Toffees boss rues dropped points

Toffees boss rues dropped points

Published Apr. 8, 2011 3:16 p.m. ET

The Merseysiders ended February just three points above the Premier League relegation zone but are now seventh after a five-game unbeaten run. Yet while that has lifted a lot of the gloom to have descended on Goodison Park during a generally disappointing campaign, Moyes is frustrated it did not come earlier. And with a host of injuries decimating an already threadbare squad, the Scot is still not taking anything for granted ahead of a tricky final seven games. Moyes said: "I have said many times we are having a pretty poor season by our standards and we are not feeling great about it - but we are seventh now. "We might not stay there because of the situation we are in and the players we have available. "But a couple more wins and we'd have been saying we were up there. That is easy to say but it is a fact. "We don't think we have done well but we are in a pretty good league position at the moment, albeit the points total could still see us dragged back towards the bottom. "But the points we have got might not be enough yet. "So, while there is a relief because we did have quite a long period at the wrong end of the table, I don't think any manager could tell you exactly what the points total needed might be." Financial restrictions have limited Everton's spending in the last three transfer windows and it has been speculated that the club might have to consider selling some of their biggest names in the summer. Moyes has long argued that is not necessary but he is not yet concerning himself with how he may alter his squad in the close season. "I am concentrating just now on the remaining games and that will come at the end of the season," said Moyes, whose own future has been the subject of recent speculation. Moyes is the third longest-serving manager in the top flight behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger after nine years in charge at Goodison. Yet he still considers himself a relative novice and he has much respect for the likes of his opposite number this weekend, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, the former Republic of Ireland and Sunderland manager. Moyes said: "I see myself as a young Premier League manager still trying to strive to find my way. "Mick is probably more experienced than me in a lot of ways. "He has done a good job with Wolves. I know they are in a difficult position and need the points but every year they are fighting." Everton will be stretched for the trip to Molineux with Seamus Coleman, Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell all injury doubts. With Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta also sidelined, Moyes has few options and last week named a seven-man bench with no Premier League experience between them. With Wolves in the bottom three, Moyes is preparing for a tough encounter. He said: "We have gone seventh and that is great and we want to get higher, but it is going to be hard with the players we have available to keep that going. "They are tough games remaining. Molineux is never easy and we will probably go down there to a poor surface as well, with what I have seen of Molineux in recent weeks on TV. "We know it will be a hard game but will go there and hopefully play like we did last week, with an energy and an exuberance. "The players did everything we asked of them last week and hopefully they will do that again." One piece of good news for Everton has been the nomination of Irish winger Coleman for the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award. The 22-year-old, signed from Sligo Rovers for £60,000 two years ago, went on loan to Blackpool last year but has now cemented a place in the Toffees side. Moyes said: "I think it is deserved, especially given where he has come from. "It wasn't long ago he was playing in the Irish league and he has come out and made a big impact. "This is a boy who has come through the hard way, not had the training a lot of other young boys have had coming through club academies. "Seamus' rise - from the level he has come from - it is incredible."

ADVERTISEMENT
share