Turning the Tables

Now that the transfer window has slammed shut, Evertonians will be dreaming and hoping about the season ahead. In the embryonic league table (you are allowed to look at it after three games), we are at the giddy heights of fifth. Obviously, we’d all take that at the end of the season! – but after a decent start and a good transfer window, how high can we realistically finish?

After his return to Goodison, Moyes managed to manoeuvre the Toffees up the table to safety and beyond, so that our eyes looked up the table rather than down. As well as the three very poor relegated teams, we managed to finish above Spurs, Man Utd, and West Ham – teams that would have finished well above us in the previous seasons under Benitez, Lampard, and Dyche.

Although there is no sign that Man Utd or West Ham are experiencing an immediate resurgence, they may find their form and return to the upper echelons of the table. The challenge for Everton (if we assume that we will finish below the current champions, Arsenal, City, and big-spending Chelsea) is to get past the rest. It would be a major triumph to surpass Newcastle and Spurs, and probably Aston Villa and Forest, if they replicate their form from last year.

There are a lot of teams congested like a concertina in mid-table. There is a chance the three teams that were promoted might not all get relegated this season. Despite our first game, I would be hopeful that we could finish well above Leeds. Sunderland have spent a lot of money, but we’d be extremely disappointed if we finished below them. We dispatched Wolves (A) last weekend (with some nervous moments at the end), and by the look of them, their league position should not concern us.

For our season to be a success, we should be surpassing Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth, and probably Brighton. With respect, these are not big teams with mega stadiums and a storied history of winning trophies. But they are well-run clubs, which we have not been for a long time. We now have an outstanding stadium, good owners, executives in the right positions, and after an 8.5 out of 10 transfer window, including the acquisition of a world-class player, we should view success as a top-ten finish – pushing for Europe. After the seasons we’ve endured, I’d take 10th right now, but Jack and co are making me believe it could be much higher.