SkySports Everton Preview

[GrandOldTeam]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11671_3950555,00.html

A fifth-placed finish, the promise of another campaign in Europe and a semi-final appearance in the Carling Cup. You could be forgiven for wondering exactly why Everton fans are quite as concerned as they are right now heading into the season.
But a winter that was far from full of discontent has been followed by a summer that has brought about more questions than answers.
This was meant to be the off-season when manager David Moyes added some quantity, and a little more quality, to an already impressive first-team squad.
It was meant to be the time when The Toffees found out they would get the go ahead to build a brand new stadium in Kirkby and when their impressive boss finally put pen to paper on a new, long-term deal.
Instead Moyes' future is still up in the air, the ground issue has been delayed and a paper-thin squad has not been boosted by the arrival of one fresh face.
It could well be the club soon have new owners as well, current chairman Bill Kenwright admitting again recently that he would be happy to listen to offers. The resignation of chief exectuive Keith Wyness has also been a blow, particularly due to the murky nature of his sudden departure.
Few changes

The only 'signing' of the summer has been Steven Pienaar, the South African midfielder joining permanently following a successful season-long loan spell.
While the exit has hardly been a revolving door, the loss of Lee Carsley, who has been allowed to leave for nothing to move closer to his family home, is a blow.
Andy Johnson is the other major departure once his protracted move to Fulham finally went through thanks to the approval of Mohamed Al Fayed's personal physician.
Signed for a then record £8.6million just over two years ago, the former Crystal Palace frontman failed to follow up a promising first season and once Yakubu arrived was always second choice in the favoured 4-5-1 formation.
At least Johnson's exit will come at a profit, giving Moyes extra funds, which have been a major stumbling block over him signing a new contract, before the sales come to an end at midnight on August 31.
While they have been linked with many, the only real interest that has been firmed up has been a bid for midfielder Joao Moutinho. An initial £11.8m offer was rejected by Sporting who want more for their prized possession.
With a replacement for Carsley, who arguably had his finest season in Blue since arriving on Merseyside, still not found and another striker needed, there's plenty of work to do and time is running out. So often desperate times call for desperate measures, but Moyes is not a man to be rushed.
Disappointing pre-season

But a disappointing pre-season campaign will have heightened his desire to make signings, with as many as six new faces wanted.
Despite the difficulties in the transfer market, the sticky situation the Toffees find themselves in should be put into perspective. They still have a playing squad capable of pushing all opponents and in Yakubu a forward guaranteed to score goals.
The midfield has creativity in Mikel Arteta, goals in Tim Cahill (providing he can stay fit) and plain hard work in Phil Neville, although he may be best used at right-back.
Likewise the defence in front of Tim Howard has been strong even though big money signing Leighton Baines has so far failed to pan out. In contrast, Phil Jagileka has been a revelation in the heart of the back four.
So now Moyes requires some added depth and some extra dimensions in attack, either through the middle or out wide, to complement what he already has at his disposal. However, Everton's biggest signing would be getting the Scotsman to stick his signature on a new deal. Until then, the fans will continue to fret a little.
TOFFEES FACTBOX:

Star Man: Yakubu:
Arteta pulls the strings and Cahill gets his goals, but it is Yakubu that is the key to Everton's campaign. The Nigerian is a consistent scorer at the top level and quickly settled into life on Merseyside.
One to watch: Dan Gosling:
It would be easy to pick James Vaughan yet he seems to be the more obvious choice. Instead let's go for Gosling, an England youth international who was signed as one for the future from Plymouth.
Manager: David Moyes:
He has done a superb job at Goodison Park but if the board don't match his lofty ambitions in the form of a few big cheques, it could be set for a sour finish.
Ins:
Outs: Lee Carsley (Birmingham, free), Andy Johnson (Fulham, £10.5m)
Best signing: Hardly spoilt for choice - how about Steven Pienaar
Sky Bet odds: 200-1
Odds on relegation: 66-1
Likely top scorer: Yakubu
Possible best XI: (4-5-1) Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Pienaar, Cahill, Neville, Osman, Arteta; Yakubu
Predicted finish: 7th

 

[John Lennon]

seems pretty fair to me that

 

[kenada_blue]

Same place I put on me seasons predictions on this very forum

 

[benj_1878]

I'm happy for people to continue to underestimate us. We did finish 5th last season, so these predictions of lower placed finish are fine by me. I know we haven't signed anyone but we've got essentially the same squad, minus 2 first-teamers.

 

[TsarDiniyar]

I'm happy for people to continue to underestimate us. We did finish 5th last season, so these predictions of lower placed finish are fine by me. I know we haven't signed anyone but we've got essentially the same squad, minus 2 first-teamers.

we might have the same squad but spurs' and villas and even pompeys is much improved

 

[Dutch Toffee]

Think at the moment 7th place would be a fair prediction. I'm fairly confident we'll be signing some top class players though. So I've set my sights on that 5th place once again. Think it will be down to Spurs and us to challenge the top 4.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

we might have the same squad but spurs' and villas and even pompeys is much improved

I think Spurs have improved, I'm not so sure about Portsmouth and Villa.

Martin O'Neill has replaced Barry with Sidwell. Barry isn't worth the 18 million stated but he is alot better than Sidwell and gave them something a little different. A little bit of quality in the middle of the park and the ability to pick a pass. A combination of Sidwell and Reo-coker is very one dimensional, all energy and hardwork little creativity and passing ability.

