Not your run-of-the-mill Old Trafford defeat

their second goal was the difference between the two teams condensed into a few seconds. Pogba was composed and made a good decision with his well-hit pass, Martial took his chance well.

More composure with passes in the final third was what we needed, it seemed as if in some instances they were trying too hard to get the killer ball in where other options would have been better. That said, at least they try this season!!

Ultimately, the difference was a poor shout by the ref. But I can see why he gave it. But not sending off Smalling was as big a shout for me. That was a booking anywhere on the pitch. Such a clear take-down, Man Utd players didn't protest. Playing 20 mins or so against 10 men could have made the difference.

Still, we created a lot of good chances and Pickford showed exactly why he is so highly rated.

Pickford, of whom I am not the greatest fan, had an excellent game and essentially Keane and Zouma looked good, though I'd like to see Mina, who is not just a loan player, starting games as the left-sided central defender.

There was promise and United were holding on at the end. For once, I was heartened by Everton's display and I think Gomes looks a true midfielder.

However, Moss, like all the referees, favours the big six in close decisions, especially at home. I was amazed that Gueye was allowed to last 90 minutes after that early yellow and logically he should have had a second yellow for the penalty. The fact that he didn't get one suggests that Moss had his doubts at the time. But that's what one expects of modern referees.

Let's not make Walcott the new bedpan. He"s had a couple of iffy games, that's all. Probably needs a short rest to refocus.

I'd like to see Bernard play a similar role to David Silva at Man City. He has the talent and vision to do the same for us. Richarlison needs to play out wide, where he's more effective and Walcott needs to be dropped and replaced by Lookman or we go to three at the back (Keane, Zouma and Mina) and push Seamus further up the pitch.

This team is still gelling and it will take some time but we can get it together until January when we will need to buy a striker (Vardy?) and really push on.

Completely different game if the ref did his job!

However, there were a lot we did wrong ourselves!

Finishing really let us down and we need a lot more movement in the middle of the park – so that we can get the ball up the pitch a lot easier.

Our front three had a very average game; Richarlison just doesn't suit the #9 role for me (so far).

Coleman had a stinker.

Sigurdsson was fantastic – along with the two centre-backs and Gueye. Gomes needs to do a little more for me in terms of movement and also defense.

I would change Bernard and Walcott for our next game:

Pickford
Coleman (c) Keane Zouma Digne
Gueye Gomes
Lookman Sigurdsson Richarlison
Tosun

Subs: Stekelenburg, Mina, Baines, Davies, Bernard, Walcott, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun.

Everton to progress have to look at themselves and where they improve. Any other analysis which apportions blame anywhere else is a waste of time achieving this objective.

Silva did not select the right forwards in the right positions. His analysis of the previous three games, which provided information on the unsuitability of players in certain positions, was clearly evident. Man Utd couldn't believe their luck when he named an unchanged team from the last game.

The right wing was the glaring weakness for a Man Utd to attack before the game. Silva did nothing prior to the game or for 75 minutes during the game to address this issue. Again, Man Utd couldn't believe their luck.

Gana was dangerously close to getting sent off, overstretching himself to try to shore up the right wing.

I agree, Man Utd where lucky. . . but they had great help from Silva.

We need to remember we have also been handed five penalties against Manchester United since April 2014, two have been missed and three scored.

We can give ourselves some credit and a pat on the back but it'll only stretch so far and, if we lose as expected at Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City before Christmas, that will mean we will have again lost away to all five hoodoo grounds in the space of three months so it doesn't look good on paper no matter how close the games are.

Our troubles are that we don't take our chances at grounds like this; it was the same in the first half at Arsenal. We pass up too many presentable opportunities to give ourselves a chance of winning and you need to be clinical in these games (look at Bournemouth's 3-0 win at Chelsea in February this year).

We have too many passive players, they are neat and tidy but they are just too passive in front of goal. Then there's the problem of Seamus Coleman who really is struggling again let's be honest and hasn't looked anything like the player he was before that injury. Something has definitely been taken away from his game, the dynamism has just gone.

Our right side was a huge problem yesterday as it was last weekend against Palace and Theo Walcott has now played himself out of the Brighton game for me. It's time to give Lookman the chance he's been wanting and let's see what he can do.

