Cleverley wins it at the death for Everton

He's become sulky and too easily frustrated in recent games and offered nothing over the 60 minute mark.

Its a chance for Lennon and Mirallas to push for a first team berth now, and we can hardly complain with the changes as we've hardly been winning games this last month.

I would not change the team at the moment, but if its still the same after the next 20 minutes bring on Del.

Get In!!

Thought we looked more likely to score with Lennon on, Gerry had a poor cameo and didn't look likely to create anything. I still don't see why there is a clamour for Mirallas to play, he showed nothing today that Kone hasn't done.

But I'm overall happy with the performance and in the end the result, let's kick on now and keep the positive results coming.

We've got to start putting teams away.

Thought Cleverley, Lukaku, Lennon, Barry and both our Full-backs had good games; Mirallas drifted in and out of the game but he still always looked a threat - that solo run at the end of the game was fantastic. He should be starting more games IMO.

The Central defence continues to be a big worry, both Stones and Mori were continually out-jumped on headers by the Newcastle forwards. We really need a dominant Centre-Back - when Jags comes back, he will be an improvement to our current 2 Centre-Backs... but he still isn't really a dominant header of the ball. I think we really over-paid for Mori, he was probably worth £6 million as a decent back-up defender... but no way £9.5 million.

Howard deserves some praise for a couple of outstanding saves to keep us in the game... but that doesn't still change the fact he needs replacing ASAP.

Roll on, Stoke. COYB!

Eat that humble pie sir!!!

I actually agreed with you in the interest of full disclosure!

YES!!!!!

It's so frustrating because if we had been a clinical as Leicester were last week against us, we would've won by 4-5 goals. Still not complaining, 3 pts AND a clean sheet.

Ok they won, but all the lads were out and the bevvy, slagging and laughs were plentiful.

Then as we (blues) start to feel a little deflated, that goal by Cleverly - we explode, dance, bang tables, hug...

GET FUCKIN' IN!!!!!

Wonderful!

Up the Toffees and a happy merry and a merry new happy (or something).

Why oh Why bring Ossie on for the last 10 minutes. I am totally puzzled.

And can we please stop the Howard bashing. Yes we need a new keeper but please get behind the man in the meantime and stop blaming him for everything.

He worked his socks off and gave their defenders a torrid time throughout the whole game. Was a constant threat and probably deserved MOTM.

He worked his socks off and gave their defenders a torrid time throughout the whole game. Was a constant threat and probably deserved MOTM.

Osman comes on a sub

We score from a corner

The rules of ToffeeWeb have been turned upside down

We play the same system away as we do at home, as you said it's predictable and very open to the counter I'd prefer it a lot more if one fullback stayed as the opposite attacked!

If I'm being honest I think his tactics are shite and the only team who can do it and win trophies are Barca because they have the best players in the world!

Newcastle, Aston Villa and Sunderland are awful, there is no escaping that fact and they are the only teams we have beaten in our last league games. The familiarity of how our game pans out against any premier league opposition every week would suggest that we need subs on earlier after watching us be the better team for 45 minutes with little or no reward.

Yes, I'm a fickle so and so but a win like that is the purest hit.

3 points is very welcome and we seemed to get a bit of luck for a change but we need to be far brighter at the back and Martinez' track record in that department is quite frankly abysmal. How exactly are we going to improve results when fundamentals are ignored? Why was the one man behind Ozil for assists on the bench against the second worst defence in the league? The Mitrovic header, let alone the wijnaldum one straight at Howard, were the 2 best chances of the game and it is a bloody good job that Newcastle are bobbins.

I love Everton and am happy with 3 points, I really hope this is what we needed to turn periods of superiority into unassailable leads but with our distinct lack of defensive nous I am dreading another wasted season. Prove me wrong Roberto.

We were worth our win, the better team throughout, although they were dangerous from crosses and on the break (but then who isn't against us?).

Much more good things offensively than defensively- as usual. We pass the ball well, Barry as fulcrum, ably supported by Cleverly. The full backs were much more threatening than of late. Lukaku is becoming the striker I didn't believe he would be; I think he has been putting in work to improve his technique so he now looks less clumsy receiving the ball. Lennon looked halfway decent, which is a big improvement on my current expectations and Mirallas, while intermittent, was a lot more purposeful and effective than Kone. Barkley likewise intermittent but I still see great potential in him, he seems like he can always find time when he's on the ball and while not everything comes off, he would worry me if he was an opponent.

Defensively, it was as usual, except that Howard actually managed to catch a few crosses- mainly because they were almost all ineffective and Newcastle obviously missed the lessons learned by everyone else, that a whipped in cross to the six yard box will likely yield big benefits. Funes Mori is short of the finished article but improving and Stones continues to exude class while also refusing to put his foot through the ball even when in tight corners when that is the best option.

Can't complain about the result or the performance overall. We do lack a killer instinct but we do have a core of very good players, best in some time. We'd be better still if we shipped out the 8 or so time wasters we still have on the books and put the money to better use on 3-4 players more worthy of the shirt.

We were worth our win, the better team throughout, although they were dangerous from crosses and on the break (but then who isn't against us?).

Much more good things offensively than defensively- as usual. We pass the ball well, Barry as fulcrum, ably supported by Cleverly. The full backs were much more threatening than of late. Lukaku is becoming the striker I didn't believe he would be; I think he has been putting in work to improve his technique so he now looks less clumsy receiving the ball. Lennon looked halfway decent, which is a big improvement on my current expectations and Mirallas, while intermittent, was a lot more purposeful and effective than Kone. Barkley likewise intermittent but I still see great potential in him, he seems like he can always find time when he's on the ball and while not everything comes off, he would worry me if he was an opponent.

