K
Kay20
Guest
I like David Hirshey's writings on ESPN.com re: soccer. He covers MLS, the USMNT, major competitions, and the EPL.
He's a Gooner (boo!), but he graded every team in the EPL so far this season. I found his Everton post interesting - it's below. Oh, and for those that don't speak USMNT - his comparison to that front line? Bad folks. Bad.
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Everton (last season: 8th; this season: 14th)
Unlike any of the other managers on either Merseyside or in the bottom third of the table, David Moyes needn't worry about job security. He effectively has a lifetime contract at Everton until Sir Alex taps his fellow Scot to fill his red-faced cheeks at Old Trafford. Maybe that's the problem.
Even though Moyes seems immune from the hire-fire whimsy of most owners around the league, no one at Goodison can be happy with the Toffees this season. Although Everton has made slow starts into a club tradition, it will be hard pressed to break into the top eight again this season, despite its giddy derby dance over Liverpool and this week's rousing win over Man City.
The problem is in the attacking third. With a dismal 20 goals in 18 games, Everton is as punchless as Mark Wahlberg in the first hour of "The Fighter." While the Toffees' spring-heeled Aussie, Tim Cahill, has produced his usual steady stream of goals (he has nine), South African speed merchant Steven Pienaar, the team's player of the year last season, has one foot solidly out the door and the other still seemingly mired in his dismal World Cup showing. That is why Everton fans were positively vibrating with excitement over the possible second-coming of Landon Donovan, only to be bitterly disappointed by the news on Tuesday that the American has decided to stay home during the loan period.
It leaves Moyes with an empty stocking over his fireplace that he hopes to fill with a Christmas miracle of Beckford, Saha and Yakubu. Fine name for a multinational law firm, but with only three goals in 38 combined matches this is an attacking force that makes the U.S. National Team's frontline look like a juggernaut.
Everton won't hit the drop zone. With a defense anchored by the unflappable Phil Jagielka -- though a recent injury will put pressure on Sylvain Distin in his stead -- and goalkeeping duties in the safe hands of Tim Howard, Moyes' renowned motivational skills will prove crucial. Unless he can orchestrate a stunning turnaround in the new year, the best that Evertonians will be likely to say about this season is, "It could be worse. We could be Liverpool supporters."
GRADE: C-
He's a Gooner (boo!), but he graded every team in the EPL so far this season. I found his Everton post interesting - it's below. Oh, and for those that don't speak USMNT - his comparison to that front line? Bad folks. Bad.
*************
Everton (last season: 8th; this season: 14th)
Unlike any of the other managers on either Merseyside or in the bottom third of the table, David Moyes needn't worry about job security. He effectively has a lifetime contract at Everton until Sir Alex taps his fellow Scot to fill his red-faced cheeks at Old Trafford. Maybe that's the problem.
Even though Moyes seems immune from the hire-fire whimsy of most owners around the league, no one at Goodison can be happy with the Toffees this season. Although Everton has made slow starts into a club tradition, it will be hard pressed to break into the top eight again this season, despite its giddy derby dance over Liverpool and this week's rousing win over Man City.
The problem is in the attacking third. With a dismal 20 goals in 18 games, Everton is as punchless as Mark Wahlberg in the first hour of "The Fighter." While the Toffees' spring-heeled Aussie, Tim Cahill, has produced his usual steady stream of goals (he has nine), South African speed merchant Steven Pienaar, the team's player of the year last season, has one foot solidly out the door and the other still seemingly mired in his dismal World Cup showing. That is why Everton fans were positively vibrating with excitement over the possible second-coming of Landon Donovan, only to be bitterly disappointed by the news on Tuesday that the American has decided to stay home during the loan period.
It leaves Moyes with an empty stocking over his fireplace that he hopes to fill with a Christmas miracle of Beckford, Saha and Yakubu. Fine name for a multinational law firm, but with only three goals in 38 combined matches this is an attacking force that makes the U.S. National Team's frontline look like a juggernaut.
Everton won't hit the drop zone. With a defense anchored by the unflappable Phil Jagielka -- though a recent injury will put pressure on Sylvain Distin in his stead -- and goalkeeping duties in the safe hands of Tim Howard, Moyes' renowned motivational skills will prove crucial. Unless he can orchestrate a stunning turnaround in the new year, the best that Evertonians will be likely to say about this season is, "It could be worse. We could be Liverpool supporters."
GRADE: C-