It also means one of our most dangerous players is to an extent nullified. I was all for trying him there but it wasn't working yesterday and should have been changed earlier.

I do think we're getting better as a team overall and I find I'm looking at previous stalwarts with a more critical eye... Coleman being one, although he is obviously still not back to his best after an awful injury, Gana's distribution is still patchy at best and Theo looks more and more like a supersub.

Not only the penalty decision but the Ashley Young two-footed lunge on Digne. He had no option but to give us our penalty, but didn't give Smalling an obvious 2nd yellow. So all the crucial decisions went the way of Man Utd.

I'm getting sick looking at games and instead of thinking we need to worry about player X, or our player is way off the pace, it's the ref you're worried about.

I'm with everyone about poor decision-making, especially from the front 3, and we've all experienced enough defeats at the big 6 to accept it and look for positives, but action must be taken against refs like him as he's either a cheat or a coward; either way, he should never referee a top class game again.

I'm sorry but, if you want to continue supporting a team outside the “Sky Six”, then you need to get over the referee obsession.

I hate them too but I've learned to live with the fact over the last 15 years that they are always going to favour the top clubs and we sadly aren't classed as a top club.

We have had some dubious penalties awarded to us in recent times against the top sides so I'm trying to make myself feel a bit better about it.

The ref was shit yesterday but, if we put our chances away (same as at Arsenal), then you make tits like Moss irrelevant in the bigger picture.

Until the likes of Walcott, Richarlison, Bernard learn how to start putting the ball away on a regular basis, we will be forever frustrated.

Regarding Bernard looking lightweight, he didn't when he knocked Pogba over whilst taking the ball off him! I think he looks surprisingly strong, but may need a few more games to get used to the English game. He's only been on the pitch for 4 games in total so far, isn't it?

But then we have to quickly put it behind us and move on. A win on Saturday against Brighton should be the sole focus from today.

The front three configuration needs debating.

The Richarlison as centre-forward experiment is not working . His talent is wasted and would be much more dangerous on the left wing. We should stick with either Tosun or Calvert-Lewin through the middle (I can't decide who would be best) and give an opportunity to Lookman on the right as Walcott's form has dropped a peg or two.

Kenny vs Coleman needs debating too.

I thought Jonjoe was growing into a regular first teamer and improving by the game before Seamus returned. He had more energy, tenacity and fired in better crosses. Positionally he got caught out too much but seemed to be learning. At the moment, I would give Seamus a break and hand Jonjoe a chance to make the position his own.

We haven't actually played those games yet, so we don't know the results.

The difference between playing against Arsenal and Man Utd from this season to last is quite striking. Same points total, but the players on the whole won't come away from that game feeling that they were not in it. To create the amount of chances as they did at Old Trafford is a good sign. The problem yesterday was similar to the one at the Emirates, they had a top class forward who took his chance, we don't currently. But we now have players who are getting the ball in dangerous areas.

I thought that a lot of the crossing yesterday was okay, but Richarlison isn't a striker and wasn't in the right area in those situations.

It's also only 3 games these guys have been playing together in this formation. The defending has improved since early matches, as it has become more settled.

Walcott was ball watching when they scored their second and sloppy in possession leading up to their penalty. He needs to grow a pair and man up.

Coleman was poor, but 50% of the reason he was poor was Walcott's inability to give him any support on the right.

Moving on to decision making by players; that's the difference between talented players and the truly great. Woolcott being the perfect example. He's got all the skills in the bag of say a Willam or even a Hazard without the necessary footballing nounce or sheer will to win to take him to the next level and at 29 it isn't going to happen.

I don't want to be overly negative but I think we can predict the results at Chelsea, Liverpool and City without claiming to be the next Mystic Meg.

The performances might be better yes but after the cash we've spent we are not going with expectations to play like the Metropolitan Police in a one-off FA Cup tie.

We are a big spending club ourselves now and the very least we expect and demand is good performances but we haven't beaten a top-six side home or away for nigh on two years (well, it was the 4-0 against Man City in January 2017 to be precise).

At no point, did the Blues give me the confidence that they would score from open play and, too many times during the game, they were opened up far too easily, giving Pickford the opporunity to make important saves to at least keep the Toffees with a foothold in the game. Add in the all too familiar 'bad' decisions of the officials, the cry-arsing of Ashley Young et al and the time-wasting of the home team whenever they felt like it, it did feel like the usual narrative when Everton visit those so-called elite clubs.

