Confident Moyes tips Toffees to emulate Spurs’ Euro vision next season

EVERTON boss David Moyes believes his team are capable of emulating the achievements of Tottenham next year. Spurs this week became the first club from outside the traditional ‘big four’ to secure a top-four finish in the Barclays Premier League since the Toffees managed the feat in 2005.

That achievement will earn Harry Redknapp’s men a shot at the Champions League, a level at which Moyes believes Everton are good enough to compete.

Everton will finish eighth this season but, after losing just two of their last 23 games, their position might have been better had the early part of their campaign not been ravaged by injuries.

Moyes said: “I think Tottenham deserved it for the way they have played throughout the season and Harry has done a brilliant job. I think we are similar to Tottenham in a lot of ways, I think we have got a good team.

“I think we can try to compete with Tottenham in the future.”

Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool were all heavily involved in the battle for a top-four spot and Moyes expects it to be even tighter next year.

He added: “We have always said we need to try to break the monopoly of the top four.

“Until this year Everton were the only team to have broken into it.

“But I think you will find next year there will be a top eight.

“I think a lot of the teams below the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have tried to get closer – Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City have all had good seasons.

“We have got the potential to be there as well and I think it will be much harder for people to say who will finish where.”

Everton will conclude their campaign against relegated FA Cup finalists Portsmouth tomorrow.

Moyes admits he is unsure what to expect from Pompey, whose dismal season is coming to a bitter-sweet end.

In administration and with crippling debts, the club face a major restructuring over the summer but the players still have a trip to Wembley to prepare for.

“It can go one of two ways,” said Moyes.

“You can think do you protect yourself, not wanting to get injured, or play well to be in the team next week.

“It depends on the frame of mind and the player you are.”

Meanwhile Avram Grant has revealed he is one of debt-ridden Portsmouth’s army of frustrated creditors – but insists he will give the club “a little more time” before he decides his own future.

He said: “My original contract ran until 2012 but when the administrator came in they told me that was no longer valid. And, to be honest, I don’t know what the terms of it are now.

“There was a time when nobody was getting paid. I’m getting something now but certainly not everything.

“But I’ve put that on one side for now because we have to concentrate on football and then see where we go.

“I will give the club a little more time because the administrator keeps saying he has a few parties interested in taking over.

“But I need to know some facts soon or it will be too late. We have to start preparations for a new season in the Championship and I would say that must be before the end of May.”