Hat-trick hero Lukaku back with a bang

I have a feeling we will win though.

Moyes on the game:

"Sunderland manager David Moyes: "I see something similar between the clubs, but I don't want to be banging the drum every day saying 'Everton this, Everton that'.

"I'm only using it as an example to say if we can follow that route, we will not be far away. That will come from getting the recruitment right, and getting an understanding of the players we need to bring to the club.

"I'm hoping we can get that over the coming windows."

Unbelievable. Speechless.

Why did we bring in Valencia then? Oh, I suppose he's not fit?

Football is a funny game and sometimes throws curve balls at you. The alarming goofs that refs are making already this season could be the only reason for Everton to come unstuck here so it's very important to stick it to them first.

This also sets a precedent that some players have just to be fit to get a place.

They are one of the big boys now with the spending power they've got!!!

It really is all about him!

In the situation where the replacement has impressed, you take that knowledge, and if the incumbent doesn't match that level, that's when you drop the player.

If Koeman is as decisive as we think, then he needs to try something different.

What's the plan? Does he think he'd be a great striker if only his teammates would just give him simple chances 10 yards out?

Gueye is great and Barry is such a great pro.

Need to up the pace and make some half-time changes.

'Unpredictability' means constantly gives it away, right?

He deserves to be dragged off.

The two guys waiting on that huge bet would have been cursing Lukaku for missing that big chance – he should have scored, and they should be dancing on tables!

Bravo.

I was close!!! Get in!!!

Bolasie repaying the investment.

Things are starting to look interesting...

And guess what – a sparkling performance in the second half, decent service to Lukaku, and he bangs in a hat-trick! Jaysus one more and we're second!

Early days yet and an easy run of games but I like the look of the team and this manager. Dare we believe?

I wouldn't swap Williams for Stones. He was a rock tonight and Jags looked better having him there.

Another clean sheet. Still need to be more ruthless though. We could have had 6 and we won't get those chances against better teams. Let's keep our feet on the ground and enjoy this. COYB

You've gone very quiet since your "We'll lose this one nil" comment!

Give Lukaku the service and he will score.

Man of the Match is the little man, Gueye. Absolutely brilliant.

Noticed how Gana was there to mop up, after that dreadful pass from Deulofeu, and play a pinpoint cross onto the head of Lukaku?

These 3 players will soon be history. I honestly can't think of how it would have been without the new players and having to rely only on the Three Musketeers!

Ronald Koeman made a great move by hauling Ross off, he needs dropping permanently for a while methinks. Good times ahead for EFC. NSNO!!!

Wasn't that about a new manager not winning two first away games in his first season since 1919?

Very happy with Gana. Played his arse off. Vital win away from home.

Hang on a minute fellow optimistic Blues. Can you hear that? ..
It's the sound of silence.
Where have all the moaners and groaners gone?

COYB.... Woo hoo!!!

Fasten your seatbelts, guys... Ron's army means business! COYB

We barely need to talk about the two centre-mids. Performed to expectations again.

Still completely confused by Rom. He seems to need it on a plate, but average players don't score hat tricks or the goals he's scored.

What a start to Koeman's reign.

Memo to Management: 'Make bloody sure you upset him EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON!!!

And the best smacked arse face goes to Moyes. Delighted we beat 'em and I hope he can finally stop talking about being our ex-manager. He will be sacked before Christmas because he won't be given the time.

I hope Ross can pick himself up. In 2 games time, we will be top of the league. Well done, Romelu, and well done, Koeman, for having the balls to change things.

All our buys in the window excellent again tonight. Big up for Stekelenburg –seems to convey calmness to the defence. I hope he's our new Nigel Martyn.

I think that Koeman may prove to be the best bit of transfer business this club has done for quite a while.

This man is a winner.

Incredible stuff, boys.

By the way, I hope Bolasie's just got cramp.

As for Barkley, absolutely terrible 1st half, he really needs to start shaping up and living up to the hype – otherwise, I fear his Everton career will be over sooner than later, especially with young Davies and Walsh ready to step up.

Great night and win for the blues, I'm loving this season already.

If goal difference is the same it goes to goals scored. Chelsea are above us because they've scored one more.

(Koeman, in his interview, has just given a thinly disguised damning assessment of a certain Everton player – and about fuckin time!)

