Everton manager David Moyes during the Premier League match with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Everton manager David Moyes during the Premier League match with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
There is a lot to be positive about at Everton. Having not been the case for some time, it is a welcome feeling.
One of the biggest markers of progress lies away from the glittering new stadium on the banks of the Mersey, beyond the welcome, ambitious plans for Everton Women to call Goodison Park home and aside from the resources of the new owners ahead of an era-defining transfer window.
Just listening to David Moyes speak on Friday afternoon offered a clear indication of why Blues can hope to make strides forward: He is aware of the occasion Sunday will be, but his focus is not on sentiment but on winning.
Moyes will respect the spectacle, but he will also respect Southampton, and that is important. Standards and expectations matter and for too long at Everton they have been undermined by the turbulence off the pitch even as those at Finch Farm have attempted to overcome them.
Sensing an opportunity, rather than allow his players to get lost in the momentousness of Goodison’s final game in its current guise, the focus at the training ground this week has been on what should happen on the pitch rather than what will happen in the stands.
That clarity of thought is crucial because what happens on the hallowed turf will matter.
Everton have been gifted a golden opportunity to finish as high as 13th. Improving on the 15th place of last season would be worth millions of pounds to the club and that could be key ahead of the end of the football financial year on June 30.
Everton expect to be safe from PSR complications but have acknowledged they need to be cautious until that deadline passes and a new cycle of calculations begins.
Finishing 13th could be the difference between having to work a late deal to add extra wriggle room - as outgoing director of football Kevin Thelwell had to do last year.
Everton have a massive summer ahead and are gearing up for it - being able to focus on the rebuild and not the regulations would be helpful.
"There's a lot of talk about Goodison, which I completely understand”, Moyes said ahead of the game. “But at the same time, we've got ourselves 42 points at the moment. We need to try to win our last two games and get ourselves as high up as we possibly can."
Everton could make progress before a ball is kicked.
Defeats for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night would guarantee the Blues finish above Spurs and make it highly likely they do the same to Man Utd.
Sealing the deal on the pitch would be the perfect send-off for Goodison Park. However magnificent the coach welcome is, and however magical the post-match celebration may be, Moyes knows the game will be the biggest influence on the emotions.
Three points would not just crown a wonderful day, it would mean Goodison’s final act for the men’s senior team would be to set up an even more promising future for the first season at Everton Stadium.