Another easy romp for the Champions

Ross will play a bit deeper, but I think we have the fire power to go for this.

Calvert-Lewin is good in the air – a lot better than Mirallas. Plus its time for Mirallas to sit one out.

Surely starting with Lookman would make more sense. I would also have loved to have seen Kenny starting. Valencia is also poor and I pray to God we don't make his loan spell a permanent one!

Disappointing starting lineup... but the proof will be in the pudding.

Nothing wrong with this team selection; if you're in the squad, you have to be ready to play – otherwise, you are just taking up space.

Attack them, Blues – run them out of town!!!

Their first goal was a good shot but anything going into your top right corner must be defended with you right hand to get maximum stretch, not your left.

ps: Gueye is a shit holding midfielder, so what else does he offer?

It looks as though we stopped playing when Europa League qualification became a certainty. Lads, you may be on the beach but you'll be coming back early to play to the sound of cow bells on pitches surrounded by running tracks in places hard to get to.

As I speak, the 3rd goes in. Embarrassing. I hope Walsh is choosing wisely for the transfer window. On the plus side, Spurs won't win the league!

I wish Koeman would stop using strikers as wide men. Calvert-Lewin and Valencia were useless in those positions today.

Gana put in a decent shift shadowing Hazard, but there's little else to say about that game. Passing, movement, control, closing down – all lacking against a Chelsea team who didn't turn up, but as I write this have just put a third in.

There's a lot of work needed.

They create the third goal.

Who else should Koeman have picked?

Are we missing Coleman, Bolasie, Funes Mori, Schneiderlin, McCarthy?

Barkley and Lukaku?

Men against boys, I'm afraid. Conte must be laughing his balls off – £70 million for Romelu Lukaku? –. More like £7M on that showing.

We are in the correct league position! We are 7th best at most things but a way behind teams above us!

Ruthless actions needed in transfer window along with shed loads of cash!

But these are things we already know. Chelsea far better than us today, far better. But they were aided and abetted by a supine performance today.

£100 million? Hahahahaha.

Winger? – Not quick enough, doesn't run with the ball and doesn't have the ability to beat a player.

Striker? – Doesn't hold up the ball, doesn't link up play... would struggle to score 10 in League One.

Little things like Lukaku insisting on taking the free kick when Baines should have pulled rank. Little things like playing the lumbering Stekelenburg, who was off his line for the Pedro shot, and tried to save it with his flailing left hand.

Mistakes like Gana giving away an unnecessary foul, Stekelenburg again, for not putting three in the wall. and again for not catching the shot. Jags at fault letting Pedro turn him inside out.

Finally, bringing on Kone instead of Lookman. Shocking! By the way, Barkley showed how not to play football today. Lots of unforced passing errors, slow decision-making and no goal threat. Depressing.

Great servant but that's the end for him! Pay Van Dijk what he wants as he'd be a statement signing!!

Just 3 more of these exhibition matches to sit through I guess & then the season is done. Hopefully we will be better next season.

Poor game today.

Anyone else think we should throw one of the young keepers in for the rest of the season? Because the two senior goalkeepers aren't fit for purpose.

We really missed Morgan today. Calvert-Lewin should be nowhere the first team & Valencia is an impact player at best. Is Lennon still injured? Otherwise a better bet than either of those two.

Koeman seems like Moyes or Martinez reincarnated. Fine against the Premier League fodder, but as soon as we come up against a so-called big team, we go back to must not lose than trying to win.

We have the same problem with our managers, in that their teams do not turn up against other teams, when the points are on the line for improvement.

Is Barkley playing for a transfer? He does not play to a level his reputation is supposed to warrant, and this may be why the club is not agreeing to his contract requests.

We are a million miles away from being a top four team, and Baines,Jags and Williams are finished as Premier League players.

With Barkley constantly playing infield we had no width at all. Rom left three on one, but even so he was piss poor. Wretched.

There was no reason to be defensive in this game. None whatsoever, yet dour Ronko set it out to contain. Moan about limited personnel choices all you like, moan about the referee if you like but we were as blunt as a Walrus's arse, and just a cumbersome.

The shining light in a sea if shit was Tom Davies. In spite of his colleagues ambling around like it was Sunday afternoon, he played with heart and intensity, tried to get beyond and attempted to get at Chelsea. Sound that lad – der Ketwig Kaiser!

Barkley and Lukaku should be sold for starters. With the 𧴜 million they would generate, we could bring in Rooney, Vardy, Sigurdsson and a top young up-and-coming striker. Adding Bolasie to that lot would transform our attack. We are just devoid of energy and zip in attack currently, I'm sick of our play being slowed down in the final 3rd.

Stekelenburg was very poor and never looked comfortable. Dominic Calvert-Lewin just doesn't do it for me and I really hope we don't waste money buying Enner Valencia at the end of the season. He tries hard but is simply not good enough and is not a goalscorer.

I like Barkley but a poor game from him today, his final ball and decision-making is poor far too often.

Davies was the stand-out Everton performer for me.

The summer transfer window will be very interesting. We have so many areas that need strengthening if we are to close the huge gap in quality between us and the top 6.

Face it, Chelsea are light years ahead of us. Man for man, we have nothing to compare.

Not a great performance but a game I would expect us to lose. The season never came down to this game.

To get top four finish or be in the mix to win the league, we need to win games like last week, Bournemouth, Stoke, Middlesbrough, Hull, Burnley, Watford, Swansea, Norwich, Crystal Place and Southampton. All points thrown away in draws or loses against poor sides.

Two of those above will be relegated and four are very close, shocking losing over 20 points to them. This is where we need to improve, taking four points of Man City this season is worthless when we lose to Watford.

a) seems very harsh implying the first goal was soft. You have to play well and take your chance but not a huge amount you can do about a moment of brilliance.

b) Colin Hughes (#9) you're joking about Gueye being shot, right? He's been top 3 players this season at least.

Big summer ahead but then we already knew that. Let's not forget that Williams, Gueye and Schneiderlin apart, this is a squad that finished bottom half last season.

First up, a top class keeper...

Admittedly the service hasn't been great but genuine match winners valued at 㿷 million + should not have to depend on the quality of the service. Sometimes it is very difficult to criticize Rom but sometimes it is very easy.

Too many fans saying "Don't let the likes of Barkley etc go because they are world class..."??

Please don't make me laugh!!

Biggest summer awaits in the club's history. We'll need al teast 5 or 6 first-teamers, plus another half-a-dozen squad players.

I think if we don't get the required number then it'll be a similar season to this and Koeman will be off the following season. The project will be dead in the water.

Over to Mr Moshiri, time for you to deliver, sir.

The main culprit though is the 𧴜m man who cannot even get a proper connection on the ball more than three times out of ten. He is so selfish, it's quite unbelievable.

He should be dropped for the remaining games this season so that we can get used to playing without him – but there again, who on earth would be prepared to pay the asking price for such a lack of talent?

It's just shocking to see how slow and conservative our play is. It's also shocking to think it was only a few years ago that we were right there with Spurs. Of course they have ownership that isn't afraid to spend money and sack a manger when he isn't producing the goods. Jol, Ramos, Redknapp, Villas-Boas, Sherwood, and finally Pochetino who is getting the job done. Meanwhile we persisted with Moyes then Martinez and now the conservative Koeman, while still not spending any money.

But hey, we got the training ground sponsored and approval to maybe build a stadium some day when funding can be found. That will win titles won't it?

My God, Spurs have every single player bar the keeper in the Arsenal half, always three to four players in the box or right on the edge. But 7th in the league, what a victory.

This game is the game that needs to be watched a couple of times by Koeman, Walsh and Moshiri as this is the game that best shows the gulf between us and the top.

We lack the required touch, pace, brains and (physical) strength and Chelsea have it all over the park.

If we simply buy two or three decent players (plus selling a couple), we will simply be doing more of the same.

Want to (regularly) compete with Chelsea?

Spend like Chelsea and if you can't you'll need a better plan than "l really hope we win."

Gana and Davies worked their plums off; other than that...

Barkley gets a lot of flack, but when he looks up, his only outlet is the isolated Lukaku, on his own upfront. Gueye was man-marking Hazard, so we badly missed Schneiderlin or McCarthy in front of the back four.

When you see Fabregas and Willian coming off the bench, and we introduce Mirallas and Kone, it tells you the difference in the two squads.

As Eugene said, this game just showed how wide the gulf is between the likes of us and Chelsea.

Not going to bother slagging individuals but when you look at their subs; Fabregas and Willian, and then compare either of them to one of ours in particular, ie, Kone, it speaks volumes.

They are a side filled with pace and power. When they play it out from the back or win it in midfield, they look to get forward in numbers quickly. We dither with sideways and backward passes and do it oh so slowly.

Is there a huge gulf between us and them? Most certainly. Can that gulf be reduced without spending around 𧶀m? Not a chance!

The sooner we get rid of them two Belgians, the better; they are not team players. A classic example of that was the two free kicks in dangerous positions, both of them grabbing the ball and of course ballooning it over the cross bar both times.

Why can't Baines take the free kicks? Because it's always about personal glory with both of them – never about the team.

On the basis of that game, we need a keeper, an entire back four and two creative midfielders to play alongside Barkley.

The only defensive mid we should play is Davies. Instead of telling Barkley that he should sign the contract on offer or be sold, it is Lukaku who should be told that we would sell him but it is unlikely that anyone would want him. Scores some wonderful goals but not the player he thinks he is and shows little sign of improvement in movement.

Give some of the kids a run in what's left of the season as there is nothing to lose. I hope Messrs Walsh and Koeman have identified 8 or 9 new players for next season as anything less will just see us marking time.

Trying to get a Joe Hart or Tom Heaton in goal (way too long since Everton has had a "safe" keeper).

Make signing Michael Keane and Gylfi Sigurdsson a priority.

If we go for any from this list we could do worse: Shaqiri, Masuaku (West Ham left back), Arnautovic, Andros Townsend.

If Lukaku goes, we must move for Josh King of Bournemouth, a proven lively goalscorer at this level.

We are crying out for a right back – Holgate looks square-pegged.

We need to replace Leighton Baines very soon.

We can't rely on one goalscorer like we have all season, Lukaku on 24, nobody else scored more than FOUR!!!

We desperately need a creative intelligent midfielder, Sigurdsson a better option than Barkley.

Tom Davies is to be commended, a great trier with a pretty decent touch but, if we are serious next season, we can't pin our hopes on this kid.

Calvert-Lewin is not top drawer, unlucky not to score but I'm sorry, not top drawer.

We need a massive overhaul if we are truly serious about hurting the better teams above us because, whilst this season has been steady, it's mainly all been about a strong home run between January and April, the away form abject and the performances at times as bad as last season.

Big summer for Koeman.

Ratings.

