Fine Rooney goal elevates dour encounter

Calvert-Lewin through the middle or on the wing? I presume the former.

At least 3 players are going to be playing out of position.

Really worrying setup against a side that loves to exploit the flanks.

But certainly curious (read concerned) about the formation/line-up. Who is playing RB or RWB depending on the setup? Calvert-Lewin?

With the three centre backs, Schneiderlin and Calvert-Lewin hopefully we'll be able to hold our own at set pieces.

Not convinced but cautiously optimistic.

Plenty of pace on the bench if not much in the starting 11. Think Koeman is being very cautious. Can't blame him really with the performances so far! Davies and Lookman to come on and win the game. We need a new striker, attacking midfielder and a defender!!!

Interested in seeing how we actually line up. Part of me hopes it's Gueye at right wing back... which probably highlights how odd that selection is.

I also see Sigurdsson hasn't been selected at all for Swansea. But I also don't see where he would play in this lineup?!

And why two of our best players in pre-season on the bench? Davies and Lookman would be starters for me.

But what a great move and finish for the goal. The single example of decent joined-up football from either team in an otherwise dire first half.

Rooney looks up for it. Calvert-Lewin playing well (and a lovely cross for the ball). But I don't 'get' the starting line-up. The balance isn't right and but for the goal, it might have persuaded Koeman to change things at the start of the second half.

As it is, with the goal advantage, he may stick with it a bit longer before making changes.

That was one moment of class in an appalling half of football. I just can't understand what Koeman is thinking. We have no plan going forward. It's not even as if the players are playing badly...it's like they have absolutely no direction.

Martina on. Fuck's sake.

Good start - COYB

Would 4 out of 12 points be good for the rest of us, or is only 3 points each from home matches, and 1 each from away matches, good enough??

Pre-season has shown that Davy, Gana and Morgan do not gel and last season should have shown Ron that Tom is a must in any team.

What made him think that Calvert-Lewin was a better selection at wing back than Kenny, Martina or Holgate? Why persist with three guys the wrong side of 30 in defence?

Really weird selection and, from what I gathered from the radio commentary, absolutely no style of play in the first half.

Difficult to see what he was trying to do.

Martina was okay to be fair. Calvert-Lewin continues to show good improvement and I would hope most can agree Pickford looks the biz as our Number 1. His save at the end to Shaqiri was top drawer, but who else likes how he is so quick off his line to claim the ball, no matter how many bodies are in the mix in front of him?

For me, the clear MotM was the return of the prodigal son. Wayne Rooney has still got a lot to offer. And I speak as one opposed to his return.

The positions he takes up. His eye for an opening. His range of passing – long or short. His ability to draw in defenders, turn them and retain the ball. His interplay with others. His alertness to take advantage of game play situations. His finishing. All were on display today.

There were also 1-2 moments when you could see his (justified) exasperation that his team mates weren't quite on the same way length as the lad from Crocky.

Happy with the win. Not overwhelmed by the performance. The goal lit up an otherwise dull affair. But the goal itself offers promise of what might be this season. The movement, speed and quality of passing and finishing between Rooney, Gana, Sandro and Calvert-Lewin was a delight to behold.

No need to get the razors out and start slitting wrists just yet after just 90 minutes of the season proper.

That game was always going to be a more ugly, "git er done" (as they say in the south here in the 'ol USA) type of affair. We played well.

My MotM was the referee. I say that a bit tongue-in-cheek but he really was marvelous. He let the players play, didn't disrupt the game at all, and blew up when needed.

Koeman gazumped the EFC fans, so maybe that worked the other way, too?

Still, I sincerely hope I never, ever see a starting side like that again!

Jags and Williams (in addition to Keane and Baines) ... that almost reduced me to tears before kick-off!

I liked what I saw from Sandro, always makes himself available. Gana was great covering the entire field and winning the ball

Special mention has to go to Pickford and Keane, they were fantastic. Terrific business by the club.

Great move for the goal but, other than that, I'm struggling to pick a highlight from the game. Great save from Pickford to see us home but I fear for us under this manager, I really do. Calvert-Lewin out wide just baffles me.

Lev (#32), please don't call me a 'gloomer' – I'm a realist. I've been going for 50 years so I know what I'm talking about. I'm not some Johnny-come-lately.

Second half... If the questions around Rooney were regarding whether he still had anything to offer and where would he play... then the answers are "yes" and "wherever he wants". Oozed quality. Loved his swagger.

I thought Calvert-Lewin did a great job. Could make a case for MotM. Nowhere near finished yet but the Stoke defence will have nightmares about him. Found space, pressed, created chances.

Pickford. Never seen a goalkeeper's distribution applauded throughout a game. The boy's a star. Makes his decisions, commits to them, and a great save too.

Not going to talk about Cuco. He is what he is.

Schneiderlin... I still don't get it. From the live forum, I got a sense more are starting to catch on. What does he do that Gueye isn't already doing? He's phoning in these 'performances'.

My only gripe is that Martina was on the field instead of Kenny. That game was crying out for more quality and creativity down the right flank.

Much harder matches to come and a better team selection needed.

Davies must start – maybe give Sandro another chance. Need some width and pace... Lookman maybe?

3 Pts and as close to the top of the table as we will be all season.

His first competitive goal in senior football, I think I'm right in saying.

I am slightly biased, but my man of the match was Rooney. Closely followed by Pickford. The only problem Rooney has is that the rest of the team is not at his level.

Happy with the win though. It will take time for these players to gel but I think that this squad will take us places, (hopefully the right places).

Klaassen is no improvement on Davies, and he proved that when he came on.

But, yes everyone, Koeman is hopeless and we are sh!te!

First-half selection (in your words, clearly, completely, terribly, bizarrely wrong) saw us go in at half time 1-0 up. Second half (presumably with your preferred line up) saw Stoke come back into the game and made for a very nervy last 15 minutes.

I say Koeman got it right in the first half, and bottled it in the second. Anyway, time will tell.

Defensively we looked okay; passing and attacking is still work in progress. Pickford and Keane looked good, whilst the game management of Rooney in second half minimised any scary moments.

Davies was no improvement on Klaassen, that much was clear, when the switcheroo happened.

Rooney was on a different level to the other attacking players, despite looking like his stamina was fading badly near the end.

And I can only echo the praise for Pickford and Keane.

Koeman is clueless!

Sorry mate, Tom was a big improvement on Klaassen.

It was certainly a strange selection from Koeman initially, extremely narrow. Keane playing out of position at right back, and Calvert-Lewin deployed as a winger again.

And for virtually all of the first half, we were pretty terrible. Slow, ponderous, seemingly unable to get the ball up the field, or transition the ball from defence to attack with any vigour or urgency. But it was the way we set up – a rock solid back 4 of all-English hoofballers in Baines, Jagielka, Williams, and Keane, who never looked like they were going to concede all game. The drawback with them was that they were incapable of building up attacks to carry to the midfield players. And two defensive midfielders again. Dull, negative football. Moyesball.

Rooney thankfully converted an excellent header from Calvert-Lewin's cross, and from that point we never really looked back. In the second half, it was all Everton. Stoke faded into the background as we took control of the match, and should have added a couple more. We suddenly started playing expansive and attacking football. A well-deserved victory, everyone left feeling happy.

And as for the player-by-player ratings:

Pickford – 8. He was really excellent. He met every cross commandingly, towering above the Stoke attackers. He looked confident, and saved everything that came his way. He didn't have much to do, but made one incredible save towards the end. And his distribution is a joy to behold.