Our future changed massively the day Moshiri bought in, yet only a few days ago there was a talking point on this site about how nothing has changed under Moshiri. Simply ridiculous, and I struggle to understand how such indefensible narratives actually get the credibility of being published on this site.

Sure we all have opinions BUT giving additional validity by publishing extremist, no evidence based views, as some sort or credible main stream article does our club no favours. It just encourages the negative drainers in our fan base to keep it going.

Saying he was angry at half-time. Told the players that they are clever enough to know it wasn't good. Said he made a tough decision of the sub to change the impetus, and got the reaction from the players he wanted.

Also, challenging for European places is the realistic aim. But said if we keep repeating first half then we will be looking at 14th.

He just looks so comfortable on the ball with his low centre of gravity, brilliant.

Brilliant service in to Lukaku who, on another night, might have got 5 – hey but 3 isn't too shabby, is it?

Great move by Koeman replacing Barkley who quite simply was awful. The lad has not got any awareness of what's going on around him an looks lost. So much talent but not a clue how to use it. A long spell on the sidelines will do him the world of good.

Still early days and I'm not getting carried away by us murdering a poor Sunderland side. But you can only beat what's in front of you and that's what we are doing. Looking good – and it's a long time since I said that!!!

Best of all we have a real manager at last. Well done, Ron.

I wasn't unhappy with the first half but fortunately the man whose job it is to set the bar for the team, was... and he decided to change it – and my, how it paid off. We still need too many chances to turn games; with a bit more ruthlessness, we could and should have had five or six tonight.

There is little doubt that we have got off to an excellent start and I hope we can keep it going for a good while yet. At least with Koeman you know there won't be any slacking by the players tolerated.

In total cruise control by the end and what totally, totally refreshing after match comments by Ronald Koeman. IMMEDIATELY admitting to a poor 1st half for which he gave the players a rocket at half-time and hooked the most underperforming player in Ross.

What a steal, what a player we have got in Gana.

Rom back in the groove. Bolasie and Lukaku could be as deadly a pairing as Thomas and the Latch.

Good times!

3-0 away?

Moyes with a gob on him like a slapped arse?

Lukaku hat-trick?

Wonderful!

I think to be a bit miffed after that, you'd have to have had a fiver on Everton to win 4-0 at 40/1 and then watched for the last 15 mins while we just knocked the ball about (and all your mates (in the Coffee House Wavertree laughed at you each time the ball went backwards).

FFFFFFFFUCK!!!

Precisely. I spent all the match watching him, pure class.

Looking in the mould of player of the season, he just can't seem to splay a pass astray.

Imagine a full 90 minutes when we click. This team can really achieve something special under this manager. Brilliant.

The defence was excellent. Gueye and Barry top drawer. Rom finally woke from his slumbers and Bolassie looks the dogs bollocks.

COYB!

Great management decision-making to change the game but why is Mirallas still taking the corners?

I agree – Gueye was outstanding.

Half time – telling a team a few home truths; substitution bang on the money.

2nd half, the boys provide what the manager, themselves and the fans should expect.

Early days, fitness levels not where they should be, however this is a totally different project compared to the Martinez debacle.

Happy days, stay positive in the coming weeks and months

The defence looks pretty solid. I thought Barkley was the right man to take off (though it could easily have been Mirallas). But the half-time shepherd's crook approach is fine with me from Koeman.

Excellent finishing by Rom. I can't remember the last time we won 3-0 away but it feels great.

I'm not getting carried away but with the next few fixtures I'll have to buy a new calculator to tally up the goals and points. 66/1 for the league and 8/1 for a top 4 finish on Paddy Power. Fear the Mighty Blues.

If Lukaku now goes on one of his scoring streaks, anything is possible. COYB

People slagging off the team first half just don't understand how this football thing works – it's played over the 90+ minutes. Sunderland were clearly set up well for KITAP1 first half but couldn't sustain it for the 90. <:P>Gana immense and when he had broken them in defence he took it to them afterwards, which made space for Bolasie to rip the left side apart and Rom did what he does. Perfect for an away game and I am loving it.

Moyes will keep Sunderland up, they were looking organised first half but just could not sustain that but I think he will drill them. We have now won four on the bounce though and we're looking good. Winning brings confidence, and we still have winnable games coming up.