Stekelenburg – 6. Can't say he was at fault for first goal, rubbish for their second, didn't see the third properly.

Baines – 6. Contributes nothing going forward anymore.

Jagielka – 6. Average.

Williams – 6. Average.

Holgate – 5. Poor. Bullied by Alonso cutting inside, nothing going forward. What happened to our strength being attacking full backs?

Gueye – 7. Really impressed me today in man marking Hazard out of the game.

Davies – 7. Showed Barkley how it's done. He drives forward, and does loads of these crunching solid slide tackles that get the crowd going and opposition worried. How can be be this good at 18?

Calvert Lewin – 5. He was fantastic for the first... 5 minutes, pulling off shots. But he was ineffectual and did nothing thereafter.

Barkley – 5. Very poor. Constantly losing the ball, gave Romelu nothing.

Valencia – 5, also rubbish. Gave Lukaku one good cross.

Lukaku – 6. Usually I don't buy the "he had no service argument", but it rang true today. Still, he should have done better with the scraps he was fed.

---------------------------------

A reminder that we have a long way to go to break the top six monopoly. A big summer needed!

Get us in Joe Hart, Harry Maguire, Wayne Rooney, Ben Chilwell (or a left-field shout; Stephen Kingsley?), and one new defensive midfielder.

Whose fault is it that we don't have wingers?

Who let Deulofeu go when we'd already lost Bolasie??

As the old saying goes, when the going gets tough etc and Ross seems incapable of turning round a dodgy performance but great when he's on it. Koeman must see what we're all seeing, after all as a player he could look up and see Laudrup and Guillet, so he knows a good midfield when he sees one.

Gutted... but hey-ho, maybe he could use the remaining games to look at Walsh, Williams, Dowell, Kenny et al, couldn't do much worse.

Maybe that answers why he's no longer on free-kick duty?

Today, sadly, while Chelsea were as woeful as us going forward, we posed little or no threat from a practically non-existent 'attack'. Only Tom Davies deserves any credit as our standout performer.

I agree with a lot of TWebbers that the so-called big names, Lukaku and Barkley, should be shipped out for but it's unlikely any Premier League team would meet the ridiculous money quoted by EFC (possibly the Chinese might).

So it's downward and downward until the end of the season. At least we have one Championship trophy and congrats to Tranmere Rovers on promotion to another level.

Just one big beef amongst several Chelsea showed how to ping the ball at speed to each other; contrast that with the number of times Jags, for one, rolled the ball at snail's pace to another man.

My biggest beef though was with Moss. A disgrace. He let Chelsea run the game and did nothing about the disrespect shown to him as the main official. As one example, Luis feigning injury, the ref indulging him asking if he's okay for ages with no trainer coming on; if you're injured, get the trainer on, if not play on. As another, the sly pushes in the back. Disgrace.

Nah, just keep Lukaku up top and send long balls from defense. That will do it.

Who else is likely to take hero role in a big game?

We haven't got a Pedro or Hazard or Dele Alli or players in midfield of that ilk.

Chelsea have players like Pedro, Willian, Fabregas that's what makes you competitive. I want Everton to get 3 or 4 absolute class players from abroad, players that have the mental strength as well as the physical prowess.

I don't think it's enough to have just the best Burnley or Hull player coming in, as a squad player yes, but not as players coming into the first team. Need to start thinking much bigger.

We need major surgery this summer, a top keeper, 2 centre-backs, a left back, midfielder, striker... and that's hoping Lukaku and Barkley stay.

Absolute nonsense.

Some players simply aren't good enough both goalies, Williams and Jags, Holgate (as right back, might cut there as CB), Mirallas, Kone and Valencia.

Some might cut the mustard but need to improve: Baines, Funes Mori, Barkley, Lookman,Calvert-Lewin, Bolasie.

That leaves: Gana, Davies, Coleman, Schneiderlin and Lukaku (not including Barry who is good enough but past it) of the regularly playing personnel who I believe are of the quality to see us progress.

Time for Honest Ron to make some decisions on who goes and hopefully have a far better window than last summer – though it will cost serious money for us to break into the top four.

I always thought that if someone with money came in with John Moores's attitude (we have the best supporters in the league, who deserve the best, and I will see they get the best) would buy into Everton. Well, now we have someone with the financial clout. but the problem is that so do a number of other clubs that can compete or have greater financial clout than Moshiri.

This means that we have to compete with them in the transfer market and they will have more to offer than we can. All we have at this time is speculation of money for the transfer season and the promise of a new ground.

The transfer window is going to require the manager to have a clear plan of who he wants, how much money he will have, and a firm idea of the type of football his teams are going to play. Koeman seems to be a ruthless manger who will not take any nonsense from players but lately his tactics and substitutions seem off.

As I said I have seen the highs and lows but at 76 years old and waiting for open heart surgery, I hope the future starts to bring in more highs with a management team that does not bottle it when we play the Sky top 6 darlings, and brings back some pride to all Everton supporters. We can only put it down to the manager's tactics against these teams for this type of performance, as other teams who are not supposed to have the talent of Everton usually raise their game and effort playing these teams for a result.

Hopeful that Koeman has a firm plan what he wants to do with Barkley and Lukaku as I think the ongoing saga of "Will they go or will they stay?" is disrupting the team. I also believe that it will take another 2-3 transfer windows to bring Everton up higher than 6th place.

" I don't think it's enough to have just the best Burnley or Hull player coming in."

Much as I can see where you're coming from with that statement, Gana came from Aston Villa, so we shouldn't ignore players who have got the talent but may not have had the opportunity to shine alongside better players.

Trouble is you probably won't attract absolute world class talent to a club in 7th with no Champions League.

I'd love us to go for Lacazette but he won't come here so rather than waste money on more unknowns like Niasse we should target players who will do the business in this league like Josh King for example.

Not Lionel Messi granted but we need a whole new attack not just one or two..

I hope big Ron has the guts either to leave out Barkley and Lukaku or at least drag them off when showing present form.

Looks like we need a shed load of players for next season just to hold on to 7th as yet another transition period kicks in... we have to be very patient, methinks.

They even mugged him from taking penalties until recently; at that time, I believe he had the best penalty taking record in the Premier League. Remember their misses, David? You know... like the one that cost us a chance of going to the cup final?

You actually want Barkley to stay? Unbelievable.

I don't know which game some were watching today but to describe it as slow and lacking intensity is completely wrong. That was certainly not the impression from my seat. I thought our players, three of them regulars at Under-23 level earlier in the season, gave everything they had against a team comprising many seasoned international class players fighting for the title.

So, even if we have an excellent summer window, we will by some degree be short of a top 4 challenge. That's were I get itchy. I've seen nothing from Koeman to make me think he can bridge that gap tactically. Especially against those teams at the top of the table and away from home.

Stop being a petulant child with this "hero" crap. Baines has been dire at free kicks and corners for years. That's not Lukaku's fault or Mirallas's fault or Barkley's fault.

Since his ankle injuries began his crosses, whether they are from open play, corners or free kicks, never beat the first man. Same for free kick attempts at goal. He's been taking plenty of them and been poor for a long while, that's just a fact.

I think we have to play a longer term game and follow the example of Spurs, Dortmund and Monaco. Talented, technically gifted, young, fit players well coached and given a platform. The likes of Rooney and Kompany don't fit into this blueprint though I appreciate what Koeman said about needing some more 25-29-year-olds.

Squad players yes, I think for players in that first eleven we need that extra quality. Gana has done well; equally, I think King is a decent player to have in the squad, probably not to start though.

Jim – I take your point, but we might need to take a risk and pay over the top wages and transfer fees for a couple of world class signings and if Koeman can convince them that we will be in the mix for top four, along with the club moving forward, who knows. I believe we need some real proven quality as well as talent.

But in general, he doesn't get to take many of them since it is usually Baines or Barkley. And again, Baines has been hitting the first man for years now.

Again you're refusing to criticize Lukaku for anything even his semi-final nightmare when he should not have been taking that penalty.

Better than the last two, not that that was very hard to improve on, nowhere near as good as Martinez first season and about the same as Moyes last.

It's been steady but pretty mediocre but going with roughly the same shite that we had at the end of last season maybe you couldn't expect too much more.

We have improved at home in general, which peaked from January to today's beating.

The downsides for me are that many of the old Everton habits remain unchanged, we lost both Merseyside derbies, lost way too early in both the Cups and disappointingly both at home to mediocre opposition.
We still look shit scared of the bigger teams especially away from home.
And finally the away form all season has been really really below par and we have won just 4 of the last 24 away games going back to last season.

I don't think there's much else you can do or get from this squad.

We need to be bold in the summer and not be afraid of change and I just hope we don't let sentiment cloud our judgements on what players need to be moved on.

Keane and McGuire would have been a better pairing than Jags and the woeful Williams that pulled the shirt on today. Keane looks a class act to me and is comfortable on the ball which is something that neither of our CB's are. I'd take Keane, especially, as a start for next seasons rebuilding.

Still plenty to play for with Arsenal struggling. No reason why if we show some spirit at the Emirates we might get something there and pip Arsenal.

Yes we might be better off with a new keeper, a new centre-back, a fit Seamus and a new left back but even with all four the poor aptitude of those in our front positions (specifically such seasoned pro's as Mirallas, Barkley, Lukaku, Valencia, Kone, Deulofeu, McGeady and Lennon) will mean the better teams will still have all the time they need to mount attacks against us safe in the knowledge that there's little for their own defence or keeper to worry about.

With a bumper crop of signings I'd be more than happy with fourth next season, the supreme optimist that I'd like to be, but in truth I'm not expecting so many signings.

You brought up Lukaku after I and others posted about how Baines has been awful from set pieces for years. He has been taking them regularly and people were screaming for him to be removed from those responsibilities because he had become so poor at it. It has nothing to do with penalties or anything to do with a cup match from a year ago. That has absolutely nothing to do with Baines absolute to deliver a ball from a cross from open play, from a corner or a shot at goal.

I didn't have a problem with Lukaku taking that free kick today so why would I criticize it? I would not have wanted Baines to take it because he's been very poor at them for years. There really isn't much else to say on the matter.

Most free kicks are missed, by every single player. But the problem with Baines in recent years is that he doesn't seem to be able to get he ball elevated past the first man for whatever reason. He used to be superb. But it seems that since he began having those chronic injuries to his feet/ankles that he lost that ability to deliver the crosses and set pieces that had been so lethal. I wish that wasn't the case.

Ship one of them out - I'd keep Robles as a back up. Stek is just too old & too shit.

Get in Schmeichel, or if not - go for Heaton as a consistent option. Pickford is a bit raw, but still better than what we have.

I understand your trying to put a positive spin on it but Everton will go to the Emirates on the last day and offer the same meek threat as we always offer at those venues, scared to cross the halfway line.

