Everton at Home

[Dan_85]

I still don't believe that we will win it, nor do I think that we will finish 2nd but the fact is that we have a real shot if we show real ruthlessness and ambition in January and if we could get wenker to learn some fcuking tactics

The league title is there for the taking if AW is prepared to act with foresight, a little humility and the ability to learn from past mistakes. I am convinced that he will fuck our chance to win it by doing nothing in January. Totally convinced...

[Henry Norris 1913]

I still don't believe that we will win it, nor do I think that we will finish 2nd but the fact is that we have a real shot if we show real ruthlessness and ambition in January and if we could get wenker to learn some fcuking tactics

The league title is there for the taking if AW is prepared to act with foresight, a little humility and the ability to learn from past mistakes. I am convinced that he will fuck our chance to win it by doing nothing in January. Totally convinced...

me too, it's sad but I'm genuinely worried about having to go through the rest of this season, it's all in our own hands and has been since september, the longer we sit top of the table the more it's going to play on everyone's minds, I'm convinced we won our last bit of silverware under wenger in 2005 and that'll be it. hope I'm proved wrong, I really do.

[Poldi]

A no frills 2-0 win will do Rambo and BFG to score.

[Theoperator]

Dare I suggest that the incompetance shown by other teams may have something to do with the inexperience all their teams managers have with their current teams. May it not be a coincidence that Pardews teams is showing more resilliance than others

I have faith in this team to keep going, and I do believe we will win the league this season.

I know we have thrown it away with shocking regularity, but things are different enough for that not to happen this season


I Hope

[1989]

we could be sailing off into the sunset by 5.45 tomorrow,however I would gladly take a point right now

Initially (at 5pm this evening) I felt the same cos I felt that it would leave us as no worse off than we were this morning but now I have changed my opinion and think that we need all 3pts - one of the knocks against our players in recent seasons is that they lack the bottle when it is most needed so to fail to take advantage of the huge opportunity handed to us this weekend, could have some seriously negative connotations on our hopes of silverware this season.

I seriously cannot believe the chance that is being handed to us this season - I have said for years that the standard in this league is declining every year but this season is the worst ever....ever I have never been shy about stating my opinion about these players and especially this manager but even allowing for that it appears that we do actually have a shot at this league title I still don't believe that we will win it, nor do I think that we will finish 2nd but the fact is that we have a real shot if we show real ruthlessness and ambition in January and if we could get wenker to learn some fcuking tactics

Why on earth could we NOT win it?

We have the best defence, the best midfield and a good attack that may well be strengthened in January. We've been the best and most consistent side in the league in 2013. We have a manager, a system, players who are used to each other and our confidence is sky high. And unlike past years when we challenged, we now actually have proper squad depth, a real backbone, steel, leaders throughout the squad and mature players with professionalism and passion. I don't see a reason why we couldn't fucking win it.

[spike241]

We can but I don't think we will.

I'm just waiting for us to collapse. I know we're usually stronger in the second half of the season but this isn't a normal season for us so anything can happen.

I refuse to get my hopes up and start believing, it'll be too painful if we do fuck it up.

[Rosicky's Right Boot]

If we buy a world class striker in January then the league is ours to lose. Until that happens however we will eternally be one injury away from disaster and for that reason I can't see us winning it no matter how rosy the table may look come 6pm tonight. And it might not even take an injury to derail our form. Giroud/Ramsey might quite simply run out of steam given the amount they'll be playing over the next month.

That said a point today wouldn't be the end of the world provided we didn't then go on to lose against both City and Chelsea. Nervous.

[OneBardGooner]

The beginning of the Test starts with this game...mind you all games in the prem are a test and cannot be easily forecast, but unless we make MAJOR F*CK UPS in this game we should win - we have the better players, the skills and we are at home.....Everton play with a new flair under Martinez that they didn't have with moyes....and they are one fit bunch of players....

To win this would be a very good start to our up n coming crimbo season....

