Football Food For Thought / Mike Norman / 19 December 2007 /

"Mystical" Mike Norman looks into his crystal ball to pick the best bets involving Everton as the injuries begin to kick in at Goodison Park

Back in the days of skin tight shorts, fat goalies, and proper diving headers, Everton FC were just about challenging for every major honour in football. In the space of a few years during the mid eighties, Everton won the league title twice, the FA Cup, and the European Cup Winners Cup. .

More than twenty years have elapsed since that golden era for the club, but Everton now find themselves in a situation where they can mount a serious challenge in all the competitions they are contesting. After an unbeaten run of twelve games, they are sixth in the Premiership, into the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup, into the last four of the Carling Cup, and have an easy opportunity to get their FA Cup run off to a good start.

The big question is can they sustain their current form, or will they be a victim of their own success as the fixtures pile up and the injuries take affect?

With the striking options available to David Moyes, it might come as a surprise to some that he has adopted a 4-5-1 system over the last six weeks or so. But this system works perfect for the players they have, enabling Arteta and Pienaar to attack on the flanks, while Cahill and Osman support the lone striker brilliantly. It also helps when that lone striker is Ayegbeni Yakubu; a player in sensational form at the moment, scoring seven in his last six games. You can back him at [13.5] if you think he will end up being the Premiership's top goalscorer.

Everton are available at [11.5] to finish in the top four of the Premiership and just [2.38] to finish in the top six. The festive season always sorts the men from the boys however, and with Everton's tough upcoming fixtures adding to a mounting injury list, I can see the club's recent good form coming to a shuddering halt. I can't see them taking any points from the games against Manchester United and Arsenal, while a home tie against Bolton and a trip to improving Middlesbrough complete their Christmas fixtures.

The last thing you would want at this stage of the season is injuries to key players, but that's exactly what Everton have got. The vastly improving Leon Osman has a broken toe and is expected to be out for six weeks, Leighton Baines has a torn hamstring and will be out for a month or so, and experienced centre back Alan Stubbs will miss the busy Christmas period with a pulled calf muscle. As things stand, they might just be able to cope, but they can ill afford any more injuries or suspensions to the squad.

Tonight Everton will find out who their opponents will be in the Carling Cup, but they must be gutted to get to the last four, only to find Arsenal, Spurs and either Chelsea or Liverpool still in the competition. [5.7] to lift the trophy could represent some value however, especially if they happen to play either Chelsea (who will have a weakened team) or Arsenal (reserve team) at the semi-final stage. Everton are available at [22] to win the FA Cup, but I would wait until further down the line before making a call on this competition.

While the Premiership, and breaking into that top four, is Everton's main priority, I think David Moyes will put much emphasis on trying to win the UEFA Cup. I tipped up Everton right at the start of the season to do the best of the English teams and I stand by that selection. Their style of play will be much suited to European football and the [14.5] about them winning the competition outright still looks tasty to me.

Everton travel to AZ Alkmaar tomorrow evening knowing that top spot in the group and qualification is guaranteed. For this reason, AZ have to be the selection at the cramped odds of just [1.66]. Alkmaar must record a better result than group rivals Nuremburg to progress to the knock-out stages, so you can be certain they will be all guns blazing against a weakened Everton team. Everton are [5.8] to win, while the draw is [4.3]. Backing AZ Alkmaar to lead at half-time and full-time at [2.64] would be my advice.

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