From My Seat: Southampton (H)

As much as I enjoy the daily back and forth of ToffeeWeb, I look forward most to the live reportage you and others provide us.

With all our new additions over the last 9 months, God help the clubs we're playing once we're hitting on all cylinders.

Howard has never been too hot on crosses into the 6-yard box, both he and the goalkeeper coach need to address his initial positioning for corners. Twice (maybe others I didn't see), but deffo once for their goal, he was standing too far toward the front of his goal.

He should be towards the back of his goal. You can get more power/speed/ height/momentum running forwards than backwards, mind you this assumes he is going to 'want' to attempt to dominate, or at least get into the mix in the 6-yard box, I think there is a bit of Dracula in him.

Neville; I think he knows he is only keeping Gibbo's spec warm and as it was yesterday, being only asked simple one-word answer type questions by Southampton, gave all the correct one-word answers, did the basic bare neccessities and on occasions used his nouse to cover left and right when others went walkabout on the attack/got stranded when it broke down. Not the end of the world to 'just do the basics right'.

Assuming Fellaini's neck is OK, I predict only one change for the Wigan game – Distin back in. Heitinga's had two stinkers in a row and was our worst performer today by far.

I'll enjoy it til then.

Overall though, a great time to be an Everton fan. The bad news is that this form will put us in the spotlight and the likes of baines, jelavic and fellaini will be turning some big heads in January transfer market especially as not European cup tied. For now though let's hope kens no injury/ suspension prayers work as our first XI look very tasty.

I'm worried more worried about the Liverpool game now because they have played well without winning and Suarez was bound to start scoring with the number of chances that he creates. Still we need to beat them if we want to improve.

And that is why Moyes picks him. Not because he plays like Messi or RVP but because he uses his nouse to cover left and right when others went walkabout on the attack/got stranded when it broke down.

This is a team game not 11 individuals.

And I suspect he also did a lot of shouting and telling people where to be.

None of our centre backs have covered themselves in glorly this season and I see no reason why Duffy shouldn't be picked even if its just short term as a message to the other 3 but I really can't see it happening.

Think a new centre back might be on the shopping list, especially with Heitinga's contract running down. Perhaps we should have sold him in the summer?

I don't think anyone is getting carried away and we will certainly face stiffer challenges than Southampton, but I don't think there is a side in the Prem who will look forward to playing us home or away.

The only 2 negatives in yesterdays performance was Howard for the goal and Heitinga's lack of awareness. He was the wrong side of Rodriguez who could have scored, and in the second half he allowed Ramirez to run in behind him, a chance that he should have scored from.

IMO more should be mentioned of Coleman's display yesterday who I thought got up and down the pitch more regularly than Bainesy.

I used to think he would never make a top class RB due to his defensive frailities but he appears to be progressing well.

I would also like to mention Jelly who despite not playing that well for much of he game scored 2 crucial goals, the sign of a top class striker, and could be the difference in getting into Europe if we can keep him fit.

It's a shame that Pip's pace has gone because the one thing we are short of is a general on the pitch without him..

Jags, Distin and Heitiga should offer some leadership but are not nearly vocal enough and it's hard to think of any other member of the squad who could step up.

It's not just Everton of course, but whenever I see it, I'm left frustrated as I obviously want to see the same again in the 2nd half.

I expect responses along the lines of "natural instinct to take the foot off the gas" etc. but...as we saw yesterday a n average team like Southampton had chances to get right back into the game with some clear cut chances, luckily for us, missed.

Can't understand why we didn't just come out in the second half and blitz them and finish tha game off. Surely every attacker wanted to bag more goals!

Very frustrating and against better teams we won't be so lucky. I still remember the semi!

I'd like to give it to Mirallas but I haven't seen a decent slo-mo, and maybe it should be Jelavic for causing such havoc, if as I thought, it really came back off a defender. But if Jelavic did touch it then the asist would be his.

I've said it before, you always seem to go to the same game as me, whether I'm there or not. And most of the rest has already been said. Yes James - Baines could coast a bit because their left flank, which should be every teams weakest side, was under pressure. Mirallas. Bloody Belgians!

Coleman? I think Kase might have spotted it. Moyes, as we know, will always put Cap'n Pip on the field if he thinks he needs him - he was on the bench a few times last season don't forget, and don't mention the Leeds. And it took Saint Leighton about three seasons to become a good LB. I suspect Seamus is going down the same road. Baines as a left-footer (like myself, and very sensitive to this stuff) couldn't be flip-flopped. Bur Coleman can I'm sure that Davey sees him as part of our future, but don't be surprised to see him moved around a bit. And that includes the bench.

Jay is quite right to point out how well the lad is doing, but we always have to remember that DM makes the decisions. Trying to guess what they are is part of the fun.

COYB

without going to video evidence myself, and rapidly becoming a fan of Kev (the Belgian one) something you said is so important. Jelavic causes havoc. He pulls defenders all over the place. Trying to mark him, and they'd love to be able to do it, means they've got to be as good as him. Not many about.

Bet Heitinga could do it, but that's another thread.

He may not be as defensively robust as Hibbo, but my word he offers a threat going forward which we haven't seen from any right back for many years. I would like to see him given a run in the team, but I think Moyes is likely to go for the safer more defensive option of Hibbert or Neville when that option is open again. At least play Coleman at home against bottom half clubs though?

At right wing, Coleman, has appeared a less exciting proposition, but in part becasue he has tended to have a static full back back behind him. This has allowed the opposing left-back to simply concentrate on marking Seasmus, rather that being scared that Hibbert of Neville will overload on that side.

Frankly, I expect some rotation between him and Hibbert depending on how expansive the opposition are.

One final thing : Neville's dropping back from mid-field has been vital in allowing Both full-backs to attack (but mainly in covering for Coleman) - he's been simply fantastic. I can envisage Moyes choosing between three duo's:

Hibbo (RB) + Gibson (centre mid), Neville + Gibson, Coleman + Neville.

But ideally (for sake of effectiveness) Hibbert + Neville would be the fourth and final option.

To go with Coleman + Gibson - we'd need to see if Gibson can put quite as much emphasis on covering the flanks like Neville - is he capable of not giving away fouls in those areas, ect.? Coleman would also need to improve. I expect Moyes to test it in short bursts, but not to start with it.

Off topinc, but it was news to me that Mirallas scored most of his goals from the Left in Greece. That flexibility means that, If (and its an if) we could get Donovan on loan in March, we'd have cover across the attacking quartet, with lots of inter-changeable players.

I remember, not too long ago, where we would have so much possession in games but had no cutting edge. Now with Pienaar, Jelavic, Fellaini, Mirallas etc. we look like we can score against anyone.

For once it's great to go to work and say to your mates "Did you see Everton at the weekend?" and wax lyrical about some nice play and goals. Let's hope we can keep it going! COYB

The only doubt in my mind – and I'm afraid it's always been there – is Heitinga. To me his positional sense is poor – he lacks pace and tries to stay deep in order not to be outdone in any race for the ball. Both in the European Championships and in the last 2 games he has been found out bigtime.

Duffy is not ready at all yet – his passing is poor, and the only option Moyes has is to re-instate the Jags/Distin partnership. For me, Heitinga should be sold in January and proceeds used to buy another established centre-back.