Early Jags goal defended to the end

If either centre-back got injured, I would be happier with Barry playing there and bringing on Besic.

Surely he must be a better option than Alcaraz at centre-back substitute?

Howard and Lennon put a shift in, he could be a good buy as long as he doesnÂ’t go off the boil once heÂ’s signed like some have done.

IÂ’m still not convinced by Kone,

Now can we please keep this TH until the end of the season !!!

Howard had a good game: some fine stops, and controlled his box better than in some of his past performances this year. The free kick where he was Â’rootedÂ’ was on the wall side, if it had been on target no keeper would have gotten to it. The other shot mentioned took a vicious swerve back to the middle of the goal. Howard did well to react and reach out a strong hand to parry it away; if he was Â’startledÂ’ (i.e., hadnÂ’t been paying close attention), he wouldnÂ’t have made the save. Again, thatÂ’s a shot that fools many a keeper on its way into the back of the net.

Brilliant from Jags. Our Player of the Season. MotM.

Barkley tracked back and even won a header. Howard came out, punched and produced two fantastic saves (something he never does according to some). Baines and Coleman shite. For all the slagging off of Barry, he played well and was better than McCarthy again.

Besic clueless when he came on. I can see why he doesnÂ’t start. Lennon non-stop again and defended well. Naismith gave us a lift and was a general nuisance when he came on. All-in-all, a pretty shit game... but a win and 3 points.

Maybe we can play some of our younger lads now. CanÂ’t be any worse can it?

WeÂ’re still in the bottom half which considering the squad we have us still unacceptable. Only a top-half finish can keep Martinez in a job after the performances and results weÂ’ve had.

I canÂ’t be arsed with his press conference either.

On balance, apart from the 3 points, you can see why were are were we are in the league.

No cutting edge cheap possession given away, Kone is a ping pong machine, and McCarthy seriously needs to up his game.

Jags was solid, and Howard put in a decent shift (for once).

Baines and Coleman didn’t look great, though I wonder how much of that had to do with their partners and the formation. Coleman and Lennon look uncomfortable playing with each other – each wondering if it’s their turn to provide the speed and width.

With Osman and/or Barkley on the left, Baines seemed unsupported at times, with those two drifting to the middle. Playing with only one up front also means that there wonÂ’t always be an option further forward, when play switches quickly.

Southampton also pressed a fair bit during the game. There is a lot of talent between those two, but -- unlike last season -- we arenÂ’t seeing it as much.

Never felt more like singing the blues,
when Everton win and Liverpool lose.

I will tell you what: Señor Bob to leave asap...

3 wins on the trot, no matter how we got them, is not too shabby.

Jags and Stones were rock solid at the back and by far our best players.

Lennon worked his socks off again... but again his passing and crossing was piss poor; heÂ’s just another Kevin Kilbane with lots of pace. I really hope we donÂ’t make his loan deal a permanent signing in the summer. We need some players that can produce quality as well as work-rate.

As ever with him, you donÂ’t know whether to worry more whether he actually believes that or if he is just a perennial bullshitter. But he was right about a solid defensive display.

The midfield was too lightweight, and the wings not utilised. As someone else said, Coleman and Lennon donÂ’t seem to have an understanding yet as to who is going to go on a run. Baines didnÂ’t know if Ross or Ossie would cover him and McCarthy had a very poor game.

As for Howard making two saves, the first one he should have come out earlier and collected it, and the rest of time he stood on his line letting the defence do the clearing.

It is a good result, but letÂ’s not kid ourselves, it was a crap game, and we created nothing, have no-one to deputise for Lukaku, and miss a clever centre mid. If the Saints had scored, we would never have opened them up.

HowardÂ’s wonderful save ten minutes in. Certainly. Robles might simply have come out and caught the ball. Why do so many teams put crosses into our box as a priority?

What a superb goal just now from Charlie Adam by the way.
Wonderful.

I cannot believe how unfit the team is, really unbelievable! Some of them were blowing hard after about 30 minutes!!

