With the New Year approaching the time come to reflect on the 12 months gone by. 2011 will never go down as a vintage year for Everton, it was mainly about debt, sales protests and stagnation. However, it did have a few memorable moments, well the Chelsea Cup game anyway! And the consequences of some of the major events that happened over this year have yet to be realised, meaning it may yet be a more significant year than we realise.
As part of our look back over the year each Royal Blue Mersey writer has answered some quick questions about their thoughts on Everton in 2011. Part one sees Darren Melling and Sibi Gnanasundaram step up and give their answers.
Darren
RBM:Tweet the year - your review of the year in 140 characters or less
Darren: Thank God for David Moyes and what he’s doing for our club.
RBM: Who is your player of the year and why?
Darren: Leighton Baines – self explanatory given Plan A; feed Baines and we stand a chance. Well deserved international recognition and continues to go from strength to strength. Finally, for the extra time equaliser away to Chelsea in the FA Cup last season and his subsequent rendition of Elvis on the train on the way home!
RBM: Most disappointing player of the year and why?
Darren: Louis Saha. World class when he wants to be, but hardly ever wants to be. Very frustrating to see.
RBM: Best game of the year?
Darren: Chelsea away in the FA Cup last season. No one gave us a chance. Liverpool fans telling me how they were delighted we would be out now that we faced a “proper” team (Man Utd had knocked them out.) We played very very well, were unlucky to go 1 down in extra time and then with the last kick of extra time Baines steps up to plant one in the top corner and leave Cech rooted to the spot. I wanted to scream that much that nothing came out of my mouth!
RBM: Worst game of the year?
Darren: The following round v Reading AT HOME. Really really good opportunity to do something in the cup again. But just didn’t turn up and deservedly exited at the hands of lower league opposition, making the efforts v Chelsea seem pointless.
RBM: Hopes for the January transfer window
Darren: My heart says “anything permanent!” My head says Donovan (done), Pienaar (very likely), and someone who knows where the goal is.
RBM: What’s your prediction for the rest of the season?
Darren: My prediction is the players need to pull their fingers out and the manager needs to put a Plan B in place, and we can press for Europe. Otherwise we will finish bottom half.
RBM: Where will Everton be in 12 months time
Darren: As me in 12 months time. I don’t want to tempt fate.
Sibi
RBM: Tweet the year - your review of the year in 140 characters or less
Sibi: 'What will it cost for the club to buy some goals?'
RBM: Who is your player of the year and why?
Sibi: Vellios? Big jump from last year. Plus, you can't really give it to someone else at this point.
RBM: Most disappointing player of the year and why?
Sibi: Louis Saha/Tim Cahill - They both just can't find the back of the net.
RBM: Best game of the year?
Sibi: None
RBM: Worst game of the year?
Sibi: Every match has been the worst match of the year up till this point (I know this was the easy answer...)
RBM: Hopes for the January transfer window
Sibi: Any supporting striker at this point.
RBM: Prediction for the rest of the season
Sibi: Still will have trouble scoring goals but will finish in a respectable 11th.
RBM: Where will be in 12 months time
Sibi: Same exact place just like we always are: (1) Hoping the big four don't poach our players, (2) Complaining about our ownership and (3) looking for some deficient position to be be magically filled using our imaginary monopoly money.
Part 2 coming soon - in the meantime follow Darren and Sibi on Twitter - @DarrenMelling @sibsinExile