Stunned momentum leaves taste of frustration for international break

Stekelenburg made the cardinal sin of thinking the ball was going wide, so instead of an easy save, it's a goal: 4.

No player in a blue shirt deserved more than an 6, piss-poor all-round. We made them look half-decent! That's how poor we were.

Apart from one pull back to Gueye, what did he do???

People slag Barkley for his poor decision-making and pass selection... well, what about this guy? There were times early on him and Lukaku broke and the final ball/decision was a total letdown!

Also, for me, he totally stopped working in the second half and Barkley was hard done by to be brought off!

It's early days under a new manager but the style of play concerns me: the the defence seems to be coming under a lot of pressure as we don't keep hold of possession long enough to dominate the game!

He's not doing the job Koeman is asking him to do. Maybe he'll learn to do this but I wouldn't bank on it. He scored a good goal so that makes up for it, I suppose, to some supporters.

Too big a gap between defenders and attack and a tendency to hit everything long seemed to be our biggest problems. I thought Barkley had listened to his boss and tried to put in a shift and Cleverley worked hard in an effort to subdue Saha.

Bolasie seemed to try to do too much against his old muckers and his choice and quality of his final ball was poor. Mirallas was useless. He really must frustrate the hell out of his coaches, he has so much ability but is so often on the periphery.

At least we didn't lose and I think you are right about that buffoon John Moss, he seemed to want to overrule the lino.

As for Lukaku, he failed to close down the defenders as time went on, but perhaps this toe problem was the reason?

I just saw a clip of Moyes bemoaning his team's lack of bits of quality, and I think that Koeman may privately be thinking the same thing.

What has been most demoralising about the last 3 games is not the poor results but the reversion to Martinez lethargy and apparent lack of spirit in the team. All the most successful sides are super fit and are cohesive.

I still think the model for sides like us is Atletico Madrid who forced themselves through with a relatively small squad but with masses of courage and resolution and astute transfer business. Without those qualities, we will go nowhere and I think that's what many of us are fearing. Koeman's main job is to get in some brave hearts and/or to help the current players to man up.

Coleman's final ball is terrible most of the time, whether it's a pass 5 for me. It's the Bolasie mark that I really don't agree with though, the roll under and flicks just didn't work, and I agree with the poster who felt he was trying too hard. I think he's only been decent for 20 minutes all season (Sunderland) and can't see a 㿈 million player at all.

Oviedo deserved a 7, he was the best of our back 4 by a mile. Opinions though... thanks for the update on the jollies too!

Our full backs used to be the best pairing in the division but there is a lack of dynamism there now and likewise in midfield where Barry and Gana play well but the " front four" are a group of talented individuals with no consistency whatsoever. Moyes had the team playing as a unit and Ronald will I believe achieve this too but not with the current squad of players.

I hope that, having had a good look at a few fringe players over the last few games, he will give Davies a chance. This lad has a bit of everything – skill, work rate and confidence, and a team with Barry, Williams and Jags in it should be capable of guiding him on the pitch if he needs it.

Too many individuals and too many squad members who have had their chance in the game and have not quite cemented a regular place either with us or previous teams. Ronald has work to do – but that's why we brought him here in the first place!

The midfield are not contributing either. Barkley has not scored since the first game and Barry, Gueye and Cleverley will be lucky to end up with five between them. If Valencia can't cut the mustard, a goalscorer will have to be brought in in January.

The next two transfer windows are crucial, this would also be enough time for him to have a good look at the youngsters on the fringe. I would like us to give the FA Cup a good go though. Couple of nice home draws and the so-called big boys playing each other and who knows?

Some players received abuse during that defeat by our frustrated fans. Plus the questioning of why Koeman made the changes. This policy has never worked for Everton. That's just the way it is with us. I know we should have won anyway, and I have belief Ron will be a great manager for our club.

Two of the players given a rest were subsequently injured in training that week anyway: Baines and Barry. A chance of a run in the cursed cup gone for no good reason, and momentum lost. However, it's a long-term project and we will get there with this manager and the new chairman.

ps: I am the person who's name escapes you, Paul.

I think 'blagging it', is the word! These players have been blagging it for a number of years. They will never reach a higher standard that is required. Possibly one, but, it's nothing short of magic to get 8 or 9 players to revive their careers. The worrying thing is some of the not-up-to-standard players have still to come back after injury.

IMO, apart from Williams, Stekelenburg, Boalsie, Coleman, Gana, Lukaku, Jagielka and Baines (one more season), the youngsters, all the rest should be shipped out.

Another worrying aspect, is that 4 of the aforementioned players only joined us a few months ago.

But, I demand full commitment from the team at all times and the courage to play to our full ability, especially against the odds. If that happens then much else can be forgiven while we get ourselves into a seriously challenging position.

