Everton in 2008: Health Warning Attached

It should have been the start of a climb in the club's fortunes but instead the summer of this year was more like the Black Hole. No news on Moyes' contract and an endless list of players in the gossip columns but no new signings left fans frustrated. Weeks went by and whatever the reasons we found ourselves on the first day of the season with a first team down to the bare bones and a bench of inexperienced kids.

A mix of heightened expectations and disappointment over the lack of transfer activity provided an air of bad feeling amongst fans.

It's hard to judge whether it's the crowd that should be getting the players going or vice versa but either way, our early performances this season were flat and the atmosphere in Goodison was even worse.

The lack of activity in the summer proved to be a tunnel that we just about seem to be coming out the other side of in the last month. With performances improving and the crowd getting behind the players again rather than moaning at every misplaced pass the feeling around the club is back to being much more positive.

In a strange way having no fit forwards has been a blessing in disguise for us. Our performances with Cahill up front has been much closer to the fluid and creative football we were playing at this time last year. The 4-5-1 formation has also brought out the best in Arteta and highlighted the idiocy of fans who thought 4-5-1 was a negative formation earlier in the season.

It's been a mixed year but mistakes have been learnt from (for example: Always order your Fellaini wig early so as to avoid disappointment) and we finished on a high with two wins out of two over Christmas. So here's to a prosperous new year for the Blues starting with a cup run, derby win and a few new faces at the club.