What exactly did Osman do? The reason we played better in the 2nd half was because Swansea players tired and made individual mistakes.

I think Osman and Naismith are excellent options off the bench in the last 20. With the option of Deulofeu or McGeady as added pace, we have options to influence the game. I thought Naismith was excellent today.

First half, Barkley was our best player, he was always looking to find a shooting chance or play someone in. I thought Traore played well and showed a lot of energy before fading in the second.

I like the way we played today, kept trying to do the right things but I'd prefer to see our midfield be asked to take control of the ball rather than Jags and Distin.

It's no surprise in the last 20 we looked our best; most teams tire against us. It was nice to see us take advantage and then dominate the space in the middle of the park.

Coleman MotM.

So what we need to do is get off his back, give him full support while he's in the team and accept that he's not the finished article by far, while affording him our patience to improve.

He's certainly not going to improve and expand his game if benched. His natural technical ability, strength and pace will serve him well. His decision-making will come with experience. Today he could've had a couple of goals were it not for their goalie. Its clear to me at least that he will become a far better player than almost anyone else in our squad. He is probably on a higher level than Deulofeu, even.

You have to credit the manager with the subs though. Both did superbly and Naismith in particular changed the game with his movement and finishing. You can argue they came on at the right time when the Swansea players were tiring. If Barkley and Traore had come on with 30 minutes to go for Osman and Naismith, I think the contribution of both sets of players would probably have been reversed, so it's not as cut and dry as you may think.

He is coming back from injury but I see nothing wrong with his performance today, he will only learn from each game. He really is an exceptional player.

Osman could not reproduce his performances if he started in his place. Osman is much better an option coming from the bench when the opposition are tired and there is more space in the middle of the park.

Ross was dynamic today, any criticism for the first half performance I can't understand.

I hope Naismith can be fit for next week, because Traore for me either looks way short of fitness or just has little to offer. Naismith showed both Lukaku and Traore what is required to be a successful forward in the Premier League.

Naismith is limited but then technically so was Timmy Cahill but what they both give you is endless effort and a canny ability to read the game and show for the ball. Steven Naismith showed more mobility in that last 20 minutes than Lukaku had in his last 8 games.

I know Traore started well with his goal but both he and Lukaku could do worse than see the work and effort that Naismith ALWAYS displays when he comes on as a sub. I was actually a bit disappointed with Traore not seeming to win a single header... Did he actually win one in the time he was on?

Seems to me much like Lukaku, he won't relish playing the lone striker role, whereas Naismith battles and shows for the ball far more, and somehow, like Tim Cahill used to, has perfected the art of finding himself in scoring positions.

A good win nevertheless despite a very lethargic first hour, too many players to me look faded badly including our midfielders. Barkley looks to be missing something at the moment... whether he is not 100% or still trying to find the form he had before getting injured, I am not sure but... he isn't really dictating games like we know the lad can.

I can see us stumbling through the rest of the season to be honest. We haven't been in the grove since before Christmas, we are no longer bossing possession in matches, and I hope we can find a second wind from somewhere.

A good win in the end tempered by a disappointing Sixth Round draw but, hey, who knows... let's just wait and see now.

The substitution of Traorie with Naismith was the real game changer, and so he is my Man of the Match, whose intelligent runs into penalty area brought about his first goal through an interception, and later created a penalty with his darting run in the box that saw him tackled from behind and Baines dispatched the penalty with all the authority of a great penalty taker. In between both Pienaar and Mirallas managed to miss when easier score.

Both Baines and Coleman should be encouraged to get forward as often as possible because McCarthy and Barry play so deep allowing for the extra cover the full backs need when Everton lose the ball and there is a quick counter attack.

On a sour note, towards the end of the match, Swansea players started to dish out retribution and both Swansea players should have been sent off for the reckless tackles on Naismith and McCarthy; while another Swansea stood over McCarthy menacingly while he lay injured.

It's the way we coach kids here in this country. In Spain and South America its about total technical control and thinking with the ball at your feet, nothing is hurried. That's why you very rarely ever see a British kid with the technical talent of a Suarez or Iniesta, or Messi, Xavi ect ect.

Ross Barkley has some serious talent but, unless he starts or rather we start to nurture and coach him more, then he could just go down the Jack Rodwell route. I believe Barkley is better than Rodwell but I recall thinking big things of Rodwell after he scored what I call a 'Rolls Royce' goal against United at such a young age.

Let's hope Ross can keep his game moving upwards and let's hope that in time he can iron out some of the more annoying aspects of his game, like holding onto the ball too long or trying to do too much at times. It will come in time.

