COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

Reflections from My Seat

By Ken Buckley : 19/05/2008 :

Comments (9) :

The season is over, the points have been totted up and we finished a favourable fifth which gives more European nights next season.

It was a season of highs and lows and as much a resounding success as it was a failure.

Success was improving our finishing position by one place and accruing a record number of points since the Premier League began.

Success was a semi-final appearance in the Carling Cup as well as topping our group in Uefa Cup and progressing to the last sixteen only to go out on pens in a second leg that was a joy to behold.

Failure was an ignominious home defeat in the FA Cup and a dismal run in to the end of the season.

The success side of things was encouraging but was gained by having a very good first eleven and strong bench only when all players were fit, on form, and available.

The failure side came when some of the players from the above were not available for it showed up lack of depth in terms of a quality squad, something that shuffling about versatile players proved not to be the answer.

In the success parts of the season, standout games emerged where excellent joined up football was played, whereas in the failure parts of the season hoofball seemed to prevail, which tells the story of squad numbers and our inability to have like for like replacements.

Everyone will have their favourite standout game and I am sure the Fiorentina home leg will be up there with the 7-1 v Sunderland but my favourite was City away when we simply blew away a side on the top of its home form with a classic display. On leaving the ground a City fan told me he thought we were ?Awesome?!

It was a season I particularly enjoyed as it showed that we have come a long way under David Moyes and with the help of the Board in being able to make funds available for that all important squad building then another step forward can be gained.

To really shake up the ?Sky Four? I think that we would need a better player than we already have in every position and our present top players ready to step in as we fight on all fronts, all would be needed. As that is not realistic at the present time, steady quality building will raise the bar another notch and then who knows?.

Off the field of play the big debate is ?Destination Kirkby?. Since the ballot was announced, it has left me with some sort of dilemma for I don?t think that the club should leave the city but I want what is best for my beloved club. As an ordinary season ticket holder, I really am in no position to know what is best for a multi-million pound business but my opinion hasn?t changed from day one in thinking that, no matter the figures of the vote or the strength of anti-movements, in the end these mega bucks moves will be decided one way or the other by Politicians, Lawyers, Bankers, Planners along with powerful people with vested interests and the ?Old Boy Network?. As a person who takes great interest in all things Blue I eagerly await the outcome of this one.

For the coming season, I will watch for the incomings as I am sure the manager will have a clear picture of who and how many he wants within the budget he his given. I really hope he hits his main targets and I wouldn?t be surprised to see some loan deals as I think that after our last campaign Manager and fans have a clearer idea what it takes in terms of showing well on all fronts all season long.

I am sure all media outlets will have hundreds of players coming to us but for me I will be content to let the manager do his job and wait for the waving of shirt or scarf to confirm the signing.

For as much as I enjoyed this season, I hope the coming one eclipses it and takes us that bit nearer to ?Blue Heaven?

UP THE BLUES

Reader Comments

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Phil Ashton
1 Posted 20/05/2008 at 07:57:40

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Ken, great article as usual. it has been a pleaseure to read your balanced, unbiased and sensible articles this season. A refreshing change from the assortment of myopic ragbag articles. When speaking to supporters of other teams (even RS!), their overwhelming opinion is that Everton have made great strides under DM, and consider him a fine British manager. Doubters please re-read our comical and error strewn period in the 90?s (cup win excepted) COYB!!

Michael Hunt
2 Posted 20/05/2008 at 07:59:52

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The title should be Reflections I assume, rather than re-elections (due to the Kirkby election controversies?!)
Agree with 90% of that Ken, but would have some of our existing players in my ’dream team’, certainly Joleon Lescott and possibily Cahill, Arteta, Yakubu, Vaughan (injury free!)

Everything crossed that we’ll get the right quality and quantiity in this summer for a realistic sustained assault on 3rd/4th next season.

Matt Kassell
3 Posted 20/05/2008 at 09:00:05

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Nice one Ken. A highlight for me came right at the start of the season with the brilliant display and victory at Spurs. Similar to the City win you mentioned in the effect it had on the media and the opposing fans. It was that game for me that indicated we were capable of something good that season. Looking forward to August...

