Praise from Silva for battling Blues

That aside, today looked more promising than our pre-season games and we still have the new boys to come in. Future looks bright!

Added to that Richarlson played like a dream, Holgate played well and Jagielka's suspension will allow one or both of the new boys to step in.

Overall, the fitness of the players and hunger was there. It's early days but we look up for the fight. The added quality to the squad will make the difference. The goals conceded came from individual mistakes.

The second goal was caused by not trying to stop the player crossing the ball. Morgan always looks as if he has just finished doing a night shift or just can't be arsed. Good to see players bollocking each other when not doing their job.

Feeling sad that we are not having 3 points, but very encouraged to see proper football by our team and hopefully this is the beginning of new, exciting and successful Everton.

Dan, sorry man, welcome to the club. Harsh feeling when at 48 l could still take a better dead ball than most of our squad (as long as it's in walking football).

I thought we'd need a lot more than one transfer window to fix things but we are lot closer already.

Decent games from most though Walcott was quiet (and Keane lost his man for the other goal, though apart from that he played well). Baines, as in pre-season, showed that he's up for it again, as is Gana. Richarlison impressed and the rest were decent (even Schneiderlin – he left that snail for dead on several occasions).

But what caught the eye most were the changes to the way we're being coached. Defence and midfield appear to operating more as a unit, and the defence isn't dropping back too far as it has been the last season or two; and the ball is certainly being moved around more quickly and generally forwards rather than side-to-side and /or back. And Baines is being allowed to bomb forward more.

The coffee and brandy now taste good. Satisfied with today. Roll on the first home game – and the other new signings.

If anything the team played better after being reduced to ten men. Silva deserves credit for keeping both wide men on the field and sacrificing Sigurdsson. We kept a decent shape throughout the match with Gana and Schneiderlin both doing their jobs in midfield. Overall it was an encouraging team performance but much more will be required to come anywhere near challenging the top six.

Well done, M & M!

At long last, we have a manager who talks like a man and represents our club properly. Good luck in the weeks ahead, sir!

If Bernard hits the ground running and Gomes comes into form, I'm not sure he'll be with us past January's transfer deadline.

With the new signings, I think both Sigurdsson's and Schneiderlin's positions are in serious doubt as both are slow and ponderous. I was also so impressed with the style of football, with it being such a contrast to last season. So pleasing to watch.

I do not think it was a sending off offence; if you look where the ref was when the incident happened, he was close to the centre circle and so could not have had a good sight of the incident. Poor refereeing to say the least.

I also have to say I thought Keane had the best game I have seen him play in a long while and so, if Silva can have this effect on all the players, I think we are going to be in for an exciting season.

Silva did make one huge error IMO in pulling off Siggy after the red card instead of Schneiderlin or Tosun, but he got away with it, and even benefited when Tosun did his one good thing today and played in Richarlison for the second goal.

I really like this manager.

You're analysis of the game and my analysis of the game are in 100% lock step.

Can I join you for a coffee and brandy?

I feel really bad for Jags, by the time he returns from serving the red card suspension, he will be the fifth choice centre-back. I would not be surprised to see him in the Championship in January.

"I really like this manager."

Me too Mike. Me too.

His post match presser, I had mentioned this on the matchday thread, was everything I want from a manager.

* Red was harsh but I can see why it was given. Theatricals didn't help. Consolation is Jags is out for 3 games – I felt he's been past it for 3 years but I confess I was never a fan;

* Again probably influenced by the red but Walcott has no end-product;

* If Baines is past it, he never got the memo;

* We didn't play like we had 10 – Wolves were glad of a point;

* Neutrals in the bar said Everton look very watchable — it's been a while since I heard that!

Agree with all your points Matt, except the card.

Never, ever a red. Can't see why it was given.

He holds up the ball well when given the chance. He also sent in a cracker of a cross that Richarlison and Walcott couldn't quite finish.

Niasse couldn't be more different in style and technique. I think it's good to have two strikers that are so contrasting. It gives defenders a whole new set of problems to deal with.

I feel robbed today by a poor refereeing decision & theatricals by the opposition. An admittedly poor touch by Jags, but his recovery tackle was perfect. The ball went towards their goal not ours & it was not an overly rash challenge.

If that's what a contact sport has come to, we may as well watch televised table football.

I showed both of my "older" sons the replay. They're not experts but they've played the game and know better than their old man.

Both were like, "no way."

