Everton FC should not rule out top four finish this season - Joe Royle

07 September 2012 06:30
FORMER Blues boss Joe Royle believes Everton should not rule out finishing in the Premier League’s top four if they can avoid major injuries this season. Royle, who was the last Toffees manager to lift a trophy when his side won the FA Cup in 1995, has been thoroughly impressed with David Moyes’ transfer dealings in the summer, and insists Everton are primed to capitalise on a period of stability.

And the former Goodison striker thinks his beloved Blues are capable of repeating their achievement of finishing fourth in 2005, especially with other contenders going through transitional phases. He said: “Everton are looking strong. They are certainly a solid bet for the top six and if they can get their best team out every week and find some rhythm and continuity then you can’t rule out the top four.

“The Manchester clubs have had funny starts and are conceding goals while Arsenal and Tottenham have made changes and don't look overly convincing. “I think there is an awful lot to be optimistic about for Everton.” Royle believes Moyes might have made his second FA Cup final last term if he had been able to include the then on-loan Steven Pienaar in his line-up for the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool at Wembley. “Pienaar just brings everyone on with him,” he says. “He has always been terrific with Baines but I have never seen Fellaini in better form and both Osman and Gibson are thriving too. “A lot of that is down to Pienaar’s influence. “It was so clear last season when we were missing him at Wembley in a game where neither side really performed, yet a week or so later we were terrific against a very good Manchester United side at Old Trafford with Pienaar at the heart of it.”

But Royle has also been impressed by another January arrival in the form of £500,000 Old Trafford recruit Darron Gibson. Speaking in this month’s edition of the Evertonian magazine (far right), he said: “Darron came along and offered Everton something a bit different. “He is always looking for the ball and always wants the ball – he is that important continuity player that a team needs. “Plus the thing with Gibson is you get the impression there is much more to come from him.

“He can score goals and I think we’ll see more from him in the future as well.” Nikica Jelavic was arguably the main arrival in the previous transfer window and Royle is quick to acknowledge his impact – although he thinks the summer has further consolidated an already vibrant dressing room. “In Jelavic they got someone with great movement and mobility,” he added. “But more than that he is someone who wants to score goals and he is a great finisher.

That was so important because before you would see games Everton were on top in but they lacked that cutting edge that a goalscorer provides. “Jelavic has been that man - his goals are a major, major plus for them. “I honestly don’t know about the new lads yet, but they come with pedigree and will give the manager options. “Naismith has come in and started well after impressing in Scotland and is fitting in with the way Everton do things. “New players need a little time but if you look at the squad now, it has a good look about it. They look as strong as they have done for a while.” Related stories From around the web Related Tags

Source: liverpool_echo