Everton: A Complete Month by Month Guide to Next Season, Ranking Each Month
With next season's fixtures just released, the first steps of the new football year are already being trodden, as supporters digest their team's fixtures in intricate detail. Here is your month by month guide to Everton's 2011/12 season, complete with a difficulty rating gauged for each month.
Perennial slow starters in recent years, can Everton get themselves going early this year and disrupt the top six teams?
August 2011
1 of 10
13/08: Tottenham Hotspur (a)
20/08: QPR (h)
27/08: Blackburn (a)
It is vital Everton get off to a good start if the team harbours genuine hopes of progressing further up the league this year. They have been given a testing start.
White Hart Lane on the opening day of the season will be a tough place to attain anything, despite Everton's impressive haul of 10 out of the last 15 points at Tottenham.
When QPR embark on their first foray away from home in the EPL, David Moyes will hope the euphoria attached to their promotion might have deflated somewhat. A win here is essential, although statistically it is better to avoid newly promoted teams early in the season.
Blackburn could have an entirely different team by August, depending on how much the team's owners invest. Everton has achieved every result at Ewood Park in their last three visits.
Difficulty Rating: 4/5
September 2011
2 of 10
10/09: Aston Villa (h)
17/09: Wigan (h)
24/09: Man City (a)
With two home games in September—and the next few visitors to Goodison Park being of a slightly higher calibre—Everton will target two wins here. Six points would surely provide Moyes' team with a handy start, although neither Aston Villa nor Wigan were beaten at Goodison Park last season.
Not many would predict much to be taken from Manchester City, but Everton has won the last four against Roberto Mancini's men. The team would enjoy nothing more than continuing the recent trend.
Difficulty Rating 2/5
October 2011
3 of 10
01/10: Liverpool (h)
15/10: Chelsea (a)
22/10: Fulham (a)
29/10: Manchester United (h)
This could be the most crucial month of the season. October could eventually define Everton's season, as the team will be given a stern examination here.
Moyes frequently rouses his troops to produce some of their best work against the top teams in the division. He will have to hope for more of the same in October.
A derby victory at home was one of the highlights of last season. Everton played some of their best football against Chelsea, not losing during any of their four encounters. Moyes will look to rectify an abysmal record of one win in EPL history at Craven Cottage before the champions come to Merseyside.
Difficulty Rating 5/5
November 2011
4 of 10
05/11: Newcastle (a)
19/11: Wolves (h)
26/11: Bolton (a)
November is relatively calm after the fierce endeavours in October. Gaining a win and remaining undefeated would be an upgrade from last season, given this trio of opponents. Two wins may be needed if the previous month left Everton grounded.
Difficulty Rating 2/5
December 2011
5 of 10
03/12: Stoke (h)
10/12: Arsenal (a)
17/12: Norwich (h)
21/12: Swansea (h)
26/12: Sunderland (a)
31/12: West Brom (a)
The festive period provides Everton with a chance to be ruthless. Many would hope the three home games could result in maximum points. A win on any of the three away trips would provide a decent return for December.
Moyes tends to win one Manager of the Month award every season, so what better month to do so than a month brimming with six games? If he does guide Everton to 12-16 points, it would give the Toffees a genuine chance of beginning 2012 with real momentum.
Difficulty Rating 1/5
January 2012
6 of 10
02/01: Bolton (h)
14/01: Aston Villa (a)
21/01: Blackburn (h)
2012 begins with further opportunity for Everton to progress. These three fixtures produced only four points last season, but again, Everton would expect to improve.
Bolton and Aston Villa were both games Everton dominated for the vast majority, only to come away with little at the end. Hopefully, by the time these matches begin, they are blessed with greater cutting edge up front.
Remaining unbeaten for the year, with at least one win, should be a minimum requirement here.
Difficulty Rating 2/5
February 2012
7 of 10
01/02: Manchester City (h)
04/02: Wigan (a)
11/02: Chelsea (h)
25/02: Liverpool (a)
During the composition of this article, February stayed as 5/5 for a long time. It was only due to Everton's remarkable tally of eight points from these respective fixtures last season that it was altered. Paralleled with October, this month is probably the most arduous test of the season.
Last season Everton was impressive against Chelsea and Manchester City. The team will look to continue that form during a time when, hopefully, their opposition has one eye on upcoming Champions League matches.
Trips to Wigan have provided points in recent years and Everton is overdue a win at Anfield.
Difficulty Rating 4/5
March 2012
8 of 10
03/03: QPR (a)
10/03: Tottenham (h)
17/03: Arsenal (h)
24/03: Swansea (a)
31/03: West Brom (h)
March blends together some recently promoted sides with a couple of Champions League chasers. With three fixtures at home and Everton's recent tradition of showing title form by March, Evertonians will be hopeful of a decent return.
Arsenal generally saves its best for Everton, attaining more EPL points off Everton than anyone else. The team again achieved a double over the Toffees last season.
Tottenham was defeated at home, but surprisingly, West Brom secured an eye-catching double raid on Everton last year, including a 4-1 win at Goodison Park. With former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson now at the helm, this will be one result many Everton supporters would be keen to see rectified.
Difficulty Rating 2/5
April 2012
9 of 10
07/04: Norwich (a)
09/04: Sunderland (h)
14/04: Stoke (a)
21/04: Manchester United (a)
28/04: Fulham (h)
As the season begins to curtail, Everton face a quintet of fixtures with varying degrees of difficulty. Sunderland and Fulham may be settling into mid-table security by now, hopefully not fighting against relegation or for a European place.
Home wins were achieved last year, and they could be important again next year. Securing much from the three away trips could prove tough.
Norwich may be battling for their lives by then and will be roared on by a partisan crowd. The Britannia is one of the most daunting stadiums to visit, while Manchester United only gave away one point at home throughout last season.
Difficulty Rating 3/5
May 2012
10 of 10
05/05: Wolves (a)
13/05: Newcastle (h)
The season concludes with Wolves and Newcastle. Everton achieved a memorable 3-0 win at Wolves, but were felled by a Hatem Ben Arfa wonder goal when playing Newcastle last term.
Hopefully by this time, Everton will be striving for success. A Top Six finish will be aimed for and would prove to be an achievement in a league where Everton is in an increasing minority of small spenders.
Difficulty Rating 2/5
