And so we plod on. A not very pleasing visit to Sunderland's new ground where they ripped off the name from Benfica - you'd have thought someone in the back offices would have got a copyright in on that, whatever next - the Nou Goodison. Swerve that, actually.
The recent run of optimism have seemed to have evaporated into the cold night air of Goodison after the Birmingham game. If you were looking at the three festive games and thinking a possible 7 from 9 then you would have to have this marked down as a win - which would not be an easy task as Sunderland have some of the decent fusballers thanks to some money they come across from somewhere.
Sunderland have some players that can hurt us, they narrowly went down on the final night of the Mark Hughes Panto and on home soil you'd consider a point to be welcome result. Regarding Sunderland, the most palatable of the North East clubs and no mistake, I've also found them far sounder than their bellend neighbours when it comes to fusbal. They are not doing as well as was expected this season but in Steve Bruce they have one of the more canny managers who given time, and evident money, will construct a decent team.
Who knows which Everton will turn up. One thing is for certain, we have to start doing something in the final third and the gluttony of chances wasted against Birmingham need to be converted for which we'll be hoping Saha gets over a rare day off boil and Mr Cahill makes a long due appearance this season. Perhaps there may be some changes there, unfortunately the natural choice - the boss lazy slotter from Nigeria is having a personal duel with gravity at the moment, with gravity ahead on points going into the final few rounds.
The right flank needs sorting out, if offers us nothing at present, perhaps Moyes will give the impressive Coleman a shot and hope that Bily's acclimatisation increases so he can remain as a willing participant in the game beyond the twenty minute mark. We'll find out in due time.
Like summoning up some ghost of Christmas past we find ourselves in a strange relegation struggle that no-one (BB apart and fair play) wants to acknowledge. False positions and we were miles better than Birmingham apart, we have to start getting some points on the board if only to finish in that mid table position which seems rather cosy and desirable to us now.
So, in amongst the mandatory Lynx set, packs of socks and Next underwear lets hope Everton can attempt again to kick start our very underwhelming season.
The recent run of optimism have seemed to have evaporated into the cold night air of Goodison after the Birmingham game. If you were looking at the three festive games and thinking a possible 7 from 9 then you would have to have this marked down as a win - which would not be an easy task as Sunderland have some of the decent fusballers thanks to some money they come across from somewhere.
Sunderland have some players that can hurt us, they narrowly went down on the final night of the Mark Hughes Panto and on home soil you'd consider a point to be welcome result. Regarding Sunderland, the most palatable of the North East clubs and no mistake, I've also found them far sounder than their bellend neighbours when it comes to fusbal. They are not doing as well as was expected this season but in Steve Bruce they have one of the more canny managers who given time, and evident money, will construct a decent team.
Who knows which Everton will turn up. One thing is for certain, we have to start doing something in the final third and the gluttony of chances wasted against Birmingham need to be converted for which we'll be hoping Saha gets over a rare day off boil and Mr Cahill makes a long due appearance this season. Perhaps there may be some changes there, unfortunately the natural choice - the boss lazy slotter from Nigeria is having a personal duel with gravity at the moment, with gravity ahead on points going into the final few rounds.
The right flank needs sorting out, if offers us nothing at present, perhaps Moyes will give the impressive Coleman a shot and hope that Bily's acclimatisation increases so he can remain as a willing participant in the game beyond the twenty minute mark. We'll find out in due time.
Like summoning up some ghost of Christmas past we find ourselves in a strange relegation struggle that no-one (BB apart and fair play) wants to acknowledge. False positions and we were miles better than Birmingham apart, we have to start getting some points on the board if only to finish in that mid table position which seems rather cosy and desirable to us now.
So, in amongst the mandatory Lynx set, packs of socks and Next underwear lets hope Everton can attempt again to kick start our very underwhelming season.
