Moyes stunned and frustrated

We still have one or two who struggle to control and pass a ball making us vulnerable - we lose it cheaply and get countered.

Still, it's better to watch than previous years.

26 shots 15 on target.

Which enforcer do you suggest John?

Barkley as an enforcer? That's hilarious. Osman is more of an enforcer than Barkley.

And of course Duffy would have made all the difference today.

Ridiculous.

Wasn't it Coleman who made the mistake that lead to their second goal? Do you think if Neville hadn't played Coleman would not have made that mistake?

We dominated an inform team with Neville an Osman in the middle... we had 26 shots away from home... I'd rather see us have a go than try an seek a 0 - 1 win away by boring us to death!!!!

I praise Davey Moyes for playing the kind of football I have been craving my whole life!! I'm proud of Everton FC. I loved the way we dominated the Shite... Okay, we didnt win the last few games but, if we keep playing the way we are playing, we will win far more than we will lose.

COYB

We are shipping goals, and we've now hit the woodwork 9 times. I still feel it's central midfield that is the problem, with Fellaini playing a more advanced role I just don't rate Neville in there. Too old, past it and really wasn't that good in his prime. I hope Moyes has the funds to bring someone in in January – without selling a big name – otherwise I fear we'll have another "what if?" season.

Next 3 games are all very winnable and then we play Arsenal at Home, Man City Away and Spurs at Home. Those 3 games look much harder on the face of it, but actually none of them are playing that well, so are we really worried about them either? No! And we know we can get results at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Etihad as we've already done it, albeit we are overdue wins at the first two.

When's the last time we really didn't fear anyone?

Gibson is a totally different prospect in centre mid to Neville. Gibson, along with Pienaar set the tempo for the team. All Neville ever does is play it wide or chip it forward. Gibson can pick a forward pass and he also creates space for others or forces the opposition to drop a man off from up front to mark him due to his ability to shoot from range.

Ruud Gullit one said any player is a good player in space; Phil Neville is the exception to this. He is rank and to say Gibson would not have improved us yesterday is ludicrous.

I thought Neville was largely one dimensional (ie Mr Sideways) and offered zilch going forward, as usual. I am utterly convinced that had Gibson played, we would have been out of sight after 60 minutes. We are a totally different prospect with Gibson in the team, we are more fluid and can turn defence into attack in one pass, where it takes Neville two, and then from a less potent angle.

I do not think Gibson is a God, but the upturn in fortune last season was largely attributed to Jelavic when Gibson and Pienaar had as much, if not more, influence on the team.

The sooner Neville is back on the bench, the better and I suspect these draws will turn into wins. COYB

You give a very comprehensive list of those things which were NOT the reason for our only getting a draw yesterday; but omit to give the reason why we didn't win, I was there, care to enlighten me?

In his time Osman has had some stinkers for us, but this is largely due to his limitations in physicality and not through lack of talent. I think this is why fans may get frustrated, because he will never be any better than the performance level he has been at for years. Ditto for Hibbert. I can think of more games where both of these players have won us points than cost us points, but for some reason we focus on the negatives.

On occasions Felli has had stinkers, but this, wrongly, gets forgiven because of what he is capable of. Same thing happened with Ferguson. The level of expectation is higher for Felli and Gibson and perhaps because of this they are given a bit (lot) more latitude.

Neville's one defining moment as an Everton player was when he nailed Ronaldo in front of the Bullens. Most people posting here would have gladly made that piss easy block tackle. His return over the years as an Everton player is simply not good enough. This is why he gets slaughtered for being what he is, ie a woeful footballer.

Hope that clears that up

I can't see this post being particularly popular.

And what about Neville's brilliant pinpoint pass out from defence to Coleman, who was hugging the touchline at the start of the exceptional Blues move that put Everton ahead when Mirallas does his brilliantly timed run to pick up the ball, while remaining fractionally onside, run to the byeline, and then cut back directly to Fellaini, who almost couldn't miss.

(I say 'almost' coz I see on the slo-mo that his shot actually careens up of Schwarzer's foot and into the roof of the net — could so easily have been blocked away...)

