The Burning Question: Surely Everton Can’t Start Badly Again?
Filed under: Feature - Posted by: Jonty
The 2012/13 Premier League campaign may be about to get underway but with the transfer window still open and players still trickling back from the golf course and international duty, a number of unanswered questions have mounted up. In the first of a series of pre-season articles, we identify these “Burning Questions” and fire them at our resident contributors, in the hope that somewhere amongst their rambling, there’s a source of enlightenment.
We begin by examining that now familiar phenomenon, asssessing Everton’s chances of avoiding a false start.
Last season was a perfect example of Everton’s problematic start to a campaign; with the spectre of the transfer window once again leaving the cash strapped side unable to land the players it so desperately needed, whilst exposing them to the advances of wealthier suitors. The departure of Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta to Arsenal in the summer transfer window was particularly costly, as Everton notched up seven defeats by Christmas. Come 2012 the wind of change blew strongly across Merseyside, with the January window ushering in former player Steven Pienaar on loan and Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic from Rangers on a permanent basis. The new additions helped Everton achieve a nine–match unbeaten run and finish a very respectable seventh.
So far this season’s preparation is going far better. Pienaar has returned to the club and in Jelevic they have a settled and proven goalscorer, who has been joined by fellow former Rangers forward Steven Naismith. The ageing legs of Tim Cahill’s have departed to the New York Red Bulls and that may have opened the door for Everton’s other midfield talent to shine: Marouane Fellaini and Darron Gibson look set to profit. Despite being handed an opener against United, the fixture computer has also been reasonably kind to them with their first six games (MUN, avl, wba, NEW, swa, SOT). But will this be enough for Everton to tear up their dire early season form book?
Big Dunc says…
You have to go back to 2004-05 season for the last time Everton had a really strong start – they were sat in third place at Christmas and their eventual fourth place saw them qualify for the Champions League for the first time (only to be knocked out ahead of the group stages). Every year since, Moyes has been desperately trying to recreate that early season form and has failed miserably almost every time. As an Everton fan, I’ve got to be realistic and I believe that we’ve started badly because we just haven’t had the team to really challenge – the fact that Moyes has been able to get the very best out of his players as the season goes on and consistently finish strongly, is a testament to just how incredible a manager he really is.
This season feels different though. Previous seasons have seen us dogged by long drawn out transfer sagas, and the loss of Pienaar and Arteta last summer had a catastrophic effect on the structure of the team. The additions of Jelavic and Gibson in January, and then Pienaar and Naismith early in the summer window, however, means we will be starting with the strongest team we’ve had in years – there’s a natural balance to the side now and only the potential loss of Leighton Baines, who has been linked with Manchester United, could disrupt that. I’ll be backing Jelavic in a big way this season – I can see the vast majority of play coming through the Croatian, and he’s more than capable of over 20 goals this term – including his time at Rangers, he’s done it three years in a row now. If you’re looking for an early season differential then Fellaini could be well worth a punt – with Naismith likely to be used sparingly at first, I can see the big man pushed forwards and he should provide strong value across the games.
Mark says…
Is this bad start business merely a myth? This season should certainly test it to the full. Arguably Everton go into their opening game against United with one of the most settled squads, while David Moyes will have confidence in his tactics and personnel. The signing of Pienaar is, of course, absolutely key and with Nikaca Jelavic available from the get-go, I’d personally be very surprised if we didn’t see Everton destroy the hoodoo and be amongst the leading pack after the first couple of months. Will I back that view with some Fantasy investment? I’m still not sure. This time last year I was strongly considering Leighton Baines at 8.0, so why am I currently overlooking him at just 7.0? I’m still trying to work that one out – perhaps it’s the talk of a move to Old Trafford. Along with Thomas Vermaelen, Baines is the defensive wildcard who could rip it up and prove an outstanding differential.
Darron Gibson also deserves a mention – if Pienaar is too rich for you, Gibson, in the budget bracket looks an assured starter and has promised more goals. With Cahill now departed, we might even see Moyes release the shackles and give him licence to get within range with that howitzer shot of his.