As far as I'm concerned, Pienaar owes me money.

Even worse, my mate had three nicker on Traore first goal and 3-1 at 75/1 - he spent added time laughing at me and wildly applauding our back-passes.

As for the game... shite. It really looked like we had been slipped a large collective Mickey (and Jags looked like a mid-table Business Houses player).

I've said before: they ALL need to work on their concentration.

The whole midfield looked so tired and jaded but then we have looked this way since Boxing Day in all honesty.

Even Mirallas was average today, never got going.

As I say, there is still a way to go this season and we need to find a second wind with a bit of gusto sooner rather than later.

Swansea were not awful, they bossed pssession for the first hour of the game.

They were petulant at 3-1 granted but the game only really swung in our favour when Naismith and Osman came on.

Good points, Jim, Barkley has got a lot of ability and I would hope Martinez will be the guy who can bring it out. I'm not sure Barkley would progress as much if Moyes was still here, though. Maybe if Martinez had been here in the formative years of Rodwell and Vaughan they'd have been better players.

Barry's performances too have really dipped.

Naismith did really well when he came on; despite all the critisisim he gets, he is a great finisher.

We look wide open at the back when anyone plays a half-decent pass through the middle. Jags needs to sort himself out quick, he has been shocking lately

Bring on the Gunners, glad we have them over the other crowd.

I believe if Stones had played and performed like Jags, Distin and other senior players... he would have been hammered!!!! (The boy is a top talent!) Thank fuck he wasn't selected.

FFS, give the young players a chance to develop into top players.

Ross will come good if he can keep fit. He has a positive manager to give him the space and opportunities to develop in his best position, not turn him into a safety-first player like someone we could mention.

Regarding Rodwell not living up to his potential, I recall a certain manager saying "I didn't know he could do that" after that goal against Utd. Well our manager should've fucking known he could do it, he worked with him every day. Aside from probably being too afraid to do anything spectacular, I think Rodwell's main issue was always his fitness.

One final thing about Barkley, Graham. You say he has no assists, but I recall a surging run which resulted in a sending off for the opposing player and another run which resulted in a free kick from which we scored. Can't remember the game, but think it was one of the early ones this season.

As for the rest of our team, I actually thought Pienaar did okay, so I'm surprised to see any criticism. Many chances we create normally go through him. Wasn't impressed with Barry/McCarthy or Jags and Distin today, though.

The Blues got lucky with that bad back pass which finally took away the Swans spirit.

Personally I am glad Everton play Arsenal. Anytime RS get beat is fine by me. Hopefully the defence will be more secure next week.

Jags might be captain and an England regular, but I don't think he is suited to the way Martinez wants him to play!

They gave me the willies when passing it about at the back, especially the first half.

Serous misunderstanding of how P.L. sides approach every game. Message to Ed's - professional football is not all about the team sheet.

Have a number of supporters remembered he only came into the team this year and instead of getting on his back this early in his career start giving him encouragement.Yes he will make mistakes-yes he will not be a matchwinner every game and yes he is not the finished article.

The praise he recieves from the manager and the media is always for his Potential to become a great player not that he is. Looking up the word Potential in the dictionaryit states (possible but not yet actual)

So instead of criticizing him start encouraging him and make sure he feels that the supporters want him at Everton-.He needs time and experience to go from possible to actual.

McCarthy and Barry were dreadful today they offered nothing going forward and didn't do much of a job protecting the back four. Distin was great one minute and then Bambi on Ice the next. Jags was poor. Baines and Coleman play so far forward they have no space to pile forward into compressing the play.

Nais looked a handful when he came on and offer more that Traore who was last after 10 minutes.

Gerard and Ross need to get match fit and if they do we have a really good chance against Arsenal who we played off the park at the Emirates a few months ago when they were both playing well. If they can get back to what they were then I expect that to rub off on the others.

I can't see how anyone can compare Ross to Rodwell- Jack was potentially a good defensive player but Ross can become a great - we have to remember he is still a kid and needs time. Traore scored and will again need time to get premier league match fitness before we can properly judge him.

Back to Jim and I couldn't agree more re Naismith- gives it all he's got and is a natural predator. He needs our support- I was made up for him today.

Offensively, they missed Michu more than we missed Lukaku.

Also, kudos to the club for the pitch upgrade in the summer. Even after all foul weather, it was perfect. I don't think RM's passing style would have been possible on last seasons field.

