Are we struggling on the pitch?

New writer Alex Fitzgerald makes his RBM debut with a statistical look at Everton's progress this season compared to the past few years, assessing whether things are as gloomy as we make out. If you are interested in writing for RBM click here for more information.

The evidence is there for all to see, Everton are lacking in the goals for column and not so in the goals against!
But is this year's position much different to what it was at this point last season?

At this round in the 2010-2011 season (1st Feb) Everton were situated at 14th in the table, one place below Aston Villa and one above Fulham. The Blues recorded a home record of three wins, five draws and three losses, conceding 15 goals and scoring 14.

Match that to our away record at that point in the season with two wins, seven draws and four losses, conceding 16 and scoring 14, giving stats altogether of five wins, 12 draws and seven defeats.

Comparing those stats to this season of: three home wins, three draws and five defeats conceding 13 goals and scoring 11, and an away record of four wins, two draws and five loses with and identical goals for and against record. Therefore we dont seem to be compromising much on upon winning games this season, but instead losing our capabilities to hold onto important draws and giving them away to losses.

However, in my opinion the league has some what changed in the space of the last season. Not many teams can lay claim to any solid home or away form, so we are hardly standing out from the crowd.

So perhaps our season - and our apparent decline - is not quite a bad as we first thought? It is the fine line of draws turning into defeats that is going againt us at present.

The one area on the other hand quite a number of teams are overriding us on is scoring goals, with only 3 named out-and-out strikers on our books and none of which have found any kind of first team form, is that something we should be happy to contend with?

In the knowledge the majority of Premier League teams have four or more strikers and of which score on a consistent basis or do we look towards the midfield and ask questions of their distribution capabilities? Moyes simply has to bring in a striker between now and the end of the transfer window as while our effort, commitment and desire can cover up other weaknesses, the failure to score goals is becoming chronic.

One way or another this grand old team which we call Everton, and the team most of us would spend our last pound on, is uncertain as to how to create goals and how to finish a chance when one does come along.

But, we must continue to show the team and our Manager support at this troubling time and once more raise the roof at Goodison at every possible occasion. COYB!

Your views and comments are appreciated below.