Gomes does look like a player that Silva could build his team around, but unfortunately like Zouma he doesn't belong to Everton. There are a few others who have the ability to make an improvement in that team over the next few months and years, but the side still has too many passengers and it will be at least another year before we can honestly expect Everton FC to be making a proper assualt on the top six.

Everton are currently a mid-table team who are trying to improve and that much wanted improvement will take plenty of time and patience from all of those who care about the team. There are some good signs and some not so good signs; ultimately, it's up to Marco Silva and his staff to eradicate the silly mistakes and his team's seemingly obsessive need to give the ball away under little or no pressure. It is also up to Marco, whenever it is possible, to play the players in their most natural positions which will allow them to display their talents to the full.

Everton have to find a way of returning from these difficult away days with maximum points because, if it doesn't, the year on year affect is that the club will remain anonymous and irrelevant to the media and Evertonians will have to continue to accept that their club – no matter how much is invested – will remain in the mid-table wilderness.

I'd prefer a stuffy one-nil victory at any of these grounds in stark contrast to the all too familiar good display but no points scenario. We are obviously in a far better place footballing wise than we have been for a few years, but that isn't saying a great deal is it? There is still much work to be done until we can truly dream of the club playing in the Champions League or of seeing Everton end that overly long trophy drought. On the right track but not yet up to the necessary speed is my assessment of the current Everton team.

Against the Arsenal they had Lacazette and Aubameyang. Against Man U they had Martial and Rashford with our previous striker Lukaku on the bench. This to me shows how far we are off. Until we get at least 2 quality strikers we will continue to lose these kind of games.

I am much more positive than previous years as there is so much to laud: Zouma - Keane partnership, Pickford, Digne, Gomes and Charlie and Bernie.

People like Theo are going to infuriate us in the same way that my Arsenal fans at work have been for so long with him. Coleman is done and needs to be replaced in January, Tosun and Calvert Lewin are just not good enough, Gana needs to learn how to pass or else his ball-winning means piss-all.

I have full confidence in Silva to address this issue in the new year as so far he has bought everything we needed.

Don't forget, he didn't buy Walcott or Tosun and we are complaining about those 2 now despite doing better than our previous players in that position. This means that, until we clear out our shite, we'll never break into the top six.

Check our team yesterday – only Coleman remained from previous teams, now the other players are better, he is getting found out.

So a little bit more patience and we can really think about the next steps. First thing Marco had to do was clear to dead wood, he's almost done but we really have to be ruthless now, especially with Seamus. Think of the fee we could get for him, his reputation is worth that alone.

Seeing the way Coleman struggled while isolated, I'd hate to think how Kenny would've done. I think Digne and Bernard are good but I still think Baines can do a job and is quicker at crossing the ball. If Kenny plays, I think it should only be if we play 3 centre-backs, which I don't think is far away from happening.

Finally Gomes. He just got better and better as the game progressed. Must be a priority to sign him permanently ASAP.

David (22) As regards playing three centre backs, Silva has given no indication that he might do that. He said in an early interview he intended to play with a 4-3-3 which changes to 4-4-1-1 when we are required to defend or 4-2-4 if we are chasing goals late in the game.

I would then like to see Richarlison on the left and Lookman on the right. As someone suggested, Bernard could play more central. With Gomes and Siggy we do have some creativity. We also have a good bench for a change.

I still think Coleman has a place in the team. At the present time, Kenny is no more than a backup with potential. As regards results, we have been really unlucky against both Arsenal and Man Utd.

In fact I don't think we have deserved to lose any game this season, but I am an optimist with decidedly blue glasses. Everything this season is much better than when we had Allardyce and his idiotic post- and pre-game comments.

As regards first 2 paragraphs, I cannot help but feel the media "write the script" for these games now (ala WWE) and the result is pretty much decided before kick-off.

In a sport where any point of contact is a justifiable penalty, when the Top 6 get a blatant dive (you will hear "the referee was well placed" "you cant stick your leg in there like that" etc etc) every description except the word "cheat", which is what it is, gets applied.

