Everton v Benfica: Europa League system dilutes true European excitement
JACK RODWELL has made some noises about Everton avenging their heaviest-ever European defeat, and Phil Neville believes that Benfica are in for a bit of a rude awakening at Goodison tonight, but in all honesty this Europa League game doesn't really seem to have captured the fans' imagination as much as it might.
Perhaps it's the very fact that even if the Portuguese triumph over David Moyes's team again, there are still another six points up for grabs in Athens and at home to BATE; so qualification to the next stage is well within Everton's grasp, regardless of the outcome this evening.
It's also difficult to work up any animosity towards Benfica, even after they stuck five goals past Tim Howard in the Stadium of Light. The fact of the matter is they couldn't help themselves.
And while Everton put on a more respectable performance against Aston Villa on Saturday, displaying at least the fight we expect from them, even if the football still isn't great, David Moyes is still some way off fielding a team strong enough to give his continental counterpart, Jorge Jesus, any sleepless nights.
Thankfully Leighton Baines is back, and it's no coincidence that the whole side has looked far more balanced since his return.
The full-back's forward runs are an integral part of the team's best attacking play now, and it's incredible to think that just over a year or so ago it looked like he had no future at Goodison as he struggled to hold down a place.
Another more recent addition who the manager might have problems accommodating in the future is Johnny Heitinga.
While his enthusiasm is admirable, it's hard to figure out just what his best position is.
He doesn't look as dominant in central defence as either Joseph Yobo or Sylvain Distin, never mind the on-the-mend Phil Jagielka, while Lucas Neill appears to have already made right-back his own.
That leaves midfield, where the Dutchman did a passable job against Villa, but surely he is too similar in style to Neville to operate there when the club captain is fit.
However, with news that Mikel Arteta has suffered yet another setback, Moyes probably can't wait to wrestle with that kind of selection dilemma.
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