David Moyes

[superpull]

I'd prefer to have the points going into difficult fixtures than have a significantly worse return going into easy fixtures to be honest.

Much, much less pressure

[AllyBlue14]

You are? You said you don’t understand my point about us playing poor opposition as seem to be taking exception to my opinion?

It isn’t doom-mongering at all. That’s massively over the top. If you want relentless positivity I suggest an Everton forum isn’t the place for you.

It’s just realism taking into account our performances this season, what happened last season, the size and quality of the squad and the teams we have to play.

As someone else said, I’m happy we have the points on the board, because we’re going to need them.

I disagree that the opposition have been as poor as you've made out, yeah. By your estimations, we should've beaten United, Spurs and Hull, which would have us sitting in 3rd place on 19 points. And then, on the other hand, you're talking about being realistic!

[TheRam]

I disagree that the opposition have been as poor as you've made out, yeah. By your estimations, we should've beaten United, Spurs and Hull, which would have us sitting in 3rd place on 19 points. And then, on the other hand, you're talking about being realistic!

I’m not saying that at all.

I’m saying our performances against the poorer sides in the league haven’t really been good and that’s reflective in the numbers.

If we were nearer the top in terms of XG I’d be a lot more positive, but to see us midtable, 12th in the case of the XG table suggests we’re still probably a poor side and that will show when we start to have a run against the better teams.

There’s nothing about this squad, or the manager that makes me think we’re achieving anything above midtable to lower midtable and I’ve not seen anything so far this season to suggest otherwise.

[Silas]

We've played some good football in very short bursts without ever really clicking. I think there's a lot more to get out of this side which is a reason to be optimistic if you are that way inclined. It could absolutely go either way over the next couple of months like and it's which version of Moyes we get that might determine that

[AjaxAndy]

I’m not saying that at all.

I’m saying our performances against the poorer sides in the league haven’t really been good and that’s reflective in the numbers.

If we were nearer the top in terms of XG I’d be a lot more positive, but to see us midtable, 12th in the case of the XG table suggests we’re still probably a poor side and that will show when we start to have a run against the better teams.

There’s nothing about this squad, or the manager that makes me think we’re achieving anything above midtable to lower midtable and I’ve not seen anything so far this season to suggest otherwise.

Yeah we'll be mid table at the end of the season. We have some decent players but also some not so good, younger players whose form will fluctuate, a small squad and a pragmatic manger who will try and mitigate all those factors by being solid and inspiring.

The numbers could show us 1st or 20th and it wouldn't change a great deal, as we're about as mid table a side as you can get.

A good season is upper mid table, a poor one would be lower mid table. I can't see us finishing either side of that.

[Bumble]

Yeah we'll be mid table at the end of the season. We have some decent players but also some not so good, younger players whose form will fluctuate, a small squad and a pragmatic manger who will try and mitigate all those factors by being solid and inspiring.

The numbers could show us 1st or 20th and it wouldn't change a great deal, as we're about as mid table a side as you can get.

A good season is upper mid table, a poor one would be lower mid table. I can't see us finishing either side of that.

Absolutely nothing post.

We had the same outlook last season and we were on course for an unlikely Champions League finish before we blew it.

The European spots are there for the taking for any team that can string a decent run together. The cream that used to always rise the the top with the top 6 doesn't anymore. Spurs, Man U are lower mid table clubs now, Chelsea aren't much better. Liverpool are a top 6 club not a top 3 one which leaves just two clubs nailed on for the top spots.

All clubs will have good and bad runs but it's completely defeatist to think we can't aspire to be where Bournemouth and Palace are this evening, which is playing in Europe and making some memories and giving fans some good away trips.

[AjaxAndy]

Absolutely nothing post.

We had the same outlook last season and we were on course for an unlikely Champions League finish before we blew it.

The European spots are there for the taking for any team that can string a decent run together. The cream that used to always rise the the top with the top 6 doesn't anymore. Spurs, Man U are lower mid table clubs now, Chelsea aren't much better. Liverpool are a top 6 club not a top 3 one which leaves just two clubs nailed on for the top spots.

All clubs will have good and bad runs but it's completely defeatist to think we can't aspire to be where Bournemouth and Palace are this evening, which is playing in Europe and making some memories and giving fans some good away trips.

If anyone thinks we have a chance of Europe and it's just about aspiration, they are going to have a very disappointing and frustrating season

[Cods]

I’m not saying that at all.

I’m saying our performances against the poorer sides in the league haven’t really been good and that’s reflective in the numbers.

If we were nearer the top in terms of XG I’d be a lot more positive, but to see us midtable, 12th in the case of the XG table suggests we’re still probably a poor side and that will show when we start to have a run against the better teams.

There’s nothing about this squad, or the manager that makes me think we’re achieving anything above midtable to lower midtable and I’ve not seen anything so far this season to suggest otherwise.

There's 2 points between 7th and 14th.

The ball that bounced of Myko and Pickford, if it rolled into the goal rather than along the line then we're 13th.

The table still isn't that important at this time of the season.

I think the xPts of 12th is a relatively fair reflection - tiny variances for mid table teams this early in the season can make the table look a lot better or worse. You could throw a blanket over half the league.

[Shogun]

We're a midtable team. Let's just go into each match hoping for the best and accepting that.

We're well drilled and physical enough to be competitive in every match but lack the dynamism to batter anyone.

[777Kidnappings]

We're a midtable team. Let's just go into each match hoping for the best and accepting that.

We're well drilled and physical enough to be competitive in every match but lack the dynamism to batter anyone.

Yeah we are 50pts and 12th team. We could get lucky with injuries and a few results and get 8th at best or we could be u lucky and finish 15th

We cant have great expections with our tiny squad. Im not sure any of us do

[Silas]

Logically we are more likely to finish lower mid table. But luck with injuries and results and our (not necessarily what Moyes thinks as our) best eleven consistently available doesn't make achieving something close to Europe an impossibility. Still think our best eleven is a good side. We just don't have the depth to make lower mid table not the most likely result.

[UnsyisaRhino]

Logically we are more likely to finish lower mid table. But luck with injuries and results and our (not necessarily what Moyes thinks as our) best eleven consistently available doesn't make achieving something close to Europe an impossibility. Still think our best eleven is a good side. We just don't have the depth to make lower mid table not the most likely result.

This is where I'm at too.

We're 2-3 injuries away from really struggling, but if we can keep the right people fit we'll probably keep ticking over.

I'd love us to add some more depth in Jan but with this lot trying to sell, I doubt they'll throw more money at players.

[CorkyOnTour]

I agree with this. Incredibly we haven't had our yearly injury capitulation yet.
This gives us a chance in most matches. If one, two or three of the "first name on the team sheet" players get injured coming up to the middle of December, we are bang in trouble.

[Lazarou II]

Three subs at once, the wee boy Davey is learning.

A few more hundred games and he'll have it nailed.