Jags got the ball. BEFORE he made contact. It was not, in no way, shape, or form, a "stiff leg studs up" challenge. His leg locked at the end but it wasn't with the intent of injury or violent conduct. He could have never, ever stopped a goal scoring opportunity as the attacker never had control of the ball!

A yellow perhaps. I personally thought it was just a strong, good, clean challenge after a glaring awful first touch.

It seriously pissed me off and I can not understand how anyone thinks that tackle is a straight red.

I'm relieved to know you had a re-think. ;0)

The silver lining is we played magnificently and with passion down a man.

Today was a great day. Not in terms of results, but how we responded and conducted ourselves after that call.

I don't buy this "got the ball first" thing. That's used as an excuse for bad touch / bad tackle. He potentially could have snapped the player's leg / ankle.

So regardless of whether he "got the ball first", it was a dangerous tackle, which is a foul.

The debate as to whether it was a red is another argument; however, it was a demonstration of poor touch & control, which led to a foul, which led to a free kick, which led to a goal.

That's how I saw it.

Well done, Holgate as well – he looked like he had never been away. A good start... now let's smash this next week!

In my opinion, that was a fantastic recovery tackle. The referee was influenced by the theatrics of the Wolves player — Neymar would be proud of that show! The ref was so far away from the action that he didn't even know the exact location of the supposed foul. He gave it a good 5 yards further than the actual crime scene.

I don't know what annoys me more — the commentators trying to justify the wrong decision because it is only Everton, or our own supporters being brainwashed by these so-called football experts who have a clear agenda?

This battling draw with 10 men, showed me more heart and desire, than any of the wins did last season. We were the better team, even with a man missing.

The single point, especially the way we earned, makes me believe that we are on our way. Once Silva gets the new signings get up to speed, we will be even better.

Recovery or "his second touch is always a tackle"?

It was a foul, it gave them a free kick and they scored. Red / yellow / talking to is another argument but it was a foul.

50-50 if it was even yellow. I've watched the tackle 20 times and feel sorry for Jagielka.

Jagielka was not the last man, it was a single foot tackle and he got the ball before connecting with the player.

You will see that tackle 200 - 300 more times in the Premier League this season so I'm expecting 200 - 300 more red cards.

The referee's post-match (hindsight) excuse of excessive force was also poor.

It was a poor touch though. At this level you cannot afford mind lapses and poor touches (which of course led to the tackle).

It's widely claimed that any player will get sent off if the studs are up, but in this case they weren't. The movement and momentum of Jagielka is sliding in a straight line across the grass, with his heel pushing the ball out of the way and behind him. Surely that's an excellent tackle, and in most aspects, a perfect one.

This probably cost us 3 points and I hope Everton look at trying to get it recinded, or downgraded to a yellow at least. The situation felt all too like the now defunct ruling of gifting a penalty to an opponent, and being down to 10 men, the now old being punished twice scenario.

Careless, Reckless or Using Excessive Force – an evaluatation on reckless challenges and serious foul play

Referees at Select Group level continue to meet up on a regular basis to discuss, review and debate decisions that are made at National List level within the PGMOL. One of the most difficult situations for a referee, for various reasons, is to differentiate between a reckless foul and a challenge that is considered to be one of serious foul play. At a recent seminar referees identified a series of criteria which they believe will help referees at all levels distinguish between these two types of offences.

Firstly, a reminder of what Law 12 states:

“Careless” means that a player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without precaution. (No further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is considered to be careless)

“Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent. (A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned)

“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent. (A player who uses excessive force must be sent off)

Shame about Jags, but all in all a good show of character and they didn't bottle it,

Keane still day dreams and lost his man, for their second goal, but plenty to build on.

Must wins now, in the build up to Arsenal away.

That his foot met with the attackers stretch after the ball had gone is frankly unfortunate but not a foul, it was a 50/50 ball that one player committed to and the other didn't and ended up getting upended. It was not dangerous play, it didn't warrant a free kick.

...and

Then you have a young Richarlison that can't speak a word of English, but already an ambassador to every player at the club as to how they all should be this committed and this determined to win a game if football. I think he will be a legend, and someone who Silva can point to and tell every other player, just do what he does. No ego whatsoever, just a determination to win.

You are right imo when you say that so-called experts have an agenda. They are what they are and that will probably never change.

Paul Merson and sorry to say our own Andy Hinchcliffe are very bad.

But it is Silva's job to change that a bit and I believe that he can do it for us.

