VIEW FROM THE STANDS: Time for Everton to rise above mediocrity
GIVEN that there's really only been 45 minutes in the second half against Man United where we've played anything like to the standard we expect, we're pretty fortunate that we're going into this game sat in seventh place and with a chance of making the top six this season.
Any other season, the ineptitude of our performances could've seen us stranded at the bottom. It's been standard protocol before every game this term for manager and players to come out and say "we're now gonna kick-start our season" but the time for talking went a few months ago. Surely the penny's finally dropped.
We go to West Ham today looking for our third win on the trot, but if truth be told, the performances in the last two games were worse than many of the games we've been beaten in this season. However, winning breeds confidence, so there's no reason why we can't go looking for a win at the 'proper' cockneys.
Although results have improved, Moyes is still searching for the right balance in the team.
Lee Carsley's name has been mentioned more since he left the club than when he was here, as we've been trying a different solution for the holding midfielder in nearly every game.
Given the effectiveness of a five-man midfield in our two wins within a week at West Ham last season, Moyes is bound to go again with this tactic.
When we're confident and attacking in numbers this tactic works supremely for us, but the problem when things aren't going well is that we sit too deep and invite pressure.
West Ham are one of the batch of mid-table teams who won't be relegated but won't finish in Europe that sadly Everton have looked like joining. However, this is the game to show that we can rise above the medio-crity of the Premier League.
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