Baines – 6. Fairly standard performance. Pretty good defensively, not a lot going forward. We've seen better, but he did his job.

Williams – 6. Looked a bit shaky today, and his distribution forwards was pretty rubbish as usual. But he defended well in the 45 minutes he played.

Jagielka – 7. He had some really bad balls forward that went into the skies, but was rock-solid at the back all match.

Keane 8 . What a player he is, and has been every time he's pulled on the blue shirt. A class act, and when he plays I have full confidence we are not going to concede goals. Our best defender in a few years.

Martina - 5 . He does not convince me at all defensively, and makes amateur mistakes. But he can cross a ball, which is a bonus. Good cover. (on 45)

Schneiderlin – 6. A bit anonymous today, but I suppose he does his holding midfield job well, if not spectacularly.

Gueye – 7. A good one from him today, he surged forward a lot, carrying the ball and creating chances, as well as winning the ball all the time with crunching tackles. He's an asset to the team.

Klaassen – 6. Looked alright, but I still don't really understand what he actually does.

Sandro – 6. He really tries, he's a forward with great energy who constantly harries and presses opponents, even if he can come off as a bit of a headless chicken. It nearly worked for him today, but he's still young and new to England.

Rooney – 8. Surely our MotM. He looked an absolute class act in everything he did. Superb passing and vision, anticipation. A great header to win us the match, a dream home league debut return for him. He was our leader on the pitch, everyone in trouble defaults to finding Rooney.

Calvert-Lewin – 7. He played very well today, even from the wings. He's very impressive in the air and is a great target man to have in the team. Looked a real goal threat on many occasions, and set up Rooney's goal. He has a bright future.

Poor performance first half due to Koeman's tactics / team selection. Better second half without being anything special.

Rooney was the best player on pitch. Keane and Pickford both good. Sandro okay. Klaassen poor, 'anonymous' does him far too much credit; Davies was a massive improvement.

I have echoed your sentiments, see posts #54 and #60. I just don't understand what people actually want.

Yes, I want us to be brilliant all the time too, but Koeman has taken over a poor team, managed the biggest increase of points in his first season outside of the champions, brought in a shed load of new players... despite the changes, we remain unbeaten in 3 competitive games. Isn't that quite laudable?

Koeman needs to start mixing things up.

No movement in midfield and up front led to a plethora of sideways passing to and fro at the back. Lacking in cohesion, pace, width and creativity.

Marginally better in second half with a formation that was recognisable and with some round pegs in round holes.

Good points: We won with a lovely goal by Rooney who was the best player on the pitch. We didn't concede again and the defence looks solid. We have a proper goalkeeper for the first time since Nigel Martyn by the look of it and Keane looks a giant in the back four.

The rest of it was hard work and effort with a couple of players, Schneiderlin and Klaassen, off colour.

Generally the team looks solid and resilient rather than inspiring and I guess we will see more of this until Koeman gets in his attacking options and the players gel.

Would I settle for a similar display and result against Man City and Chelsea? You bet I would, but please God – let's have some hope soon that the necessary reinforcements are coming and we can look forward to something a bit more silky.

With 3 points in the bag, it will be mentally easier to go into these 4 games compared to losing or drawing against Stoke.

Koeman knew this and therefore he put up a rather defensive selection. Better to win 1-0 than take the risk of losing this first and very important game.

Great stuff! Now we have nothing to lose going into the next 4 games! COYB!

In answer to your question at the end of your post, no! That first half was among the worst 44.7 minutes of football I've watched since, since errr the Ruzomberok game.

Yes, we've got a load of new players but they're not going to miraculously increase in pace, which we are dreadfully lacking. And it wasn't all down to the new players. Keane is an outstanding player, as is Pickford.

Schneiderlin must just be totally shagged out from his extended and ongoing honeymoon because he doesn't seem able to run forward or pass forward for that matter.

For a large part of the game, we were disjointed, lacking in movement, ideas, and pace. Winning is always good but we won't win too many without a huge change of setup, ideas, and formation.

Considering we played with 5 of the new signings, it wasn't to bad a performance, but we have to improve quickly as we have some tough games coming up.

Delighted with the win but with the grave reservations about most of the midfield, would we better off with Barkley or, if not, the guy who wants to shit on Swansea?

Nevertheless, I was bored out of my skull, surely like everyone else, with that performance. I doubt if even Koeman knew what formation we were playing. Then, out of the blue, we scored a brilliantly worked goal – how did that goal get into this game? Incredible.

Second half was better with Calvert-Lewin playing in his proper position and Wayne playing much better in a deeper role.

I was worried about Pickford being a left-handed keeper, my worries have ended; he is very good who commands his area well and takes no prisoners. Likewise Keane, another good buy.

I thought Gueye was great again, but what has happened to Schneiderlin, lifeless since the games have started.

Went to the game thinking Liverpool had won 3-2, my spirits were lifted when I heard Watford had equalised in the last minute, so all-in-all not a bad day.

On the positive: Pickford, Rooney, and Keane are great signings.

To answer a question from an earlier poster – what do we want? Some fast aggressive entertaining football, not Jags and Williams aimlessly hoofing it or Schneiderlin (what in god's name has happened to him?) forever turning around, slowing everything down, and passing back to Jags or Williams to hoof it.

Rooney scores.
Clean sheet.
Three points.

Have a nice evening.

I thought Klaassen was largely anonymous and contributed very little as Jeff says. I disagree when Jeff adds he is a waste of 㿅m. It's far too early to make such a bold statement.

I can agree with Jay that Tom Davies was not much of an improvement when he came on for Klaassen. And I speak as a fully paid-up member of the Tom Davies fan club who believes he should be starting.

As against Seville last Sunday, Tom was again not as his best today. But I am confident Tom Davies will continue to get a lot of game time under Koeman, as he did in the second half of last season.

Morgan Schneiderlin remains the real head-scratcher for me in Koeman's team. I 'get' that he is a younger version of Gareth Barry bought in to inherit the deep lying defensive midfielder that offers an extra layer of protection to the defence.

What he distinctly lacks in comparison to Barry is the elder's passing range and vision to play killer balls, long or short, properly weighted and at the right time.

Morgan's fellow Frenchman Eric Cantona once derided Didier Deschamps as nothing more than a 'water carrier'. Now Deschamps was much better than that implied dismissal of his abilities, but I do wonder if the term is more applicable to Morgan Schneiderlin.

I just see him as the fly in the ointment to the style I believe Koeman is striving to achieve: solid defensive base, but with quicker transition from defence via midfield to attack.

Schneiderlin doesn't offer that to me. Rather, his first movement on receiving the ball is to turn towards his own goal. He is ponderous on the ball. Then rolls a slow paced, badly placed pass sideways or backwards. The seconds lost when he is in possession of the ball is often enough for the opposition at this level to reset and reform their solid defensive lines.

Gana was much better in this role when he first came to us in the first half of last season. Gana is still a fine player, but not as effective as he first was. Now he is being asked to play further forward and whilst he remains a terrier in the tackle, he seldom has the passing ability (and certainly not the shooting ability!) to really hurt teams.

Maybe Schneiderlin will prove me wrong. But personally, I am still waiting to see the player that many eulogized about last season.

Overall, 3 points bagged. Another clean sheet. Not a bad base to build on. Just need the players to get used to each other's game and improve everything. COYBB.

Schneiderlin and Klaassen are not yet up to standard. Rooney is shot but worryingly was our best player.

