Club Focus - Everton - Nil satis nisi optimum'
David Moyes will be hoping for ‘Nil satis nisi optimum’ nothing but the best from his players in 2010 after a relatively poor start to the season from the Blues. With several key players returning to the fold and also loan signing Landon Donovan arriving at Goodison this week, the Scot will hope to make a strong push towards the European places.
The Blues came up against a tough Carlisle United team on Saturday and were lucky to come away with a flattering 3-1 scoreline. The Everton tactician will be happy to see Phil Neville complete a full match and youngster James Vaughan also get 85 minutes under his belt - once again scoring for the Toffees. The fixture was also important for Tim Cahill who scored his 50th Everton goal in front of an ecstatic Goodison crowd. Seamus Coleman again proved he is easily good enough to play for the first team, showing an eagerness to sprint to the opposition’s by-line with his cross setting up the Australian’s tap in. Moyes stated after the match “The scoreline was a little flattering but we are through. We are also still in Europe and our league form is picking up, so things are starting to go our way”. This confidence and the return of several key players may entice the Toffeemen to a high finish in the league and another good cup run.
The Everton faithful may begrudge the ex-Preston managers optimistic viewpoint however, with a good first eleven starting, the fans would have expected to see a route at home in the cup. The result is all important for the Blues as there is always the chance that like their neighbours in Manchester this weekend; fielding a partly weakened team they could have dropped out of the competition (as they did to Oldham in 2008 and Shrewsbury in 2003). The Blues are rewarded with a fourth round tie at home to either Nottingham Forest or Birmingham. The two midland clubs will first replay their third round match at St Andrews on Tuesday 12 January. Both are on good form, with Birmingham unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions and Forest who currently sit third in the Championship and are without defeat in their last 17. If the Merseyside club can progress they may again fancy their chances in the F.A Cup - at best only 11 Premier League teams are guaranteed to go through to the next round due to there being possibly four all Premier League fixtures.
The Everton head coach banned striker Joao Alves Jo this week after he flew to Brazil to deal with family issues without permission. The ex-CSKA Moscow target-man is currently on loan from Manchester City and has been suspended for an indefinite period for a ‘breach of discipline’. The 22-year-old scored five goals in 11 appearances for the Blues in the loan spell last season but has failed to impress this time around. Moyes commented "We like Jo but there has to be discipline at football clubs." Whilst youngsters Coleman and Keiran Agard have impressed in the F.A Cup this week two other youngsters on loan in Scotland have also pleased the eye; as John Ruddy and Lukas Jutkiewicz have extended their loan deals at Motherwell, they are both now signed on loan until the start of February.
As we near the January transfer window the rumour mill is already in full flow; with Donovan already a fixture at Goodison - Moyes who has already stated he wants at least two names to add to this, will have to answer questions on several players. Philippe Senderos was touted as an Everton purchase for a long time at the start of the season and his name may well be brought up again, with a loan deal more than likely. Moyes himself may come under pressure as rumours have started to appear about Bolton Wanderers interest in the Scotsman after sacking Gary Megson in December. This may all come as a distraction for the Blues head man as he now faces two extremely tricky fixtures away to Arsenal on Saturday and the week after at home to billionaires Manchester City in the early evening kick off. To combat this Moyes has invited back recently sacked Preston manager and ex-Everton coach Alan Irvine to Finch Farm.
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