Source: Daily_Mail
David Moyes in bid to lift the blues at struggling Everton
Time to get tough: Moyes knows he can only back failing players for so long[LNB]David Moyes fears he will be forced to write off Everton's season unless his players show a dramatic improvement over the next month.[LNB]From being tipped by Sir Alex Ferguson on the eve of the Barclays Premier League campaign as being dark horses for a Champions League place, Everton head into Christmas teetering on the brink.[LNB]Moyes still has great faith that the squad he has painstakingly assembled can deliver. [LNB]But the manager is aware the time has come for the faith invested in them to be repaid.[LNB]Everton face Manchester City tonight and, while Moyes enjoys a harmonious relationship with his board of directors, he is aware of his duty to provide good results.[LNB]'I'm not quite at the point yet of giving up and I am still thinking that I can have a good year,' said Moyes. [LNB]'But that point is going to come shortly if we do not pick up.[LNB]'It's not just Christmas which will determine that. It's how you do after Christmas and where you are going into January and a bit further down the line. [LNB]'If we get a few good wins and start moving forward, we will have a bit of a better idea. I believe we can still get to the level where we want to go but, if not, then we will look at it differently.'[LNB]So how has it reached this stage? [LNB]Everton are two points off the relegation zone, and three wins from 17 League matches is clearly unacceptable, given the players Moyes has at his disposal.[LNB]The most worrying aspect for Moyes, though, has been the manner in which Everton's strikers have malfunctioned and how reliant they have become on Tim Cahill.[LNB]The Australian midfielder has always been a huge influence on Everton but the statistics this season have been extraordinary.[LNB] Hard to replace: Cahill has scored eight goals this season[LNB]His tally of eight goals dwarfs the contribution of forwards LouisSaha, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford, and Cahill is effectivelyresponsible for 10 of the 18 points Everton have accrued.[LNB]No wonder, then, Moyes is frantically trying to find a way ofsolving the issue, particularly as he could be without Cahill for allof January due his commitments with Australia in the Asia Cup.[LNB]Even if Moyes does manage to find cover he wants to bring in 'twoor three' players on loan there is nothing to say Everton willsuddenly be revitalised.[LNB]Some have wondered whether Everton have lost their ability tosurprise opponents and, certainly, there is reason for believing theirplay has become a little too predictable. [LNB]The manager said: 'Until I find out whether it is just the strikers,I won't know whether the squad need breaking up. [LNB]'I might get a greatstriker in January and find that something else is wrong.[LNB]'But I have got to plug that gap first. I hope somebody other thanTim Cahill can score goals for us. [LNB]'He leaves us early January so weneed others to step up to the plate.'[LNB] David Moyes says Everton do not fear Manchester City - with or without Carlos Tevez'I've no sympathy for Man City's star problems', says Everton boss MoyesMan City v EVERTON: Steven Pienaar facing last fitness test ahead of Manchester tripEVERTON FC
