too wrapped up in Everton's progress this season. Sure, I'm watching the results and the table like a hawk, but I've still got this residual feeling that we are going to get caught, so I'm deliberately not letting myself get swept-up in anticipation.

On paper, I'd rate Villa and City's squads (inc. manager) as being roughly equal to ours (although Arteta is pretty unique), and they're both only one win back; and -- don't tell anyone -- but I'd rate Liverpool's as being slightly better, and they're equal if they win the game-in-hand.

Having said that (cliche time!), you'd always prefer points-in-the-bank to games-in-hand and Everton have managed to go through quite a serious little bad spell in the last three or four weeks and yet still be in the Champion's League spots; still in roughly the same position they were in six weeks ago. If they keep playing as they have been recently, they'll get caught; if they play as they did during the second "quarter" of the season, I'm moderately optimistic. We've also got a few key players back from the African Nations Cup now, without having slipped too badly (mind you, so have Portsmouth). At the beginning of the season I'd have gratefully settled for a UEFA spot again, so provided they manage that, I'll still be happy. Still ... The Show, eh .. one can hope.