Everton the season so far...

[Lanolin]

I said we should have the same goals as Wolves and Leicester even though they are a few years ahead in their respective developments. I'm sort of discounting that head start they have by saying we should have the same aims this season (i.e. Top 6 as a stretch goal).

I was just commenting on you saying they've been better than us for a fair few years. They really haven't. Both of them have finished above us twice this century. My point was that I don't really think they have a headstart on us; they finished above us last season but I wouldn't say that was evidence that they were further on in their development, more just that they had better seasons. I'd say our base level is pretty much the same.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

It's a bit meh.

 

[Eggs]

.....I have a annual Christmas benchmark which I usually mention every season;

20 points is a minimum requirement. Anything below means a bottom half struggle. Above 25 points gives us a chance of being in mix for a European spot.

Just having a look at last Christmas (hopefully I’m looking at the right one) we had 19 points. This season we had 26, but last season we’d played 18 games. We’re already sitting on 29 points after just 15 games.

Very promising.

 

[Ring master]

.....I have a annual Christmas benchmark which I usually mention every season;

20 points is a minimum requirement. Anything below means a bottom half struggle. Above 25 points gives us a chance of being in mix for a European spot.

Just having a look at last Christmas (hopefully I’m looking at the right one) we had 19 points. This season we had 26, but last season we’d played 18 games. We’re already sitting on 29 points after just 15 games.

Very promising.

We cant do much better than now, we just have to keep gaining points off course, based on below we look good for a decent finish but quite a few teams not far behind, if we are been real no one in a million years would have thought we would have the most joint wins, be 2nd at xmas and won 5 from 8 away games already considering how bad we can be away [only 2 teams have more away points]- I predicted 7th and hoped we could get that 6th below the league began

----------------------------------
Now Everton are 2nd with 29 points off 15 games 2 points off top
Everton were 5th with 28 points from 15 games - 2 points off 2nd and 7 points off top in 2013/2014 - Everton finished 5th with 72 points from 38 games
Everton were 3rd with 30 points from 15 games - 1 point off 2nd and 6 points off top in 2004/2005 - Everton finished 4th with 61 points from 38 games
Everton were 3rd with 29 points from 15 games - 2 points off 2nd & 3 points off top in 2002/2003 - Everton finished 7th with 59 points from 38 games

 

[mill]

The difference being you could see in Klopps first season the style starting to develop and you got a clear idea of what he was trying to do. This isn't Ancelottis first season, he has half a season prior to this, as well as the benefit of an extended break due to covid to get his ideas across to the players.

Nearly a year into his tenure now and it's still unclear what his philosophy is and how he wants the team to play. With the exception of Calvert Lewin, no players are actually excelling and there are big fitness concerns with the the team. We don't seem to have any edge in tight games and actually seem to be on the wrong end of them too much. So the comparisons can't be made I'm afraid

Do you feel a little differently now?

genuine question btw, not being facetious.

The thing I like most about Ancelotti is that he isn’t wedded to a particular philosophy. His ‘philosophy’ is pragmatism.

I know having a style is fashionable. But the greats built lots of different teams with lots of different styles. Ferguson being the best example.

 

[Bigduke1234]

What a fabulous season, table is tight, Carlo finding solutions to difficult questions, got to be positive. I’m not saying we’re definitely getting too 4 but we are in the mix and beating the sky6.

 

[johnjoeefc]

Do you feel a little differently now?

genuine question btw, not being facetious.

The thing I like most about Ancelotti is that he isn’t wedded to a particular philosophy. His ‘philosophy’ is pragmatism.

I know having a style is fashionable. But the greats built lots of different teams with lots of different styles. Ferguson being the best example.

I've been very impressed with Ancelottis adaptability. Whether that was by design or not is another question, as it started when delph was forced off and we went back to the back 4.

Many were saying that our players were the issue and not ancelotti, but i always felt if played to their strengths the players are good enough for top 6.

The 3 at the back was clearly an error by Ancelotti and something that should have been rectified quickly and I stand by my disappointment with him at that current time.

However I am very open minded and his adaptability since then has been excellent and the last 4 performances have been exceptional. I honestly couldn't tell you a better run of 4 (league) games that I've seen since I've started supporting Everton around 1995. So I'm very much back in the Ancelotti camp.

Just to clarify though, I never said he should be sacked during that bad period, just I felt he was seeing things that noone else could and it clearly wasn't working on the pitch and it looked very bleak after that away draw at burnley. And given the level of performance at that time, I think even the most optimistic of Evertonians would have expected a maximum of 4 points from the 3 tough games upcoming after Burnley.

 

[Eggs]

What a fabulous season, table is tight, Carlo finding solutions to difficult questions, got to be positive. I’m not saying we’re definitely getting too 4 but we are in the mix and beating the sky6.

....whilst Ancelotti is now finding a way, he did struggle during the period Richarlison was suspended. Southampton away was always going to be difficult, but we were poor at Newcastle.

 

[Bigduke1234]

....whilst Ancelotti is now finding a way, he did struggle during the period Richarlison was suspended. Southampton away was always going to be difficult, but we were poor at Newcastle.

I don’t disagree, but he did turn it around. A year since his appointment, I cant see this as anything other than a success, work still to do granted, but given the tools available he’s worked wonders. This window is intriguing, will he demand financial backing and has he identified players he wants?

 

[paulbefc]

Ancelotti has worked wonders with the squad that he's had at his disposal so far.

Considering the number of injuries we've had, the average 18 player squad he's had to work with this season really isn't that great. It's nowhere near top 4 quality.

I'm pleasantly surprised and delighted with the season so far. I have to admit, I thought the injuries would end us. We've been spectacularly and infuriatingly unfortunate with them and the efforts of the remaining players this month to shoot us up to the top have been nothing short of phenomenal.

What's patently clear is that the players are all 100% pulling in the same direction here and are behind the manager, regardless of their standing in the squad or what position they're being asked to play. We've not seen much of that since Moyes left and it bodes really well. It's exactly what we've been envious of the likes of Wolves and Leicester for the last couple of years.

There's a long way to go here and you can fall very far very quickly so there's no point getting too excited about anything, but the improvement on last season is obvious.

 

[Eggs]

I don’t disagree, but he did turn it around. A year since his appointment, I cant see this as anything other than a success, work still to do granted, but given the tools available he’s worked wonders. This window is intriguing, will he demand financial backing and has he identified players he wants?

....I can only see major incomings if a particular player wanted is available on the cheap.

 

[Goat]

....I can only see major incomings if a particular player wanted is available on the cheap.

Im almost certain he has a different list than anybody on here also.

 

[Davideeyore]

Don't we all just love Big Sam? What a manager BK says

 

[mos6141]

We are in the title race

 

[Rob17896]

Do you feel a little differently now?

genuine question btw, not being facetious.

The thing I like most about Ancelotti is that he isn’t wedded to a particular philosophy. His ‘philosophy’ is pragmatism.

I know having a style is fashionable. But the greats built lots of different teams with lots of different styles. Ferguson being the best example.

Philosophy gets you the worst of Martinez if you don't have the right players. Fergie won titles with decent but not amazing players. When he had amazing players he changed style. Lets face it, in English football history, he is the benchmark.