Two games in hand or the points in the bag?

I am sorry to sound defeatist but I will be pleased with 7th this season and qualification for the new third tier Europa Conference League (we may stand a chance) – oh, and winning the FA Cup.

Same goes for Aston Villa, if we've got Allan back, we are stronger. But again a tough game, I've watched Villa and Grealish is unplayable at times.

I'd take 4 points from those two games if they were offered now, and run.

I've recalibrated my expectations, I think we are a gradually improving whilst others are faltering. 7th would be an improvement but now I'm looking higher than that. With very good luck on the injury front and a forward signed on loan (Zirkzee?) we can get into the top 4. Why not? The rest of them have weaknesses and are inconsistent.

Fortune favours the bold!

It all depends where you are in your cycle of inconsistency... doing well – or doing badly, when the music stops after game 38.

This being Everton, albeit a seemingly harder to beat Everton, we could finish 3rd or 8th. Like Tony, I'd take 4 points, especially if 3 were from City.

There is no standout team this season, so why should we not aim for top four, top two or even top?

You mention Grealish and De Bruyne. What players they are. Someone asked what sort of player Odegaard is and I offered some suggestions – but actually I think these 2 are good comparisons. Odegaard could be our Grealish or De Bruyne... unless Arsenal get him first!

Grealish is some player and will go to one of the big boys in the summer, I want to see him regularly for England.

Very coincidental though.

Not having played them yet, simply means that we still can play a part in what we can get. Thus, while they are not easy games to play, knowing that "there's all to play for" in a literal sense, makes it worthwhile.

De Bruyne will be out for almost two months, Aston Villa seem to be stuttering a little at the moment. So, we could be playing these two teams, when they are not as in peak form (Man City is on the up, but who knows what losing De Bruyne can do to them, and Champions League is resuming as well).

Thus, it's really a moot point here, but I would prefer to be hopeful about our chances to keep climbing up the table.

In the meantime, to seek to overcome Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup 3rd round.

At that point we were flying and they weren't.
And they were able to play their very next game.

What could be interesting is that Richarlison has already made it clear he wants to move on for Champions League football. (He may well get it with us ). Odegaard comes to us on loan and could be a replacement for Richarlison he wants out in the summer. A ready made deal with a top quality player coming in for us that may well suit Real Madrid too.

Rumours we are scouting a young Norwegian lad called Sivert Mannsverk, 18 years old. A central midfielder. A Branthwaite/ Nkounkou- esque type signing. A host of clubs looking to bring him into their set up, Ajax, Villa, some Italian clubs. He definitely looks like a talent from the clips.

So Everton, do you want six points or play your two games?

😕