David Moyes: The only way he can make that next step is to put the team in a position where they have another game like that as soon as possible.
You can't go to the next level if you don't ever play in big games because you don't know what to expect - or what it's all about.
It's been a long time since Everton were involved in a big semi-final, so the vast majority of those players were in that position for the first time.
They lost out to a weakened Chelsea side, but they have the know-how and the wherewithal, and have been down that road before.
Everton can keep improving but they will need to keep strengthening the squad and put themselves on the line so that next time they get to a semi-final they're better prepared for it.
And hopefully they won't have to wait another 12 years.
Everton's ability now to get quality players in has been evident in attracting the likes of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and keeping Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta on long contracts.
These are particular areas that David has done well with, along with consistent progression. He's done a fabulous job and the next step is: not to be satisfied with finishing in the top six.
Strengthen
Any manager would look to strengthen all areas of the pitch and I just wonder if they have enough goals in them at the moment.
Obviously Moyes spent a lot of money on Yakubu, who they badly missed against Chelsea and will continue to do so while he is away at the African Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
They also have Andy Johnson who is important for them, but after that you have the two young kids, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan and David will be hoping that one of them at least in the next year or so is pushing to make the grade and have a real impact.
Maybe in the centre of midfield they might need a bit more creation. I guess that with Leon Osman and Arteta in the wide areas Moyes might feel as if he's got enough of that.
But they are pretty solid; they defend well and don't give much away.
I'm not sure just how far they are from breaking into the so-called big four. At the moment they are a good top-seven side.
I still think that quartet - although Liverpool are having a bad time - are a bit ahead of everybody else, but Everton can consider themselves in the band just below that.
David is doing a wonderful job and he's carried that through by learning with each season.
Stabilised
He had a bit of a yo-yo the first three seasons but he's stabilised the club now with a good healthy top-six finish last year - and he's heading for that again, or maybe better, this year.
The big four don't have a divine right to be there, they've got to earn it and if Everton can mess them about and manage a to break their stranglehold then that would be great for them.
I don't see why they can't finish fourth if they get Yakubu back sooner rather than later. They have the talent, but they need a bit of luck, as any team does.
They haven't got the biggest squad in the Premier League so they will need to steer clear of injuries as well.
But I think they will push Liverpool. I can see a right royal battle for that fourth spot between the two Merseyside giants.
At the start of the season some Everton fans would have been concerned about whether it was going to be a good season or a bad one, there was no in-between.
David has found a nice way of playing now that he has built his squad and has some talented players at his disposal and Everton are regarded as a formidable force again.
They're still a massive way away from challenging for the title yet, but there's absolutely no reason why they can't be challenging for fourth place.
And in the modern game fans would regard that as success.
