixth or better.

Just pointing that out, like.

Nevertheless, your argument is a strong one and illustrates what can be achieved with a top coach, a supportive Board, a first rate academy, good scouts and the right backroom staff. Fergie at Aberdeen and Bobby Robson at Ipswich spring to mind.

Some would say Moyes has done a fine job with little support, and he probably has. So where do we go from here? Borussia Dortmund are a difficult act to follow. The Bundesliga has the longest winter break and the competition is poor. This has resulted in the German teams looking as fresh as daisies in The Champions League. The Premier League is a whole different ballgame.

We have an ageing squad which will seriously deteriorate if it is not refreshed; Moyes is obviously concerned about this and I can only hope the right decisions are made all round.

For me though you need to look at what we could realistically have done better, rather than complain that some oligarch hasn't turned up.

Belief and desire are completely free and I think a lack of those has probably been one of our main undoings. We've drawn far too many games against less-able teams, consistently not pushed on sufficiently after going into a lead and failed to turn up completely for some games.

For me that is the difference between great teams and the rest. Its the mental strength to believe you can win in every game, not just a handful.

Mental strength is why Man U have won the league and left Chelsea and Man City in their wake. In the last 5 years, Man U have net spent on average £11M per season, compared to £78M / season for City and £57M for chelsea. Stability and mental strength are key to punching above your financial weight. Moyes has been given stability, but has not been able to suitably motivate the players in every game to reach that 4th spot.