Comparing Everton’s start to the season with 2015/16

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Everton will be hoping to see some progress following last season’s disappointing campaign. What have the first 11 games shown?

If Everton were to finish in the seventh place they currently occupy in the Premier League it would represent some solid progress in their first season under Ronald Koeman.

Last season saw an Everton side that could attack well but fail to keep the back door shut, and when results were not going their way even the attack could not paper over the glaring cracks at the back and they were subject to some humiliating results.

So how does their start in Roberto Martinez’s last season in charge compare to that of the infancy of the Ronald Koeman era?

Everton after 11 games 2015/16:

Everton after 11 games 2016/17:

The Toffees are better off in terms of points, and a little tighter at the back even after their most recent result – a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Everton have not scored as many goals but that could be down to the fact they have not been as open, and while they may have tightened up at the back, they will have probably wanted to register more clean sheets than at the same stage of last season where they were somewhat renowned for leaking goals from winning positions.

One thing that ties into the side having more points, and could be a good marker for the rest of the season, is that Everton have already shown they can put a run of good results together. After their opening day draw against Tottenham Hotspur, they immediately followed it with four consecutive wins.

There has been some bumpy form since then – just one win in their last six games – which shows they are very much a work in progress and are not just going to snap out of habits from last season.

But there is at least some encouragement in what looks to be a season of transition, but one Evertonians hope will be a season of progress, too.