Can Everton make the top four, again?

A side who have earned many plaudits so far this campaign is Everton, with their usual frustrating start to a season pleasantly eluding them. Four wins from eight games means they find themselves in the top four, and the last time they started as well as this they indeed gate crashed the Champions League positions back in 2004. Eight years on, can David Moyes’s side really do it again?

Moyes previously guided Everton the Champions league in 2005

Of all the Premier league managers, only Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have spent more time at their helm then Moyes, and despite year in year out having to sell his best players to please the finances, the former Preston manager has done an incredible job at Goodison Park. Moyes was heavily linked with the vacant Spurs job which appeared in the summer; however via whatever means a move never materialised and to his and the side’s credit they've put the rumours to one side and started this year fantastically.

Their first eleven can compete with any in the division, with their left hand side in particular dazzling this year. Leighton Baines and the returning Steven Pienaar have linked superbly, with the England full-back finding himself in the opponents half more than his own. The likes of Marouane Felliani have also been brilliant, with the Belgian midfielder adding three goals from midfield so far. For years at Goodison the home side have been craving a natural goalscorer and in the form of the Croat Nikica Jelavic they finally have one, and he’ll be in and around the league’s top scorers.

Baines has been one of Moyes' greatest ever signings

Like I touched upon earlier, Everton have far too often found themselves playing catch up following a poor start to the season, however 15 points from eight matches, which to be fair would've been two greater had goal line technology been in place, means they can be chased instead of the chasers.

Unfortunately for Moyes and Everton, unlike in 2004 when they qualified for the Champions league, there was only five clubs battling it out for the top four, realistically you can say this time around there are eight! When you consider the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham didn’t qualify for Europe’s finest club competition, all be it in differing circumstances, it goes to show the strength in depth the top eight clubs have. Newcastle finished above Chelsea last season and despite a slow start have a starting eleven capable of competing with the best in the league. In 2004 Everton didn't have to compete with Manchester City, whom over the last two years have become a regular in the Champions league spots.

Like Newcastle, Everton don’t have the greatest strength in depth in comparison to the usual Champions league suspects, which is a worry when you consider the numbers usually found on the treatment table at Goodison Park. Jelavic aside they don’t have a forward who you could realistically say will guarantee 15 goals a season. Whilst defensively they've no cover for the three centre backs, which at some point will affect them this season. Having lost the versatile Jack Rodwell and Tim Cahill in the summer, and many of the previous season’s loan additions you worry for them in case any of their bigger name players are injured.

Jelavic has 13 goals in just 19 Premier league games for the Toffees. 

You always associate an incredible turn of form after Christmas with Everton, but that can’t happen every season, and who’s to say their usual start of season slump won’t occur later on in the year. With the stiff competition for Champions league places this year, you’d have to say Everton will need to maintain their two points per game ratio over a 38 game season, which won’t be easy.

At the start of the season I didn't think they’d be able to mount a Champions league push, but after their early form you wouldn't bank against Moyes gate crashing the top four once more!

Premier League tips

Last week's returns: Profit £44.39
Overall returns: Profit £42.56

Saturday 6th October

Manchester City vs Sunderland
City were poor midweek against Borussia Dortmund and a lunchtime kick off Saturday morning isn't ideal after playing Wednesday and given the fact Steven Fletcher hasn't stopped scoring for Sunderland since his move from Wolves in the summer, expect City's long run without a clean sheet to continue.

Given City's brilliant form home, I expect them to edge out Sunderland, but it won't be a stroll.

Manchester City 2 Sunderland 1 - 9/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Over 2.5 goals - 4/6 with Betfair - Returns of £8.33
Carlos Tevez anytime goalscorer - Evens with Bwin - Lose a fiver
Highest scoring half First - 13/5 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Down £11.67

Chelsea vs Norwich
Chelsea impressed away to Arsenal and are flying high at the top of the Premier league, with five wins from six. Norwich are struggling, and a mixture of conceding too many and not scoring enough doesn't bode well for the Canaries.

Roberto Di Matteo's men should win this home encounter and continue their fine start to the league campaign.