Gana, Keane and Pickford all looked good but the rest was dross and I hate to pick on Cuco but my heart was in my mouth anytime the ball went near him. Poor but effective.

Second half, after the goal, we improved and pressed and took it to Stoke to try and put the game beyond doubt. Still by no means that great but it couldn't get any worse.

What have we learnt?

Calvert-Lewin is still learning his trade through the middle and can't be relied on to do it week-in & week-out but he shouldn't be used out wide. It's not his strength.

Rooney was better when he dropped a bit deeper. He did really well with his run and finish for the goal but some of his vision in the second half was excellent.

Gueye was very impressive. Was everywhere doing what he does well. Had a patchy pre-season but really stepped it up here.

Schneiderlin. Oh! Dear. He needs to get a grip. Poor pre-season and poor today. Barry may not have the legs, not that Schneiderlin moved much, but he wouldn't have lost it so much today and his distribution is always decent.

Keane. Very impressive. No-nonsense defender.

Jagielka. Some of his distribution was truly crap. Still a bit steadier than Williams!

Pickford. They say a top keeper will save you 15 points a season. It's early doors but there's 2. Not much to do but when it mattered, a great late save.

Klaassen is a slight concern at the minute. When we were first were linked with him, I was like, "No, no, no." I really want him to succeed but I'm not sure if he will.

Watching Man City, who we play next week, and you can't give them space or make mistakes, otherwise they will steamroller us.

Hope he doesn't stick with the side today, we need a couple of changes at least.

Pickford dominated his box and kicked out well. Keane inspires confidence (would the same could be said for Williams and Jags). Rooney falling deeper was able to increase the pace in the second half, with Calvert-Lewin winning balls and controlling them well in a more comfortable position up front. Gana winning a lot as usual, but Schneiderlin seems to have fallen back from his first months with us.

Happy with the 3 points, more confident coming out of that second half than the first half.

Lookman being saved for the semi-final and final of the Europa League and FA Cup, and the run-in to 4th position at the end of the season.

Got to disagree with you, but that is what these forums are about I guess, opinions. I ain't trying to change yours or anyone else's mind.

For me, results are more important than aesthetically pleasing displays; we had that with Martinez. I think once we have the players gelling, a few more in place, which Koeman has stated he wants too, then we may get results as well as pleasing-on-the-eye performances. I thought the goal today was a rather pleasing on the eye move for what it is worth.

As for pace, he'll probably bring that in and we have Lookman to come in and Bolasie. Sandro doesn't look like a slouch in that department, neither does Calvert-Lewin, nor Mirallas. What we don't want is a Franz Carr type player; yes, I am old enough to reference him! All pace and no output, a bit like Deulofeu IMO.

Is Koeman without faults? Certainly not. Have we improved significantly under his leadership? I would definitely say yes. Is his 'project' complete? No. Does he want to improve the team further in this transfer window? Yes!

For me, he is more than meeting what I consider realistic expectations. Performances will come when the players gel I think. Last season's team still wasn't Koeman's; this season's will be.

Each player had to do something extra to make up for the manager's oversight. Namely shift right. 'Disjointed' is polite, but imagine Pinochio dismembered... that's more like it.

Baines must be the most fucked off lad in L4 at the moment, years of neglect to support a very decent player. We were fortunate that Stoke were erm, unable to take advantage.

In pretty standard Koeman fashion, he addressed the debacle at half time, basking in the glow of Rooney's peerless piece of football. Lucky Ron. Wonder how many Evertonians missed it based on the cruddy first 45?

Even though, Martina is not the long-term solution, the ship so sorely listing in the first half, started to right itself and predictably we had a decent 20 minutes.

The three players mentioned at the top of my post stood out above the slow tempo, each one in their own way constantly pushing to get team mates to play with more intensity.

Koeman should be credited with the clean sheet. We are losing that vulnerability with stalked most Everton teams for years. We are sound at the back even though we have no right back!

Much to admire about Calvert-Lewin, attitude is exemplary, and actually no little skill other than when he's defending by his own corner flag.

Up and running is good, it matters for form and confidence. Who next for right-back? Me, I bagsy Besic.

Pre-season has not been brilliant as these players are still getting used to each other, so any positive result is welcome.

Unfortunately for us the next few weeks are critical in our season – Europa League qualification and difficult league games which we need to get results. I know here that Barry is injured when his cool head is needed.

Opening days are often tricky and, with the next games coming up, a win was crucial. Well done, Koeman and the lads, for getting 3 points.

Pickford and Keane were excellent business. Jury is out on the others for me.

For those who thought Klaassen was anonymous, check out whose movement in the box opened up the space for Rooney's goal. Of course Davy will need to do a lot more but there's a good footballer in there.

Onwards and upwards. COYB.

Not good to watch admittedly but we had the ball for nearly two thirds of the game, didn't concede and, 1-0 up, had a manager then able and willing to better balance the team to secure a win. Stoke had only one goal-bound effort in the entire match too.

Five new players, three points and a clean sheet. An acceptable start in my opinion.

Doctor, my eyes!!!

We desperately need a striker; if Romelu had played, it would have been more than one goal. Calvert-Lewin is not ready; he needs to be loaned out.

No real shape, not sure if it's worse than last season; not sure how that is possible considering the additions; the next 4 or 5 games will tell us more.

I'm not buying the Koeman talk of needing more players, should be an improvement, I believe it's his tactics that are not working... Davies is far better than Klaassen.

Like so few before him in blue shirt, Pienaar springs to mind & Barry also worthy, he mined every piece of contact, extracting fouls, ruining momentum for Stoke.

He played balls into corners with pace that forced defenders to make rash decisions as time ebbed away. As time ticked over the 90-minute mark, he fell to the turf knowingly, took an age to get up, smiling going on smirking at Jags.

He might not belt around the place, but a cool, clever head is at work there. I bet in the big games that will be worth more than the physicality of previous incarnations of Rooney.

Welcome back, lad.

Martina wasn't a headless chicken in a flap at all; stop parroting what the person before you said and look at the actual game.

Rooney showed that he is not yet spent, as many of you seem to think.

And the failure to see that Klaassen actually did quite well (including in the buildup to the goal) is also shocking.

Conversely, Davies and Mirallas did next to nothing when they came on. Reserve some condemnatory cadences for them, why don't you?

Let's see how it goes but not 100% convinced Koeman is earning his £6 mill yet.

Have to echo that last post. In particular about Klaassen. Many seem blinded by the whirling dervishes that are Gana, and Davies. All arms and legs, running about like a demented animal gives an impression of energy and effectiveness.

No-one in that team deserves criticism today based on the manager's brainstorming effort to select a centre-forward at right-wingback. Maybe Koeman had Chinese last night and found inspiration in a fortune cookie!

Klaassen moves effortlessly around the pitch, sees the space and creates more for his team mates; his part in the goal is worthy of note.

And even as the team stutters in this, the nascent hours of the season, Klaassen plays at a tempo that many of our players lack. Good player deffo.

Klaassen was, I felt, not in the game; I have seen McCarthy play a similar game and he is being shipped out. Not sure I've seen a player of the quality that reflects the fee.

I thought Rooney did well and I didn't want him back. I felt it was a backward step. He did really well today and here I am praying he stays fit. What do I know? – apart from we need a top striker. NSNO

I can never understand Williams. When he has the ball with no opposition within 20 or 30 yards, he will pass the ball across to another team-mate, putting him under pressure. Why doesn't he stride forward (like Keane does) take a man out of the game, by making a timely pass?

