Slow and steady wins the race

Now, just when we thought that Marouane Fellaini's 70s-blaxploitation afro was undoubtably the worst haircut in football - and probably the reason behind some of his yellow cards, as I reckon it definitely qualified as ungentlemanly conduct - he has got rid of it, only to replace it with corn rows. They don't even look good on Steven Pienaar, for god's sake. Add in Jo's outrageous do, and Everton have a collection of the crappest hairstyles going.

Right now, however, the hair is about the only thing not going for Everton. Consider that they only picked up 9 points from their first 9 games and that there were, in early October, one or two moans about the team's progress, about whether David Moyes' reign had run its course. Well, six months on, I think it's safe to say that it hasn't. Everton managed to get the likes of Pienaar and Cahill fit again, remembered how to win at home (only 1 win in the first 9 home games, but 5 wins in the last 6 at Goodison) and even, god forbid, are seeing off teams by more than the one goal.

Moyes comes in to the run-in knowing that sixth is all but safe, and after Man Utd's win in the League Cup that is enough for a place in Europe. But with Villa suddenly collapsing like a house of cards built over the San Andreas fault, Evertonians can now set their sights even higher, though Arsenal's recent resurgence may deny them a second appearance in the Champions' League qualifiers. They also have an FA Cup semi to look forward to, albeit against Manchester United. A few (probably wrong) commentators have started talking up Tim Cahill for Player of the Year.

The downside is the absence of Mikel Arteta for the rest of the season, but so far they haven't missed him, just like they haven't exactly missed Yakubu. If they can keep Louis Saha fit, and keep getting goals from him (yes, that is a big ask, but you would have said the same in Januay about getting something out of Jo, who at Man City offered about as much attacking threat as a kitten with a ball of string) then that might be the little miracle that allows them to push on further.

Everton's travel to Villa on April 12, but their other remaining games are pretty mundane. Arsenal still have to play Man U and Chelsea. All season it looked like the big four's monopoly would be broken, but by Martin O'Neill. Instead, could it be the blue side of Liverpool who finally freshens things up just a touch?

L.