Once a Blue, not always a Blue!

The start to a new campaign in the English Premier League often sees David Moyes sweating it out on the touchline. The Everton boss has seen his side make sluggish starts year after year, he has witnessed many of his groomed talents being sucked out by richer opposition; but still the Scot has managed to finish every season on an impressive note, making every fan wonder what would be if they could overcome those early Blues!!

Monetary wealth has never been one of the luxuries that Everton FC could afford. Often the shopping basket for high profile spenders, Everton has had to sell many of its top class players in need of funds. More famously, Wayne Rooney was sold to Manchester United as a 17 year old for 30 million pounds. Firm fan favorites like Francis Jeffers, Michael Ball and Thomas Graveson were all sold to stabilize the club financially.

David Moyes had been getting the Blues into Europe on a regular basis in his first 6 years. But in the past 3 seasons, Everton has not been part of any of the European competition. The rise of clubs like Tottenham and more recently Newcastle would be seen as the reason for the hiccup, but again the sales of important players has affected the club. The departures of Lescott and Arteta certainly hurt the Blues, but more crucially their sale just before the deadline did not allow the club to recuperate their losses.

One look at the league table today would leave any Blue rubbing his eyes. Everton have been fantastic at the start of the 2012-13 campaign and the brand of football that they are playing along with the physical presence of many of the players, have left top teams rooted to the spot.

Moyes was again forced to sell one of his emerging stars over the summer, as Jack Rodwell left for Manchester City. The tough tackling English international is seen by many as the secure future of the nation’s midfield. But even after selling his upcoming stalwart, Moyes didn’t make any like for like replacement in midfield. Instead, the Scot brought back fan favorite Steven Pienaar, who had an unsuccessful spell at Spurs. Also, the capture of Greek league top scorer Kevin Mirallas has added to the growing brigade of Belgians in the league.

The spine of this David Moyes’s team is really firm and strong. The arrival of Jelavic in the winter had shown its effects on the team last season, but the Croat has now really started to affect proceedings. Even though he is yet to score this season, he has played the role of a No. 9 to perfection.

Fellaini has two main roles during Everton’s attacks. He has his back to the goal most of the time, and he heads down the ball to midfielders in space rather than the forward. Therefore, it is mostly Pienaar and Osman who benefit from the tall Belgian’s presence. Secondly, when Fellaini gets space to hold up the long balls, Jelavic makes runs in the channels between the centre back and fullback. This proves vital for a ball between the centre backs, and also brings in the wide right man into play.

A stat that has been prevalent for many a season is that most of Everton’s attacks come down the left. Often termed as the most unfortunate Englishman, Leighton Baines has been a mainstay in Moyes’ team. A left back by trade, Baines is the main origin of most attacks. His understanding with Pienaar and Fellaini often leads to magical one-twos around the defense, which sees him in opposition box. The most recent display of Baines and Pienaar’s combination was the demolition of Perch and Gutierrez during the first half rout of Newcastle.

Fellaini is often seen to shift out wide to the left during such attacks. This leaves Pienaar and Baines in a much more central position. This central link up has been helped by the striker’s positioning as well, as Jelavic and more recently Anichibe have been at the end of this wing play. The stat that Baines’s goal against Newcastle was his first goal from open play out of his last 12 shows his set piece prowess as well.

The defensive department was not always this neat and clean. The arrival of Distin at the club last season had improved the Blues defense, but injury woes to Jagielka and the inconsistencies of Heitinga had left the team weakened at the back. But taking into consideration the current form of Phil Jagielka, Moyes has bright days ahead. Jagielka and Distin have been rock solid at the back this season, with their only mistakes coming against an inspired Demba Ba.

Another notable mention needs to go Kevin Mirallas’ way. The Belgian plays as a right sided midfielder for the Blues, but pretty much like Pienaar on the left, often gets into goal scoring positions in the box. He is equally strong on both feet and his long range shooting gives Everton a different dimension. His goal against Swansea showed his willingness to get into the box on the counter.

The main trouble that Everton is going to have in the future will be a familiar one, to keep its stars. With Fellaini reportedly wanting to leave in December, Moyes has a big job to retain his main man. Baines has shown his loyalty to the club by snubbing a move to Manchester United in the summer. Other vital clogs like Osman and Jelavic have been signed on long term contracts.

Apart from the players, the president needs to be concentrating on retaining David Moyes at the club. Having already finished above rivals Liverpool in the league and having leapfrogged them this year, Everton are the favourites to be the best of the rest. Even though the Blues might not have the engine to break into the top four this season, they could very well repeat Newcastle’s feat from last season, and finish in a European spot.