Source: Liverpool_Echo
DAVID PRENTICE: Mikel Arteta shows he’s the daddy as Blues fight to the finish
DAVID MOYES is getting good at this kind of thing. 'In the last day or two I've seen signs that he's starting to feel a bit better', suggested Everton's prophetic boss, before sitting back and watching the subject of his observation inspire an extravagantly entertaining demolition of Hull City at Goodison Park.[LNB]Mikel Arteta, clearly, felt a lot better.[LNB]Whether it was the presence of his wife and baby in the Main Stand, or just a psychological easing of the shackles which invariably follow a long-term injury, Evertonians' best little Spaniard was back to his effortless, elegant best.[LNB]And the timing of The Toffees' biggest win for more than two years was perfect.[LNB]If your hue is blue and you reside on Merseyside you've no doubt had the text messages since the Lisbon collapse.[LNB]'Keep the noise down. Your end of season parties get earlier and earlier,' and side-splitting variations on the same theme.[LNB]Which is what made yesterday's sparkling dismissal of Hull - a hammering so comprehensive Phil Brown's pallour was almost deathly when he walked into the Goodison press room - so significant.[LNB]Before David Moyes was able to construct an Everton squad with depth to match its increased quality, Everton had a habit of finishing seasons unacceptably early.[LNB]Two seasons ago a UEFA Cup exit to Fiorentina saw the Blues deflate like a punctured balloon.[LNB]The season before yielded one win from the final eight.[LNB]Even when Everton famously upset the established order and finished fourth, they celebrated by losing 7-0 at Arsenal and 3-2 at Bolton.[LNB]And 2003/04? The less said about that frail finish the better.[LNB]But that's all changed now.[LNB]If players aren't pulling their weight, David Moyes can change them.
