All in all...

[orly]

Don't get the frustration.

No game in this league is easy and far too many Evertonians seem to have this ludicrous sense of self-entitlement.

We were awful for two years and there's a lot of rebuilding to do. We're 5th after seven games, could easily have been higher had we been more clinical.

At times we've been poor but overall have found a way to grind out results and the defence looks solid. It's a start.

I don't know what people expected.

We had a good start to the campaign last year, yet by this same stage (league wise):

Wins - 3 / Draws - 3 / Lost - 1

Goals For: 11 / Goals Against: 7

Points 12


Compare that to this season:

Wins - 4 / Draws - 2 / Lost - 1

Goals For: 11 / Goals Against: 5

Points 14

Against similar opposition as well in terms of quality.

Not true at all

Watford
Southampton
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea
Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion



As opposed to this season where, let's be honest, virtually every side we've played bar Spurs will likely finish in the bottom half (and do regularly).

But ok, you are making stuff up, so we will try again next week.

 

[orly]

Par in regards to points total given the opening fixtures.

Out of the 3 handled monstrosity early yet again.

The football has been sporadic with little consistency and the entertainment has been minimal.

Dreadful transfer window which promised lots and delivered little.

That shower of **** across the park are playing well which is sickening.

All in all, no Match of the Day yet again and another season of water treading by the looks of it.

Boring.

Accurate summary to be fair.

 

[BlueToff]

Not true at all

Watford
Southampton
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea
Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion



As opposed to this season where, let's be honest, virtually every side we've played bar Spurs will likely finish in the bottom half (and do regularly).

But ok, you are making stuff up, so we will try again next week.

Palace have improved.

We've played Spurs and WBA so that's two of the same sides.

It's a good start. You're being ridiculous - a common trait.

We can fully compare over the next seven games I suppose.

But we look much stronger compared to the second half of last season.

 

[Barnfred 55]

considering the window we had, fully expected.

'oh he is talking about the window again!'

Yes i am, the fact the squad is being shown up for it right now and you can see where exactly we need to make changes and add players.

But yeah, west brom are a one tactic team, stoke poor start and sunderland struggling so far. all games we should be winning. Bournemouth proved why they stayed up yet again (full credit to howe there) and Palace have started the season looking interested as usual.

I think the marker has to be the city game. If we turn up vs city and play well, win or lose then we have made real progress this season. I am not expecting us to batter city but i expect us to have a good go at it. Anything other than a defeat is good progressing.

Only concern is that we have won 3 league games this season and..........two of them are in the relegation zone. You could almost say.........not much has changed from the relegation beating team from last season?

Won 4 mate but I get what you mean.

Agree with the transfer window though. Failed in 2/3 key areas. Hope we address this in January rather than wait until the summer.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I normally support your posts mate but you're wrong on this occasion. I remember thinking last year that, apart from the opening game, what a difficult start we had last season. If anything, it's the complete opposite this term.

Having said that I agree it's a decent start. That doesn't stop me being disappointed at the quality on show against Bournmouth and Palace.

I also disagree with your earlier post regarding an even higher points total had our finishing been better. We have what we deserve in my view. Bournmouth were the better team and could have won by more, and we hung on against both Spurs and Palace.

We'll see how our much improved defence performs against City.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Palace have improved.

We've played Spurs and WBA so that's two of the same sides.

It's a good start. You're being ridiculous - a common trait.

We can fully compare over the next seven games I suppose.

But we look much stronger compared to the second half of last season.

Having probs with my computer mate. My post above should have been a response to this post.

 

[Ashtonian]

Won 4 mate but I get what you mean.

Agree with the transfer window though. Failed in 2/3 key areas. Hope we address this in January rather than wait until the summer.

I just think that we as a fan base have spent so long, essentially fabricating our own reality and we still continue to do so. I had forgotten about boro so apologies there haha But yeah, genuinely when you see 3 of the 4 wins are teams in or around the bottom 3 then it repeats last years results again.

