For some time now we have had lots of possession but no striker. Now we have a fit striker and he is on the bench.

I also think he is taking a risk with young Stones. But he'll probably score the winner and I'll feel a right twit!

Shall I phone up my Granny? She's accurate with a tennis ball!

I hope this isn't going to be another points lost game.

Shocking ref today. Bought everything Carrol sold him.

On another note, John Stones, what a prospect and player we have got here — the lad just oozes quality, he's ahead of Barkley at this stage in his career.

The fact that they came out in the second half gave us the space and it meant for a much more attractive game.

Great goal and good work from Baines.

They will go to the Emirates now in good heart.
Anyone have any idea what is going on with Alan Pardew?

If a fan had done to a player what he did they would find themselves facing the police.

Why did he do it the team were well on top?

Because he's a stupid cockney twat!

I'd like to see Lukaku up front with Naismith. I can see at least one of them always finding lots of space in the final third. Lukaku's strength is, well, his strength and Naismith's is working his socks off and finding the net from close range. It may mean we play more of the game in the box rather than around it. Too many of our midfielders lack a combination of pace and strength, especially against the top sides.

With the current squad, I think that's worth looking at. Anything that gets Lukaku looking towards the goal will work best for me.

Given Deulofeu and McGeady are available for the right wing role, I'd put Mirallas up there to play off Lukaku.

Looking forward, I noticed we have Cardiff, Swansea and Fulham before we host Arsenal. The Gunners have Spurs and Chelsea away... could we dare to dream again?

What we have learned today:

A) Two forwards create more space and chances.

B) Pienaar is incredibly slow and acts as a drag on every attack. He checks back, stops, walks and passes it back. Or he passes it ambitiously but poorly out of play.

Need more up front to bother big boys. Still welcome three points.

At least Martinez didn't bring on McGreaddy for Pienaar today which fucked us up at Spurs and Chelsea, hopefully he's learnt a lesson.

It did open up in the second half somewhat when they started to fancy their chances more, plus the pace of the game increased making for more openings.

The game changer was undoubtedly Lukaku coming on; we looked a threat from then on. I think it illustrates again how players with that bit of extra quality can make a decent team into a good one.

We are just 1 or 2 short of a top 4 team. I've been critical of Stones recently, but I thought he had an excellent game today.

I think that we are going to have to accept that the neighbours are where they are and there's nothing we can do about it. But in 1906 and 1966 Everton won the FA Cup and Liverpool won the League – do we go on about the Dark Side winning the title in those seasons? No, we cherish the Blues winning the FA Cup.

It will be a bigger ask due to Arsenal's defeat today but we are good enough to get to the Semi-Final and I hope we do because the alternative is frightening with people ready to pounce on every error or poor performance as if we have been Man Utd for the last 20 years.

Well, I really am speechless.

What a shame the goal came so late on. I think had the goal come ten minutes into the second half we could have buried WHU.

Let's hope we gain the momentum for the Arsenal game that we had prior to Christmas.

Good call mate !!

He wasn't in the squad, and young Browning was?

Not sure what to make of that!

If we can't get into Champions League this season, then absolutely I want Everton in some form of European football. As for the argument that it will impact on our PL campaign for next year, history suggests it won't necessarily – 2007/08 saw us playing some of our best football under Moyes, we achieved our highest ever league points tally under him (65), while also playing in Europe.

Yes the Europa League will increase our playing commitments, but it also will give us the opportunity to blood fringe players in our team. I can see the likes of McAleny, Lundstram, and Browning being given game time in Europa League games next season, which can only help their playing development. After all, Coleman as an example first made his appearance in an Everton shirt in a Europa League game.

Any European competition also will help us attract better players to our club, there will be increased revenue for the club (revenue which admittedly pales in comparison to the riches of the Champions Club), and finally, it's an opportunity for us to win a competition, which would also mean entry for the following season's Champions League!

McGeady has done very little wrong when he has been brought on and Pienaar can't be expected to play 90 minutes in every game if you want to get the best out of him.

Drop the McGready shit as well. Mocking our own players really isn't as big and clever as you think it is.

Which three players on our bench could have cost us £50 million? Mirallas was £6 million and Barkley is our own product (and still finding his feet). Both Lukaku and Mirallas are first team regulars anyway, and Barkley is pretty much there as well (his value only having shot up because of his time on the pitch this season) so their bench duties are more likely to be due to injury / form problems rather than simple choice. We are not flush with expensive players if that is what you are trying to make out.

