http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/may/06/ten-talking-points-premier-league
[h=2]Everton could be so much more if they were proactive[/h]Everton are now almost certain to finish above Liverpool in the top division for the second season in a row, the first time they've pulled off this particular trick since 1937. This no doubt gives some of the Goodison faithful that long-awaited opportunity to dust off a chant of "We all agree/Lawton is better than Nieuwenhuys/Où sont les neiges d'antan?", but others may question the exact relevance of the stat to the modern world.
After all, while a little more bragging rights are always welcome, it's not been much of a bar for Everton to clear: rather like their counterparts of the 1930s, this Liverpool team are nothing to write home about. It's also worth noting that Everton's 1937 vintage went on to win the title two years later, something the cream of 2013 won't be doing any time soon.
For a side with Champions League pretentions, the modern Toffeemen are strangely toothless up front, a reactive side rather than a bunch of go-getters, which is maybe why a campaign that promised so much will end up delivering nothing.
To illustrate the point, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have all scored twice at Anfield this season. Everton's draw there is no worse than City or Chelsea's result, and it gave them a point more than Spurs managed, but the lack of cutting edge has cost them over the long haul: Everton have lost fewer games than anybody bar United and City, and it wouldn't have taken too many draws turned into wins to nudge them up past their more free-scoring rivals and into third.
It might be too much to ask of David Moyes to unearth the new Tommy Lawton – and anyway, as Sylvain Distin will attest, he'd not get many decisions these days – but Everton desperately need some extra firepower (and perhaps a more proactive attitude) if they're to best their red rivals for a third year in a row and, surely more importantly, make it back into the Champions League.
[h=2]Everton could be so much more if they were proactive[/h]Everton are now almost certain to finish above Liverpool in the top division for the second season in a row, the first time they've pulled off this particular trick since 1937. This no doubt gives some of the Goodison faithful that long-awaited opportunity to dust off a chant of "We all agree/Lawton is better than Nieuwenhuys/Où sont les neiges d'antan?", but others may question the exact relevance of the stat to the modern world.
After all, while a little more bragging rights are always welcome, it's not been much of a bar for Everton to clear: rather like their counterparts of the 1930s, this Liverpool team are nothing to write home about. It's also worth noting that Everton's 1937 vintage went on to win the title two years later, something the cream of 2013 won't be doing any time soon.
For a side with Champions League pretentions, the modern Toffeemen are strangely toothless up front, a reactive side rather than a bunch of go-getters, which is maybe why a campaign that promised so much will end up delivering nothing.
To illustrate the point, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have all scored twice at Anfield this season. Everton's draw there is no worse than City or Chelsea's result, and it gave them a point more than Spurs managed, but the lack of cutting edge has cost them over the long haul: Everton have lost fewer games than anybody bar United and City, and it wouldn't have taken too many draws turned into wins to nudge them up past their more free-scoring rivals and into third.
It might be too much to ask of David Moyes to unearth the new Tommy Lawton – and anyway, as Sylvain Distin will attest, he'd not get many decisions these days – but Everton desperately need some extra firepower (and perhaps a more proactive attitude) if they're to best their red rivals for a third year in a row and, surely more importantly, make it back into the Champions League.
