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Everton FC's poor start to the season - cause for concern?

22 September 2010 12:00
"If only the season had started in January...." - it is a familiar lament for Blues fans; one that can regularly be heard on the terraces of Goodison Park come the end of the Premier League campaign.[LNB]When David Moyes gets his side into a rhythm, they are a formidable unit and a match for any team in the top flight. But more often than not, poor starts to the season undermine Everton's progress and leave fans rueing their team's sluggish first few games when May arrives.[LNB]Everton currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, winless after five matches with two draws and three defeats to their name. They are one of only three English league sides - the others being West Ham at the bottom of the Prem table and Portsmouth propping up the Championship - yet to pick up full points from a game.[LNB] Should the start to 2009/10 be a real cause for concern?[LNB]Worst since 1994/95[LNB]In terms of the league alone, Everton's start (0 wins, 2 draws, 3 defeats) is their poorest since the 1994/95 season under Mike Walker, when they were 0-1-4 after five games. The Blues then failed to win any of their first 12 league games before beating West Ham 1-0 at home on 1 November 1994. With prospects looking bleak, Joe Royle was drafted in as Walker's replacement.[LNB]Royle was an instant success - his first match in charge brought a 2-0 derby victory over Liverpool with Duncan Ferguson and Paul Rideout getting the goals. The new manager also won the next two league games against Chelsea and Leeds. The ship was steadied and as the campaign progressed, survival was no longer the main item on the agenda as an unlikely FA Cup run developed.[LNB]As every Blue will know, Everton recovered sufficiently to beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final in May, having been knocked out of the League Cup early in the season over two legs by First Division stragglers Portsmouth. With the FA Cup the Blues' only realistic hope for silverware left this season, fans will hope Moyes' men can put the Carling Cup defeat to Brentford behind them and have a good run in the main domestic cup competition again.[LNB]For a visualisation of Everton's season starts under Moyes, see next page >>>>>>

Source: Liverpool_Echo