Impressive? Yes! That first half I almost cried over, the football from us was so brilliant.

Impressive? Yes. I give you the excitement generated by Lukaku (what anticipation now for seeing him in future games - well signed Roberto); by Barks (such a rapid development - well done Roberto); Coleman (a slightly more slowly nurtured development - well done the Scottish manager); by Mirallas (well signed by the Scottish manager); by Barry and quite possibly McCarthy (well done etc...).

And while the second half was an anti-climax, it was always going to be after that first half. And I give you second half "grit", as our man has said.

Seb, please be aware that if Newcastle had of won they would have gone above us in the table, that puts us in that cannon fodder category – don't think so.
On Saturday, we are taking an anti-tank gun (Lukaku) to a gunfight...
COYB

Now I'm quite prepared to this new Foreign Bloke a chance, but it has to be said that this would not have happened under the regime of OFM.

Yes he has gone but at his new club the results show quite clearly he has lost none of his magic and still has the nouse to get a club in with a shout of the coverted 7th place trophy.

I know it's only 6 games in but I for one am thoroughly sick of all this rapid passing, length of the field - Goal, long ball shite

Lukaku; what can you say, if that's the best Chelsea can give us well he can fuck off back now.

Stats; everybody seems to love quoting stats, well lets have a look at some of his...He was only Offside TWICE and if he ran a channel or was in his own 6yd box defending, well sorry I must've blinked and missed it.

Jelavic would've helped defend all night, ran his heart out up and down the channels AND been offside every other ball.

Barry and McCarthy; wtf did they do all night? One trick ponies the pair of them, all they are is the 3G's, Get it, Give it, Go...Who was doing all the pointing, Who was doing all the hand clapping encouragement? Fuckin no one that who.

Taxi for Moyes ( back )

Disengage Irony Font.

Seb you're and idiot

Nothing fishy, I am just going to take a lot of convincing that, in the long term, Martinez is going to be anything but a disaster for us. And for 45 minutes last night, I saw the presage of what I think is to come. I've never yet had a good word to say about Martinez and on the evidence of what I have seen so far, he still has a long way to go to to tease one out of me yet! :-)

It took a wonder goal for Newcastle to get anywhere near us. The scoreline flattered them greatly.

Fantastic performance from the lads - yes, the second half lowered the tone a bit, but as Jamie said, Cabaye's goal was something special to get them back into the match.

There was always likely to be goals in this match, Newcastle have quality attackers, but they're a bit suspect at the back. I didn't expect them to be as porous at the back as they were, but ultimately the ball still has to go into the back of the 'ole onion bag, and we certainly did that with some style in the first half.

There's a lot for us Blues to smile about today, so lets enjoy it till Saturday.

By my reckoning, every result this season has been better than the equivalent game last season with the excpetion of the home draw against West Brom. Last season we lost at Norwich, drew at West Ham, lost at home to Chelsea and lost away at Reading (whereas we drew at Cardiff).

I've always said that a team who retains the ball and attacks with purpose will win more than they lose.

Sure, we might not be about to win the league but I for one am excited about Everton games again and that's not something I could say very often under OFM.

It certainly was a game of two halves. That first 45 was some of the best stuff I can remember us playing, and the players really look like they starting to get used to the Martinez style. And the commentator on Sky said it all last night - the second half was all about going back to the Everton of the last few seasons and showing grit and determination.

What do some people expect from this team? They we will steamroll past everyone? That teams will simply sit back and let us walk all over them. In a weekend when Man City lose to Aston Villa and Man Utd lose to West Brom, then I think certain fans need a reality check!

This is a bloody tough league, yet so far we are the only unbeaten team in the league and have a bag full of players on form. We'll lose sooner or later, but if we lose playing like last night then so be it. I'd call that progress.

I still think Europa League would be a great shout for us considering the spending power of those around us, and my only real fear after watching that game last night is a) I hope we sign Barry up at the end of the season and b) what the hell are we going to do when we send Lukaku back next year?!

But for the time being I am just going to enjoy it, and I reckon potential investors will certainly be attracted a lot more to us if we keep playing like this!

COYB!

It's all a con .... unbeaten and 4th and Howard launching it for Lulu's second goal??

What about the fillosofee??

A win without fillosofee what good is that?

As I said elsewhere were unbeaten, 4th, new manager getting to know the players yet, new system, new players bedding in, what more did you expect.

If we could keep the first half form up for 90 mins we'd be racing certainties to win the league!

Seb you're a clown - been said before, in words or substance; but get used to it, it'll be said again.

Derek, I'm going to read #779 again (worthy of Eugene Rouane that!)

I'm completely missing your point.

