Keane on target as England hit five again

If anybody's interested, here's Cenk's MOTM performance against Moldova:
https://highlightsfootball.com/video/turkey-vs-moldova-highlights-2/

Two very nice goals off good hard work, and was robbed twice by the Moldovan keeper, once off a powerhouse header from about 14 yards. He had an open net for his hat trick on a volley from 18 yards but blasted it over. Off a performance like this, I'd have bought him too.

Wonderful performance by England and an interesting view of how lucky you can be when players are unavailable and their replacements fit perfectly. Rashford and Lingaard may well struggle to get picked now. Hudson-Odoi and Declan Rice were superb albeit against weak opposition.

He is now playing under less pressure at Chelsea as he is a sideways link up player and feeder for Hazard. For us he was supposed to be our Hazard.

If he was still at our place I think that he would still be struggling as we don't have the workrate in the team to carry him.

Ross looks like a £100M player now rather than the £10M player we sold and we didn't see it or give him time. He is a much different player to Hazard who is a Number 10 in most formations but wasted as a winger in 4-3-3.

The challenge for Barkley is to do this against the highest quality of opposition. That's where the question mark has always been.

Danny Rose as very poor at times and Kane largely anonymous. And yet, England carved out a great result. So this leads me to believe that we should not be drawing any conclusions last night, based on the fact the opposition were so poor.

I think Ross has had a distinctly average season at Chelsea too,

England are actually quite good to watch right now which makes a pleasant change.

After that performance tho, I think he showed he has the potential to sit and orchestrate a midfield in the same way Gomes, or even Schneiderlin is expected (hoped/paid to do) for us. With all the speculation on whether both or either are going to be here next season I think Keiran represents a really good option to be developed.

You're not on your own. I think Barkley was exactly as he used to be for us. Some very good things mixed with some very poor and a lot of 3-yard passes sideways or backwards.

I don't think he's changed, apart from maybe his mindset. He probably feels happier than he did towards the end at Everton.

The huge difference is his profile now he plays for Chelsea. The media look upon him differently — without a doubt.

The first header is missed by Hudson and Keane needs to deal with the next ball by coming around the side of the attacker; hence he doesn't get much purchase on the header. If he comes through the attacker then he gives away a free kick.

Montenegro win the second ball and now Keane has to deal with two players; a lucky ricochet and it falls nicely for the attacker. How's that Keanes fault?

He may well have played well last night, against a team that would probably struggle against Fulham, but from what I have seen of him he is basically the same player we had but just does the basics better now. 100 million? Not a chance.

He still has the occasional blinder, a couple of average games, then plays like he did against us.

Would we have been better off had he stayed? Very likely as he is a good player. Is it the fans or clubs fault? Can't see it myself. He was criticised in public by his manager, as has Lookman recently. Sometimes a manager tries something different to get a reaction. It didn't work with Ross, but neither did Bobbys overly cuddly arm around the shoulder. Conte couldn't see what he was about. Sarri seems to have got the balance right with him, but he is also blessed with a squad of decent players. Ross plays badly, no great shakes, got another player equally as good who can replace him, and often dies around 60 mins!!

Maybe he just needed to get away. Not be the local lad, the one with all the expectations on his shoulders. It's just a shame we didn't get what he is worth

Anyone heard how Gylfi got on in the defeat by France?

As far as England goes, 10 goals in 2 games is a good effort and for the first time in a long while, we look to have a young squad who actually care again. Pleased for all the young players who have stepped in to take over from the prime donnas who couldn't be arsed to link up with the England squad. Hope they keep their places.

I agree re Hudson-Odoi, missed headers, tried to take defenders on and didn't always tackle back when dispossessed yet ITV treated him like the second coming.

Overrated last night but he plays for Chelsea, for now. How do you become a full International when you've not started for your club?

It looks like Barkley, is starting to learn a bit about the game when he hasn’t got the ball, but unless he improves his desire, then he will never improve his consistency?

Like many of us, I used to get very frustrated with Ross Barkley's inconsistency although those who have replaced him here, Schneiderlin and Gomes would be worthy of a Masters Degree in that particular vice.

Just one of the signs that as reflected in the Premier League table, Everton are going backwards!

Michael Keane scored the goal that got us back in the game but does he play for Chelsea or Man Utd – No, so he didnt get another mention.

I thought Kane and Alli were anonymous, let's hope they are saving it for the RS.

On another note, a sicknote, Mina has pulled his hamstring playing for Colombia and will be out for at least 3 weeks.

Re Barkley, I'm with the general consensus that he's still pretty much the same player, and certainly not (sorry, Martin) anything close to a £100 million star. Sure, he did great against the minnows last night. But for Chelsea he scores a goal every 400 minutes or so -- same as for Everton. An assist every 400 minutes or so -- same as for Everton. And those numbers don't remotely measure up to where they should be given his talent.

Glad he's happy and having fun, but I don't miss him and the club doesn't miss his spotty production.

However, what irks me about it all is that he only now gets his chance on the back of being a Chelsea player. If he were still at Everton, he would get nowhere near the England team which is a sad reflection on the national team's set-up. if he were still at Everton, the pundits and so-called experts would be coming out with the same rubbish they used to talk about him. but all of a sudden, now he is a Chelsea player, they all love him and only say nice things about him. as I say, it is well deserved and great for Ross but a sad indictment of the English national team set-up.

Same thing happened with Stones when he went to Man City. When at Everton, he was unreliable and not to be trusted. As soon as he moved, he is the best defender we have and must be starting.

