Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Everton to finish 4th shock!
40 Comments: After the fun and frolics of Transfer Deadline Day (TDD), I went to bed with a sense of confusion, bewilderment and, yes, foreboding. However, I woke up this morning with an unrealistic and unexpected feeling of excitement (and no, I?m not talking "morning glory" here).
Now I can?t remember getting knocked on me noggin in the middle of the night. I can?t discount it though because it is the only plausible explanation of what I thought on awaking (and still currently believe). Yes, you heard it hear first? Everton WILL finish 4th and march gloriously into the Champions League in 2012 (drawing Villarreal in the preliminary round notwithstanding!).
Actually there is a scintilla of logic in this apparently bonkers assertion. Let me present the thrust of my discourse:?
Top 3 (in no particular order): Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City. I think we can all agree on that. So the rest of the Premier League are playing for 4th place (the best of the rest). So why us?
Well, my argument is not "why us?" but "why not them?" So let me go through the "why not thems", the arguments against, one by one:?
The Orc Army opposite (led by Kenny "Sauron" Dalgleish) ? (Probably favourites now for 4th) ? 1) Too many 1st-Teamers to keep satisfied; 2) Craig Bellamy!! 3) Prone to dodgy defending.
Arsenal ? 1) In meltdown; 2) Weaker in midfield, the one area they were strong last year.
Tottenham Hotspur ? 1) Modric (their Lescott); 2) Won?t score enough goals; 3) Bale has been sussed (fact, according my inside source).
Aston Villa ? 1) I?ve never liked them (don?t know why); 2) Defensively dodgy (similar to "prone to dodgy defending" as above).
Sunderland ? 1) Two words ? Nicklas Bendtner.
Newcastle ? 1) Two words ? Mike Ashley (makes Wor Billy look vaguely competent).
Stoke ? 1) Too many new signings to integrate quickly.
I?ll stop there because I?m sure you get the picture. Basically the Premier League is "shoite" and therefore it?s ours for the taking... if...
- Drenthe can be motivated and resurrected in a Pienaar-esque style;
- Big Denis hits the ground running and bangs ?em in from Day 1
- Little Ross Barkley develops
- The Grim Ligament Reaper doesn?t come a-visiting
If, in the meantime, I do discover evidence of a nocturnal nutting and get treated as a result, I?ll let you know and please ignore all of the above.
COYB
Alun Willis, Posted 01/09/2011 at 22:45:23
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After the first two games (and Wednesday) I was beginning to think my bet was looking a tad ambitious
People were counting on us getting relegated back then, yet we finished 4th.
COYB!!!!!!!!!!
While I hate route 1 if your gonna do it you should do it right!
As long as we try a bit of football before the inevitable I'll be happy.
"We signed a massive Tevez, we signed a massive Tevez, La La La La Oi, La La La La Oi! His name is fu©*ing Denis, His name is fu©*ing Denis, La La La La Oi, La La La La Oi!"
I do admire an optimist though!
....did you have one of them dream catchers above your bed? You could share it and spread the positive vibes.
.....Donovan in the January window, then we sweep all before us!!!!
Don't write the shite off so easily though. One thing they do have is a winning mentality that covers up for a lot of the crap they put on the pitch. From a distance it can look like luck, which I guess sometimes it is. They always manage to cobble something together in adversity.
Saw Martin Keown was going OTT on Barkley. If he has a good season I can see the vultures circling next summer.
There's 3 certainties in life: death, taxes and Everton will always let you down when you expect them to do well.
If you really are round the twist why not go a bundle on 1st place.
Mickey Rooney on his third bankruptcy said, 'May as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.'
Maybe Drenthe will be the pacy wide man that we've been crying out for? Maybe 'Stackanotherthing' will become the regular goalscorer that we desire. For me a huge influence will be Moyes's tactics going forward. He needs to get this ball of optimism rolling by reflecting it on the pitch!
You forgot the bit about "getting in quick & buying those half season tickets at 'early bird prices'....Well we wouldn't want to miss a minute of our late push for Champions League qualification.
COYB ? it can be done!!
Araz Abdullayev!
Royston will be a big hit, I am convinced he will shine like a star for 6 months, then go all shite.
At least we can freshen things up, we all knew what we would be watching before every game for the last couple of years. Actually looking forward to the Villa game now.
KENWRIGHT OUT.
It's a much better state of mind.
For the non concussed you've just named all the teams that will likely finish above us this season.
We've got 2 chances of finishing 4th.
A dog's chance and No chance.
KENWRIGHT OUT.
You've had a bang on the head alright..
The two new lads will have to bed in, but hopefully,
The rest of the squad will help them really feel at home, and let's start on Saturday 10th versus Villa.
We could do with getting all opts as our home record against them lacks a home win for some seasons.
The two new lads will have to bed in, but hopefully,
The rest of the squad will help them really feel at home, and let's start on Saturday 10th versus Villa.
We could do with getting all opts as our home record against them lacks a home win for some seasons.
It's not been the best of times just recent, but I can attest to a couple of things, such as this club will not finish in a Champions League berth or suffer the indignity of a relegation to the championship league. Keep things realistic and expect a no thrills season in the league and hope for some progression in the two cup domestics.
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1 Posted 02/09/2011 at 06:27:57
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I think you must have been concussed but good effort all the same.
COYB!
Kenwright Out!