The football we have produced this season has been nothing short of a disgrace. I think we only had the one shot on goal today.

I take comfort in the fact we are getting ourselves out of relegation trouble but to think that the last 3 games – or the whole season for that matter – is in any way acceptable is a disgrace.

Hearing supporters coming out the ground saying how great it was shows how far weÂ’ve deteriorated under Martinez.

First half was not too bad but over all... not a game to get you out of your seat. MotM: Jags, who seems to be leading by example. Good 3 points against a good team,

We have crawled to safety and I am gutted at where we are. How about an editorÂ’s blog telling us exactly what you think?

We need to start again; it did not do Southampton any harm starting the season with a new squad, and they looked like the team Everton should be this season (even though they lost today).

Barkley should be sold to get the funds in to start the rebuild as today it proved he can be replaced easily. (Was he playing?) Barry, Alcaraz, Osman, Naismith, Kone, McGeady and others need to go and off the wage bill, so we can get a new squad for next season.

Well done Jags – MotM. And a very good shift from Lennon – tracked back and snuffed out danger in our box several times.

I thought tactically we were very good and limited them to a handful of good chances. Man Utd have won most their games ugly this season and look where they are. Come on, people, give some credit when itÂ’s due.

Jagielka was our best player again. good to see him recovering his confidence after that prick Hodgson publicly, wrongfully blamed him for the World Cup.

Watching a team play 4-2-3-1 is like watching a shapeless mass running out of position for 90 minutes. WhatÂ’s MartinezÂ’s problem with width?

Great save from Howard but, despite a couple of punches, he still gives me the willies whenever a cross comes in. Baines had an absolute shocker. Now we are effectively safe, IÂ’d get Garbutt in for the rest of the season to see what he can do.

I thought Barkley had probably his best game of the season and was very surprised when he came off. Particularly as his replacement , Besic, was awful for the time he was on the pitch.

Kone was OK in the first half, although he never actually looked like scoring. He stank out the gaffe in the second half. Naismith created more panic in the Saints defence in 30 seconds than Kone did in 70 minutes.

Time to look to next season. Kone, Alcaraz (and, presumably Mirallas), Howard to go. Play Robles, Browning, McAleny rather than the deadwood and so have a view what we really need for August.

The list of summer requirements grows by the week. A keeper, centre back, playmaker, striker and two wingers is a long list, but shows the kind of shopping list we need this summer.

I would start with clearing out the wingers. Atsu, Mirallas, Pienaar, McGeady, and Lennon is a long list which must be costing a fortune, but create or score little. Reduce the numbers and up the quality for godÂ’s sake.

Jags was really good but then he has been since Christmas.

Stones continues to show what a fantastic prospect he is.

Lennon worked his nuts off and definitely gives us a different dimension. I never realised how much work rate is part of his game. I think he would be worth a punt if the price is right. HeÂ’s much better than McGeady.

Tim Howard showed he is a much better keeper than his many detractors on here would have you believe.

The sun shone and they didnÂ’t run out of chocolate biscuits in the Park End lounge.

But, as pointed out above, he has been great since Christmas and it seems heÂ’s put all the World Cup woes behind him now. He was great for England against Italy too in the week.

It’s a million miles away from what it should be. We effectively play with 6 at the back with 4 random others – take your pick, it won’t make a lot of difference when the shape is so constrained by the defensive formation repeated week after week. I really do despair with this poor manager.

The work required to get us back to a top 6 side is truly enormous. Stage 1 on the road to recovery is a new manager who has a viable plan, the respect of the players, and a keen eye in the transfer market.

Stage 2 is get rid of a lot of dead wood, already flagged in spades.

Stage 3 buy with a plan in mind, not an apparent random selection of players who simply donÂ’t fit together.

As for next season, Martinez should go but will still be here; how many fans will still be here? less than this season? I will be one of them but my expectations for a decent season are very low.