Defensively, it was as usual, except that Howard actually managed to catch a few crosses- mainly because they were almost all ineffective and Newcastle obviously missed the lessons learned by everyone else, that a whipped in cross to the six yard box will likely yield big benefits. Funes Mori is short of the finished article but improving and Stones continues to exude class while also refusing to put his foot through the ball even when in tight corners when that is the best option.

Can't complain about the result or the performance overall. We do lack a killer instinct but we do have a core of very good players, best in some time. We'd be better still if we shipped out the 8 or so time wasters we still have on the books and put the money to better use on 3-4 players more worthy of the shirt.

They something wrong that I can't quite put my finger on. 2-0 up and we're poor 1-0 up we're below average, 0-0 good, and losing we're lethal.

Fundamentally we play the same football in each situation. The football is always good. You can rarely pick an individual as having a poor game.

We dominated that game. The first 20 minutes was as good as you'd see without a shot on target.

I'll enjoy the win but it can't paper over the rather strange cracks that are there. We need to have our heads screwed on regardless of the scoreline.

If that's your honest opinion, all I can say is I have no idea how you judge a performance.

It may have not been his best ever game for Everton, but I can say with absolute confidence he could have not put in more effort.

The lad ran his blood to water - MOM deffo.

Before you all come flying in, accusing me of exaggerating things, I don't think a 1-0 win at Newcastle means we're going to win the league. We played the usual good stuff, didn't get punished at the back for a change and got a break up front for a change. That's it.

Funny, isn't it. When we play well and don't win, we can't do 'winning football'. When we play excellent football against Palace and they get a goal from a corner, it's Martinez out and Palace are a throwback to the great Moyes days. When we go to Newcastle, play well and get an injury time winner, we're lucky.

I enjoyed the game today. There's a lot wrong with the team at the moment that deserves plenty of criticism. There's some good stuff happening as well and wouldn't it be good if some people on here just noticed and accepted it?

Also thought Barkley had his best game for ages, Lennon his best game since joining and Mirallas also looked excellent. So why the fuck the manager took the 3 off to replace them with the ineffective Osman, Besic and Delboy was beyond me. It just served to even up the match until the last second.

It was a very similar performance to the last few matches, Newcastle actually had the best chance but this time the opposition missed and we eventually scored.

As ever we looked great going forward and weak at the back. Nothing new, we just got the break today so let's enjoy it.

My view is if he had put 10 or 15 % more effort in he would have had a hat trick.

I will put me tin hat on.

Take away the goals and assists Barkley has contributed so far this season and where would this side currently be?

The criticisms used to be cribbed from: he's wasteful in possession, doesn't create or score enough, runs down blind alleys and never tackles. His distribution has since improved, he's chipped in with a decent number of goals and assists, retained possession much better and even been attempting a few clumsy arse challenges of late. He's been a much improved player this season compared to last, even if the 'spectacular' solo moments have seemingly been replaced by a less eye catching consistency.

What evidence is there to back up the claim that he's 'not a team player' because his actual teammates certainly don't seem to share those feelings?

Thought Lukaku was unlucky not to have a hat trick tonight and would have done but for their goal-keeper producing some excellent saves and some dogged and sometimes cynical defending by Newcastle.

I'll take the three points though. No more than we deserve, not just tonight, but for all the excellent attacking performances we have had this season that have been undone by a lack of ruthlessness or some bizarre and soft goals conceded at the other end.

Jay Harris is a serial Lukaku critic.

His best ever was 'Lukaku is the worst header of a ball he has ever seen in an Everton centre forward'

I guess that says it all.

We played on a rain soaked heavy pitch against a team which weren't short on fouling every time we got near the area and a ref who turned a blind eye to obvious yellows, one pen, and at least one double yellow against us,so finally justice was done MOM for me, Coleman, with Howard second with two crucial saves when it mattered.

Unfortunately didn't manage to see the whole match, (dodgy internet connection, at relative's, in remote part of North Wales) but I did manage to see domination again, and was beginning to resign myself, to an undeserved 0-0 draw, when Cleverly registered his first goal (of many I hope) to seal the win!

Let us hope that this is the springboard we needed, to go on to better, and greener pastures in the Prem League Standings.

At least Bobby made a few changes, but not quite the ones, I would have, but there again, he is the Manager. I wouldn't mind betting that LVG would, at this moment in time, swap places with Bobby.

I am disappointed with our last four games, and moreso, the results, but at least we have some degree of hope for the future.

Wish everyone a Happy New Year, and thanks Lyndon and Michael for giving us this wonderful fan site, (got to be the best, there is).

COYB

Lots of possession at first but not direct enough to threaten them. We got off the hook when they missed a few good fairly open chances. Like the commentators said many times, easy on the eyes, not much results, so this result is very good. 1-0 is a bit lucky, not undeserved but it could have gone either way had any earlier chances been taken.

Still scratching my head on taking off Mirallas and Barkley, but I agree Barkley had a quiet day. No complaints of the players really. Barcodes played better 2nd half and their GK had a good game until the last play. Barcodes has had some moments in the league (beating some big names) so not as pushover as Villa Sunderlan. Hopefully we can keep more clean sheets like this.

And congrats to Cleverley for his first Everton goal. May more come our way!

I can imagine, without reading any of the above comments, that opinions will be divided but the consensus amongst the away supporters is that we've got a bloody good team and we are on the right track despite some recent disappointments. The first half display was breathtaking at times.

Just reading Howie's Autobiography Different League, different attitude and a gulf between players then and now.

