Top Four Possibility

[Markydys]

Massive missed opportunity last night. We had momentum going into the game with some quite winnable fixtures coming up. Important now that we go on another 3-4 winning run. When we play the big guns, it'd make it interesting if we were within 3-4 points of them at the time.

 

[Saint Domingo]

In some ways that is classic Everton last night, the door of opportunity became slightly ajar so we rammed it shut as hard as possible again. In other ways though, when you consider Everton over the last two seasons, us not losing that game is actually progress.

 

[Arteta2391]

We can't even beat stoke ffs

 

[TraffordBlue]

Have we not beaten Arsenal and City this season? We have held our own against the top 6 except for that Chelsea disaster

There is a big difference in Everton playing those sides at home, compared to away. In the past 25 years we have 8 wins in 96 matches against the sides in the top 6 that we still have to play away from home.

We were never going to get top 4 and that was shown last night. But we can still end the season well and 6th is up for grabs. I would personally still see 7th as solid progress under Koeman in his first season and gives us a chance in the summer to attract some better players.

 

[Prevenger17]

In some ways that is classic Everton last night, the door of opportunity became slightly ajar so we rammed it shut as hard as possible again. In other ways though, when you consider Everton over the last two seasons, us not losing that game is actually progress.

Come on, we were never good enough to make a play for top 4. Dropping points to teams like Stoke is inevitable over the course of the season

 

[davek]

We matched United's result there last week mate, meanwhilst they dropped two at home to hull. Overall why does that show anything?

It shows that we, even in a purple patch of sorts, cant make inroads against a team that is playing solid but unspectacularly and are drawing a lot. They are the lowest hanging fruit and we wont take them down.

 

[Eggs]

...absolutely not but it's a pity we are out of the FA Cup. That is a competition that might have really suited given our current form and the different priorities of other Premiership teams.

 

[Fansince1988]

Stoke is probably the hardest away game outside going to the top 6 teams, with a little luck we could have beaten them but all in all not a bad point for not playing that well. The problem was we really struggled to deal with crouch which is a bit worrying, but it was nice that Koeman adjusted the system for the second half, Moyes and Martinez would have been stubbon and stayed the same. Our main problem if we want to break into the top 4 anytime soon is getting more points away at Utd,Chelsea,Arsenal and Liverpool 1 away win since Moyes came here and that was for Martinez against Moyes at Utd, that is really poor and needs sorted rather than bottling it each time.

 

[nsno-chris]

A draw at stoke, the world hasn't ended.
Performance was terrible and stoke are anti footballing gods, every player was making mistakes.

It was one of those games that you sweep under the carpet and move on

 

[JLW]

We can't even beat stoke ffs

Man U cant beat Hull at home
Liverpool cant beat Swansea or even draw at home

Thats a good point we got last night, the top 4 is only a tiny possibility (at best) even if we beat 2 of the teams above us away UTD/Liverpool and continue our good home form...

There's still 45 points to play for!!!

 

[JonS]

It shows that we, even in a purple patch of sorts, cant make inroads against a team that is playing solid but unspectacularly and are drawing a lot. They are the lowest hanging fruit and we wont take them down.

We are not that far from taking them down IMO. Yes some further improvement is needed but the signs are there with the obvious (to anyone except you! x) improvement in the side and greater mental strength and fitness, moving from (last season) being specialists in throwing games away when winning to this season being specialists in getting something out of the match when losing.

Professional coaching staff (particularly with regard to fitness and staying injury free), the best DOF/chief scout in the business (and to think I wanted Monchi or whatever his name was), one of the most talented Under 23s managers in the game, shortly to have the best stadium in the country, and to top it all Ronald Koeman, the best manager we've had since era 1 Kendall.

The future is bright - embrace it

 

[davek]

A draw at stoke, the world hasn't ended.
Performance was terrible and stoke are anti footballing gods, every player was making mistakes.

It was one of those games that you sweep under the carpet and move on

No, you dont. You analyse why Stoke could tear to bits in the first half hour the system we deployed from KO.

 

[nsno-chris]

No, you dont. You analyse why Stoke could tear to bits in the first half hour the system we deployed from KO.

Nope, sweep and move on

Next

 

[davek]

We are not that far from taking them down IMO. Yes some further improvement is needed but the signs are there with the obvious (to anyone except you! x) improvement in the side and greater mental strength and fitness, moving from (last season) being specialists in throwing games away when winning to this season being specialists in getting something out of the match when losing.

Professional coaching staff (particularly with regard to fitness and staying injury free), the best DOF/chief scout in the business (and to think I wanted Monchi or whatever his name was), one of the most talented Under 23s managers in the game, shortly to have the best stadium in the country, and to top it all Ronald Koeman, the best manager we've had since era 1 Kendall.

The future is bright - embrace it

I think you're wrong. We have been on a fairly decent run given what went before it. In that period we still haven't impacted on a gap to United.

I'd also say that other teams will begin to see the trend in Everton's performances as they sit up and take note that we are playing a lot differently to the way we have in previous seasons. They'll see that we have reverted back to the hard work of a Moyes team and they will begin to adapt to that. Hughes a few days ago mentioned this in his press conference and I think you saw it too the way they dominated us from the off.

 

[davek]

Nope, sweep and move on

Next

Yes, sweep it under the carpet then repeat the mistake.

Clever. No wonder we're average.