Silva could explore option of keeping Gomes next season

Two games and in fair play and respect, the best player

Great boost if he stays.

We're also going to have a big dilemma as to what to do with Henry Onyekuru next season. I've seen a report that Brands is considering selling him. I hope that's not the case. He is a full international now and will get a work permit next season, but if he doesn't develop into an out-and-out centre forward this season we're going to have another winger on the books and will realistically have to sell either Lookman or Walcott to accommodate him. Even if we play him as a striker he'll need to replace someone surmising we also spend big on a centre forward. Niasse will leave in Jan, but will Tosun or DCL need to be loaned or sold next year?

The hope was that Onyekuru would develop into a centre forward last season, but the injury curtailed that. I also remember reading an article where the Anderlecht coach felt that Henry had a tendency to drift over to the wide positions and couldn't command the central position . This kind of echoes the same sentiments Silva made this week about Richarlison moving into the middle stating that there's a lot more to being a striker than scoring goals.

Onyekuru could be a very useful player for us next season but who is he going to replace?? Either as a winger or centre forward.

Pickford
Coleman Mina Zouma Digne
Gomez McCarthy
Lookman Sigurdsson Bernard
Richarlison

The more things change if only for one season.

That being said there is a lot to admire in his play. He has a touch of class. He has that rare quality of appearing to have a bit more time on the ball than those around him coupled with intelligent accurate forward passing . In the premier league those attributes in tandem are seldom seen . He is player who we will look forward to watching.

If he improves on his already impressive start and is consistent, trying to sign him is a no brainer.

Zouma is our key man in defence. Mina and Keane are similar and both suffer a lack of pace making Zouma vital.

Personally, I'd be taking a chance on the lad and talking to Barca now.

Whilst it is early days, doesn't it show how things can happen very differently according to the circumstances and my view is, if a player is happy when previously he was not, it counts for a great deal

From what I saw yesterday, he was bloody marvellous – strong, fast, heading, passing, dribbling, communicating well... The only thing missing was a couple of times when I thought he could be more selfish and shoot... Best I have seen in our shirt in that role since Arteta.

ps: Only the 4th best player on the pitch yesterday: Keane, Gueye and Richarlison were immense!

I hope we sell Schneiderlin who has been an absolute disaster signing apart from a dozen games a couple of years ago. Kudos to Brands and Silva, I think they're great. COYB!!!

The only worries with loan deals where the option to buy and price are not included is that, if the player does really well, his price can inflate and may attract other clubs.

It's a bit of a Catch-22 – you do not want to commit fully until you have tried the product but, if it turns out good, it may cost more. Fingers crossed all works out for all parties – especially us.

I can't remember anyone other than Arteta who looked so classy in the middle for us. We've had so many fallen homegrown heroes, but it seems that our best midfielders of recent times seem to be unloved castoffs from abroad; they find a spiritual home (albeit a very well paid one) at Goodison Park and I'm praying that Gomes is next on that list. Happy days!

Gomes will and is improving us, no doubt. For me, it's all about the want to improve, the desire to improve and feed off the inspiration, Lookman, for example, should be desperate to dislodge Theo, chomping at the bit, but Theo doesn't necessarily carry that air of inspiration for me; imagine if it was Sheedy or Steven he was trying to replace... then he'd have to really hit the heights. With Theo, it's not going to be as much effort, hence he ultimately doesn't raise his bar.

Anyways I'd support a permanent switch based on the little evidence seen to date.

I got a good feeling about him. I said early on he reminded me of Arteta and even more so the more I watch him; he has that continental calm, almost lazy skill; let's hope he can stay fit!

I've got a very good feeling about this guy, we need to get a song about him and make him feel loved by the blue family.

So, at the end of the loan spell, they decide: "Do we want him back? If not, is there interest from other clubs having watched him play regularly?" Same as with the buy-back clause; same rules apply.

Also, if the player has played well on his loan spell or still in his buy-back time, the pressure on the club to pay an inflated price also comes into play. As I am sure Barca would say that other clubs are interested in the player even if there are no other clubs wanting to meet Barca's asking price.

Now while Gomes might love it here at present, if a team with regular Champions League appearances comes in, he will go there. Players and their agents always rightly want to maximize their clients' earning potential, and Champions League teams tend to pay the biggest wages.

I don't want to pour cold water on the chances of Gomes coming here permanently but I think we should view it as a loan spell till the end of the season and enjoy the next 6/7 months of him playing for us.

A number of times he has been in a 50/50 tussle and come out best. He has a natural skill of shielding the ball with his body and giving himself that moment of time to come away from the challenging opposition midfielder.

He is one of the players who can propel us into top 6 territory and further in the coming seasons. We will learn more with games against the top 6 this season.

Even when he gets a bad pass, he recovers it, like just before Seamus' goal against the Seagulls that forced the mistake that led to the ball getting to Seamus. And he's not yet match fit.

Marcel, give Barca a bell and make an offer now before a Champions League club comes in for him.

He looks like he's enjoying his life at Everton.

He has not been MoTM in any of those games, contrary to the claims of some. On Saturday, over the entire 90 minutes, I don't think he was even one of our best five players on the pitch.

I would place Gana, Coleman, Keane, Richarlison and Sigurdson in front of him in the Brighton game.

And I say that no to deride the player, because he obviously brings a lot to the table, but rather, to highlight how well the TEAM and individuals within the team played on Saturday.

It demonstrates just how much we are improving and that there is still plenty of room (and time) to improve yet further.

I'd love to get the palace right back, he has looked utter quality every time I've seen him this season and he's only 20. Like wide Tierney from Celtic. I know Digne is only 26 but Tierney is 20 and we'd have serious strength in depth. Both could be loaned out for next season and would have to fight their way into the side.

I'd like to see Zaha as well. Imagine a front 4 of Bernard, Richarlison, Zaha and Sigurdsson, with Lookman pushing them. There is a clamour for a top striker as well – Werner please.

Keep Gomes and Zouma and we have a squad to challenge the top 4 and enough young players who will only improve. We then just add one or 2 per season.

Oh, and a massive jettison if dead wood is still required.

With Mina, Keane and Holgate Everton may feel Zouma will become surplus to requirements but Gomes looks like the real deal in midfield.

Of course, no matter how many talented players you have, the key is always getting them to play together as a potent formation and Silva looks like he is doing quite well in moving that objective along.

We may still have to wait till next season to see the fruits of his labors.