Jagielka looked rusty, Stones at times had his inexperience exposed and Alcaraz did lose his discipline and break ranks to let them back in it.
Jags "ll be back, Stones will become a giant of a player and if Alcaraz can stay injury free, he’ ll prove he’s better than this.

Glad this ones out of the way. I usually don’t sleep well when we ’ ve lost, but the thought of all those Kopites wringing there hands in frustration, wondering if they will ever sleep again, sent me of like a baby

It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable season, watching Everton play really good football with a great blend of youth and experience.

I couldn’t be there yesterday; but if I was I’d have been part of that rousing reception for Mr Martinez and the players.

I was prepared to give Martinez a year to bed in, with a top 10 finish - that we are now back in Europe and respected for our football again is some achievement.

I’d be happy with more of the same next season - if we can get some consistency and bully some of the lower sides perhaps we can sneak in ahead of Arsenal and United this time.

That said, the top 4 is going to look crowded if United can get a decent manager and core of players - some silverware may be more realistic.

Pointing out the bleeding obvious - Martinez needs to bolster the squad, replace Barry (difficult), Deulofeu (moderate) and Lukaku (very difficult).

Make sure Coleman, Stones, Barkley and McCarthy are here for the long term and happy days.

Our style in the past was more blood and thunder, now we are used to keeping the ball, it won’t have such an adverse effect on the energy levels.

We have to play a qualifying round to make the competition proper, who won’t want to see European football back at Goodison?

The winners also go into the C.L. and I think it gives us more of an idea of how we are progressing. It gets a little old watching us play the likes of Stoke, or other bottom half sides, so I for one can’t wait.

Only if Arsenal win the FA Cup. The FA Cup winners don’t have to qualify, the 5th and 6th enter qualifying.

However if Hull qualify as runners up rather than FA Cup winners the non qualifying place goes to the 5th place in the league.

Simples!

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/fans/faqs/who-qualifies-to-play-in-europe/

The thing about the previous management regime was that they constantly lowered our expectations positioning us as plucky little Everton, punching above our weight and we should be thankful for 7th.

However, what Martinez has set about is changing our perceptions. We aren’t punching above our weight at all. We are one of the top teams in the country and we, as supporters, need to change too.

We should recognise that we have progressed as a team and, whilst we can appreciate a good season, we shouldn’t accept 5th as being good enough. The fac

Sadly not everybody watching did pull for the team last night and the anti-Liverpool obsession of quite a few meant a lack if tangible support at key moments. I’ve never been to a game where a significant number of those attending were comfortable with us losing a match!

You can spend team thinking of the if only’s and how opportunities are spurned, Two very winnable games v Palace and Southampton recently showed that we aren’t quite ready for the CL level yet, so Europa League it is.

Thursday Nights & Sundays for a lot of games next season which is the downside of the EL. Let’s hope we don’t suffer like Newcastle did last season. Think we need at least 4 new players to cope with the workload. More if the loanees can’t be retained.

Que sera indeed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-xdfDppe4M

For me, there will be a clear out of a few, Barry meandered through the last few games, lukaku has looked dreadful in general play but can finish, Del boy is still learning and needs a few more tricks in his locker, I love McGready, reminds me of Dave Thomas.. I suppose we has seen the last of Hibbo, perhaps a final outing against Hull? Oman too?

Nice to look forward to next season though...

I couldn't believe all the hype about would Everton do the dirty on Liverpool and let City win. I think that is very disrespectful to the professionalism of our team.

Various posts on the site have stated that the injuries were not to blame on us not getting into the top 4, it was down to the players and the manager, especially picking the wrong formation against Palace.

I'm sorry but that is a load of tosh. I can't think of many players from the first team squad that have not been injured at some point this season often for several months at a time.

We have a very small squad compared to other teams and do not have the resources to cope with missing key players all the time.

We lost yesterday as too many players were on the pitch that were not really match fit. Jags being the main one. It was odd as we knew after the losses by MU and Spurs that 5th was ours as even a loss at Hull for us and a win for Spurs would make no difference due to our superior goal difference. A lot of players were either thinking of their hols or Brazil.