But, on the rare occasion a ref gives a poor penalty against said darlings, he is berated and the decision (and by proxy his abilities) are under the microscope for days in every media outlet. These guys are human beings at end of the day, now if that ref couldn't see that Gana got a touch from 5 yards away and that Martial threw himself to the ground, he is not fit to referee in the modern game. I don't believe this is the case; I believe he is (probably subconsciously) reading off the script handed to him by Carragher, Neville et al and, like us all, self-preservation is the most basic of human traits. Anything for a quiet life. :)

I recently heard Jim Beglin exclaim that Richarlison tends to go down easy, He would NEVER say this about that cheating clown Salah who constantly engages physically with defenders with the sole intent of "winning" a penalty from them. The Palace game is a classic example, his blatant dive on this occasion which was dutifully awarded by the ref and largely ignored by the media: "Nothing to see here; move along please."

Suffice to say we were stung yesterday and could have come away with a win by 2 goal margin, which is what you will need to do to turn over a top six side with a referee under duress.

I feel we could (referee permitting) finally do the RS in the derby next time out.

The more of us that write the stronger the pressure will be. So don't just moan on ToffeeWeb — give these guys some stick.

I think generally speaking even if Walcott is not playing particularly well (which he isn't at the moment) he has speed which frightens the opposition and works hard. Many seem to be calling for Lookman. He obviously has skill but to me seem not to want to play wide and drifts into the middle, and he does not track back.

The team is getting better, but we are some distance from the top teams at the moment and yesterday reinforces for me why we have to try to win both cups.

Johnson has endured incessant claims this season that he dives, a legacy of similar criticisms during his time with Crystal Palace, and Everton believe that reputation now precedes him. Their disquiet prompted the discussions with Hackett, and the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board studied video evidence – supplied by the club – of 10 appeals before conceding that the striker seemed unfortunate in eight of them.

"It seems that with Andrew Johnson's pace and ability to go across defenders he has not been getting some of the penalties and free-kicks that he was due," Hackett said yesterday. "I want our referees to go on to the pitch with a blank slate and no preconceived ideas. Maybe it's been down to poor positioning or a lack of help from the assistant referees."

January 2007 – some things never change.

A full list is available at https://www.evertonresults.com/derbypens.htm.

Jay (27), Good call.

Quite simply, if we're blaming the ref, we didn't do enough to win the game.

I never understand this. Sure, in a tight game, decisions either way are going to be under more scrutiny, but to blame the failure of 11 blokes on the pitch and a manager on a couple of minutes during a 90-minute period really is clutching at straws.

I'm just as negative as anyone but I thought the ref had a good game. With all the carping about the penalty (which at normal speed looked like a penalty), perhaps we should all consider that Idrissa Gueye had a shocker and could've been sent off.

Didn't Roy Vernon score the winner from a penalty at Old rafford in a 1-0 victory the year we won the league in 1962-63?

Obviously he won the penalty that got us back in it but there were many things he did pretty well: in particular, the Bernard chance: Richarlison collected a huge punt from inside our area by Coleman and held off the sturdy Lindelof to give it back to Sigurdsson; the two played a couple of quick passes to each other before Richarlison then played a perfectly weighted and timed through-ball to Bernard, from which he really should have scored.

In that one move I think we saw how Richarlison may well be the best striking option we have till we can buy someone top quality (not likely in January); he has pace, technique, vision and no small amount of strength. His problems come when he has too much time and often tries to do too much. I feel, sometimes, he is too eager to make an impression and goes for an extra touch or spectacular attempt when simplicity is called for.

I haven't seen anything from Tosun or Calvert Lewin that makes me think they could do a better job than him up front. It's not ideal as he is currently better on the wing but I still think he has the abilities to emulate the likes of Thierry Henry and become a top class striker in time, and there aren't many of those about (even fewer who want to come to us).

I can't understand where you're coming from at all.

Gueye did not have a shocker. He was instrumental in cleaning up the lack of care by both Coleman and Walcott and linked very well with Gomes, IMO.

If there was any shortcoming in the game, it was on the flanks and the referee.

Your stats don't really tell the whole story. Liverpool had to wait 60 years to be awarded a penalty at Goodison after 1902. Granted they have been awarded more at Goodison since the war – or more specifically the 1960s.

However, I suspect the number of penalties awarded has to do with the number of attacks and the better team will normally have more attacks on goal. Everton were superior prior to the '60s; since then, Liverpool have generally been title winners or at least contenders while Everton have had good sides here and there but, for the most part, we have been mid-table or relegation battlers.

