IT was fair comment from Nikica Jelavic to say he’s surprised by how well he has done since arriving at Everton.

Everyone has been taken aback. Not least the clubs – which include Liverpool – that took a look at the Croatian and chose not to take a chance.

David Moyes did and is now reaping the rewards.

Jelavic has clearly made the transition from Scottish League to the Premier League.

For me, this has been a good season for Everton.

Certainly, had you offered Bill Kenwright seventh place and a cup semi-final at the start of the season, he’d have snapped your hand off.

You don’t aim to finish seventh, but that must be seen as a success.

I don’t think Everton finishing above Liverpool will make a massive difference other than giving the supporters something to crow about over the summer months.

All the teams will strengthen during the transfer window and that’s something Moyes must also do. Will they be able to keep Steven Pienaar?

Will other teams want him?

The South African was a massive factor in Everton’s success since the New Year.

The key to the turnaround was their business in January, it gave them the quality they were missing, and with better results came greater belief among the players and more and more were fit and available.

Three months into the season, I looked at Moyes and it appeared as though the fight had gone out of him and he’d had enough at Goodison.

That, though, has all changed. Now nobody is doorstepping Kenwright asking where the money has gone.