Ahead of Monday's televised clash against Everton at The Hawthorns, we caught up once more with Toffees' fan Gary, from The Gwladys Street Preacher. He gives us his views on Roberto Martinez, David Moyes, Romelu Lukaku and more. You can also follow Gary on Twitter @Gary_Maiden.

You’ve had a fantastic first half of the season, was it really expected amongst Everton fans back in August or did you feel, like myself, that it would be a transitional season for the Toffees?

I think most Evertonians saw it the way you did, a season of transition. I was certainly preparing myself for a mid table finish. Having said that, we’ve had a squad capable of lofty finishes for several years now, we just perhaps haven’t had the tactical know how to get there. With Martinez, we now have that.

Is there a noticeable difference in the way the team is playing now compared to during the Moyes’ era?

Not half! I sometimes think that David Moyes’ sides were unfairly judged. Granted, when he first came in he made us hard to beat and well drilled, but he needed to because of the limitations of his players. In the last three to four seasons of his reign, we played some great flowing football.

However, our style of play under Roberto Martinez so far this season has been a fresh of fresh air. You could count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen Tim Howard hit it long. We came undone at home to Sunderland when the American stopper was sent off after a mix up with Leon Osman but I’d rather us try playing the ball out of defence then play the percentages. In my eyes, if you have 60+% possession in your games, you’re winning the majority of them.

We’re halfway through the transfer window, any positions you would like to see strengthened? Any players need moving out?

We have already brought in tricky winger Aiden McGeady from Spartak Moscow in what I think will turn out to be a great piece of business. I remember him from his days at Celtic and if he has continued to progress while in Russia then we will have a very talented player on our hands.

We need another forward too. We did well to get almost £7m for Nikica Jelavic but we have very little cover for Romelu Lukaku. You Baggies know just how good Rom is, but if he picks up an injury we are in trouble. That has to be Roberto’s priority.

The time has now come for Johnny Heitinga to move on also. He has been a decent centre half for us but is quite a way down the pecking order now, while still picking up a substantial wage.

Can you and will you finish in the top four?

Can we? Yes. Will we? Difficult to say.

It is no secret that our finances don’t match up with the teams in and around us and this window could make all the difference. The new manager doesn’t use that as an excuse however which is refreshing. I think Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal will make up the top three, leaving four clubs battling it out for that final Champions League slot. I’m obviously biased, but our squad is comfortably stronger than Liverpool’s. However, they have Luis Suarez and we don’t. He makes a huge difference. Spurs are back on form but does Tim Sherwood have the tactical awareness to maintain it? That remains to be seen. Man United won the league at a counter last season so they will surely pick up form, they have to do it soon though. It will be really tight but I think we might just have enough!

Highlight of the season so far?

It has to be the win at Old Trafford. Despite us not winning their since 1992, there was a sense of inevitability in the away end that evening and I never doubted that we’d beat them. Hats off to you boys though, you started the trend!

Low point of the season so far?

There really haven’t been many. Goodison Park is a really positive place at the moment. I would say that exiting the Capital One Cup at the hands of Fulham was disappointing. I don’t agree with people who devalue the competition and let’s have it right, it’s a route into Europe. Everton have never won this cup and I’d love another day at Wembley and see us lift it. We made a lot of changes for the fixture at Craven Cottage and the performance was poor.

Player of the season so far?

There have been some really impressive performers so far. Ross Barkley has grabbed the headlines and rightly so. Seamus Coleman has been scoring for fun, Gareth Barry simply doesn’t lose the ball and Tim Howard has saved us a point or two with his performances in goal. The one player who I think deserves to be named our player of the season so far, however, is James McCarthy. After selling Marouane Fellaini, I wasn’t entirely pleased with seeing him brought in as a replacement, especially for the £13m price tag. I’m delighted to say I was wrong. He is everywhere, the sort of player that every midfield needs. When Everton lose the ball, he wins it back and is the real engine in our side. I run out of adjectives to praise him with every week.

Any player been particularly disappointing?

I think disappointing is a little harsh on the lad, but I’m going to go with Kevin Mirallas. He has all the potential to be a real top class player and, in fairness, he isn’t too far off. He just needs to add consistency to his game and then he can be regarded as a top drawer talent. He does have a tendency to drift in and out of games for spells. In fairness, his goal return hasn’t been too bad this season but he has the attributes to be a real key player for us.

I’d imagine a good few Everton fans are taking pleasure in seeing David Moyes struggling at Old Trafford?

I’m so glad you have asked this question. I think we are perhaps coming across as bitter from the outside. I’d like to make everyone aware, David Moyes was given a guard of honour in his final game at Goodison and the atmosphere that day was incredible. He was given the send off of all send offs. Since then, he has rattled a lot of blue cages with constant derogatory comments and derisory bids for our star players. He hasn’t been helped with the job that Martinez is doing, proving that Moyes wasn’t the manager that perhaps we all thought he was.

So yes, we are enjoying seeing him struggle but he brought it upon himself.

How’s Romelu Lukaku doing? He seemed to get off to a flying start but the goals appear to have dried up a bit recently?

He’s doing great. You’re right, he started like a man possessed and has dipped a little of late. He is still involved in all of our attacking play and I’m sure the goals will come again. His hold up play could do with some work but we have been craving a player capable of 20 goals a season so we’d be daft to start being picky now we finally have one.

Any West Brom players that impress you?

There are a few. Shane Long was without doubt one of them but other than him, I have always rated Stephane Sessegnon. He has the talent to change a game with one moment of brilliance and he has done so against Everton in the past. Saido Berahino has impressed me greatly since he broke into your first team and, if he plays, our defence will have to be on their guard.

Premier League champions?

I feel harsh writing Arsenal off but I’m not sure they have the steel for a long title race. Jose Mourinho will always keep Chelsea up there and as much as I’d like to throw Everton’s name in the hat, I have to go with Manchester City. Their squad is so strong and the spine of their team consists of top talent. Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero would walk into any side and, with those three fit and in form, it is their league to lose.

Relegated?

If the race at the top of the table is exciting, the fight for survival at the other end if enthralling. Any side from tenth downwards could go with so few points dividing the bottom half. I think Tony Pulis will do enough to keep Palace up, just. I like Gus Poyet and think he may become a decent manager, but he has inherited a poor Sunderland side and I think they’ll go down. I fancy Cardiff and Norwich to join them also. Not enough goals in the three sides mentioned.

Prediction for Monday’s game?

I think we have to be careful. You’re a good side and the atmosphere is sure to be electric. Your new manager’s first home game under the floodlights will have the fans up for it and we will have to try and silence them. If we have any genuine ambitions of a top four finish, we have to pick up three points on Monday. I’ll go for a 2-1 Everton win, sorry!

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