Well done boys,

Great reaction from Marco once the sending off happened, didn't panic, made the right change and did it quickly. Last season it would have been everyone back and damage limitation. I was delighted that Marco made the change but kept to the plan as much as possible.

I'm excited to see what we can achieve this season based on this performance and many of the new signings still to be available. Speaking of which, Richarlison was excellent and lifted the whole team.

They were a revelation after pre-season, clearly the management team know what they are doing. Once again - well done boys - you did us proud!

The new players will need time to bed in and we might need another 2-3 transfer windows before we start really pushing the teams above us but just to see a pissed-off Everton manager after an away draw (with 10 men) is an encouraging sign for me.

Martinez was "a breath of fresh air" with his positivity.

Koeman "told it like it was".

Big Sam "gave us the unpalatable truth".

They were all exposed as bullshitters. Let's judge this fella by how his teams perform over the next few months.

Pickford
Digne
Mina
Zouma
Coleman
Gueye
Walcott
Richarlison
Bernard
Sigurdsson
Tosun

Sigurdsson and Tosun however must do better and Walcott needs to be finding consistency on a more regular basis.

Defensively we haven't paid money for Digne to sit on the bench behind a 34 year old left back and you'd hope that we stick with a settled central defensive partnership of Mina and Zouma and not do what we did last season and chop and change every other week, defence is a crucial area for maintaining stability.

Jim, now we have a squad to really change things around. Bainsey was great yesterday so for the next few games my starting XI would be:

Pickford
Coleman
Keane (needs a run of games with a permanent partner)
Mina
Baines
Bernard
Gueye
Schneiderlin (until Gomes is fit)
Siggurdsson
Richarlison-Silva
Tosun

4- 5-1

I'm not sure Baines was great yesterday.

Keane has had a run of games and his deficiencies have been laid bare, he gives me constant jitters whenever he plays.

As soon as Mina and Zouma are up and running I want to see a pacy athletic mobile partnership develop.

Though I am still angry about the shocking bias of the NBC commentators! There should be an investigation, oh yes also the shocking ref that too!

I was gobsmacked by the red; surely a yellow. The ref was influenced by the over reaction of the cheat rolling around like an epileptic being electrocuted.

Richarlison needs to watch his histrionics or he'll find himself accumulating more cards than a royal centurion. By all means copy Neymar as a player, but please, not his joke attributes.

As Ian Dury said - reasons to be cheerful.

For me yesterday's game was a total upgrade to last season, attacking with speed and flair and defending well when we had too. The fact that Wolves didn't create that much is testament to a solid defence. Also, I couldn't give a fuck what Merson, Pearson or any of the ex RS loving commentators have to say about how Everton play. I have never heard a more biased commentary that yesterday's BT "Wolves" fest. So they know, we are Everton.

Finally, the blues on the terraces were in total sync with the team, noisy and loving it. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come and teams coming to GP get to see and feel the real "Fortress Goodison".

1. I thought Wolves were naive and could have made life a lot harder for us with ten men, they kept 4 at the back and kept kicking the ball out of play, also rarely pressing

2. Sending off was harsh, this rule the media trotted out amounts to strong tackle equals red card

3. We are still way too nice and should have laid down in front of the ball at the free kick when it was moved forward so blatantly, remember Sanchez last year for Arsenal at Goodison?

4. Media remain predudiced against our players, they are desperate for Pickford to fail - contrast this to Spurs, Liverpool players etc.. where they end up aroused when they come out of the tunnel in shorts .

Overall quite encouraging, I thought Keane did quite well, criticism of Tosun is harsh as he worked hard and a blinder from Charlie

Darren#56
I think Silva needs to be praised, and praised as someone that doesn't bullshit us fans and the media. It's clear from his media comments and body language that, if it was down to him, he would never speak to the media as he comes across as slightly uncomfortable. It's only because it's a requirement of the media that he does so. He certainly isn't a rose tinted glasses clown like Martinez.

Pickford
Keane/Holgate - Zouma - Mina/Digne
Coleman - Gana - Sig/Shneiderlin - Baines
Walcott - Tosun - Richarlison

Really with the recent additions we can play just about any set up the managers wishes. When Bernard is match fit maybe drop Tosun to the bench move Richarlison into the middle and Bernard on the left. That would give us a lot of pace and movement across the front three. Last season we had so few alternatives the side virtually picked itself. Now with so many different permutations it's all down to what Silva sees in training and the style he wishes to play. Maybe this is why Keane/Shneiderlin/Baines had a much better games yesterday. They know they have competition and their place in the side is no longer assured and there are top players after their shirts. This is how it should be. Nobody should be guaranteed a place without showing commitment to the cause.

