WE all keep going on about how friendly results don’t really matter but the fact that Everton have now won five away matches this summer has to be healthy.
Ultimately, pre-season games are all about getting your players ready for the big league kick-off – in this case on August 14 at Blackburn – but as well as building confidence with a few victories, David Moyes will be pleased about the competition for places that now exists within his squad.
Even before all the World Cup players had returned, there were options in the side and there is now more depth in the playing staff than ever before.
It’s always good to keep the players on their toes and those coming back will see three or four new faces around and wonder ‘is he here to take my place?’
Moyes has seemingly turned water into wine again by spending less than £1million so far – surely one of the smallest outlays in the Premier League – but has drafted in the likes of Jan Mucha, Magaye Gueye, Jermaine Beckford and Joao Silva.
It’s in stark contrast to last season when the side were short of numbers due to injuries and they limped their way through the first five months of the season.
It looks like Everton’s famous fighting spirit is still as strong as ever so if they can hit the ground running this year, there’s plenty of potential.