Paul says…
With Steven Pienaar back in the fold on a permanent basis and Nikica Jelavic installed up top as the lone frontman, I don’t anticipate Everton will start quite so badly as they have done in recent seasons but I expect David Moyes’ men, as always, to have their customary strong finish. I feel that the reason as to why the Toffees continually do better in the final few months of each campaign is mainly down to one issue – fitness. There must be some explanation for the pattern; it’s not as if Moyes only manages to rally his troops with a few months of each term remaining. With Everton’s budget nowhere near many of their Premier League counterparts, Moyes is canny enough to gain an advantage over his rivals in every possible way and while many teams fail to maintain their results as the months go by and begin to flounder, the Goodison outfit are able to go from strength to strength in comparison. Consistency should be better, then, and with Jelavic’s deadly eye for goal up front, Baines could well return to the Fantasy form of 2010/11, with the Croatian and Pienaar looking strong value for their prices – the Sky Sports game also looks ideal for the South African in particular, with Marouane Fellaini a good bet here, too.
New boy Steven Naismith – if he can stay clear of injury – could also be a decent punt; reasonably priced across the Fantasy games, his previous partnership with Jelavic at Glasgow Rangers could come to fruition in the Premier League if he’s handed a regular role in “the hole” as a result of Tim Cahill’s departure to New York Red Bulls.
Anorak says…
Why not? It’s become a tradition in the last few years, so much so that questions about Moyes’ inability to construct that perfect pre-season and motivate his charges to begin with a bang have been heard loud and clear. However, this year things are slightly different in the build up, with the unfamiliar sights of both a settled squad and a couple of first team signings in the shape of Steven Pienaar and Steven Naismith sure to lift spirits of both the team and fans alike. Add to that the return of Jack Rodwell, and the potential form of Nikica Jelavić and Everton could even be a team to be reckoned with in early season.
My pick of the Toffees though would be the big Belgian, Marouane Fellaini – with Tim Cahill now plying his trade in the US, Fellaini will again be asked to push on this season and as he has already shown in the past, he’s a consistent danger against even the best sides, including their first opponents of the campaign Manchester United.
Stilicho says…
They can and they will. Various theories have been postulated to explain Everton’s perennially pedestrian starts: unusual training methods, a government conspiracy, a gypsy curse. Compelling as these explanations are, the truth is simple – Moyes does it deliberately for dramatic effect.
Justly commended for punching above their weight in recent years, the Toffees’ boss has taken to basing his entire strategy around the narrative structure of the Rocky films. First he raises the humble expectations of his squad with a grueling, montage-ridden training camp. Next he raises the tension by insisting they spend the first few months of the season staggering limply around Goodison and enduring a remorselessly pummeling at the hands of whoever happens to show up. Before Christmas, when all hope seems lost, he pulls a lopsided grimace and lets loose an incoherent exclamation – the signal for the Toffees’ triumphant fight back to upper-mid-table redemption. The music plays, everybody exclaims what a wonderful manager he is, and still nobody offers him a better job.
About The Author
“Fantasy Football Scout community manager and podcaster.”
Jonty @newsandfeatures
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“I understand you don't consider Dempsey a striker. He has developed into playing in different positions, but for me he is a pure striker. ”
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August 8 at 7:37 pm
Nighthawk says:
Best £4.0 m defender?
August 8 at 7:44 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Fonte.
August 8 at 7:46 pm
chuiku2 - join my mini league: 130105-39487 says:
Clyne
August 8 at 7:49 pm
Nighthawk says:
Fonte or Clyne – which one?
August 8 at 7:55 pm
Hiphopopotamus says:
I hear (from a Palace fan) Clyne is more certain to start than Fonte.
August 8 at 7:50 pm
Eversio88 says:
Mcarthy or Gorkss
August 8 at 7:54 pm
Hiphopopotamus says:
+1. I got them both. And Tierney.
August 8 at 7:55 pm
Nighthawk says:
Too many options, this isn’t helping >.
August 8 at 7:37 pm
Infinite Sheldon says:
Lampard to Nani GW2 anyone?
