Evolution.

[edge]

It depends on what your expectations were at the outset. I've stated from the beginning of the season we need to be looking at a good season as 60+ points and a good cup run.

So my targets are within sight. Having already met the latter, I think we have the potential to make the mid-60 points level (something achieved only twice by Everton in the past 20 years) and to get a cup final spot/cup win.

would have settled for that Davek at the start of the season, frustrating thing is a bit of backing and we could go to the next level, decent keeper, back up goal scorer, dominant midfielder to run the game and we could be right up there.

 

[davek]

To be fair most of their play goes through Mahrez, who is a wonderful little player. The Vardy circus has distracted people from who actually makes them tick, and has given off the illusion that he's actually a top striker

He's a good player, yes. Leicester are having a great season and have a decent team. I just dont think they can be seen in the same light as a football side compared to Everton...which is no disgrace, btw, as no other team can at the moment either.

 

[davek]

Your expectations were similar to mine. I don't expect to make top 4, but i do expect us to challenge for it. I think we should be in the mix before we more than likely run out of steam.

I understand where you and many others are coming from in that we're not that far away from what we'd se as a good position, but I just think too many people are only looking at the possibility of improving, and not taking in to account that we might not do that. My concern is that our recent attacking performances may not last forever, with the young players potentially suffering dips in form as the season goes on. I think it's therefore vital that we pick up enough points while we're in form to put us right up there. If we keep throwing away points like we are and then hit a rough patch for a month later in the season, we're looking at another 10/11/12th place finish, which is simply not acceptable as far as i'm concerned.

That's my concern too mate, and it's why I stick to my more 'conservative' targets even now. We will go through a slump, you can bet on it.

 

[davek]

would have settled for that Davek at the start of the season, frustrating thing is a bit of backing and we could go to the next level, decent keeper, back up goal scorer, dominant midfielder to run the game and we could be right up there.

We're a Butland away from a real CL challenge mate. TH played well enough last night, but he's cost us this season and he will in the second half of the season.

 

[jal123]

To carry on improving any new signings need to be better than whoever they're signed to replace in the first XI. Sounds dead obvious but if we upgrade on Cleverly for example, he then becomes a pretty reliable back up and we get rid of whoever is then behind, gibbo sort of level.
The only trouble is upgrading on our first team now the players need to be Yarmolenko level, and they cost brewsties. Similar if people are mentioning Butland, he's a £20m goalkeeper. I think the worry is how we will fund these, hopefully not off the back of rom and stones.

 

[Dithering Dougie]

What clubs are giving him 300k a week
You need to get real

PSG would for a start. Then there's any number of Middle East clubs, MLS or Chinese clubs.

 

[blueblue]

Even though we are ninth we are also just one point of sixth. Seven points from fourth.
I don't think we will get fourth place this year, I don't think the team is ready yet.
But, I do think we will be very close to it and hopefully have some cup success as well.

If we can keep our players, season 2016/2017 should be fun.

 

[edge]

To carry on improving any new signings need to be better than whoever they're signed to replace in the first XI. Sounds dead obvious but if we upgrade on Cleverly for example, he then becomes a pretty reliable back up and we get rid of whoever is then behind, gibbo sort of level.
The only trouble is upgrading on our first team now the players need to be Yarmolenko level, and they cost brewsties. Similar if people are mentioning Butland, he's a £20m goalkeeper. I think the worry is how we will fund these, hopefully not off the back of rom and stones.

said the other day the likes of Marshall at Cardiff , or the Burnley keeper would be a bit of a step up,
for not to mad money

 

[blueblue]

To carry on improving any new signings need to be better than whoever they're signed to replace in the first XI. Sounds dead obvious but if we upgrade on Cleverly for example, he then becomes a pretty reliable back up and we get rid of whoever is then behind, gibbo sort of level.
The only trouble is upgrading on our first team now the players need to be Yarmolenko level, and they cost brewsties. Similar if people are mentioning Butland, he's a £20m goalkeeper. I think the worry is how we will fund these, hopefully not off the back of rom and stones.

That is the challenge for the manager , the scouts and the academy.
That is why players like Henen, Holgate, Foulds and Galloway were brought to the club.
We will lose some players for large fees, it is inevitable, I think. It is what happens in football, hopefully
we can replace or substitute with as good or better.
Not all good young footballers in the world are already at Everton.

 

[blueblue]

said the other day the likes of Marshall at Cardiff , or the Burnley keeper would be a bit of a step up,
for not to mad money

I think we may have moved beyond that level of keeper now.

 

[Saint Domingo]

There're not entertaining really though. They have one play and that's to hit Vardy with a long ball and isolate him one on one with the last defender. Take away his circus sideshow act and you're left with a sub-midtable outfit playing perfunctory football.

I'm sorry but this is what I find ridiculous. Leicester are top of the table and we are midtable yet one side is apparently playing total football and the other is playing bottom half kick and rush but with a great scorer (his scoring you have branded as a circus act).

As far as I can see one team is balanced, one team isn't. One team can defend a lead, one team struggles to do so, one team takes the same mentality home or away, the other plays for a draw away from home more often than not, one team has two top class goal scorers, the other team has one with another consigned to the bench, one team has a decent keeper, the other has the worst in the league, one team plays as a team, the other plays as a collection of talented individuals.

We should be learning from Leicester rather than arrogantly undermining their football. In the league we are currently going nowhere and last time I checked the only stats that matter we were playing the ninth best football in the league. Everything else is subjective.

 

[Aar_the_Toffees]

Believe lads. It's our year. We'll do something special. Hopefully something good.

 

[edge]

I think we may have moved beyond that level of keeper now.

hope your right , because that would mean we had a really good keeper.

 

[davek]

I'm sorry but this is what I find ridiculous. Leicester are top of the table and we are midtable yet one side is apparently playing total football and the other is playing bottom half kick and rush but with a great scorer (his scoring you have branded as a circus act).

As far as I can see one team is balanced, one team isn't. One team can defend a lead, one team struggles to do so, one team takes the same mentality home or away, the other plays for a draw away from home more often than not, one team has two top class goal scorers, the other team has one with another consigned to the bench, one team has a decent keeper, the other has the worst in the league, one team plays as a team, the other plays as a collection of talented individuals.

We should be learning from Leicester rather than arrogantly undermining their football. In the league we are currently going nowhere and last time I checked the only stats that matter we were playing the ninth best football in the league. Everything else is subjective.

There's two differences between Leicester and Everton; one good and one bad.

Leicester could teach Everton a thing or two about getting their noses in front in a game and never looking back. We've had to come back from behind way too often this season and it's got to be sorted out.

Everton are technically superior to any team in this league at the moment, and if any team wants longevity they need to add the type of flair and style of play we have, whereby all our players are comfortable playing just about anywhere on the pitch and are able to adapt our game within 90 minutes of play. Leicester will falter soon and they need more than the Vardy get out clause to prosper in this league.

I say this without fear of overstatment: Martinez has Everton playing football that we have no right to be playing given the cash spent on the squad in relative terms with other, higher spenders. We are quite literally the best team in the PL on the ball right now, and the best Everton team since 1987.

 

[Zatara]

We need a much better keeper than them. Martinez needs to go and get a player at the same level as our top players...or someone with the potential to be at that level fast.

Need to send a message to our stars whilst dramatically improving the side.

said the other day the likes of Marshall at Cardiff , or the Burnley keeper would be a bit of a step up,
for not to mad money