Edit: I still hate these Sunday kick - off's - Footie should be played 3pm on Saturday's end of.

[SPUDMASHER]

Win this and we are 7 points clear. That's not a bad position to be I with Man City and Chelsea coming up.
I don't think we'll lose both of those but we would at least still be top even if we did.

That makes today a must win!

[GranadaJoe]

we could be sailing off into the sunset by 5.45 tomorrow,however I would gladly take a point right now

Initially (at 5pm this evening) I felt the same cos I felt that it would leave us as no worse off than we were this morning but now I have changed my opinion and think that we need all 3pts - one of the knocks against our players in recent seasons is that they lack the bottle when it is most needed so to fail to take advantage of the huge opportunity handed to us this weekend, could have some seriously negative connotations on our hopes of silverware this season.

I seriously cannot believe the chance that is being handed to us this season - I have said for years that the standard in this league is declining every year but this season is the worst ever....ever I have never been shy about stating my opinion about these players and especially this manager but even allowing for that it appears that we do actually have a shot at this league title I still don't believe that we will win it, nor do I think that we will finish 2nd but the fact is that we have a real shot if we show real ruthlessness and ambition in January and if we could get wenker to learn some fcuking tactics

Why on earth could we NOT win it?

We have the best defence, the best midfield and a good attack that may well be strengthened in January. We've been the best and most consistent side in the league in 2013. We have a manager, a system, players who are used to each other and our confidence is sky high. And unlike past years when we challenged, we now actually have proper squad depth, a real backbone, steel, leaders throughout the squad and mature players with professionalism and passion. I don't see a reason why we couldn't fucking win it.

I agree that we are talented but I really think we're lacking physicality, pace and aggression (a la TA6, PV4, TH14 etc)

[1989]

we could be sailing off into the sunset by 5.45 tomorrow,however I would gladly take a point right now

Initially (at 5pm this evening) I felt the same cos I felt that it would leave us as no worse off than we were this morning but now I have changed my opinion and think that we need all 3pts - one of the knocks against our players in recent seasons is that they lack the bottle when it is most needed so to fail to take advantage of the huge opportunity handed to us this weekend, could have some seriously negative connotations on our hopes of silverware this season.

I seriously cannot believe the chance that is being handed to us this season - I have said for years that the standard in this league is declining every year but this season is the worst ever....ever I have never been shy about stating my opinion about these players and especially this manager but even allowing for that it appears that we do actually have a shot at this league title I still don't believe that we will win it, nor do I think that we will finish 2nd but the fact is that we have a real shot if we show real ruthlessness and ambition in January and if we could get wenker to learn some fcuking tactics

Why on earth could we NOT win it?

We have the best defence, the best midfield and a good attack that may well be strengthened in January. We've been the best and most consistent side in the league in 2013. We have a manager, a system, players who are used to each other and our confidence is sky high. And unlike past years when we challenged, we now actually have proper squad depth, a real backbone, steel, leaders throughout the squad and mature players with professionalism and passion. I don't see a reason why we couldn't fucking win it.

I agree that we are talented but I really think we're lacking physicality, pace and aggression (a la TA6, PV4, TH14 etc)

Mertesacker, Koscielny, Flamini, Walcott.

What we're imo lacking is someone with guile and deadly finishing in and around the box (a Suárez or an Aguero).

[augie]

we could be sailing off into the sunset by 5.45 tomorrow,however I would gladly take a point right now

Initially (at 5pm this evening) I felt the same cos I felt that it would leave us as no worse off than we were this morning but now I have changed my opinion and think that we need all 3pts - one of the knocks against our players in recent seasons is that they lack the bottle when it is most needed so to fail to take advantage of the huge opportunity handed to us this weekend, could have some seriously negative connotations on our hopes of silverware this season.