I do believe if Everton played Lennon and Deulofeu on both wings (or even play Baines on the left side with Brendan Galloway at full-back), Everton would be more decisive and threatening up front.

As it was, Mirallas flitted in and out of the game at Newcastle because his attacking instinct is to go inside and have a shot and bypass the wings, which provides less support for Rom or someone else around the penalty area.

All three points at St James' Park,
Just one goal when all seemed dark,
Ahhh thank you Tom Cleverley.

Where would we be without Lukaku?

Barry was my MotM as usual polar views to the game I watched. Big Rom put a good performance in, I like Cleverly as he moves the ball quicker and forward better than McCarthy. Against teams like Newcastle he is a safer bet, on the other hand McCarthy should be used when playing better opposition.

Not in a million games would McCarthy have been in the right place or attempted to score the goal Cleverley scored. Can’t say overall we have improved as Necastle spurned a chance to get the first goal.

Stoke will be a tougher test, but let’s just hope we take heart and belief after today’s game.

Obviously we dominated possession and chances. Their one big chance they missed late on; we finally got the slice of luck we deserve. Big Rom deserved a goal – standout performance.

In a hostile environment on a crisp pitch we played our game and for the most part defended well. Apart from Rom, Barry was immense and ran him close for standout performer.

I thought Mirallas and Lennon were fine – the latter linking up with Coleman nicely while Kevin was always a goal threat.

When we switched to 4-3-3 later on, I didn’t think we were as effective but whatever – a win’s a win.

I thought Rom’s first touch on a really fast surface was a joy – completely different than 12 months ago. He bullied their back four.

Stoke will be far different because Shawcross etc are a tougher promotion than the four they faced today. I hope Roberto starts the same 11 as today but, with Kone not getting a game today, I am thinking he will be rotated in.

Today we showed, we are prepared to work to the last minute to win. Something we have lacked in recent times. These run of games are about results not performances. Keeping the energy levels and concentration going are key to more wins. Expect lukaku to get at least two goals on Monday.

A 6th win out of 18, a 33pc win ratio, is on a par with much of last season and means we are very much maintaining mid table form. To break out into the upper echelons I hope he finds the right formula for tomorrow's game so we can string two wins on the spin. Stoke looked comfortable and Arnautovic and Bojan will undoubtedly test our back line. Hope we take our chances when they arise.

I thought that was a terrific performance yesterday. We always looked threatening going forward and were genuinely unlucky not to go in 2 goals up. Yes we played a lot of possession football but it was mostly in their half. We wouldn't let them out.

When we did loose the ball we pressed and we kept going even when they got back into the game and as a result were rewarded with "a last minute equaliser" - how sweet it is.

I thought Lukaku looked like a £28M striker and Barkley is working harder off the ball. I have to say I thought Lennon and Barry did a great job for us yesterday.

What a professional Barry is! Talk about leading by example - he bossed that game.

Stoke tomorrow is a tough assignment - but I am encouraged most of all by one thing - this team is together. I think we will get a result. It will be interesting to see how Ross Barkley compares with Shaquiri - over to you young Ross.

In my opinion, something has happened in training which has transformed Lukaku from being as effective as a concrete bollard with the awareness of a grape to being the most effective and dangerous forward in the league (Vardy included). In earlier matches, the team was getting the ball in front of him, facing goal, which was always his most effective configuration. Yesterday, he was controlling the ball with his back to goal, battering through teams of defenders, shrugging off clod-like players climbing all over him, and was everything you could ask for from a centre forward – apart from scoring, which was at least partly due to a goalkeeper having an excellent match. And as remarked upon above, he has been playing with a mile-wide grin all season. Surely that can’t just be joy at the downfall of Mourinho?

Someone, somewhere has worked with Lukaku to get his game on course. What we now need is for the same transformation on Barkley; we know he has the talent, we know he’s as blue as Rooney, we now need a careful, thoughtful mentor to recognise his strengths, to nurture them, and to show him how to torture and demoralise teams that try to channel him into blind alleys with four players around him.

I thought all yesterday’s subs were timely and sensible, the pitch was wearing out the midfield players and there was much to be gained by bringing new energy, it didn’t particularly work, but leaving tiring players on can have much worse effects than that.

Having recently had draws that felt like losses, it was nice to have a win which felt like finding a tenner under the sofa.

Barkley was rubbish / He bossed the game and shouldn't have been subbed

Rom was MOM / He didn't put a shift in

Howard has to be replaced / He made a game winning save and caught everything

We should have won by a country mile / 0-0 was a fair result

We were outstanding at times / Usual Everton - pass, pass, pass with no end result

Stones oozed class / Our centre backs were out jumped for everything

Mirallas spent the match wandering around / Mirallas was our most direct threat

Sheesh - you guys are confusing. If 10 Evertonians witnessed the same crime and had to pick out the criminal in a line-up, would they choose 10 different people?

I am now intrigued to watch this match!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

I reckon 9/10 of those Evertonians would pick Howard in your criminal line-up.

Our passing game is lovely to watch but I agree with any sentiment leading to the need to kill teams off deffo.