Yesterday they all showed that commitment and outside of the forced replacement of Jags I have no doubt it will be a real head scratcher for Silva to pick next weeks side for the visit of the Saints because should any of them get dropped they're going to feel hard done by. Good problem to have though.

I hope Marco doesn't fanny about in introducing new players into the team. Yes, Keane had a better game - but his error of judgement along with a lack of press from Tosun and Walcott in the build up play cost two points.

Agreed!

You can't allow any player in the Premier League (especially one of Neves apparent ability) time and space to look up and pick a space to put the ball in.

Sadly that's something that has long been a major weakness of ours and many of our conceded goals arrive from crosses out wide, I was disappointed that Coleman never went closer to Neves yesterday but I guess it's down to Marco Silva to work on these frailties.

People think that the referee on BT (Peter Walton) changed his mind on why it was a red. Only difference was they spoke to Pawson after the game and he had stated it was for denying a goal scoring opportunity (which it would have been had Jota gotten through).

That does mean it will only be a 1 match ban but should also oust Jagielka from the side. Expect Zouma in for Saturday.

Darren #56, you urge for caution about Silvas postmatch comments but I saw from that someone who was satisfied with the outcome based on the game but knows we are far from the finished article. That for me promotes the urge for optimism, someone who praises with one hand but keeps the ship on an even keel with the other. Yes it's early days but given everyone's consternation a week ago, this was a good result and no sense of naivety from the new boss.

It is a contact sport; sometimes that contact results in foul play. I saw a foul.

On a positive note, very encouraged with the commitment and mentality. Think we ruined Sky's day mind (& McNulty on the BBC who has Wolves tipped for 7th big shout), but I was pleased with the display in the circumstances. Never great playing a newly promoted team day 1, especially one so widely admired and down to 10 men for the majority.

Good early tentative signs.

That's is a load of horseshit.

The worse offense will be used to assess the ban for the player. Jags will get 3 games.

Firstly Everton should appeal.

Secondly, his career could be ended by this poor decision. If banned for three games is he likely to get back in?

Potentially a very sad way to bow out.

We all have our own views obviously, but anyone genuinely thinking this was a sending off, will only really be happy once football becomes 100% a non-contact sport.

Then you're clearly not watching the incident. Jagielka very clearly wins the ball with the heel of his outstretched leg. That's what causes the ball to go in the opposite direction. The Wolves player never touches the ball.

And as such, his leg is not off the ground. His leg is sliding along the ground, he takes the ball, and in the follow through the toe of his boot scrapes against the left ankle of the Wolves player, sending him into a catastrophic roll that had Neymar jumping out of his seat to enthusiastically applaud.

You cannot say that he missed the ball when he clearly did not, the video proves this. And he did not make contact with the “lower shin”, as his leg was on the ground and he made contact with the inside of the left ankle. It was a poor decision by a scared referee.

Wolves commits 8 fouls to our 7. In the first half, they were repeatedly called for fouls on Richarlison yet he gets a card on his first challenge. Wolves did not receive a card all game. We ended with 1 yellow and 1 red, out of a total of 7 fouls. It was a shocking performance by the ref, compounded by placing the free kick more than 5 yards from the damn foul that he apparently could see so clearly while being nowhere near the play.

Jags will play again. There's the League Cup, the FA Cup, there will be injuries, etc.

We have five CBs. Holgate, Keane, Jags, Mina, Zouma. At some point Jags will play again.

But privately I'd guarantee Pawson is either getting reviewed or will be reffing some lower tier games for a while.

His performance was terrible by any metric – and I'm not into bashing refs as they have one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

But the red was an awful decision – I don't think the tackle was even a foul(!) – and the placement of the free kick which resulted in the goal affected the outcome of the game. The placement was poor because the ref was nearly back at the centre-circle when he made the call – another AWFUL display and reason to question the call.

Lots of blue tinted specs on here though, if that tackle went in on Richarlison down the other end I would be screaming for a red. Studs up on a standing foot could have easily broke his leg.

Lets be honest though Jagielka is sadly finished. I would rather see him move on than tarnish his fine reputation here. Plenty of mistakes in his game these days.

