Howard Kendall: No doubt over strength of Everton FC's start to the season

09 November 2012 12:00
How do you judge whether Everton FC have had a good start to the season? Just look at the Premier League table.

In 10 games so far they have lost just once – away at West Bromwich Albion in September. If that’s not an impressive way to show you mean business then I don’t know what is. A lot of people will look at results like Saturday’s at Fulham when they went to Craven Cottage and dominated for 90 minutes only to come away with a draw because of a combination of not taking their chances and a late defensive error.

Yes, that draw, like those with Wigan and QPR etc, is frustrating. But forget about the draws and look at the bigger picture – and there Everton are in fourth place, just a handful of points off the top of the table. If that pattern continues and by the end of the season Everton have lost only four games, you’ll know they will be right up their challenging and dreaming of Champions League football next season. It’s interesting that they haven’t lost at home yet. Before the campaign got underway I had a feeling Goodison was going to become a very difficult place for teams to visit once again, and it certainly has a bit of a fortress feel at the moment – although in fairness there haven’t been many home games so far.

Sunderland will represent a threat tomorrow, because they have struggled for points but have good players and a manager in Martin O’Neill who I respect highly. He will turn things around and I’m surprised to see them in the bottom half of the table. Let’s hope their luck turns but not on Saturday – when Everton could capitalise. Related stories From around the web Related Tags

Source: liverpool_echo