Has David Moyes Completed the Puzzle?

By Brian Lofrumento | 3rd February 2009

Has David Moyes Completed the Puzzle?

EB Streymur's Leif Niclassen and Manchester City's Jo battle for the ball | read this item

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I don’t know about you, but I am genuinely excited about the rest of the Premier League season. Unlike other seasons, it’s not just the title race that is exciting me. Instead, it’s the whole table. After the closing of the January transfer window, I can’t help but take a look at the battle going on between Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Everton.

Before the season started, it was assumed that Arsenal would be in a Champions League spot as usual, and Everton would be following closely behind (as they often hold onto that 5th spot in the Premiership). Instead, Martin O’Neill and his determined Aston Villa side have shaken things up, and no one knows who will finish 4th, 5th, and 6th this year.

This article isn’t meant to debate the outcome of this battle. I could try to do that, but your guess is as good as mine. If you’d like to hear a bit of that debate, check out the Premiership Talk Podcast. Instead, this article is about the squad that David Moyes has now assembled. After bringing Manchester City flop Jo to Goodison Park, I can’t help but think the Everton puzzle is close to being completed.

In goal, Tim Howard has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most solid and dependable goalkeepers. After a less than enjoyable spell at Old Trafford, the American has easily transitioned to the Toffees. His back four changes a bit each match, but no matter who is in there it’s solid. Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Leighton Baines, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, and Tony Hibbert have all played extremely well this season, and they form a backbone that holds the defense together.

Moving forward on the pitch, the mood changes quickly from brunt force and defense to pure skill and finesse. In my opinion, Everton is now defined by their talent. They are not a smaller club that just hoofs the ball up the field. Instead, Mikel Arteta is given a chance to work his magic, and his silky Spanish feet always leaves the crowd in awe.

Steven Pienaar is in the same mold as Arteta. The South African has bags of pace and trickery, and if he can add goals to his repertoire then he’ll become a complete package. The central midfield pairing of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini is comprised of a balance that is so sought after by managers around the world. Cahill’s pure attacking ability is complemented perfectly by Fellaini’s ability to track opposing attackers. Both of these players are extraordinary in the air, and both have found their names on the scoresheet quite often this season.

The only area where Everton have been coming up short is up top. By all means, on paper Everton’s front line is proven and established. Yakubu proved at the beginning of this season that he is one of the most lethal goalscorers in the Premier League. His strike partner, Louis Saha, played a pivotal role in Manchester United’s title in the 2006/07 season, and scores goals when it comes down to it. Unfortunately for David Moyes and Everton, both of these men have been suffering from injury.

So what happened? Well, normally Everton have been able to blood some youngsters into the side. Even then, youngster James Vaughan was out with an injury. In recent weeks Tim Cahill has been filling in – and quite successfully, too – but has been stranded at times without an out and out strike partner.

So, with all of that said, I firmly believe that Jo could be the final piece in the Everton puzzle. His languid style of play will be perfectly complemented by the skill and talent of those surrounding him, and with plenty of time to impress (with the injured Saha and Yakubu), Jo could become a firm fan favorite at Goodison Park.

So here’s to some excellent Everton displays from now until May. It will certainly spice the league up, rejuvanate sides like Aston Villa and Arsenal, and show that pure talent can succeed in a physical and fast-paced English Premier League. Come on, you Toffees!

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Liverpool Crash out of FA Cup | English Premier League News | Premiership Talk says:

February 5, 2009 at 1:27 am

[...] that Everton will jump from strength to strength from now until May. As I stated in my article Has David Moyes Completed the Puzzle? earlier this week, I am a firm believer in the talent and ability of this Everton squad. With the [...]

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