The question bubbling up to the top of everyone's minds is whether or not anyone can break the monopoly that the Big Four currently enjoy, and the signs are mixed. Although the fact that there are three teams outside the Premier League in the FA Cup semi-finals is surely a healthy sign,  the Big Four's success in Europe - all are still feasting in the Champions League - means that any assault on their throne is going to be very gruelling.

Of course it has been done before - in 2004-05 Everton finished above rivals Liverpool and pipped them to the fourth slot that season. However, given an invitation to the Champions League party, the Toffees stumbled on the stairs, losing to Villarreal in the qualifying round - the unsettling icy stare of Pierluigi Collina disallowing a last-minute Duncan Ferguson goal in what was to be his last refereeing moment.

This year a strong Everton side is again pushing for fourth and despite going out to Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup, their European coefficient has improved to such an extent that should they be in Europe next season, they won't have to worry about having to face a side like Villarreal - a cruel draw indeed.

Everton are no longer in the UEFA Cup and that has been taken as a positive by many - something that will allow them to plough all their efforts into the league. And with Liverpool facing a tough jaunt to Old Trafford, David Moyes' men could again go level with the red half of Merseyside, providing they beat West Ham at Goodison.

After Everton's drive for fourth came Tottenham's challenge, one that similarly pitted two city rivals in a race for the European money mountain, with Spurs coming up against Arsenal's supposed inexperienced youth. The oft-trotted-out truism is that 'but for some ropey lasagnas Spurs could have finished fourth', something as hackneyed as the old 'if we hadn't won the war we'd all be speaking German now'.

'I think it is everyone's interests for Everton to topple a Big Four giant. The Toffees shouldn’t need to proselytise to the other non-Big Four clubs - it is as plain as day that change is needed'


However, that doesn’t stop there being some truth in the argument that Tottenham were a hair's breadth away from clambering into the Champions League places. Anyone who thinks that Spurs fans use this excuse as a crutch should look at the simple truth that they finished fifth two seasons in a row, an agonising back-to-back of near misses.

The fractious relationship between Liverpool and Everton is coming to a head, but with Rafa Benitez forced to concentrate on two areas of attack whilst Moyes can be blinkered and focused, it will be an interesting battle. Moyes has already been dropping titbits about his side's injury crisis, but Rafa has his own problems - a cramped sardine can of fixtures await, all against top opposition, and in close succession.

I think it is everyone's interests for Everton to topple a Big Four giant. The Toffees shouldn’t need to proselytise to the other non-Big Four clubs - it is as plain as day that change is needed.

Right now Everton, dubbed 'The People's Club' by Moyes - are 'The People's Heroes', ribald rebels fighting against the super-rich gluttonous Big Four, whose only desires are to aggrandise whilst looking to hector any puny wretches foolish enough to challenge them into submission.

Will Everton have the effrontery to jump the queue and spit in the faces of the Big Four? I hope so.