Deulofeu-inspired Everton avert disaster at Oakwell

On another note, I'm not too sure about this team! Please not another early exit!

Martinez is obviously sending a message with inclusion of Stones.

For me this is a real hotch potch selection with far too many changes.

Only hope this is good enough to beat Barnsley as a defeat is unthinkable at the moment.

I think he wants to do well in this match for both sets of fans, and I wouldn't be surprised if he approached the boss and said he was still up for it, and hence the trust placed in him.

(1) There has been no transfer request and the media/Chelsea are full of it;

(2) There is a transfer request and Martinez has told Stones "You are not going, son, so now we need to figure this out with respect to the fans... do you want them to know for sure you handed in a transfer request or stay and let them think you pulled a Bainesy?"

(3) There is a transfer request and we are waiting to see if Chelsea (or Man Utd) meet our valuation and what kind of replacements we wind up with;

(4) There is a transfer request and it will be resolved à la Rooney at Man Utd where he gets a new contract with us for increased pay. And in this version, I would think a 㿔 million buy-out clause or something like that.

All-in-all, a very good sign that he is playing tonight.

I'm a little worried that Everton won't have the time to spend the money wisely and we'll be forced to overpay or buy middling players. I can only imagine the screams on this site if we sell for £40 million and only spend 15-20 million this window. I'd personally rather us keep the money for January than spend is rashly in the next few days.

The wrath and histrionics that will explode from this website about an hour from now if this holds up will be a sight to behold.

The big question should be why are we waiting to secure Stones transfer money before buying players that were urgently required whether Stones left or not.

Only at Everton!

John Stones jumped over the ball for their first goal, or am I seeing things?

We need to score early in the second half or we can forget about it.

Any Manager who retains Robles as a keeper should have been sacked a long time ago.

My feelings are that Bill realised he's made a colossal mistake and doesn't know what to do about it. It's probably made him ill.

I wouldn't trust him to spend 㿞 never mind millions.

1) Last season, 60-70% possession and lost. Tonight 60% and 0-2 down at half time.

2) Last season, playing a high pressing game and clubs hitting us on the break and scoring. Tonight and against Watford was exactly the same.

3) Last season, Robles had an issue where he wanted to punch everything in the air as he plays for the cameras. Tonight, exactly the same, he either hasn't been told or hasn't learned.

4) Last season, McGeady trying his 3/4/5/6 step overs and kicking it into an opposing player's legs. Tonight, exactly the same. So wasteful.

5) Last season, we played at a slow tempo and opposing players raised their temp and speed and got behind our defence so easily. Tonight, exactly the same.
I am running out of patience with Roberto's world of football where every Everton player is "unique", every Everton player is "Phenomenal". It just doesn't wash and he hasn't changed a thing.

McGeady, Besic, and Robles look particularly out of their depth, and Oviedo's road to recovery is not going so hot.

People can blame this all they want on Martinez's style of play, but the fact of the matter is that I have seen us go out and play both his style and the long-ball method, but neither is working because nobody is executing either of them with any sort of accuracy or general decent play.

Deulofeu should be starting every game. Glad to have the wonder kid back.

Yes he is limited but he gives his all. Leave off him.

Also pleased with Besic.

For us, Robles was desperately poor; not too much doubt about that. Oviedo struggled and in general we just didn't seem organized in defence. McGeady was utter shite it has to be said in that first half, Deulofeu was the game changer in the second half. Rom I thought played within himself a bit (maybe keeping something in the tank for Sunday v Spurs). Naismith wasn't as bad as some said on the live forum, and Mirallas perhaps showed why he should have been brought on in the second half v Man City.

For you to say his goal was is only contribution is a joke.

I accept that, but Oviedo struggled all night and left our left flank wide open at times not closing down the wide man. He doesn't seem the same player as before his injury.

Gerry was superb and Ross's confidence grows with each game. Thin and fit Lukaku looked terrific in the second half and ET.

I hope Gerry starts on Saturday, that Barry is on the bench (we look so much better going forwards without him and 1 in defensive midfield), and that either Besic or Cleverley is moved to the middle.