No matter what state Arsenal are in we will doubtlessly go there and give them a confidence boost to take to Wembley for the Cup Final.

We have the words "nothing will be the same " on this season's season ticket/card.

To me I'd have held those words back for a bit longer to see exactly what direction we were going in because apart from a good home run against mainly also ran's and a pretty abject Manchester City, this season has felt well, just " more of the same" really.

We cannot attract players like Isco or Rodriguez etc...we must start looking for players who:

a) fit the system Koeman wants to play
b) want to play for us
c) are of a standard above our current crop

That said, one of our most current consist players is an EFC graduate - Davies.

In post 59 I said Baines has been poor for years. I didn't mention Lukaku or any other player. Then in post 77 you start talking about Lukaku and penalty misses from a year ago. Ok, we all know you hate him. But he's actually scored from a free kick this season while Baines, again, has been very poor from set pieces for many years now. He hasn't scored from a free kick in years and his corners couldn't get past the first man for years, which is why they were taken away from him. That's just history, I'm sorry, not an alternative fact universe.

In any case, it's 75 degrees with a nice ocean breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Finished some delicious juevos rancheros, cars are washed and waxed, so I'm off to hit some golf balls and enjoy the day. Going to make a nice mint Julip from my garden to put in my golf bag for refreshment. My strawberries are coming in nicely too and looks like some are ready to be picked and be part of a nice ice cream sundae later. Can't wait.
I hope you can try to find something to fill your day.

To me, we only seem to win when the opposition is abject and can't be arsed, sadly on too many occasions in 2017 we have matched that level of shite.

Martinez would have been destroyed for this campaign, at least he got us to two semi finals last season. Koeman needs to win us a trophy and a derby next season or he can fuck off and takes his Moyes-like negative set ups with him.

At the risk of repeating myself, we need at top class goalkeeper - our two are too error prone and I think Robles is marginally better.

Barkley was terrible today apart from one good tackle and burst forward.

Lukaku was in bollard mode as he often is against the top teams.

Baines is looking past it.

I could go on but we looked like we were on the beach already today with 7th place assured. Shame because Arsenal have lost and both Manchester teams only drew.

Whether it is fear of missing or whatever, he seems to lack the confidence he once had.

I'd tell him to do one straight after the Arsenal game and give Unsy the entire summer to build a braver more adventurous model.

Btw, you're talking crap saying Baines has been rubbish for years at free kicks. For the most part,he hasn't been taking them. If he was so bad, why has he been given penalty duty back recently?

IMO we don't need to strengthen midfield. We are strong in that area with Gana, Davis and Schneiderlin. We really missed Schneiderlin today and he would have given us the possibility of some more through balls from midfield.

I think we should offload Besic and McCarthy and let Liam Walsh and Joe Williams take their places. We also have the young lad likened to Kante by Unsworth. He seems to think the 3 of them are 1st team ready and I'd like to see them all play some part next season. For me, McCarthy and Besic are in the way of their development and are not good enough. Both are too injury prone and contributed little and zero.

As an attacking midfielder, for me, it has to be Sigurdsson and I do think he'll be one we do bring in. Barkley is like Lukaku in that he doesn't have another player to push him in the attacking midfield role. I see no reason why Barkley can't be pushed out on the left and we can have them both in the side.

Of course it's possible Barkley might be sold, in which case we'll need to revise this. I think Rooney will be another player who will definitely be playing in blue next season and he could be useful has a striker/attacking midfielder so we will have more options in Barkley's role.

I'll do the same as with Barkley and say Lukaku will stay for one more season. I think we will have Rooney. As Paul Tran mentioned yesterday, Jermaine Defoe will be available on a free. If we were to keep Lukaku and add Rooney and Defoe, I think they're be more goals throughout the team and will be able to do more tactically and Koeman will have a similar set up to what he had at Saints where he will have a few strikers who can do different things. Calvert-Lewin will also be another year older. I wouldn't buy Valencia.

We need a CB desperately and if we could buy any one of Koulibaly, Keane or Van Dijk there should be an improvement. Unlike Sigurdsson and Rooney I think we'll be lucky to sign any of these 3 players. But fingers crossed. I'd also like us to buy a 2nd centre-back in the young Man City U 23 captain (can't remember his name) who I understand will be available after refusing the final offer of a new contract.

Goalkeeper : Again, any one of Butland, Schmeichel, Forster, Hart or Heaton.

Steve Walsh also seems to be set on attracting the best young talent, so I'd also add Sesseggnon from Fulham at left-back and David Hirst's lad from Sheffield Wednesday. I think we'll face a lot of competition for the lad from Fulham but I think most young talented players will take the view as Calvert Lewin who chose us over United and see that we'll the best side in the country and place to be for young talent.

Big season with the Europe league. So my final incomings are as follows. I think we can bring all these players. 1st choice centre-back inclusion will be harder but I'll give a name

Incomings - Butland, Keane, Siggurdson, Rooney, and Defoe.
Young players brought in - Sessegnon, Man City U23 centre-back and Hirst.

Martinez home goal difference over those two seasons was +11, Koeman's goal difference at home is +25 this season.

Yes, there are games when we haven't been good enough, today included, and our away form is very poor, but Koeman has steadied the ship after two years of freefall under the last fella and has got us into Europe. Next season will be the real deal. Can he take us forward and will he improve the squad and ship out more of the deadwood?

Koeman gave Gana the job of marking Hazard, and he did a great job but that left Tom Davies and Barkley in midfield. I felt sorry for Tom again; Barkley went missing in a big game. I think if we ever hope to challenge for a top 4 place then I cant see an Everton team with Barkley in it. He doesn't score anywhere near the number of goals and his decision making is well below what is required from a midfield player in a top 4 side.

There will be others that will also need replacing. I think today's game will have convinced Koeman that a new keeper and 2 central defenders is his first priority. I think Koeman himself must take some criticism for today's performance. Surely if Gana is going to man mark Hazard then Barry had to come in for the injured Schneiderlin. He must see something in Calvert Lewin that I haven't seen of yet.

But the most baffling of the lot was bringing Kone on. I don't think he has hardly kicked a ball for the first team this year, mostly the managers choice not injury keeping him out. So why would you think he was the choice to bring on instead of Lookman who is surely one for the future.

I don't know how deep Moshiri's pockets are but I think we will need his and his pal Usmanov's money to get this club challenging for a top 4 position.

Let's hope the team turns up with some fire in the belly for Swansea; it's likely some on show today won't be around next season.

Let's hope there's some proven new players coming in..The squad needs rebuilding and optimism must be confirmed and the club must aim to progress on the park as well at the new stadium.

We play in 2-3 gears, the likes of Chelsea and Spurs are able to play 5-6 gears plus their subs benches are miles better than ours. That's the major difference.

As for the eternal, never ending Rom/Ross debate, well I've defended both to the hilt (and beyond) but if Ronald really feels that these two players slow us down and cannot play in his system (whatever that is) then maybe it is time for them to move on.

My conclusions:-
Stekenburg and Robles are unsuitable for a top 4 team. Cue Butland or Smeichel.

Ross and Rom need to be moved on.

We desperately need a top class mobile centre-back: Keane, Maguire and or Van Dijk.

We should be giving Jonjoe Kenny a run to see if he is up to it.

We need goal threat from all over the pitch and haven't got it.

We should get Sigurdsson, Andre Gray and Josh King... and if I had my way, we would get Vardy too.

1: Find out where the other players on their own team are BEFORE they get a pass, so they don't have to let it pass them by while they start looking, and then find most passes except backwards are blocked as their opponents have closed in on them while they were looking...

2: Don't do short passes in the same direction the opposing player closing in on them is already heading! Make a longer pass, to the player who should be beyond them! Gana is especially 'good' at this short passing...

Oh, well, three or four things then: Stop the damn back-passes to the keeper. (Actually part of my first point, but it really, really annoys me!) The keeper will usually just make a punt that is won back by the opposition anyway, so stop risking those possibly intercepted back-passes that only lets the opposition have time to get organized! And do that punt yourself so our attacking players learn to want to be close to the opposition's box!

Ooh, I feel slightly better now! :P

I agree. We started well. I think Stekelenburg unnerved us and the goal was like a "here we go again" and people downed their tools. I suspect Chelsea would have won anyway as they're better than us. I also suspect Ross would've signed after the recent live fest if he plans to stay. If he goes, life goes on.

GK: Schmeichel / Heaton / Forster / Pickford
LB: Chilwell / Bertrand
LB: Sessegnon
CB: Keane / Van Dijk
CB: Gibson / Maguire
CM: Tielemans
CAM: Sigurdsson / Rooney
Winger: Zaha / Chamberlin
ST: Iheanacho
ST: Dembele / Batshauyi / Perez (if Lukaku leaves)

Outgoing:

GK: Stekelenburg
CB: Funes Mori (wouldn't mind keeping him, but think he'll be shipped out)
CM: McCarthy (think he will want to leave)
RM: Lennon
LM: Mirallas (not consistent enough)
ST: Kone
ST: Niasse (wouldn't mind him staying - but doubt he will)

It isn't 75 degrees in Caldy, mate!

Darren Hind @ #105: wind up merchant. Tiresome anti-Koeman. "Do one".

You forgot the Nah na na nah nah after your last para.

Back to humour... see ya tomorrow.

Is that a general wish-list, and do you expect any one of them to see a move to EFC as being desirable? I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, I can see how many of the names I recognize might both do good for us and so better their own position, but I admit there are some names I don't know, as I only follow EFC on various media...

Big summer ahead for Walsh and Moshiri – I'm looking forward to it as we need another big cull of the playing staff as witnessed in January. Out – Stekelenburg, Funess Mori, Lennon, Mirallas, Deulofeu, McGeady, Niasse, Kone. Big decisions needed over Lukaku and Barkley.

Could be reverse psychology or could be that we needed a goal and he's the only striker. Either way, the outcome's the same.

IMO we were in the game until Pedro produced a moment of magic.

Yes, it's fair to say we didn't threaten, but Chelsea were limited until then too, but the fact is we have Calvert-Lewin and Valencia either side of our striker, Chelsea have Pedro and Hazard.

Our sub's were Mirallas and Kone, theirs were Fabregas and William.

Fact is Chelsea had a world super star in there side to score a screamer, we don't. Pedro has a striker rate of around 1 in 3 for Spain, 1 in 4 for Barca and 1 in 4 for Chelsea, and he's not even there star man. If he didn't produce that magic then William, Hazard, Costa or any one of another 4-5 other players would have, can anyone imagine any of our players doing that. Pedro now has 12 goals this season, only Chelsea's 3rd highest scorer and only 1 more than William. His tally has him hitting more goals this season than Calvin-Lewin, Mirallas, Valencia, Kone, Deulofeu, Lookman and Bolasie (our wide men) all put together.