With regards to Gana, there was a bit of panic on the Forum yesterday with lots of people calling for him to be subbed out at halftime because he was on a yellow – several opined that he'd be red-carded in minutes. However, in 250 top-level games (Ligue 1 and EPL), he has gotten a second yellow only once. The man is a pro and showed it.

Unlike that fucking Moss.

Not sure which is the biggest shocker of those two statements! I counted at least 4 times the ref blew up to award us a free kick when we had a clear advantage. And Gana was, again, immense in closing down and tackles won (second in the league this season).

Bizarre.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-dealt-blow-over-anthony-15343388

Rob #41, yes, the same thing was reported on ESPN early this morning. Niasse and Lanzini remain the only players penalized for dives.

It's getting on for 30 years since they won the league mate.

One thought, the FA must have thought there was a possibility that Martial had dived, for them to say he will not be charged?

So yesterday's certainly wasn't our first penalty there since 1962.

My best guess, anyway.

However, I agree with you – I'd like to see his transfer completed in January.

Yes, Roy Vernon scored a penalty for a 1-0 victory. It was a night game.

As much as everyone saying not to blame the referee totally, I think it does get to you. If you've not played the game you won't understand the injustice of some decisions. At the top, you get the benefit. At the bottom, you just get shat on by most refs.

They should face the cameras at the end of the game and take all the questions the players and managers face after poor performances. Why haven't we got foreign referees? Ex-player referees?

Why don't the referees put a circle of their spray around themselves and only allow the captain to enter.

VAR now.

Martial should get a post-match fine for diving. But that's not sour grapes and the reason we lost the game. Yet again, the defence and midfield didn't close the space. Great strike but surely now the team must learn from past games against Martial.

We lack a killer instinct, the ruthless streak all good sides have. Frustrating and gut-wrenching to see Walcott strolling around and taking no accountability for his defensive and support duties to the team..

For Brighton, I'd like to see Lookman start on the right wing in place of Walcott. As an experienced professional, it's noticeable that he rarely puts in a shift and his marksmanship and anticipation and cover play is not reliable for any team. Maybe he's not fully fit but he needs a rest and recharge his mojo.

Good signs and some good play, Gomes is here to stay hopefully, he's a footballer.

Pickford is inspirational, if only the whole team consistently showed his passion and focus to each moment in a game.

Now to dust down, move on and face Brighton.. Let's hope the ilk of Mr Moss is demoted and we don't see him at the Chelsea and RS games.

If we had more belief and conviction, we could have put them away. If, we had a true talisman striker...

The play and referee's decision that made me mad was Everton's penalty, when Smalling took down Richarlison from behind and swept his legs from under him, that was a candidate for a red card, and he never even received a second yellow. This incident to me was a demonstration by the officials of how the top 6 are treated.

Clubs will not reach the top 6 unless they are given the same decisions as the top 6 appear to be given. It is no use speculating that we would have done better with a proven striker, we haven't got one and I am sure the manager knows it.

Silva has some decisions to make. If we're thinking long-term, right-back has to be Kenny or the guy we buy in January. I'd do anything to keep Seamus at the club, but he can't be first choice long-term. He's the wrong side of 30, needing time to get back to full fitness, and that doesn't work for me. Similarly with the centre-forward, play Calvert-Lewin or Tosun as a focal point and look to buy a scorer in January if neither delivers. I'd give Lookman a run in the team, though I wouldn't bet on him covering his full-back either.

I thought we played fairly well on Sunday; I think we'd have won with a top striker. Pity they're the hardest player to find right now!

What we have now will take us to 7th or 8th, especially as I expect us to do better as the players gel a bit more. I suspect Brands is searching the earth for that goalscorer who will make the difference.

I thought Bernard's legs went just before he went round their keeper and then his composure went just after but he's still adapting to the power of the Premier League and looks like he's going to be a very good player for us in the long term.

Sigurdson is strong but he's not quick which is why he sometimes doesn't look suited to the Number 10 role. He works his socks off and can pass the ball so, although Gueye does some prodigious work, I just think Silva has got a lot more at his disposal than we are currently seeing.