The 5-yard steal, I have to admit I didn't even notice at the time. Not quite Gary McAlister-esque but obvious. I Agree with Jamie, with the benefit of hindsight, the ref will probably get supported but then not appear in the Premier League for a few weeks.

We were EFC once again yesterday – long may it continue.

Strange as usually centre backs who lack pace will compensate with awareness & reading the game. Stubbs was a good example of this. Keane seems to lack all 3 traits. He's just big!

Personally I'm not a big fan of secret societies, which is probably why I refereed no higher than schoolboys level. The way the ranks close around any one of their number criticised is nauseating. Watching the match on BT I was shockingly unsurprised to hear the ex referee Walton deliver an immediate defence of Pawson, explaining to us, the great unwashed, that the red card was justified on the basis of serious and deliberate violent play.

This defence unravelled within seconds when Pawson muttered about denial of a goal scoring opportunity as he walked off at half time. Undeterred, Walton then said that the player could have been shown red for either offence. To which long time observers of rubbish refereeing in this country thought, well forget “either”, why not do him for both and suspend him for 4 matches, or maybe 6 as he plays for Everton? I notice that today Pawson has accepted Walton's advice. You couldn't make it up.

Premier League referees are the highest paid match officials in the world. They are full time “professionals”. Are we not entitled to better? Should they not be accountable to the world outside the secret society? Why can they not be interviewed for their opinions after the game - so at a time when Pawson was sticking to his story about denying etc the BT anchorman could ask him the question he'd earlier put to Walton: doesn't a player have to have control of the ball before someone can deny him a goal scoring opportunity? Is it a coincidence that the standard of refereeing in the Bundesliga is far higher where referees can be called to explain their decisions?

I'm with Tony Abrahams #88; we're heading towards a non-contact sport.

Aside from a personal interpretation of whether it was a foul/red card, what is very VERY clear from the footage available is the following:

* In a wide shot as Keane passes a safe square ball to Jags, the ref is seen at least 25 yards from the action (more like 30 yards or more), near the centre circle.

* Just before Jags takes his poor touch on the ball, Pawson the referee can be seen LOOKING AWAY from the ball in a direction parallel to the halfway line.

* Pawson is no longer in view in the wide shot as Jags attempts his recovering tackle. There are TWO players potentially obstructing Pawson's view - Gueye and a Wolves player - as the tackle is made.

Taking all of the above, which anybody can confirm for themselves, how can a referee at that distance, who is clearly seen looking away from the ball nano-seconds before the tackle goes in, with a minimum of two players possibly obstructing his clear view of the incident, just HOW can he call that as a red card?

It is one thing to call it a foul or not. It is another thing to call it as worthy of a yellow card or not. But given the ref's view described (accurately!) above, how can you call it worthy of a red call and instant dismissal?

Look at the footage. The linesman is in view as the tackle is made and the player goes down.

He doesn't flag, or stand still in line with the foul. He does what linesman do when 'nothing doing'. He moves towards the halfway line to keep in line with our backline in relation to the ball, which also travels towards the halfway line.

Do you know Steve Stewart at Cheshire FA. I think you might. Steve is / was a referee, and he is 100% convinced that the Mane sending off at man city last season was correct. Whilst we all like to see any RS sent off, I think that sending off was pretty harsh.

As you say, they will always back their own.

I have no objection to anyone praising Silva. I do however feel that we have too many serial apologist who fawn all over what the manager says as opposed to what he does. If Silva is as reluctant to do interviews as you claim, then he is more likely to say whatever he feels will get him out of there.

Happy clappers have a long history for swallowing soundbites at this club - as I pointed out - and it does nobody any good. I will be more than happy to praise Silva for any good deeds. but I want him to show me not tell me.

Interesting piece in one of the papers last week, commenting on Silva and his staff speaking to each other in Portuguese when running training sessions. That'll be the first bullet to be fired when the mob turns!

In the meantime, I'm happy with the transfer business and the positive attitude on the pitch. That's what matters.

“No no no. It was no foul. Looks like no foul, no foul. Then why is it a red card? It's not a foul, it's not a red card. Not yellow, not red card.

“Until the red card, they did not have one chance to score, that's the truth. It was a harsh, harsh decision. Looks like no fault, was no foul, and of course not a red card. Not really a right decision by the ref at that moment.”

