Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton pre-season special: Passports at the ready for Europa League push
AMID the many striking images that were taken during last season's unforgettable campaign, one picture of David Moyes strikes a particular chord.
Leaning against a dugout and staring into space, his mind clearly racing all over the place, this photograph of the Everton manager was captured immediately after his side had just been knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Standard Liege.
As someone who relishes the opportunity to pit his wits against coaches on the continent, falling at the first hurdle for the third time in European competition dented Moyes' pride and that defeat came when it appeared Everton's season was about to implode.
Remembering the adventures of the previous campaign, and those memorable nights in Kharkiv, Nuremburg and Bergen, being knocked out by the Belgians was an especially bitter pill for Moyes to swallow.
Perhaps, though, it was the watershed moment that was required to galvanise the Blues.
Having looked anything but potential European candidates last autumn, their form picked up so much that they ended up being spoken of as Champions League contenders.
Unfortunately, club football's most glamorous and lucrative competition remains tantalisingly out of their reach for the moment and Moyes is unlikely to be satisfied until he is rubbing shoulders with the best around.
For the time being, however, the Europa League is an acceptable alternative and - provided they negotiate a tricky play-off with SK Sigma Olomouc this month - there are plenty of trips and teams on the horizon to make the mouth water.