We need massive investment if we want to get near Chelsea, the lads we had out there today done what they could, they simply aren't as good as Chelsea.

Were strong in the centre of the park with Schneiderlin, Gana, Davies, and McCarthy but if Rom leaves then we basically need players for everywhere apart from centre mid.

The keepers are average at best, Coleman's injury was horrendous and its debatable if he will ever come back as good, Baines only has a few years left and in attacking wide areas were weak.

If, like expected Lukaku, Barkley, Deulofeu and McCarthy all leave then we have a huge summer on our hands.

The above should land us 𧴺m, we need to be ambitious and big bold.

William isn't a starter for Chelsea, Sigurdsson is only at Swansea, Keane is a must, a keeper is vital leaving us needing 2 strikers.

Big shouts but I'd have two of Keane, Maguire, Ake or Sakho for around 㿙/50m.
Both William and Sigurdsson for around 㿨m.
Rooney on a free to replace Niasse, Kone, and Valencia.
Leaving around 㿊m for a top striker, and that's without Moshiri putting his hand in his pocket other than for extra wages.

I think Kenny needs a go for Swansea. I really rate Holgate but he's not a natural right back. Schneiderlin was a huge loss. Ross was very disappointing and Calvert-Lewin not up to it at the moment. I would have brought on Lookman instead of Kone.

All-in-all, a poor performance, a big summer ahead.

I agree with your 'Out' list, as I suspect most of us do; even about Mirallas, as he's not consistent enough and has had a tendency to lose his head. But we still need TWO squads for the next season, so I'll not be sorry to see quite a few of them stay as squad players for now. Unless we miraculously sign a full team in addition to anything we keep...

We need a new left back.

The people who tell me Ross would walk into any Premier League side, will you finally admit he is not good enough? He was woeful today. I really hope we sell, maybe we can persuade a West Brom or Stoke to stump up 㿀 mill.

Okay Coleman, maybe Bolasie but who are the other 3 or 4 key players? McCarthy? Funes Moro? Lennon? Browning? Not really "key" unless you call subs "key".

Robles did well when he got his chance, but then he lately reverted to his old flapping ways. I was really disappointed there, so hopefully this side-lining may be to make him think long & deep and then come back better again.

Stekelenburg is not a long-term solution anyway, but Robles initially looked like he'd solved his problems in the field when he got his chance. So it's disappointing to see how he reverted to old errors!

Yes I think Calvert-Lewin maybe getting harshly judged playing as a deep lying winger, ridiculous to watch him spending his time stopping their full back from going forward, lets judge him when he plays in his own position as a striker.

He is a big strong lad, tidy ball control, good in the air, I would say however he needs to be nastier fighting for the ball, he appears quite placid for such a big lad, needs a bit more devil in him.Sharp was like that until Andy Gray showed him the ropes. Duncan Ferguson should be able to learn him a trick or two, without going over the top that is.

I wonder if the Echo correspondent Greg O'Keefe, reads what you say? Because I've just read one of his reports in the Echo, that shows a complete lack of real understanding of football,(well at least how I see it) and he's probably getting paid a fortune to not really understand the players that he works with and he's also reporting on!

We were well beaten in the end by the best team by a country mile to visit Goodison this season. I honestly think they'd have rolled over any of the top sides today apart from maybe Spurs.

Why am I not too despondent? Because, with the right investment over the summer, I'm confident that we can narrow the gap and maybe even overtake one or more of Arsenal, Man Utd and maybe even Liverpool. We're not going to become an automatic top four side in one fell swoop. It's going to have to be an incremental improvement, much as it was with Man City when they evolved.

The likes of Keane, Sigurdsson, if we could get them, will not take us to Chelsea's level but they'd be a good first step. Together with a few hidden gems and the progression of some of the youth team, I'm reasonably confident. But it'll be a big Summer for Koeman and Walsh.

Just look at the two benches today and tell me where the difference lay. They made an impact in this game as they did against Spurs in the cup (who also have a better squad than us). We had nowhere to go in comparison.

Chelsea will probably be Champions this season. If they are, it is because they have the most effective squad in the league.

We will finish 7th, because we will have the 7th most effective squad in the league. Except we don't. The players mentioned above are missing and it is bound to have an effect, whatever some on here might think.

When people say we've got a huge amount of ground to make up, yes we have and it's stating the bleeding obvious.

Greg O'Keeffe probably makes around £20,000 a year. Probably explains his half-hearted efforts.

Watching Pedro and Hazard today driving on from midfield at pace, what happened to Barkley who scored that wonder goal from the half-way line at Newcastle two seasons ago?

We are far too static upfront resulting in continual sideways and backwards passes. If you put Barkley in the Chelsea team, he will look fantastic; with us, everybody around him is static.

Their wingbacks offer so much width and always an option to pass. We really miss Coleman in games such as these. Davies was immense and Gana did a great job on Hazard. We should now give some of the Under-23s a run-out for the last three games in preparation for the Europa League in July.

Today we saw proof that Koeman:

a) doesn't trust the creative players in this squad (I agree with him).

b) has run out of ideas on how to employ them.

Lukaku was upfront, supported by two players who work hard, but are largely ineffective (for all Calvert-Lewin's promise). Holgate was left isolated at full back, with nobody in front to support him or build attack. Barkley in the middle, left to spin backwards and play those five-yard balls to Gana that beef up his ineffectiveness and Opta stats. And then he brings on the previously outcasted Kone, who followed a blistering first 30 seconds with his usual anonymity.

Wasn't all bad. Gana did a fabulous man-marking job on Hazard. Davies again showed wonderful maturity in holding this mess together, mixing it with his experienced canny opponents.

For an hour, it was a tight game, but they spoilt it by scoring a goal that proper quality midfielders score. Then they picked us off, like we do to the teams below us. Fabregas came on and produced a cameo of awareness and precision.

Today showed our squad's lack of quality, our manager's conservatism and exasperation with the 'creative' players at his disposal. Above all, today showed why we're miles ahead of 8th and miles behind 6th.

Koeman's boxed himself in here. He has to deliver on bringing in attacking players who make an impact, gelling them together and having us look like a team who can challenge those above us.

I'm not holding my breath and I'm prepared to be surprised.

Stupid to write the kid off, he put in a good shift, allowed very little down his side from Moses, and had our best effort at goal.

If he can't get a go up top in the Europa League or the League Cup next season, then he should be loaned out to gain experience as a striker.

30 games as a striker in a middle-of-the-table Championship side would show us where he's at as a forward.

Completely agree about Baines. He flat refuses to play a forward pass lately. We also seem to have given up attacking down our left flank. What has happened to the best attacking full-back in the league?

I disagree with people's general assessment of Barkley as he annoys me a lot more than he excites me! He regularly runs into dead ends his passing is diabolical more often than not. If we sell him in the summer it's goes a long way to proving he is a big weak link.

We desperately need a player that has that X-Factor – a player that can unlock a defence rather than someone who "is one our own" but doesn't really offer anything when you need him to do it!! A new keeper is also needed both of ours are tripe at very best.

Rom is a gonna and after his big game performances, I'm not that sorry he will be; replace his goals with 2 strikers that score 12+ goals each with less ego and more effort and we are heading in the right direction.

Off the cuff, a little bit but Josh King has caught my eye a lot this season: 15 league goals in a poor side is certainly looking to be a better player than our very own Mr Average Barkley this season.

There are some very obtainable players out there that not only will improve us but won't cost the earth... Hart, Sigurdsson, King, Gibson and 1 other striker probably costing what Lukaku will go for – not including Ross Runabout's sell-on fee.

David Barks – I think Baines is a better deadball man than Barkley or Lukaku. I was behind the goal at that West Ham game... he was magical. His ankle trouble isn't the problem, he is simply missing out to the selfish ones. If it is on the right, he should be taking it.

Our problems have been exacerbated by the loss of Coleman, but Baines is getting forward less and less. Our widthless play has Lukaku straying out wide right, but he couldn't put a cross in due to his obsession on beating the first man.

Lots of little errors from most of our players throughout, but Stekelenburg was in a poor position for the Pedro goal. The ball was not in the top corner but Stek was too far off his line and dived weirdly, actually flapping at it with his left hand. I think Joel would have saved it. Koeman is to blame for bringing back his countryman. The guy is gormless – as an earlier poster pointed out him not rushing out to prevent a corner from a big deflection! What planet is he on?

Let's hope Steve Walsh has something better planned.

We have qualified for Europe in the Europa League (not sure if that's good or bad); for me, it affects your League performances for that season. A contentious view I know that many will not agree with.

My stock answer to get us out of this "best of the rest" reputation is that we need to throw a hell of a lot of money at the transfer windows, in fact more than the teams that will finish in the top 6 this season, because they already have better players that don't need replacing.

That's not the whole story though, when you consider Spurs have challenged for the League with some, not sure how many, young players that the club have brought though their youth system.

Probably we need to do both; easier said than done, though.

Josh King is better – he has scored more, assisted more and generally doesn't get laughed at for being guff by other fans.

Gibson is a centre-back; I didn't say anything about him replacing wantaway Rom... though, on this season's big games, would a centre-back do any worse than our very own flat-track bully!?! Probably not.

Completely agree with your post. Big summer ahead for Ronald Koeman, whilst we have improved, today's result and performance has shown that there is a long way to go before we can consider ourselves as contenders for top 4.

Maybe Koeman, with a weakened squad, 7th spot wrapped up and the season end looming, is only willing to fight hard to win the more winnable games, or maybe I am imagining this.

Barkley can't produce against the top teams, and holds on to the ball far too long. His driving forward with the ball and shooting days seem to be behind him.

All the teams above Everton have big money to spend, and Everton need at least 10 new players to come into the squad next season. I am a positive guy but it's going to be very tough convincing players to come to Everton.

Wouldn't it be better value to give Lookman more playing time to get big-game experience under his belt?

Koeman may do another season and then he'll be off. Look at his track record.

We need our own looking after the club otherwise this shite will just go on and on.

Money can't buy all we need. Spirit, belief, confidence, fitness and all the effort in the world are free. So, I suggest we buy some guile. Some guile and a player for whom losing hurts. Really hurts.

Not saying we were great at all but not as bad as is being made out. May have been interesting if Calvert-Lewin's early shot had gone in.

If we were great every week, we'd win the league. We are not there but we are improving.

I agree with you about Gana and Davies but I just can't understand the role Barkley was trying to play today.

Darren knows a lot more about managers than me but I was very happy with the discipline that was shown by us today. Until I looked at Ross Barkley and decided that the way he played today was his own choice, and had nothing to do with neither discipline or really trying to help the team...

Koeman picks the team; I thought we were strong defensively until Pedro let fly but it was plain from the start that we never really had enough in our ranks to cause Chelsea problems offensively.