We are where we are, I am willing to believe that second seasons are notoriously difficult for new managers especially when you have a European campaign to juggle with. I may be in the minority but I would stick with the manager and hope that he will clear out those who donÂ’t want to play for us and sign us a gem who we can love and cherish for many years to come. After all, in the summer of 2004 Moyesie signed Tim Cahill and the rest as they say ..............

I totally agree with earlier comments that Seamus and Lennon need to understand each other much better, else they cannot play at the same time, but the 3 points will see me sleep well tonight.

Get some of the kids in to see who might be able to save us money this Summer.

The apathy on here is a sad indictment of RobertoÂ’s second season.

I was bored, and spent most of the match chatting to those around me in the Main Stand. Howard made two excellent saves, although I have suspicions he shouldnÂ’t have had to make the great save, should he have come for the cross into the edge of the 6 yard box? (Genuine question for a goalie out there.)

Lennon worked very hard, and I did applaud him for that, especially his challenge in injury time when he had to go where he could get hurt. But oh, his final ball is as bad as we always knew when he played for Spurs.

Excellent from Jags. Good from Barry.

Take the points and run.

Howard make two good saves and a couple of decent punches but still looks dodgy with his kicking and decision making.

The 4-1-4-1 seem to work in the first half Barkley was having a decent game but without the killer pass or shot, Kone was doing well up front making the ball stick and creating some chances and Baines was delivering some decent crosses. Southampton are a decent side but our tactics and the players were doing there job!

Second half totally different story, Kone for all his good hold and link up play totally lacked the cutting edge when in dangerous positions everytime he fluffed the pass or chance to shoot, Barkley went from being a cut above to a step below as someone mentioned earlier he has fitness issues he struggles to keep his mental focus and his decision making is shocking when heÂ’s tired, McCarthy for me showed his weaknesses as a midfielder you canÂ’t knock his endeavour but going forward he has literally no attacking ability he is a crab.

On the whole a great three points before the game IÂ’d have took a one nil win all day long so onwards and upwards to mid table mediocrity!

But mostly it was chaos – no real tactical thinking behind the team display – and I left the ground with the impression only a Ratboy-type signing can save us from another relegation battle next season. Hope I’m wrong.

Their most telling comment, though, was that they were very surprised that an Everton team, with such good players, could be so bad. I couldnÂ’t disagree with them.

I saw a good 1st half of football where we were probing and creating chances without testing the keeper. 2nd half needed a bit of a rearguard action but in the 2nd half Howard didnÂ’t have any real save of note and Southampton showed why theyÂ’ve tailed off spectacularly in the 2nd half of the season. Pelle was marshaled efficiently, their subs had very little impact on the game and we saw the game out comfortably.

I am not saying it was a perfect performance but we got a win, a clean sheet and the RS lost. What more do people want?

Thoughts on the games is that Jimmy Mac is the 2nd most underrated player in our squad behind Leon Osman. Barkley needs to keep his head up when running with the ball as he keeps going down too many blind alleys.

And finally Baines needs to be benched for the rest of the season so a rocket can be lit under him. He was the worst player on the pitch today, jogging back when Southampton counter attacked leaving Osman far too exposed. At least Kone tried in the first half.

"What more do people want?" — To play well and look like a team with ambition, surely wouldn’t be asking too much.

Great to see us win but our expectations must be a lot higher than what we were served up today. Do you really think we can survive with this manager next season?

At Feyenoord Â’95, away some Dutchies bought out a lounge chair and table for their goalie at halftime briefly for a laugh and their 39-year-old goalie certainly won't be on the massage table with muscle strain tonight.

But all that matters is the big 3 points because points means massive prizes this season above any before.

Southampton, like Everton last season, threatened to gate-crash the party but have predictably run out of steam. Take Skrtel out of the Redshite team and they shipped 4 goals today.

I will be relinquishing my season ticket due to a move down to the southeast in the summer and to be honest todayÂ’s performance persuaded me that I wonÂ’t be bothering dragging myself and the two kids on a 500-mile round trip for every home game to watch that dross.

