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Between Christmas and New Year we had the usual end of year debates on the television and radio.

It’s the halfway point of the Premier League season so we had the annual ‘Who Will Win The League?’ round-ups – and the usual who will finish in the top four discussions.

It’s all knockabout stuff, but I listened to one, on what in the old days you would call a medium wave radio station, which I really took exception to.

The pundits were asked to discuss the league title contenders – and the conversation went something like this.

Liverpool – Great strike force, but squad a bit thin.

Chelsea – Jose Mourinho and talented players.

Manchester City – the best squad, fantastic forward line but suspect defence.

Arsenal – lasting longer than people expected but need a signing in January. And then someone said, there is one other team of course.

That was Manchester United, with nobody willing to write them off even at this stage.

At that point I should mention that Everton were fourth in the table, had only just failed to go a whole calendar year unbeaten at home, had lost just two games all season – and most telling of all, in a mini league table between the top eight teams lay second behind Manchester City.

I was annoyed not only because I am an Evertonian, but because it was disrespectful and unprofessional to dismiss one team in such fashion.

I am sure that if I was in the dressing room and was aware of this it would have had the effect of strengthening my resolve and bringing the squad even closer together.

I am sure that Mr Positive himself, Roberto Martinez, would see it the same way and be glad that people are not talking about us.

But it still made me angry!