The summer of 2011 proved to be just like most others in recent times for supporters of Everton.
Once again the Toffees failed to make a significant dip into the transfer market, with the loan signing of Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid the closest player to a marque addition.
As a result, many tipped David Moyes to have his work cut out this season. Here, Sports Mole has assessed whether or not the pre-season predictions were proved correct.
August
The London riots meant that Everton would have to wait an extra week to get the campaign underway following police advice that their trip to Tottenham Hotspur would be too dangerous.
However, they may have wished it had been postponed for two weeks when Queens Park Rangers left Goodison Park with all three points.
Nevertheless, progression in the Carling Cup and a 1-0 away victory at Blackburn Rovers would see the Toffees end the month on high note on the pitch.
Off the field of play things would not end quite so happily, as the club took the decision to sell Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta to Arsenal.
September
The second month of the season started positively for Everton, earning a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa before Drenthe claimed his first goal for the club during a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic.
A rare Phil Neville goal then saw Everton advance once again in the Carling Cup, before a trip to Manchester City. David Moyes sent his side out to defend but their resistance was finally broken by Mario Balotelli and James Milner.
October
Defeats to arch rivals Liverpool and then Chelsea saw the Toffees get off to a slow start in October.
A 3-1 victory away at Fulham courtesy of late goals from Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell lifted some of the gloom, but Chelsea soon returned to Goodison Park to knock Everton out of the Carling Cup with an extra-time strike from Daniel Sturridge.
November
A late October loss to champions Manchester United was closely followed by another defeat at Newcastle United in early November.
However, wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers followed to lift the club away from relegation trouble.
December
The festive period would prove to a difficult one for David Moyes's side, with only one victory coming throughout December.
One-goal losses against Stoke City and Arsenal were accompanied by a 1-1 draw at home with Norwich City. The visiting Canaries actually looked to be leaving Merseyside with all three points until Leon Osman produced a late equaliser.
Osman got his name on the scoresheet again in the next match as Swansea City were dispatched 1-0.
It was a month in which Osman was continually in the headlines, particularly when the Boxing Day trip to Sunderland saw him win a penalty when no contact appeared to be made. Leighton Baines stepped up to convert the spot-kick and earn his side a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.
That result left the Toffees tenth in the Premier League table.
What may be concerning Moyes is Tim Cahill's failure to find the net in a calender year, while Chelsea are reportedly tracking Rodwell.
Liam Apicella