I donÂ’t think he can be defined as a "prospect" any longer. He needs to be one of the first names on the team sheet. HeÂ’s one of EnglandÂ’s best CBs. HeÂ’s a cog in the Everton wheel.

No longer a prospect despite his age. Time for him to be considered a player, an important one, and not a prospect in my opinion.

The boyÂ’s come of age and heÂ’s a player we can rely on game in and game out. And we should expect from him what we expect of seasoned player. Step up kid - and you always do.

I thought the shirt gesture by RB was well considered and I canÂ’t help but like the lad (a bit bias towards the boy). Mo was awful and traffic Kone, well, the less said the better.

I am sure some of them will be chomping at the bit to get their chances. The likes of Osman, Barry, Baines, Kone etc are hopefully not going to figure much next season and others such as Lennon, Atsu along with sick note players like Pienaar and Gibson may also be gone so letÂ’s think positive about the new breed.

Saints were very much in the ascendancy when the subs were made - it seemed a matter of when, not if, they were gonna score.

The introduction of Naismith and Besic neutralised their threat straight away, then we looked fairly comfortable from then on in.

Manager deserves little credit this season, but fair play to him on this one.

IÂ’m fed up with Howard as well, but that was an incredible save - not only the devilish late swerve, but also the sun shining directly in his eyes.

Saftey pretty much guaranteed. We need to start laying some foundations for next season. Whether it be trying new formations and systems, blooding some youngsters, etc - it needs to start now.

Schneiderlin is, along with Matic, the best holding/tackling midfielder in the league.

Chances were always going to be at a premium. Was definitely not pleasing on the eye, but great to show but of fight, keep a clean sheet, and grind out a win.

We do need to lay down the foundations for next season and the first step should be to replace the manager.

The fact that it took 28 Premier League fixtures to address the defensive side of the game and continued to play 2 or 3 number 10s when the world and his dog could see it was a flawed tactic. The nine points garnered in the last 3 games have little to do with Roberto’s tactics or selections but more a case that the senior players have stood up and been counted – none more so than Jags. I wouldn’t trust Roberto to build a team at Goodison and I definitely wouldn’t let him spend significant funds doing so.

The last 3 matches owe more to our former managerÂ’s mindset than our current one and that in itself is a terrible indictment of the current boss.

He needs to completely re-think his approach. Maybe if we were quick out of the blocks and hit teams early (see the shite last season), then his current approach would pay dividends - keep ball, draw teams (who are chasing a deficit) out, and hit them on the break with pacy forwards.

ItÂ’s totally redundant now, as we start slowly, get slower, go a goal down, struggle to make any meaningful passing moves in opposition half, let alone create chances.

If we donÂ’t start making the changes now, we could be in for a horribly long season.

Summer could be interesting. Who would you like in as manager? Would you cash in on Lukaku and/or Barkley to give the new man the funds needed to rebuild?

Also, again, I will never ever understand the logic or sense or plan of a 30 yard pass back to the keeper who then launches it. Surely if you are going to launch it anyway do it further up the field?

The "coaching" from the 3rd rate team of Martinez, Jones and Lawrence has destroyed the instincts of some good players over time in a game where milliseconds of reaction makes a big difference. You could see the effect of "coaching" gradually last season, itÂ’s complete this season and it will take us down in one or other future season. Yet again, watch how long and how much time is spent giving instruction every time a sub comes on. At least 5 mins every time, while the player cools down after warming up for ages. A recipe for soft tissue injuries from our fitness professionals.

We won, yes, but every game I watch from this clownÂ’s team has me bored shirtless and it is generally completely ineffective and invites teams to attack us. Southampton were unlucky not to get at least a point today.

Martinez out (still!)

This season has obviously been a bit of a disaster but Moyes had seasons like that too. Surely he deserves another season to see which season most accurately portrays the true Martinez?

Another major concern is, not one of our players has played to the maximum of their ability this season. Strange, considering that Barkley, Lukaku, Coleman, McCarthy, and arguably Jagielka, Barry and Mirallas, had their best and most consistent campaigns last season.

