Firstly I'd like to apologise for the time since my last blog. I can assure you it has been just as a frustrating affair for me as I have a laptop that has decided 'Z' is the only letter it wants to process, it looks like I have fallen asleep on keyboard.* Which is probably technologies attempt at irony as I try to write about Everton's start to the season.

I'm not going to go over the top about our less than inspiring opening to the campaign, mainly because a slow start seems to be a trend but also because we are only 3 games into the new year, it's always somewhat bizarre to me when fans can be so down in the dumps and write off everything before we even enter September, in fairness to those few, usually with Everton we have something to hide behind, a smokescreen of sorts, that can alleviate long term fears which consists of either horrific career threatening injuries to key personnel from the year before or waiting 20 minutes until the close of the transfer window before remembering you need a left back, a holding midfielder and an another striker.

However this season was different, no lengthy absentees entering the final stages of their rehabilitation and the majority of our new recruits signed and committed before the final whistle had been blown last season, to add to that star players have signed up on extended terms and we even have a World Cup finalist in our ranks. So everything was in place to get off to a flyer. Despite the lack of Premiership pedigree in our signings pundits were predicting another good season at Goodison Park, yet after 270 minutes of Football some are back to their old tricks, stating David Moyes has gone as far as he can with us, the lack of investment is stunting the clubs growth etc etc etc. Yawn!

I understand the frustration but the fact of the matter, is when I was growing up (and I'm only 27 so this doesn't get too nostalgic) you wouldn't see a league table in the newspapers until about the end of September because with one win you could go from relegation fodder at 3pm to Title contender by 4.45, we will win, we will get better, although you do need to beat the teams below and around you if you are to progress and so far that is what we have failed to do. The international break will give the manager some more time to correct things, from what I've witnessed and read the football has been good, however we just can't score, looking at key moments so far, if it wasn't for an uncharacteristic error from Howard against Blackburn and a badly timed slip courtesy of Fellaini at Villa we'd have a minimum of 3 points and we'd be on the tails of mid table and our neighbours. With players like Louis Saha, Yakubu and Tim Cahill the goals will come soon enough.

So we move on to the manager, for us Evertonians it's a massive annoyance when one of our main competitors loses their man in charge, as David Moyes is linked quicker than Sam Alladyce links himself to the England job, as that is quick!! His latest alleged destination being straight down the M6 to Aston Villa . Rumours surfaced this week that bookmakers had slashed prices on him taking over from Martin O'Neill from 30/1 to 4/1, some even suspending betting on the matter. Lets look at this logically, what can they offer him at Villa Park that cannot be offered at Goodison.

Money to spend? Wasn't the main reason for O'Neills departure from the hot seat down to a lack of funds.

Step up to a bigger club? No, not really as we have been pretty much level par over the last few years, similar size local fan base with reasonable expectations.

Job security? Bill would offer him the job for life if he wanted it and will give him his last penny or a chairman who leads from a different continent and wants to see a return on his investment, which is fair enough.

Personally I would say David would be better off staying put doing his training and seeing through his project to bring silverware back to the Goodison trophy cabinet, but of course I would.
If Moyes is approached to interview for the vacancy he'll have a hard decision to make, go and see what's on offer, potentially damaging his relationship with the fans (Bill included) or turn it down flat. If he has any intention of taking over the realm at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement (in 20 years!!) he could do more harm to his reputation by moving and failing than staying and succeeding. He has often spoken of the importance of loyalty in Football, so this may just test his morals.

This week I was interviewed by the ESPN Podcast, if you are interested further in my views on Everton's start to the 2010/2011 Season or the clubs financial future please click on the link below:
www.espnsoccernet.com/podcast

Thanks for reading

Until next time

Jacko

*if anyone knows how to solve this please feel free to let me know.

Follow me on Twitter @JackDoggyDogg