Totally agree Joel could have played this game instead of the cup. A compromise should have been made.

Stones is coming on nicely.

Deulofeu is holding back from full sprinting, but played well.

Some good delivery went into the box yesterday, with no reaction.

McGeady had a decent cameo.

It was looking too late to replace Ossie.

Mirallas is so frustrating, whilst Bainsey is way down on earlier form.

McCarthy has more to give. I would love to see him burst through the middle, taking the limiter off with someone slotting in.

The passing is way too slow, whilst the central defenders should carry it beyond the half way line particularly when we go to '3 at the back'.

Cardiff brought some atmosphere, as the old lady was pretty quiet, in another goalless first half. Although top goal keeping from Marshall/ shit finishing.

Roberto had decided on his substitutions before we scored the first goal, they were waiting to go on. I was surprised he didn't at least delay making the changes when we scored, allowing the game to settle for a few minutes. Deulofeu was on a high after scoring and was mighty disappointed to be hooked.

On the positives, McGeady looks a well balanced player, Barry was much improved and Lukaku gives us a target.

The negatives, we struggled to put away a poor side, and had it not been for the miss-hit volley, we would have all been pissed off again. Still, we were due a bit of luck.

James was great and I agree with Ian that if he was let off the leash and told to get forward more we could have a terrific young player.

Stones continues to progress and learn but if only Oviedo was fit he would surely play as Baines has had a very ordinary season- a few flashes of what he used to do yesterday but he seems to have lost his dash.

I don't see Lulu as a player on whom we should lavish £20 m or more. He is so raw and cannot play as a target man or link player. Very good at running at defenders and getting a shot away but we have a few who can do that rather than play as orthodox wingers and we can't accomodate both- either we have wingers to provide chances to the striker or a striker who will create chances for the wingers but at the moment we have two wingers and a striker who all play for themselves and that is what was so refreshing about Aiden when he came on as he tried to create openings for others.

Not too bothered about how we win now and we were due a bit of luck. Fifth is wide open and we don't need too many results to go our way to open up fourth. Arsenal have some awful fixtures all in a row now and we still have to play them at Goodison.If we are thereabouts come our last three home games against Arsenal,United and City .............

Come on!!!

I still think Lukaka will be a great player when he gets the service, which club that will be with who knows?

Anyway, my voice is still recovering from my screams at the winner and can't wait for next week.

[Completely off topic, where is Ricardo Humphries? Am I alone in Cape Town?]

We could still be stuck with David Moyes haha fucking over rated manager that fella if ever their was a media love in with a manager.

Well about yesterday, three important points despite another frustrating performance that only started getting better once McGeady came on and put in the quick early quality crosses that we have been craving lately.

Plus points yesterday from my opinion.

Lukaku played with a real vigour and looked very fresh and ready.

Stones continues to look like he is ice cool.

Deulofeu showed some flashes amidst frustrating play.

Mirallas is the new McFadden..Capable of scoring wonderful goals but in the main frustrates the bollocks off fans and team mates alike with his reluctance to look up and his wayward shooting.

Osman on the left?? Roberto what the Fuck?
Ossie cannot hurt teams by playing as a wide man especially when you have a outright winger sitting on the bench in McGeady.

Again Baines form worries me slightly, could be the fact he has no real competition for his place now I am not sure but he just doesnt seem right.

All in all it was a performance and result which we have become accustomed to with Everton this year..Slow start no real urgency and no real guile until the second half when a positive substitute comes on.

What can we aim for the rest of this season?

Probably target 5 more wins and finish above United or Spurs or both, then get to the summer and start backing Martinez with some money and let him get more of his own players.

As this season progresses, I feel that Roberto is keeping it tight to prove to those who said we would defend like Wigan (last season) that he is not the gung-ho madman that some suggested. He wants to prove a point and I believe in the summer he will bring in players who he has already identified. Next season. I believe we will see a lot stronger team and performances.

2. Return of Gareth, Gerard and Jack (Barry, Delefeou and Rodwell). Lukaku will probably return and sold to the highest bidder and we probably wont be contention.

3. Emergence of Stones and Barkley - they both have a taste of the real thing and they both now know what is required and how fine the margins are. I fully expect them to step up a notch or two next season

4. The decline of Hibbert, Osman, Pienaar, Distin - I will be really sad to see them go. But their time has come, I expect at least 1 of them to retire. They are all squad rotation players at best now and they wont be taking us to the next level.

5. New signings. Some exciting loans (how about that Rafinha fella – another Barca kid on loan at Celta – why not get them both playing together here at a higher level for a year?). But we really need to buy a serious goalscorer or two. We have goal threat from all over the park except from strikers. We also need a proper creator of goals. These two have to be the absolute priorities when building the squad.

6. Our current style at a slightly faster pace when in the opposition half. Imagine that. I expect the team to up their game now that they know how to hold the ball and mentally they know that can beat anyone anywhere.

I criticise Mirallas because he has so much ability but so often flatters to deceive by either scuffing his shots or failing in the final third to find a teammate who may be better placed. He always looks like he could be the one to find the answer when we need a goal and he just needs to adapt his style of play that little bit rather than try to do it all himself.

I don't see how we were lucky yesterday though. We played some decent stuff and Roberto had clearly had words about shooting as Brian says above we did try more shots and if their keeper had not been so good we would have scored four or five.

Fifth place is looking good after today's results and who knows what might happen yet.

Best thing about the weekend has to be Gerrard missing that third penalty – can you imagine the TV and papers if he had scored a hat-trick of pens at OT?

Thank heaven for small mercies!

With Spurs and Man Utd on the wain, only a big drop in form (and good luck!) will deprive us of ’the best of the rest trophy’.

How’s that for a pessimistic old bugger who stands to lose two hundred notes if we can clinch that ’title?

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