Why did Koeman get his team selection so badly wrong? Surely he knows his team by now. I really am worried about our manager.

Schneiderlin and Klaassen had terrible games. Gueye does great tracking back and tackles well, but his distribution and shooting are abysmal.

One thing about today's game, it proved a lot of people contributing to ToffeeWeb were wrong – I'm referring to those supporters who said Rooney was over the hill, and we shouldn't have bought him. He was the best player on the pitch, closely followed by Pickford and Keane.

However, there was a period of about 15 mins starting from the hour mark where we looked really good, lots of easy slick passing. Pickford and Keane look like they will be terrific additions - Rolls Royce players both of them.

Rooney looked every bit the superstar he is for a decent chunk of the second half, first time passes just oozed class, through balls that just cut a defence wide open. When was the last time we had that consistently?

Encouraging for me rather than instantly spectacular which some posters seem to expect but I'll take that. Difficult run of games now but I'd rather take them in August than when top teams have built up a head of steam.

It is August after all.

We are going to be tough. And organized. Koeman is gonna send out his team to keep clean sheets and grab one. This is why he wants Siggurdsson, the best set piece taker in the league, who can score or create from the free kicks that Rooney's canny gamesmanship will buy.

No pace. No flair. No unpredictability.

Hard working, reliable players who can press, keep shape and take instructions.

KITAP1 is back.

If we get top 6 and/or win a cup then fair enough. But don't expect to enjoy it!

Every game is an opportunity, especially if other teams we wish to compete with stumble of the gate.

We had 2/3rds of the ball did and next to nothing with it. The team is set up not to lose, with too many defensive elements to it. We started the game our haunches. The selection and formation was out of a NFL play book, one dimensional. It required surgery at halftime, depriving us of an attacking sub. And we won but it was almost joyless.

My judgement is not this game but the body of work under Koeman.

The pieces above are clear characteristics of Koeman's Everton right from the start of his tenure. The cast has changed, quite dramatically in fact, but the deficiencies are steadfastly the same. That is cause for alarm in my book.

It needs addressing sharpish. Round pegs etc. Ball on the floor, quicker ball pace, and make the pitch bigger FFS, teams love us playing narrow, centre-halves can just stand there. They don't get put of position or tired.

Time is fleeting according to Moshiri, the window of opportunity is small. Koeman's Everton ambling about like they have all day.

Fair point.

Koeman certainly doesn't want his team to be opened up. Hopefully no repeats of last seasons Chelsea away.

As for excitement. Well I'm not sure. If we do win something I'll obviously be happy but if we don't I won't be able to say I enjoyed much.

The 2nd half was better. Rooney was very good. For me, we had better movement when Davies came on.

Apart from our attacking, we defended well, very determinedly, in the 2nd half. Maybe not what we want at home against Stoke, but we have to remember there are always two teams on the pitch, we held them off.

I was impressed with our new goalie for 90 minutes. Between 90-95 minutes I was hugely impressed.

Why does Koeman play two defensive midfielders when we don't have the fullbacks who can bomb forwards? Why two anyway against Stoke? And Keane playing right-back leaving two smaller centre-backs to cope with the big forwards?

Still, Koeman got it right in the second half, especially when he brought Tom Davies who for me has to be a starter. Martina did okay but is he better than Kenny? It will be good to have Seamus back.

I imagine Koeman in his heart would love to emulate the Total Football he saw when he was growing up based around the likes of Cruyff, Neeskins, Rep, Krol, Suurbier etc etc but his head states that he HAS to achieve fourth by the end of next season so being pretty to watch, especially since we don't yet have genius anywhere on the pitch, will probably have to wait.

Providing we get there I can put up with that for two seasons but, in fairness, this squad will surely play better as the season progresses, as Joe Clitherow inferred (#106).

With Sigurdsson, a target man, and Seamus & Bolasie back in the near future, I'm hopeful.

I still feel the positive of playing with width far overides your observation when you play more attacking football, by definition we would have more of the ball, like today and the fullbacks would have less defending to do and are less exposed.

And yet today Baines was left to cover the left side almost in its entirety as everyone shifted right, that both exposed him and knackered him out at the same time.

He provided no offensive threat at all. With no left sided midfielder for cover he was pasted twice in the first half being pushed into the left back spot.

I'm certainly not asking for total football, just a manager who can look at a game and see were to win it rather than not lose it.

We won yes, but with the exception of Rooney no swagger or flair or joy in that performance. If the players don't feel it how are we expected too?

Pragmatism gets you so far, it is unlikely to get you anything but a repeat of last year, that at its best is standing still.

No dice Ronald, sort it!

Tactful not sure. Tolerant absolutely, because as I've said you can't bring in a bunch of new players and expect them all to click straight away. Pickford and Keane definitely did. Sandro and Klaassen will take more time but they both seem good players to me. I expect Calvert-Lewinto really kick on this season, there are lots of signs for me that there is a genuine player there.

I agree with you about the speed and tempo, I was shouting for a sense of urgency there in the first half. But I was genuinely encouraged by a 15-minute spell in the second half like I said. We should have scored more when we cut them up.

When did we last cut through a defensive team like Stoke? When was the last time we pulled a defence apart? Not for very long at all today granted, but it made quite a change from passing from left to right along the edge of the opposition 18-yard line to no effect.

Optimist? Glass half-full? Yeah definitely. But it is a while since I've seen properly creative football at Goodison. Including the urban myth that Martinez had an attacking side. 10-15 mins ago of incisive one-touch passing with a bit of purpose is like an oasis in a desert.

Davies needs to be in the side for Klaassen until Klaassen proves otherwise.

We need a target man up front ASAP.

Looks like an unbalanced squad to me. The signings to come will hopefully redress the balance.

Definitely see what you're getting at. My tolerance has ebbed away over 20some thing years.

So first season Koeman gets a pass because he joined late in the summer, its not his players, Martinez was some sort of vudoo artist who held massive influence over the squad which was stopping them playing Koemans wat etc.

This season after three windows, his players, presumably known to the manager so more able to take on his ideas? Better players so more likey to take on his ideas.

The key element to this is not a hint of change in his approach. Everton were spent after the derby last year and he chose not to experiment, ideal since we were set in stone in 7th.

Already in an important pre-season we've seen a clear issue at right back, the club failed to bring someone and or failed to identify someone capable?

It has compromised his selections and our performances against Belgian, Dutch & Slovakian farmers. And now the agriculturalists of Stoke. I'm not seeing progress, apart from being very hard to score against.

Tell me if anywhere you think its going, can he improve the team without having change the whole lot?

I'm in need if some foresight and inspiration!

Plenty to criticize but we are still unbeaten preseason and first game.

Hopefully the step up to Hajduk Split and Man City away will be assisted by some new signings and improvements in our play.

As an indicator of future performance, I'm even comfortable that we've got a good set of players. When that front few players click, as they did for the goal, it's unstoppable.

My main concern is the manager. Picking Calvert-Lewin as a wing back would have been very odd, but he didn't do that. He played without one. Calvert-Lewin started much further up the pitch than Baines. We played lopsided. Genius? Nah, it was never going to work. We were so narrow and congested playing out of defence that the only ball we could play was long... great if you have a team that suits that but our only player over 5'-10" in the attacking half is a kid who is still filling out!

Two defensive midfielders to protect no wing backs?

The fact we were so much better with Martina in the side speaks volumes. He's not top drawer, but he is a right back.

I'm fearing that Ron is another manager who believes he's a genius. Like the idea of playing players in their best positions is old fashioned and backwards.

