IT’s the question I often dread the most – when someone asks me to make a prediction on the fortunes of Everton.

They have a habit of making you look stupid, bouncing back from adversity when all seems lost and defying the odds year after year.

But you have to base your opinions on facts and there are many inescapable ones hanging over the team in its current form.

The season might be only two game old, but at the moment it’s difficult to see them emulating achievements of recent seasons.

In fact, even at this early stage, I would stick my neck out and say that Everton will be battling to finish seventh this time round.

Which could, of course, still be good enough for European qualification, and I have no doubt that they will eventually lift themselves form the depths they are in at the moment.

Joleon Lescott’s departure will help with that because David Moyes can now finally treat it as a fresh start as he accepts that he will become a Manchester City player.

And spending the money that will go with that deal will see some new faces coming in and give the existing players a bit of a lift.

Rather than being held back by an ongoing transfer saga, which for my money should have been sorted out weeks ago given the effect it’s had, it will feel like there’s some progress being made and everyone can finally move on.

Which can only be a good thing. But as confident as I am that Everton can get past this shaky start, recovering to the extent that they maintain their top five status is going to be a big ask.

Maybe even too big an ask for someone with Moyes’s record.