I only found a couple of pieces on today's poor display from Greg O'Keefe at the Echo website, neither of which I would have much arguement with. Are you saying both he and I are upsetting you because neither of us could 'see the positives' in that insipid capitulation?

Be specific, Lad!

I did put a positive spin on it in relation to the last match against Arsenal. We do have a dismal record against them at their place but we surely have to beat them one day. One day will happen and it could just be this year.

Re your comment about beating an 'abject' Man City. Unless I am misreading your comment, I don't remember Man City as being abject. I remember they mostly outplayed us leading up to the final third and then couldn't penetrate a well-marshalled defence. We then had the ability to take the few chances we created.

After all, he has previous for taking his Mrs & their matching mountain bikes to the Algarve when you'd think he'd be taking care of business at USM Finch Farm... ;)

My point is that's what we are lacking... Pedro and Hazard seem to ghost pat people and we haven't got that. Pair that with Lukaku.
I did mention Nolito on another thread...

Just a thought.

I could mention a few more but, for now, let's try those two out in the first team.

In other words, we are seen by many Evertonians as virtually ripping up the current first team and needing to start again? If that's the case, and to be honest I'm struggling to disagree with much of the shopping list, then Koeman's first season has been about a steady if unspectacular improvement from 11th to 7th and the half decent tho tinged with risks achievement of a Europa League spot, complete with TWO pre-qualification games, if we are lucky.

We we're not over run for an hour against a very good Chelsea team but the way we suddenly collapsed in the final half-hour was a reflection of the gulf in class between the two teams, as was the difference in the quality of the subs bench. The truth is Courtois hardly had a save to make of note. And after this we seem content to accept we are virtually starting over. I'm just not sure how we all think this is okay and a successful “transition”?

Had we not ballsed up both the summer and January transfer windows, and we did mess them up, we really really did……then maybe transition might have meant just that, a clear steady improvement with measured team building in Year 2. Not going to happen is it when right now we can all see we don't have the quality in defence and basically need to replace most of the incumbents. Plus whatever your position on the sale or not of Lukaku and Ross, if they do both go it will not be easy to add replacing them to what is becoming a huge summer rebuilding task.

It's harsh maybe. We have improved to be clearly the best of the rest by some way. Good for us. But we just can't beat a strong team and are incapable of turning up when it matters most. Me? I think it has been a season of missed opportunities, some very mixed performance from the manager, eased a little by the emergence of Tom Davies and the one outstanding signing in Schneiderlin with Gana also an impressive arrival.

So, it's been a 'transition' which is looking like a project to pretty much start again in late July. Somehow that just doesn't feel like the progress we hoped for.

Today we witnessed the chasm that lies between Everton and Chelsea. I thought in the first half we did quite well without really posing much of a threat; however, the second half brought home the reality.

I've read hundreds of posts on dozens of threads which reveal diverse opinions. Well, sticking my head over the parapet, here's mine.

Lukaku, for all his goals goes walkabout far too often, especially in the bigger games. How much of a poor influence does he have in the dressing room? The youngsters who are coming through will be looking to this "superstar" to show the attitude and demeanour that they expect from such a player.

Well, for me, they have been greatly let down, as have the fans. Lukaku is lazy, arrogant and nowhere near as good as he thinks he is. Again, and only my opinion the sooner he is away from Everton the better.

Ross Barkley. I don't care where our players are born as long as they have the wherewithal,skill and attitude to play for my club. He quite patently is not going to cut it at the highest level.

I would happily see the back of both of them.

The only reason I can think of as to why Koeman keeps playing them, especially since seventh place and European football is assured, is to keep them in the shop window in the hope that they can put more millions on their respective price tags. Seeing as neither of these two superstars have signed their contracts, it seems that they don't want to be here next season. If so, get shut. This hopefully will enable a better more cohesive team spirit to be forged.

Everton do not need prima donnas in their midst if they are to progress to the next level, which I think they can achieve without certain players.

As an afterthought, get shut of Mirallas as well. Again, and it is only my opinion, he is an over-rated prancing pony who is surplus to requirements. As for the speculation surrounding Wayne Rooney's return, oh yes please, in a heartbeat.

My main contention is Ross. If we can get decent money, then I feel he must be sold. The first, shocking, cross-field pass that was easily cut out and put us under intense pressure was poor. Most absurd was Ross's reluctance to rectify the error by busting a gut to track back to the danger.

When he receives the ball, he mostly takes two, three, four touches with a tight spin before he releases the ball to the person that was available in the first place. The fact that the recipient is now compromised by being closed down just doesn't seem to register.

I wish the lad the very best but, after watching him closely first hand over these past years, I cannot see a rising trajectory in his form. Inconsistency is the consistent marking in his form for the past three years.

Personally, I think it's all paper talk about Spurs et al making large bids for him. We may be in for a surprise when it comes to Ross and Rom in that no teams are willing to pay such exorbitant fees and we're pretty much having to persist with what we have.

Sigurdsson would definitely be a welcome addition to this team. Cerebral, creative players are absent in our squad. I wouldn't be too surprised to see Rooney play a year on loan with us next season. It may suit both parties before he decides on his last move.

Of course we all want to be higher, but it isn't going to happen overnight, and there are clearly 6 teams better than us, much as people will struggle to admit it.

A few results here & there and things could be quite different, but the reality is that 7th is progress, and we'll play in the Europa League next season which will at least give us some more potential for attracting players.

I know it's not the promised land of the Champions League, but it's a step up on Martinez's reign and that's likely to have been Koeman's remit this season. One step at a time, and reasons to be cheerful.

Very sensible comments at an emotional time. We've made improvements since last season but there's still more required.

The Lukaku and Barkley issues will dominate the summer.

Both decent players but do they limit us? Could we reinvest and come out better? It's a pivotal summer ahead.

Time for Koeman and Walsh to earn their wages and purchase and coach us to the next level.

Yes, we've had a decent season in the Premier League given where we finished last season. I think 7th is the best we could have hoped for and we're now closer to the 6 teams above us than the rest of the league.

I have no doubts that we will be spending heavily in the summer transfer window and more than the clubs below us. IMO it will be the same 7 teams competing for the top 4 places again next season. We are a club on the ascendancy despite the best efforts of the same TW doom and gloom merchants to say other wise.

It's just a shame we capitulated in the two home defeats in the cups this season. I think Koeman's largely got a free pass there because he done well in the league, but early cup exits won't go unnoticed again next season.

He has a big decision to make in a few weeks time. He either stays as a squad player with Everton where next year I very much doubt he'll be first choice as his place will be taken by someone like Sigurdsson coming into the club or he moves on to a West Brom or West Ham or maybe Newcastle. There isn't a cat-in-hell's chance he'll be interesting any of the sides above us as he's simply not good enough.

Today he was quite frankly shocking!! You don't have to be Einstein to be a footballer (eg, Rooney) but you at least need a footballing brain and unfortunately there is zero evidence that Barkley has even the slightest hint of one of them.

As for Lukaku .he's only as good as the service into him and once again against the big teams there was no service whatsoever. He's not Ronaldo or Messi who will go and make things happen on their own. We are light years behind the top 6 and a fair way ahead of the bottom 13!! Against the 13, Lukaku looks a world beater. Against the top 6 the whole side look second rate!!

We need a goalkeeper that's for sure. We currently have vying for first choice the former Fulham reserve and the 2nd choice/cup goalie at Wigan!!! Neither are up to it.

Someone at the start of this thread said Calvert-Lewin was a 'fine footballer' Where's the evidence to back that up?? Sadly he's not up to Premier League standard either. Holgate isn't a right back but I think he's a good bet to be a very good centre half when he gets a chance in his proper position which might allow Jonjoe Kenny an opportunity to show what he can do.

We might get another season out of Williams but I'm afraid it's time for Jags to move down the leagues as his legs have gone and he's a shadow of his former self. He's be a great servant for the club and doesn't deserve to have his reputation tarnished by becoming a target for the boo boys as will surely happen if he's still here next season.

Add to this the likes of Lennon, Kone, Garbutt, Deulofeu, heading for the exit, as well as sending Valencia back to West Ham's reserves then it all adds up for a busy and hugely important summer for Koeman Walsh and, perhaps most of all, Moshiri. If we want to push on then it's not going to come cheaply

The stats spell it out. He's our top scorer with 24, then it's Barkley, Mirallas and Coleman with 4. We need to get someone in who can share that burden with Rom. If he stays of course. Defensively we were far too open, the way we let the likes of Hazard, Pedro and even Matic waltz through us at one point was not great.

I don't understand why he started Calvert-Lewin ahead of Mirallas. Unfortunately I don't think he's good enough for this level, even though he is still young. And as for putting Kone on ahead of Lookman, no idea what that was all about.

However, we shouldn't be too down, as it was only our first home defeat these year after an impressive run, and of course we're back in Europe, so in that regard it's been a decent first season for Koeman after the shambles left behind by Martinez.

In terms of what we need to do in the summer, a new keeper is a must. Robles and Stekelenburg have been decent enough in patches but if we want to reach Champions League contention we need someone better. Pickford would be easily gettable now Sunderland are down; Butland would be another decent option; and maybe someone like Joe Hart wouldn't be too bad either.

Defensively we need an overhaul as Jags is getting on and Williams looks slow. Virgil van Dijk would be perfect, and Michael Keane would be decent too, he's been impressive this season for Burnley.

The priority though should be attacking wise. If anything, the last 2 games have shown that we need more creativity, Sigurdsson would be perfect I reckon. Then of course there's Lukaku. If he leaves we're screwed in my view because there's not many 20+ goal a season strikers out there that we can realistically get to replace him.

This probably is the most pivotal summer in our recent history, so it's so important that we get it right. I trust Koeman in that regard, not so sure about Steve Walsh yet. Time for him to earn his cash.

I have to say though, Chelsea deserve to be Champions, it looks like they will be. What a job Conte has done with a squad that jacked it in for Mourinho last season. His passion is infectious and the way he's been able to galvanise that team has been impressive.

Onto the next then. I'm confident we can bounce back against Swansea and Watford, then Arsenal who by then will have nothing to play for league wise I suspect, and will have one eye on the Cup Final. COYB.

He was given the task of man-marking and for the first half-hour he was all at sea. He got to grips with his task for the last ten minutes of the first half and looked like he had a cigar going for the first fifteen of the second half... but his demons returned and the rash recklessness of going to ground for no apparent reason earned him a booking, cost us another goal, and effectively ended the game as a contest. We didn't see him after that.

The game last for ninety minutes, but our boy seems to have at least one of these mad moments in every game.

It recent weeks he has sat down while Coutinho waltzed past him. got away with a crazy slide at Old Trafford after already being cautioned. Went to ground again against West ham, earning himself another unnecessary booking.