The 𧶀K gesture is just a fabulous one.

Stekelenburg – calm and collected.
Williams – we haven't conceded a goal when he's been on the pitch.
Gueye – the signing of the summer.
Bolasie – defenders are scared shitless of him.

4 players that have helped transform the team. On top of that, an astute and classy manager. Valencia may turn out to be class too.

Soo bloody happy and positive right now. We are going to be a handful for anyone.

But what hits me is that we were still on top. 65% possession and looking like we were capable of winning. Under Roberto and Moyes I've no doubt we would have stayed the same. Why change something that is 'working'?

Credit to Koeman. He makes it clear what is and isn't good enough. It wasn't good enough and he made the changes. Was there a huge tactical difference? Probably not. But the message it sends is massive. He's setting a high standard and challenging them to perform.

Nothing wrong with criticing based on the evidence of actual events. I spent 3 years being very negative about Martinez's appointment.

We now have a chance for the first time in 30 years or so as a fan base to take a look in the mirror and move away from the overwhelming negative stuff based on no evidence. Why? Because Moshiri joining us is a game changer for us. It's lead to Koeman and Walsh, and we now really have a genuinely realistic chance of becoming a top club and winning something.

That's my point, sure be negative, but please use some evidence to make a rational argument, not just for the sake of it, or from habit. Koeman did that tonight, we could have been better first half and he said why. This is exactly my argument.

We will undoubtably play shit again in the future and then rightly, criticism will follow but it will be based on the evidence of how shit we were and what went wrong.

My point is to get away from making totally ludicrous insupportable negative statements which happens frequently on this site.

Finally, the big man was getting the kind of service missing from last season, ie, crosses into the box from both wings, and didn't he cash in, he could have doubled his tally aided and abetted by our new signings who were all superb on the night. Moyes was well and truly shafted.

As for Barkley, unless he can get his act together, he will turn out to be another also-ran for both.

Some of the first-half passes had a big stamp on and a postcode, it was that easy for their defence to see where they were going. Ross especially needs to work on his game. He lost the ball too many times and allowed the Black Cats to counter attack.

Overall, though, a fully satisfying and well earned win.

I've been suffering from post-Roberto stress disorder and blotting out large parts of last season from my memory.

Great passing midfield Barry and Gueye, Ross was off again trying to be too precise daudling on the ball.

This was good especially second half after riding the storm. We can get better than this, so looking forward to more.

Gueye is one hell of a footballer, and a great buy by Koeman. He is not only a good footballer with the ball, he also has a great footballing brain. Reminds me a lot like Peter Reid.

Sunderland's best attacks in the first half came about when Everton lost the ball to Sunderland that set off their attacks. But as Everton gained more composure and confidence in the second half inspired by Gerard, Sunderland look like a team ripe for relegation.

Great stuff... and Bolasie and Lukaku are developing an understanding. So solid all over the park... and Mr Moyes very sad. Sacked by Xmas?

He has the ability but just doesn't deliver often enough. On defence, he gave the ball away twice in 30 seconds by his own goal line.

Having said all that, Mirallas is no better but it is so comforting to have good options on the bench these days.

1. The manager made the right decision at half-time.
2. The team played well together as a team, for each other.
3. Lukaku found his scoring boots.
4. We kept a clean sheet.
5. I've still got my nails!!

It felt like a long time waiting for this game, but boy, it was worth it. You can almost feel the confidence, both in the team and the fans. YES!!

A hat-trick, clean sheet and 3 points away from home, topped off by the club's donation, which if true is a truly outstanding gesture. Hats off to all at EFC.

On the other hand, winning possession in midfield like the magnificent Gana and Barry did today and like Man City did in the first half against Man Utd is the key to winning.

In the second half, we destroyed Sunderland today and the ground was almost empty in the end, we could have put them into relegation trouble already.

We mustn't expect this every game though; after the first half, I was happy if we ground out a 1-0 win or even a draw. The important thing now is keep up the great defensive work and not getting beat as a habit.

Our transfer window signings were great as was our team spirit. The future really looks Blue.

Fairly churlish comment. Do you include Koeman in this group?

Only so far as it led to Bolasie being switched to the left. Deulofeu himself was pretty wasteful in possession, lost a couple of chances to hit the target thanks to heavy touches and bottled out of a couple of challenges that he should have been nailed on to win. The game changed with Bolasie swapping flanks (although, I'm sure the kick up the arse that was delivered at half-time will have helped).

