Everton are crying out for some natural wide players on both the left and the right of midfield. That's one of the biggest reasons why we are struggling to break teams down at home.

Today we saw lots of possession, lots of neat and tidy passing, but nothing to get in behind Boro. We lack an Aaron Lennon type player if you like, or even Stewart Downing. I know this guy has his detractors but give him credit, at least he would fit a round hole with a round peg if he signed for Everton. By buying a left winger you are then going to play him on the left wing and the same has to be said of the right side...Arteta and Osman stuck out there is painful. They are both restricted in their influence on the game and you cannot blame either man.

You could say blame Moyes as he has had long enough surely to rectify this problem. Maybe he tried to do it during the summer before the Obinna deal fell through, he is apparently a flying winger. We just need to sign one or two players in January who will play out wide, stay out wide and most importantly feel comfortable out there. Even a fool could see that Arteta and Osman are not comfortable in those roles...

Pienaar??? Well he is what I would call a different kind of wide man. What I mean by that is he is comfortable on the ball and has bundles of technique but he is not the type who is going to be running at a full back with the ball and getting to the byline. That said, I do think he is at the moment out best bet for a wide player.

Our play is just so so narrow, when you watch it sometimes it's almost like a school playground or under-10s match, everyone just huddles into the center circle and the rest of the pitch is bare... We need to address this problem fast because I can see it holding us back this season ? especially at Goodison where the impetus should be with us and the onus is on us to break down defensive minded teams coming for a draw.

Why is Castillo overlooked? We have the strikers and a competent back line but the midfield are all attack-minded and just don?t retreat quick enough and that is why our home record is so poor.

Though smaller and lighter than our three much vaunted ball playing experts he made several gut busting powerful 80-yd sprints that culminated in fierce shots at our goal. One of them from the edge of the box and hammered with deadly accuracy produced Boro?s goal. In his defensive role O?Neil proved to be far stronger and more effective than our three weaklings.
A challenge to devotees of Os, Ar, Pi: When has one of them ever made a flat-out 80-yd sprint to meet a cross field ball, let alone produce a shot with the kind of power and accuracy shown by O?Neil?

Sadly for us, David Moyes showed once again that he does not have the insight to know when the flow of a game demands a change of players or tactics. Anichebe and Vaughan should have replaced Osman and Arteta at least 30 minutes sooner.

As for that performance yesterday, what did we expect? we had a center half at full back, one of the best attacking goalscoring midfielders in the league in a defensive midfield position, a center midfielder on the wing, our only natural winger on the bench, our striker sub is now a winger and our record signing who claimed he was a holding midfielder is now our attacking midfielder... he is accommodating players by playing them out of position; get some fucking balls.

At the moment I believe we have 2 or 3 players that are off-form and need to be dropped (even though they are among our best players). For me, Saha is outstanding at the moment and Vaughan has looked dangerous when he?s been on, so I would start with those two up top, a midfield of Pienaar, Fellaini, Osman, Arteta and a back four of Neville, Yobo, Jagielka and Baines.

Since the days of Kanchelskis frightening the bollocks out of teams with his outrageous ability, we have sadly been stuck with players like Kevin Kilbane, Simon Davies, Mark Pembridge and even the likes of Steve Watson (great pro but no right winger) playing on the wide areas of midfield. It has really been a bad position for too long with Everton. We have always persevered with playing square pegs in round wholes and we are still doing it now...

Nearly every club in the Premier League knows the importance of having some width. Liverpool knew they had to get some width that could consistently do a job so they went out and got Albert Riera who to be fair at the time when we were linked to him I thought "no thanks" but after seeing him play I am regretful that he chose them. He looks like he would have done us fine ? that is if Moyes hadn't turned him into a left back, just like he did when he ended up playing Simon Davies right back...

Maybe it is the managers choice who knows?? Perhaps we will never truly see a return to all out attacking exciting football where we have six or seven players bursting forward all at once in a straight line accross the width of the pitch like you watch at Arsenal or Man Utd...