When he made that ridiculous challenge today I looked to our bench and Koeman was shaking his bowed head. He knows. In recent weeks he has twice had to bring off his chief destroyer at half time. When a man who's game revolves completely around his tackling is carded. he is instantly walking a tightrope.

The slide against W Ham defied belief. he was never getting there... Koeman's reaction was almost instant. He wouldn't trust him to continue against Burnley either.

As a player, Koeman didn't have the skill his team mates possessed, he had a cannon of a shot, but his main strength was his uncanny ability to read a game. If anybody knows the importance of defending on your feet it is him. The shake of the head today and the two recent substitutions speak volumes.

Gana has put in some eye-catching performances this season, he has also undone quite a few of them with daft sliding challenges.

"Part of the art of tackling, is to know when not to." – Colin Todd.

I have defended Barkley all season but he continues to frustrate and if we do bring in some top players then I can only see him warming the bench. Newspapers reporting him going to Spurs is ridiculous as I don't see him getting anywhere near their midfield.

Overall, a decent season building, and I didn't expect anything else, although I saw on the Live Forum someone saying that the team should play out the remainder of the season in an empty stadium as they are that shit, different expectations I guess.

I have also noticed a lot of comments like "He only costs 㾻 million so he can't be that good"– if people think we going to be spending hundreds of millions, then they will be disappointed.

Lukaku
Calvert-Lewin Lookman
Valencia

Davies Gana

Baines Holgate
Williams Jagielka

Robles

I think Robles is a better keeper than Stekelenburg.
I also think Koeman should stop playing Barkley and Mirallas (Can't defend the play and shoots without aiming).

Do we reinforce what we have, or do scrap the lot and make wholesale changes? The latter isn't realistic, or even possible, but even the most upbeat and optimistic Evertonian will admit that, for a myriad of reasons (age, talent, depth, commitment, to name a few), changes have to be made. There isn't a position in the starting eleven that couldn't use some improvement, in one way or another. Whether it's improvement in the incumbent player or new blood remains to be seen.

A lot will depend on Koeman's assessment of the current squad. Koeman has done alright but by no stretch of the imagination has he got every decision correct. Hopefully, he's up to the job next summer.

We are nailed on 7th. The final 3 matches are for professional pride and personal statistics. It will be interesting to see which players are still interested, and which players are already on vacation. And after the actual vacation, it will be interesting to see who will be back, and who won't.

The fact is we were beaten "eventually" by one of the best sides in Europe who have spent big and had time to formulate. Give Ronald a summer and let's talk this time next season and see where we are then.

The day is gone where we would haggle and hold out hoping for a bargain signing. A bargain for Everton is a player who will give us 10 years and cost us £40 million. We need a keeper 2 new central defenders, a right back fit to play in Europe, (Coleman is out - possibly to Christmas and maybe even beyond) Two visionary and attacking midfielders and an upfront striker.

I know its easier said than done. My nominations for what its worth. Butland. (the best keeper prospect in England) Maguire & Gibson, Matthew Lowton for right back, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Marek Hamsik in midfield and Josh King for up front.

Get all those and keep Barkley & Lukaku and we have a squad and a team that will offer a serious challenge that will enable us to improve on those ahead of us. It sounds ohh so simple, and maybe it is but its about money and the will within our Board to do the business and get deals done??? Koeman will want results this window.

This is the same Chelsea team that finished mid table last year with their only changes being Kante who is the best in the league at destroying and Conte.

Conte has a real passion for the game and you get the feeling that the same players who didnt turn up for Mourinho will run through a brick wall for him.

Koeman has to inspire these players to do the same. Davies was outstanding yesterday, a hungry 19-year-old put Costa and Matic on their arses and showed the rest of the team what we are lacking.

A big summer ahead but we already know that.

It's a colossal job, anyone who realistically thinks there is a better manager out there to do the job, and would actually be interested in coming to Everton, I'd love to know just who?

Suggestions from some we should appoint from within, presumably Unsworth, would be an enormous gamble. Colin Harvey hardly set the world on fire, and using a team full of youth team players would be a disaster.

Moshiri just isn't interested in going down that road thankfully. May be by this time next season, we will have a better chance to judge if Koeman is the real deal or not. If he isn't, I'm sure he will be replaced.

Id question the first two goals on the keeper. The first one a top keeper stops. It's not in the top corner, and I think he should be doing better. The second one is bad set-up play from Stekelenburg and Jagielka. It was obvious what Hazard was going to do with his right foot. The third one Holgate has to stay with Willian – he's the only option for Fabregas.

Disappointing, but highlights what we need if we are ever to play midweek in the big league. Would you really want to watch Everton play Barca with some of those players anywhere near the first XI?

The new keeper should be Jack Butland. Absolute no-brainer for me, and highlights the previous mistakes on missing out on him before.

I thought that we made it hard for Chelsea yesterday, and only for a wonder goal from Pedro, who knows how that game was going. Once Chelsea scored, they were always gonna be comfortable simply because we never had enough going forward to really hurt them. I thought most of our players worked really hard, and we had a defensive discipline that I haven't seen off an Everton team for years.

Greg O'Keeffe, done my head in when I read him say it was just too much for Barkley and Davies. We all watch the same game, Michael, but we also see it differently, and I thought that the 18-year-old got absolutely no help whatsoever off the 23-year-old. Remember when the Man Utd players were supposed to have told Ferguson to sign Rooney, when he came on as a sub against United? I think Chelsea's players, might have also been talking about young Tom, in a similar way after yesterday, and no way was that game too much for him. Luis wanted him booked in the first half, after one tackle. I wonder why?

As I said, I'd had a few drinks, and I don't even know what your headline says now, but I will never slag Everton for not being good enough. I will only slag them when they don't work hard enough... sorry Ross Barkley, but that means you lad. From Tony, the 47-year-old Lad!

Apart from Davies and Gana no player really stood out for Everton and the big two were in their Del Boy and Rodney mood instead of Batman and Robin role.

Roll on next season, Koeman has done okay, but okay isn't enough and he still has a lot to prove. Next season is a big one for him, has he got it in him; more importantly does he care.

Paul, if I can make a comparison between Deulofeu and Calvert-Lewin just in the context of the Chelsea game, not overall. God made Deulofeu apparently but he would never have tracked Moses the way Calvert-Lewin did yesterday. I think Calvert-Lewin was given that specific job on Moses, did it very well (no goals from that wing), and had to play out of position (as I understand it he's more of a striker).

Personally I'd seen enough of Deulofeu to think he was never going to do much going forward beyond the occasional flash of brilliance, was never going to contribute anything defensively, could rarely last beyond 60 minutes or so, and had an atrocious attitude. Calvert-Lewin (3 years younger at 20?) may well develop beyond what we see at the moment.

After the game, the debate was about Lukaku and Barkley. A massive debate among a group of regular Season Ticket Holders who go to almost every game. Again consensus was "take money" for Barkley – waiting too long for the potential to become reality. Rumours of deal involving Barkley and Rooney?

The Lukaku question was most interesting – generally people agreed he was a goalscorer but not an Everton player or indeed a team player. Opinion was certain lack of service but generally lazy, sometimes not bothered, cannot or will not jump or run to a ball, can run with the ball,should he stay or go –overall (the large majority): take the money and build a team with more active front men and change direction of play. Also, real disgust with his actions at the final whistle.

Me – I had enough of him since the semi-final last year; wouldn't bother me if he never kicked a ball again for The Blues. The opinion was in TDH that he seemingly has never been subbed, or dropped or even bollocked and he has been indulged.

Talk came around to rebuilding with people saying 7 or 8 even 9 new players. All agreed – looking forward to a "very interesting" summer.

Lukaku for all his benefits does not move around a huge amount off the ball and so it means the men in possession when we attack are often bereft of options, particularly now Coleman is out as he always makes good runs down the right.

I think Barkley in a team like Spurs may do better due to the superior movement around him. Perhaps we will find out...

Generally I agree with most of the above; this squad is still a pretty long way from top 4. Stekelenburg is useless and I don't really know why he replaced Robles who despite a few decision making aberrations was doing okay and is a strong shot stopper. So we need a keeper. We need a centre-back (possibly 2) to replace Jagielka and/or Williams and/or Funes Mori. We need cover for right-back and possibly left-back (ideally someone who could cover both like Trippier).

We really need more creativity and movement up front in the attacking third. 5 or 6 players I reckon at minimum. Hope Walsh has a plan...

I think the moment we secured 7th place the boys in blue decided to "Down tools and let's start our holidays." It may be just as well, because I don't think the last 3 games are going to alter any fans view of what is required and who should leave at seasons end.

I must admit I will be glad to see the last of some of this teams annoying traits. The boring repetition of our 2 fullbacks receiving the ball unmarked and passing it back because they have not got the ability to go forward. Also, the Ross Barkley pirouette's that give him time to think of his next move that was obvious in the first place.

Phil, 75 years ago, it was 1942 and there was a war going on. What are are you drinking out there in Cyprus?

Brother Tony (#206) also writes sensibly there. (Sorry but whenever I see your name, Tony, I immediately think of Brother Tony in Lilly the Pink.)

I watched Spurs, swarm all over Arsenal, even though they must have went out onto that pitch yesterday, feeling really deflated after knowing Chelsea had won again. Alli and Kane work their socks off for the team, and it made me realise just how indulged both Barkley and Lukaku really are?

Calvert-Lewin shows promise, not really ready yet, but much too early to write him off.

Tom Davies was outstanding - yes, he misplaced some passes, but he and Gana worked so hard for the team.

Contrast that with Barkley, another typical lazy & selfish display from him. Only shows enthusiasm when there's a dead-ball kick for us to take, then sulks if someone else takes it; yes, Both Rom & Kev each wasted a free-lick yesterday, but so did Ross, as he always does, and his corners are useless. He takes up awful positions in the game and has no football brain; he plays only for himself and we'll never be a top side if we persist with him in the team – it's like starting every game a man short. Don't expect to see a rush to sign him – 5 years+ Premier League experience and people still talking about potential!!!

Many of our problems against better sides stem from the lack of mobility & poor passing from our central defenders, giving opponents far too much time to organise their defense and double-up on our forward players. 2 very good ones needed in the summer, plus a class creative player and another decent striker.

I believe we could have won this game given our home form this season, which has been better than Chelsea's away form. The fact that we didn't might be influenced to a large extent by Chelsea pushing for the title, whereas we've made the Europa League and that's it, or at least the chances of getting a Champions League spot were minimal.

For sure, we need player additions and replacements to compete consistently within a top-6, but in the case of this game I believe the major effect was a lack of winning mentality. Lacking this at this stage of the season with the position we are in is no great surprise. But it's something that needs to be sorted, since it's been apparent at Everton for a long time. And the root cause of this is not Lukaku and Barkley, however badly they played.