Great performance and result from the team who, to a man in my opinion, worked their socks off to give us all a very welcome belated Xmas present. Coming on here after the match brought this Evertonian (38 years spent supporting the club now and counting) crashing back down to earth, angry even. Some of the so-called supporters on here need a serious head check. Been a regular Toffewebber for years but am harbouring serious thoughts about giving this site a miss altogether due some of the utter shite written on the boards after matches. Good performance or bad, win, lose or draw, some of the sad sacks on here seem content to push their negative agenda slagging off the team and manager. Can't believe that after a performance like yesterday's, some are going on about our supposedly "average performance", " tippy tappy football", " not direct enough", " Lukaku / Barkley / Howard / Martinez / insert favourite whipping boy shit as usual. Really sad to see as I thought us Evertonians were classier than that. Have I missed something or is it now trendy to slag off the team and manager even when we play out of our skins away from home and win? Their goalie was the man of the match and some are still complaining about lack of shots on goal. Fucking sad really.

As some other astute posters have already identified, we had 20 shots!!!!! 7 on Target!!!! Their goalie mad at least 5 top class saves. Yet some posters have said that we didn't have ANY shots!!!! WTF!!!!!! Really?????? Some also seem hell bent on focussing on high possession as being evidence of us being rubbish and innefective' again WTF???

We absolutely dominated Newcastle, away from home, had 20 actual shots, plus many other chances that didn't result in a shot due to last dash defending from really dangerous byline crosses.

Seriously!!!!!!! Some posters on here need to take a good hard look at the match again, and then themselves. This could well turn out to be our Oxford moment, ironically with a league game against Stoke coming up and then possibly another Cup match, a final at that!!!!! Now wouldn't that be a nice repeat of history.

We need to start believing in this fantastic young side.

"By the end of the first half, we should have been 2-3 up but a 0-0 draw would probably have been a fair final score."

You obviously didn't watch the match, then. They only had one effort on target and that was in the second half. Everton were in a different league to Newcastle, especially in the first half, and if we'd have been 0-3 up at half time it might have been a more accurate scoreline reflecting how we had dominated the game. Their keeper was different class.
As a whole, that was a very good performance and anything less than 3 points would have been a travesty. MOTD was, as usual, no reflection on the game. I can't believe some of the comments on here. I wonder if drink has played a part in the assessment of some fans ...

I fancy us winning that, rotate the team slightly again, and we'll beat them!

I think Charles meant we could have been '2 or 3' up.

I think that’s what he meant anyway.

As for 0-0...it was 30 seconds from that scoreline.

Their keeper made a number of decent saves with his feet and a smart stop from Lennon’s drilled effort...but I don’t think he saved anything that you wouldn’t expect him to.

I’ve re-watched the game and we did make chances. The problem is 1) We didn’t take them, and, most importantly... 2) Martinez genuinely believing this is lesson learned.

By all means take the positives... I’m doing the same myself. But ’lessons learned’??? The flow of that game is the same that has seen us win one in the last six. That is not a lesson learned.

He clearly saw the problem and worked incredibly hard to improve is technique. The guy is a real pro and now a delight to watch.
I thought Lennon had a decent game and his hard work gave Seamus more freedom to attack. Also good to see Besic get some game time. Thought he did wel when he came on.

Granted we triumphed yesterday as the manager elevated our last second scorer to the level of greatness but welcome though the points were , we were only playing poor old Newcastle. So lets keep the lid on this Roberto-led acclamation.

The truth is that with 20 games to go we need to average nearly 2 points a game to reach the final placing Moyes made our norm - and most of us weren't always enamoured of him. Personally, I don't rate our chances of achieving that level of consistency and not necessarily merely because of the shortcomings of 'our present manager'.

I mean Mirallas had a shot 'on target' that I could have saved.

Surely 'dead good shots on target' or 'fuck me that was close' should be how we judge.

They had a chance to win the game with a header that wasn't on target, but I bet our arses went a lot more when that whistled past the post than their's did with Mirallas shot.

He has worked on his touch and reaped the rewards.

The next two games will be a test, and we can't afford anymore lapses in concentration a la Bournemouth. Even allowing for take each game as it comes, to quote Keegan, I'd luv it, I'd luv it, if we tonked the Spuds. If there's one team I detest is the King's Own Delusionals. Talk to any Spurs fan or go on any of their fansite, and they have this sense of entitlement, because they're a massive club?.The clamour from the London media for Spurs to take its rightful place among the elite , really pisses me off.

One day everything will click into place and we will give a team a good tonking-please let it be Spurs.

I'm unfamiliar with Zack, and his posting history, but I'm more inclined to believe his assessment of the game.

Having said that I can't understand why we can't have the best of both worlds.

I agree going forward we are attractive and create a sackful of chances but why can't we also have that defensive discipline as well.

Our team in the 80s had an abundance of both and that's why we were successful!

I know the spine of the team is young and will get even better, but my worry is if we aren't up there due to our defensive frailties, how many of these players will still be with us!

I love the blues but just don't want to look back at the end of the season and think it was a season of missed opportunities.

One big opportunity is to tighten up defensively!

We all needed that. A WIN! The club, the team, the players, the managers, but perhaps most of all the fans.

Is there anything sweeter in football than a virtually last kick of the game victory?

The Beeb's match report (and my favourite footy ap, Stats Zone) shows the 'default' position of players over the 90 minutes, which highlights just how advanced and encamped we were in the Barcodes half. An absurd 77% possession ratio in our favour at some point in the 1st half.

Normally I don't care to dwell on the ref's performance, but Lee Mason was far too lenient on Newcastle, particularly in the 1st half when time and again promising breakaways by Everton were cynically halted in their tracks. It's extremely hard to break through defensive lines at this level, but whenever Everton did so in the first half, the resulting fouls were not even subtle and stopped us from doing real damage further forward.

Janmaat should definitely have walked for his second bookable offence after his foul on Ross. The same player pulled the same trick earlier in the season at Swansea and saw red in the 1st half for 2 bookable offences, similar to those he committed yesterday.