Take away the previous years, 4 out of 7 wins to start the season is actually a great result for koeman. But overall the squad is so deep in the previous regime that it is looking like they are struggling to adapt and raise their game. Either the players we have are top 10 only quality, or they are better than how they have been playing. This needs to be rectified though or established once and for all

 

[Blue Cheese]

We are very reliant on Gueye playing well, he seems to set our tempo and if he's slightly off the rest of them just lose the plot

 

[BlueToff]

Having probs with my computer mate. My post above should have been a response to this post.

We've been poor in the last few games, I have said that myself mate.

Lots of improvements to be made - but that's not in terms of bringing new players in. The players we have who aren't currently performing (Kev, Barkley, Del etc. need to step up).

We are very reliant on Gueye playing well, he seems to set our tempo and if he's slightly off the rest of them just lose the plot

And Gueye is equally as reliant on Barry being fit/playing well...

 

[Blue Cheese]

We've been poor in the last few games, I have said that myself mate.

Lots of improvements to be made - but that's not in terms of bringing new players in. The players we have who aren't currently performing (Kev, Barkley, Del etc. need to step up).



And Gueye is equally as reliant on Barry being fit/playing well...

That's the crux of it at the moment, we need those 2 firing on all cylinders more often than not, luckily they are both consistent players, not miracle workers.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I just think that we as a fan base have spent so long, essentially fabricating our own reality and we still continue to do so. I had forgotten about boro so apologies there haha But yeah, genuinely when you see 3 of the 4 wins are teams in or around the bottom 3 then it repeats last years results again.

Take away the previous years, 4 out of 7 wins to start the season is actually a great result for koeman. But overall the squad is so deep in the previous regime that it is looking like they are struggling to adapt and raise their game. Either the players we have are top 10 only quality, or they are better than how they have been playing. This needs to be rectified though or established once and for all

I think they are struggling to adapt to Koeman's pressing game tbh. Maybe they can't/won't adapt so only one outcome there. Think we'll see a big turnover in playing staff over next 2 windows. Just hope the current lot don't downtools again like they did under Martinez. It's a concern of mine, but maybe just a kneejerk to the last 3 poor outings.

 

[Ashtonian]

I think they are struggling to adapt to Koeman's pressing game tbh. Maybe they can't/won't adapt so only one outcome there. Think we'll see a big turnover in playing staff over next 2 windows. Just hope the current lot don't downtools again like they did under Martinez. It's a concern of mine, but maybe just a kneejerk to the last 3 poor outings.

Think the last downing of tools was the players knowing martinez was going backwards rather than just things not working exactly. Like that derby moment, the team is defending in lines rather than going with the player, at some point the players have to just stop and say this isn't working after 2 years.

 

[Khalekan]

Not true at all

Watford
Southampton
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea
Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion



As opposed to this season where, let's be honest, virtually every side we've played bar Spurs will likely finish in the bottom half (and do regularly).

It is not only that, Orly.


The football we played during that opening seven game spell last season was a million miles away from the functional, curate's egg type stuff we have sat through this season.

 

[BlueToff]

It is not only that, Orly.


The football we played during that opening seven game spell last season was a million miles away from the functional, curate's egg type stuff we have sat through this season.

The football we have played this season has been miles better than anything served up in the previous six months before that, though.

Small steps.

Koeman's Southampton side didn't play poor football.

 

[Ashtonian]

The football we have played this season has been miles better than anything served up in the previous six months before that, though.

Small steps.

Koeman's Southampton side didn't play poor football.

I think it is a little bit more primitive than before mate. Certainly looking to do the basics rather than anything too fancy.

If it works for us long term then i'm not going to complain as long as it isn't moyes esq. Just makes me laugh that we haven't got a striker to run in behind off a long ball, and we haven't got a CM who can hit a long ball to a striker. Yet we still do it?