Recently by Howard Kendall

MANY fear that with Spurs qualifying for the Champions' League, and Manchester City set to spend big in the summer once again, the window of opportunity for Everton is shutting.

If you look at the amount of money spent on transfers this season, Spurs and City are only finishing where you would expect.

But it isn't all about just money. The top four should remain an objective for Everton next season, and they should not be deterred by the astron-omical cash that City are almost certainly ready to splash.

STOKE are one of the last teams you'd want to be playing after they have been beaten 7-0.

They're a proud club with a good management team and Everton's task will be made harder by the Stoke players who will be determined to make amends in front of their own fans.

Peter Reid is loving every minute of his time as Tony Pulis' number two, and Reidy will have them fired up with a few choice words make no mistake.

MAKE no mistake about it, the Blues are still in the driving seat ahead of the away leg of their Europa League tie with Sporting.

They will go to Lisbon next week and they only have to score first to put themselves in a great position to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Sporting were fairly neat and tidy and looked OK on the counter attack, but overall Everton are stronger.

WHAT a fantastic win over Man City.

I haven't seen an Everton crowd as bouyant as that after a game for a long, long time.

The result was fully deserved and all the better that it came against a club that has spent fortunes on supposed quality players.

NOBODY needs reminding that Chelsea represent a stern task for David Moyes' men on Saturday afternoon.

Minds will inevitably turn to the FA Cup final in May when the Blues were beaten in very difficult weather conditions.

The sun was beating down on both sides and Everton struggled to cope with it that day.

I HIGHLIGHTED in last week's column the amount of chances West Ham created during Everton's 2-1 win at Upton Park.

The Blues can't afford to be as open at the back against Manchester United on Saturday.

There comes a point on any road to Wembley when there is a defining game and Everton's came at Anfield at the end of January.

It was the draw that nobody wanted and, if we are honest, it doesn't come much tougher than playing a full strength Liverpool away from home; that was the start of a ride that has been anything but easy.

Yet the Blues shrugged off the problems caused by Mikel Arteta's injury and having no fit strikers to claim a deserved draw and the momentum has gathered pace ever since. It can reach a crescendo tomorrow.

THERE will always be a question over a manager when he spends big on a player who is something of an unknown.

I remember the feeling well; when I signed Adrian Heath, he didn't have much of a reputation but I was determined to spend a record fee to get him.

David Moyes did that last September when he persuaded Bill Kenwright to sign a £15m cheque for Marouane Fellaini and some will have wondered where the sense in that was in his first few appearances for Everton.

Once again, though, David's judgement has proven to be spot on and I see no reason to argue with Fellaini being named Everton's Young Player of the Season.

GOODISON PARK will be bouncing tomorrow and I'm pretty confident that Everton will be signing off for the season at home with a win.

In the years I was lucky enough to take the Blues to Wembley, we were always guaranteed a great send off and, as big numbers won't be travelling to Fulham next week, I'm sure the atmosphere will be electric.

It has been a remarkable effort this season, when you think of the injuries David Moyes has had to deal with. Everyone has played a part and young players have come to the fore.

I THINK all Evertonians were probably ruing Barcelona's late goal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Ideally we wanted Chelsea to get through to the Champions League final in Rome with the FA Cup final at Wembley being played just three days later.

I know from experience that it's very difficult to play two games of that magnitude in such a short space of time.

Back in 1985 when I was boss we beat Rapid Vienna in the Cup Winners Cup final on the Wednesday and had to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on the Saturday.