That said, it looked to be another Groundhog Day until Cleverley's clever header. That was extremely cool and controlled in the heat of battle. Well done to the lad!

As for the subs, I was disappointed Lennon went off. He was very good and effective yesterday.

I don't understand the continued criticism of Ross, either. Some say he doesn't offer enough, and yet ... he is in the league's top 10 for both goalscorers and assists.

I really like how he is evolving and is a completely different player to the lost soul he looked last year. He is becoming increasingly difficult to shift off the ball in possession, has a change of gear that carries him away from harrying players, can play it short and long and has an eye and the ability to pull off the killer pass on occasions. Yes, he still is inclined to miss a simple pass now and again, but I'll take that given all the other attributes he brings to the team.

I very much doubt this is an 'Oxford moment' as some are describing it, but it may be a 'Cahill at Sunderland' moment. A few years back under Moyes, we were on a similar winless run and on Boxing Day at Sunderland, in a dire game, Tim popped up with a last minute winner and we went on a decent run.

Let's hope Monday, home to Stoke, gives us - finally! - two consecutive league wins for the first time this season.

Oh, and I thought our scorer was very 'cleverly' positioned to score that winner and was probably the only one facing the goal as the opposition were rushing out. Great finish - great result.

Concerned about recovery time given we were away and an evening kick off, whilst Stoke were at home and are just down the road from Goodison.

I hope that Geri and Ross, given something of a breather, along with Kone can give some energy levels tomorrow.

Hopefully we get the possession right and run Stoke ragged. All of our games recently have been hard on the fitness and played in the last 20mins like an FA Cup game.

If Ross, whgich is his greatest quality right now, can get on the ball and prod and pry and make Stok go backwards and cahse the ball then we can use Baine and Geri wide and Kone making his runs and we can come out on top.

Stoke have played so skilfully in their new 4-3-3 against both Manchester clubs and if they try a high press then they can be run into the ground.

Could go either way ... but something special is close at hand ... even if we get beat 4-0 like the Arse (still potential champions this year) - we should not stop believing in these players and what the manager is trying to develop. It will take a while longer but things are progressing nicely!

We were the better team by some distance last night and if Mason wasnt such a cheating fucker we'd have won by some distance.

I always believe that if you criticise the manager after a loss, you should be prepared to credit him with a victory . . and this was a big victory.

Fair play to Martinez, he was brave enough to shuffle the pack and he got his reward. Tomorrow will be a stern test but more of the same will do me

A lot of the same people rehashing the same old piss and bile, ad nauseam.

I reckon it must get the Organisers (of the site) at least a bit down. Does it guys?

I feel like Kung Canute trying to order back the tide. (So, maybe that makes me insane and the doom mongerers right after all).

FFS - cheer up lads - absorb some festive cheer! Your version of Ho Ho Ho leads into Ho Ho Howard is shit ... Barkley is shit .... Martinez is .... etc,.

An impressive 2015 goal haul by our Rom, 29 to date this calendar year breaking Inchie's record of 1984. By comparison, Kane 27, Aguero 25 and Diego Costa a pitiful 11, playing for the reigning champions!

In a recent interview he spoke of coming more to terms with the physical man-handling at this level, thanks to sessions with ... Big Dunc! The gist of it was ... get yer retaliation in first!

I love the way he is beginning to bully, turn and stampede over defenders now.

He is destined for the very top.

First time this season we have won a match scoring less than 3 to win it. Same scoreline again please against stoke tomorrow will do.

If Lukaku was valued now it would be in the 50 to 60 million range. He has developed into an almost unplayable striker with strength and pace to burn. This kid is very young and his actual potential is limitless. As I have said many times Barkley needs to add goals to his game if he is to reach is potential.

Without Lukaku and to a lesser extent Mirallas we are pretty punchless. We do play fine football but do not score often enough to really become top contenders in a very open division. I fully agree with Murphy who said that he enjoys watching us and that we can play top quality football but we fail to kill off games that we dominate. Players like Lennon, Deulofeu, Kone, Barkley and both of our midfielders do not score and that puts immense pressure on Lukaku. All of these players must chip in with goals more often as stopping Lukaku seems to be all that is required by opponents.

We should have at least 30 points by now and that is not a lame statement. The division this season is so open and we are missing our best opportunity in years if these players I have mentioned carry on leaving goal scoring to Rom. Our defence is not water tight and we badly need a fully fit Jagielka back to steady the ship.

The players mentioned above should all make New Year resolutions to assist Lukaku in the scoring column.

Much more work to do, more of the same tomorrow, please!

Another late goal ? Those of us who backed Cue Card knew not to throw our 1-0 to Everton tickets away . .it was all happening late yesterday.

The difference between a £30m player who has just signed for Chelsea, and a £10m player who has just signed for West Ham, or Everton, can sometimes just be the fact that the bigger clubs have to pay a massive premium. Look at the transfer fees Liverpool have shelled out lately! Ridiculous amounts of money for average players.

Just having good players in these smaller teams can upset the whole balance in the Premier League, as we've witnessed all season. Just by being able to hold the moneybags teams to a few more draws can blow the whole League wide open.

As you & others point out, it makes it all the more frustrating that we can't put a run together, but these 'freak' results are going to continue for a while yet. The bookies must be laughing all the way to the bank.

That lad has got goals in him; we need to get more players opening their goalscoring accounts, and for others eg Barkley to start scoring again.

Goals from different players across the team will make us less dependent on the form of Rom, and make it more difficult for teams to defend against us.

So what do you do Ray? Sit around with a bunch of Martinez haters with fingers crossed hoping that our result/performance will fulfill your prophecies of doom? Quo quid pro my friend.

