Goodison Park was a miserable place to be in the 2017/18 campaign, but the arrival of Marco Silva is rapidly shifting the mood towards one epitomised by optimism and enthusiasm for the direction in which the club is heading. 

A painfully mediocre Premier League campaign, an early exit from the Europa League and three different managers, including the notoriously unpopular Sam Allardyce, contributed towards a depressing feeling at Everton last season.

The Toffees were not performing incredibly poorly; they were performing at an excruciatingly average level, with little by way of genuinely achievable targets to aspire towards.

Allardyce's stint in the managerial hot-seat was particularly frustrating for a set of supporters who want to see their side break free from the manacles of the twilight zone between the top-six and the rest of the division and compete amongst the very best in the league.

Big Sam's decisions perplexed supporters, his style of play was frustrating and his general demeanour did not evoke much by way of notable enthusiasm.

But after a season of treading water and hurling abuse at Allardyce, the club appear to have turned a corner, not only in terms of their results but also in the context of the feeling around Goodison.

Silva's impressive start to life at the club has not completely blown away the supporters just yet but, together with the arrival of Marcel Brands, the Toffees faithful now have reason to believe once again.

Ahead of Everton's home clash with Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon Silva was faced with an incredibly difficult decision: choosing between Kurt Zouma and Yerry Mina in central defence.

He went with the latter, which is exactly what the supporters wanted according to our poll result. Prior to the fixture, we asked Everton fans whether they wanted to see Mina or Zouma partner Michael Keane in central defence, and an overwhelming 73% opted for the Colombian giant.

It was a decision which will have had Silva caught between two minds. On the one hand Zouma had been excellent until he had been ruled ineligible to face Chelsea, and on the other Mina is a permanent member of the squad who was outstanding in Zouma's absence.

Clearly, Mina's showing at Stamford Bridge provided sufficient evidence to convince both Everton supporters and Silva that he deserves a place in the starting eleven now he is back to full fitness.

That Silva's decision aligned with popular opinion amongst the Everton supporters is indicative of the growing feeling of harmony at Goodison Park, which is characterised by a collective understanding between manager, players and supporters of the club's core ambitions and values.

Sure, riots wouldn't have broken out if Zouma had been given the nod, but Silva's decision to opt for Mina proves that Goodison is changing, and the Portuguese man is rapidly gaining the trust of the progressive-minded Evertonians donning blue and white on the terraces.

Everton fans - thoughts? Let us know below!