Anyone know why Mirallas wasn't used at all today? Not 100%, his turn for rotation, or fallen from favour?

As with anything, nothing's all bad or all good, but on balance I think we would be better off not in it.

We beg to differ I suppose!

That said, I'm inclined to say that Champ League football is not really a genuine possibility without a buyer anyway. So why not go for the Europa League? There is no reason we cant get into the last 16, and when there, we are a few knockout ties from a Champions League place anyway.

The win was good, and warranted today. We were not brilliant but did enough, and managed to get ease Lukaku back in, and give Barkley and Mirallas more of a rest. Stones scares the hell of me though when he plays. He is simply not ready imo, and the lack of a steady third choice cb could cost us dear.

I also think the Arsenal result was just as important for us today in terms of the upcoming FA cup tie. The pressure will be on them next weekend, because the season which promised so much is now petering out. If we score first, the crowd will get restless, and based on our visit earlier than the season, a result is a real possibility.

Whereas, the 'not so brilliant' people will look up and see the 'brilliant' people up there in front of them and they will try, with their limited skills, to emulate or even surpass those with 'brilliant' skills.

I have seen this time after time in real life and I saw an excellent example of it today at Goodison Park where a player with moderate skill used those skills to the optimum and chased, harried and in general played his guts out for the common good.

Twelve months ago, if I had said this, everyone would have laughed, but today that mediocre player was 'brilliant'...

Good on ya, Steven (Naismith)!

Most discerning fans on this site agree Osman is no longer good enough to start a game but frequently does. He, along with Pienaar, tries hard but neither have the pace nor directness to trouble many defences these days. Delboy has great skill and quite a bit of pace but I still think another game or two coming off the bench would have been appropriate.

It was obvious that Lukaku wasn't quite ready for 90 mins and that's why he was on the bench but Barkley should have started. I liken the Barkley situation to that of Rooney many years ago when Moyes was playing flip-flop with him despite the fact he was better than anyone else at the time and this led to discontent.

I am sure Ross knows how good he is, and this is born out by the fact he is in the England squad, so why is his ability left on the bench Robbie?

Everton where 9 minutes away from another poor result and the blame would have been squarely at Robbie's feet but they squeaked it out. There has to be a big improvement for the next game and hopefully Robbie gets his act together by then.

I agree that Pienaar's final ball is sometimes the wrong option but also think he makes us play. Remember the last time he played in that role last Xmas and Chelsea couldn't get near him for an hour until he tired?

Good comment about Nais. Whatever his shortcomings are, effort has never been one of them.

Has been asked to play in different roles and never complained. He is the perfect foil for any strike partner, shame we don't play with two up.

His commitment and effort alone deserves more respect than it gets.

I think Barkley has great potential, but he has been very poor since coming back from injury, and imo, is very over-rated. He makes some great runs, and troubles defenders, but he creates nowhere near enough, nor scores enough, for his position, and shoots far too often. Rooney was miles ahead of him in terms of impact and ability, in a lesser team, when breaking through.

However, judging Barkley is foolish, he is one the finest talents to come out of Goodison Park. Watch him next season.

The fact that he has converted to left wing by OFM and has done so well there for EFC is for me testament to the hard work, versatility and bags of natural talent of the guy.

I thought Ossie did ok and Peanuts and Baines provided threat down the left. That understanding is very important and was the source of today's goal. Coleman needs to find a similar foil and when he does we will be back to our best.

A word on Barks. I know we live in a world of media hype but some of the comments and expectations are beyond belief.

The boy suffered a very serious leg break which took a big period of development away from him. At his peak form he suffers another injury and was probably brought back too soon. He still has a lot to learn but his basic talent is undeniable. Two good feet, an eye for goal, strength and pace when running at defenders.

Looking forward to his development and hoping that BK does not cash in on him anytime soon.

I think there were many occassions where we could have had had a strikers goal from other players but they all decided to take an extra touch instead of shooting.

The difference with Lukaku is that he just put the ball in the net with the first touch

Linda #152 was somewhat doubtful about RM playing Stones. Personally, I think he played a cracker and is much more a CD than RB. The lad looks cool and composed and hardly puts a pass out of place ........ seldom looks to do a Jags goofball. A good prospect for us. Well done Mr M.