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Southall: Everton Will Struggle To Break Top Four
The former Toffees keeper is concerned that the men in blue might struggle to match last season's achievements.
Jul 21, 2009 1:50:21 PM
Neville Southall, the Welshman who was considered the finest goalkeeper in Britain, if not the world, during his time between the sticks when Everton enjoyed a golden era in the mid-1980s, thinks that the club's current manager David Moyes has some hard graft ahead of him in the coming campaign.
The Blues managed a fifth-placed finish last season, as well as reaching the FA Cup final, but Southall feels that a repeat of that performance will be difficult without the major financial backing enjoyed by some of the Toffees' rivals.
"I though they had a really good season last year. I was a bit disappointed in the final to be fair," the former Welsh international told Sky Sports News.
"But this year is going to be a big year. They've got to push on. Manchester City are spending tons of money, Tottenham [Hotspur] are looking like spending tons of money, Aston Villa are spending money, so if we don't find someone to put some money into the club we could slip down to eighth or ninth.
"That's a frightening prospect for a club like Everton really."
Without major investment, the Merseysiders are overly reliant on their manager working magic to stay competitive, Southall thinks.
"I see Bill Kenwright (Everton chairman) was on the telly the other night saying we need a billionaire. You do in this day and age," he added.
"Unfortunately it looks like David Moyes has got to produce a few more miracles yet until we can find somebody.
"It's going to be a really hard job for him. The players did tremendously well last year, they were really, really consistent. They probably fell off towards the end a little bit, when maybe a bigger squad would have helped them through and given a few players a rest on the way through."
However, the Everton legend can see one positive in the club's situation, albeit perhaps not one that many Toffees fans would welcome.
"But the other good thing, I suppose, is that people are wanting to bid for our players now and that hasn't happened for a while has it?" he quipped.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section
The Blues managed a fifth-placed finish last season, as well as reaching the FA Cup final, but Southall feels that a repeat of that performance will be difficult without the major financial backing enjoyed by some of the Toffees' rivals.
"I though they had a really good season last year. I was a bit disappointed in the final to be fair," the former Welsh international told Sky Sports News.
"But this year is going to be a big year. They've got to push on. Manchester City are spending tons of money, Tottenham [Hotspur] are looking like spending tons of money, Aston Villa are spending money, so if we don't find someone to put some money into the club we could slip down to eighth or ninth.
"That's a frightening prospect for a club like Everton really."
Without major investment, the Merseysiders are overly reliant on their manager working magic to stay competitive, Southall thinks.
"I see Bill Kenwright (Everton chairman) was on the telly the other night saying we need a billionaire. You do in this day and age," he added.
"Unfortunately it looks like David Moyes has got to produce a few more miracles yet until we can find somebody.
"It's going to be a really hard job for him. The players did tremendously well last year, they were really, really consistent. They probably fell off towards the end a little bit, when maybe a bigger squad would have helped them through and given a few players a rest on the way through."
However, the Everton legend can see one positive in the club's situation, albeit perhaps not one that many Toffees fans would welcome.
"But the other good thing, I suppose, is that people are wanting to bid for our players now and that hasn't happened for a while has it?" he quipped.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section
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