Source: Team_Talk
Everton pair relishing new season
Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert have expressed their excitement at what Everton could achieve this season.[LNB] The Toffees managed to finish eighth in the Premier League last term despite enduring a difficult start when injuries restricted David Moyes' options.[LNB]Everton were excellent at times during the second half of the season and Cahill is confident of more success in 2010/11.[LNB]The Australian playmaker scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 friendly victory over Norwich on Saturday and feels Everton are ready to hit the ground running when the new campaign gets under way.[LNB]"The squad is unbelievable, now it's about maintaining it and making sure we can keep everyone fit," he told Everton TV.[LNB]"I always look forward to the new season but this time I think the preparations have probably been the best in my time at the club.[LNB]"I hope this time we can have a great start because I think it's important for us to take this form into the league, replicate our form from the end of last season and kick on."[LNB]Cahill was not only delighted with his own performance against Norwich but also the way the team played.[LNB]"It's brilliant," he said. "We've had quite a hard session going into the game with a hell of a lot of running this week. But to see the hard work pay off on the pitch early is great. [LNB]"Obviously getting the goals is a nice bonus for me but we're playing nice, flowing football, keeping the ball well and we look like a really good team at the minute.[LNB]"There's maybe a little bit of pressure on us World Cup players because the lads have done so well over pre-season.[LNB]"It wasn't easy to come back after a break and come back into the thick of things, because Norwich are a good team. But overall, I'm very happy with how it went."[LNB]There is an optimistic mood in the camp even though Moyes has been fairly quiet in the transfer market, a stark contrast to big-spending rivals Manchester City.[LNB]Everton have kept hold of all their key players and, with a settled squad, defender Hibbert believes they can challenge for a place higher up the table.[LNB]"We can't think below the top six this season because of the squad we've got," Hibbert told the Liverpool Echo.[LNB]"Let the teams around us spend all they want. They've done that for years.[LNB]"The Man Citys and Tottenhams will always have the big money and Spurs did it brilliantly last season but they've got to keep it going.[LNB]"The squad we've got is the best in years."
