Norwich City v Everton. 12th Dec at 1245.

[bluestevon]

We're 6th in the league at present. Probably drop down to 8th at the end of the weekend. It is not a million miles away from where we should be. 5th-8th in this league.

You're acting like we're in the bottom half like last season.

We can't be any higher than 8th mate and that's assuming both Watford lose to Sudnerland - where they are currently winning and the rs lose tomorrow, more than likely we will be in 10th after the weekend, also a decent chance we will be closer in points to the relegation zone than we will be the CL places

 

[Pacman]

Hahaha...disgrace!

Shame these players don't kill these games off...that's the frustrating part for me.

Not just that though the 2nd half was a shambles, same as against Bournmouth. Palace we were unlucky and martinez couldn't be blamed apart from this whole defending corners issue but the mentality of the side is so weak, add in a lack of a plan B and questionable subs.

 

[eurosrees]

So frustrating looking at that league this afternoon, if we'd won just two of the 8 draws we'd be sitting in 5th, as it is at the end of the day we're probably going to be bottom half.

We won't have a better chance of top 4 than this season, and the talk of top 6 is pointless, as all the Europa league does is dent the leagu form for another season. There'll be no hard feelings when Lukaku & th others leave, they deserve to be playing for a top team with a chance of success.

Not sure what to say about Martinez, it feels like we're stuck in a never ending loop with him, just when you think he's making progress we take 12 backward steps that (almost) make me long for the Moyes days. I really can't decide whether he's improving us, or whether someone else could really push his team on to reach its potential.

One thing is for sure, we need a new keeper, he was fine today I guess, but the defense are clearly massively nervous at every corner & cross, as he doesn't command his area, get someone in that will go through walls to get that ball when it's in the box.

 

[Blue 1]

So frustrating, we should've killed the game by half time.

We are going to absolutely snot someone soon though, the way we're playing.

We'll come to rue dropping these points though.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

In a nutshell our inability to kill off inferior sides when we are on top by a country mile and the fact we will always concede from corners/set pieces will ultimately I feel do for us this season,so frustrating points being frittered away so,so easily.

 

[Brennan]

We can't be any higher than 8th mate and that's assuming both Watford lose to Sudnerland - where they are currently winning and the rs lose tomorrow, more than likely we will be in 10th after the weekend, also a decent chance we will be closer in points to the relegation zone than we will be the CL places

There isn't.

Besides, that's a good soundbite but meaningless.

 

[Caso01]

Still in the process of calming down.
Seeing how good we are and indeed how good we could become makes the last 3 weeks so hard to take.
Would be so much easier to take if we were crap and got battered.
My missus is more gutted than me, she knows what's coming for at least the next few days, sulking, drinking, more sulking, bit of a nark then start again.

 

[The Esk]

In the season before we won the championship in 1970 we played some fantastic stuff as THT got their act together. Finished third and I just knew that we were on the brink of something very special. I know.....I know.....it's the hope brutally dashed that wears you out.
But I've been watching Everton since 1962 and feel that excitement now for the first time since Ball Harvey Kendal. Too young to have appreciated the 1963 vintage. The 1984/85 side was in essence a surprise that started in or around that Oxford match and built momentum from there.
But I can honestly say that I feel the same about the Fab Four now as I did in those far off days of the late sixties. They're playing football the way it should be played. Forget boring Utd and Chelsea. Ignore the nouveau riche Man City......they're impostors. This Everton side are the real deal......just a few young players who are getting some tough lessons about closing games out with professionalism. I for one would rather hope for better from them over time.
Frustrated with Bournemouth and today of course but also the most excited I've been since 1969 for the purity of the football we're playing. Absolutely love the passing game we have. With my length of service I can truthfully say "Everton that"

I was sitting in the Norwich main stand, sat next to someone who said he's missed perhaps a dozen games in 30 years at Carrow Road, really knew his football. He said the last 30 minutes of the first half was the best prior of attacking play he can remember.

We are so close. Just need to kill off games when on top.

 

[BlueToff]

So you've been to Finch Farm and can confirm that we don't practice them?

You know what I was getting at... obviously we probably do, though you can't tell!

 

[BlueToff]

In the season before we won the championship in 1970 we played some fantastic stuff as THT got their act together. Finished third and I just knew that we were on the brink of something very special. I know.....I know.....it's the hope brutally dashed that wears you out.
But I've been watching Everton since 1962 and feel that excitement now for the first time since Ball Harvey Kendal. Too young to have appreciated the 1963 vintage. The 1984/85 side was in essence a surprise that started in or around that Oxford match and built momentum from there.
But I can honestly say that I feel the same about the Fab Four now as I did in those far off days of the late sixties. They're playing football the way it should be played. Forget boring Utd and Chelsea. Ignore the nouveau riche Man City......they're impostors. This Everton side are the real deal......just a few young players who are getting some tough lessons about closing games out with professionalism. I for one would rather hope for better from them over time.
Frustrated with Bournemouth and today of course but also the most excited I've been since 1969 for the purity of the football we're playing. Absolutely love the passing game we have. With my length of service I can truthfully say "Everton that"

I was sitting in the Norwich main stand, sat next to someone who said he's missed perhaps a dozen games in 30 years at Carrow Road, really knew his football. He said the last 30 minutes of the first half was the best prior of attacking play he can remember.

We are so close. Just need to kill off games when on top.[/QUOTE]

When we play like we did in the first half, I fancy us to beat anybody. But we have a knack of switching off.

Ultimately though, it feels like that this needs to be the year we win something, or at least challenge for the top four properly. We're good enough to do both, the question mark is our consistency. If we don't challenge, then I can't see this team staying together next summer, unfortunately.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Frustrating again today. That's 3 league games on the spin that we've dropped points in, that we should have won.

You can't drop 6 points in 3 games the way we have and expect to mount a serious challenge for the top 4.

We're not far off, but we're still lacking defensive solidity and organisation at times. I still think he should bring in a defensive coach to help him out in this area.

If we can tighten up a bit, then we won't need to score 2 or 3 every week to get the points.

Onwards Evertonians

 

[banno]

Good managers get results even when the team doesn't play well.

This clown on the other hand.....

Dude, imagine what any half-decent manager would get out of a squad like this

Mate any other manager would not have succeeded in getting Del & Rom or Cleverly on a freebie or took the risks with Stones or Barkley and have faith in them. Martinez is a good manager with longevity in his mind. He is not nor never will be a quick fix manager. He is doing what he said and making us stronger each window.

 

[navidson]

Yeah lets look at our distant form of 2 seasons ago instead of where we are now, 8 draws, most in the league.

Last 54 games, 31.5 % win, Last 15 games, 33.3% win

I bet Garry Monk was sacked with better stats than that.

35.8%

 

[BlueToff]

What was your problem with Howard today. Did everything right, not to blame at all for the goal.

Ross getting a 6?? he controlled nothing in the first half and even less in the second.
Kev coming on was like going down to 10 men.

Look at him from the corner, mate. All he's concerned with is tussling with Hoolahan, who ends up getting free anyway to score! He then did it at the next one, and the one after that.

He has absolutely no presence in the area and rarely moves off his line, and that costs us.

 

[neonleon]

Tough to tell when you start with an honest post so off base

In your opinion. I've seen midfielders take a team by the scruff and make things happen. Didn't see that from Cleverley today, although it's perhaps unfair to single him out compared to others. If he's as amazing as you suggest we need players less nuanced and subtle in the centre.
We had the stripes of a tiger and the heart of a kitten today.