Chop and change? We need a bit more strength and a bit more class but, once we get a good centre-forward, then maybe everything else is already at the club and it just needs the manager to work out what and whom is best suited to really take us forward.

I also think the players need to make that mental leap. I remember coming home from OT in 1983 after that great performance and heart-breaking defeat wondering if that team would ever be ready to win. They were. I had the same thoughts when we lost to Palace and Southampton in four days in Martinez's first season.

Sometimes the players have to step up.

Also, as most have already said, a centre-forward – Vardy? Get two out of those three then we are in business.

Silva and Brands have both said they need a couple of transfer windows to get the squad they want so let's be patient. I think we are going to enjoy the ride.

Maybe Bernard can become our Number 10?
Maybe Sigurdsson and Gomes might actually complement each other?
Maybe Lookman is ready to really step up?
Maybe this squad is much better than we think?
Maybe things might change and begin to take real shape?

But no maybes about us needing a forward, because that's definitely a deffo, that one!

I posted on Saturday saying the result against Man Utd would be decided by whether we take our chances or not and sadly we didn't. We had 4 or 5 very good chances more than we usually create at Old Trafford but the result was a familiar defeat.

Yes, we played some good stuff at times, and we have to remember that Silva has only been in charge for a matter of months, so maybe its still a bit early to start expecting wins at Old Trafford just yet. Having said that, we definitely need to improve in the final third. This is the second week running that our front 3 haven't performed well.

I think in the case of Bernard he is very new to this league and the time to pass judgement on him will be next season. Richarlison has created 2 penalties in 2 of his last 3 games, I thought he would be a natural playing as the main striker but he is taking time to settle and feel comfortable there. But he is young and may still develop as a main striker or he may revert to playing out wide.

I am afraid that Walcott is neither new to this league or young, and on Sunday it was him cheaply losing the ball that led to both Man Utd's goals. Now anybody can miss control the ball but what is unforgivable is him not chasing back to rectify his mistake. I have always thought his first touch has never been great and, at 29., he certainly won't improve in that area.

Ashley Young should have been sent off. The tackle on Digne was a card. I don't believe it was a red as he actually kept his studs down. But he flew through Digne – his entire body went past where Digne was stationed.

You can not go all the way through the player. That's a card, every single time.

Moss bottled that badly. Couple that with the "penalty" we were very hard done by!

To not talk about that, or to dismiss it, isn't fair in my opinion.

If Moss does his job properly, it's an entirely different game.

Moss was shite. And he affected the game massively in my opinion.

Off to the FA now to register my complaint but it will probably have the same impact as my attempt to get Robbie Savage dismissed from R5 Live. Whoever told this guy he's a comedian and a DJ?
It's all rigged from top to bottom.

I realize he's aging, but I've always been a big, big fan of his.

I think, if we can get him for 2-3 years, we should move heaven and earth to sign him.

He never strolls. He's a high octane player who's runs are simply fantastic.

I think Vardy would absolutely thrive in Silva's system. And he'd solve our situation up top.

Can you imagine Bernard, Richarlison, Vardy, Theo, Sigurdsson, and Lookman as attacking options? We'd be deadly.

We're missing the tip of the spear right now. Vardy solves that problem.

Yes, I think we have some issues on the right-hand side and the tip of the spear. We need another option at No 9 and perhaps at right back to kick us up a notch, but I think the problem is more about fluency of the team as a whole than individual positions. We have decent players in every position.

Lacazette's (although 10 yards closer) was almost a carbon copy.

I am happy that we are now competing against these teams and “going for it”. It's only a matter of time before our luck changes and kick-starts a momentum change against these clubs.

Anyone fancy us to beat 2 of last seasons top 6 away this season? I know we are 0-2 at the minute but we are getting there.

I'd have Vardy here tomorrow. 31 or not,he's still lightning quick and he's just horrible to play against and I could well imagine that Evertonians would love him.

Why we didn't go for him last summer when Lukaku was first sold beggars belief; we should have thrown money at Leicester instead of waiting for Olivier Giroud's wife to make a decision.

I think it helps that Vardy needs a fresh start from Leicester now, he's seen it and done and now is the time to move for him.

The fact that Silva is not playing either Tosun or Calvert-Lewin as centre-forward means he is saying that they are failing his assessment criteria for that position and need to be replaced. I think that Coleman and Walcott are heading in the same direction.

