MARK LAWRENSON: No disgrace in fifth-placed finish

Apr 15 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Lescott

DAVID MOYES reckons his players could do with a holiday – which is right because they’re currently playing like there’s nothing left in the tank.

But nobody can say they and their manager don’t deserve a nice long break at the end of the season.

Against Derby they just managed to get over the line but the problem Everton have a the moment is that they’re playing teams who are involved in big games themselves.

It’s title-chasing Chelsea on Thursday, just a few days after going to St Andrews to play a side fighting for their lives to stay up.

Give that scenario, coming away from Birmingham with a draw is not a bad result.

Yes, it might not do much for their slim hopes of getting into the top four but let’s be realistic here for a moment.

Liverpool have a much better, deeper squad than Everton and it can hardly be classed as a major disappointment to finish behind them, can it?

If Everton can manage their highest Premier League points total and that’s still not enough then sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and admit the opposition is too good.

Fact is, outside the top four, getting into the top 10 of this league is a real achievement.

So if anyone thinks David Moyes has taken Everton as far as he can, they should remember this club has the best manager outside the top four.

Harry Redknapp might be flavour of the month at the moment, challenging for European qualification in the league and on the verge of winning the FA Cup.

But you wouldn’t swap David Moyes for him.