Up until that point Elliot was man of the match. It's a good job with these fickle lines that our keeper has got such a thick skin and arrogance to go with it.

He may not be perfect but that save at 0 - 0 proved he ain't bad either,

On form, tomorrow is a much bigger test, against a formidably well-drilled side, on an excellent run of form, a team that just are not conceding away from home (other than, strangely, at Sunderland), that won 1-0 at Goodison last Christmas, with the best young keeper in the land, a team that loves crosses and set piece delivery etc. etc.

They've had only 1 game away from the Britannia in 5 weeks (@ West Ham) so should be well rested. They will even have had a few extra hours to recover from Boxing Day than our boys.

This is the sort of test that our players need to stand up, be counted, be strong at set pieces, both for and against. We will need to take whatever good chances we get - a conversion ratio of shots to on-target similar to yesterday's will likely not be good enough.

Win tomorrow, and yes, Martinez may say that lessons have been learnt.

We do score a lot of late goals for an 'unfit' team. We do create a lot of chances for a 'directionless' team.

I think this is a pretty balanced site, but there are plenty here who seem to say the same things regardless of what happens on the park.

I have no doubt you don't want to read the 'same old negative stuff' game after game but I am sure people aren't doing it because they get a big bang out of it; they are responding to what they see.

Similarly, I wouldn't be surprised if they, reading the same old 'IRWT< COYB, humble pie, exciting future, this could be our 'Oxford' after each game, also find that it gets on their nerves.

So why not debate it, perhaps with reason one can win another over to the argument. Or perhaps we could all, like Jim Potter, just 'dip our toe in occasionally' (though I suspect he really only occasionally dips his toe in because he so seldom gets a chance to say 'I told you so').

It is probably tedious of me to point out that I am sure everybody on TW loves their club but I find it tedious that people seem to overlook this.

My take on the win; happy - but one swallow does not a summer make. My memory extends beyond the last 90 mins of the ball getting kicked so I will reserve judgement before I accept a lesson has been learned. Just as I waiting to see the pattern before Newcastle that there were plenty of lessons to learn.

I wonder if you realise how utterly ridiculous you sound by constantly referring to "Martinez haters" ?

Do you really believe Evertonians "Hate" Martinez ?

Pull yourself together lad

I think many fans of this site find the constant criticism of RM to be drab, boring and not at all constructive. After a result like yesterday's, it simply sounds ridiculous.

Why cant we enjoy a rare victory without turning it into another Martinez debate.

We all have opinions on the manager.

Some are extremely negative based on his record and some are full of hope based on the football the team plays at times and quite a few are still uncertain.

I am sure it would make EVERY Evertonian happy to see us win games with a "School of science" approach but quite a few do not have faith in this guy and it is not negative to debate that.

I have opinions on Lukaku that are at odds with perhaps the majority but I do not think it is negative to debate those concerns.

Hoping for another 3 points against Stoke tomorrow and perhaps more positivity will emanate.

In response to the subsequent discussion on here regarding the approve/disapprove of the manager, I support Everton, not individual managers. That often means my inherent positive vibes are interpreted as being a so called apologist ......and I've had that labeled at me during both Moyes' and Martinez's tenure. I can live with that; as someone rightfully highlights above, debate is a good thing and what a dull world football would be if results went as predicted and we all had the same opinion (to which each and everyone is entitled).

What was there not to enjoy about last night? We dominate away from home in a style befitting of our great club and score at the most perfect time to snatch the points. Cue individual outbreak of emotion in a West London pub filling up with Arsenal fans ahead of their mauling by Southampton!!!

Love you Everton, just love you!!!

Colin, " Sit around with a bunch of Martinez haters with fingers crossed hoping that our result/performance will fulfill your prophecies of doom?"

I expected a better response than THAT , Colin. Where I sit in Gwladys St. there are some real beauts who give Osman, for instance, loads of stick even if he's not playing. Whereas our little section tend to rise above the "whipping boy" Colosseum. Mostly.
I am no more a Martinez "hater" than I was a Moyes "hater". They manage/managed the club I've followed for 60 years, therefore, I want them to do well. I have said before that I would love it if Martinez were to live up to the expectations that his first season led us to believe would become the future but he has failed due to his defensive frailties and naivety. Yesterday we played some wonderful stuff and should have won handsomely but had to rely on a last second goal. But I enjoyed the game and the performance. If Roberto can take his head out of his arse and see what the fans can see happening at the back, if he can use his substitutions better, and quicker, if he can cut out the sheer volume of phenomenal crap he might be worth keeping.

Incidentally, Paul Tran's "brilliant post" #150 (your words) only underline what a lot of fans have been saying. All the points he makes just emphasise how unusual they are...

Like you, I suspect, I have for most of my life enjoyed a glass half full attitude, in fact I've been happy if my glass has some evidence that at some time in it's life it has actually held a fluid of some sort or another.* A bit like the tide mark around your bath . Even after all the hoofs in the bollocks that are the Everton way I can still go to a game with expectations of a win. But sometimes when reality kicks in or the drugs wear off and a Martinez 89th minute substitution, a full back for a forward when we're chasing three points, just nudges you over the side.....

* a nice Cahors perhaps..

Here's to tommorow; glad Stoke got that performance out of their system yesterday!

I know you, like I, only want what's best for the club despite whoever is in charge. I was at Goodison to see the Leicester game and tbh I was so gutted after the result I didn't even feel like eating for a couple of days after and even I was thinking that maybe Martinez had plateaued and it might be the best for all concerned if he moved on. That's why I agreed with Paul's post. He did change things around, even if our defence remains shaky, we did look fit and hungry and we did mix it up and we did keep going until the very end.

