trousers

Textbook

1970s?

For those that like moving pictures: (the sound doesn't kick in for the first 45 seconds for some reason) Koeman: "I'm really happy I moved to Everton because its a big club"

From today's press conference: Tadic unlikely to be ready ("was bad injury, lack of training since"). Jose should be OK though ("Will be assessed today")

Weird isn't it? Overall, we're not in a hugely dissimilar state of play to where we were around this time last season (i.e. middle third of Premier League, quarter final of league cup and in the europa league with a good chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages) yet we've somehow gone backwards in the eyes of some... Yes, our performances of late have been somewhat lacking, but we nearly always go through phases like this, so where's the logic in automatically assuming we won't emerge from this frustrating period like we have done previously? If come February/March we're out of all cup competitions and languishing near the foot of the premier league table then I'll happily join the doom and gloom club, but until then I'm maintaining a pragmatic stance.

Which is typically followed by a good run in the new year. Here's hoping history repeats itself again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38038456

Maybe someone came up with the radical notion of having a single post-match thread for post-match reactions? It'll never catch on IMO...

CB Fry is correct IMO. Getting ourselves in a position where we could be champions league qualification contenders 'within 5 years' was an aspiration, not a "promise" per se. We were a whisker (one win) away from achieving it last season, a mere 1 year into the 5 year aspiration. We probably won't come that close this year but to say the aspiration has failed at this early stage is perhaps a tad premature. Maybe we should wait and see where we are in 3 years time then judge how successful Les has been in achieving his 5 year ambition? Call me old fashioned. Maybe having a below par season this year (if that's how it transpires) will end up being a blessing in disguise as it'll free us up next year to have a distraction free crack at finishing higher up the Premier League table. One step back, two steps forwards perhaps. Who knows? I certainly don't

Poor performance, but, looking at the positive, qualification is still in our hands. Still in 3 competitions, with the FA Cup still to come, but a season defining couple of weeks coming up. I wonder if we'll have as poor a November and December run as last season? (the season where we ended up 3 points shy of 4th place having dropped to 13th in December)

Yeah, noticed that. Got the graph from statto.com Probably due to us actually being in 5th place after our last game of the season due to the postponed Man Utd game and their system not retrospectively updating. Or something like that

If squad numbers are anything to go by, Sparta have had to dig deep into their reserves to get a team out, especially on the bench...

We lived in several different "houses" throughout the course of last "year"...

Depends if we're in as bad a position as last season come the turn of the year I guess...

Puel confirms that Fonte hasn't traveled due to foot injury

Probably nothing in this (but thought it might be worth a mention), but Boufal was supposed to attending a calendar signing session with Redmond at the West Quay store later this afternoon, but the club announced a "late change" this morning and Targett is now going to be there instead of Boufal. A simple change of mind by the club and/or Boufal, or something else up? All conspiracy theories welcome

No.

They're probably too busy studying rocket science to be understanding the mega complex world of how the club operates...

Textbook

Redevelopment in existing location or relocated elsewhere?

I see what you did there...

This #rocketscience