Everton aren't a month removed from an eight-match unbeaten streak that had them returning to last season's level of confidence, a part of the discussion for the Premier League top four, and advancing in the Europa League with a game to spare.
How far away those times must feel.
The positive is an even quicker turnaround in the Premier League could come over the festive period as the Toffees open three games in seven days with Stoke City paying a Boxing Day visit to Goodison Park.
With three teams within two points, Everton (5-6-6), 11th on the table with 21 points, would be wise to begin the recovery against the Potters (5-4-8). The Toffees are just 1-1-4 across all competitions since the 5-3-0 run that had things headed in a positive direction in both England and Europe.
The latest letdown was Saturday's 3-0 loss at Southampton, which landed Everton 10 points back of West Ham United for fourth.
"We are at home (on Boxing Day) and we need to start picking up some wins and some more points," defender Phil Jagielka told the club's official website. "It's never easy when we lose 3-0, but we have got games thick and fast now. We need to dust ourselves down and try to put in some good performances. We've been saying it for a while now that we need to go on a run."
Including a 1-0 loss at Manchester City on Dec. 6, Everton have suffered shutouts in two of three league matches.
Conversely, it's been going on two months since Tim Howard's last top-flight clean sheet - a scoreless draw against Swansea City at Goodison on Nov. 1 - and the Americans' World Cup backbone is now being seen by some as a liability along with the back line.
"The most disappointing thing was the way we defended our box," manager Roberto Martinez said after the loss to the Saints. "We were a little bit soft and were undone by three balls that went into the six-yard box. We are to blame for the defeat because we didn't defend any simple ball into the box well. Our record shows that we are normally a lot better in that respect."
With 27 goals conceded, tied for third most in the league, some might question Martinez's assessment, but Stoke's nine away goals in as many matches could help correct that. As could a potential return from John Stones, who hasn't played since Oct. 5 due to an ankle injury.
The Potters' last two visits to Goodison have resulted in six points for the Toffees on a 5-0 aggregate. It's part of a 2-3-0 stretch dating to the second match of the 2011-12 campaign, and Everton have conceded three goals in that time.
Stoke, 13th on the table with 19 points, are one of the three clubs in a position to make a Boxing Day leap over Everton, but they too have stalled with four points from their last six matches.
The turnaround is short after Monday's 2-0 loss to Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium, but the demeanor is also more upbeat in the Stoke camp.
"If we continue to believe in ourselves and display performances like we did tonight then results will certainly start going our way," goalkeeper Asmir Begovic told the club's official website.
The Potters are also looking for improvement in the defending third, having allowed 21 goals over 12 matches across all competitions without a shutout.
"We have to start keeping clean sheets," Begovic said. "We have been sloppy at times by switching off at key moments and that's been costing us lately."
How far away those times must feel.
The positive is an even quicker turnaround in the Premier League could come over the festive period as the Toffees open three games in seven days with Stoke City paying a Boxing Day visit to Goodison Park.
With three teams within two points, Everton (5-6-6), 11th on the table with 21 points, would be wise to begin the recovery against the Potters (5-4-8). The Toffees are just 1-1-4 across all competitions since the 5-3-0 run that had things headed in a positive direction in both England and Europe.
The latest letdown was Saturday's 3-0 loss at Southampton, which landed Everton 10 points back of West Ham United for fourth.
"We are at home (on Boxing Day) and we need to start picking up some wins and some more points," defender Phil Jagielka told the club's official website. "It's never easy when we lose 3-0, but we have got games thick and fast now. We need to dust ourselves down and try to put in some good performances. We've been saying it for a while now that we need to go on a run."
Including a 1-0 loss at Manchester City on Dec. 6, Everton have suffered shutouts in two of three league matches.
Conversely, it's been going on two months since Tim Howard's last top-flight clean sheet - a scoreless draw against Swansea City at Goodison on Nov. 1 - and the Americans' World Cup backbone is now being seen by some as a liability along with the back line.
"The most disappointing thing was the way we defended our box," manager Roberto Martinez said after the loss to the Saints. "We were a little bit soft and were undone by three balls that went into the six-yard box. We are to blame for the defeat because we didn't defend any simple ball into the box well. Our record shows that we are normally a lot better in that respect."
With 27 goals conceded, tied for third most in the league, some might question Martinez's assessment, but Stoke's nine away goals in as many matches could help correct that. As could a potential return from John Stones, who hasn't played since Oct. 5 due to an ankle injury.
The Potters' last two visits to Goodison have resulted in six points for the Toffees on a 5-0 aggregate. It's part of a 2-3-0 stretch dating to the second match of the 2011-12 campaign, and Everton have conceded three goals in that time.
Stoke, 13th on the table with 19 points, are one of the three clubs in a position to make a Boxing Day leap over Everton, but they too have stalled with four points from their last six matches.
The turnaround is short after Monday's 2-0 loss to Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium, but the demeanor is also more upbeat in the Stoke camp.
"If we continue to believe in ourselves and display performances like we did tonight then results will certainly start going our way," goalkeeper Asmir Begovic told the club's official website.
The Potters are also looking for improvement in the defending third, having allowed 21 goals over 12 matches across all competitions without a shutout.
"We have to start keeping clean sheets," Begovic said. "We have been sloppy at times by switching off at key moments and that's been costing us lately."
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire