Elston Gunnn

As I am so new to this board, I'm hesitant to begin a new thread. Still, given the disappointing start to the season -- acknowledging, too, the exciting football when on the attack -- it's hard not to start looking forward to better results next month. Our August results have put us in a hole; there is surely general agreement that we "gave away" 4 points.

 

So, September. Not merely WBrom, about which a thread will begin at later date. "One game at a time" is sound advice, but the bigger picture also beckons. For me, of the 5 fixtures upcoming, the least important is Swansea in the League Cup. Before that tie, we have an international break, then 3 winnable games. And we badly need to win them, for obvious reasons: 9/13 @ WBrom, 9/18 Wolfsburg, 9/21 CP. The international break should provide needed time to improve the defense. Unfortunately, pride in having 3 of ours on England/international duty -- plus others for other countries -- is undercut somewhat by our feeling that we need Stones, Jags, and Baines, and all the others, to practice for Everton!

 

Even so, we should and must defeat WBrom. A draw won't suffice. A win, plus sufficient time to recover physically before the much-anticipated opening of our Europa League campaign, might plausibly provide psychological/emotional uplift in front of the Wolfsburg tie, another must-win. As is the Goodison fixture 3 days later v. CP. Mediocre play -- especially on defense -- in any of those 3 ties will be discouraging, dismaying, even.

 

We will expect to see Stones, Besic, Gibson, Atsu, not to mention Eto'o, possibly Pienaar (Kone? a September 1 loan?). It will be interesting to see the lineup for each of these 3 matches: WBrom, because of the poor start; Wolfsburg, because it's Europe; CP because it's a quick turn-around, but one that we should be able to handle, given that it's Goodison after Goodison. Do we or do we not have pretty good squad depth? These 3-in-8-days won't provide a definitive "yes," but they might suggest an ominous "no." We need 3 wins. Actually prefer 3 impressive wins.

 

Am I off-base in thinking the Swansea match is far less important than the 3 that precede it? Right now, it looks the least winnable. Only 2 days after CP? And much less important than the derby 5 days later. Really interesting to compare lineups in the 3-in-6-days (Wolfsburg, CP, Swansea). Again, a real test for squad depth, managing injuries, integrating new lads.

 

A win at Swansea would perhaps provide nice momentum going into the derby, but the other 3 matches are bigger. I'll gladly hope Ossie, Alcaraz, and Hibbert lead us to a 3-0 smashing of Swansea, but I'll be investing much more energy in the other 4 September fixtures. Indeed, if we are "desperate" to defeat Swansea in the League Cup, then things will have gone desperately pear-shaped by September 23.

Everton 3-2 Chelsea

 

Mirallas

Spurs have easier group than Everton, but much tougher travel. Their exhaustion factor looks high. Match locales are crucial for Nov. 27 ties. I'll hope their Nov. 27 tie is away, and ours is at Goodison, as we play Spurs Nov. 30 in London. Definitely bad schedule if we are away at Krasnodar Nov. 27.

Everton 2-1 Arsenal

 

Lukaku

Worth a read:

 

http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2014/08/getting-used-to-the-new-everton/

 

I suspect "Martin Liptrot" is some anagram nom de plume for one of you lot.

Speak English will ya

Ok. Hard cheese, Bob's your uncle, give us a biscuit.

 

More to the point, transfer-window-wise, I expect to feel gutted, chuffed, arsed, and made up. Over the next 48 hours, and probably the next fortnight.

Besiktas have missed 2 very promising opportunities. Ba missed wide from what should have been an easy goal. Another Besiktas player curled a good chance just wide. Arteta replaced in second half, limped off injured.

 

Ramsey just got second yellow, gone with 10 minutes left.

Just want to check something in this rumour-piece.

 

http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2014/08/rumour-blues-to-sign-song-on-loan/

 

Specifically, this sentence, the likes of which I read pretty regularly, re numerous teams and players:"Toffees boss Roberto Martinez could be set to make a move to add Song to his squad."

 

The trifecta of "could be," "set to," and "make a move" bespeaks a rumour of a rumour. There's probably an American version -- a rumor of a rumor -- of such obfuscation masquerading as information, but English football writers provide a lofty standard.

 

Any guesstimation as to what percentage of the time managers who "could be set to make a move" actually sign the lad? I'm asking.

Maybe it's a marginal advantage for Everton that Arsenal have to travel to Istanbul for a CL playoff-round match tonight?

Leicester 0-2 Everton

 

Jagielka

It all just seems sobsurreal .......

If this word -- a perfect description of our preseason -- is a witting invention, it's way beyond witty. If unwitting, it's still brilliant, worthy of inclusion in all future dictionaries of footy-slang.

 

Sobbing at really, even surreally, awful play is something with which all fans can identify.

Can't find this posted, so hope I'm not repeating. Here's a blogger who recommends confidence in Martinez as a manager who "is not one for dithering," who "has his cash ready and waiting," and who "acts quickly and with quality."