Unless we strengthen in January, I fully expect us to finish around 9th-10th. I really think the easy fixtures have bumped our hopes up too much and we had better get ready to open a big can of reality.

1. Round 14/08/2016 13:30 A AFC Bournemouth AFC Bournemouth 3:1 (1:0)
2. Round 19/08/2016 20:00 H Southampton FC Southampton FC 2:0 (1:0)
3. Round 27/08/2016 17:30 A Hull City Hull City 1:0 (0:0)
4. Round 10/09/2016 12:30 H Manchester City Manchester City 1:2 (1:2)
5. Round 18/09/2016 12:00 A Watford FC Watford FC 1:3 (0:1)
6. Round 24/09/2016 12:30 H Leicester City Leicester City 4:1 (4:0)
7. Round 02/10/2016 12:00 H Stoke City Stoke City 1:1 (0:0)

The press have them in the title race because of Mourinho but they are a team of has-beens and average players coupled with a few kids with potential. We can fight 6th out with them, imo.

I don't think Mirallas will ever be consistent; Gibson is a crock and hasn't had his great shot since he left Man Utd; Kone, Championship standard; Niasse, bought in a car park; poor old Lennon, a squad player; Cleverley too... and then Barkley, who seems to be going backwards.

The defence looks okay, but on the attack it seems that all of the wingers and Barkley and Coleman want to take an extra touch, and not play first time.

How often does someone try a shot from range?

We need wholesale changes, 5 or 6 out. I think we will see it too.

It's clear that RK wants us to be an energetic high-pressing team and the players seem to be buying into that. Barkley put in his best display (without the ball) that I've seen. It worked well first 45 with CP rarely getting out of their own half. Second half followed the Bournemouth template, however as we sat very deep; allied with a high press this gave us too much space to cover and allowed them to elude the high press and move the ball forward quickly. Gana and Barry hung out to dry. Hence why After and Surman controlled the game last time out. Disappointed that Koeman didn't seem to see this, because it undermines our entire approach.

In Koeman's interview with Carragher he alluded to some players finding it difficult to adapt to the way he wants us to play (presumably Deulofeu, probably Mirallas) but there are positives and negatives to every approach. Look at Tadic. Last season he was in and out the Southampton team, likely because he doesn't track back the way Koeman wants. This season he's been their primary playmaker and is having an excellent season. Personally I think there is room for all types. I'd rather our creative players expended their energy in an attacking sense - whilst maintaining a certain level of team shape, closing down etc. - rather than getting physically and mentally fatigued chasing the opposition.

We need new players in January, that's pretty obvious. I also except to see the promising young players given an opportunity. What's Holgate done to be dropped, for example? Whilst Cleverley was not terrible yesterday, as many have claimed, he is also doing nothing to shut the door on the likes of Davies, either.

Therefore, in my opinion, the best we can finish at the moment is 7th. We could jump up another position or two IF we spend some money on talent in January.

Personally, I would have settled for that when Koeman took over as it shows progress. I hate settling for that kind of mediocrity but that's just being realistic.

We are four points adrift of Man City and three behind Spurs and only two behind the neighbours.

Our next two games are difficult trips but it's not impossible we could win one or even both games; if we can keep getting an average of 2 points a match, we'll be up there challenging for European places.

I sometimes think we are very harsh on our own chances and team and overly confident in the capacity of others. We haven't played particularly well so far this season, so there is scope for improvement; however, if you are correct in your analysis then we might slide down the table. Take each game as it comes because no match is a foregone conclusion and none of the elite clubs are that frightening unless they are treated with too much respect.

Imo, the Topic for this thread should be... Stunted momentum!

Take each game as it comes because no match is a foregone conclusion and none of the elite clubs are that frightening unless they are treated with too much respect.

We are not playing particularly well, but the in-phrase I haven't heard too much of this season is "small margins". Maybe it's a Herculean task for Koeman to improve these players such that they are playing just a bit closer to their peak, and that the team might start to figure out what Koeman wants and how to implement it.

I can't understand people focusing on the next transfer window... and the next... and the next. Football is played every week during the season. You must actually watch each game telling yourself the players we have are no good, and must be replaced at the first opportunity. How's that working for you?

History shows wholesale clearouts to be the exception rather than the rule. And with such lucrative contracts (cf Niasse), plus the recognized difficulty of bringing in quality improvements mid-season – is it really going to be that easy to make meaningful changes? Or have you each spent perhaps a little too long playing FIFA 2016, Football Manager, and the like?

We do have a good squad; they are struggling to adapt to the new man's methods. Shouldn't that be the focus, rather than hoping for this ridiculous panacea, that is more than likely NOT provided by the transfer window?

