What Happens Next...

By Luke O'Farrell   ::  22/03/2012 Everton?s recent matches are following a familiar script as if they were part of a theatre production. An appalling start leads to shoots of recovery, David Moyes gives his team the hair dryer treatment then Everton control the second half. However, the level of control makes no difference; Everton just cannot create clear-cut chances.

David Moyes signalled his intentions with a starting eleven free of safety-first selections. Whilst the team selection pleased fans, his use of the players left many scratching their heads. The recent use of Marouane Fellaini as an attacking midfielder is baffling. The Belgian excels in, four midfield fundamentals; covering ground, tackling, ball retention and aerial ability.

Fellaini?s central midfield duties fell to Tim Cahill and Leon Osman, two players more suited to advanced roles. Both are valuable assets, on their day, but they are not at their best in central midfield; it showed. Arsenal began at a high tempo with Everton?s midfield outplayed, out thought and outran. Leighton Baines and John Heitinga made good early clearances as Arsenal began at a rapid tempo.

The visitor?s first opening, after five minutes, should have seen them take the lead. Robin van Persie guided a cross into the path of Aaron Ramsey. The midfielder contrived to slice the ball wide from six yards. Another blocked Ramsey effort saw Distin come to Everton?s rescue. From the resulting corner, Thomas Vermaelen rose above Fellaini to nod Arsenal ahead. Tim Howard made a smart stop from van Persie as Arsenal threatened an onslaught.

Osman headed wide as Everton enjoyed brief respite. However, the home side should have found themselves on level terms after half an hour. Seizing on a wayward pass, Cahill, Fellaini and Jelavic produced a slick passing move and Drenthe levelled the scores. Unfortunately, the linesman had other ideas and wrongly flagged for offside. As the half wore on, Everton showed signs of improvement but the half ended with Rosicky effort forcing a save from Howard.

Fellaini headed a free kick at Szczesny at the start of the second half. Set pieces and crosses remained Everton?s best hope with one Baines cross narrowly missing Fellaini in the six-yard box. At the other end, van Persie fired an effort against the post as Arsenal threatened on the break. Everton remained on top, despite Ramsey forcing a save from Howard. With 15 minutes to go, Drenthe blazed over and Everton?s chances of a comeback were gone. Arsenal saw the game out with ease as Everton?s substitutes had no impact.

Steven Pienaar played in all three midfield positions at some point. The South African was Everton?s one constant threat; looking for the ball and always on the move. The contrast in movement and composure between the two sides is monumental. Arsenal?s midfield interchanged positions to gain possession; Everton?s midfield is far more rigid with a chronic lack of movement.

Once more, Heitinga and Distin excelled in defence and Baines remains his dependable self, on the left, often doing the job of two. Tony Hibbert, making his first start since the derby, looked out of sorts and his distribution was lacking. Tim Howard made some crucial saves to keep Everton in the game. Drenthe, wrongly denied his goal, flitted in and out of the game.

Everton?s problem is the lack of creativity and it becomes more apparent with each passing game. David Moyes is likely to shuffle his pack for Swansea at the weekend as the focus switches to the Tuesday?s FA Cup replay. Unfortunately, for David Moyes, the pack is tiring and some of the deck simply is not good enough.

The big question is what happens next. Can David Moyes continue to get the best from his wafer thin squad? How long before Moyes tires of a club with no long-term prospects? Does another top player need to leave in the summer?

They are three serious questions that all need answering in some way, shape and form. However, it is abundantly clear that this is the furthest Everton have been from the upper echelons for some time. David Moyes can only polish so much of the sinking ship?s brass.

Everton?s need for investment is more pressing than ever.

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