Seasonal Comparisons for Everton Matches, 2006-07
Steve Flanagan continues an old Everton Tradition from the Matchday Programme of the 1960s, comparing this season's points and attendances with last season, by opponent
So Everton finish the season with 58 points, just three behind the club’s Premiership “best” of 61 points in 2004-05. They also finished 8 points up on 2005-06 and can look forward to European football for the second time in three seasons — surely a long way forward from the Walter Smith school of finishing in the lower mid-table (ie, just above the relegation fight).
Also, the comparison figures highlight what a very close battle it was for the Uefa Cup places, as the club finished this season 1 point behind the figures of the 2002-03 “seventh placed” season, but ended up 1 place higher!
Finally, in one of our earlier comparisons, we highlighted the fact that in the last 9 matches of this season, Everton had, in comparison gained 13 points from those matches last season, in 2002-03 (7th place season) and 2004-05 (4th place season) — how did we do this time? Well, from Arsenal downwards, Everton gained 15 points — so a better return than the historical stats would suggest.
Current Season
Last Season
Comparison
Opponents
Pts
Att
Agg Pts
Agg Att
Pts Diff
Att Diff
1
Watford
H
3
39,691
35,420
+2
+4,271
2
Blackburn Rovers
A
22,015
4
61,706
22,064
57,484
–
+4,222
Tottenham Hotspur
35,540
7
97,246
0
36,247
93,731
+3
+3,515
Liverpool
40,004
10
137,250
40,158
133,889
+6
+3,361
5
Wigan Athletic
37,117
11
174,367
37,189
171,078
+7
+3,289
6
Newcastle United
50,107
12
224,474
51,916
222,994
+8
+1,480
Manchester City
38,250
13
262,724
37,827
260,821
+1,903
8
Middlesbrough
27,156
289,880
29,224
290,045
–165
9
Sheffield United
37,900
16
327,780
39,617
329,662
+5
–1,882
Arsenal *
60,047
17
387,827
38,121
367,783
Fulham
23,327
411,154
17,169
384,952
+4,276
Aston Villa
36,376
447,530
36,507
14
421,459
+4,145
Bolton Wanderers
34,417
20
481,947
34,500
455,959
+4,062
Charlton Athletic
26,435
21
508,382
26,954
15
482,913
+3,543
Manchester United *
75,723
584,105
67,831
550,744
West Ham United
32,968
24
617,073
35,074
585,818
+1,437
Portsmouth
19,528
636,601
20,094
19
605,912
+871
18
Chelsea
33,970
670,571
36,042
641,954
+4
–1,201
Reading
24,053
27
694,624
30,576
23
672,530
–7,724
38,126
28
732,750
34,349
26
706,879
–3,947
38,682
31
771,432
36,207
29
743,086
–1,472
22
39,836
811,268
42,681
785,767
–4,317
34,722
32
845,990
38,093
30
823,860
–7,688
18,149
35
864,139
21,731
845,591
–11,270
25
44,234
36
908,373
44,923
890,514
–11,959
35,593
39
943,966
35,615
34
926,129
–11,981
34,121
978,087
39,856
965,985
–17,716
18,761
42
996,848
26,554
37
992,539
–25,509
32,019
43
1,028,867
24,784
1,017,323
–18,274
Arsenal
37,162
46
1,066,029
36,920
40
1,054,243
–18,032
36,407
47
1,102,436
32,342
1,086,585
–13,967
35,612
50
1,138,048
36,515
1,123,100
–14,870
33
25,179
51
1,163,227
25,608
1,148,708
–15,299
34,028
54
1,197,255
34,333
49
1,183,041
–15,604
34,945
1,232,200
34,866
1,217,907
–15,525
Manchester United
39,682
1,271,882
38,610
1,256,517
–14,453
39,619
57
1,311,501
36,831
1,293,348
–11,665
38
41,745
58
1,353,247
41,765
1,335,113
–11,684
698,040
699,663
+9
–1,623
655,207
635,450
–1
–10,061
(Note: Results against Reading are compared to the results against Sunderland. The results of Sheffield United are compared to those of West Bromwich Albion, and the results of Watford are compared against Birmingham City.)
* - Arsenal’s increased attendance is due to their move to The Emirates Stadium, causing a large difference in attendance figures, whilst Manchester United’s increase is due to the continued development of Old Trafford. For comparison purposes, this season’s attendance for both matches has been assumed to be level with last season’s attendance, although the actual attendance is shown in both instances.
This season has shown that we might be able to start thinking of “Fortress Goodison” once again, with the club suffering just 4 home defeats in the League, and a nine-point increase in home matches on last season – although we are 1 point down on 2002-03 and 2004-05. However, the away form has been on par with both of these seasons, 1 point down on last season, 2 points down on 2003-04 and level with 2002-03.
For 2006-07, home attendances were down by 1,623 in total (an average of 85 supporters per match!), whilst the comparative away attendances were down by just over 10,000 overall (an average of just under 530 per match) — so a plateau in regards to attendances appears to have been reached. However, would another successful League season, plus a couple of good cup runs (especially in Europe) push attendances up again? Time will tell.
We can also analyse the figures further and see what has happened results-wise as well:
Result This season
Comparative result from
Last season
Occurrences this season
Points won/lost
Win
Draw
Loss
-
+15
–8
–9
–3
Whilst it is pleasing to see that we have converted nearly half of our draws or defeats from last season into wins, it is equally alarming to note that we have lost or drawn just over 50% of the wins we had last season!
So, overall, it’s probably fair to say that Everton have had a successful League campaign — although the cup record still appears to be a major stumbling block. But, the real test is now next season, when, hopefully, the club will challenge for at least one trophy, but also, put together another successful campaign and, dare we say, another European campaign in 2008-09?
Steve Flanagan 15 May 2007
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