Chelsea 3 Norwich 0 - 7/1 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Juan Mata to assist the first goal - 7/1 with BoyleSports - Lose a fiver
Chelsea to win - 1/4 with Bet Victor - Returns of £6.25
Both teams to score NO - 10/11 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Game returns - Down £13.75

Mata scored on his debut vs. Norwich City last season

Swansea vs Reading 
Swansea haven't scored in three and winless in four Premier league matches, and were out thought last week against Stoke City, whilst Reading are yet to win since their return to the top flight. Back both teams to score as they've only two clean sheets between them, both Swansea's and in their first two games.

Reading need to start picking up points and back them to get a draw away to an out of sorts Swansea here.

Swansea 1 Reading 1 - 6/1 with Ladbrokes - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Draw - 77/29 with Pinnacle - Returns of £18.27
Both teams to score YES - 9/10 with Stan James - Returns of £9.50
Under 2.5 goals - 39/40 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Profit £7.77

West Brom vs QPR
West Brom have won all three games at the Hawthorns this season and are yet to concede a goal on their home turf. QPR have made a poor start to the season; however they've a more friendly looking fixture list coming up in the next few weeks and Mark Hughes will see this game as a chance to earn their first win.

The first goal in this game will be the key one especially with the way QPR are defending at the moment; however I reckon they'll get something from their trip here.

West Brom 1 QPR 2 - 14/1 with Totesport - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 4/5 with Stan James - Returns of £9
Draw HT/ QPR FT - 17/2 with BetVictor - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 5/6 with SkyBet - Returns of £9.16

Match returns - Down £1.84

Wigan vs Everton
Despite playing well in games Wigan are struggling to score the goals to give themselves a chance at collecting three points. Everton on the other hand are on fire! Second in the league and with four wins from six, they could surprise everyone and make the top four this season.

Last time these two met it was a draw at the DW Stadium last year, and I reckon Wigan will get a draw here again too.

Wigan 1 Everton 1 - 6/1 with Ladbrokes - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Draw -  47/18 with Pinnacle - Returns of £18.06
Both teams to score YES - 9/10 with Stan James - Returns of £9.50
Nikica Jelavic anytime goalscorer - 15/8 with Stan James - Returns of £14.38

Match returns - Profit £21.94

West Ham vs Arsenal
Last week for these two clubs was a week of first's as West Ham won a Premier League away game for the first time since the 2nd February 2011, whilst Arsenal lost for the first time this season at home to Chelsea.

West Ham are unbeaten at home so far and Arsenal are unbeaten away from the Emirates and I expect the first to come to an end this weekend with Arsenal winning narrowly.

West Ham 1 Arsenal 2 - 8/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 8/11 with Stan James  Returns of £8.64
Arsenal to win - 24/23 with Pinnacle - Returns of £10.22
Gervinho anytime goalscorer - 9/4 with Ladbrokes - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Down £1.14
Day returns - Profit £1.31

Gervinho is in fine goalscoring form the for Gunners

Sunday 7th October

Southampton vs Fulham
Southampton will be pleased to get back to St Marys following their third consecutive away defeat last week against Everton. Fulham have always had troubles on their travels, but they did beat Wigan in their last away match two weeks back.

If Southampton are to survive then they will need to win there home matches against sides like Fulham and I expect them to do so here.

Southampton 2 Fulham 1 - 10/1 with Betfred - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 8/11 with Stan James - Returns of £8.64
Over 2.5 goals - 4/5 with 888Sport - Returns of £9
Highest scoring half, Second - Evens with Paddy Power - Returns of £10

Match returns - Profit £7.64

Liverpool vs Stoke
Both Liverpool and Stoke earned their first wins of the season last week in comfortable fashion. Despite a midweek defeat to Udinese in the Europa League, Liverpool have improved over the last few weeks and expect them to pick up their first Anfield win of the Premier league season on Sunday.

It won't be as many goals as last week; however given Luis Suarez's rich vein of goal scoring form, I fancy him to score in a Liverpool win.

Liverpool 2 Stoke 1 - 17/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Luis Suarez to score and Liverpool to win - 13/8 with Bluesquare - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score YES - 6/5 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
First team yellow card Stoke - 1/2 with bet365 - Returns of £7.50

Match returns - Down £12.50

Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Tottenham were brilliant as they finally ended their Old Trafford hoodoo last week and backing that up with a home win here is vital. Villa rescued a point at home to West Brom last week; however if they are to avoid a relegation fight, they are games they should be winning.

