EPL - Everton

Everton fans head into the 2011/12 season with frustration and trepidation, which is strange if you
look at the club’s recent Premier League record and current squad.

Over the past five seasons the Liverpool-based club have finished 6th,5th,5th,8th and 7th, reaching the
FA Cup final in 2009 - an achievement to be proud of in what is a tough, competitive league.

They possess a squad full of international players such as Leighton Baines, Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka,
Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill. They also have a manager, David Moyes, who is widely regarded as
one of the best in the country and has picked up the LMA Manager of the Year Award three times.

But envious glances are being cast at other sides that have spent the summer re-building their
squads. Everton on the other hand have been deathly quiet in the transfer window, only bringing in
18-year-old defender Eric Dier on-loan to date. Any other arrivals are dependent on players leaving,
which has been the case for the past three years.

Chairman Bill Kenwright – a life-long Evertonian – admits he has no cash to invest in the team and
the club exists from hand-to-mouth, with the vast sums the club brings in through TV money going
straight out on wages and debt repayments. Supporters fear they are being left behind and with
money tight, the club will be unable to resist big money offers for their best players.

The fans though remain desperate for the club to re-capture the glory years and add to their nine
league titles, five FA Cups and European Cup Winners’ Cup - the fourth best trophy haul in the
country. To do that though the club needs serious investment, not necessarily in the playing squad,
they only need sprinklings of quality on what is a talented if small group of players. But money is
needed to improve the stadium and match day facilities which will enable them to earn the cash
needed to compete with the biggest clubs in the division. Goodison Park is a historic, atmospheric
stadium, but is small, cramped and lacks the facilities needed for modern top-flight football.

But, sadly for Toffees fans, with no take-over forthcoming and the sides above them owned by
billionaires, a return to those trophy laden days are looking as far away as ever.