We're feeling the strain, admits Moyes

David Moyes admits Everton are beginning to feel the heat of playing a gruelling schedule of European matches and Premier League games.

Moyes: Short on numbers
Moyes: Short on numbers

Toffees boss Moyes saw his injury-hit outfit lose 2-0 at home to Benfica on Thursday in their latest Europa League game.

The defeat gives them added pressure now as they try to qualify for the next stage after back-to-back defeats to the Portuguese giants.

Progress is still in Everton's own hands, and a victory in their next game away to AEK Athens should see them advance.

But Everton have now gone seven matches without a victory ahead of Sunday's trip to West Ham, and they are too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

Moyes is likely to have striker Louis Saha back for the Upton Park clash, but he is the only one of Everton's wounded stars likely to be involved.

The gaffer is still without Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Victor Anichebe, James Vaughan and Leon Osman, with little sign of any of them being available until next month at the earliest.

Moyes, for the first time, concedes that he has occasional feelings of deep frustration that Everton are playing in Europe without the right resources, and their domestic form is suffering.

He said: "Regrets? I have tried not to have any regrets about it (playing in Europe).

"But the more and more games you play in it, the more and more times you realise that some other managers have talked a lot of sense about the number of games in the Europa League.

"With the squads we have got, us particularly, it is very difficult to win Premier League games when you have got so many midweek games.

"The word rotation gets used to make sure everyone is as fresh as they can be.

"But we do not have that depth of squad, so we could look back and say that Europe has been a hindrance to us.

"I don't like talking that way. I have always wanted to talk positively about playing in Europe, we always want to qualify.

"But undoubtedly it could be having some effect on the domestic results we are getting now."

Everton have got a good recent record at West Ham, so Moyes sees the chance of reversing their current trend.

He says: "As a manager it is down to me to put things right, to find a winning formula from the ranks that I have here.

"In the past I have tended to do that, I feel it is probably one of my strengths.

"The international break coming up may well give a few players chance to get nearer to fitness for the games after that, people like Leon Osman, Neville and Pienaar. They would be closer to fitness by the end of another fortnight.

"But I have been saying that for a few weeks now, and it has not been happening, our I would have had some back by now.

"Maybe we are also a bit tired, I am sure of that. Playing Sunday, Thursday, Sunday is bound to make you tired.

"But players always want to play. You are tired if you have worked hard in games, and that is how it should be."

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Your Comments

number_9_ (Everton fan)

"well moyes youve had 7 years in charge, why havnt you built a squad yet that is capable of competing in these competitions. you consistantly let players leave and dont replace them. what do you expect."

kopite212 (Liverpool fan)

"Not very bright are you ibby? "

ibbyDon (Manchester United fan)

"kopite212 (Liverpool fan)-Talk about moaning look at the fat waiter everytime he loses, the referees to blame and then the injuries and then the owners."

kopite212 (Liverpool fan)

"Quit moaning Moyes. Does this man ever stop? "

Blueboy_22 (Everton fan)

"I am a life long Everton fan. Season ticket holder for many a year, and I must admit, im starting to worry about our recent form. We have never had a big, deep squad like other premierleague teams. and the injury crisis we have at the moment is definetely taking its toll on the team. We need our star players back quick! Young jack rodwell is playing EVERY game and trying to play the Arteta role. He is obviously knackered and needs a rest but Moysey can't afford to rest him at the moment. I just hope we can get something at West Ham and Hull in the next few games! In Moyse we Trust. COYB!!"

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