Not sure if it is being coached out of them, but we have to play to our key playersÂ’ strengths. With the exception of Mirallas, the rest of the aforementioned are all model pros in their approach, so lack of desire, work ethic, dedication, etc is not the issue. Worrying times...

I fear it is much like the Moyes Kenwright relationship. It suits both of them, two utter nonentities content to crawl along without any idea of how the club might move forward.

Or for our older readers Bernie Â’The BoltÂ’ Wright!

Though he only enjoyed an 11-month stay with the club, he created an impression on the Everton fans, who remember him for using his head to accidentally break the toe of Sheffield United centre-back Eddie Colquhoun during an attempted diving header.

Wright returned to Walsall in 1973 for a fee of 㾶,000, and scored 38 goals in 152 league games during his four years at Fellows Park. After struggling in the lower half of the table in 1972–73 and 1973–74 under John Smith and then Ronnie Allen, the "Saddlers" came close to promotion in 1974–75 and 1975–76 under Doug FraserÂ’s stewardship.

He joined Bobby Kennedy’s Bradford City in 1976, where he scored 13 goals in 66 league games. Bradford won promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1976–77, but suffered relegation in 1977–78 under John Napier. Wright and Don Hutchins were joint-top scorer in 1977–78 with ten goals.

In June 1978, Dennis ButlerÂ’s Port Vale paid the "Bantams" ٧,000 to secure WrightÂ’s services; Vale had been relegated along with Bradford the previous season. Wright scored on his debut, a 1–1 draw at Chester in a League Cup game on 16 August 1978. Nine days later the tough striker endeared himself to "Valiants" fans when he scored a hat-trick past local rivals Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road. He finished as top scorer in the 1978–79 season with 15 strikes in 48 games, and was voted Player of the Year for this achievement.

He lost his place under caretaker-manager Alan Bloor, though regained it with a brace against Northampton Town. He went on to record 9 goals in 33 games in 1979–80, but fell out with new manager John McGrath, and dropped out of the Football League at the end of the season, joining Kidderminster Harriers of the Southern Football League on a free transfer. He later played for Trowbridge Town, Cheltenham Town, Worcester City and Gloucester City. He was very much in the mould of the Strac.

Yes I saw all of those, they were all poor. Kone was poor today as well. What point are you making?

Kone cost ٤.5M, if you want another irrelevant comparison. Paul Wilkinson had a League Championship medal too. This game could go on for a long time! :-)

I had to post, however, to congratulate Barkley on a decent game today – his first of the season. I saw him tackle, head the ball, track back and run into space as well as a few trademark driving runs. Get the basics right and maybe, just maybe his talent will blossom. However, he did fade (doesn’t have the stamina) and he doesn’t attack or shoot enough but I am still left with the question why has he not put a shift in before?

Is it down to what Joe (#74) says about keeping possession? I think this is a key point about our play and whilst our possession slowed the game after 60 minutes and drew the sting out of Southampton, it also bored the arse off me! Having said that, we did not have a potent striking threat today without Lukaku, and perhaps we have to accept that a cautious approach did bring 3 points.

I think youÂ’re being a bit unfair to bring KoneÂ’s price tag into his performance, because he has been out a long time; still looks like he is struggling for that extra millisecond, and he was also playing against the meanest defence in the league.

Southampton looked quicker, stronger and also fitter than Everton today, so to hear MartinezÂ’s after-match comments was even more worrying. He said that WE always looked like we had an extra gear?

Allan (#64), when I heard him say this, I also thought of the Italian tank, because we had very little going forward after half-time yesterday.

I saw Paul Wilkinson and in 86-87 when we won the league. He played 32 games and scored 12 goals.

A bit better than Kone wouldnÂ’t you say?

I wasnÂ’t really comparing KoneÂ’s performance with his fee, the opposite really, to show it isnÂ’t relevant as he didnÂ’t set his price. He does have some good skills, including a good first touch and holds it up well.

