I don't think either of them are our best players but their record this season has been hugely impressive & today they again turned this game around as soon as they were introduced.

I agree – the team looked sluggish and predictable for long periods, and nervy on the ball at the back. We only showed quality in patches, and Swansea had too much space in midfield for comfort. Luckily their forwards were AWOL most of the time.

For me, Naismith made the difference today – he knows where the goal is and gets into useful positions, and can be a nuisance. That seems to be because he's played as more of an out-and-out striker and not somewhere between midfield and the front, where he's less effective.

The new boy Traore looked pretty static when receiving the ball – perhaps better will come with some match practice.

The Arsenal result is good for us, I think – I don't think we should fear them, especially as they seem prone to having off days. Let's hope it's not one of our off days, too... we've had a few in the last couple of weeks when nothing comes off.

Its the kind of performance that I feared we would see more of when Martinez was appointed. Fortunately they seem rare and hopefully this is part of our natural transition to tic tac; or simply taking the foot off the gas against a second string opposition.

On a postive note it was great to see the contribution of Naismith and Osman. I have always thought highly of Osman, but I confess to thinking Naismith was less than useless...but I was wrong, he does have a role to play as a striker, perhaps as an impact sub.

Will need to see more of Traore - looked and played liked a lamp post. Awkward player, awkward to handle, but looks like he has a poor first touch (which is also evident in his You Tube highlights).

Our performance was very lethargic to say the least, but the sick-note lads got a bit more gametime and Traore got off to a good start. OK, he looked a little awkward at times but he also showed vision and a desire to be involved.

A boring match but we're through to the quarter finals against Wenger's boys. Exciting times ahead.

That’s the Everton way

I’m also critical of the Baines-Pienaar-Osman axis: it’s all very nice but has no end product. They should be whipping in crosses for our forwards to connect with. I know MIrallas had that chance that ballooned over but, if we can get 10 of those in a game, we can afford to miss a few.

"So Roberto, when are we going to see the new centre forward?"

Marinez says: "Lacina is an important member of the group...". Martinez thinks: "Shit, don't do it Bobby lad, sit on your hands, tell them anything, my hand is going. I really want to tell them we have watched him in training and been a bit horrified. Don't do it. Please, hand, stay still". Says: "He will come into a good moment". Thinks: "There it goes again, straight to me bleedin' ear, I'm going to have to play him sometime".

Having watched the rest of the match I was unpleasantly surprised. Sometimes you just don't need to a watch a player for more than one game to know he's got some very obvious issues.

However your comment that Traore's technical looks good......? When he traps the ball it moves about two full paces from his foot. That's two of his paces so about 9ft. Technically he looks poor and fitness is not likely to improve that in a hurry.

Second half, we had much the better of it, defending with much more urgency and more lively in attack. I don't recollect many attacks by them second half!

We are definitely a work in progress as far as the defenders finding the passes to the midfield players is concerned. More movement from the midfield would help because Distin and Jags both find difficulty finding a free man to pass to.

The opposition now know how were going to build the play and mark very closely, it gets a bit hairy at times I must say. I think we may see a few drastic changes in the summer if RM is given enough money to spend!

Paul - you say "It seems a characteristic of performances under RM that we can't seem to put two decent halves in most games." This has been a problem with Everton teams for the past 3 or 4 years and it does my head in as the failure to perform in both halves makes it more difficult to win games. It is a habit that RM has to get the players out of and soon.

I admire you optimism... but as a wise man once penned "reserving judgment is a matter of infinite hope"..

It's been a while since I've seen a player as slow or as clumsy as Traore. I'm not sure being at a new club is a coherent excuse for such a poor first touch.

I'd rather Naismith was played up top.

Meanwhile, he has a good record on goal scoring. Back-heeled when and where it counted. Cool la!

The rumour that he was brought in for the Chelsea game only doesn't seem so ridiculous now.

The reports were that he was better with his feet than his head. they were right, he is absolutely diabolical with his head and only shite with his feet.

Not too arsed though if he bangs in a goal a game for his short spell here

I will give him at least a few more matches before I get the knives out. I hope he may change a few uncharitable minds on here.

Is the Arsenal return game in Germany on the Wednesday of that week? Means we will play them on the 8th no? Think we have enough to get through anyway. I hope.

One final question: Barkley is big with great control. Could he play as a striker? I wish he could get a chance. It would be far less of a problem if he loses the ball. I think he would be a handful.

Guus Hiddink liked him, signed him and used him.

Some very harsh assessments of Traore's performance yesterday. There wasn't much to get excited about but I don't agree it was as awful as some are saying. He seemed quick enough to me when he had a good reason to get on his bike, but those opportunites were extremely limited due to our laboured build up play.

People used to say Fellaini was lazy when the statistics showed he regularly ran further in a game than any of our other players. To assess how quickly a player is moving you need to look at how much ground he is covering, not just how quickly his legs are pumping.

I agree it was a dull performance lacking any vitality in midfield and too many players were poor. CM was the worst I have seen this season,Kevin was not performing though I saw signs that Ross is slowly starting to feel his way back.

I don't think we will see the full Martinez effect until we replace our centre backs. They are doing ok in a new system of playing but when they are put under pressure like yesterday they struggle because they are not playing their natural game and this creates a disjointed performance as CM is pulled around to cover rather than to join in building our forward movement .Stones must be in with a good shout to claim a starting berth next season and maybe buy a good young footballing centre back to play with him. Jags and Sylvain are decent but not in this system.

Osman and Nais showed yet again that they do not deserve the abuse they get on this site. They put in good performances and put the younger players to shame.

As for Robles- someone teach him how to kick a ball- if I was playing centre back I would be a bag of nerves playing ahead of him. He may have promise but his kicking ability is atrocious

The lad has talent. His fine record proves this. Age 23, he is still learning and in Martinez he has the right coach.

Did we bring him in for a dozen games or so, or do we have a permanent signing in mind? If the latter is the case we'd like him to do well, but not too well.

From what we know about our manager, he will not give a contract to a stranger. Right now he will be studying Traore's character and assessing his value to the squad. As stated in various interviews, the lad has been tutored on the history of Everton and what it stands for. We are the most famous club he has ever experienced and he'll be desperate to succeed. Let's hope he does. It's all a gamble and if he fails to make the grade it won't break the bank.

Trouble is, he's not getting that type of ball often. We need to play that more and tell Barkley to stop shooting from afar. He sucks at that anyways.