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As has been spelled out once again, times are tough at Everton, but despite financial difficulties, they are unlikely to give up their spot among the top eight.


Everton chairman Bill Kenwright didn't really need to appear in front of the cameras in mid- August to reveal the lack of financial muscle at the club, as the complete absence of activity at Goodison Park over the last three months had already spoken volumes.

However, his explanation of a position that sees them unable to spend any money, with banks no longer willing to lend, is a timely reminder of the increasingly difficult task facing David Moyes to keep them in the top eight, and the fine job he has done to date staying there.

There is no shortage of quality in the squad with Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha providing an internationally-recognised spine, but there is a lack of depth that can't be properly addressed due to the necessity to sell to buy.

That is best illustrated by the striking situation, which sees Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu linked with moves to Championship sides to raise funds, yet no obvious replacements available that would represent a definite upgrade.

Moyes can ill afford to get rid of one or both and use the cash pocketed to strengthen elsewhere, because he would be left with injury-prone Saha leading the line and limited options to replace him when sidelined, the first probably being the not universally popular Victor Anichebe.

Despite the trouble behind the scenes, there is enough faith in the manager and his players to see the Toffees, whose opener at Tottenham was postponed, rated at 1.39 to secure a sixth straight top-half finish. They are less fancied at 3.75 to make the top six for the fifth time under Moyes.

The retention of that support is understandable. This does after all look like being a rare summer in which they don't lose any major stars, even if the lack of fresh faces is alarming, and only Sunderland of the 13 teams below them last season have been active enough to truly worry them.

Long-term wise, the ongoing failure to attract investment is a huge concern, as there is always a fear that Moyes, who is approaching a decade as boss, will eventually tire of fighting the tide. His great relationship with Kenwright means that the partnership should have last some time yet though.


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