Everton’s manager, David Moyes will be scratching his head this Christmas wondering how his side have gone from being a European qualification side last season to relegation candidates this.
The playing staff has not changed a great deal. In fact it seemed that Moyes had strengthened his squad considerably over the summer months, bringing in players whose reputations preceded them. The trouble is these new players have failed to settle into the Premiership.
Portugese full back Nuno Valente looks woefully out of his depth at times and Dutch midfielder, Andy Van der Mayde who signed from Internationale of Milan, has made a negligable impact, partly due to his inability to stay fit.
Phil Neville, signed from Manchester United as a player with a wealth of experience playing at the highest level has shown precisely why Alex Ferguson chose to allow him to move down the M62. Neville is a decent utility player in a strong side but is failing to steady a ship awash with mediocrity.
Neville has been brought in as the holding player in Everton’s midfield but it was Everton old boy, Gary Speed who out-fought, out-tackled and out-played the current Everton Midfielder in this game. Speed’s timely challenge, a superb sliding tackle to dispossess a dithering Leon Osman, set up Stelios Giannakopoulos to score his second, and Bolton’s fourth.
Stelios showed the class that Bolton possess to complement their hard work and fight that they are more renouned for. Stelios finishing both goals superbly. The first slotting the ball past the hapless Richard Wright into the bottom right corner of the goal, the second a sublime strike from the edge of the area which flew into the top right corner of Wright’s goal.
Other goals came Bolton’s way from targetman Kevin Davis, who scored with a scruffy header, and midfield battler Gary Speed converted a penalty after Valente had pulled down Davis in the box.
Everton had the majority of possession and had forced the majority of chances but poor finishing, and good goalkeeping by Jussi Jaaskelainen prevented the home side from getting onto the score sheet.
Bolton’s win keeps them in fourth, three points behind Spurs who won on Sunday. Everton’s defeat leaves them only four points from the relegation zone and with a lot to think about over their Christmas turkey.
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