26th December 2015
Following a 2-0 defeat to fellow relegation strugglers Leicester City, Everton are hoping that they can avoid the drop and extend their 62 consecutive year stay in the top flight - despite being rooted at the bottom of the table at Christmas.
Statistically, there is a 95% chance that whichever team sits bottom of the top flight of English football on Christmas morning are certain to go down come May. The omens for Roberto Martinez' men don't look good. It has only been avoided three times since the inception of the Premier League 23 seasons ago.
Bryan Robson's West Brom managed it for the first time in 2005, while the only other clubs to achieve the feat were Sunderland and Leicester City.
Everton are currently sitting bottom in the league, with only 9 points, and the squad is currently at its bare threads. With high-profile transfer requests from Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy and Gerard Deulofeu - all of whom are refusing to play for the club after a punishing 6-1 loss to league leaders Arsenal in October, baring a miracle avoiding relegation is highly unlikely.
Evertonians are citing club owner Bill Kenwright's decision to offload England starlet John Stones on transfer deadline day for £30m to Chelsea, without sufficient time to find suitable replacements, as being the catalyst to the Toffees poor performances.
As well as problems at the back, a lack of creativity and firepower has also been key in Everton's demise. After a FIFA ban for Arouna Kone after his true birthdate was found to be twenty years older than he had previously claimed on his official paperwork, the inexperienced youngster Conor McAleny has had to be shoehorned into a disjointed Everton attack - scoring one goal in 13 games for the Blues.
Despite this, Everton manager Roberto Martinez has kept his confidence in the clubs ability to avoid relegation and retain the services of key players. After his teams 2-0 loss to Leicester City on Christmas Eve, Martinez said.
"The lads have shown phenomenal passion and fight for this club. Tim (Howard) played today despite suffering two broken fingers in training on Wednesday. This phenomenal attitude is brilliant for all to see, and with it will come a new confidence."
When asked about why Joel Robles had not been chosen ahead of the ailing American, Martinez responded "Joel who?".
Following a 2-0 defeat to fellow relegation strugglers Leicester City, Everton are hoping that they can avoid the drop and extend their 62 consecutive year stay in the top flight - despite being rooted at the bottom of the table at Christmas.
Statistically, there is a 95% chance that whichever team sits bottom of the top flight of English football on Christmas morning are certain to go down come May. The omens for Roberto Martinez' men don't look good. It has only been avoided three times since the inception of the Premier League 23 seasons ago.
Bryan Robson's West Brom managed it for the first time in 2005, while the only other clubs to achieve the feat were Sunderland and Leicester City.
Everton are currently sitting bottom in the league, with only 9 points, and the squad is currently at its bare threads. With high-profile transfer requests from Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy and Gerard Deulofeu - all of whom are refusing to play for the club after a punishing 6-1 loss to league leaders Arsenal in October, baring a miracle avoiding relegation is highly unlikely.
Evertonians are citing club owner Bill Kenwright's decision to offload England starlet John Stones on transfer deadline day for £30m to Chelsea, without sufficient time to find suitable replacements, as being the catalyst to the Toffees poor performances.
As well as problems at the back, a lack of creativity and firepower has also been key in Everton's demise. After a FIFA ban for Arouna Kone after his true birthdate was found to be twenty years older than he had previously claimed on his official paperwork, the inexperienced youngster Conor McAleny has had to be shoehorned into a disjointed Everton attack - scoring one goal in 13 games for the Blues.
Despite this, Everton manager Roberto Martinez has kept his confidence in the clubs ability to avoid relegation and retain the services of key players. After his teams 2-0 loss to Leicester City on Christmas Eve, Martinez said.
"The lads have shown phenomenal passion and fight for this club. Tim (Howard) played today despite suffering two broken fingers in training on Wednesday. This phenomenal attitude is brilliant for all to see, and with it will come a new confidence."
When asked about why Joel Robles had not been chosen ahead of the ailing American, Martinez responded "Joel who?".
