Blue Monday - New Season, New Hope?

Two games, no defeats, young players getting minutes, and a manager who loves being written off - what’s not to like? In this week’s episode, Les and Dave look at some reasons to be cheerful in what has felt like a pretty miserable summer for Evertonians, as the 25/26 season hangover lingers.We assess Everton's encouraging start to pre-season, from the convincing 4-0 victory over Dundee to a hard-earned clean sheet at Bolton, with particular focus on the impact of youngsters Harvey Foster, Adam Aznou, Harrison Armstrong and Tyrique George.There's also discussion around Jordan Pickford's importance heading into the new campaign, arriving with confidence high after his international exploits and once again expected to be the cornerstone of Everton's defence.The transfer window also comes under the microscope, with Hayden Hackney's arrival adding creativity in midfield, permanent deals for George and Merlin Röhl strengthening the squad. And could Moyes pull a surprising season out of the bag as he’s usually at his best when expectations are low?As you’d expect, there are plenty of reality checks. Pre-season success guarantees nothing, there are still questions to answer, and positions to fill.How positive are you feeling going into the new season? Let us know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices