Week 2: Lescott’s exit could turn around Toffees’ terrible start

EVERTON MANAGER DAVID MOYES performed magic last season in helping the Toffees secure a fifth-place finish in the English Premier League.

To equal that feat this season, Moyes and his club, which also made the final of the FA Cup last season, may need divine intervention.

Injuries to numerous key players were Moyes’ main problem last season and the Toffees boss, who became the manger in March 2002, did a brilliant job of using the players he had available and keeping team spirits high.

But all the good feeling surrounding Goodison Park after last season’s success has evaporated after losses to Arsenal and newly-promoted Burnley to open the 2009-10 campaign.

As if the lopsided 6-1 defeat to the Gunners in the season opener and Sunday’s 1-0 setback at Turf Moor weren’t enough, now Moyes and Co. will have to deal with losing one of the cornerstones of the squad — defender Jolean Lescott.

But, strange as it may sound, the Lescott sale to filthy rich Manchester City is exactly what the club needs.

The Toffees are reportedly going to receive up to £24 million in the Lescott deal, £10 million of which they’ve already pledged to Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. The summer transfer window is closing quickly, but Moyes will likely add at least another player or two before the deadline, preferably a defender since the Merseyside outfit has lost Lescott, England’s center back.

But Lescott apparently made no secret of his desire to leave Everton and his performance in the Arsenal game certainly wasn’t up to snuff. In addition to the money the Toffees are getting for Lescott, it seems they’re also ridding themselves of a player who no longer wanted to wear the Everton shirt. Two birds, one stone.

Midfielder Mikel Arteta, defender Phil Jagielka and strikers Yakubu and Victor Anichebe are all expected to return from major injuries they suffered last season. Yakubu, who was sidelined with an Achilles injury last November, is scheduled to suit up for the reserve team Tuesday against Burnley.

There’s no doubt the season couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for Everton, right down to Louis Saha’s penalty miss that could have salvaged a point against Burnley. But Moyes’ steely nerve, coupled with the return of several first-team players and a new signing or two, could be enough to get the Liverpool side not named Liverpool off the bottom of the table.

It’ll take a lot of work, and some trickery, to make that happen. No stranger to facing adversity, Moyes could win his second consecutive manager of the year honor if he can lead Everton to another top-six finish.