Plenty to be positive about but again, it feels like it's all despite of the manager. If that selection is an indicator of what's to come then being happy with 3 points might become a rarer pleasure.

Pickford and Keane did very well. Klaassen had a decent game and on that showing deserves to be judged after ten games not one. Sandro's attitude is great and he made a key contribution to the goal.

Calvert-Lewin looks like he'll make it at this level. Gueye was MotM. Rooney had his own perfect day, and he deserved it. Jags never gives less than his all, but he needs to be excused the need to give it quite so often now. We need another centre back and a striker. And Seamus back.

It's true the game was hardly inspiring in the first half, but Stoke are a decent team I expect to finish above the bottom 8 and we didn't fold to them. Give them time, give Koeman time. This is his team now, and if he's any good he'll manage it to 65 points or more this season.

I agree. I fear Schneiderlin maybe Ron's Cleverly. Someone he worked with before who is decent but doesn't really fit into the team. On Klaassen it's a bit frustrating to see him learning on the job as it were while Davies sits on the bench.

On the positive side, I thought Rooney was magnificent in the last 20 minutes. He held the ball up, made the smartest passes, didn't take silly risks but created some clever openings. He knows how to close a game out. We haven't had anyone with that composure for a long time.

Also, Pickford. Quiet game but match saving save. He's a young lad but he controls the box. None of the faffing around you see with Robles.

Koeman was a truly great player and on that account I think he may not become a truly great manager of a truly great team. Not many do. Personality wise, as far as the public see, he's a cold fish. It doesn't concern me though.

What concerns me is that he continues to improve the madhouse he inherited from the "phenomenal" one, and he's on course for doing that. That's why I support him, turgid as some games undoubtedly are.

With total respect your own observation that we're definitely hard to score against is the first base in establishing a successful team (ask Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea today).

I hope we sign better offensive/productive players in what's left of the window, but who knows what managing billionaire entities requires .... apart from Mr Moshiri?

I do believe Koeman knows what the limitations of players are though, and how to develop/gel them. His record at Southampton speaks to that.

And I don't know how it will work out over two years, but what an awesome moment it was to see Rooney nod in that goal in his return to Goodison. Made me feel like a child again.

The game was awful if we are honest. The first half was dreadful. We were better in the second half, but still very much lacking. But I do think we have that commander in the box in Pickford. First match and got three points. I'll take it, but expect a hell of a lot more going forward.

We're about to enter a four game stretch literally out of the bowels of hell.

I can see the comments now if we lose... bile, impatient, petulant...

We won't win all 4 games.

After 5 games total if we're on 7 points good, 9 brilliant, 10+ it's completely sky's the limit.

This is a good team. It's not my personal preference of openness and flash - a la Roberto's first season. But I'm an immature douche who likes a bit of "Hollywood" in his team.

We may be on to something pragmatic, but special.

Gana ran 20 miles today, Rooney is just class, and Keane and Pickford are the bomb.

Maybe this run of games will yield a big points return... but if it doesn't I'll be happy just to see a team that's improving. By improvement I mean having a go at the big teams and showing a bit of attacking intensity. We're destined for 7th-ish if we don't... maybe higher but probably not lower if we do. Might as well have a crack at them then.

Second half was much better. Still not scintillating stuff, but it definitely felt like we had a second goal in us.

Pickford looks like everything you want in a keeper and more. Commands the box with complete authority and came up with the game-saving goods late when called upon.

Some people seem to already be writing Klaassen off (Cleverley 2.0? Oh boy), but I think once the side starts to gel and the link-up play becomes stronger, we'll start to see what he can do.

Biggest disappointment is how Lookman remains glaringly underutilized. Hopefully he'll get a decent run-out in the next Europa League fixture.

Wanting to see a little "Hollywood" does not make you an immature douche. It makes you a lover of the beautiful game. As a yank ,you don't belong with the English mustn't-fuckin-grumble crew.
Do not lower your standards. Do not settle, Do not apologise for the shite we're having to endure, Do not allow yourself to buy into this ridiculous notion that accepting coma-inducing dross whilst desperately hoping that players we haven't even signed yet (count the posts) will somehow turn our season around.

Just keep telling yourself "Hollywood" good, Zombie football, bad.

Don't drift into a place where the prospect of finishing where we did last season makes you "The most excited you have been for years". Do not become one of those "positive" people who will tell you the future is blindingly bright – but who won't dare believe we can challenge top four. Don't ever believe that winning ugly is a "good habbit".

Listen to me son: never stop looking for entertaining football, never stop demanding it, pull yourself back from the brink; Do NOT become one of those self-proclaimed optimists.

It's going to very hard for teams to break us down and the difference between Martina and Holgate is one can actually cross the ball so unless Mason adds that to his game its hard to see him actually getting the full back job. Keane and Holgate will obviously play minutes as there is going to be 60 games over the next nine months.

On a lighter note Tom Cleverley played quite well for Watford and it was a great result for them you should have seen the smile on my face when I saw the turgid expression from that clown they call the Klopp.

How come Surguddson hasn't asked for a transfer?

I don't think Klaassen is Cleverley 2.0 but I do think Davies offers more at this point.

Among all of them, getting Rooney is the key to us moving up 2-3 positions.

We have some fine ones and hope our youngsters will come good.

Rooney, though, is that all-world player we keep hoping for, while not considering him one any more.

Yet, of whatever 22 were out there today, he was so far and away the best. No one close. The same effortless brilliance he's displayed since a 16-year-old.

He's the key to us moving up this season. Rooney. THAT guy we always say the team is missing; a talisman.

Koeman got the tactics and team selection wrong but fixed it at half-time. A back three without a left sided centre back and no quality wing backs is pointless, we don't need to play two central defensive midfielders against Stoke and playing a false Number 9 because we don't have a quality striker is frustrating. Klaassen will come good when he has runners to pick out and isn't crowded out in central midfield by Gueye and Schneiderlin.

The good points – Pickford, Keane, Gueye, Rooney. The rest a big work in progress.

Having watched Sandro a few times playing in La Liga, my impression is that he is at his best when the team moves forward at pace and his speed and link-up play come to the fore, as in the movement for yesterday's goal. A slow, ponderous build up negates his abilities and he works best with runners beside and around him. He never gives up and will run himself into the ground for the team.

I also noticed he was limping slightly for about five minutes before being subbed, so perhaps Koeman brought him off as a precaution, but he is the kind of player who can make things happen in a heartbeat. If he can develop an understanding with Rooney they could prove to be our ace in the hole this season.

I agree it will take a few games for him to adjust to the Premier League (he's said so himself), but remember that he hasn't had a full pre-season with us, joining late after the U21 championships. Once he fully integrates into the team and gets to know his team mates better, I think we'll see the best of Sandro Ramirez.

That's fair. I just think those that already seem willing to declare Klaassen "£24-mil down the toilet" are being a bit extreme.

Between them, Sandro and Klaassen drew the defence and thereby created the space that gave Rooney a free run at that peach of a cross from young Calvert-Lewin.

Let's not forget also that Rooney started the move just inside their half. Great football. If they can produce that sort of move 3 times every game I will be a very happy Evertonian.

Every team above us has improved with the exception of Spurs and arguably Chelsea, who were miles ahead of us anyway.

Top 4 is not on the cards. Teams have got better again in recent seasons and we have clear issues in the squad. We need to buy well and continue to invest in the future – many of our buys have been aimed at that. We need patience – not the unrealistic expectations of Everton fans who remember the good old days, and those believing the Leicester story is the rule rather than the 1000/1 exception.

