Important summer for Blues

Apr 25 2006 By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

EVERTON'S season has hit a dry run at just the wrong time. The goals have been hard to come by, a reminder of the problems they had earlier in the season.

It would be nice if they can win their last two games so the supporters go into the new season looking up rather than worrying about the teams below them.

In truth they have started to look a bit leggy after a long season which started so badly. It is understandable given the effort required to haul themselves out of the bottom three and to give themselves a chance of making the top half of the table.

When you have not got a big squad it makes getting a big performance week in, week out all the more difficult. It means an important summer in the transfer market lies ahead and while some fans have suggested David Moyes is reluctant to spend, I don't think the criticism adds up.

He invested heavily last summer and was not the only manager to hold back in the last transfer window.

No pushovers

THE FA Cup final against West Ham is no forgone conclusion.

Alan Pardew's side had a taste of the Millennium Stadium in the Championship play-offs against Preston last year so won't be frightened by the big occasion.

They have players who can hurt you. Dean Ashton can be an awkward customer, Marlon Harwood scores goals, Matthew Etherington has pace and Rio-Coker is a class player.