Is fifth place really good enough for this Everton squad?

I know some Evertonians might feel a bit disappointed about our final placing as the season comes to an end, and I suppose in some ways I do a bit. If you'd asked me at the start of the season I would have taken fifth (hopefully), but as the season went on I think we'd all agree that apart from the final five orsix6 games we were more than good enough to be fourth. We have spent a long time in the top five but there are a few reasons why our challenge for fourth has ebbed away.

I know everyone will aim the finger at squad size but I am not 100% sure I agree. What I would say is that we have lost our main players for too many games to injuries and on top of that we have had to deal with the Africa Cup of Nations (which we did know about). But I don’t think you could really ask David Moyes to plan for the type of situation where you lose the majority of your main five players for so much of the season and with that extra unexpected burden taken into account, fifth (fingers crossed) is a really good finish.

If you asked me to name my top five players at Everton I think most would go for: 1- Joleon Lescott; 2 - Joseph Yobo; 3 - Tim Cahill; 4 - Yakubu; 5 - Mikel Arteta. However, some would argue with me and maybe the possibility of adding players like AJ and Lee Carsley, for team balance.

Anyway they would probably be my top five, so it got me thinking about just how many games they have played for us, and in all how many games have they played together. The second one I can’t answer but the first I can.