It's School of Science, Young and Vernon of my youth, Ball, Kendall and the magnificent Colin Harvey a little later, Sheedy, Steven, Bracewell and Reid in the 80s. We are back to being a football team, rather than just being hard to beat. Barkley looks an outstanding player, not a prospect, but a player. Do you think he would have been trusted to play in the key no 10 role under the old regime?

Martinez, whom I was dubious about, has won me over. He wants our team to play football and that gets my vote.

Yeah, it's gonna take a little time to gel but in that mix you have aggression, pace, creativity, shape, youth, experience and dogs of war when needed.

With a supporting crew of Pienaar, Osman and Naismith, how can anyone here be in the slightest bit negative?

Congratulations on the most ridiculous post of the morning.

You said "Take Coleman for example, he's now an outstanding full back, under Moyes he was a right sided mid-fielder while Hibbert or Neville were his preferred choice right backs". i.e. he is now an outstanding FB but wasn't under the Scottish manager. Some history is bunk.

Ridiculous anyone who claims that we allowed a relegation fodder Newcastle back into the match. Look at their players, even with that muppet in charge they'll still be around the top 10 and when it all clicks they showed how good they could be a couple of seasons ago. We absolutely demolished them but this time the ref wasn't there to save them. No one could do anything about that wonder goal and who cares about a consolation that was the luck of the bounce. If Cabaye's doesn't go in that match finishes 4 or 5-0.

Cabaye for me though shows perhaps the one ingredient this squad doesn't have since Arteta left. No matter how well you are playing a class creative midfielder can come on and change the complexion of any game. I still remember that Villa game in the cup run of 09, Arteta played in a midfield with Neville and a young Rodwell behind him, Gosling and Anichebe on the flanks, and Cahill up front by himself, despite the dross around him he singlehandedly detsroyed a bang in form Villa side including Petrov Milner Young Downing Agbonlahor. Perhaps we're moving away from an individual based midfield to one of many cogs that is perfectly balanced but for me there is no substitute for creative class in the middle of the park. Hopefully McCarthy or Gibson can step up to this role for us now that Barry has finally replaced Carsley in our midfield.

Who's missing Fellaini? No one.

2-2 on Saturday, I reckon. We'll probably go 2-0 up, too.

COYB!

All credit to this manager, it's only taken 3 months for him to improve the squad above levels Moyes was ever capable of.

I mean, get real — when did you ever last see an Everton side be so devastating? That first half, the football was superb, and it was the best since the 80s. Sure, Newcastle where poor... but we made them look poor.

In the second half, there was bound to be a reaction; if it wasn't for that wonder strike, I think we would've added to the scoreline.

As RM said after the game, we will learn from that; we conceded two goals but no points. Arsenal and Man Utd used to gain big leads and then take the pace out of the game, obviously our players weren't used to be leading three-nil at half-time, its' a transition and it's going rather well... in fact, I fancy us to get a result at Man City,

So please for once can some of you actually enjoy watching the Blues play beautiful football!!!

On another, very positive, note, I thought we could have, should have bagged a few more second half. Deulofeu looks class and it surely won’t be long till he gets a starting berth. The way he dances around defenders to get into the box is fantastic to watch. Barkley and him together is a mouth-watering prospect.

We need Gibson in there but is he even fit?

Back on track, I couldn't give a fig about how we win, I just want 3 points every game and that's what we managed last night.

Onto more important matters, 4th and only side unbeaten after 6 games, can't really have asked for much more results wise from the new manager.

The first half was similar to Fulham, only much better due to the fact that we thumped in 3 goals and could have had more. Admittedly the barcodes defending was not even of schoolboy standard - and to think these defenders earn millions a year to play! As Fulham, Newcastle could not be as bad in the second half and came back a lot stronger. The addition of Cabaye at half time gave them a lot more class in the midfield and it was not a surprise when he scored to be honest. If I remember, McCarthy was guilty for backing off him but that was also a wonder striker none the less and Howard could do nothing. The blues were worryingly a bit rabbit in headlights in the second half but generally held their own. Was a nervy finish but their second came in the 89th minute so we didn't have to hang on that long.

All in all a great game for the neutrals and made up for Lukaku - that guy is a beast and will score 20+ this season. Just gives you so much more confidence having a genuine class striker. Also glad to see RB on the scoresheet as well and Mirallas getting an assist. We can't dominate a game for 90mins and I'll take a 3-2 win any day of the week. I wont criticise any of the players as the first half performance and the win supersedes everything else for me.

Well done RM and well done the team - just wish I could have been at GP myself.

I'm still waiting to read more (idiotic) posts about Lukaku 'only' being on loan and 'taking up' a permanent players place!

Fourth 'till the weekend for now and the sun's shining - Roberto's army marches on.....Come on Donetsk!!!

