FRUSTRATION KICKS IN AS EVERTON F.C. FACE NEW SEASON WITH FEW NEW FACES

Strictly speaking he's right. He can name a starting 11 which doesn't include untried kids and which lined up against Chelsea in the F.A. cup final.

But what's frustrating many of us is that we don't think that's good enough. That sunny day in May exposed all our limitations brutally.

Clearly that statement must be tempered by perspective. That team which did so well last season performed miracles in the F.A. Cup, and finished fifth. It was remarkable. But I suppose it comes down to success raising expectations.

What galls us all is that Everton F.C. isn't financially capable of realising those expectations and giving the manager a realistic chance of moving up.

The current extra concern is that, as yet, Moyes hasn't even made the necessary signings for us to maintain best of the rest status.

Many of the national tabloids think Lescott is off today for £22m. I've made my feelings on this move clear, so all I'll say is that if he is going I hope it is today and the whole thing is over with.

It can't have anything but a negative and unsettling effect on everyone at the club. Moyes' reported anger is understandable because Lescott has left it late to tell him, and even with £20m plus to spend it leave the clock ticking on us and the manager open to accusations of panic buys a la Fellaini.

Elsewhere it looks like our scouts have capitalised on links built up in successive pre-season trips to the USA, by kind of targeting that nation's lower leagues as a feeder set-up.

We've signed Anton Peterlin and Cody Arnoux already. I can imagine Moyes was sold on their attitude first and foremost, then maybe their college-honed technique.

Whether these young lads from almost the lowest tier of U.S. footy can live with the pace, power and skill of the Premier League remains to be seen.

They can't do much worse than the performance against Blackpool which by all accounts was woeful.

That Rodwell/Yobo centre-back pairing looks ropey and I read on another gossip site that Everton are trying to find a way to manage Saha's asthma!!

I didn't know he was asthmatic as well as having dodgy hamstrings.

Speaking of good players with renegade bodies, James Vaughan was linked in some places with a move to Stoke. How often does Moyes have to say he isn't letting any players go with our small squad - particularly promising youngsters we've only just got fit again? No brainer that one.

Finally it's nice to see at least Cahill and Neville are focussing on playing for Everton and being successful next season. I hope their attitude rubs off.