I would say its a very realistic target for Everton. In a year or two they will have 2 potential routes as well. The league or the Europa League. With the new TV deal coming then I feel English winners of the Europa League will become more common.
It is realistic. Everton slipped under Below Average Moyes and just need a little improvement now he's gone to really be challengers for 4th.
It's definitely achievable for Everton, as long as they can keep hold of their main players (i.e. Baines and Fellaini) and hope the team take to Martinez's style of football rather quickly. It'll be easier to decide whether or not Everton can get there depending on who leaves and who joins.
A club of our stature? Of course we have the stature to be aiming at the CL places, we haven't got the cash though, that's the problem.
That could change. Together with Martinez' style of football should you get top 4 you could actually do quite well in europe.
No chance. His style of football got Wigan relegated. I can only presume that Kenwright has taken leave of his senses in bringing some Carlos Kickaball in search of a fat pension, to run the team. Far too many foreigners involved in the British game, small wonder that traditional supporters walk away in droves from a game that's turned it's back on them. We're screwed.
Wow, a new (lurk) Everton fan on the board. The Royal Society for the Protection of Bitters has been notified
It is a big promise as he just saw a team down to the Championship a few weeks ago. A big one indeed. He's got a better team now but it is still a big promise and one he probably should not have made if he did indeed say this. It would have been better to keep quiet and let his team do the talking. Now he's just put pressure on himself and the team and not a ball kicked yet. Rafa promised CL qualification in his last season at Liverpool and looked quite the numpty at the end of the season.
I think 3 of the CL places are nailed on for some season to come. on the face of it, the fourth is realistically between Spurs and Arsenal, BUT.... that fourth place is not as unobtainable as say, five/six years ago when four teams had it all sewn up for about five years. Everton and liverpool could well challenge the two North London clubs.
He never said it publicly - Kenwright did. In fact Martinez laughed when Kenwright mentioned it & said he must be getting a massive budget then...... Having said that, if we'd have had a top notch striker, we'd have sealed a CL spot last season imo, so if Martinez is ever going to fulfil that prophecy his best chance is next season, with the quality side that Moyes has left behind - IF he can find a 20 goal striker, we might have a chance......
Deffo. I honestly think four teams will vie for fourth next seaso. yes, I may well look a tit by December, but there you go!
I agree with you, albeit by the close of the window I might have a different view, dependant on the business done (or not done in our case )
Not at all, Martinez is a great talker, but sadly he does not walk the walk look if Martinez had stayed at Swansea we would still be a championship club, I was great full to him for leaving us,