Personally, I think he was right to leave - even if the manner of his leaving left a lot to be desired. He looks a better player when he's surrounded by better players (who doesn't though?) and he has a defined role at Chelsea (and for England) which he never had here.

Fora guy his size, he just doesn't have the physicality or desire to really want to succeed.

Think we will offload him the first chance we get.

To say he has no desire or what not, I ask, based on what? For me he's always smiling, always looking positive.

Now, in a very badly organized defense, he has looked 'awkward' in his few appearances. His luck with injuries has been terrible, so he hasn't really had a chance to settle.

And to say he doesn't have the physicality is quite bizarre .not sure what you expect.

I think he has potential, he has played little football over the last 24 months, which is a shame, and the injury is a blow. I was hoping to see him get a run in the team, especially with Zouma almost certainly to the a part of Chelsea's plans.

Hardly a 'character assassination'... he's not killed anyone to my knowledge.

We paid decent money for him from Barcelona, I also don't buy the 'always smiling bit' either. However, I grant you, he never looks crestfallen after a defeat, always happy enough to give 'bigs hugs' to everyone, even after a heavy or last minute loss.

I just don't see a player willing to run through a brick wall for us in the manner of Dave Watson or even Jags.

Sorry, to me he simply the stereotypical modern-day player, just happy to play for the money.

He reminds me of The Detroit Cobra - After Haggler had nailed him

Darren #33, great callout on one of my favorite fighters ever (actually the "Motor City Cobra"), but he was actually quite skinny in the chest as well. Sure could hit, though. I read that Duran can't remember their fight to this day.

Long way to go for England to be taken as a real class team but good signs.

Ross done well, but he needs to do it consistently and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

It's the time now for him to develop his potential and step on, and I hope he does.

One day the truths about his leaving will be let out.

More important now to see whose fit to start at West Ham. Gutted for Mina, but it's almost a nap, the way this season has panned out for him, and a shame as he done well against Chelsea.

Can EFC kick on this weekend? Let's hope so, and they are capable of doing to West Ham, what they done to us at Goodison Park.

It's not too late to say you were wrong about Ross or to stop old prejudices enjoying his current performances. He was amazing on Friday and Sunday evening but how much of Ross's form is reflecting in England's amazing performances? I reckon he is the key and we lost £90 million due to incompetence.

Yes, sometimes the man in charge can have an effect too.

Under the right gaffer Everton would still have the likes of Barks, Rom. and Rooney as part of a competitive outfit.

I am coming over on Easter Sunday, by the way. Are you up for a drink?

I thought Huson-Odoi was a breath of fresh air. Great first touch, always looking forward and worrying defenders. I'll forgive any young player a lack of defensive discipline, he'll learn that.

Funny that, a coach who doesn't see his players that often has them well-organised, playing with pace and purpose. And some think it's impossible for Everton to have that.

Loved Marvellous Marvin. I'll never forget how he took Minter apart like a surgeon with a scalpel. And Harry Carpenter's commentary, '"I've just been hit by a beer can!"

You cannot expect world class players to stay with us forever when top clubs come calling if we are not challenging for honours or being managed properly.

Don't forget, he would have had his reasons for leaving – it's not like he just decided to one night for a laugh. We talk about loyalty but many fans spent most of their time shouting at him and telling him how rubbish he was at games?! If you had that and poor managers you might not get on with along with the reported personal troubles he was getting in Liverpool, would you not have took the excellent opportunity on offer?

Don't forget – he would not have got near the England team regularly as an Everton player either. He knew going to Chelsea was a boost for his international ambitions too – not saying it is right but it is clear that's how England selection works still mostly.

All-in-all, it was the right choice and it has been proved to be the right choice for him. To slate a lad for wanting to further his career and play for his country is not really on. Especially as he didn't get that much support from some Everton fans when here anyway. Good luck to him, I say, and I hope he has a long and successful career.

He still dithers on the ball, losses it cheaply, he tripped over it during the game but luckily hooked it back to an England player. A top class player wouldn't make these silly mistakes but he's the type of player we still need at Everton.

Just a more complete player that can turn games and score from nothing. Very hard to come by but I still hope Lookman could be the one.

Henceforth, the focus will be on BM dock and football will have to take a backseat. Such is the fate of Evertonians as we relish the glory of being a rich man's plaything.

Well, about £300M down the drain later, they found their club in the Championship and sold to a Chinese financier who ran their club via a 'management company'. Things got so bad that before he was sussed they even had a certain ex-Everton CEO at the helm !

They tell me Deadly Doug used to say 'We are only ever one manager away from disaster'. And his successor, Lerner, found him. Let's just hope that Moshiri isn't Lerner`s apprentice !

He says he wants to stay with the club, however. Not looking to transfer.

If he played for Everton I would cheer him on but he chose that scabby club and I hope he has a shit career unless he coms back and shines lol. Bitter? No, a fan of our club and not pretenders like him.

Only my own very biased opinion, if you are not wearing Royal Blue then fuck off!

The biggest problem, the second he refused to sign new terms the club should have cashed in. He was at peak value, and was never going to sign, whether you think it was down to Koeman or not.

Not a betrayal. Just a young guy going about his job. Not nice for us, but I think it is easy for supporters to put greater emphasis on local players loyalty than is really warranted. The local hero football player is not very common anymore.

Shame, but on flip side we get to enjoy watching guys like Gomes, Arteta, Cahill, lukaku all represent our club. It’s more of an entertainment industry now I suppose.