Half full or half empty? Everton will show us

[stainrodisalegend]

Optimists on this board claim that the reason we have done so badly on our travels is because all our games have been against top of the table teams. Fair enough.

Except all our victories (at home) have been against bottom half teams, and after Palace and WBA we will have played all our relegation rivals at home. So not many games after Christmas when we will be predicted to get three points.

So does that suggests fewer home wins ahead but also a few away draws coming our way? In other words, could becoming the draw specialists be the secret to our survival?

Everton are struggling - beaten at home by Palace - and this is probably our best chance yet of a point away. With the need to pick up away points more vital now with stiffer competition at home coming up, the Everton result could give a strong clue as to our success or failure this season.

[West Acton]

Can see same excuses for dire away performance being trotted out Everton top six side, European pedigree £28mil striker bla bla bla

[Factamondo]

triffic club evton...triffic manager...triffic triffic

[blue and white]

It all comes down to how Harry sets the team up. Vargas up front with Bobby behind him should spice things up.

[surrey_hoop]

Well the flip side of the argument is that you would a) expect Harry to strengthen the squad in January and b) be more positive against the lesser sides away from home as a result. The home wins will in all likelihood drop off after Christmas, but away results will pick up as well. Swings and roundabouts in all honesty. I won't judge us too much if we avoid getting heavily beaten at Everton, they are a very strong side at Goodison Park.

[Shania]

Well the flip side of the argument is that you would a) expect Harry to strengthen the squad in January and b) be more positive against the lesser sides away from home as a result. The home wins will in all likelihood drop off after Christmas, but away results will pick up as well. Swings and roundabouts in all honesty. I won't judge us too much if we avoid getting heavily beaten at Everton, they are a very strong side at Goodison Park.

Spot on, and we were Lucky to beat Burnely at home. IMO, we need to stregthen our team significantly

[Kevin Mcleod]

We always seem to be very lucky when we win, bit never unlucky when we lose.

[Hitman34]

We will play one up top with 5 in midfield.
We will have little of the ball and will be 2 0 down by half time.
Chasing the game we will finish 3 or4 nil down.
Same old routine away from home.

[Hertford Hoop]

Optimistic for a point

[Bluetooth]

Attack Attack Attack Attack

[SuperHoopNik]

they'll unleash a fully fit Ross Barkley on us and he'll tear us a new one...just like when we beat them a few seasons ago and last year when he pretty much single handedly knocked us out of the cup..

[QPRDave]

Everton result will have no bearing on future results, home or away.

[Kit]

Perhaps though this year we are beating the right sides, those around us, in the past we have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs etc but lost to Bolton, Fulham, West Ham, West Brom, Villa etc etc. That said to stay up we must start picking up points away from Loftus Road !

[nasser95]

We will play one up top with 5 in midfield.
We will have little of the ball and will be 2 0 down by half time.
Chasing the game we will finish 3 or4 nil down.
Same old routine away from home.

You have literally just made the statement on the basis of our first two away matches this season. We have improved hugely since and I don't really think we will be that bad. If we can hit them early and quickly and then just play the waiting game until the back end of the first half, maybe nick a goal as we head to the break to give them little time to gain a foothold, follow the same pattern in the second half and let them play with the ball until maybe the 75th minute and just hold on to it from then, maybe bring on some pace in phillips and get him holding up the ball and maybe sneaking a cross in late on.

[vespa]

All the time we go away and just try to not lose ,we`ll carry on losing . Its obvious that our home form improved after we started to go out ,with two upfront and attack . We need to do the same away ,all this sitting back and defending is leaving us with nothing , its not rocket science ,if you don't score ,you dont win