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Why Everton have more cause to celebrate than Manchester United
While the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney and Ferdinand bounce around with the Premier League trophy, the squad at Goodison Park can enjoy their summer break in the knowledge they achieved far greater things this season.
by Chester Carrick on 14 May 2008
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So what if the Red Devils have retained their Premier League title?
With the wealth of players at their disposal, it was unlikely that they were ever going to finish out of the top two, especially when you have the world’s best player in Cristiano Ronaldo who scored an amazing 44 goals for the champions this season, despite being suspended for three games.The real winners this season were Everton and perhaps Sunderland, the latter being the only promoted team to survive this campaign. Along with the other 15 clubs in the Premier League, the Toffees weren’t expected to challenge the Big Four, although they put the frighteners on Liverpool for a short while and managed to make some decent progress on a European front.You see, what makes football and sport in general exciting is the competitive element. That’s why fans cite the Championship as regularly providing more entertainment than the Premier League. While the standard of football obviously isn’t as high in the second flight and you won’t see the Preston number seven invent his own type of free-kick, the fact that none of the teams can splurge tens of millions on a player means that games (and the league in general) are evenly-matched.While Everton have more cash at their disposal than several other Premier League clubs, it’s hard to argue that they landed fifth place this season due to being a moneybags team, throwing cash left right and centre in order to be playing UEFA Cup football. Aside from spending £11m on Yakubu, the Merseyside club have a squad filled with lower-league signings (Joleon Lescott, Tim Cahill and Phil Jagielka), trainees (Leon Osman, Victor Anichebe) and experienced campaigners such as Phil Neville and Lee Carsley. Therefore, to finish in fifth position, five points clear of the chasing pack, is an outstanding achievement for a team who were fighting relegation two seasons ago. David Moyes also steered his team to a Carling Cup semi-final against Chelsea and his team were unfortunate to only reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after playing Fiorentina off the park for huge chunks of the return leg. Even if Manchester United win the Champions League next week, it’s hard to argue that their relative achievements are greater than the blue half of Merseyside this term. Never mind Wayne Rooney (once a blue, always a blue) or Nemanja Vidic, what Moyes would give for a Ji-Sung Park or a John O’Shea in his team. Look how much mileage he’s got from Phil Neville (although his passing is reported to be suspect). Therefore, while Rio Ferdinand is busy spraying champagne at Wes Brown and the rest of the Manchester United team put their silly hats on and show off their silverware, the Everton team know that they have been the outstanding team this season and have been the real winners on relative merit.
Comments (9)
by Tooth Claw on May 14, 2008
Very droll. By that basis Derby must be delirious. Numpty!
by The Gaz on May 14, 2008
Spot on that fella
by Dire on May 14, 2008
What a load of patronising shite.
by Jason Willis on May 14, 2008
David Moyes shoudl get Manager of the year. For me it would have been who clinched 5th place so it would have only have been him or Martin O'Neil. Yeah I'm gutted it wasn't Villa but we have the Intertoto cup spot so only one third round win will get us into europe. Congratulations Everton though.
by Stephen Barr on May 14, 2008
I agree that Everton's performance this year is relatively better than that of the "top four". Would help to have actually won something though! Nevertheless, my main interest is in all the accolades that are bestowed on the "top four" and their respective managers. My assertion is that these managers are successful in spite of themselves. The relative succes of Avram Grant at Chelsea surely supports this. Jose is meant to be a great manager. He leaves Chelsea and a relative unknown with little experience continues on and takes them to Premiership runner up and the Champions League final. I reckon any one with a bit of nous would succeed at any club that can afford the best players in the world. Obviously some skill is required... but come on, let's stop heaping praise on these so called great managers and recognize the real management skill is lower down the league. Up the true blues - Everton Steve Barr
by Derek Dunn on May 14, 2008
I'm not certain the United players, management and fans would quite see it that way. They have won the league and are in the final of the Champions League, what more can they do! As an Evertonian I'm delighted with the progress we have made again this season, but how can we have more cause to celebrate than United? Surely the point in our progress is that one day we aim to be in a position to win the league and champions league. If we ever reach that target will we then say, yes, we can enjoy our celebrations but Sunderland (to use your example) have more cause to celebrate cause they finished 5th. A pretty pointless article. Why don't you just let Moyes get on with it.
by Serj on May 14, 2008
"a team who were fighting relegation two seasons ago." I thought 2 seasons ago everton finished 4th?
by Ben Chapman on May 16, 2008
Don't forget Everton have always gone up and down so dont be surprised if it happens again. You were fighting relegation two years ao, wait werent you also in the champions league! Everton were good this year and defo best of the rest.
by Craig on May 16, 2008
Come on be serious. You dont really think you have had the better season. Do you ? Even respectivly i mean ask your self this if your board slapped one hundred pounds extra on a reason ticket for increased wages and borrowed fifty million for some players but you got champions league or better still won the league you would rather have it that way. Come on be real a bit more pick in shinings and you would of had forth place this season for a third of what rafa spend your season was ruined by not getting champions league because you just fell flat cv the end and this tripe is supposed to make you feel better
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