trousers

Clean sheet + Beat Koeman's Everton + Excellent debut from another academy graduate + Top half of Premier League + 3 points behind 6th + Good chance of qualifying for Europa League knock out stages + In Quarter Finals of League Cup = MELTDOWN

Result!!!

"Who the f*** is Ronald Koeman" coming over loud and clear

Another save by stek!

Austin hit that pass very hard at JWP to be fair

Close!

Everton now 6-1 to win if anyone wants an 'insurance' bet

Get in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eh? Don't think I've ever posted such a thing...?

Full time. A plucky 2-1 home defeat against the mighty Stevenage

What, even though they're only 3 points below us?

5-4 !!

Oh no they're not

All looking a tad tight in mid-table

Pompey pull one back

Palace equalise (Jack Cork OG)

Pompey 0 Stevenage 2 Chortle

Textbook

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.