Bernard has the guile to help to solve Everton's creativity problem

A puzzle is why none of the Champions League teams across Europe chased his signature, especially as he was out of contract. Possibly his 5ft-4in height counted against him.

I know it's early days but the other side to his game; which is usually the sign of a very good footballer, he can make space and time to accommodate his team-mates with an intelligent pass or assist.

As has been mentioned too, his link up with Digne, has a symbiotic existence to it, I am also so pleased with Digne, a class act and a nice person too from what I have witnessed in his interviews.

We had a guy who was even smaller.

Mind you, he was in the Under-9s.

I believe there will be goals in Bernard once he gets more games and I think we could be looking at one hell of an inspired signing.

On the way home the coach stopped at a small roadside café, (pre-motorway days) there was a coachload of Bradford City fans there, returning from a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park, and when we got to talking about Graham Williams they gave the impression that they were glad to see the back of him. Williams played 33 games for Everton scoring 6 goals, before being transferred to Swansea Town (as they were known then) in 1959.

He was described in the 'Who's Who of Everton' as one of the smallest players in the game, Williams was an Under-21 International and gained 5 caps at senior level.

Start of the season is always a bit of a crap-shoot – new players getting used to things, injuries, etc and we were hard done-by with a number of decisions and injuries which could've seen draws turn to wins. Now we have almost all of the squad fit (including the new boys) and 2 winnable home games plus 2 super testing trips on the road. 6 points is the minimum we'd expect and would be the sort of results that keep us on track for a solid mid-table, 7 or 8 would feel like a step forward (meaning a point off Man Utd or Chelsea or both) 9 or even 10 would be a real statement of intent and underline credentials of getting into the top 6 or higher.

Personally I think the building blocks are there for a decent 'new wave' side (youthful keeper, fresh back line, some genuine pace and creative talent in midfield and flanks), what we're really missing is a talisman up front of course to complete the picture. Tosun and Niasse are solid professionals and Calvert-Lewin is willing and has some potential, but all 3 have "mid-lower Premier League" written all over them.

We're obviously not going to compete for the Agueros, Salah's and Kane types or even the Lacazettes, but if we had a Vardy, Giroud or Dzeko then I think it would make all the difference. Alternatively, we need to find our own Kane and stick with him (I'd love that to be Calvert-Lewin).

John Raf @4;
Both Milan clubs plus Chelsea wanted and made offers for Bernard, Brands recently spoke about his transfer saying we made our offer and left it with Bernards advisors, but felt the deal as dead before it started due to the club's who were interested in him.

It was over a month later when the deal was supposed to be back on the table, Bernard wanted to play regular football, Silva heard about this, flew over to see Bernard and made the deal happen.

He's already looking predictable (cut in on his right foot) and for some reason doesn't like shooting?!?! (Has a great opportunity to pull the trigger early in the first half but instead backheeled it to no one)

He works hard no doubt but there really is no evidence YET that he's going to be as effective as Arteta or Couinho. Obviously I hope he's a star and gets loads of goals and assists but for me he was poor today and lucky to stay on the pitch for as long as he did

I think we're a much better squad with him than without him, also I don't agree over being predictable, it's just what any right-footer on the left is going to do (sit in), it's just like Marhez for Man City, or even Messi back in his early Barca days from the right. Everyone knows what they're going to do but it's about how and when they're going to do it.

I'd reckon he will be well up for the Man Utd game; my bet is he will give Young the runaround.