 

http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2014/07/robertos-train-wont-call-at-the-panic-station/

 

Should you feel so frustrated as to contemplate shooting a messenger, please aim at the blogger rather than at me, as I am innocent, and an innocent.

 

Like most Americans ........

Anybody seen this? Worth a read. Not sure whether "positional determinism" is quite right, but at least it's intriguing, as is "endearing vanity."

 

http://www.therussianlinesman.com/blog/besic-mccarthy-endearing-vanity-martinezs-central-midfield-fixation/

What about the Dolphins though?

I suspect that this is the gentlest of jibes at me, for my, um, lengthy disquisitions in posts above. If so, I accept the good humor at my expense, as (1) it's humorous, and (2) I deserve it. So I'm laughing with you and at me.

 

Still, I got a lot more to say about our lads. But I will refrain just now, expecting some constructive criticism of my analysis. Maybe after the Tranmere match.......

There's a big omission in my post #6 above. I neglected to mention an emerging Everton star, attacking midfielder Ross Barkley. He runs at people fiercely, with good dribbling skills, power, and great balance. Sometimes tries to do too much, loses possession, but he strikes fear into opposing center-halves, as he's got a rocket shot from distance. Backed up by veteran Everton loyalist, Leon Osman, clever passer, best years just behind him, still will play some at several midfield positions.

 

I also didn't comment on your question re season expectations. Pretty sure there's a separate thread on that very subject. Right now it's a dicey question, as Everton have yet to secure the several new, and absolutely needed, players that Roberto seeks. Absent any additional signings -- somewhere between a disappointment and a catastrophe -- the consensus here might be 8th or 9th in the table. But most expect another couple of signings; depending on said signings and their quality, the predictions here would range from 4th (and UEFA Champions League in Fall 2015) to 7th (behind Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool, and Tottenham).

 

Great hopes for this Fall (2014) and the UEFA Europa League, where Everton are automatically in the Group Stage, beginning play in September. But absent additional signings, the fear is squad exhaustion, as Europa League play is always on Thursday nights, and long trips especially to eastern Europe make for a difficult match back in England on Sunday.

 

We really want to nick into the top 4 in the table this season, where some big money awaits in the Champions League in Fall 2015 (and we hope into Spring 2016). As very much a financial have-not, Everton are right now -- this season -- just on the cusp of bigger things. But several things -- signings of proven or promising players, continuing squad unity and special spirit, and especially a relatively injury-free season -- must break good, not bad.

 

We're excited, and nervous.

I realize this link -- http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelseas-romelu-lukaku-transfer-hold-3885510 -- doesn't provide any dramatically new info, but the way Lukaku's situation is described here leads me to think, semi-conspiratorially, as follows.

 

Mourinho holds all the cards. Say, just for argument, he really is reconsidering the long-shot possibility of keeping Lukaku. Fair enough, so he looks at him for the next, um, 6 weeks, even giving him a look when Chelsea play Burnley, Leicester, maybe Everton on Aug. 30. Maybe it's our unfortunate fate that we drew our first match with Chelsea just before the window closes.

 

Having given Lukaku a look, Mourinho belatedly decides to sell. To Everton. After 8 p.m. On August 30.

I'm pretty optimistic, realistically so, I think; but then I haven't suffered with Everton for as long or as intensely as have many of you. I don't frequent sports pubs much, so I'm not dealing with Liverpool jerks, ever. I guess I can "afford" to be optimistic, as I'm pretty isolated.

 

Having said that, I look at our squad, and see a good amount of talent, and emerging depth. Happy to be corrected on any of this.

 

Obviously we need 2 more strikers, one or both of which who look better than Kone and Naismith. With our squad right now, not enough goals.

 

But at almost every other position, surely there are reasons for some confidence.

 

In a 4-2-3-1, depth looks something like this:

 

LB - Baines, Garbutt, Oviedo (later)

LCH - Distin, Alcaraz

RCH - Jagielka, Stones

RB - Coleman, Hibbert

DM - Barry, Besic

DM - McCarthy, Gibson

LM - Pienaar, McGeady, Oviedo (later)

AM - Barkley, Osman

RM - Mirallas, McGeady

S - Kone, Naismith

 

If RM isn't a brilliant manager, he's close enough: creative, daring, confidence-inspiring. Back line and defensive mid a sure strength. (Yes?). Pace and cleverness on wings. Barkley maybe breaks out this season? Why not Mirallas and McGeady, maybe?

 

Two more strikers, maybe another winger? Absent 3 semi-dependable goal scorers or one who's brilliant, yes, real problem. Buy toward solving that problem, avoid multiple injuries, and Everton look top 5 and legitimate Europa League threat.

 

Repeat: willing to be educated where my speculation is naive.

At end of ESPN's nightly "World Cup Tonight" recap, the panel were asked, half jokingly, "What will you do on your off-day tomorrow?" Roberto's answer: "Sign some players."

 

Perhaps just a throwaway line, but not necessarily, as RM is always on top of things, thinking, working. He's very high on Colombia/Fiorentina's Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, attacking midfielder, usually from right wing.