Could it be that DM's change of football philosophy is an attempt to attract buyers for the club.

A team playing football which is pleasant on the eye of Evertonians and football supporters in general. Who knows which Billionaire Oil Baron is watching and thinking I'll have some of that!

Probably wrong , but hey it's worth a thought!

Knowing the manager and the players feel the same frustration at the various bits of bad luck, poor officiating, and occasional calamitous errors gives me great optimism that we can sustain our current level of performance (given a bit of luck and a lot of hard work).

Reasons to be cheerful:
Our 'lesser' players are capable of contributing at a high enough level to see off most of the opposition that we will face.
Our star striker may be in a bit of a barren patch but that hasn't affected his attitude or work-rate.
The team spirit is obviously good and that will help to get the most out of each player as they work for each other.

I thought Martin Jol was extremely complimentary in his post match interview, with perhaps as much being conveyed in his facial expression (arching eyebrows and knowing smile), basically admitting that we are a long way ahead of the likes of Fulham at the moment. Contrast that with classless Pardew (and a few others!) who never seem to give us credit when we deserve it.

On that subject, the positive stuff from the mainstream media now seems deadly earnest rather than faintly patronising. Long may it continue. COYB!

On a separate note, I thought the away support was fantastic at the Cottage, really spurred the team on after going a goal down. It did leave me wondering if I would really let Fellaini shag my wife though.......?

I always see a point away form home as a positive, especially when we created so many chances. We were as dominant as the first half as we played against Villa away, credit to Moyes & the team for going at them.

Regarding Howard, their free kick was struck well, but it was at a saveable height and he has to take some blame for that, awful challlenge from Neville to give away the free kick.

A good run of fixtures coming up, and we have to make them count if we are going to take 4th spot. I have never seen 4th place as open for the taking as this season, we can do it, even with our thin squad.

Can someone please tell me if they have ever heard a better bullshitter than Rodgers across the park B.T.W ?

Every time I see him on the T.V. he talks like the shite are top of the League - " We were just brilliant out there today - what a performance " when they have just spawned another home draw. I have never heard anyone turn relegation form into believing they are the new Barca, talk about deluded - the twat should be sectioned !!

Barcelona Blues!

The only thing that I can say that’s positive is that we never gave up. Everton were stronger than us, they are a very good team and they pressed us and their full-backs were almost playing like Barcelona’s do,” he said.

Remember the shape of us this time 12 months ago... the home game against Stoke City that resulted in another game with no shots on target? That was a time to moan and be worried. Things have changed since then and I still believe we are good enough to get 4th this season... wow

And the second goal, blaming Howard for that?? That's just insane, I'm sorry, but you could not watch that play and come away saying Howard was at fault. Coleman loses the ball in a terrible position, then Coleman fails to mark his man, letting his man tap in at the far post. Pay no attention to the couple of incredible point blank saves Howard made earlier in the match, just blame him as the teams new weakest link. It's always so much easier than looking at the entire picture and seeing all the things that need to improve (Jelavic's finishing, lax defending, poor fouls conceded in bad positions, poor passing by Pienaar, some great saves by Schwarzer, poor finishing by Naismith with an open goal in front of him) and so much more.

MacMath to train with Everton
Posted on November 5, 2012 by Ives Galarcep

Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath put together a solid second season in Major League Soccer, his first as the team’s regular starter, and while his team’s season ended early, the young netminder’s education continues.

MacMath is in England, where he will begin a three-week training stint with English Premier League side Everton FC, sources told SBI. MacMath, who turned 21 in August, started 32 of 34 games for the Union in 2012, posting a 10-17-5 record and eight shutouts, with a 1.34 goals-against average.

I was dissapointed that we failed in our bid for Butland in August, I also fear that Peppa Pigs absence from our neighbours first team is a sign that they have stolen a march on us for that particular goalkeeper.

It was an excellent display by an away team and we have to remember, our record at Fulham has been generally poor. We seemed to have picked up in recent times against them.