August

August began with a bang as Steven Pienaar completed his permanent return to Goodison Park, signing from Spurs on a four-year deal.

His first run-out came in Keith Southern's testimonial against Blackpool, though the South African couldn't prevent a 2-0 defeat.

Tony Hibbert's testimonial was next up at Goodison and provided a night no-one in attendance is ever likely to forget.

No goals in over 300 first-team appearances, the Huyton-born hero stepped up nine minutes into the second half to drill home a 20-yard free-kick and wrap up a straightforward 4-1 win over visitors AEK Athens.

A 1-0 defeat at Malaga was a glum way to round off pre-season but few were complaining a few days later when Marouane Fellaini's header kicked off the Premier League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

Prior to that there had been further good news with the arrival of Belgian international Kevin Mirallas from Olympiakos and on the final day of the window he'd be joined by FC Copenhagen's versatile Costa Rican Bryan Oviedo.

Before that there was time for a fine 3-1 win at Aston Villa and a 5-0 demolition of Leyton Orient in the newly-named Capital One Cup as, at last, the Toffees started a new season in emphatic style.