Terry Smith
4 Posted 20/05/2008 at 10:56:38

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Totally agree with the above. My only fear could be that Moyes buys the players he wants and the fans will expect a lot more. WHICH IS RIGHT but finishing 5th next year would not be a bad thing ? we just need to bed in the new players with existing squad and fingers crossed we should have good domestic & European cup runs with hopefully big push for 4th.

Neil Pearse
5 Posted 20/05/2008 at 12:55:04

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Thanks Ken! I always look forward to reading your beautifully balanced and fair-minded posts. You are an example to us all!

The question of who in our present squad would get into the top four teams is a very sharp way of painting our dilemma. I would guess as follows:

Lescott would be the only regular top four starter.

Arteta, Cahill, Vaughan, Yobo and Yakubu would be occasional players and regular benchwarmers and subs. Howard would also be on the bench.

Johnson, Pienaar and Baines would probably make their squads and might play very occasionally. The rest would be nowhere.

However, most of these players would have a very good chance in my opinion of playing pretty regularly for any of the ’top half of the table’ teams outside the top four. Same old problem!

Kunal Desai
6 Posted 20/05/2008 at 20:48:19

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Howard - has been magnificent all season, he’s hardly put a foot wrong and made some crucial saves at times.
Much better than the irratic Lehman and inconsistent Almunia. I think it’s a bit harsh to say Howard would not get into any of the top four teams as a regular as you have to remember the top four also have a very solid defence in front of their keeper.

Cahill - always effective in a 4-5-1. Could see him in playing behind Rooney at OT or likewise with Adebayor at the Emirates.

Arteta - (first half season form) if shown more consistently then perhaps a regular at Arsenal - Rosicky role or Liverpool’s right side.

3 players I believe would be regulars at top four clubs.

Neil McKinney
7 Posted 21/05/2008 at 12:03:21

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I like your outlook Ken, and reading your articles certainly provides some relief from the constant crap that is being spouted by all the experts on the stadium debate.

You seem to favour the steady progress, step-by-step approach that Moyes has employed. I agree, I would rather slowly build a team that will continue to challenge than throw a lot of money at it and still fail, sending us tumbling towards the Championship and receivership. Each season a little bit more, closing the gap and building quality while retaining stability.

The problem with the current Premier League set-up is that it actively encourages the "Big 4" situation. As only 4 teams make it to Champions League where all the money is at, 4 teams always dominate and are generally clear of the rest. The fact that Moyes (bar one season) has managed to be consistently up there battling. We haven?t spent rediculous sums of money or sold our soul to some septic tank, oligark or dodgy Thai PM. If only three teams got in to the CL then after time we would probably only have a "Big 3" and many would argue that we only have that now.

Depending on summer acquisitions, I would be happy with 4th next season, or 5th and a trophy. I am sure that others will expect nothing less than the Premier League title, quoting "Nil satis, nisi optimum". Whatever.

COYB!!

David Edwards
8 Posted 21/05/2008 at 23:16:18

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Very good article, Ken - your balanced view is what TW does best, and I’m pleased regulars like you can present it well, compared to some others I could mention. I also have hopes next season will be a watershed for us, but I think we need to add real midfield quality this summer, and if Moyes doesn’t get the support from the board (because I trust his judgement most of the time), I’ll be very disappointed as well. Carpe Diem! COYBs

P.S. Loved the Brann home leg - sadly I think the opposition might be tougher next year (let’s hope we don’t get a Metalist-type cup draw!)

John Joe
9 Posted 24/05/2008 at 14:35:12

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Nice piece Ken. Man City away was a favourite point for me as that day was the first time I thought we looked a class above the rest of the league - a very calm and classy performance.

We are making progress and continue to rack up the coefficient points in Europe that will see us have a real crack at joining the big boys should we make the CL within the next few years. I don’t see why we can’t pick off one of the ’Big 4’ next year (of course we’ll need some luck with injury) but would be more than happy with:

A decent domestic cup run.
A decent UEFA Cup run.
Top 6 again.
At least one win over the RS.
Progress in our playing style.

Too much to ask for?