Many tipped Everton to make a big impact this season but so far it has been a frustrating campaign for David Moyes and Everton. Everton have made their worst start to a Premier League campaign in sixteen years and lay only two points off the relegation zone. Their 4-1 home defeat to West Brom on Saturday was embarrassing and questions are now being asked about the Everton team. Can Everton get themselves out of the form that hasn't seen them win since the 30th October and climb the table, or will they soon find themselves in a relegation dog fight.
Nobody is saying that Everton are even a candidate for relegation, but their form has to improve immediately. The way they went down to West Brom was very unlike a David Moyes team. Some players gave up, showed little passion for the shirt – something that has to worry both the manager and fans alike. Everton could find themselves fighting for survival this season, something that nobody expected at the start of the season. The longer they stay in this run of form, the trickier it will be to get out of their plight. Everton need a turning point this season, and it needs to come sooner rather than later.
The worry for Everton fans must be the lack of goals from strikers this season. It is accepted that if you have strikers that can score in the Premier League then you can hit above your aims. Look at the philosophy's of Blackpool and West Brom. Only two of Everton's Premier League goals have come from recognised strikers – one from Yakubu and one from Jermaine Beckford. This has to be a huge concern for Everton. They do not have the finances to attract a top quality centre forward. The signing of Jermanie Beckford on a free transfer points to this issue. Can they really expect Tim Cahill to shoulder the burden of scoring for their off target strikers? So far he has been excellent but you just feel they need to take the load off Cahill.
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Further to lacking a top quality centre forward, they lack top quality investment. How envious Everton fans must have been when they saw the amount of buyers that wanted Liverpool. Why does nobody seem to want to invest or buy into Everton? From what Bill Kenwright says the club is well run, with debts that are expected of any business. The club has a massive fan base and a very decent stadium. Is there a deeper lying reason for this lack of investment. Have buyers looked at Everton and chose to go for the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. Do they see Everton as a club they can take forward. Where can they really take Everton – granted the sky is the limit with massive cash but they haven't been willing to invest. Unless Everton find suitable investment, we could see the toffee's continue to struggle with each passing season.
The longer Everton continue to struggle, the more they will fall behind their competitors for Europe. Manchester City and Tottenham have gone past Everton in recent years and are now competing for Champions League football. If Everton are not careful they will find themselves falling behind Aston Villa, Liverpool and Sunderland. Simply put, Everton need to get themselves out their rut this season and push up the table. The longer this goes on panic will set in.
Everton have no real need to panic in terms of relegation just yet. The need for European football next season is paramount in terms of revenue and finding new investment. The longer this slump goes on the further Everton will fall behind their competitors. Even more worrying would be if this slump continues for the rest of the season. A relegation dog fight is not what anyone needs at Goodison this season.