Overall, I think he is poor, though, as can be seen from his lack of goals. Then again, do we judge players by how they perform under Martinez? That may be very harsh. One – ONE – attempt on goal all game but no doubt Bobby is more distressed at our 45% possession stat.

For those who slag off Lukaku, you need to look at taking his goals out of the side and see where in the table we would be... because that is a scary prospect for next season. I would be happy to eat humble pie over my Kone opinion, as with everything else, if it meant Everton were successful.

The main thing though about Kone and his fee is, in my opinion, yet another example of poor managerial judgement. I could be wrong but I think he was injured when we bought him? Why do that? I donÂ’t recall queues round the block for him triggering a race to secure his signature. Who does that except Martinez??? He has form in taking loan players and paying wages for the whole loan, for ChristÂ’s sake. ItÂ’s employing people for the privilege of paying their sick pay.

IÂ’ll repeat again, I would not trust this guy with spending a penny of our transfer budget in a really important upcoming window, he will bankrupt us and saddle us with shite on long-term contracts. I thought the days of us doing that with the likes of Bilic, Nyarko etc were behind us. But, then again, I thought that around scrapping for points near the bottom of the table too...

I agree we can’t afford to carry players who are permanently injured, not good enough or simply too old and slow. That means this squad needs major rework in the summer – Kone, Alcaraz, Hibbert, Distin, Howard, Gibson, Pienaar, McGeady should all be shown the door. Mirallas will also depart, as should Barry if we hadn’t given him a 3-year deal.

That’s major rebuilding work to be done – not many on TW think RM is the man to do it seems to be the summary?

DonÂ’t think heÂ’s a bad player, but he looks a yard short, and after an injury as bad as his, it could be debated whether he will ever regain it.

IÂ’m not one for changing the manager. I prefer to remember MoyesÂ’s last ever game at Goodison last year, and remember how good Everton were that day. But Martinez has made it really difficult watching Everton this season, and to come out and say we had an extra gear if needed yesterday, was a fucking truly bemusing statement to make.

It either means, (A) IÂ’m a fucking liar, or (B) get used to this boring, tedious football, because one-nil, is much better than three-nil? I know....

Both...!

The Premier League is really fashionable at the minute, maybe soon enough it will reach its peak. I say this because without the few thousand day-trippers, no way would our stadium have been full yesterday!

Never have I had such little pleasure watching my team; something has got to change because it canÂ’t really go on, being so boring.

Against Man Utd last April, we was so clever... why is the manager trying to be clever now, in trying to kid us?

Southampton were superior to us all over the park yesterday, but I feel a lot better though, because Martinez said we had another gear if we needed it!

We still looked a shapeless mess, though. My hope is that in the summer, Kenwright realises that we have to replace Distin, Gibson, Pienaar, Alcaraz, Kone, Howard and the inevitably leaving Mirallas.

ThatÂ’s seven players, the number Martinez spoke about last summer, when we had a bit of momentum and would have been more attractive. IÂ’m suspicious that Kenwright reined Martinez in after he made that statement. Martinez has made no similar statement since.

These players need replacing in the summer, whoever is manager. This season is proof that we need a clearout. Will the Â’directorsÂ’ unlock the biscuit tin? Will they trust Martinez to spend the contents? IÂ’m not holding my breath, whoever is manager.

There was a Danish family in front of me, taking their son to the match for his 18th – the father turned around and asked me who Kone was and if we paid any money for him, was it his first game at that level – said it all for me.

I donÂ’t know if you can have one or the other, but it would be very favourable for him to improve his stamina.

I don't want him to but anyone because I don't want him to be here – and although I expect him to be – I really don't trust his judgement on player purchases.

Of the players Martinez has purchased, namely Robbles, Alcaraz, Kone, McCarthy, Lukaku and Besic, only Lukaku, McCarthy and possibly Besic (on whom the jury is still out) have looked worthy buys. Two and a half out of 6 is hardly convincing.

Nor does he appear to have a scouting network which could be called impressive in that there have been no promising surprise puchases plucked from lower leagues. Moyes looks to have had a better record in this respect.

