SO Everton have to move to Kirkby because they can’t transform Goodison Park? Well, they’ve made a pretty good job of it this season.

Forget the public inquiry, the ground move is complete. From the Goodison Park of August to the Goodison Park of today – two totally different places.

A change so significant it could put Richard Starkey’s slot on the next Norwich Union ad under threat.

But while the name is the same, little else is still in evidence.

Gone is the tension, pessimism and undercurrent of raw anger in those difficult late summer days. Replaced by a vibrancy and confidence, reflected perfectly, in fact, by Jo, whose smile looks as though it will have to be surgically removed.

There were concerns back at Manchester City that a Brazilian clique was having a detrimental effect on Jo’s progress. But the energy, enthusiasm, enjoyment and eagerness to please that was on show on his debut suggests Robinho hasn’t been much of an influence at all.

It’s more likely, however, that the infectious joy circling around Goodison simply rubbed off him and enabled him to approach the destruction of woeful Bolton with such a carefree attitude.

After all, it was around long before he arrived on loan last week and was in evidence ahead of the victory over Liverpool last Wednesday.

It’s difficult to believe that it’s the same place of just six months ago when the start of the season was full of uncertainty and dissatisfaction – along with any new signings, of course.

The subsequent way in which Paul Ince’s limitations as a manager were shown up by the harsh realities of the Premier League only goes to prove what disarray Everton were in when the season kicked off with an uncharacteristic 3-2 home defeat to his Blackburn Rovers.

Just two weeks later it got even worse with a 3-0 home collapse to Portsmouth, whose demise only compounds the feeling that those games are from a distant age.