As Evertonians wait for developments on the managerial front, a three-time occupant of the Goodison hot seat celebrates his birthday. Howard Kendall turns 67 on Wednesday; Kendall spent 17 years at Everton as player, player-manager and manager. Harry Catterick signed Kendall from Preston North End in 1967; edging out Bill Shankly’s Liverpool for the highly rated 20-year old. Completed the day before the transfer deadline, the 85,000-pound deal was the catalyst for an association that would span four decades.

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For the 518th and final time, David Moyes barked instructions from the Everton dugout. Only Harry Catterick has managed Everton for longer in a single spell; ironically, both departed Everton with 161 defeats on their record. In addition, this 2-1 defeat means the wait for a 600th league away win extends into next season. This defeat epitomised the campaign, some will argue it epitomised the Moyes era, as missed chances and slack defending nullified good football. This familiar theme has prevailed throughout the season.

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This Sunday sees David Moyes take charge of Everton for the 518th and final time. During his 11 years at Goodison, plenty of players have passed through the club. Therefore, as Moyes prepares to pack his bags, this seems a suitable time to select the best XI to feature under his management. - Howard backs Moyes successor The Nearly Men: Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Valente; Mirallas, Carsley, Gibson, Osman; Ferguson, Yakubu. The XI: Nigel Martyn Despite several goalkeepers occupying the sticks under Moyes, Tim Howard and Nigel Martyn are the only serious contenders.

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Everton visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday for the final game of the season. For the visitors, the match is largely irrelevant, aside from a final farewell for David Moyes, with Everton unable to improve on sixth place. For Chelsea, Champions League football is in the bag (baring a spectacular turn of events) and the pressure is off. As uncertainty shrouds his future, Frank Lampard can expect a rousing reception after booking his place in Chelsea folklore. The midfielder has overtaken Bobby Tambling in the club's scoring stakes and has 203 goals from 607 Chelsea appearances, notching a good percentage of those against Everton.

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Since European football was out of the equation, this was always going to be more about farewells than football. Fortunately, for Everton, the football was superb and 2-0 barely hinted at the one-sided nature of the match. - Match report: Everton 2-0 West Ham Kevin Mirallas will take the headlines after his match-winning brace, but centre stage belonged to Darron Gibson. A continual testament to David Moyes and his eye for a bargain, Gibson is a vital part of this Everton side. As well as being a quality midfielder, Gibson has the pleasing knack of rarely finishing on the losing side; his record at Manchester United and Everton is tremendous.

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This was always the danger. With a new contract unsigned and the club slipping from the European places, Everton were one attractive vulture from losing David Moyes. As the contract ticked toward expiration, the manager was adamant that any decision on his future would arrive at the end of the season. Unfortunately, like Don Corleone in "The Godfather," Manchester United made Moyes an offer he couldn't refuse -- the chance to step into the shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. With Moyes out of contract, the move is straightforward.

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On course to finish in the familiar position of 'best of the rest', Everton look set to fall narrowly short of European football. The failure to strengthen in the January window has left the squad running on empty; the team lacks the energy and tenacity present in the early stages of the season. - Howard demands strong finish Lacking the necessary strength in depth, the number of draws and a crippling inability to win on the road have merely compounded the problem. However, while this season peters out, the 19-year anniversary of the greatest of escapes shows the progress made (on the pitch) since the dark days of the 90s.

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Once the dust settles, the 220th Merseyside derby will not live long in the memory. Aside from a disallowed goal, the 90 minutes of football failed to offer a single talking point. On this day in 1928, Dixie Dean scored his 60th league goal of the season with a final-day hat trick; he will be turning in his grave at the attacking play on show here. Everton's winless run at Anfield continues for at least another year after this 0-0 draw. Much like the rest of the season, this was a near miss for the Toffees.

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This Sunday marks the 220th Merseyside derby and the continuation of the most-played fixture in English football. The previous 219 meetings have provided plenty of flashpoints, from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again; it's best not to mention Clive Thomas to anyone of the blue persuasion. With past meetings serving up 556 goals, countless red cards and thousands of talking points, there are a number of highs and lows to look back on. After sifting through video footage and personal memories, this list selects five of the best derby goals from an Everton viewpoint.

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Everton make their annual trip to Anfield on Sunday for the 220th Merseyside Derby. Chasing a 600th league away win, three points would maintain those faint European hopes and allow the Toffees to exorcise some personal demons. This latest clash is the 100th Merseyside Derby at Anfield and, with just 24 wins from the previous 99 meetings, Everton are winless on this ground since 1999. Following a decisive Kevin Campbell goal in September of that year, the Blues have drawn seven and lost six on enemy territory.

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Open up the nearest dictionary, search for ‘routine’ and a description of this home win will be the definition. Aside from a brief spell in the second half, Everton were in cruise control for the majority of the match Saturday. Fulham are yet to register a league win at Goodison Park and it is easy to see why on this evidence as Everton earned a 20th successive home league win over Fulham in a 1-0 victory. Unfortunately for the visitors, the talismanic Dimitar Berbatov departed after 29 minutes through injury.

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Constantly smashing against the proverbial glass ceiling, there is a sense of frustration among Everton supporters when a season approaches the closing stretch. Stuck on the European periphery, year after year, there is a prevailing sense of what might have been. The occasional cup run lifts fans, but the 2009 FA Cup final is the only time Everton have troubled their 18-year trophy drought. - Fellaini: Fatigue a factor for Everton Unfortunately, recent generations are yet to witness a truly successful Everton side.

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