I'd rather we looked for the next, younger Vardy rather than sign the old one who isn't going to get better.

Vardy will be 32 in January and his greatest asset, searing pace, is already in decline. He's a player with his best days well behind him who would still be expensive. He's not even playing that much for Leicester this season. I trust Brands to find a 25-year-old with a similar profile and his best days in front of him.

Callum Wilson of Bournemouth I would seriously consider (vastly underrated and cruelly robbed of 12 months through injury). He has proven that he can score goals in the Premier League.

Very few people ever have the balls to say it, but our shortcomings were of our own doing. Walcott scuffed shot, Bernard weak into the side netting, 2 unmarked headers straight at de Gea. I make that 4 clear cut opportunities missed yet everyone says it was all the referee's fault.

And all that before even getting onto the subject of Walcott not tracking back for their second goal...

I mean, come off it.

But to say the penalty called against Gana didn’t have an effect on the game isn’t accurate. So to me it’s worthy of legitimate discussion.

Couple both together, and we were unlucky to not come away with some result, be it a point or three.

Moss was a prick that didn't help us one bit but that's what you get at the big clubs, never a penalty on the diving Martial.

As for a new striker I'm not sure why people are saying Vardy at 31 and not worth anything soon enough; plenty of other strikers out there like Welbeck or Josh King and that's just here.

That Sociedad striker Willian Jose might be worth a look; he is playing well and would fit in to our system nicely, being the physical type that I think we need.

He will go on to bigger and better things, I am sure he is one that is on Brands's radar.

However, as much as Keane and Zouma have been playing well together, I think Mina has to come in next game in place of Zouma.

Mina is obviously ready after being on the bench for a couple of games and Brighton seems the best game over the next few weeks in which to play him.

If Keane and Mina are to become our future defensive pairing, the sooner we get them playing together, the better.

Richarlison by way of contrast is 21 with 110 appearances in four seasons with 27 goals. I hope M&M are looking for better than Willian Jose.

I was not drawing attention to Moss's performance as an excuse for the result (Pickford the busier keeper).

However, it is important to ask questions about the FA's rules on diving, the process by which players are investigated or not (I take it you do not accept it was the correct decision) and which teams are to have their players subject to post-match scrutiny and which ones get away with it.

Have another look at the Niasse v Watford decision and tell me he deserved a two-match ban and Martial did not. It stinks.

Put the ball in the net and we can stop worrying about refs like Jon Moss, of which I agree there are far too many. Anyone know what happened to that ref Bradley?

Yeah, I thought he looked good when I watched him a few weeks ago and thought he'd look good in our team, a certain upgrade on Niasse anyway!

1. Why weren‘t our players anywhere near the ball from the Pickford block of Pogba's penalty? I saw 3 red shirts swarming the penalty to pounce on the blocked shot and not a blue shirt within 5 yards. I think that is what pissed off Pickford – that there weren't enough Everton players to save the goal.

2. I would like to try Holgate in the right-back position; he offers speed, height and better ball distribution.

Also, good shout about starting Mina for Zouma for the Brighton game, so that he will have some game time before the Chelsea game for which Zouma will be ineligible.

My team for Brighton (4 changes):

Pickford
Holgate Keane Zouma Digne
Gueye Gomes
Lookman Sigurdsson Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Stekelenburg, Baines, Coleman, Davies, Bernard, Tosun, Walcott.

I thought Kenny was showing signs of improvement; I would prefer a specialist right-back to play. Whoever plays, they will need to be on their game big time because it is that side that will be targeted as a perceived weakness.

I would rather have Richarlison on the left and bring in Calvert-Lewin or Tosun through the centre. Maybe Calvert-Lewin edging it for me with his strength and better heading ability.

Whatever the line-up, clear chances just have to be taken; we have to be far more ruthless in front of goal. The creative department did well against Man Utd; an Aguero in the box would have had 3 goals.

Theo also had two really good chances and his movement is difficult for the opposition to track – Bernard should have passed it to Theo for a tap-in.

All-in-all we have a lot of good things… just need to gel and get the rub of the green ref-wise.

I thought Bernard's legs went just before he got the ball to go round De Gea, and this little buckle is what sent the keeper? Once your legs go, then so does your composure, which is Bernard's only excuse imo!