Fanshawe FC: Everton seeing success everywhere

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: THE TELEGRAPH
Nikica Jelavi and Steven Pienaar enjoy Everton's recent success at their match against Liverpool. They tied 2-2.

As Liverpool FC players left the field against Everton FC on October 28 yelling and spitting, Everton was howling and spitting their guts out... laughing.

The Blues tied the Reds 2-2 as Liverpool player Luis Suarez was wrongly called offside by the linesmen in the last moments of the match, all while tipping home the would-be winning goal.

Regardless of the loss, Everton has still had a fantastic start to the year. Through their first nine matches, they have gone 4-4-1, with only one loss. That's good enough for fifth place, and they show no signs of slowing down.

One of the bright spots for the club is Belgian Marouane Fellaini. Coming back from injury, the big striker still had a good game. He can use his size to win lots of balls in the air and it seems as if his touch and the other parts of his game have improved immensely.

Leon Osman has had good production from the midfield. Fans and journalists alike know what they are getting with him, it isn't a surprise anymore. He came in after Mikel Arteta, and has been one of the more creative players, advancing high up the pitch and creating plays. Osman, 31, is still good enough to keep in that role for years to come, even after he has peaked very late into his career.

Steven Pienaar is always one of the most underrated players in the EPL because he is a fairly wellrounded player. The only problem he has is that he doesn't score too many goals. But with how Everton operates, they don't really need another finisher, especially on the wing. Pienaar has had another solid season on the wing, as he can still dangle and work as a playmaker. I've got nothing to say bad about him once again.

Another player that has continued to slowly get by is Leighton Baines, and he can get away with it, as he's a defender. Besides accidently putting in the first goal in the Liverpool game, he has been good all year, even notching two goals and two assists throughout the season.

Head coach David Moyes is also enjoying the best part of his Everton career. He's been at the helm for over a decade and this is finally how he imagined the squad would play if he was given enough time. It also shows how he meant to play the game. By having the tall afro-clad Fellaini in behind their prime striker Nikica Jelavić, it lets you use that as your typical English-style attack. Pass to the big Fellaini and let him cut the defence from there. To add to that, Moyes is playing a real naïve, old style and it's working, showing its still-relevant formation (4-4-1-1).

Considering Everton was routinely a slow starting team, the blue side of Merseyside is on its way to a fantastic season if they can keep this sort of pace up. They could be leaving the pitch at the end of the year even happier than they are now.