Unless we develop a mentality of going out to win each game, regardless of the opponents or stage of the season, we are unlikely to prosper, even with new signings.

Someone above mentions Deulofeu. I have been a fan of his and have championed him getting a chance behind the front players, as a "No 10". If Barca are taking another look at him maybe there's more to him than we have managed to get from him. His natural lack of fitness,* in as much as he runs out of steam, would be less of an issue if he wasn't required to sprint up and down the wing as much. The first five yards are in your head...

* Some people have a "built in" fitness that, no matter how hard they train, will not be evident in some other players. Players with a "good engine".

Tom Davies was excellent.

We didn't play that badly for 65 minutes but we're too deliberate and too static. I don't think it was anything to do with having our minds on the end of season beach holiday, it's just that a lot of our players don't have the natural engines required to play at the very top level. Contrast Pedro with Barkley for example.

Hazard, despite being for the most part excellently man-marked by Gana (who does have high energy levels), never stopped running. Willian, when he came on – again, non-stop running. Kante – the Duracell bunny. They have skilled players who are natural pacey athletes running right through their side.

As for him, he has to go as he is miles away from being a Premier League keeper.

But most of all, I fucking love Tom Davies.

They had a number of defensive players on yellow cards, and our only chance was to knock them down to 10 men. Cynical? Maybe, but this is professional sport and we are miles away with our 'nice' mindset.

Demanding yellow cards, wandering up the pitch for throw-ins, encroachment at free kicks, slowing the game down when suits. No surprise that the teams that ref the ref do better... Chelsea did all that yesterday.

We have finished 7th in all likelihood which is probably where most of us would have guessed at the start of the season at best.

The entire defence needs an overhaul – Jags is done, Williams was only ever a stopgap when we sold Stones; and Baines looks too weak physically against some of the strong athletes who play for the likes of Spurs and Chelsea. Kenny should be given the last three games at right-back to see if he can take over with Holgate given centre-back to see if he is ready – a summer of weights would do him no harm.

I am very disappointed with Robles as he was looking to be the answer in goal but as a minimum we need a top class goalkeeper and a top class centre-back.
We have plenty of good central midfielders with a stack of very good youngsters coming through in that position and I hope that Ron will give Liam and Joe a chance in the last three games, maybe half an hour from the bench or even start one of them against Watford.

Our wide players are poor. Kev is way too inconsistent and selfish, Lookman is for the future (another one who needs to take to the weights in the summer); Lennon is not good enough and too small.

And as for Deulofeu!! How anyone can hold him out as the answer is beyond me. He has no stamina, no guts, chickens out of any form of tackle, can't shoot ( always scuffs the ball) no workrate...! Bags of skill and might suit the game in another country but the premier league is too physical for him.

Ross is someone I keep trying to convince myself about. Local lad, battled back from horrendous injury etc but I just don't see him bossing midfield against a decent opposition. His brain does not work quickly enough which is such a shame as he has quick feet and plenty of power but at his age he should be dominating games now.

Rom has gone I think and no bad thing. Okay, he will take some replacing but a striker who cannot bring others into play and cannot hold the ball up to take pressure off the defence is not good enough for a team like us who cannot afford to carry a luxury player like him when so many other areas of the team are not functioning properly. Chelsea could accommodate him but at the moment we have usually at least three luxury players who only play when they feel like it and that has to be addressed.

So, on re- reading this I think we need a goalkeeper, centre-back, creative central midfielder, two wide players and a striker... and say 3 youngsters coming into the squad. Left-back we can cope with if Galloway gets his act together. Sell Rom and Ross and clear out Lennon, Barry, McGeady, Kone, Mirallas, Stekelenburg and at least one of Jagielka, Williams and Funes Mori.

Ron has a big job on his hands but is being paid handsomely so let's see what he can do.

Both keepers are poor but their is quite a few knocking about. the standard of goalkeeping is the worst I can remember

The first one, the free kick we got in the second half just outside their area. Moss counted out his 10 yards then sprayed his little white line. Azpilicueta immediately questioned this, and counted out 10 yards back to the ball.

Surely this is deemed as dissent, undermining the referees authority, and therefore a yellow card? As Azpilicueta had already been booked, a red card should have followed?

Wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference, as the free kick taken was rubbish. From the resulting goal kick, they go down and win the free kick from which came their second goal. Again, no arguments from me, except maybe Stekelenburg could have done better.

However, and this is only what I've been told, didn't Cahill run into the Chelsea fans to celebrate? As he had already been booked, this should have been a second yellow, and therefore another red should have followed? We saw Barkley booked in the previous home game for something similar.

The two penalties afforded to the two Manchester clubs yesterday, neither of which was a penalty, shows just how biased referees are to these so-called bigger clubs.

By the way, even playing against nine men yesterday, I doubt we would have scored. Well done to Chelsea. They have played some excellent football all season and deserve to be Champions.

We lived with them for an hour and may even have nicked a goal as we genuinely fought for the midfield but they were less stretched, more intelligent, more confident, more experienced. After a superb goal from nothing, they just broke up the game and took advantage of the lack of flow.

We need to match top six spending from now on, wages and capital and in 4-5 years we will bridge that gap.

nb: Barkley was well out of his depth yesterday.

We are too slow and ponderous and with keeper and centre halves with a combined age of 100 is not adding much dynamism.

Reality is we do not have the finances required as we will see in the transfer window. So the best we can hope for is 1 or 2 real quality players and maybe 1 or 2 with potential.

I feel our progression may be painfully slow over the next few seasons.

I am clearly not manager material!!

We are miles behind Spurs, Chelsea, Man City and even Arsenal. We are exactly where we are in the Premier League because of the talent we possess. Not as good as the teams above us.

Spending money is no guarantee of success, but if we do spend 𧵎m on top-class talent, we will improve our chances of breaking into those Champions League positions.

Let's face facts: even if we keep the current squad and add a couple more, we are not on the verge of challenging the top teams.

Good teams have good players who have a certain amount of calmness on the ball, which is something we really lack in almost every position on the pitch.

The sale of our two 'super stars' would be a good place to start. Every attempt to fit players around them has come to nought!

As they said on TV (and yes, I know it was only Murphy and Wright), it's incumbent on the others in midfield to occupy that space in front of the defence. We had an 18-year-old footballer with bags of ambition for a battle and a 23-year-old flower with the the now perennial titty-lip when it comes to getting stuck in.

Unfortunately injuries cost us Schneiderlin (a serious loss), McCarthy (could do the job), Besic (might have done the job), and Barry (mysteriously left on the bench). Maybe the time to have introduced Barry was after the first goal went in. He might have managed to get around for the 30 minutes or so that was left but there would have been howls of protest for sure at such a defensive move.

But seriously, would chasing a point have been unacceptable? Taking off any from Barkley, Valencia or Calvert-Lewin (in that order for me) may have been a price worth paying.

Somewhere in the world there is a clever left-footed left winger that we can afford to buy and will want to play for us. If Steve Walsh can find him, I think Baines will return to top form and that will sort out the left handed side of the pitch.

Because Seamus isn't going to be back for a while, we also need a right back as well as Bolasie fit again – that will sort out the right-hand side of the pitch.

Robles is better than Stekelenburg but I wish we had Begovic.

We are crying out for a 6'-4" centre half.

On top of that, we are going to need a replacement for Lukaku who will be gone with Barkley in the summer.

So, according to my calculations, that's five players we need to sign in the summer - pretty daunting so I hope Steve Walsh has got them lined up. That's the downside.

The upside is Gueye, Davies, and Schneiderlin will be our midfield because Koeman won't be trying to shoe horn Barkley into the team. (Tom Davies is going to be a great player.)

I've got a feeling we should keep Valencia, I think there is an Everton player in there.

I have always been a big fan of Ross but something doesn't feel right about his play. Hes gone from the player running away from people to the player who cant keep up with them. The player with the quick trick to the player who takes that long to think about the trick the moments past.

I never thought I'd say it but I agree with some of the above with regard to selling and rebuilding.

The fact that we have a limited squad and an often unbalanced side (referred to in posts above), underlines even further how good the home results are. If we can get those results with the current limitations, imagine what we can do with a few additions that make the squad fuller and more balanced. If we can get those results whilst playing scrappy football, imagine what we can do when playing well.

A neutral reading most of the posts on this thread would not realise how good our home results are, they'd think we were struggling lower down the table. They'd think we're just shite. In fact, we're not, we just need progressing significantly further. All the talk of an overhaul of players is just dreaming, it's unlikely to happen, and I would also say (a) it's not necessary, and (b) it would not in itself guarantee further progression.

It's surely a case of continued improvement: Getting a few more signings to bolster the squad, adapting the tactics to make our away form approach our home form, establishing a winning mentality rather than a defensive mentality away from home. I think this is the reality, not the dreaming about lists of players we might sign, or the focus on replacing Lukaku and Barkley. You work with the resources you have, then bolster those resources further.

That's part of the problem with our fans, we tend to overrate players once they pull on the blue shirt. Take a look at the trophy cabinet if you don't believe me.

Get rid of the old and the mediocre (that means the goalkeeper and most of the defence, replace Lukaku and Barkley) and we will be laughing.

Sad to say that about Ross but I just don't think he has turned into the player we thought he would. As for Lukaku, I will be just glad to see him go as he has never really wanted to be here.

It seems likely that tactics and attitude play a major part in that. We should get those sorted, whether or not we change the playing staff. Then changing the playing staff improves things even further. That is surely more realistic than dreaming about fantasy signings.

My question is how much are we permitted to spend on transfers under FFP rules and/or other restrictions. Would Mr Moshiri consider lending Everton £200M given that is 20% of what we think his fortune is.

Given that most players would cost between £15 to 25M and top class players £50M+, just how many can we afford or look forward to? And how many at lesser prices might be no better than some of our youth players and Premier League 2 Champions?

We got good money for the likes of Oviedo & Gibson, and the excessive TV money will give every club funds to spend. That's before Moshiri puts his hand in his pocket!!

We need to upgrade on at least 7 positions if we want to progress. Goalkeeper, the whole back four... I could go on.

Others have aged somewhat and do not have that extra zip needed to make this team great again such as Jags, Baines, Williams and Barry.

There are question marks about the fitness (when they return) of Funes Mori, Bolasie, Besic and even Coleman. Some players are never quite the same after serious injury.

The youngsters, Davies apart still have a lot to learn and may need another season. I would like to see more of Lookman in the remaining games.

I know I would love to see Keane from Burnley but it seems if rumours are correct that some of the top 6 are also looking at Keane as they are with Van Dijk from Southampton.

I think most fans are resigned to Lukaku leaving and personally I would be quite happy if Barkley left as well. But then you have to buy players to replace them and again what type of quality will we be able to buy to fill those positions. That's ignoring how much the FFP rules will allow us to spend.