Well done blues and those fans were out of this world singing - and boss banners to boot!

He closes with Stones "not for sale"

Our defence is gash and needs sorting but lots of positives: Barkley WAS phenomenal. Good finishing from Rom. Get creativity from Del Boy. Mirallas good. Besic impressive.

Barkley & Del Boy made the difference in the 2nd half. Both outstanding.
Lukaku on a goal scoring run
Let's hope are energy levels are not sapped for the Spurs game.

Barkley & Del Boy made the difference in the 2nd half. Both outstanding.
Lukaku on a goal scoring run
Let's hope are energy levels are not sapped for the Spurs game.

Martinez said: “Today was a matchday, the game was more important.
"We have not rejected the transfer request - yet. We will do it in the morning. Sometimes money can't buy everything."

Martinez looked pissed off and made the correct changes, especially Deulofeu who looked like making something happen every time he got on the ball. I was screaming for the defence to concentrate and for us to get the ball to Gerard as often as possible.

It was great to hear Marinez once again state his intention to keep Stones at the club in the post match interview!

Oviedo was also a liability, but you get little protection in our left back position and maybe he isn't fully fit. Jagielka and Stones looked pretty bad and were slow to pass the ball when 2-0 down.

Barkley looks class this season. Yarmolenko instead of Naismith and we would have a great attack.

Furthermore, I'm still fairly convinced that Stones is happy here. Too many people asking why keep him when he doesn't want to be here but there is a massive difference in wanting to play for Chelsea and not wanting to play for Everton, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

"money sometimes cannot buy everything" the best statement to come out of this club in years

It was a bit disjointed. Jags, JS and Robles all a bit shaky but overall a great cup tie.

That is so good on so many levels.

Hopefully this is the start of them beginning to gel again and we'll see them continue this into their league form.

Now, if only someone could find Bobby a book on the art of defending...

I'm looking forward to seeing Deulofeu this season. He is a wonderful talent.

Let's hope we stick to our guns on this one.

Great positive substitutions too which turned the game on it's head.

Looking forward to seeing a lot more of Deulofeu once he's fully match fit. Plus is a certain Mr Barkley getting his mojo back?

I certainly can't see this being another boring season!

I know others have mentioned this, but may I congratulate our manager(who I have criticised regularly) on talking with such sense about the Stones situation. Hats off to Roberto, and well done the team for turning that game around, showing commendable spirit and averting a disaster.

It would be a great thing for football in general if Chelski and their spoilt brat of a manager don't get their way.

Deulofeu looked good with room to get very, very good. A good night in the end with a good interview from Roberto.

I really don't see what is so hard to understand. Stones signed a five-year contract last year, he's got to perform to a high standard to get into the Euro squad next summer, which means he can't sulk if we hold him to his contract, and Martinez seems serious about not selling. Unless Martinez and Everton have a massive change of heart in the next six days, Stones is going nowhere. We couldn't be in a stronger position to keep hold of one of our top players, so if we sell Stones now it is a total sign of weakness.

Would be nice to add a keeper ...

Thought we were tyical Martinez book on defending but looked good going forward.

This was more a game about individuals than team performance.

Thought Stones and Oviedo looked particularly shaky defensively. although Pennington looked decent.

Besic impressed although not match fit.

Barkley, Delofeu and Mirallas showed why they should be the first names on the team sheet.

It's been a good day!

If I'm wrong, good. I will have no problem eating this humble pie.

The one thing that I will say about this; now that I've had time to ponder. I keep having to remind myself that this was Barnsley, not Villa or somebody. However, there were extenuating circumstances going on, and the boys fought back, and never quit. Which is exactly what we needed.

Hopefully we can see some positive transfer activity in the next couple of days to keep our momentum going.

Joel was unceremoniously dropped for a keeper who had been playing poorly all season. I'm sure you don't agree with that and you probably think Howard was rightfully reinstated judging by the posts that explain away every goal he lets in, in your use of variables like goalkeeping style - I'm guessing the silly star jumps are classed as Howards style of play. Or being stuck on his line and not commanding the area?! Yes, this could also be deemed as Tim's style of putting extra pressure on defenders when crosses come in.