August 8 at 7:47 pm
QPR expects...Taarabt to shine says:
Was thinking Valencia but if he’s playing RB I’d sooner have Young. He always flatters to deceive at the start of the season
August 8 at 7:38 pm
ajay_kl says:
Get in Scholes.
Totally nailed Busquest
August 8 at 7:38 pm
ReinaMan says:
This seems to be going well so far, so here are today’s London pictures, three of them this time as I missed yesterday’s.
◆ http://i.imgur.com/eqRpL.jpg
◆ http://i.imgur.com/xCLvY.jpg
◆ http://i.imgur.com/bmkvI.jpg
Planning to branch out to other places soon, both here in the UK and abroad.
August 8 at 7:39 pm
Gervinho's Forehead says:
If you happen to be in East London then do visit Coffee Inn for dinner. Nice pics btw.
August 8 at 7:39 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
Some good shots there.
I take it you’ve been doing this regualrly by the sounds of it? What have I missed thus far?
August 8 at 7:51 pm
ReinaMan says:
The post with the links is being moderated, I think so I’ll post them in two posts
http://i.imgur.com/PXmGL.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EbwdN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e1OJd.jpg
August 8 at 7:52 pm
ReinaMan says:
http://i.imgur.com/1mHGg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7EBv8.jpg
I started doing it a few days ago, this should be most of the pictures so far.
August 8 at 7:40 pm
Smellbobs says:
reinaman do you take these yourself?
August 8 at 7:45 pm
ReinaMan says:
I wish I did, but no, I just find them on the internet
August 8 at 7:40 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Wait a minute …. You posted these yesterday.
Scammer!
August 8 at 7:41 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
and might I add, they are lovely.
Looking forward to the other ones.
August 8 at 7:44 pm
ReinaMan says:
Did I?
I tried to but the post didn’t show for me
August 8 at 7:47 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
I was skimming through the posts I missed when I woke up this morning. I saw these – and if I’m not mistaken, you had added a photo of Dublin as well? Sadly there no comments though.
Keep ‘em coming. Lovely stuff!
August 8 at 7:48 pm
ReinaMan says:
Ah it must have been moderated because of the amount of links, and was obviously allowed later on, hence no comments
August 8 at 7:49 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Aha ok.
August 8 at 7:44 pm
Nippy says:
really like that first one the best. keep them coming
August 8 at 7:52 pm
Haz to be Eden- Top scoring mid 12/13 Hazard (c) !! says:
Lived in London all my life, and never seen it like that.. that first picture is amazing
August 8 at 7:39 pm
Krul Intentions says:
If I just want one heavy hitter up top, this is what my team would be. What does everyone think?
Green / Al Habsi
Cole / Vidic / Hangeland / Cuellar / Coloccini
Valencia / Piennar / Bale / Lampard / Guthrie
Aguero / Petric / Graham
August 8 at 7:41 pm
Infinite Sheldon says:
Don’t like your defence.
August 8 at 7:41 pm
GREENDREAMS11 says:
Thinking the same with respect to graham and petric with a big hitter, gives great options for m/f
August 8 at 7:46 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
I’d be tempted to downgrade the defence and upgrade one of your keepers, if you’re dead set on Petric and Graham up top.
August 8 at 7:40 pm
Count Of Monte Hristo says:
Celtic 3-1 up on aggregate against Helsinki. Come on CL!!
August 8 at 7:40 pm
Snowman says:
August 8 at 7:48 pm
Count Of Monte Hristo says:
That makes you sad?
August 8 at 7:54 pm
Snowman says:
well not all of us are scotts….I’m finnish and we are finished.
August 8 at 7:42 pm
Dr Heckle - Official Olympic supplier of very average FF advice says:
Ref’s been very dodgy
August 8 at 7:41 pm
Wild Rover says:
I may be a miserable old git but Michael Johnson makes me look like Mr Happy skipping through the streets of Happyville after a bottle of happy pills…
August 8 at 7:46 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
You’re not that old
August 8 at 7:41 pm
Henry Hill says:
What do people think of this team
Friedel Federici
Lescott Cole. Fabio Cuellar Hughes
Taarabt Yaya Bale Pienaar Maloney
Torres Aguero Pogrebnyak
2mil in the bank
August 8 at 7:43 pm
SupaTune says:
Looks like the FFS standard team… Solid.