So this summer could be one of the most important transfer windows we have had in decades. Get the right players in and we could really challenge the top 4 more than we have this season. Buy the wrong players and we may struggle to make the Europa League.

Personnel may have weakened us but that no excuse for a piss poor tactical set up which rendered us impotent in attack.

Man-marking is a tactic from yesteryear, and accommodates the opposition far too much. Your player is reduced to a shadow and adds nothing to your attacking play. We effectively played with 10, 9 if you count Rom's contribution.

With others around us dropping points, we have in the last two weeks ebbed away from anything that makes me thing we can bridge the gap, which will only widen across the summer.

Fact is 5th was there to take, and with it automatic Europa League group stages. If you think the players we can attract are coming, think again, as until are participation in the group stage is confirmed they ain't jumping ship. A long long summer awaits.

We will be lucky to attract 1 or 2 excellent squad improvements, and will in all likelihood bring in slightly better players. So where is the tactical acumen that will bridge that gap? Scant evidence from Koeman he can find a way to outwit sides who are just patently better than us?

Unless Ronko is hiding a whole attacking, gun slinging side to him then I cannot see how he makes us a more attacking side.

Koeman was a superb defender, his key assets were his ability to read the game, he was a full on Schnide too, his function was a great 1 on 1 defender and give the ball to ultimately more gifted players. I'm afraid you are a reflection of you manager and we are a poor version of him too, i.e. Piss poor at pens and free kicks!

Let's hope the fella doesn't have a summer of golf lined up.

I can't see Rom staying as we clearly have a very unbalanced side, being totally reliant on him for goals, and I think Koeman has sussed that Ross isn't really top-drawer. So basically the whole squad apart from Schneiderlin, Tom, Gana and Holgate needs replacing, and to do that all at once would be very destabilising. Koeman always said it would take three years.

So, although it is disappointing to be so far behind Spurs, who were behind us until recently, I think our ceiling next season will be the same as this year.

Any resulting improvements are likely to be incremental, unless Koeman has a few tactical tricks up his sleeve to improve our dire away form considerably. If he did have, and this is the crux of the matter, we would improve without those signings, but improve even more with them.

That's evolution from where we are at present, starting from a foundation where we know we can get good results at home, and adapting our away tactics to get better results away. The alternative of a big clear out of players and lots of additions is pure fantasy in my opinion.

In which case, we probably wouldn't be having these discussions now, and we'd be talking about adding a few players in the way I've indicated. The devil is in the detail, and there are details that could have been dealt with better, with the current players.

The spectre of Aston Villa, a club and side which I've often thought we have resembled, haunts me. That is, of course, very pessimistic but I think the extent of the rebuilding required is worrying and we still have an awful lot of mediocrity to shift – both in personnel and mentality.

If we don't get our transfer business done well and done quickly (and our form for that is appalling) then I agree with those who see another very frustrating season ahead.

Excellent write up I think on Ross. Asking the question if we have the wrong expectations..

https://youtu.be/V6UYRXYc2EY

Some referees do not have the guts to apply the laws to the letter in situations where they have a bigger impact, such as penalties and red cards. This is bullshit. The same interpretations should be used time and time again regardless of the situation.

Refereeing inconsistencies such as these are upsetting players and managers, potentially having significant financial impacts on clubs, and ruining the game for the spectators.

Willan, Hazard and Pedro have all scored a significant amount of goals.

Barkley couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo, Valencia flatters to deceive, Schneiderlin, Gana, McCarthy and Davies are largely ineffective in front of goal. Only Mirallas (used to) and Lookman carry a goal threat.

Sigurdson is a must and I would also suggest we go for Josh King and Andre Gray.

The only other point I would like to make is the importance of synergy.

No matter how good players are it will take time for them to move from complete strangers to having a connection therefore I would be opposed to doing away with the majority of the squad and replacing them.

I have, however, given up on Ross and have never been a big fan of Lukaku although he has improved this season but for me is still one of the most ineffectual and frustrating centre-forwards around. His impact on team spirit is also bound to be negative given his ego.

I'm sure we are not related, but I share you views entirely!

It is not going to be a quick fix.

Although top players don't play for nothing, it's Champions League they want.

We will get there, but we need to come to terms with the fact that it is work in progress.

Hypotheticals are great but meaningless. You're "if better tactics had been used" could be applied to anything. The fact is we know what did happen but we've no way of knowing what might have happened.

Maybe results would have been better, maybe they'd have been worse. Case in point, the derby. Many on here expected Koeman to pick the oldies but said we should be more adventurous and play the youngsters.

Koeman ended up playing the youngsters and it didn't work out. Had he played the oldies and got the same result you can rest assured that everyone would have been saying "he should have played the kids."

Next on the agenda is to weed out the remaining deadwood, sort the overall away form out, and resolve the appalling attitude when playing at the top six grounds where we have not just not won (Old Trafford excepted) but have not put in a decent performance in years. Even if we somehow scrape a point, it's because we've hung on like grim death for 90 mins.

I think the most important position that needs filling, and the one we should address first, is a goalkeeper – a top notch keeper will save us 10 to 12 points a season – and that puts us in the mix. This is has gone on for years with keepers who lose us points and we've ignored it.

I rate Robles better than Stekelenburg but not by much... and between them they have cost us more points in my opinion than they have saved.

There are good keepers out there: Schmeichel for one is a Premier League winner and now Leicester's hurrah is over, could we not tempt him?

Sunday we had several passable dead-ball opportunities and were several shades worse than piss-poor to be honest.

It's getting to the point we're Hibbo is more likely to score than we will from a dead ball.

On too many occasions the tactics have been defensive, tactics of fear, and their failure has been predictable (and predicted on TW on repeated occasions). I'm not saying there's a silver bullet to get this right, but I am saying that surely this is a solvable problem. The difference between the home table and the away table says a lot.

Play the youngsters until the end of the season & pray for better next... sigh.

Just 'cos Conte had a hair transplant and jumps up and down like a nutter on the touch line, doesn't mean he can win the league with an average and aging squad. (Likewise Guardiola isn't the messiah everyone was wanking over now that he's not in a one or two team league.)

Other way of looking at it: realistically how many Chelsea players would make our team and vice versa?

Imo we have 3 players who would make the Chelsea squad but not necessarily a regular start. On the other hand, practically their entire first team would be on our team sheet!

Like I say I don't write off Calvert Lewin and I see why he was brought in yesterday. Can we not go the other way though? What happened to defending through attack?

Chelsea hit us where it hurts and using width. Why are we worried about keeping Moses back when Moses could be worried about keeping Deulofeu back?

When I see Gana, Davies and Schneiderlin in Midfield I thought that could compensate for Deulofeu. Has using false wingers helped us? I don't think it has and I know Deulofeu annoys people but his assist rate was still high. He always creates at least a chance. The last two games we have played how many shots did we have?

I don't want to sound arrogant to you mate but when will a manager try to win a game without players in false positions or make the opposition worry about us?

Could Spurs play with a lump who does not participate in the team game, does not defend from the front whatsoever. When he gets the ball, he always goes alone, when there are better options.

How many top sides play with an out-and-out and centre-forward, one who is as lazy as ours???

Ross Barkley is CLASS!!!

That said, I think we'll see more culling of our luvvy players in the summer. After all, many of us rightly identify the years-long mental weakness that's engulfed us under the leadership of Sir Phil's multi-millionaire lackey don't we?

Even though we are an odd assortment of the ageing, inexperienced and injury-prone, plus a few good players of the right age, a top manager could have given a spark to things, created a winning climate. I don't think Koeman's done that enough in a season where some of the sides above us have been pretty poor and I am starting to worry that he is tactically blunt.

But we also suffer from an arthritic transfer policy, especially over the last few seasons. We have fallen away from the trajectory of any seriously ambitious club because we have been too slow to fill obvious gaps or to push adventurously for better quality. Any manager would struggle to some extent with that.

Chelsea with Koeman? 5th.

In my opinion, Koeman had one hell of a mess to sort out after Martinez's tenure and he has made a reasonable start. Arresting the shipwreck that was Everton last season is an achievement in itself.

Koeman has yet to totally convince me yet but he has made a significant step in the right direction. Rome wasn't built in a day. We've several more transfer windows to go through yet.

I think Conte might have got us a couple of places higher and that's it. There's too many people on here with an over-optimistic view of most of our squad. There's a huge difference between good on his day, talented and consistently good. We saw that difference yesterday.

I hope we see the difference in the summer signings, though I won't be holding my breath.

Gana, Davies and Barkley look good in possession going forward but far too often make wrong decisions or poor passes although Davies and his energy is phenomenal. Gana started well with the Blues but has been ordinary of late.

It has been a feeling out season for Koeman and Everton could well be a different proposition next season given what Koeman has learnt and what new blood he can bring in.

I think we need to replace at least 8 players who are currently in our squad; none of the higher teams need that much replacements. Then we need to add extra quality onto the new 8 player replacement programme and that just to start with the quality that the other teams have at the moment without them buying big themselves. Everton have of course made progress from last season this is true.

However a lot of the teams above us have not really had great seasons themselves apart from Chelsea and Tottenham so the other 4 teams will buy big and two out of the 4 will be able to offer champions league football and big wages.

I can't see Everton getting first choice players in, which means the quality requirement will not be arriving at Everton. If we are very lucky, we might get 5th or 6th next season and that is if the other teams have a bad season themselves. In the summer we will be linked with big names but they will end up going to other clubs.

Most of the top teams will get their signings done very early within the first two weeks of the window opening. Everton will still be wondering if Lukaku is going to stay one more season. Some of the top targets will want to know the answer to that also. Lots of money available but don't expect big names arriving. Sorry to sound so negative but I've seen it all before.

However, I can't agree about Valencia, played out of position; no surprise he looked below average. Perhaps he is more of an impact player to come off the bench but after Lukaku, one of the few decent strikers we have in the 1st team. Technically, no better than Rom or Ross but very direct and pacy, always seems to get the team motivated when he comes on as sub.

You can't judge him on Sunday but he has saved our bacon frequently when brought on as a sub, Burnley being the most recent. He's young and can improve and hardly expensive, worth 㾷 million as a squad player. Let's play him up front alongside one of the young strikers from the U23s and drop Lukaku in the next 2 games.

The likes of Walsh and Kenny should certainly be getting a run out though.

If we want to sell him, we need to see him take the Golden Boot. If we want to attract a top striker, we have to show them what we did for Romelu.

Suggesting to drop him is a silly idea borne out of frustration. We need top dollar for him cos Mr Moshiri won't be flashing his own cash this summer. It will be just like last year: sell to buy – and if anyone thinks otherwise, you're a mug!