Everton deserve that Champions League place - on merit

Being a Blue and living in Ireland is a rarity in itself. Liverpool and Manchester United are far and away the most supported Premier League clubs in the Emerald Isles.

Therefore it's your classic case of the school bully. However, it has dawned on me that there is only one tune that this bully can sing. 'Over achieving', 'pure luck', 'jammy'. These are the familiar lyrics that I hear on a day-to-day basis.

It's time that clubs like Everton, who are giving the Uniteds and Liverpools of this world a run for their money, get the credit that they deserve. It would be interesting to see how they'd perform without being able to spend the vast amounts of money that they do.

Here we are, eight games left, 24 points to play for and just three separate the Red half of Merseyside from the supposed 'Small Club'. Have Liverpool really underachieved this season?

Take Steve Gerrard and Fernando Torres out of their team and they are mediocre at best. I have no problem admitting that they are, without doubt, two of the best players in the league, but man for man, Liverpool are nowhere near the standard that they need to be at if they are to mount a serious title challenge.

On the other hand, have Everton really overachieved? Solid at the back, lively up front and with some very creative midfield players like Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta, Everton are a force to be reckoned with this season.

David Moyes has done a wonderful job over the last few seasons and kudos to Bill Kenwright for sticking with him through the hard times. Moyes has bought wisely with the little funds that he has had, something that is very hard to do in such an inflated transfer market.

He has built a team that operates on sheer hard work and determination but this season the main difference has been goals. A lot of games that we would have lost by the odd goal last season have been reversed this season (Middlesbrough away a prime example) and 56 points from 30 games is an excellent return.

Add to this the fact that Everton have been on the end of some very bad refereeing decisions this season. If decisions against Blackburn and Liverpool had gone their way, Everton could well have been sitting above their neighbours. That would be on merit.

It remains to be seen if Everton have what it takes to really make this season a memorable one. The squad is thin at the moment, key players are missing and the bare bones would have been tested sternly against West Ham.

If Everton can defy the odds and finish fourth then it will be thoroughly deserved. They are very close to being the fourth best team in the league, without spending 122 Million on players. All that's missing is a bit of luck.