At the back they've brought in two half decent fullbacks, nothing special really. Young won't be much of a step up from Mellberg and personally I rate Bouma more than Shorey. The only good thing they've done is replace Carson, Friedel is a quality keeper.

Portsmouth have a good strike partnership but they lack creativity, they don't have a right winger and the only midfielder with able to supply them is Kranjar. I thought they had improved but they looked very disjointed against Man utd.

 

[kenada_blue]

I know pre-season dont mean much, but Spurs are a worry this season. Anyone see them turn over Roma? I've never liked Tottenham and now I hate them even more.

 

[TsarDiniyar]

I think Spurs have improved, I'm not so sure about Portsmouth and Villa.

Martin O'Neill has replaced Barry with Sidwell. Barry isn't worth the 18 million stated but he is alot better than Sidwell and gave them something a little different. A little bit of quality in the middle of the park and the ability to pick a pass. A combination of Sidwell and Reo-coker is very one dimensional, all energy and hardwork little creativity and passing ability.

At the back they've brought in two half decent fullbacks, nothing special really. Young won't be much of a step up from Mellberg and personally I rate Bouma more than Shorey. The only good thing they've done is replace Carson, Friedel is a quality keeper.

Portsmouth have a good strike partnership but they lack creativity, they don't have a right winger and the only midfielder with able to supply them is Kranjar. I thought they had improved but they looked very disjointed against Man utd.

barry is still a villa player - therefore added a good player to an already quality midfield

 

[ToxtethBlue]

barry is still a villa player - therefore added a good player to an already quality midfield

He'll hardly play though, he'll sit his arse on the bench until Villa have an injury crisis. From now on all he'll be is a squad player, O'Neill said he only wanted players who actually wanted to play for the club.

Quality midfield? I wouldn't go that far. At the moment it will probably be Young, Reo-coker, Sidwell and Petrov. That's not quality to me, lacks creativity in the middle of the park and they don't have a right winger. Young is good but last season he had someone like Barry getting him into good positions where he could run at teams, Sidwell and Coker aren't capable of that.

 

[Dutch Toffee]

I think Spurs have improved, I'm not so sure about Portsmouth and Villa.

Martin O'Neill has replaced Barry with Sidwell. Barry isn't worth the 18 million stated but he is alot better than Sidwell and gave them something a little different. A little bit of quality in the middle of the park and the ability to pick a pass. A combination of Sidwell and Reo-coker is very one dimensional, all energy and hardwork little creativity and passing ability.

At the back they've brought in two half decent fullbacks, nothing special really. Young won't be much of a step up from Mellberg and personally I rate Bouma more than Shorey. The only good thing they've done is replace Carson, Friedel is a quality keeper.

Portsmouth have a good strike partnership but they lack creativity, they don't have a right winger and the only midfielder with able to supply them is Kranjar. I thought they had improved but they looked very disjointed against Man utd.

Agree with you assesments. Only rival of us that has really strenghtened with quality is Spurs. Been a quite summer altogether I believe. Thought that also City would become a major threat to our position, but with all the alleged problems over there I don't see them as that dangerous anymore.

 

[Toffee-nerd]

He'll hardly play though, he'll sit his arse on the bench until Villa have an injury crisis. From now on all he'll be is a squad player, O'Neill said he only wanted players who actually wanted to play for the club.

Quality midfield? I wouldn't go that far. At the moment it will probably be Young, Reo-coker, Sidwell and Petrov. That's not quality to me, lacks creativity in the middle of the park and they don't have a right winger. Young is good but last season he had someone like Barry getting him into good positions where he could run at teams, Sidwell and Coker aren't capable of that.

Well if thats true then why wouldnt they let him go to liverpool and make some money on him. It would make more sense than him being a bench warmer this season and them selling him for half of what they could get for him now at the end of next seson. Managers want to keep their best players, if they do manage to keep him, i would expect him to play as many games as he did lst season.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Well if thats true then why wouldnt they let him go to liverpool and make some money on him. It would make more sense than him being a bench warmer this season and them selling him for half of what they could get for him now at the end of next seson. Managers want to keep their best players, if they do manage to keep him, i would expect him to play as many games as he did lst season.

Because they want 18 million for him and Liverpool won't pay that or can't pay that. Villa are sticking to there price and not being bullied by a bigger club. I admire them for that. Similar to Sporting with us, pay the price and you'll get him, offer us some shitty price and you can [Poor language removed] off.

Barry will leave Villa once Liverpool pay the price. Why should Villa play him, he's disrespected the club and the manager and has proved that his mind is on other things. He'll probably be included in the squad but I don't expect him to play from the start, not yet anyway.

 

[TsarDiniyar]

barry will play for villa - and there will be a number of clubs vying for the 5th place, with spurs vying for 4th, even if this week we do sign m'bia, love, moutinho, smith & cana they wont have time to settle so a few weeks will have gone by before we would have a well knit side - giving others an advantage

 

[ToxtethBlue]

barry will play for villa - and there will be a number of clubs vying for the 5th place, with spurs vying for 4th, even if this week we do sign m'bia, love, moutinho, smith & cana they wont have time to settle so a few weeks will have gone by before we would have a well knit side - giving others an advantage

Not every player needs time to adapt though and settle in, some players do but not all. Mbia's game is made for English football and a player off Moutinho's quality will be fine.

Out of all the signings I expect only two to go into the first team. The rest will probably be squad players or players on the fringes of the first team. I don't think it will be hard to bed one or two players into the team. We have about 8/9 players who are already settled and ready to go.

Luckily for us we don't have any big challenges in the first few games. No big teams who are going to give us a spanking, our games are winnable.