The second half could possibly be wide open against City, as their mid-week game catches up with them.

It may well be the perfect time to play them, and would be great to head into the International break as the only team unbeaten in the League.

I know one thing, they won't be looking forward to playing us!!

For once we have a manager who can engage positively with the media as well. First time since, erm, well, first time really.

Of course there are going to be horrible results at some stage. If, however, he can field a team that starts with a positive outlook and is properly prepared to give anyone a game, then good on the bloke.

Their first goal will go very close to winning 'the goal of the season', the second was scored by a very good forward in Remy, so I don't attach any blame to either of those.

As far as fitness levels go, could be were not as fit as last year, I remember one of the players saying that all the running was done with the ball and intimated that training wasn't as hard physically as with him that shall be nameless.
Maybe its something Roberto needs to look at.

Saturday will tell us a great deal about our prospects, City's players are sure to have had a rocket up the 'ass' and we will be going into a cauldron.
RM found a way to beat them at Wembley, maybe he can do it again, being the pessimist that I am, I'll take a draw now, just hope we don't take a drubbing!
I've only seen highlights of him but that Aguero is some player, very difficult to keep quiet!

We are setting out our stall tactically, to utilise the talents of the players we have. Other teams will try to limit our opportunities as much as they can.

The Newcastle game was a good example, in the first half we were irresistable and scored three. in the second half they changed their formation and upped their game and we seemed less impressive, however we still created chances and looked as though we could score again, it was by no means a 'backs to the wall' performance.

Forget the drivel about we will become Wigan and start getting Wigan type results.

I have no idea how you reached your conclusions, particularly on last nights performance.

The second Newcastle goal was shambolic defending, but you're suggesting that because Remy is a decent striker there's nothing to worry about?

Mmmkay......

'Only' 3 issues;

a) Do Chelsea want to sell
b) Does he want to come
c) Can we even afford him if the above are a yes

Unfortunately even if a & b are both yes, I don't see c happneing. This guy is going to be worth at least 30m+ come the end of the year if he carries on like this. If he also does well in the WC, he could be valued at 40m!

If that turns out to be the case, you can forget it - we may be able to scratch together 20m but we'll never get near 30m, nevermind 40m.

Unless we qualify for the CL........

Just hope he's tied to a long-term contract.

I immediately had a mental image of him getting his ironing board out in the changing room pre-game to give his shorts a final going-over. And Jags getting his Marigolds on to give the loo a bit of a scrub.

1. Something going very pear shaped at Chelsea, such as them having such a rotten first half of the season that Mourinho is panicked into busting the bank for a top striker in January, or them imploding to the point that Mourinho walks out

2. Lukaku loving it at Everton so much that he actively wants to stay

We have some say in the second, and should pray for the first
The first half yesterday he looked like potentially the best 9 we've had in my 30 years of watching the blues - as good as Sharp and Ferguson on their best days

I shall now hide until the next match and you'll never, never find me.

In short, sad as it is, I just don't see him staying. Enjoy it while it lasts.

If Chelsea are falling behind in the pecking order, they will spend big in January. Lukaku may be back to square one if that happens.

Offer the £20 million surplus for him in January. [He said, laughing quietly to himself...]

So how we can still in criticising the team after a great 45 mins last night I don't know. Sure, we let them back in the game because we didn't retain our intensity in the second half. That is part of the development process for this team.

Also, as big a challenge as it has evidently proved for OFM to emulate SAF, wasn't it equally a challenge for Martinez to replace a manager who ran this club for 11 years? So I will hopefully have the chance to continue to eat lots of humble pie in the coming months if we can keep this up.

Hopefully Romu would love to sign for us next season, especially if Chelsea do buy a big name striker in January. I'm sure all the Everton players are making him more than welcome at Goodison Park.

You're probably right there. Maybe "susceptible" (to conceding) is a better term; certainly Gouffran got in far too easily and should have scored right after half time and Remy's goal was defended sloppily.

I don't see much change there from last season, though, so I'm not sure it heralds the much-feared Martinez effect on the back line that some are expecting to take hold. After all, we conceded a number of very late goals with poor aerial coverage, including the 2-2 with Newcastle.

Through to Christmas, Lukaku is on fire and has scored 25 goals.

So... In January, they buy him from us!!!! For 100 squillian pounds.

Has anything like that happened before? As I understand it, he is Everton's player for the season.

Let's hope he receives the award after the City game, it always puts a curse on the next League game! Maybe Hull won't present such a challenge.

Just curious though, can anyone who was at the game tell me was the crowd a bit quieter than usual, or was it just where Sky Sports had the microphone's positioned?

It certainly didn't seem to be the atmosphere that we have come to expect..