It's really exacerbated by the polarity of our form last season. Was our first half or second half form closer to our 'level'? Or are we going to continue to be a team that goes on ridiculous runs of form, both spectacular and terrible? Who knows! I think ultimately we'll end up lower mid table but as you say, we are very difficult to predict and until we get thrashed on the opening game, that makes things pretty exciting
^^^^ Agree No one can say with 100% knowledge why we did so well in 2020, and so poorly in 2021. Was it our play style that teams learnt how to mitigate as the season went on, was it injuries and lack of depth in the replacements that led to us being so poor? Was there some disruption in the changing room? I think, maybe out of necessity, we are going for youth/impact players this season - I see the press to be more energetic and substitutions will be earlier giving the whole squad reasonable time on the pitch. There will be few favorites, it will be who plays the style best, starts.
I do think Everton will have a fairly poor season and that a few dodgy results will instantly get the fans on the back of Benitez. He really needs to hit the ground running or things will turn. That said they do always seem to beat us, especially at home, so a draw would be a decent result.
I do think teams worked out how to play us and we only had one way of playing. I also think our small first team squad, coupled with fixture congestion and injuries meant our high tempo style of play could not be sustained with such a small squad. Finally, I felt our players looked fitter than many of our opponents in the early part of the season; we seemed to run them off the pitch after one hour.
Joey, I raised this on the 'Saints Stuff' thread, as I had the same question. I then e-mailed Saints' ticket office, and the tickets are being produced by a 3rd party supplier (someone called Del Boy?) and should be sent out 'over the next week'.
Historically is the combination of opening day fixture and Everton Away an absolute guarantee of defeat?
We can do this, more pressure on them than us. All this talk of being double jabbed, well we are double Armstronged. Bring it on
Predicted line up: Forster KWP Bednarek Salisu Peraud Armstrong JWP Romeu Redmond Adams Walcott Subs: McCarthy, Livramenro, Stephens, Diallo, Djenepo, Tella, Armstrong, Broja
Not saying l concur with the lineup, but the overall representation shows we are starting to have a strong bench.
this will be the best time to play Everton away. 1st game for Rafa and a squad that hasn’t strengthened notably and been weakened in other ways. This will be the first season that Ralph will have players at his disposal to change the game. We are still in a pickle at CB, that needs sorting and peraud remains vulnerable while he has djenepo covering for him but this season will be a test of Ralph’s management and hopefully we can get something from this.
Will Richarlison be back from Tokyo for this? And if so, will he be ready to start? An added bonus if he isn’t on the pitch.