I'm one of those who'll doesn't want to – but will have to live with – Martinez next season. There was absolutely nothing about Saturday's win – very welcome though it was – that encourages me to re-kindle the qualified belief I had for three quarters of last season.

From what I have seen of Martinez's motivational skills this season, I wouldn't trust him to convince a manic depressive that his glass was half-empty.

All I can say is that, when he is eventually replaced, Kenwright must break out of his comfort zone and select a manager who is more likely to take us forward rather than be someone who can enhance Kenwright's pleasurable Chairman experience!

Kenwright's comfort zone also = I am an Evertonian who has only got the clubs best interest at heart.

Kenwright's comfort zone = if I can get away with the Finch Farm deal with hardly a murmur, then I have got away with murder, because I've only got the club's best interests at heart!?!?

As for Howard being startled on the long swerving kick. He was tracking it but the ball tends to move a lot and suddenly depending on how it is struck. He reacted to the swerve well and made a good one-handed parry which is not easy to get enough strength behind to keep the ball out of the goal. Wonder what can you now do with three victories and Howard with a clean sheet (even though you probably won't give him credit for it but sure do blame him if any goals go in)?

Peter, your question about coming out on the other Howard save. It was a driven cross not a high floater and from a difficult angle headed to the corner of the 6. Howard, sees the striker and his defender coming back at an angle and if he goes he is likely to get clobbered by both and then leave the goal completely open. If he couldn't catch it and hold on to it with the impending collision due to the angles involved he would have to hope he could punch it clear before contact. He would then have to punch it clear and hope it either goes to a teammate, to safety, or that he isn't knocked over and can't get up in time to cover the goal in case the ball falls to the opposing team.

He chose to let the defender do his job, which he didn't do well making Howard have to make a save. If Stones does his job then the ball is an easy one to collect. Of course this is only one GK's opinion.

For the little he had to do, he failed to boss his goal area, but that again is no surprise; to me, he is a less than competent goalkeeper; to you, he does a good job.

First 10 minutes we where chasing shadows; after we scored we did okay for the rest of the first half.

Second half, although the Saints had more possession, they never really threatened; our passing was quite poor, but defensively we did well. Mr "snap at your heels" Lennon was great and took the pressure off Coleman.

Naismith gave his usual 100% while Besic was out of sorts.

Personally, I thought it was a hard-fought 3 points, Howard had his best game for a long time. And the Captain was fantastic so, although I'm not happy with the rest of the season, Saturday's game was a important move in the right direction.

You make it sound as if Howard was lashed to the far post instead of him choosing to visibly take away the corner and cover in (could be due to scouting tendencies of the kick taker which of course is done even at the collegiate level but probably in your opinion Howard must not do either) and giving the kick taker the difficult shot which he or she isn't as polished or comfortable with perhaps such as over the wall and having to dip in under the crossbar, just inside the post.

As for your "Howard isn't competent". Seriously? Again go to Squawka.com and look at his stats over the last four seasons and see what keepers he was better than over that entire period or each year which then makes De Gea, Lloris, and Cech incompetent especially last season.

Maybe you would play as a keeper in a different style. I play differently then my son and daughter and even differently than some of the kids I train. That is technique not competence.

You lose credibility saying Howard is not competent as a keeper. (He starts for the USA National team over Guzan who is rated as at least competent in the EPL.) He obviously knows how to catch, punch, three-hand stop, elbows in and cover over the ball, and set walls and defenders. That would make him competent. Whether he does it when you want or how you want is again style or choice. If you don't like his style, fine... but try to rationally distinguish the difference. I am not a fan of Lloris and his sweeper-keeper style but wouldn't think to question his competence.

He lined up his defence, for the free kick on Saturday, exactly the way he lined them up for Gerrard's free kick at Anfield, and he cocked that up as well.

Fair's fair, you like him; I think the quicker he goes the better.

By the way Ian Snodin, in the Liverpool Echo tonight, agrees with you over Howard, but Jim what does Snodin know!!!!!!!.