He was the pick of the front four in the first half, purely on the basis of the other three being piss poor and he was at least getting the ball in the box as often as he could. Operating from the left though, he looks a much more difficult proposition for defenders to deal with as they don't know whether he's going to take them inside or out (don't think he even knows himself which way he's going to go half the time).

"By the way, I hope Bolasie's just got cramp"

The cameras caught him clearly mouthing the word "cramp" to the other players as he was coming off, so no worries there.

There's a rumour he reads TW and when he sees his name spelt incorrectly, it enrages him so much, he decides to deliberately play shite in the next game.

(So if he plays like a twat against Boro, I'm blaming you!)

"Every time I see Gana he reminds me of Alan Ball and Peter Reid. "

Aye, only their mothers could tell them apart .

Experienced back line with close connections to the Club is great, nice blend of youth and experience through the squad.

Although, Martinez waited two whole seasons to change Howard, so maybe some of these managers are on another planet?

Gueye is a fantastic player, what a performance. Barry was also immense tonight. Lukaku got the goals which was great to see. And a clean sheet is just the icing on the cake. COYB

As for the game, well they couldn't live with us once we clicked into gear. They simply don't have the class or quality. It was men against boys.

The hammering we took up there last season seems a very long time ago now.

And with Boro and Palace at home to come, we should be able to keep this momentum going. Early days yet, but we are moving in the right direction under RK, and his honest interviews after the game are refreshing.

Another striker in the window would have been great, but Gueye and Bolasie have fixed issues we've had for a very long time, and Williams adds depth we haven't had since Jagielka, Distin and Heitinga were all playing well at the same time.

The only thing missing from Koeman's interview on Sky is when asked what the aim is, I honestly think I could see him wanting to say "Win the league", which should be every manager's aim from Sunderland and Stoke to Manchester City. Professional that he didn't, and he's bang on about European places.

The kid is class – Koeman has made some astute signings and brought in exactly what we were lacking under the previous (no names mentioned) manager.

We have shape, balance, bite, solidity at the back, pace on the wings, attacking intent from different areas, players working hard, covering each other, and looking like they enjoy playing the game together.

Simple really.

Next 4 fixtures: Boro (H), Norwich (H), Bournemouth (A), Palace(H). Aiming for 10-12 points again.

Who knows, only Man City and Chelsea in the months of October and November... with Burnley, West Ham, Swansea and Southampton.

It was only the fact that Ross was so poor that the rest of the front four stayed on the field, any one of Lukaku, Bolasie or Mirallas could have been hooked after that first half display. Williams and Jagielka were excellent, as were Gana and Deulofeu, very good second-half performance.

Koeman is maybe taking us to places we haven't been to for a long time and the club's class, with the donation to the young boy, makes you proud to be a Bluenose.

Onwards and upwards.

In a negative note, Barkley was dire. Koeman needs to hammer out the young lads' repetitive poor passing. On the bench for me in the next game.

Gueye is a joy to watch – not only does he have a great engine and tackle ratio, he knows what he is going to do with the ball before he receives it. Such is the quality of his passing, the receiving player's job is easy due to the weight of the pass.

If he plays like that till the end of the season, he will regretfully undoubtedly be heading for Real or Barca! No wonder McCarthy was prepared to throw the towel in on transfer deadline day!

What I loved were Lukaku's post-game comments. Saying we weren't good enough in the first half and we simply have to do better.

He's 100% correct.

And the wonderful thing about this interview is... you can almost hear Koeman's voice emanating from Romelu's mouth.

Koeman is creating an environment where only the best will do. Sounds familiar...

Norwich play in the Championship, mate.

A friend of mine (er... mate) who lives in cul-de-sac land here in my Florida neighborhood, flew over for a wedding in Wales this weekend, then booked it over to Sunderland for the game.

What an away game to make a Herculean effort to see.

Hope you had fun, Stevie la!

Seamus Crowley, RB, Everton Football Club.

Stek's distribution, never mind his near-flawless keeping, has been stupendous.

What... a... buy! Filthy value!

...how good is Idrissa Gana Gueye!