I seriously cannot believe the chance that is being handed to us this season - I have said for years that the standard in this league is declining every year but this season is the worst ever....ever I have never been shy about stating my opinion about these players and especially this manager but even allowing for that it appears that we do actually have a shot at this league title I still don't believe that we will win it, nor do I think that we will finish 2nd but the fact is that we have a real shot if we show real ruthlessness and ambition in January and if we could get wenker to learn some fcuking tactics

Why on earth could we NOT win it?

We have the best defence, the best midfield and a good attack that may well be strengthened in January. We've been the best and most consistent side in the league in 2013. We have a manager, a system, players who are used to each other and our confidence is sky high. And unlike past years when we challenged, we now actually have proper squad depth, a real backbone, steel, leaders throughout the squad and mature players with professionalism and passion. I don't see a reason why we couldn't fucking win it.

Why on earth could we not win it ?

1. By stats we have marginally a better defence than everton so if that's the only factor you use to judge the best defence then you might be right. I on the other hand prefer to look at the wider picture and recognise that we have had a softer fixture list to date and haven't faced the attacking powers of citeeh and chavs (for example) so it is hard to justify labelling one defence better than the others unless you are making fairer comparisons. It also cant be ignored that we are nowhere near as secure a defence without the BFG - kos in particular has more "brain farts" when the bfg isn't there to talk him through a game.

2. We have the best midfield and that I would absolutely agree with - it does concern me that in a physical battle we would still be bullied cos neither arteta nor flamoney is big and physical enough to be a proper DM imo and our class attacking midfielders can only prosper if they have someone ball winning for them

3. Our attack is thinner than an anorexic catwalk model The very fact that you see the worlds greatest Danish even on the bench should show you how shit our attacking alternatives are Some would like to suggest that podolski's return will change that but tbh, as much as I would love to be wrong, I don't see that happening - I like podolski as a striker but for some reason our cic doesn't think he can play the role and I can see wally being played there ahead of him

I feel that it is very noticeable that even you, the king of the reformed all is rosy movement, cannot say with any real confidence that wenker will strengthen in January (the phrase "may well strengthen" doesn't suggest confidence imo) What we can be 100% sure of however, is that while wenker dithers, citeeh and the chavs will strengthen in a big way and I feel that manure will want to show support for moyes by launching a major cash splash in January so half a season's good work will count for fcuk all if that happens. There is also the concern about our guts and lack of bottle when we face manure, chavs and (to a lesser degree) citeeh - losing in the manner we did in manure is looking more and more shocking with each passing week when you look at some of the other teams that have gone there and come away with either draws or victories What does it say about our team and manager that these teams went there and played with no fear and yet we went there and basically shit ourselves ? You ask why we cant win it....I suggest that mentality might well be a big reason

[augie]

Jesus Christ 1989 you are really losing the run of yourself - BFG I am a huge fan of but in reality he doesn't bring anywhere near the required level of aggression or physicality. Kos brings pace but is also reckless whilst wally brings pace and fcuk all else Flamoney, despite being lauded as the return of a much loved prodigal son ( ), brings energy (very important I agree) but that energy is matched with a lack of discipline and try as he may he will never be able to bring physicality to our midfield

[g88ner]

Jesus Christ 1989 you are really losing the run of yourself - BFG I am a huge fan of but in reality he doesn't bring anywhere near the required level of aggression or physicality. Kos brings pace but is also reckless whilst wally brings pace and fcuk all else Flamoney, despite being lauded as the return of a much loved prodigal son ( ), brings energy (very important I agree) but that energy is matched with a lack of discipline and try as he may he will never be able to bring physicality to our midfield

Not sure that's all that important.

How many times has our midfield been over run? and bullied out of games? - it use to happen, but I'm not convinced that's happening these days.

We tend to dominate the midfield now, and most tellingly, even in away games we seem to have a measure of control that is showing in our results which must surely be the best away form in the league for 2013??? I'd be amazed if it's not!

To be honest, although I'd still love a world class holding player, I don't think physicality is an issue. We're standing our ground well in that area.

[mcdowell42]

1989 how dare you be positive in any way