Everton v Crystal Palace. 7th Dec at 20:00.

[Billy Dean]

That was sarcasm mate. I can remember laughing at the RS for about ten years with their 'missing piece of the jigsaw' BS, and how they were only one player away from winning the league. Being three players away from being capable of beating a top half team shows that you are miles away from the clubs competing for CL, three players is over a quarter of our team FFS! And we will do minimal investment in January whilst other clubs strengthen.

I think there is a massive level of kopite delusion going on about Martinez. We sit in midtable having been unable to beat a team in the top half by December, we are operating at the same level as Stoke and Watford and yet people are waxing lyrical and saying we play the best football in the league. I think we are currently a long way off competing for the top four, and that we will be battling it out with Stoke for a ninth placed finish come the end of the season.

or maybe we're in a group of about 6 clubs who are stuck in a fight for 4th/5th. Depends which way you look at it. It's wide open and all to play for and a lot will depend on who puts a good run together and avoids injuries to key players etc. For example Spurs are flying at the moment but maybe Pochettino's style will see them hitting a wall towards March/April especially with the Europa League. What happens if Mahrez gets a bad injury etc? We're in an ok position at the moment, right in it.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Because it is now instinctive for us to go down the right. Will be interesting to see the balance when Baines starts... less action for Geri? or will Baines adopt a lesser role compared to seasons past? I think the latter. Can't really have both (dominating the ball) when they play on different sides of the pitch

As has been mentioned - Deulofeu was blowing for tugs after 70mins last night, but more or less everything was still going through him.

 

[Darkhorse]

As has been mentioned - Deulofeu was blowing for tugs after 70mins last night, but more or less everything was still going through him.

No good. we'd be scary dangerous if we could whip it out to the left just as successfully. More of a reflection of Martinez' flawed tactics then Deulofeu's game though... after all Deulofeu isnt the one passing Deulofeu the ball 100 times

 

[davids]

Can we ban all threads starting Our next ? Games.

 

[meagher94]

We sit in midtable having been unable to beat a team in the top half by December

Seems like such a stupid point to make. So drawing to Watford on the opening day counts as not beating a top half team, just because they're in the top half now? What's the actual relevance of that?

We've beaten Chelsea and Southampton who, irrespective of their current positions, are top half teams. I couldn't really care less who currently occupies the other 9 positions in the top half as there's a very long way to go, the table is tight and it can change very quickly. I do care about our league position though, and I've seen enough so far to firmly believe we'll be climbing the table soon.

 

[Dymak]

Seems like such a stupid point to make. So drawing to Watford on the opening day counts as not beating a top half team, just because they're in the top half now? What's the actual relevance of that?

We've beaten Chelsea and Southampton who, irrespective of their current positions, are top half teams. I couldn't really care less who currently occupies the other 9 positions in the top half as there's a very long way to go, the table is tight and it can change very quickly. I do care about our league position though, and I've seen enough so far to firmly believe we'll be climbing the table soon.

It's not stupid, it is reality. You seem to want to determine a top half clubs' status by reputation rather than their performance in the league. But the stats show that this Everton side have been unable to beat any team that is actually in the top half of the league as we approach the half way point of the season.

or maybe we're in a group of about 6 clubs who are stuck in a fight for 4th/5th. Depends which way you look at it. It's wide open and all to play for and a lot will depend on who puts a good run together and avoids injuries to key players etc. For example Spurs are flying at the moment but maybe Pochettino's style will see them hitting a wall towards March/April especially with the Europa League. What happens if Mahrez gets a bad injury etc? We're in an ok position at the moment, right in it.

Right in it with Stoke and Watford. I bet you would laugh if someone put them forward as CL hopefuls.

 

[cjuk87]

Honestly i've grown tired of our fans. Look at the prem this season, Bournemouth beating Chelsea, Newcastle beating Liverpool, Stoke beating City...that's all happened in the past week.