That said, we have the right to watch football that isn't turgid. It needs to get better and I expect it will. It is only Week 1 and we won.

Much better and improvement 2nd half. I watched 3 other games, including Liverpool and Chelsea; we are not that bad.

Negatives; dull, dull, dull, dull. General lack of purpose from the players. Usual Koeman wannabe smart-arse team selection where we started the second half with the line-up that should have started the first, wasting subs in the process. Duplication of roles in midfield with players crowding each other out and getting in each other's way.

I love the fact that we're strong defensively, though that will get tested in the coming weeks. I can see the idea of flexible players switching positions through a game. I hope that when they pick up the pace, they'll complement each other rather than duplicate each other.

Of course it's early days and we have won three straight games, but I'm watching confused players playing with the handbrake on and a manager who hasn't realised that you can justify your salary by giving simple instructions and trusting the players you bought to do their jobs.

This time last year, the team was 'unfit', yet tore into Spurs for 70 minutes, before tiring into a draw. They had purpose, visible desire and a bit of cohesion. Three things that weren't there yesterday. I watch games on my laptop at home. If I'd paid my hard-earned to watch that yesterday, I'd be asking more questions than I am now.

Now I'm not saying Klaassen is going to become as good a player as that for us, although it would obviously be fantastic if he did!! But I do think we all need to cut him some slack and give him at least half a season before being too judgmental.

In fact, the same can be said for all our new signings, including Martina. No, Martina is not world class, but some people were getting on his back after about 10 minutes during the home leg against Ruzomberok, which was ridiculous. Personally, as an Evertonian of almost 50 years, I hate to see players who've barely been here 5 minutes getting slagged off so early in their careers.

These lads need encouragement right now, not abuse. If it turns out in the long term some of them aren't going to cut the mustard, then so be it. But, at least for now, let's give them our support.

Klaassen looks like a 㿅 player, not £25 million, awful. Rooney proved his doubters wrong. Rooney for England... Class!

Josh King from Bournemouth.

The game was not pretty most of the time and on occasions looked like we almost allowed 1-2 cracks for Stoke to get through, but I do think the new players will get better, and perhaps play fancier football as we progress. Ideally with Sigurdson and Barkley though the second would be optimistic.

Sandro had to be subbed after running his legs out, and played well when he still had gas. Calvert-Lewin look to be able to hold his own, unpolished but decent. Rooney will be a good mentor for the kids. Keane and Pickford looks set to be the new spine. It's not pretty but definitely should have instilled some optimism even in the forever pragmatist, right?

Steve (#140), clearly optimist are bad in the eyes of Darren but it is just 1 game. I think Jamie 132's gauge of optimism based on points after the next few games is justified. Chelsea will bounce back because its Conte not Mourinho. And we need to be careful because Leicester seems to be back.

Jamie (#132), I hope Hollywood to you means flashy, ball to feet, direct football and not ego trip mania like Bayern, Barca and Real. We won't get that level of football this early in the project but I do hope to see flashes of it when the team gels over the course of this season.

Koeman out...will that make you feel better..

Personally I thought the game was dull but a win is a win 3 points and more to come..

Duplication of roles in midfield with players crowding each other out and getting in each other's way.

And as you point out this is down to Koeman's poor tactics and blind faith in under-performing players, notably Schneiderlin. He's either out-of-form or simply shite, there's nothing progressive about his play, he stifles progressive movement. I'd be interested to know what % of his passes went forward. He's also slow, very slow, average players breeze past him.

His apologists argue that he breaks up attacks, rubbish! When you have Gueye in the team chasing down and tackling everything, why have Schneiderlin? What were their respective tackle counts? On current form he falls behind Davies, Barry, Besic, and McCarthy. Frankly I'd sell him on even at a loss.

3 at the back – we don't have the personnel for that. Keane – yes but Williams continues to be poor and Jagielka obviously struggles playing left in a 3 The '3 tactic' also requires you to have good, attacking wing backs, we don't. Baines is playing okay but will his form continue ? Koeman refuses to select Kenny and Holgate is not a wing back. Yesterday City played the '3 system' as it should be played but look at their personnel.

Wayne looks good in the '10' role as he has done in recent seasons. Which begs the question, why are we buying Sigurdsson for £50m when what we need is pace and power in attack ?

Other positives – Calvert-Lewin, looking good through the middle, Pickford – assured, Davies – great energy.

I can see more of both halves through the season but I'm a self-appointed optimist rather than a self-appointed doom-monger.

Rooney was immense. It you can't enjoy him scoring the winner for us, then I feel sorry for you. Football is about emotion and togetherness as much as is it about winning.

Loved the Rooney celebration yesterday.

In all fairness to him, he did admit responsibility, for wrong team selection and tactics, so I think we all hope he truly realises this and, makes amends for the future.

Another poster mentioned that with having these tough fixtures ahead, may not be as bad, because most teams are adjusting to new personnel etc, so may not be fully up to speed yet.

The only thing that worries me, is that we are not up to speed either.

It still baffles me why he plays Gana and Schneiderlin at home, it's not that they are not good players, but too similar, of the two I would have Gana every time, as he covers every blade of grass and tries to feed the ball forward. Schneiderlin has been disappointing of late, too slow, and passing sideways or back to defence.

Klaassen is another one who needs to speed up, you can see he has the vision and skill, but has to realise the Prem is much quicker than what he has been used to.

Like everyone else on here, the lack of a striker to replace Rom is baffling, you don't let a player go, without having plans to replace, certainly not starting the season with no established front man.

I do like Sandro, but wish he would try and stay around the areas where he would be most effective, his energy and enthusiasm can't be faulted, but too often he is either wide or too deep when a ball goes into the opposition box.

He's only young and keen, but again Koeman should be coaching him better.

Having said that, I don't think we are that far away, let's hope any additions come well before deadline day.

You didn't read my post carefully enough mate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Optimists. They're the people who make the world go round.

My warning to Jamie was to not become a "self proclaimed" optimist.

I find it highly amusing that the people on here who expect more and constantly call for it, are dismissed as negative and the people who excuse and settle for mediocrity, can't wait to tell everyone how positive they are.

"Challenging the top boys is unrealistic" – We as a football club must have the most negative optimists in football.

Don't take my post too seriously, Dennis. Jamie has demonstrated he has a good sense of humour. The advice I offered was offered with tongue firmly in cheek

How the fuck didn't that slimy Swiss twat get a red for his elbow on Baines?

Watching it again today, from start to finish, it gets better and better.

Jags wins the ball back from a Stoke throw, defending deep in our half on the left. Rooney tussling with Diouf to first win the ball back then play a smart lay off to Gana. Gana playing the ball wide right to Keane, still deep in our own half. Keane carrying the ball forward to the half way line, where he turns back on the closing Shaqiri to lay the ball back inside to Gana just outside the centre circle. Gana takes a couple of touches and advances 10 m before playing a crisp 1-2 with Rooney. Gana plays a first time pass to Sandro who takes one touch, plays a drag back to put one defender on his arse and draws in the player from the flank who was marking Calvert-Lewin. Sandro plays a perfectly weighted ball out to the now unmarked Calvert-Lewin. As the latter shapes to make the cross, Klaassen makes a near post run which is tracked by the central defender. And Rooney, 40 m from goal when he played his 1-2 with Gana, is alert to the play.

