If offered right now, would you accept 4th place?

[Goat]

Yeah, i like the style of some saying "we want higher" but lets be realistic for a moment.

We are realistically 2 points off the top, why accept 4th?

 

[Chang Elephant]

Yeah, i like the style of some saying "we want higher" but lets be realistic for a moment.

Cooks, DHolliday and Radiostar...all in the one thread ffs

 

[john mckenna]

based on what I've just watched... and seen all season, I think we can achieve better than 4th.

 

[rascal]

based on what I've just watched... and seen all season, I think we can achieve better than 4th.

Think we can finish as high as second, City should take the title.

 

[TyphooToffee]

Yes for me but I expect higher

 

[Brennan]

I'm not really sure which thread to post this in, because it doesn't seem to warrant a thread of its own, but I just did a little comparison of the fixtures that both Everton and Liverpool have already played

Stoke (H) - Liverpool won 1-0, we won 4-0
Aston Villa (A) Liverpool won 1-0, we won 2-0
Swansea (A) Liverpool drew 2-2, we won 2-1
Arsenal A - Liverpool lost 2-0, we drew 1-1
Fulham (H) -Liverpool won 4-0, we won 4-1

When you total it up, out of the fixtures that both Liverpool and us have played thus far, we've taken 3 more points from those 5 games, and have a better goal difference by 6. Now this obviously isn't a perfect comparison, we are going to find many liverpool results, for instance a 5 goal win at WHL very difficult to imitate, but I think it in a way demonstrates how our relatively difficult schedule may actually be understating our position.

I also repeated the same exercise comparing us to Arsenal, and they came out 5 points ahead of us in commonly played fixtures (9 total games), they gained ground due to our draws against Spurs, Liverpool, Palace, and Cardiff. It's hard to draw conclusions from this, but as Arsenal are already ahead of us in the league, and seem to be doing better in the games that we've both played, I think this indicates that it will be more difficult to make up ground against Arsenal.

Really, this was just something I felt like doing on the day before Christmas Eve in the office to kill boredom, it may not mean much at all, but I think it's interesting to consider. The fact that we're doing better than Liverpool and worse than Arsenal in common games may be pure chance.

To the original question, my personal guess is that less than 5 points will separate 2nd from 6th, which means a finish anywhere in that range is very realistic. I don't want to play a difficult qualifier as the 4th place team, there is a chance 4th may not be good enough with all of the English teams advancing, and it seems like a little luck in a single fixture may take us higher up the table, so my answer is NO.

As a fan of stats that's a pearler.

 

[The-Golden-Vision]

Okay, I was encouraged to start this poll following a discussion in another thread where I made the following statement regarding our ambitions this year...



So there you go, would you accept 4th place now or do you wish for more? Thoughts and comments...

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

 

[Royal Blue Jersey]

We are gonna win the league

 

[Muggins]

Well not quite, I get so much stick on here because I'm a cynic and don't subscribe to the thinking that we're world beaters because we are 4th after playing less than half the season (remarkably the same position we were in roughly around this time last year, what happened there!?) This whole thread was just to get an understanding of how the majority felt.

My own personal opinion is clear, we have improved and we should recognise that. If, and that is a massive IF, we maintain this form then absolutely we can challenge for those top four places. To think some people would look beyond that is remarkable to me, and clearly to many others on here, as there is just no genuine justification for it. It'd bonkers!

I just don't want to see us building the team up for a fall, we need to be realistic in our expectations here because the team is going through a massive transition right now in every aspect, new manager, new playing style, new younger players coming in and some of the experienced old guard will start to fall away. To do that with little money and make top four would be a miracle in itself.

Actually quite. It's because you call people idiots who don't agree with you. Nice one, you're well sound.

I'm really starting to think you don't support Everton, as quite simply, if you're not happy with where we are and how well we are doing, then by definition, you can't class yourself as a supporter, if you are not supporting them.

At least say you are happy with the blues, or is that delusional??

 

[bigbadjeff]

Nil Satis Nissi Optimum, settle for fourth ? Never. All the way to champions. It's the Everton way.

 

[Khalekan]

based on what I've just watched... and seen all season, I think we can achieve better than 4th.

Hard to disagree with that.

I have changed my mind on this question.

We have nowt to fear but fear itself.

Now is the time for the Everton Empire to strike back.

Go for it, Bob.....

 

[Portland Toffee]

I would rather finish 5th giving it everything we have for the title than play it safe and be guaranteed 4th. People have had this out with me but it's how I feel. Loads on here still got that chip on there shoulder of "Plucky old Everton". We have had a tougher schedule and are still only 2 points off the top. Why are you all buying in to Liverpool/City/Chelsea/Arsenal can win it but Everton can't. We have played Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal off the park already.

Believe lads, it radiates from the stands down to the players. We are Everton, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. We finally have a man who believes in that motto, lets start believing in it ourselves, we are quick enough to spout it off.

 

[tim cahill]

Love the positive attitude but I think the January transfer window is going to decide how our season ends up. Our squad has done brilliantly so far but if we get anymore injuries it will start impacting on the quality of our first 11. Our bench yesterday lacked anyone that could change the game for us. That is what could make the difference in the end.

 

[Royleblue_95]

I would rather finish 5th giving it everything we have for the title than play it safe and be guaranteed 4th. People have had this out with me but it's how I feel. Loads on here still got that chip on there shoulder of "Plucky old Everton". We have had a tougher schedule and are still only 2 points off the top. Why are you all buying in to Liverpool/City/Chelsea/Arsenal can win it but Everton can't. We have played Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal off the park already.

Believe lads, it radiates from the stands down to the players. We are Everton, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. We finally have a man who believes in that motto, lets start believing in it ourselves, we are quick enough to spout it off.

Top post!

people like brennan /bigdogD are only looking out for themselves when they post all this not gonna happen stuff, yall got eyes,its not about your opinion, ONE defeat this season, yet we cant do it. mental.

 

[Abraders]

Martinez wants the best too, better than 4th. Because he knows we can.

My cousin is a coach at everton and says he's a top class bloke, and Is adored by everyone.

I do agree with the previously mentioned need for a good January transfer window though because injuries and suspensions will take a toll at some point.