If there was a bubble of optimism inflated over the summer today it has well and truly burst. Reality has bitten us on the ass. Back to square one.

If you want a bit of a lift Richarlison is back and Calvert-Lewin and Tosun will never play from the start together again. Digne has a touch of quality and Bernard will be an asset.

If you want to give Silva a bit of leeway you could say he is still learning about the players and their capabilities. Or should I say incapabilities?

But I agree too, the manager is far from being beyond justified criticism. I felt more than a bit concerned when I saw today's team sheet but it's very very early days... give him some time.

Silva is making a mess of this early doors but it's difficult to judge him too much with the injuries, late signings and two questionable red cards. If we don't beat Fulham, the knives will be out.

Set up aside, many of them had a mare of a game. In my opinion, the only players who did well were Digne, who I thought had an excellent game, and Bernard. The rest were awful. It's like when one or two are having an off day, it spreads. Confidence I guess.

Richarlison will be back, hopefully along with Mina. And my word, a lot of hope will be resting on their shoulders.

Do you think Mosh has kept big Sam's number?

I can only offer my long-held, oft-repeated cry of: What in Hell's name do they do at Finch Farm that holds any resemblance to Premier League football?

But he was the only candidate for the job and Everton needed one. Given the tripe this season, according to Rooney, ‘honest ‘Big Sam would have inflicted on us had he been allowed to stay. Brands made it a condition of taking his jon, that both of them should be gone. Moshiri came up with that decision himself? Give me a break.

The defence shows no evidence of organisation or coaching, Two weeks at Finch Farm to iron out problems evident in previous games have come to nought. The midfield seems to have no idea of forward or offensive tactics and is clearly disjointed.

The forwards were a selection nightmare: Calvert-Lewin should never have been on the wing, Tosun cannot take a chance or take on and beat a marker, clearly evident from previous performances.

Lookman should have been on the wing and Calvert-Lewin in the centre-forward role.

Brands had difficulty convincing players that Everton was a career move, but has overcome the problem by engaging injured players who are prepared to take a risk. The effective looking Bernard is a shoo-in to replace Sigurdsson. Gomes and Mina should improve play. Richarlison hopefully has learnt that tackles can be verbal as well, and very effective in stopping him playing.

The big problem is Silva's ability. The problems where glaring from the first four matches – he hasn't addressed them.

West Ham did an Arsenal on us; next week Everton face the real Arsenal.

I’m quite looking forward to seeing a team like the one below:

Pickford
Coleman - Mina - Zouma - Digne
Gueye - Gomes
Walcott - Bernard - Lookman
Richarlison

I think that would be a very different side to the current one.

I do think your team selection is good; Silva's isn't.

No quick answers on the immediate horizon.

We haven't had a functioning midfield unit since... well, since I don't know when, this century? And If I could remember it, it would be a few years ago and even then it wasn't very good... top 4 good.

We've had a few decent players: Gravesen, Arteta, Pienaar, Fernandes, Fellaini, etc. The last being Barry. But never a decent 3-, 4-, or 5-man unit.

Until this is addressed, nothing will change.