For next season we need to;
Make an early decision about Barry-either give him a short contract or let him go elsewhere. They missed him yesterday
We are OK in midfield and on the flanks but need 2 strikers, Kone is old and injury prone
Need about 5-6 additional players to cope with Europe.
Let fans know early about the loanees and what is happening

Make a wish that we had all our bad luck with injuries this season and next will be easier

Sign all our young ones on senior contracts
I heard the City manager interviewed on the radio and he thinks if we keep the spine of our team we will be there or there abouts next season.

For me, only the threadbare squad kept us from qualifying for the Champions League (and maybe a couple of bad mistakes, at Palace etc). All credit to club and players as we are actually entertaining again.

I watched the Man City game in Dennehey’s yesterday and most of our American supporters seemed baffled that it didn’t bother me at all that we lost!!! I guess not growing up in Bootle doesn’t make them as bitter as me!!

Any news on pre-season? Anybody looking forward to next season with great enthusiasm?

Looking to next season, I don't really agree with us having some sort of injury curse, every team in the league gets injuries. Ours are just highlighted a bit more as our squad depth isn't the same as the other sides. So next season we will suffer injuries again, just like all the other sides.

One big achievement by RM this season is to have gotten rid of almost all the deadwood (least all the ones on a high wage) so we can at last focus on purely getting players in rather than waiting for and trying to push players out.

Assuming that most of the first team squad stays (presume the likes of Vellios and Geuye will be moved on), we don't really need that many players, even though we'll be in Europe. An extra 2-3 players of first team quality should be enough.

Need to sort out the striker position as a priority (Lukaku or a surprise someone from Europe), back up for Coleman and sort out Barry (either keep him or get someone else in as Gibbo can't be relied on). If Distin can still play next season then we'll have 4 CBs so not sure that position is a priority.

In saying that, the likes of Barkley, Stones, Oviedo and McCarthy should all be better next season, so that's a plus. Osman and Pienaar are both getting near retirement so probably need to bring in one new (younger) AM – would love to see us get a quality no.10 tbh. Jury's still out on Kone and McGeady, fingers crossed they can play well next season.

All to be hopeful for as this season has certainly been much better than most of us expected. Now the season's over, can now look forward to the WC.

All I would say, given my experience, is Evertonians should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Maybe have a bag of ice ready – there is nothing more painful than a kick in the plums

(They've been hoofing mine for 54 years, believe me, I know.)

The Prem, like it or not, is a 'loads of money' league and pity for us were a poor relation, fact as it stands now. We have had a storming first season with Martinez in charge but how next season will pan out I haven't really a clue!

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that our manager has almost got the max out of the situation, he's made some mistakes... of course he has in hindsight... but who doesn't.

Although he won't admit it, a spare £100m (don't laugh) would make a hell of a difference towards what we achieve next season; without it, I think we're going to struggle to match or improve on this one.

Hope I'm totally talking cobblers, but I don't think so.

.

People say every season that next year will be harder, but with new managers(if?) at United and Spurs, I would not fancy them featuring in the top 4 again. We will be closer, possibly harder to beat and more offensive. As for that lot, it does remind me of the year Arsenal won with the last kick of the season. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes shit happens to them.

But how else will we know if they're any good? If they're not given a chance at home to some barely known team.

Best thing about Europa League I think is it's enough football to keep all the squad happy. While also making sure the first team players are kept on their toes. That's with the presumption the league is priority at least until the knock-out stages should be get there. COYB

We have no reason to not be anything but blue skies optimistic for next season and the next window...

Can you imagine a bunch of Blues boozing on God’s jucie Stella saying "Flip, we are so worried about next season coz Spuds might get a new gaffer"!!! — AFTER THE LAST 2!!!!!!!

Why the fuck worry about Spurs and anyone else — including post-Moyes Man Utd?

The future is bright blue. We have one of the three best 40-ish gaffers in the whole wide world!!!! Oh but let’s worry about gaffer appointments at Spuds and Man-Utd!!!!!!

Unbelievable!

We have the most class in the division, CL or not - Liverpool winning the title or not.

There's no point winning anything if you have no class (vide Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea).

Oviedo broke his foot and was off on a stretcher quicker than Dzeko, who appeared back on to the pitch without any semblance of so much as a limp. If a player is booked for feigning injury, then he should be made to stay off the pitch for as long as he delayed the game.

There has been nothing mentioned in the media detrimental to the player and his tactics. There should be an official protest from EFC and some punitive action taken against the player other than a derisory yellow card. The game was drawn into disrepute and opens the door to other teams employing similar tactics.