Finally the online social media toffee supporters are starting to cheer up, Marco Silva’s men are playing an attacking style of football and the summer signings are beginning to make an impact. I personally felt that Seamus Coleman was fortunate to be recalled straight back in to the team ahead of JonJoe Kenny in recent weeks, his reaction on the weekend was priceless! I hope both Coleman and the rest of the playing group feel that their position are under threat each and every week, poor performances have been accepted for far too long at Goodison. I’m sure Coleman will be embarrassed at his wild reaction after scoring his goal but I couldn’t care less as long as we win. The blues who are writing off Theo Walcott currently probably need to reserve criticism for now, hopefully he scores against Chelsea and reacts in the same manner especially with Lookman breathing down his neck for his jersey.

The recent performances have been an absolute delight, attacking football with a purpose, Marco Silva really is getting a tune out of the majority of his team and for the first time in our history Everton have two good options in every outfield position. Competition for places is a prerequisite these days especially when the Premier League allows criminals such as Manchester City to run their accounts as fairly as the current Middle Eastern labor hire conditions. Financial fair play is completely farcical, it would be nice for the Premier League to take action against these cheaters but the David verses Goliath legal battle might be too long and expensive for them to take on.

If we compare ourselves financially to City (Cheaters), Liverpool, United, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea it seems very apparent that a new ground and extra commercial income is required for Everton to complete. We can compete at youth level by developing the best youth talent to eventually break in to the first team. We’re seeing green shoots of optimism in this department with Kenny v Coleman, Lookman v Walcott, Calvert-Lewin v Tosun – it would be excellent to see Davies, Dowell, Holgate et al pushing the first team further in the coming months.

Clear playing style with a philosophy that the first team and academy is accustomed too is vital, we have an ambitious coach who will look to win every game regardless to the opposition. The other key factor in our success will be the combinations and partnerships formed between the first team players, this will be acquire from the repetition of playing together. I don’t care if we lose to all of the matches against the top teams in the division if the team in general are improving their process i.e. style of play week on week. It’s critical that the supporters stick with this group of players throughout what is supposed to be a building season.

Competing with the elite teams in the division requires overall good recruitment to identify weaknesses in the playing staff along with having the ability to sell players at the right price and time. I don’t think Everton have ever had a strong recruitment component of the club and in Brands Everton have one of the smoothest operators in world football. It’s so refreshing to see The Old Lady bouncing again and the crowd genuinely excited to be witnessing the progress and style of the team. The atmosphere has improved exponentially and it comes as absolutely no surprise to me that Digne, Gomes, Mina, Richarlison, Zouma and Bernard are really enjoying playing in front of such support. It would not surprise me at all if Brands and the club have lined up a right back and striker to bring in during the January window and with a bit of luck we’ll see the back of a few players who are not involved with the current first team.

Another really pleasing factor in recent weeks is the form of Michael Keane, I didn’t expect him to get a look in this season and figured as soon as Mina was fit that he’d have been gone. He’s played outstanding of late and after hearing about the shithouse treatment he received by Ronald Koeman, making him play injured really did make my blood boil. I feel he’ll keep his place in the squad and if Walcott doesn’t set the world alight on the weekend then it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Everton lined up with three central defenders the following week. Personally I like the system we play with and would most likely drop Zouma over Keane to allow Mina to come in if required. If Mina plays a blinder verses Chelsea then it might it be worth trying a different formation to see what type of an attacking threat could come by playing with a floating number 10 in Bernard and no out and out wingers.