First jogging, as Sandro turns and lays off the ball to Calvert-Lewin, Rooney accelerates past the player who should be tracking him, attacking the space Klaassen's run opened up for him. Calvert-Lewin's quality cross falls perfectly into that space and Rooney is cute enough to head the ball back across the flaying Butland.

That's seven players all having a part to play in a very good team goal.

Impressive.

Five players making their league debuts contributed to the lack of cohesion. The new signings will give the team more balance hopefully. They will have to as we looked an unbalanced side yesterday.

I don't think Rooney, Klaassen and Sandro will all start, especially if Sigurdsson signs. Bonus for me was the class Rooney showed.

Schneiderlin is the holding midfielder, sitting in front of the defence, shielding and acting as a springboard for the attacking players. For whatever reason he seems only to be doing half of this effectively. But he is a good player and his form will return.

Gueye is all over the pitch with great energy, and is just as likely to be tackling at the edge of the oppositions penalty area as ours. He's often in advanced positions and on a couple of occasions was supporting Calvert-Lewin in attack when he broke away in the second half. He was often further up than Klaassen. He defends our area when he has to, but then so do all of the midfield.

Maybe we have too many players occupying similar space further up the park?

As far as the game went, it was hardly entertaining, but at least we improved a little in the second half.

Rooney can still do a job for us behind a front two, we found that out. Sandro is a steal at ٣m, he looks a serious player given the right service. Keane and Pickford look money well spent. Not wild about Klaassen, not yet anyway. Davies and Calvert-Lewin both have a good future. Gana gives his all each game, is a bit of a headless chicken at times, but you cant fault him for effort.

What the hell is going on with Sigurdsson? We are obviously being held to ransom. We badly need a 15-20 goal striker along with Sigurdsson to compete with the best sides.

Just because they cost an arm and a leg, shouldn't guarantee them a starting slot.

I'm sure it will all pan out, I've been watching all the other games, or rather highlights, apart from the matches shown live (BT & Sky) and other teams are going through bedding in processes too. No teams look formidable, so maybe we can nick a few points, in the coming month.

Agree with you on Gueye, I would never class him as either a defensive midfielder or a holding midfielder. Increasingly he is getting forward. If he has to be classified he's a box to box midfielder. Let's hope he improves his shooting! Personally, I think he's excellent!

As for the whole game guys, it was far too nerve-wracking to be dull!

There is an uncomfortable extreme between high and low bars set by fans sometimes. Optimists primed for failure and pessimists hedging their bets. I think we can challenge but take stock at how difficult it will be.

Our preseason and first 3 official games show some lack of flow but I hope that will improve as we progress and add new players. I see flashes of style in our play but isn't quite the finished product given our early transfer window hype, yet.

I was up until 2 am last night here on the East Coast of God's country, and I read Darren's post and thought, "I'll reply in the morning."

I didn't wake for the day until 11:15 am. I can still sleep like a teenager. I digress...

Darren, I do crave pretty football. Not that shite that passed for pretty when I first started to watch the game a decade ago a la Barcelona's brutally boring (at times!) tippy-tappy possession shite. I'd argue pretty football was us Roberto's first season, Spurs under Rednap with Bale & Co, the Dutch in 2010, the Germans any time, and yes Iceland last summer.

It doesn't matter if it's defensive Herculean effort or counter-attacking opportunism or more possession based with purpose football. I do prefer the latter to be honest, but...

It's been a decade of my time (and fuck knows how long for most people on TW!). I don't give one fiddler's fart how we do it. I want to:

WIN!!

I've no business whatsoever even being a fan. How in the holy hell this team ever came to consume me is a miracle along the lines of loaves and fish.

I want us to win. And I define that to mean top four. Why?

Because I want Champions League. I want success. I don't want to have to search some obscure fucking channel to see us play in Europe.

When I watched the Arsenal - Leicester game the other night, the "honey shot" was of Alexi Sanchez's ridiculously hot wife sitting with him in the corporate box. About two weeks ago when we travelled to bum-fuck Dark Europe where they breed vampires, the honey shot as the cameras panned across the crowd was of Rob-fucking-Halligan!!!! Now Rob is a handsome gigantic teddy-bear of a man admittedly, but he's NOT Alexi Sanchez's wife who made my contemplate hitting pause and taking some time to flog jimmy!

Success is Champions League and I don't give a single flying fuck how we get there.

Success is hot chicks on televised games on channels you can actually find. Not Rob Halligan (God bless him) in the crowd on a dodgy internet feed sponsored as a hacking fundraiser by Terrorists Are Us replete with "guess which X to click" pop up ads with every computer virus known to man.

It's time Everton just win. Any way, any how.

Cheers.

Okay, it was better than the first (bar the excellent goal), but it was still only marginally less turgid. I can see that, if you're a real lover of football, including really poor football, then you might find anything like that entertaining, especially given three months of deprivation.

For me, it was mostly dour, dire, ugly... yes for long stretches dull (all four-letter words!) but I was getting a wee bit edgy as Stoke came back into it. Not how I prefer to be 'entertained', but you pays your money...

Michael, I think winning makes up half the ticket price for him.

Michael, yes, as others have said on here, that was a good second half. Not brilliant. Not very good. Just good. And do you really have to stoop to saying "if you're a lover of football, including really poor football"? Who on earth is a lover of really poor football?! Ridiculous.

I've now watched all the other Premier League games and the sides that won would give Everton a roasting.

I'm really worried when we play the next few games - we're going to really struggle against any side in the Premier League.

You might recall the goal Wayne scored at Genk from Sandro's cross. Again, just outside the area, he clips the heels of the retreating defender who goes down, leaving Wayne another clear run on goal.

It's this gamecraft that Wayne also brings to the team.

Thanks for your eloquent rant! It put a big smile on my face! Saying that, did you ever see Tom Cleverley's missus?

Oh, and I was there in the early 80s and the mid-80s too of course. People wax lyrical about the team that won the league, and rightly so, but they could win ugly and often did. We had Van Den Hauwe, Reid, Gray, Watson etc; they could mix it!

Which considering there were 4 new players (if you count Rooney as new) in the move is rather impressive me thinks! Yip, you can be involved in a move without touching the ball, that's why stats can be so deceptive!

The 'deal' across the park is running out.

I can't fathom the criticism of Koeman. Remember in the recent past that Stoke City came here and left with 3 points twice? We had to put up with the the first half of keeping the ball so that their high pressing spoiling tactics would burn out their runners. Wayne's run and goal were a glorious bonus.

We are admittedly (by everybody) incomplete. Yet we won with a clean sheet. The humble pie on offer is for the Rooney doubters. I notice there is at least one poster (Colin?) who mentions Pirlo. I mentioned this as a possibility weeks ago and not one agreed. In fact, there were quite a few who decomposed the notion. Well, I reckon that Rooney's second half performance was as 'Pirlo-esque' as it gets. He will do this repeatedly as long as the youngsters make the runs. He will see them and pick them out, as he did with ease about four or five times on Saturday.

Enjoy your meal!

He sorted it out at half time, which is good as he wasn't stubborn or stupid enough to let it continue. So credit there.

I was personally fairly happy with the second half as I thought we did okay for a team in the early stages of bedding in new players.

Overall Koeman has made us harder to beat and results have generally improved but his tactics and team selections are so wrong at times it's bewildering.

If you'd asked most fans after Davies came on, that is probably our strongest xi at this time. Most of us can see it but Koeman doesn't seem to want to, even though it's staring him in the face.

