I’ll never be happy to see Everton lose any game, especially at Goodison Park - but I took plenty of encouragement from the display against Manchester City.
Taking the result aside, there was a freshness about the way Roberto Martinez’s team played that was satisfying to watch.
In particular it was the way Everton set up tactically.
They were more positive, more direct and quicker in the way they moved the ball.
Following on from that fantastic win over Southampton at St Mary’s, there was plenty of tempo about us.
Slowly the popularity of a system based solely on possession football and passing is on the wane as far as I can see.
Playing out from the back religiously only works for a small number of teams, the Spanish national side and Barcelona spring to mind, but otherwise it’s just not particularly exciting to watch.
Everton seem to be developing a more flexible way, and showing a pleasing habit to play from midfield.
Instead of sideways passes across the back four we are getting the ball to the centre of the pitch a bit faster, and then starting to play our football and pick our passes.
Instead of leaving fans frustrated, it actually gets them out of their seats when you raise the tempo the way we have lately.
Okay Manchester City had a little too much for us in the end. Let’s face it, even at this early stage they already have the hallmarks of Champions about them.
It’s not bad when you can bring players worth almost £100m from the bench to help you change the game is it?
But instead of ruing the days when we could turn City over regularly, I’m actually excited by the way Everton played against them on Sunday.