August 8 at 7:47 pm
Wild Rover says:
Probably not good that I have only three of them then….
August 8 at 7:48 pm
Infinite Sheldon says:
I have 8
August 8 at 7:52 pm
chickenwithpeas says:
9 here :p
August 8 at 7:45 pm
Smellbobs says:
assuming the 2m is earmarked for torres to rooney, only concerns would be if spurs sign friedal and if pogs price plummets after GW1 – then what would you do?
August 8 at 7:46 pm
Smellbobs says:
friedal should read lloris
August 8 at 7:50 pm
Henry Hill says:
Then I would be fúcked!
August 8 at 7:49 pm
QPR expects...Taarabt to shine says:
Henry, if you have the £2m in the bank for that fat balding bloke from UTD you may as well spend it now
August 8 at 7:50 pm
Infinite Sheldon says:
Why, Torres DGW?
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Henry Hill says:
I think I’ll keep Torres for the double, Taarabt to shine this season is right!
August 8 at 8:01 pm
mattatkins1 says:
I would invest in a Chelsea midfielder (Hazard, Mata or Lampard) for the opening Gamweek.. Could be some big points against weaker opposition (Reading home & Wigan away)..
August 8 at 7:41 pm
I taught Ashley Young how to earn penalties says:
Is Rooney really that fat?
August 8 at 7:41 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
Big boned innit.
August 8 at 7:42 pm
GREENDREAMS11 says:
Lol
August 8 at 7:42 pm
Gervinho's Forehead says:
No. He’s much fatter than he is made out to be.
August 8 at 7:41 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
Rumours going on that Busquets has sent in an apply for a huge new film in Hollywood.
August 8 at 7:41 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
.. which is why they want Song.
August 8 at 7:43 pm
Ronaldo-The Great One not the other guy says:
Anyone with the Everton line-up?
August 8 at 7:44 pm
Dynamic says:
Anyone not getting in Rooney now after seeing his weight?
Btw, where are you all watching this?
August 8 at 7:44 pm
SupaTune says:
Is it really as bad as people are saying?
#SaveusRVP
August 8 at 7:45 pm
Gervinho's Forehead says:
Where’s the last place you want to sit in the cinema?
We can’t post links but the above question might help.
August 8 at 7:48 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
http://www.behindaguywithamassiveafro.com ?
August 8 at 7:47 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
I clicked that link with the slightest hope in the world that it might actually work.
August 8 at 7:48 pm
Gervinho's Forehead says:
http://www.sittingbehindfellaini.com
August 8 at 7:49 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
Grrr, better than mine!
August 8 at 7:49 pm
Dynamic says:
I get what youre saying
August 8 at 7:46 pm
Holy see says:
See how he looks gw1, judge him after that methinks.
August 8 at 7:47 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Happy Birthday!!
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Holy see says:
Cheers, I’m hungover
August 8 at 7:49 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
google wiziwig
August 8 at 7:44 pm
El_Nino09 says:
Taarabt or Maloney?
August 8 at 7:47 pm
I taught Ashley Young how to earn penalties says:
I might need to change squad around after seeing how much of a whale Rooney is looking like. Like a big fat whale
August 8 at 7:48 pm
Mulder says:
LOL
August 8 at 7:49 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
As opposed to a small slim whale?
August 8 at 7:49 pm
DiMatteoBandwagon says:
At least thats made my “do i need Rooney” decision easier
August 8 at 7:51 pm
DiMatteoBandwagon says:
YEAH i bloody do!
gonna pull it out the bag
August 8 at 7:50 pm
ReinaMan says:
To keep Nitin satisfied, I’ll add a bonus picture from Leadenhall Market, London
http://i.imgur.com/GWjTV.jpg
and the picture of The Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin
http://i.imgur.com/EcUKB.jpg
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Top stuff. Cheers!
August 8 at 7:51 pm
chuiku2 - join my mini league: 130105-39487 says:
UEFA.com confirming that Moura will join PSG in Jan 2013… Bad luck, Man United fans… So I guess United are done this transfer window…
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampi.....+sao+paulo
August 8 at 7:53 pm
SupaTune says:
We’ll get RVP.