What more can you ask for? Last Christmas our football was dire and many, justifiably, we're screaming for his head but recently, results apart, we are playing some of the best football we've seen an Everton team play since the halcyon days of the 80s and that's not just my opinion but the opinion of many people in the game.

With minutes to go my biggest concern yesterday was what would another draw do to the players morale? Well that was answered by Cleverley's goal and the sheer joy and togetherness they showed. So surely, some of us have a right to be made up with the outcome?

P.S. on the drive back up north one of the guys was reading the post game comments on social media and one guy wrote, "Wtf are they celebrating? It looks like they've won the champions league and not beaten a shitty Newcastle team". That sums up for me what Martinez is up against. Damned if we do and damned if we don't.

I am prepared to give him and the team some credit when it is due. I listed five points. Five things we did yesterday. Five things we should be doing more often. But we did them. And they seemed to go unnoticed by some on here. That was my point. That's it. No ivory tower, no fear of debate, no personal abuse at fellow Blues, either.

Colin, not OTT at all, just a debate. We HAVE played some great football lately, we just need to be defensively sound. Had we been so for the whole season up to now I have no doubt that we'd be where Leicester are. No, not in the Eat Midlands, top.

Got me thinking as to why a few seasons ago Moyes led a mini enquiry to the ref's association to address why we went a full (or nearly a full) season without a penalty. We are going down the same road again! Last night's twist and tug on Rom was obvious to all in the ground including the officials. For the penalty not to be awarded was an absolute bloody disgrace. It was compounded further when the constant flood of desperate tackles by the Toons were just embarrassing. The referre failed miserably in his responsibilities last night.

Why is it Everton always seem to be playing against the officials as well as the opposition? Or am I so blue- blinkered I am talking rubbish. Is it just me?

Having a view that is critical of other views does not mean you want to stifle debate!

By the way, if you're into red wine, Laithwaite's have got a great box of strong Aussie reds, which we're working our way through over the break. Other brands are available. Enjoy!

Red wine, have you tried the Naked wines club. We've had some pretty epic stuff from there.

Everton simply do not win enough League games.

Since beating Chelsea on September 12th, we have managed to win 3 league games. These are all against the teams currently in the bottom 3. We have failed to beat anyone else. So, in 105 days, we have not beaten anyone outside of the bottom 3.

Simpl y not good enough as far as I am concerned and the buck stops with the manager for creating a side with bags of talent and potential but seemingly incapable of winning consistently.

We're being watched ...... and we're not magnanimous it seems:

http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/12/what-Everton-fans-had-to-say-after-the-newcastle-match/

http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/12/newcastle-0-Everton-1-instant-fanwriter-reaction/

The common ground is that nobody seems to think much of Lee Mason.

I particularly liked:

Steve McCaren’s plan of letting the opposition have the ball for the entire game and hoping to Lucifer that they couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo nearly came to fruition

We play far more attractive football under Martinez than at anytime during Moyes tenure or for that matter since Howard Kendall's reign the first time around

We have a better squad than any time since the Mid 1980s

I am pleased that we have two centre halves that don't hoof the ball at last!

Had McCarthy not been injured we would have beaten Bournemouth, Norwich and Palace - he does provide the much needed devil in the team

I think we look more suspect defensively with Baines in the team than with Galloway in as he covers the centre halves more effectively

As for those who have an issue with Martinez and his press conferences and TV sound bites I wonder how many British managers would fare with the Spanish Language. So what he is an optimist is there something wrong with that? tactically he is no more naive than Moyes was dogmatic and dour.

Most of his transfers dealings have been successful £28 M in for Fellaini, £28M out for Lukaku that looks fairly shrewd business to me?

Happy new year to Blues everywhere, who knows we might win something and be taken over this year and have pot loads of money to spend.

Thank for your searing insight I feel fully enlightened. I have a question for you what is the best ever Everton side you have ever seen? Or for that matter the best football side you have ever seen? - I think people will have different opinions regardless of results, cups, trophies gained etc

RM has made decisions, calculated risks in order of priorities and part of that is giving younger defenders the chance rather then a bought 28 year old from mid table endeavour land.

Please see the reality of the situation. It is too glib and too easy for those that do not appreciated the building process that we are going through under RM to claim a lack of wins and points is evidence of whatever their negative agenda is.

We are a WIP team showing some good signs and some weaknesses.

I would appreciate more insightful comments on that journey ... and the signs are there ...

Yes, football discussions give a massive difference of opinion at times and yes it is good generally to see and sold in everyone's point of view. But.... And it's a big but..... The negativity on here is overwhelming.

Let's put things in perspective.... The last few games (Norwich, Bournmouth, Palace) should all of been wins. And yes we didn't capitalise how we should of done and we lost points which some would argue could of placed us in the top 3 or 4 over the Christmas period.

But... This side is young, learning at an impressive rate and extremely talented. It seems that things are slowly turning the right way and we are heading back to where we should be.
We have the potential to be genuine title contenders over the next few years with a couple of additions and a little more depth.

Now we could get a take over and someone invest heavily in us and we spend 200 millions on players ..... Or we could achieve it slowly, as a CLUB and as a unit that plays for each other and achieves things together. I know which I would prefer.

Something is happening at Everton and despite the median best efforts people are starting to see it.

So let's get behind them, let's push them every game and watch and enjoy their development.
Because the next two or three years are going to be the most exciting we have had for decades.

