Everton Season Preview

Everton begin this season pretty much where they left off last... a good, but thin squad decimated by injuries. Looking at the possible starting XI below, that's how they will likely line up, but certainly not how they would like to line up. Missing from the eleven are their best player at each level - Arteta, Yakubu and Jagielka. Despite all that, Everton will likely be up the table, challenging for a European place this season.

Moyes worked something of a masterstroke last season (let's be honest, he worked many!) when his record signing, Marouane Fellaini, was collecting nothing but yellow cards and "we haven't seen you in a while" notes from his barber he switched him with Cahill moving the Australian into a deeper role and pushing Fellaini up in support of the striker. Or sometimes as the striker! Fantasy managers would be well advised that this might continue as Fellaini is reasonably priced.

Their defence picks itself at the moment and the star would have to be Leighton Baines. Bought from Wigan, he languished behind an out-of-position Lescott for nearly two seasons. But given a run, and given set-piece responsibilities in Arteta's absence he flourished in the second-half of last season.

Their season opener is a tough game, home to Arsenal. And with their Europa League commitments they only play once in week one. But after that they have a really nice run of games (we won't call it a cake walk) and don't play another "big four" team until Manchester United and Liverpool back-to-back in late November. Fantasy managers should get on the Everton bandwagon early while the schedule is soft and the competition for places isn't a fantasy headache.

Possible Starting XI: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Pienaar, Neville, Fellaini, Cahill, Osman, Jo

Players to Watch:

Marouane Fellaini:  Fellaini was certainly the surprise of the second half of the season.  Combine his low profile previous to arriving to England with his goofy haircut, overall awkward build and billing as a holding midfielder - can't really blame anyone for not being impressed.  Half a campaign later, you have to admit that he was much more impressive than that.  Honestly, he was Cahill when Cahill wasn't available and when they were both available they made life difficult on defenders when Everton were short out-and-out strikers.  Only two real downsides here - one, he picks up enough cards that his production is severly impacted a lot of weeks; two, given the return to health (at least in theory) of Cahill and Everton's striking triumverate of Jo, Yakubu, and Saha one wonders how many of his attacking points will be taken up by other players leaving only the cards for fantasy managers.  My guess is that while he will likely be better in real life as he continues to adapt to the league and grow in skill level (he'll only be 22 when the season starts) but probably of limited value in fantasy.  I'd only consider him on an occasional basis if his price comes down into the 5s or low 6s (as opposed to the 7.02 where he starts the season).
 
Steven Pienaar: Pienaar was another great story in the second half of last season or really the last third.  The question is, how much of the production was down to Arteta missing that portion of the season and how much was down to Pienaar's improvement.  If you watched Pienaar at all either for Everton or South Africa you have to attribute it at least in some measure to talent emerging.  That said, you can ask the same question about Pienaar that you ask about Fellaini - will his production continue once the squad is healthy? Talent aside, he has to have the ball and take the kicks to produce the big-point matches from time-to-time combined with the solid performances the rest of the time.  My guess is that he'll look strong for the first month as Arteta recovers from his ACL injury - after that, I'd abandon him until his price goes down.

Yakubu:  The Yak is returning from a ruptured Achilles Tendon injury but here's a couple things to think about.  First, injuries to the Achilles are notorious for taking a long time to heal; second, they tend to lead to the other tendon having issues as the two move out of balance (look at the son of a physician and brother of a physical therapist flashing some knowledge); and third, Yak will have to earn back his spot from Jo and Saha who has been healthy thus far.  I'd definitely be taking a wait-and-see attitude even once he makes it back (which, by the way, he hasn't been for the pre-season thus far).  October is the earliest I'd consider him and only then if he starts showing signs of one of his streaks starting.