Lukaku did miss that first-half header. I thought he'd done well to keep it on target and with the power on the ball; it was just a good save... on another day, that goes in.

We were solid first half; Sunderland didn't really get any clear-cut chances that I can remember. I thought Lamine Kone looked great in the first half, did Moyes sub him at half-time with the rest of their defence? I was hoping we would have signed him up but maybe it was just the rest of their defence.

Barkley was too pedestrian in the first half and rightly got subbed. What's happened to that early promise when he used to get the ball and drive at teams like his solo goal against Newcastle a couple of seasons ago? He needs to get that back in his game. I think Martinez has messed him up by all that tippy tappy shit from last season where he was just getting his passing stats up by doing sideways passes back and fourth all game.

Sort it out Barkley you can be a world beater need to get back to when you broke on the scene, the risk taking and drive you had seemed to be coached out of you by Martinez's possession football.

We destroyed them second half; I can't fault any of our players. The second half result says it all really, we could and should have had 5 or 6 goals today but I'm so happy we got the 3.

That Watmore looks like a decent little player; passion, hunger and drive from him was unreal, and he didn't deserve to be on the losing side!

I expect us to win all our fixtures for September – it's about time we start rolling over these lesser teams if we want to achieve anything. I think Koeman is the man to do it.

Onwards and upwards!

ps: That Gana is a cracking little player and Bolasie, while a bit wasteful and frustrating at times, scared the crap out of their defence this evening, taking 2 and sometimes 3 markers out the game giving space for others.

Aiming for 10-12 points again."

I think the Norwich game is League Cup, so the max would be 9.
As for the 𧶀,000, it doesn't surprise me at all. I've been involved in raising charity money for a very ill young relative who needs treatment abroad. Everton have been fantastic with donations of merchandise and free tickets etc, Tranmere have also helped out, obviously in a smaller way, but the richest club on Merseyside have done sweet FA. This despite the lad being a red!!! And this is not just because I'm a blue, other fundraisers have told me similar stories.

Getting back to the match, anyone else here think that Bracewell must have been secretly admiring what he was seeing tonight? I hope for his sake Sunderland crack on and show better against our rivals for the top 4.

A quite delightful little player we have there!

If you don't think he and Moshiri are behind this donation then I despair of the inability of our so-called fans to say something nice once in a while rather than the usual vitriolic trash.

Will be curious to see how things unfold with Ross. Koeman is ruthless and won't hesitate to drop a player if he's not up to snuff... but he also seems to have a vested interest in unlocking Barkley's potential. He's referenced it several times as one of his primary challenges/goals as manager.

I don't think there's any need for criticism of Ross. Koeman's move told him and the rest everything they needed to know. Ross will have bad days, just like the rest. But he's far from a forlorn case.

Geri brought a spark, Bolasie sparked plenty too. Well done Mirallas – and, of course, big Rom for his hat-trick.

COYB.

But besides his defensive attributes is his going forward. He is still forward-centric and wants to drive forward when in possession where possible. To me, he is everything I hoped Besic would be and knew McCarthy wasn't. Saying that, I would love to see Besic and Gueye together. If organised well, they could be a handful.

Ross had a poor game, but we can't write off his season yet. He has had some very good games too this season and I'm sure will have a deep look at his performance this week. He can't keep performing like that though otherwise it won't only be the England team he can't get in to. Ronald needs to coach into him what we believe is there.

Bolasie was my Man of the Match. Only one in the first half giving it a crack and absolutely pulled them apart in the 2nd half.

"His goalscoring record is PHENOMENAL"

Aaarrrghhh, stop it, stop it now Baines!!!

Makes a complete mockery of those supporters who have said we had a bad transfer window!!

If Barkley does not pull his socks up, he is going to end up at Sunderland.

Watched a recording of the game without knowing the result and thought we were abysmal first-half half. Rodwell looked different class to Barkley – which says it all.

But Koeman is nobody's mug and sorted it out at half-time. Should be enough to see Uncle Bill double his money and give him a new five-year contract and many on here would praise him for it.

One good half does not a season make. But we can hope!

I keep saying it but at last we have a proper manager. He doesn't mess about; if it's not working, he changes it.

Great second-half performance last night. Gueye is awesome.

He wasn't required as much in the second half when we took control of the game but first half he was the best player on the pitch, in my opinion.

