Everton still suffering Viola Blues

Toffee's suffering a sticky patch
Everton 0
Chelsea 1 (Essien)
By Daniel Gregory 18/04/08

David Moyes must be looking forward to putting his feet up and relaxing at the end of the season.

What a season it has been! Moyes has to take most of the credit for forging a fantastic team, hard to beat, robust, and when the best XI is out on the pitch, good going forward as well.

But that is the problem at the moment isn't it? Everton don't have all their players fit, and the squad is suffering the effects of both a long hard season, and the defeat on penalties to Fiorentina last month.

Everton look jaded, and really are crawling over the line, with Portsmouth looking more lively and not a bad tip to leapfrog Everton into 5th spot and qualify for Europe.

Moyes' side continued their run of poor form with a drab, tired and un-inspiring 1-0 home defeat to title chasing Chelsea.

Although the game started at a bright pace, it ended up being a case of both sides being very uncreative and unisnpiring going forward.

Everton without Cahill are one thing, Everton without Cahill and Arteta are another, and Everton without Cahill, Arteta and Osman are nothing short of boring.

Manny Fernandes and Joleon Lescott were the only players who showed any spark whatsoever, and although Fernandes hasn't been at his best since returning to the club on loan, at least he is trying to be creative and trying to be creative, which is more than can be said for the likes of Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville and Lee Carsley.

The Everton side looks a shadow of the one that was dominating teams and looking fresh and spritely early this year, and if it doesn't prove to the board that massive investment is needed if Everton really are to take the next step, then nothing will.

Steven Pienaar looks likely to sign a permanent deal in the next week or so, and that will be a good deal, but he has also been poor of late, and has made some peculiar decisions when in possession.

A tired squad and tough fixtures to come = nervy times at Goodison for the last few weeks of the season. Everton will need to improve if they are to keep hold of 5th place and European qualification.

Michael Essien's 42nd minute strike has put a huge dent in Everton's hopes of fourth place, and has given Pompey the scent of blood. No doubt Harry Redknapp's side will finish strongly, so Everton will need to pick up points from somewhere. Just where at the moment is a mystery.

This season has been a fantastic one for Moyes and Everton, don't get me wrong. But the squad is small, and they really are running out of steam, ideas, and time in the race for fourth spot.

EVERTON: Howard (6) Hibbert (4) Yobo (5) Jagielka (6) Lescott (7) Pienaar (5) Fernandes (7) Neville (5) Carsley (5) Johnson (4) Yakubu (6) Subs: Gravesen (4) Anichebe (5)

Man of the match: Manny Fernandes: Showed glimpses of what he is capable of, and was the only player to go close to scoring, with two glorious free kicks.