Source: Team_Talk
Toffees boss tempers expectations
Everton manager David Moyes has deliberately lowered expectations this season by admitting his side could struggle to finish in the top 10. [LNB] Financial restraints at Goodison Park have meant the Toffees boss has been unable to bring in any new players.[LNB]But he has had to watch the clubs who finished below them last season make considerable investment.[LNB]"I think we are going to have a big struggle to finish in the top 10 this season," said the Scot, who is preparing for a delayed start to the season against newcomers QPR after last weekend's opener at Tottenham was postponed because of the London riots.[LNB]"My hope is to do as well as we can. It is well-documented what has happened in terms of clubs buying to improve and I don't just mean the top clubs.[LNB]"I can see the likes of West Brom, Stoke, Fulham and Sunderland have all tried to improve and the reason they have done that is to finish where Everton can.[LNB]"We have tended to be somewhere fifth, sixth, seventh over the last five years.[LNB]"We have to aim to do that if we can but I think it will be tougher for us this season.[LNB]"Last season I had higher expectations so maybe people think we have dropped expectations - but when they do that we tend to do better.[LNB]"But (repeating last season's) seventh place will be a tough finish looking at it right now.[LNB]"I am incredibly ambitious and want to win something with Everton.[LNB]"If we can get the players I have brought here firing we have a good side."[LNB]After falling a match behind their rival Moyes said his players were raring to go after a hastily-arranged friendly against Bohemians in Ireland on Monday helped some players with their fitness.[LNB]"The players are ready to play. We had some who needed the extra week to get some more training in," he added.[LNB]"I have a brilliant group of players, a really good team and if we could add to it we would like to do so but not every manager is lucky enough to have millions.[LNB]"We may miss out on little bits and pieces but the one thing Everton will be is competitive in the Premier League.[LNB]"What we want to do is get ourselves up the league as quickly as we can.[LNB]"First of all this year is to get the points to make sure we are not in a relegation situation and then kick on from there."
