Article on whether Everton can make top 4 by Martin Laurence

[boris]

I still think a mid-table position of about 7th or 8th is far more likely. We would need to get a couple of results against the top teams, as well as win most if not all of the type of fixtures we have between now and new year in order to clinch 4th. Just can't see it.

We're 7th oR 8th now after the start we've had. even the most negative of supporters must be expecting us to pick up a fair few points over the next few months, even if there is the odd surprise loss we'll still keep moving up over that period.

We don't have to beat any top teams before the new year because we don't really play any of them.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I think we'll finish in the chasing pack and just miss out on 4th

Still, if you guaranteed me right now that we could finish 6th and win the League Cup, I'd probably take it to be honest

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Whenever we get our hopes up there is always a team of no hoper cloggers around the corner to trip us up and bring us back down to earth.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I've just remortgaged the house and put all the proceeds on us winning the league on the back of reading that article.

Seems the only sensible thing to do.

 

[Furey1878]

We automatically default to relegation.

I bet we'll be on 39 points, then Lukaku will get injured then we'll lose every subsequent game and go down.

 

[Ollie d]

Felt before the season started we could be back to our best and hopefully the confidence keeps flowing. I really think the drubbing Chelsea gave us at the start last season coupled with the Leicester and Arsenal results put us on a downer. Quietly confident something special is happening .

 

[Eggs]

Lovely to read how well we are doing, especially the open play thing!

.....we really do need to up the ante in respect of improving our set plays. It's not something that just happens, it has to be worked on at FF. Watching the weekend games and seeing other teams who work at movement and blocking defenders makes it more obvious that we have to improve.

 

[Efcbradley89]

They have been criticised for their slow build-up play under Martínez, but the manager has encouraged greater variety and freedom this season, aided by the form of Barkley (7.63 season rating) and Lukaku (7.52 rating), who had disappointing campaigns by comparison last time around, with ratings of 6.80 and 6.77 respectively.


Personally I thought Barkley was 6.21 and Lukaku was 7.36 last season but there you go hahaha

 

[Dymak]

We're 7th oR 8th now after the start we've had. even the most negative of supporters must be expecting us to pick up a fair few points over the next few months, even if there is the odd surprise loss we'll still keep moving up over that period.

We don't have to beat any top teams before the new year because we don't really play any of them.

The season doesn't finish at Christmans though, and we are going to have to face each one of the sides that we faced during the hardest set of fixtures in the history of mankind once again after Christmas.

 

[boris]

The season doesn't finish at Christmans though, and we are going to have to face each one of the sides that we faced during the hardest set of fixtures in the history of mankind once again after Christmas.

Sorry I thought you were talking about up until Xmas however surely if we are in or even about the top 4 at the half way point, we must surely fancy our chances.

 

[Who's_up_for_cumpkins?]

Well balanced article in a stating the obvious kind of way. The frustrating thing is the fine margin to us having a really good shot at top 4, rather than an outside chance. Keeper, left mid, and further cover for romelu, really first team quality you looking at what? 30-40 million in this day an age it's nothing, some teams will spend that on one player!

 

[johnnydawg68]

Honestly I'm always optimistic, but we do seem to have passed a tipping point in my mind. I see absolutely no reason not to think we can and will finish in the top 4, with the caveat of IF ROM DOES NOT GET HURT.

I asked in this humble forum at the beginning of the season, what was our ceiling if Rom, Ross, Gerry, and Stones all began to reach their potential on a consistent basis? We're seeing that now finally, and the results are there to see.

There's no excuse for not finishing above Spurs, Leicester, West Ham, Soton, and that other team the plays near Stanley Park - not with the squad we have now. Baines and Jags coming back from injury only makes us stronger and deeper.

Lads, if we're going to do this, this is the season with the hole Chelsea have dug for themselves.

 

[hallamblue]

Forget top 4, we're going to win the league.

 

[Kev50]

I think we're the best team in the bloody league, with the ball. Without it though, different story. Thinkhowmuch of a press we are going to muster with Lukaku Lone Deulofeu Barkley Barry in our front six. We just don't have the legs

 

[Huyton Layne]

Let's have two good games back to back before we start planning our Champions League tour