 

RM's been easily the most perceptive analyst among the ESPN studio crew. He seems to know more about every team and most every player than anyone, at least among the several pretty interesting ex-players ESPN is using in studio. He's much more interesting as an analyst than when he's giving standard commentary re Everton, as his Everton remarks are -- if understandably -- so unfailingly upbeat, and, generally, vague. But his WC analysis is way more perceptive, often detailed, "inside football" stuff re tactics, formations. Among Americans who understand the game and have some knowledge of the world's teams and players, RM is going to receive very high marks.

 

Everton have an absolute gem. When he first came to my attention, as an analyst in the 2010 WC, I was so impressed. He's even much better than I could have imagined.

what date will the draw be?

Aug 29. See post #55, this thread, for a few more details.

Wonder whether Denis Stracqualursi has improved, a lot. He seems to score some goals in Ecuador. Possibly not up to the competition in EPL ........ Still, I enjoyed his effort back in 2011-12.

We should hope Arsenal win the FA Cup btw as we'd qualify for the group stage immediately if they do while we'd still have to play a playoff if they don't.

 

Of the three places in the UEFA Europa League available to English clubs the FA Cup winners enter at the Group Stage, the fifth-placed team in the Barclays Premier League enter at the Play-Off stage, and the Capital One Cup winners enter at the third qualifying stage.

In the event that the FA Cup winners have qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup runners-up qualify for the third qualifying stage of the UEFA Europa League. In this case the place with direct access to the Group Stage will be given to the club who finish in the highest position in the Barclays Premier League of the clubs qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

(source)

Just tagging on to what Steve_E says here.

 

If Arsenal win FA Cup ----

 

Everton go directly to Group Stage, draw on Aug 29, play begins Sept 18

Spurs go into Play-off Round, draw on Aug 8, 2-legged tie Aug 21 & 28

Hull City go into Third Qualifying Round, draw on July 18, 2-legged tie July 31 & Aug 7; if win, go on to Play-off Round

 

If Hull City win FA Cup ----

 

Hull go directly to Group Stage

Everton go into Play-off Round

Spurs into Third Qualifying Round

 

Go Gunners.

My concern about failing to make Europa League is that the only way that can happen is for Everton to lose its final two, while Spurs and ManU nip into 5-6 by winning out. And that would mean that, after looking a solid chance for the CL on April 15, the Toffees would have collapsed, losing 4 of final 5, including 2 at Goodison.

 

Now there's obviously a lively debate about the merits of being in the EL, and I'd guess this debate could simultaneously be going on among Spurs and ManU fans. But for Everton, how much, if any, psychological (?) damage will be done by a collapse from legitimate hopes of 4th to finishing 7th?

 

I'm so far away (US) that I've no "feel" whatsoever for how discouraging it might be to miss out on Europe totally. So I'm asking.

Welcome to TT!

 

Out of interest what made you want to support Everton?

 

IMO I'd be more than happy int he Europa League this season, I'd love to make the CL, but at the start of the season I was more than happy for us to finish in the top 8 or 9, so anything else was a bonus!

 

Its always nice to have a few foreign supporters on here so welcome man.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm sort of a hermit, live in an isolated mountain cabin (but with a satellite dish!!), so really have little contact with anyone to talk football, much less Everton.

 

I'm now a full-on Toffee fanatic, but it came about totally by serendipity. Back in 1990s, I taught several English footballers in a US university. One was a Wigan lad and lifelong Toffee fanatic. As I gradually discovered the beautiful game, and came to see it as the world's passion, I had TV access to CL games and a few EPL games, and caught a (very, very) few Everton games. Came to appreciate that the club and its supporters might be a little different, and admirable. Just lucked into supporting a wonderful, interesting club.

 

Liked Moyes, still do, but when he hedged on renewing his contract a year ago, I began to think about who I'd like to see as a future replacement. And I had been very impressed with Martinez - his spirit as well as his analysis - during his commentary for ESPN during 2010 WC. So I was thrilled with his appointment, and obviously with the miracle additions on the last day of the transfer window.

 

Though I don't subscribe to Andy Gray's most, uh, infamous views, I was charmed by his comment that "footballers are dead stupid." Where football is concerned, we're all dead stupid.

 

I'm also a "Fawlty Towers" nutter. Hope that's acceptable.

My first post ever. Toffee fan in US for 10 years, but only getting to see lots of our games this season, now that NBCSN has the EPL contract in US.

 

Appears to me that the most logical, but long, long-shot, CL scenario would be for Arsenal to be tied by Newcastle, then lose away to desperate Norwich City, while Toffees win final two games. Not counting on it.

 

This highly optimistic scenario, unfortunately, is now balanced (?) by a pessimistic Europa League scenario. Both Spurs and ManU have much easier run-in, so wouldn't surprise for them to reach 72 and 69. If injury-plagued Toffees falter, they could end at 69, and would lose out to ManU on goal difference. Obviously finishing 5th would be disappointing, but finishing 7th ......

 

Hope to win last 2, would be thrilled to secure 5th with one win, and, frankly, would also take 1 more point to get 6th.