My problem is that, if Henderson or Stones do something similar in the weeks to come, there will be no punishment meted out and their efforts will be deemed “last-minute wonder tackles”. We either have consistency across the board or we will continue to feel aggrieved when examples are made of our players.

Oh and don't get me started about the placement of that free kick: outrageous!

Every manager has to talk 'bullshit' from time to time though.

Reporters try to pry any but of information you're willing to give up that they might be able to beat you with, so yes, I fully understand a managers reluctance to stay too long in interviews.

Rob #106 - on the Mane sending off at City. If a player is chasing a ball towards the opposition goal, sprinting at full tilt to knock on a ball that is about 7/8 foot in the air ahead of him, with no view of an approaching player, he uses his head to knock it forward, so he can continue at speed and not lose his balance. Now, in the 'unlikely' event that he sees an opponent coming and wanting to get there first without injuring himself, he will go high with the studs and fall to the ground. I've never seen a player jump 4 feet into the air to try to control a high bouncing ball when sprinting flat out, because he is going to fall to the ground. A definite red card even if the colour matches the shirt.

If the ref told us his reasons why he made such a decision, he might even gain some respect but, more importantly, it might shut up some of these phoney pundits on the telly, and what sometimes feels like their hidden agendas.

MotD, sometimes show the contentious decisions but, as you say, there is never great consistency within these jobs for the boys or as you call them the secret societies!

Is that Steve Stewart, an Irishman by any chance? I used to enjoy my football with him, if it's the same fella, until he introduced a session called “The Irish Sea” named because people usually “threw up” in the middle!

Going back to another Irishman, and Giseppe Conlan, telling his son Gerry, that he fouled the ball, during that great movie “in the name of the father”. It always used to make me smile, because although I've seen loads of people murder a football, I didn't think it was possible to actually foul the ball, but now it's written in the laws?

Scousers v Belfast, as you can imagine, no quarter given, but I definitely learned a couple of dirty tricks that night, and although it was right in the middle of the troubles, (we were apparently the first team to visit the province in 14 years) I've always kind of felt “a brothers in arms” to that great city, ever since.

Did he ref in the Liverpool Sunday League

Some referees are too quick to make hasty decisions. They should count to 10 and have a think about what they actually saw and there's nothing wrong with consulting the assistant even if they saw nothing.

Instead, they think they may have saw something and brandish red cards needlessly without thinking. If they don't see it they can't punish it.

I watched Wayne Rooney playing for DC United. He may have had two assists but he really didn't impress, and he didn't seem fit. For some reason of misguided loyalty I was hoping he played well. I was disappointed. He couldn't seem to get into the game and appeared unenthusiastic about the whole situation.

I don't think we missed him in the Wolves game, but from his pregame interview in DC I think he misses us. There are no fans like Evertonians.

It seems what got the odd person riled was the reaction by some on TW to the interview by Silva.

Improvement is seen by some as evidence of a brighter future in varying degrees and others will want much more evidence.

C'est la TW! Guess we need something to debate or until next game.

I think most referees would have given Jags a red card. Once a defender miss controls like that and tries to recover in that position, under pressure from a forward in full flight, with the advantage, a foul is seen as the intent and the sending off being the last defender is inevitable. As a centre-back in the Premier League, you can't make a mistake like that.

Keane did play better, but poor defending caused the goal. Nevis in acres of space unchallenged and Keane caught ball-watching, and not positioning himself to mark properly.

Tosun did work hard and provided assists, but did not challenge or beat his marker. Silva identified this problem, Niasse was brought on, had been told to challenge and beat his marker, found it difficult to adjust to not having to chase the ball and harry down players.

Overall a better performance in midfield, more commitment and effort. Better teamwork between defence, midfield and forwards. Richarlison worth the fee. Walcott not up to speed, but competition for places has focused some players, with noticeable improvement in performance and response to better coaching.

It's going to be a better season.

"What has Silva said in his interview to get posters on this thread riled?"

I haven't seen anyone riled on this thread, only people calling for caution from people going overboard on manager soundbites. Let me give you an example;

Silva – in line with the view of the overwhelming majority of Evertonians – "No, no, no, it was no foul. Looks like no foul, no foul. Then why is it a red card? It's not a foul. It's not a red card, not a yellow. Not red card."

John G Davies – on the live forum, shortly after Silva's comments – "Ref gives confirmation he sent Jags off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Anyone who can't see that, doesn't understand football".

You may want to reassess who it is you think is "riled".

Silva spoke in the heat of battle without benefit of seeing it again.