Having said that, I feel that he needs direction in the No 9 position as yes, he is still learning I and will not criticise him. Many have used Sharpy as a comparison, but he didn't really blossom until a certain Andy Gray came along and showed him how to ruffle the feathers of the cloggers.

It will do him no harm to play in that uncomfortable position again in the future to gain an appreciation of how it's done. I remember my own engineering apprenticeship. Part of my job was going to the shop to get the butties for dinner. It's character forming. I'm taking the dog out now so I may be back on before work.

My preference right now is bang up front from the start until we get someone else, as he's the only player we have who can give us that focal point players like Rooney, Sandro, Klaassen and Davies need. Once we get another striker then back to bench with 20-30 min cameos plus full games when the other fella needs a break. Certainly none of this right wing or wing back nonsense.

Enjoy the dog walk, and as it's lunch time here I'm salivating at at the thought of a chip butty!!!

You also say Deulofeu was basically unproductive. That's just ludicrous. No matter how poor or how long he played on the pitch his assist ratio was excellent.

I love these fans who scream the positive life but only remember an individuals negative points. To all the fans who ask what do some people want.

I want a manager who takes great wages to feel like Everton are up for it and don't need 6 defenders on the pitch trying to beat Stoke.

I want a manager that realises £20 million players these days are basically not good enough.

I want a manager that has a shrewd side to him and doesn't keep buying players that couldn't quite make the top sides in the past.

I want a club that's so ruthless that when they say its £100 million – it's £100 million.

And I would absolutely love it if our fans as a whole had genuine ambition. No more of this patience game. It takes time. Nonsense excuses that were last season – it's not Koeman's squad,

He is buying (like everyone keeps saying) readymade Premier League players. Why does it take so long then?

Formation, selection and man-management seems to be our issue.

Believers keep saying the same things over and over again. It takes time, we do things right, its not Koeman's squad blah blah blah.

All I ever remember in the last 25 years is nothing but praise for how Everton are ran and how we are a lovely club but no silver. We are that nice we have sold Man Utd 2 superstars for 8-10 years for a few quid more than Pogba cost.

That nice we knock 㾶 million off the asking price and still haven't replaced him.

However, like you, I am not a season ticket holder. I'm lucky if I get to 3 games a season. I live in the South and have to put my children's weekend sport first.

If, like Darren and most others on here, we paid our hard earned money, and gave up hours of our weekend, to watch and support us grind out results and win ugly, then we might quickly change our tune.

Fans that give up so much to watch the games live deserve to be entertained or what's the point in their efforts and sacrifice?

Far easier to accept ugly results when we're only watching highlights, or a dodgy stream in the comfort of our home. We've not lost much of our day and haven't paid for the displeasure.

In saying that, a couple of seasons of winning ugly in order to achieve top 4 would possibly lead to all of the rewards you brilliantly highlighted in your post. At this point we could start to provide the entertaining football that fans like Darren deserve, and on the biggest stage of all.

The game was, of course, awful. We must not have another season of cringing, frightened football. I take some hope from the goal – if we can do it once then we can do it time and again; just throw off the shackles.

A final point – I'm in the camp that thinks Klaassen will come good. He doesn't look like a bad buy, he looks like a good player finding his focus and taking longer than expected.

That's the passion required, mate.

Great post.

'I love these fans who scream the positive life but only remember an individuals negative points'

I haven't screamed anything Paul.

Also, I have posted a lot of positives about players on this very thread me thinks! With regards to Deulofeu, maybe to say 'unproductive' was unfair, he did have a decent assist but not so good goal ratio. Maybe, 'inconsistent' would have been a better description. He did have moments of brilliance, granted, but they were moments IMO.

'aesthetically pleasing displays' was what I said about Martinez, which is different to pleasing displays. Again, an opinion and open to interpretation.

I am basically on the side of being realistic if anything. My version of realistic may not be the same as yours, I am fine with that.

Do I want the best for the club, absolutely. We just have different views on how to get there. And Paul I am quite chilled and calm typing this, no screaming, it would be rather unbecoming of a man of my age!

I am just tired of hearing fans say he didn't do it enough or things of that theme. When certain others are adored or defended for getting us nowhere really.

Far too often do we only remember the grey areas compared to the things that change games. I admit I struggle screaming too but even if I don't agree I still find other opinions worth reading. However we feel, there will be definitive answers within tons of opinions.

No worries mate.

You are right about opinions on players, sometimes we can turn a blind eye to a certain players faults, whilst we'd lambaste certain other players for having those faults, possibly because of their background, perceived character, or whatever it may be.

Anyways, let's just hope we keep winning and just agree/disagree on the performances and not results!

As I read your post I recalled the goal; it's indeed really good.

Sorry, I know which I prefer. We played the best football I have seen in all my years in 1968-69 and fell short. We dug in the following season and had a fair few 1-0 wins on the way to the title. That's football!

I know stats aren't the whole summary but I don't get to see Sanchez Aguero Hazard etc for 90 mins as often as Everton players.

I know when I watch Hazards ability and speed he should maybe produce more than he does?

We all forget its so tough now compared to when Rooney broke through. Near every defender is an international now or if not, they are a super athlete on the brink of international caps.

Agreed. Even the teams at the lower echelons of the league are full of internationals.

Yes, some players could get away with things others couldn't. Duncan Ferguson for example got sent off unnecessarily on some occasions putting his team at a disadvantage, other players wouldn't have gotten off with it as they didn't have the hero worship of Ferguson. I could never understand the stick Osman got, but there you go!

Klaassen is a wait and see. I think with the eventual Sigurdsson signing and hopefully another striker, coupled with the busy schedule, a lot of rotation will be needed, which will probably help some of the new player to settle in. I think sometimes we place too much expectation on players' shoulders. I'd also agree with anyone who'd point out that they are paid rather well to deal with this expectation.

Was Williams' substitution for an injury or tactical? I assume we went 4-4-2 in the second half?

Klaassen any good at all?

Good points.

There is a tendency for people to view themselves as somehow superior because they see themselves as "positive", but their claims seem to be negated when they speak about their expectations. Low expectations are, in my opinion, the result of too many false dawns.

We have to aim higher and I would definitely sacrifice Darren's desire to see entertaining football in return for a cup or a place in the Champions League. Although I'm not sure one has to be at the expense of the other ?

Brent (#156)

"The second half was entertaining"? Is that really optimism, or are you just being very easily pleased? Sorry mate. I think it's the latter

Davy Klaassen, didn't have a great game, but watch the goal and see how he draws two defenders away and leaves the space which Rooney uses to great advantage.

There is a very clever player waiting to come out of Klaassen in my opinion, others are seeing him differently. We will find out in future games.

Remember the stick Bergkamp got in his first half season.

Remember Pires telling Wenger after his first game that he would not be able to play in the Premier League.

None of them have ever played in a league where the football is so quick, so intense. I'm reserving my judgement until the new year on Klaassen.

There is a distinct difference between optimism (even if it's self-proclaimed) and happy clapping. Perhaps the optimist inside the happy clapper would look forward to much more of the same?

But as stated above. You pays your money....

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees ,mate, We all know that football is an unrehearsed live entertainment. The chances of seeing a less than thrilling game are always very real. Those who pay their money, do so with their eyes wide open.

I don't think the guy who is fortunate enough to attend the games is any more deserving than the guy who gets up at 1 am to watch, or the guy who (like you) has family obligations which must be his priority, or indeed the guy who simply can't afford to go.

We are none of us are entitled to expect the team to play with ambition, flair, imagination and passion every time, but I firmly believe we are all entitled to expect them to try.