COYB

We are indeed playing some very attractive football in spells - usually in the first half - but that has been often accompanied by sloppiness and an alarming falling away at important stages in games. Last night was great fun and a fine win and it may be a spark for us. But is it not negative or defeatist to exercise caution.

It is a strange feature of modern life to suppose that those who point out deficiencies are somehow moaners and lacking in faith. How is it more supportive to ignore or minimise such problems? Then you don't get the thing fixed, do you?

I agree that we have a very exciting young core of players but I am not at all convinced that Martinez is the man to bring them to fruition. I am not going to be told to be less negative because I hold and express that reservation, sometimes forcefully.

I would go for Eddie Howe at Bournemouth if we have to choose. He has a consistent record of playing attractive football on a modest budget and his sides are resilient - he has done solidly this season despite losing his main striker. He is also a Blue.

I hope that we do not have to make such a choice but, as I say, I reserve the right to keep it very much in mind given what has happened over the last 15 months or so.

Howard punched a ball that came right at him, and it could’ve gone anywhere. He did nothing for the rest of the game. Do we now forgive him for his abysmal performances over the last couple of years?

After 4 dreadful games, we win one. Does everyone really think this will continue? Let’s be realistic – we got lucky and Martinez got lucky. Under this manager, normal service will soon be resumed.

As for replacing Martinez with Howe well let's give Eddie until the end of the season to see if we really want to go with another relegated manager. In previous seasons the likes of Pulis, Big Sam, Monk and even OFM (currently unemployed) have been touted to save us from the Spanish curse but right now, if Martinez got the boot the manager I'd like to see is Watford manager, Sanchez Flores. Successful with a top club in Spain and now very successful with a small club in England.

Howard had a decent game for once, but Barkley is a shadow of the player he can be (and was substituted eventually). Perhaps we can now go from here, get some decent results and moveup the table. There was some very good football played tonight and not so much of the tippy-tappy slow build up. Let's go Blues and aim for the top four... we can do it!!

We have won 6 out of 18 this season.

We won 12 out 38 last season.

So, that is 18 wins in 56 league games. A win rate of 32%.

The win ratio this season is actually a slight improvement on last season’s one but but anyone’s standards, last season's and this season’s win rates combined are an abysmal under-achievement by anyone’s standards.

I have seen Barkley pressing the ball and making tackles in the last couple of games.
Lukaku was back for two corners yesterday.
Maybe Our Present Manager does take notice of what the fans have to say.
If Ray Roche has been following Everton for 60 years I will take his points of view seriously even if I sometimes disagree with him. He must have watched a lot of football in that time.
Similarly, I really rate John Stones but if Harold Mathews thinks he needs to improve in the air I will watch that aspect of his performances more closely.
You don't have to be a football manager to know about football - see Christine Fosters post at 194.
Aaron Lennon is a good footballer and fits the Everton mould.
Roberto Martinez just may be a mad genius - judgement pending.
ToffeeWeb is a democracy with a capital D.

Happy New Year to Evertonians around the globe.

I actually thought that it was a total lack of experience that led to their chance. Like a kid who is sulking because he can’t get his own way, it felt like we exposed ourselves because we was frustrated we were not out of sight by the time this happened.

Trevor Francis blamed Stones, but it started the moment Deulofeu wasted great possession deep inside The Newcastle half, and forced three inexperienced players out of position in the process. We got lucky that they missed, but we will get a lot luckier if we learn from it. Who is going to tell them though is anyone’s guess!!!

Have they bollocks

I think Del should/will start tomorrow as I think he will scare the life out of the Stoke players.

All this talk of new managers.... Let's give the one we have chance first shall we !

The top teams tend to attack as a team (which I believe we do) and defend as a team – which we definitely haven’t done in recent weeks, putting extra pressure on the back four, particularly if one of our full-backs is in the opponents’ half when the error is made.

I don’t think we’re far away from being a very good side, but the margins between 3/4th and 7/8th are slim – a trophy win would be a great boost for all of us and the manager/players. COYB

Await team selection for Stoke game with added interest: I would start with Lennon & Mirallas again, defensive help for Seamus & pace/goal threat from Kev. For God's sake, let's keep him and use his talents.

I'd welcome a debate about the next manager because I think it's as big an issue as whether Martinez stays or goes.

Otherwise, I've always had a very high regard for Hoddle and I named him recently as a possibility. He's been out though for a while now and may well have personal eccentricities which exclude him. I think he did a strong job with England and would be excellent for someone like Barkley.

The other two names I'd throw in are Di Matteo and Karanka. The former has a good record in my opinion and has been unfortunate. Karanka is a mate of RM I think but I like the look of what he's doing at Middlesborough.

I should say, finally, that like everyone I shall be delighted if RM succeeds. He's a very decent man who may be set to prove sceptics like me entirely wrong. I hope he starts to do so today.

I do think such a discussion would be purely academic as I feel Martinez is fated to complete his present contract as long as we can finish 'top halfish'.

Of course, new owners may have different ideas and if it is to be the Americans they may wish to introduce 'a technical director' who will have his own man lined up.

But I will play your game and vote for Quique Flores who had a good cv long before he linked up with Watford. For me, Eddie Howe is a good manager for Bournemouth - full stop.

I didn't open the debate on Martinez's successor. That one started last season, when people wanted Martinez sacked and replaced by Pulis/Sherwood, so we could be saved from certain relegation.

I'm a bit wary of mangers who have had one good season (like Martinez!), but your suggestion is the most interesting one of that group.

By the way it's not a game, it's the future direction of the club. The thought of Moyes returning, or the likes of Pulis, scares me senseless.