Just think the lad does the basics what Lukaku seemed to have forgotten over the last two months, which is work hard, move into space when the ball is not with you, and start fighting for the ball and more importantly showing for the ball.

If Naismith can do it then Lukaku and Traore should be able to aswell and it annoys me when other don't do the basics of the game.

Naismith reminds me very much of Tim Cahill, with maybe slightly less mobility to take on scissor kicks ect but he has the same fight, I like the fact he seems to know what it means to pull on the blue shirt and play for Everton F.C.

Traore, its still early days, I thought it was a good poachers goal but he obviously doesnt have that long to gain fitness and get used to the English league.

If he plays at Chelsea next week he is going to have to use that big 6'8 frame of his to bully Chelsea's centre halves a bit more than he did in general today
Early days but need to see more movement and a bit more willingness to jump for headers, maybe that comes with fitness who knows?

Without sounding as though we are starting up a Steven Naismith fan club, I cannot help but like watching the guy display a hunger to do well.
Forget trying to judge him when he has played on the right of midfield, he is not and never will be a wide midfielder and I have said before time and time again would Cahill have been the same fans favourite had he been deployed out of position?
No he wouldnt because he is not built for it.
Even Mata has suffered under Moyes already by playing out of position.

Give Naismith the chance to play where he should and you will see and Everton attack with more bite and more passion.

Having said all of the above, we pulled through and that says a lot about the management of this club right now but I hope the next phase of our development is to add a bit of pace in our passing when the opportunity arrives and a little sharp movement to match.

Not sure Traore is an EFC type of player, was a tad disappointed but he certainly showed he wanted to play, so again no criticism there from me.

Jags and Distan are class defenders but have never had to play football in the way RM wants them to, they are shaky and other teams know it. In time they'll be replaced but for now we need to find a way to limit the amount of ball they see cos its an accident waiting to happen everytime. Barry and McC need to be much more available for the easy ball from the CDs

I was really pleased with Naismith's contribution. He makes up for a lack of skill with endevour. He made good runs and his finish was excellent. He shouyld clearly only be employed as a striker where his instincts come into play. He has been a good servant of the club, never sulking when he has been left out or played out of position. It's good to see him finally getting some minutes up front where he belongs. Hope his jaws OK!

This is the time of year when most clubs are grinding out results and this was a good win in the type of situation that we have floundered in years past, such as Wigan last year? I thought that Naismith was exceptional with great thought and movement on and off the ball.

A difficult draw next but one that we can win possibly with a replay. I'm very relieved that we aren't playing Liverpool away.

I've never heard it that quiet for a long time. Sometimes if the players are struggling, we need to raise the roof.

In an era when centre forwards are sent off for brushing an arm against a defender's head, the guy who left his shoulder in to connect with Naismith's face should be subject to some disciplinary action. He knew exactly what he was doing, and deserved more than a yellow card.

It was that number 2 of Swansea, a right dirty bastard all game

Nothing wrong with the result but teams are sussing out the way we play from the back and are forcing our slow buildup to get even slower.

However, I couldn't help but warm to him today - not just because of the obvious !

100% effort and he clearly loves wearing the shirt/knows what the club means to the fans.

Well played.

JB has it completely right (as usual) Nais, MotM by a country mile. We need to get back to our peak as at Arsenal and Man Utd. This won’t be easy.

Forget Lukaku, It’s obvious that the orders from the Bridge have been given. I don’t know where we go from here in terms of a striker but, until we do sort it out, Mr Naismith gets my backing.

Not the best game to travel from Somerset for but I’ll say this: some people will run through brick walls for Everton and others think it’s their divine right to play footy at the top level.

For me, the next chapter reads, 2-2 draw with the Arse.

REPLAY AT GOODISON UNDER THE LIGHTS.

"Cold, blustery" it was not.

Mate, there was not even a breath on my face as I sat there in the Upper Bullens. And since I’m really cognizant of what is going on at all times above my head, there wasn’t even a Chemtrail. So it was really really Blue. A bit on the Man City side... but, hey, as the day goes, on the sky becomes a more distinctive Royal Blue.

Arsenal; let’s use everything we’ve learnt over the past. Shut Arse out; do what teams have done to us i.e. park the bus, and if we can’t win at theirs, then let’s drag them back to ours under the lights and the power of the Gwladys St.

We can win this. COYB

That had me in stitches.

As to Arsenal fielding a weakened team, I've seen him do it in the past in early rounds but I don't think they have been this far in the Cup in a few years so I think Wenger will be going for it. And I think we will give it right back. A draw and a return to Goodison could be in the cards. Deulofeu to start would do me.