Everton – Toffees taste the same
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
Everton have been another club which opted for few or no significant additions to the squad. The question now is: will the same old taste of the Toffees be sweet enough to appease the demanding palates of the fans? What is sure is that the team needed goals and a consistent striker. How will Moyes cope without that essential ingredient?
Manager: Moyes
Tactics: 4-5-1
Players In: Dier
Players Out: Vaughan
Current Probable Formation: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Fellaini, Arteta, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha
Much frustration last season was derived from the blatant inability of players to turn the ball in the net. Yakubu seemed past his days and players like Cahill and Saha are too often sidelined with injuries to be able to take on that role with any sort of continuity. Where it not for the rise of Beckford Everton would have suffered much more and may have got entangled in the relegation battle up until the final matchdays.
Moyes had been asking for reinforcements in that department since the summer of 2010. His shortlist was vetoed by the administration just as it was this summer. The club apparently need to sell strikers they currently have before they can afford to bring new faces in. That is very reasonable but when considering that Yakubu is not that much in demand it may mean another season of struggles to find the goals for Everton.
Beckford should be getting more action after proving himself last season. Saha should be the number one option though and with Moyes needing to do with just those two reliable strikers he will not be revising his decision to play with just one attacker in front. Unless Anichebe improves on his fitness and acquires continuity.
Much of the support for the lone man will be coming from a midfield that offers loadfuls of options for the manager. Cahill will always be the preferred choice as the man backing the striker. Despite closing in on 32 years he still possesses the right pace and knows just where the be when the moment calls for it. His problem has always been that of injuries but he somehow always manages to get at least close to the double figure in goals for his club. Last season he was the team tops scorer in the league with nine goals.
Coleman and Bilyaletdinov should be the wide men. The former has, however, undergone ankle ligament damage and may be in for a long layoff. Osman’s experience can always come in handy in such situations. He has been a regular for the club and at 30 years is into his tenth season as a Toffee player. His contribution with goals and assists has also improved.
Arteta, Fellaini and Neville complete the midfield with their qualities providing the whole package in terms of quality and quantity. Fellaini had been quite vociferous in his desire to abandon the ship as he got increasingly frustrated at having to do battle alongside a team he did not consider good enough. Everton have not given in though and it seems that the Belgian midfielder will be in the Everton ranks next season.
Baines is listed a s a defender but he may take on the role of flank man in Moyes’ 4-5-1 since wingers are often expected to cover for the defence in the manager’s game plan. If not he will definitely be a starter as part of the defensive line. This department is quite a solid one for Everton but its efficacy will be dented should in-demand centre-back Jagielka be priced away from Goodison Park. The English international is an asset for the club which Moyes would obviously want to keep. But it will depend on the money offered.
Predicted finishing position: 9th
Everton’s is an all-round good squad but it depends too much on few players to get its goals. Last season showed how powerless they become when they lose out on the services of Arteta, Cahill and Saha. They need their key men in shape all along if they are to prevent another troubled season like the last one. Defensively they are a solid unit but if their best element, Jagielka, is sold off the effects will be felt soon enough.
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