August 8 at 7:51 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Everton team v AEK Athens:
Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Osman, Gibson, Fellaini, Pienaar, Naismith, Jelavic.
August 8 at 7:51 pm
I taught Ashley Young how to earn penalties says:
Rooney wont last 90 minutes in any game looking that fat. He looks like he eat the whole cast of Annie
August 8 at 7:51 pm
beric says:
Virgin trains take the PISS. I could have got a train for half the price that would have got me to London at the same time as this one is going to get me there.
And now I’ve paid a bluey so I can piss about on the internet for the remainder of my journey.
Anything exciting happen today?
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Barca v United
August 8 at 7:55 pm
beric says:
So I guess everyone is off Rooney now, that’s good. It’ll just be me who gets his 12+ points from Everton.
August 8 at 7:53 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
They charge for wifi? I thought that shizzle was free. Thieves.
August 8 at 7:54 pm
beric says:
Only free if you’re 1st class, you must have a better lifestyle than me.
August 8 at 7:56 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
The only time I’ve been in first class is when I was in the toilet hiding from the conductor.
I haven’t caught the train for ages, I just presumed they had free wifi because I’m sure I’ve seen ads for it.
August 8 at 7:57 pm
beric says:
And yeah, I thought wi-fi was free. Stingy bastards.
August 8 at 7:57 pm
beric says:
August 8 at 7:51 pm
I taught Ashley Young how to earn penalties says:
Rooney was too busy eyeing up the mcdonalds advertising boards
August 8 at 7:51 pm
Gervinho's Forehead says:
Rooney to score the penalty and everyone to bring him in their teams. FACT FACT FACT
August 8 at 7:51 pm
Nitin Nagaraja - Checked into Hotel Tassel! says:
Lovely stuff!
August 8 at 7:52 pm
beachsherrill says:
Home for lunch. Talk of Fat Rooney forced me to turn on game (dvr-ing).
August 8 at 7:52 pm
Grounderz says:
Get Kagawa in! We need someone to slot that ball through that space.
August 8 at 7:52 pm
floydy_floyd says:
Anyone eyeing Yaya as city coverage. He’s about the only one guaranteed to play and his points per minute ratio is decent.
August 8 at 7:55 pm
chickenwithpeas says:
lol @ “the only guaranteed to play”
August 8 at 7:59 pm
floydy_floyd says:
It’s true?
August 8 at 7:52 pm
Grounderz says:
Rooney missed…
August 8 at 7:51 pm
beric says:
Really?
August 8 at 7:54 pm
Grounderz says:
Penalty saved, rebound and executed it wide off-target with his left foot.
August 8 at 7:54 pm
beric says:
Good man, he’s sticking to the plan. Get rid of interest, then score thrice against Everton.
August 8 at 7:55 pm
bdwhite91 says:
My stream went down right before the PK. That bad, huh?
August 8 at 7:56 pm
beric says:
That shit always happens to me when watching streams. I swear, it’s a conspiracy!
August 8 at 7:52 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
Rooney always shoots to that side…………………………
August 8 at 7:52 pm
Acquafresca says:
Wow Rooney actually stinks at PKs
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Gervinho's Forehead says:
ROONEY YOU’RE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
.
.
.
FAT!
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Doosra - "A Liberty is both Universal and Indivisible. Anything else is just an excuse for bad behaviour by the rich." - A Noble quote. says:
+42. Has he changed his sponsor to Michelin???
August 8 at 7:54 pm
little_wizard123 says:
Every time someone goes mental on the keyboard it gives me a really annoying side scroll bar. At least it’s you and not Daniel this time.
August 8 at 7:56 pm
Nighthawk says:
+1 You’ve messed up my iPad.
Hurry up page 12.
August 8 at 7:53 pm
Upson Downings says:
What was that Wayne?
August 8 at 7:54 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
An obese pig apparently took the penalty. Have to been hilarious for the audience.
August 8 at 7:54 pm
Podge says:
-2 and I captained him so -4 dammit