Why should it be so implausible for us to offer up a challenge with the playing staff we actually have on the books? After all said and done, we have THREE MORE MONTHS of fielding the players we have now – not some dreamlike figments of the collective imagination. It's tantamount to giving Koeman a pass until January, and see what he brings in... Well, sorry, but given the amount we are paying him, that's not on.

Also, I can't understand people predicting our finishing place in May based on what they have seen so far. I wouldn't even dare to predict it in April, never mind October. Maybe we could introduce some retrospective retribution if you get it wrong? Or you could be forced to accompany your boringly predictive nonsense with a monetary wager. Far more will get it wrong than right... and we could make some money!

And I can't understand people (okay, one person) writing off the season after 7 games, when we are sitting 5th in the Premier League, with one of the top ten highest paid managers in the world just settling in to his job. I mean, what's the point, really?

As someone earlier said, apart from a 20-minute spell at Sunderland, he's done nothing to justify the huge price-tag. That said, it's early days so let's not be too harsh.

Also, you give 8 for the two centre-halves... Wrong – both guilty of not picking up Benteke for the goal and both lucky with the disallowed goal being easily beaten with yet another cross coming in.

Barry 8? No chance; he didn't influence the game as he normally does and to me looked half-fit. Oviedo you gave him 6 and yet he was our best player by a mile til he tired in the 2nd half.

I think the scotch in that bar you were in before the game has gone to your head a bit Also you said you knew benteke would come back to haunt us... Why? He never played for us – or is this because he spent one unproductive season over the park? All-in-all, poor ratings from you, and it looks like you saw a different game to me.

Will we play like that against them? Like our lives depended on it?? What do you think???

Until Koeman sorts out that conundrum, we will continue to struggle to win games, despite that great start to the season. Which now seems to be fading away.

I think our future success depends on this season's final placing. Lukaku will be leaving unless we get top 4. He might be prepared to stay if we show some ambition (in January, as the summer could be too late) and finish in the Europa League placings. Also we need to attract better quality players to the project and our position will be key in this too.

If people can be happy about our league position after seven games, then I think it is fair to predict the final placings with the current squad.

Patrick (22). Although current league placings have us above Chelsea and Man Utd, I really don't believe our first XI is stronger over these two over the course of the season. Hence my prediction of 7th if the squad isn't improved somewhat in January.

Michael (24). I disagree with the good squad comment. We don't. It's been proved the last 2 years and again is proving the case thus far this season. Obviously there are caveats to that due to Martinez and Ronnie is only just settling in. I don't want us to buy for the sake of buying but I truly believe, at this current moment, Mirallas, Barkley and Del are no where near good enough for us to break higher than 7th. 7th is my prediction based on what I've seen so far of us and the teams we are trying to emulate. Why is predicting final placing so hard to understand? Surely it's part of the fun and Eddie (28) has already written my thoughts exactly.

Of course I want us to win the league and everything else, but I'm just being realistic - even with one of the highest paid managers in the world - and I truly believe the current squad is nowhere near good enough.

Stanislas... Zaha... Would you really rate our attacking players ahead of them?

I think I overestimated our ability, but we're still solid enough and should be good enough for top 8. Getting above that will require investment.

I know we are getting better; I've seen it, in fits and starts, like a cold engine that will soon burst into life. When it runs smoothly, with more tweaking, a higher level will be reached more of the time.

Regarding predicting the final league placing, it's harmless (and fun for some), but just as futile as predicting the weather or the climate, or indeed most things in life.

This is my main issue now: I can clearly see that the new fitness regime is not paying off – we either do too much or have reverted to doing too little, like during the Martinez era.

Koeman spoke about "upping the intensity" on the training until everybody was 100 percent, but in my view we are not yet fully fit, and the players look shot of stamina and pace.

My fear is Koeman has pushed them too far, and he is paying for it now.

Everton ALWAYS frustrates me, there is always something that prevents us from being 100 percent fit and I am sick and tired of it never being resolved!!

What was Martinez doing, playing nice guy, and letting them all off hard work-outs????

I agree with you regarding replacing players wholesale but there have been some glaring weaknesses in the squad which have not been addressed in the last 2 seasons which even a blind man can see:

1. Lukaku needs competition not someone to complement him i.e. we need a top quality proven goalscorer who can head a ball, lead the line and hold the ball up.

2. We need goalscoring midfield players. Cleverley, McCarthy etc do not contribute at all. Deulofeu and Lennon are very hit and miss but more miss than hit. Fellaini was the last true goalscoring midfield player we had.

3. We need a schemer which we all hoped Ross would become but he is too inconsistent even in the same game.

Other than that I think we are reasonably placed with just a small question mark over the goalkeeper.

I wonder would Holgate at RB and Coleman right MF be worth a shout v Man City?