As for last night, we were awful in the first half, yet were so solid at the back that we were rarely in any danger. That mean we stayed in the game until our class told.

Gueye is living proof that midfielders don't have to run round like headless chickens when they have the intelligence to read the game and anticipate the play. He's also taken the pressure off Barry, who is better than ever, just like Williams' strength and assuredness has taken the pressure off Jagielka.

A good start, with bigger tests to come. It'll be hard to judge what Koeman and this team are made of until we lose a game and have the odd injury.

The opening signs look good to me.

Let's hope in years to come, great players will be trying to emulate and aspire to him, Idrissa Gana Gueye... The Everton veteran of numerous campaigns and achiever of every honour the game had to offer!

Well done for those towering headed goals! His attitude to going for headers can be poor. But he took his 2 headed goals with panache. It's fair to say he wasn't really challenged for them, but he took them well!

He must now show consistency in this area. His third goal showed quick feet and thinking – well done, Rom!

A great second half showing by all the players – superb!

Now don't get carried away that he's gonna suddenly be much harder working, have a better attitude, improve his control etc. It's all about scoring goals and that is what he'll give us more than anything else which we will miss when he finally does leave but let's not give him reasons by pushing him out the door.

It's always great to win 0-3 away from home, even if it was against a rather poor team. Besides the first day of the season the fixture list has been very very kind to us but you still have to beat what's in front of you. I was worried we could mess that up last night but we didn't and we look very tight at the back now.

My first time to watch Bolasie (on tv) for a live game and he sure creates a lot of panic and can whip in some great crosses. Mirallas seemed to have gone back to his not interested old self last night.

Geri always flatters to deceive for me where he often loses the ball at the final stage or takes too long to shoot or pass. I'd like to see Lennon get a chance but I think RK doesn't rate him as highly.

Spurs Home this season 1-1 last season 1-1
WBA away this season 2-1 last season 3-2
Stoke home this seaosn 1-0 last season 3-4
Sunderland away this season 3-0 lat season 0-3

So, we have a net gain of 6 points on the same 4 games last season. We have scored the same number of goals - 7 in these four games as we did last season but we have only conceded 2 against the 10 we let in during the same four fixtures last season.

I chuckled at that because it sounded as if it took him 2 minutes to get across the pitch! I know what you mean, though. I'm equally impressed. Great cross from him for Rom's goal - I leapt from one side of the room to the other in all of 2 minutes!

As they said in the Godfather (I think) "Got to make him a long term offer that he can't refuse!"

I think some people have come in for criticism recently, rightly or wrongly. But hats off to them all. They've done us proud.

On a separate matter, Ross is a good player. He was also loyal to the club when others were thinking of luring him away. I think it is only a matter of time, like Romelu, before he finds his touch.

Confidence is everything in this game. His must have taken a knock and it's had more of an effect than people realise. I have faith in him to come back and realise his potential. I think Mr Koeman does too.

In The Mirror, Gueye 6/10 – the same mark as Januzaj!!

Blues class second half!!

I'm looking forward to seeing Valencia soon.

ESPNFC rated Gueye a 10 out of 10. They said his performance was flawless.

Couldn't agree more.

The four forward players is what is really up for grabs although you would imagine Lukaku will start most games unless injured. Bolasie, Mirallas, Deulofeu and Lennon have all got pace and can score goals (as can Ross) but all of these guys are also quite hit or miss.

I suppose it is the hardest job to take men on and get in good crosses or shoot yourself. It will be interesting to see what role Valencia and Tom Davies have to play in the Norwich match.

Jamie, he missed one pass all game so I'd give him a 9.

Well done! I like to compare the results for the same fixtures. It doesn't make sense when some people say "after "X" number of games last year we had "this" many points but this season we have "?" etc.

I like to make direct comparisons. That said, there is no comparison! We just look more professional, more mature.

COYB

Ross Barkley... more time and less haste. A quality player who I predict by the end of the season will reach full potential.

I would say he needs to show big improvements in the more immediate short term rather than by the end of the season.

Koeman will improve him – but he won't be an immediate first choice anymore if he doesn't progress.

He has a lot to live up to – I hope he's able to cope with the level of expectation put upon him. The team has more all-round ability now and with a bit of luck this burden will be lessened.

We must all get behind the player on Saturday, more than ever.