Yet us drawing with Palace who are above us and defended for their lives, not to mention us hitting the woodwork 3 times means it's time to panic and reach for the bleach.

I went on twitter last night and saw certain fans saying that Martinez has to go after that performance.

Absolutely mental behaviour! Liverpool lost to Palace a few weeks ago and decided they could win the league, we draw with them and people start losing their minds.

Watching us at times this season has been some of the best football i've ever witnessed from an Everton team in my 28 years on this Earth. To slate Martinez (rightly) for the negatives and problems, yet not praise him for the way he's got us playing and in particular some of the players playing is downright stupidity.

This season is the most mental season i've seen. Seriously, drawing with Palace is not exactly a result that makes me go into a meltdown.

Modern football...i hate it.

 

[Billy Dean]

Right in it with Stoke and Watford. I bet you would laugh if someone put them forward as CL hopefuls.

and we're 1 point behind liverpool who some people are touting for the league. And 4 points of Tottenham who people are touting for the top 4. As I said it depends how you look at it.

 

[LydiateLee]

Given the players we have and the talent at our disposal, we are MILES away from where we should be in the league.

Can't help but feel another manager would be getting more wins, not better performances, more wins.

We don't win enough games and that means we will always struggle to cement our true position.

 

[deipnosophist]

What do people think about our next 5 games?

 

[Brendan Janus]

What do people think about our next 5 games?

We will win the lot, & prove we are real title contenders !! lol

 

[Dymak]

and we're 1 point behind liverpool who some people are touting for the league. And 4 points of Tottenham who people are touting for the top 4. As I said it depends how you look at it.

Those people touting the RS for the league are crazy, deluded kopites mate. I can accept the fact that we are within reach of the lower top half teams, who will be fighting it out for 7th, 8th and 9th. This is our level. But I feel we are miles away from putting forward a proper top four challenge. People will respond with the shown inconsistencies of the clubs sitting in the top four or five, but that should be BALANCED with our own inconsistencies, and not being able to beat a team that is sitting in the top half of the table at the half-way stage of the season is pretty telling, imo.

 

[Ashtonian]

our season is no different to anyone elses so far. Hell, look at the usual suspects

CIty- Losing games
Cheslea- Struggling to get results
Arsenal- Entire first team injured
United- Struggling for goals
Liverpool- New manager, not as good as they think, losing games
Spurs-consistent but not consistent enough
Saints- Hit and miss all season
Swansea- Bad season
West Ham- Hit and miss so far.

All in all if one team can be consistent, then they will win the league, thats all it takes. Last night was not a bad game, we battered them all second half, we did everything but score and if we could take a corner then palace would have had nothing to defend against us with.

 

[Ashtonian]

Those people touting the RS for the league are crazy, deluded kopites mate. I can accept the fact that we are within reach of the lower top half teams, who will be fighting it out for 7th, 8th and 9th. This is our level. But I feel we are miles away from putting forward a proper top four challenge. People will respond with the shown inconsistencies of the clubs sitting in the top four or five, but that should be BALANCED with our own inconsistencies, and not being able to beat a team that is sitting in the top half of the table at the half-way stage of the season is pretty telling, imo.

To be fair mate.

If Bournmouth dont score instantly from the kick off last week, and one of those woodwork or corners goes in last night, we would be sitting 4 points better off, would that change your perspective? Bournemouth they were lucky, palace were organised and very lucky (bar barrys stupidity), If you can't watch last nights game and see an actual brilliant young team then you will never enjoy football under martinez.

 

[LydiateLee]

To be fair mate.

If Bournmouth dont score instantly from the kick off last week, and one of those woodwork or corners goes in last night, we would be sitting 4 points better off, would that change your perspective? Bournemouth they were lucky, palace were organised and very lucky (bar barrys stupidity), If you can't watch last nights game and see an actual brilliant young team then you will never enjoy football under martinez.

Thats the frustration though surely? We do have a brilliant young team but we are 9th and about 9 points worse off than we should be.