We can all explain away any players mistakes away with the benefit of hindsight and allocate blame to others. It's opinion on a football forum. I personally agree with the statistics that emerged last season that Howard's the worst goalkeeper in the league. I also agree with the pundits who said Howard could have done better at the near post on Saturday... But that's just me!

Someone can be in the goalkeepers union, and sound like uncle Albert off 'Only fools and horses' talking about the time they misjudged a shot for a cross. and use all the mitigating factors like the speed or flight of the ball. Ben Foster made a point of it last season, by saying you just don't know unless you're a goalkeeper. He didn't convince very many though when he let in a howler the very next game much to the amusement of the layman commentators.

From half time onwards, a fearless all-out attacking performance.

Well done to the manager and the team.

It's going to be an interesting few days, lets hope the battle to keep Stones does not deflect from the grim reality that we need to bring in 3 players between now and 6.00pm on Tuesday. My fear is that BK will hold on to Stones but not add to a depleted squad and spin same as a victory.

Del Boy should always start, there will be good days and bad days with him but every team we play will fear him.

Also, I have to give a lot of credit to Martinez for that statement – well done for at least putting a fight up even if he does go in the end. but here's hoping we are really sticking to our guns and he stays.

Would like to see Everton players working on getting their head over the ball and keeping shots down. How may chances do we have where we just blaze the ball over the bar? Ross and Rom are the main culprits. You don't have to break the back of the net to score. Just pick a corner or send the keeper the wrong way. The top finishers don't just put their laces through the ball.

Was ironic to see Peter Beagrie in the Sky studio because he's the player from Everton's past that McGeady most reminds me of. Talented and tricky and can get to the byline but there is no end product and he infuriates me more than players with far less ability. If the rumours of Celtic's interest were still true then I'd offer to drive him to Glasgow myself.

Still not sure about the Stones saga. The lad could be some player in the future but there are times when I long for a centre-half who will stop the opposition scoring and command the back line. Some of the defending in that first half was keystone cops. Every time there is a set-piece near our area, my heart is in my mouth. I personally think Chelsea will bid £45m and he will go.

As far at the goalkeeping position, Robles will cost us points during a season, just like Howard. I would have liked to have seen us go for Lindegaard at United. I don't think he would cost that much and always looked good when I saw him. Moyes couldn't decide between him and De Gea for ages.

Roberto looked bereft of ideas at half-time and apart from his words to Barkley and Deulofeu, he didn't seem to be communicating at all with the players. It looked like he'd given up. Fair play to him for making the changes which changed the game.

I mean what do they do in training. Sometimes its embarassing listening to the commentators say over and over again how bad the defending is.

It doesn't matter who we have as a defensive unit because under Roberto he has no interest in working on defending/ defending set pieces or the shape of the back four, in terms of marking and being aggressive to the ball and the player. It's obvious that he just lets the back four work it out for themselves which is a sign in my eyes of poor coach. If Roberto can't do it then he should employ a defensive coach who can. In my opionion this lack of detail will get him the sack.

He has turned one of the best back four units (3rd or 4th in the league during many seasons) into the one of the worse. He gets away with it alot because we have an experienced back four so any mistakes the press and commentators see it as there problem and not Robertos and then he will say we have an experienced back four who should do better.

Guaranteed if he purchased four brand new defenders he wouldn't get away with it and we would be relegation candidates.

As an Everton supporter, I so want him gone - to the Championship, or wherever he belongs

Some great goals from Everton - now 8 in 2 away games - and we could and should have had more, plus a penalty.

I enjoyed the performances of 2 non-regulars - Besic and Deulofeu - both of whom must have a chance of playing at least some part against Spurs.

Also liked the anti-Mourinho chant - just wish it could have gone on all game!

Cleverley filled in competently at RB but I'd rather have him and either McCarthy or Besic as my defensive 2 with Barkley, Mirallas and Deulofeu the 3 ahead of them.

Barry and McCarthy are too alike and offer nothing going forward.