Andre Villas-Boas is slowly getting there with Spurs, and back them to win here quite comfortably.

Tottenham 3 Aston Villa 1 - 11/1 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Jermaine Defoe to score anytime - 11/10 with Bwin - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 21/20 with You win - Lose a fiver
Tottenham to win - 1/2 with William Hill - Returns of £7.50

Match returns - Down £12.50

Newcastle United vs Manchester United
Newcastle recovered well, all be it in controversial circumstances, last week against Reading, and backed it up with an impressive win at home to Bordeaux mid-week in the Europa League. Manchester United however were poor in their defeat to Spurs, but did manage to win in Romania in the Champions League.

With Newcastle the home side, I can't see much separating these two and it'll probably be a draw.

Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 1 - 7/1 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score YES - 8/11 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 4/7 with 188Bet - Returns £7.85
Wayne Rooney anytime goal scorer - 15/8 with Stan James -  Lose a fiver

Match returns - Down £12.15
Day returns - Down £29.51
Weekend returns - Down £28.20
Overall returns - Profit £14.36

Accumulator of the week - Manchester City, Chelsea, Southampton and Tottenham to win - £5 returns £29.79 with Skybet

Europa League push at best for the Toffee's

It is no coincidence that Everton's best form of the previous season coincided with a brilliant January transfer window for the club. Nikica Jelavic proved to be a real bargain addition scoring nine goals in his first 13 matches; however the returning Steven Pienaar's form during his six month loan spell at the club was the real catalyst behind their end of season form. The South African international has since gone on to make his loan move permanent, ensuring his stay away from the club was a very brief one.

After being heavily linked with the then vacant managerial position at Spurs, David Moyes will be hoping his loyalty is rewarded in the form of money to spend and reassurances that his best players won't be sold. He has added shrewdly so far in the form of Pienaar and Steven Naismith, who will look to continue his centre forward partnership with Jelavic from their Rangers days.

In the last three Premier League seasons Everton have started incredibly slowly, relying on their turn of the year form to fire them up the league. Of their first 20 games the club lost half of them, meaning they were consistently in the lower regions of the table; however their last 18 matches saw the Toffee's only lose twice. During that run the club beat the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs whilst coming from two goals down to rescue an unlikely point at Old Trafford.

Prior to the arrival of Jelavic the club really lacked firepower, and I worry where the goals will come from if the Croatian gets an injury next season. Aside from that the only other position I feel Everton lack strength in depth is the wide midfield areas. The controversial Royston Drenthe wasn't kept on, whilst the young Seamus Coleman and Magaye Gueye are talented however aren't ready to be consistent starters in a Moyes side.

Key player - Steven Pienaar. If there were a team for the best performing players in the second half of last season then Pienaar would be a shoe-in for the squad. It's fair to say Moyes brings out the best in Pienaar as the former Spurs man flourished in his free role last season, with his man of the match performance vs Chelsea in particular highlighting how technically brilliant he is. Given Tim Cahill's departure, there will be an added pressure on Pienaar to score more goals from midfield this campaign.



Prediction - 8th. If the likes of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini are still at the club come September then I do feel they can really compete with the best; however it wouldn't be a Summer transfer window for Moyes if he didn't have to part way with a Goodison Park favourite. A decent start is a necessity this time around, as they won't always be so good after Christmas. I expect them to sit comfortably in the top ten though.

View from a fan - @keith1878

What would be an ideal season?
European qualification via the league whilst finishing about Liverpool coupled with some good cup form and even some silverware.

What would be a nightmare season?
Having to sell Baines or Fellaini to keep the bank happy, financial meltdown whilst not having our good post-season form.

Do you have the right manager?
Yes. He's had a lot to deal with during his 10 years, but normally gets the right players on the pitch and fighting for everything.

Which Premier League player would you sign given the chance?
Mikel Arteta or Wayne Rooney. Other than ex players it depends where the annual injury crisis is, I like Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, they're both brilliant!

Should you cash in on Rodwell or keep him?
Need to keep him unless a big offer comes in, which is unlikely considering his injury record. This season is really make or break for him.

What players should we look out for this season?
Ross Barkley should get more chances this year following a season in the reserves. He was thrown in the deep end following the Arteta sale. Shane Duffy too, as well as Francisco Jr has had a decent pre season, few dodgy tackles but some decent skills, he could get a chance.