If we do go past January without improving those positions dramatically, can we really keep on playing the same square pegs we have done up to now? I think despite our league position we are still looking like a team low on ideas and the big test will really show if we have what it takes after the Wigan game.. We have a trip to Tottenham followed by Aston Villa at Goodison then away to Man City before Chelsea visit us before Christmas.

I despair for my fellow blues!

Moyes tries to accommodate his favourites instead of adressing the issue we have now had for 5 years ? a lack of wingers. There are plenty out there. Did you see Adam Johnston yesterday when he came on for Boro??

I actually believe we played well yesterday but once again relied heavily on the outstanding Jags ? my player of the season so far. Lescott and the Yak in my opinion should be dropped and Baines and Vaughan should be given a chance. Fellaini also had his best game in a blue shirt.

Leave Arteta alone. Be careful what you wish for ? he would destroy us if he played for someone else.

There?s no doubt Arteta?s form has been poor. he?ll be back, I?m sure, and I wouldn?t want to leave him out for too long, but maybe we do need to mix it up a bit more and try something different. If that means giving Arteta a shake up and a stint on the bench, then so be it. You have to remember that Arteta is our skillful playmaker, maybe we rely on him too much, but at the moment he?s falling way short of what we need from him and it needs sorting.

The bottom line is if he gets dropped to the bench then the dummy will be thrown from the pram and he?ll be off. There is just no competition for his place in the team and he is therefore under no pressure to compete for his place, it's a bit of a Catch-22. In his defence, who in their right mind would put Osman in the team ahead of Arteta? It's time for Leon to beef up or move on, his contribution yesterday was as usual non-existent.

Also can I just come to the defence of Cahill? He's been unfairly criticised by a couple of people on here. I thought he did a good a good job yesterday, we know he is better employed in the attacking midfield role but he was asked to play in the middle and got around the pitch well, tackling and was looking to get hold of the ball and get things moving.

Finally we are desperate for a decent winger, pity we didn't try and get Millner when Newcastle didn't want him. I think Baines could do a job ahead of Lescott with Arteta in the middle but I think Moyes will have him out the door in January.

I don't know if anyone else agrees but yesterday I thought he came to life when he moved infield and was able to link up with Pienaar, Fellaini and the forwards. Pienaar seemed to get the quick, one-touch passing going when he came on and Arteta soon joined in. The only trouble was it was in the last 15 minutes of the game so there wasnt enough time to have a greater influence or make people notice.

Maybe a change of position is the answer, it would deffinately get him more involved and closer to our more talented players (Pienaar and Fellaini). One things for sure somethinks got to give because his poor form cant go on.

So even though he is not on top of his game, where would we be without him, and who would replace him. No-one should be guaranteed a place in the 11 unless performing well but statistically he?s still producing the goods.

You remind me of the bully boy in the school yard who runs around (usually accompanied by a gang) telling everyone who?ll listen that ?mine?s bigger than yours?. For God?s sake, Tony, wake up and realise that people are entitled to their view without being subject to your usual nonsensical, and apparently compulsory personal attacks.

Ciarán McGlone don?t get sucked in by this acid tongued fool ? remember, anyone who disagrees with him becomes a subject of one of his ?heroic? muggings. You only have to disagree and you?re a ?pratt? or some such other inventive term he comes up with. And I think this tells us more about him and his personal failings than anything or anyone else.

As for your post Andy Hegan, whilst I don?t agree with much of it, it was a useful alternative to put up for discussion.

Vic doesn't possess the silky skills normally associated with a wide player but he has genuine power and is impossible to knock off the ball. He also presents a massive obstacle to any full back wanting to push into our half.

At West Ham, he went on a couple of "get you out of your seat" runs only to choose the wrong final option; maybe he always will. But I believe this is worth persevering with as it will free up our more gifted players to play in the middle.

And before this is dismissed out of hand, I would ask you to check the results of the mentioned games. Also check for goal scorers and assists.