2009/10 Season Preview - Everton

By Mike Hayes

2008/09 - It would be a fair point to suggest that Everton are the most underrated team in the entire Premier League. Consecutive fifth place finishes and an FA Cup final appearance over the past two seasons have brought some credibility back to the blue half of Merseyside. This was despite a horrendous injury list that saw them deprived of Mikel Arteta, Yakubu, Louis Saha and Joseph Yobo for long periods of the season. The run to the FA Cup final brought the most joy with a dismantling of Aston Villa at Goodison Park, the semi-final victory over Manchester United at Wembley and that Dan Gosling goal to knock out Liverpool in the last minute of extra time.

2009/10 - Everton's progress this season will largely depend on whether they can keep hold of Joleon Lescott. The former Wolves man has been a key part of their rock solid defence the last couple of seasons, so losing him would be a major blow. Only Jo has so far been brought to the club but with Arteta and Yakubu expected back in the near future, Everton have much to look forward to. Progress in Europe would also be a step forward after losing in the first round last season, as the Toffees will be determined to show that they are once again the best of the rest.

Transfer campaign - Everton has spent much of this transfer window fighting off bids for Lescott from Manchester City rather than buying any players of their own. Their one major signing is coincidentally from City, with Jo joining on another loan deal - this time for the entire season. Aside from Jo the only other new players coming into the club are unknown youngsters, Anton Pertelin, an American midfielder and Shkodran Mustafi, a defender from Hamburg. Andy Van Der Meyde, Segundo Castillo, Nuno Valente, Lars Jacobsen and a handful of youth players were released with Everton's already thin squad being trimmed even further. Defensive reinforcements are required, particularly with Phil Jagielka likely to miss the first few months of the season. Whether the Toffees can add to their squad is likely to depend on whether they can continue to resist Manchester City's overtures. Sell Lescott and buy others, or keep him and go with what they have.

Transfers in (Player, club from, fee)

Jo - Man City - Loan

Anton Pertelin - Ventura County Fusion - Free

Shkodran Mustafi - Hamburg - Free

Transfers out (Player, club to, fee)

Lars Jacobsen – Blackburn - Free

Andy Van Der Meyde - Released

Nuno Valente - Released

John Ruddy – Motherwell - Loan

Segundo Castillo - Red Star Belgrade - Loan Return

First XI - The likely starting line-up is remarkably similar to last season's team. The lack of any major new faces means that Everton are likely to start the season with the tried and trusted 4-5-1 system with Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill joining with the striker whenever possible. The left hand side is as strong as ever with Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar linking up exceptionally well, although the right hand side does lack a bit pace.

The manager - When David Moyes took over from Walter Smith in 2002 he immediately endeared himself to the Goodison faithful by christening Everton “The People's Club”. He has had the fans on his side ever since, despite one iffy season where they finished 17th,the club has progressed year after year under Moyes' astute tutelage. It has almost been forgotten that he led his side to fourth place in 2005 - the only club in recent years to have broken into the so-called 'big four'. All the more impressive is that he has consistently kept Everton in the upper echelon of the Premier League despite spending a fraction of what his rivals have spent. Moyes is the third longest serving top flight manager behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, which is to his (and Bill Kenwright's) credit, that in an era where a manager's shelf life is so short - Moyes is still in the top job at Goodison Park.

Creative force - It shows just how good the Spainish squad is at present that Arteta has never been called up to play for the Euro 2008 winners. He is certainly in the mould of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas - diminutive yet deceptively strong, an excellent passer and a superb array of skills. Whether out on the wing or in the middle of the park he has turned into the main creative point of Moyes' side. In a team full of solid professionals, Arteta is the one player who stands out as offering his side something different. If Arteta had not been injured for the FA Cup final, he may have produced that little bit of artistry and skill that could have ended Everton's long trophy drought.

Mr. Reliable - Phil Neville is the Coldplay Premier League football - very good but nobody is prepared to admit it. Neville is the ultimate footballers footballer - a player who puts the team before himself. When most players leave Old Trafford their career dies out with a whimper, but Neville is one of the only exceptions to this. He has yet to win any medals at Everton, but his spell at Goodison Park will surely define his career. Fans were less than thrilled when David Moyes spent £3.5m on the younger Neville brother in the summer of 2005. Yet his all action displays at both right-back and central midfield soon won over any doubters. Of course he is no technical marvel but his attitude and determination prove that there is more to the game than fancy skills.

Youth prospect - Jack Rodwell came to prominence last season with a number of eye-catching displays in central midfield. He enhanced his reputation even further with a strong showing at this summer's under 21 European Championships. Originally thought of as a centre back his excellent ball skills and range of passing has seen him pushed up the field into midfield. With Moyes yet to bring in a new centre midfielder to the club this summer, it could be a major season for the 18-year-old. Toffees fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that he is one youth talent who fulfils his potential.

The fixtures - The fixture list has been relatively kind to the Blues in the early part of the season, however, Everton's small squad will once again be tested to the limit this season. In February Everton face their sternest test of the season as they battle Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United in the space of two weeks, with FA Cup and Europa League ties to be fitted in as well if they are still involved at that stage. Key dates to look out for include the Merseyside derbies on November 29 at Goodison and February 6 at Anfield.

Home grown talent - Everton's squad is full to the brim with talented young Englishmen such as Jagielka, Baines, Leon Osman, James Vaughan, Rodwell, Gosling, Lescott and Tony Hibbert. Although Moyes is not adverse to bringing in expensive foreign talent such as Fellaini and Yakubu, on the whole he likes his players young and English. With FIFA's 6+5 ruling on the horizon, that is good for the future of the club.

Season prediction - Every year it seems that Everton, with their modest budget and small squad, overachieve in the Premier League. Could this be the year it goes wrong for them? Getting Yakubu, Arteta and Jagielka back into the squad will be a big boost for them, however the lack of transfer activity is worrying. Not only have they failed to make any marquee signings so far, they have yet to even bring in any squad players as cover. Moyes has got the absolute best out of his players for the past few years but if they were to suffer injuries they could struggle this season. It is unlikely they will do as well as in previous years, especially with the likes of Man City, Villa and Tottenham splashing the cash, and Moyes being forced to keep the purse strings tight once more – they may well find themselves slip behind their near rivals. Prediction - 8th.

2009/10 Season previews

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Birmingham City

Blackburn Rovers

Burnley

Chelsea

Everton

Fulham

Hull City

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