Silva: We didn't do enough to win

I was expecting a powerful response to throwing away that derby on Sunday but what we got was a flat game and flat atmosphere so it was quickly evident that Jordan Pickford's error in front of the Kop had mentally deflated weak characters in our team.

If we play like that against Watford, we won't win and then December will take a very bleak look with Manchester City and Spurs to follow and Boxing Day sees back to back away games; given our poor return in winning away matches, Burnley and Brighton ain't a doddle.

Watford will be a big test of character now.

For a long time, Everton has (again, IMO) been too fragile, caving in to adversity, not being robust enough to ride the inevitable bouts of misfortune that befall all teams. I think this problem has been deeper than particular choices of manager and players, perhaps to do with the culture at Everton. The apparent mental fear of certain teams is an example of it.

At the moment, we seem to have a very good choice of manager, Director of Football, and players. We need to make the best of that choice, and that requires the right mental fortitude. If we don't have that fortitude, then the current opportunity we have to progress could ultimately regress to where we've been, consistently midtable with the consequence of failing to consistently get and keep very good players. The vicious circle we know so well.

Looking at the points haul so far, we seem to be again achieving what we've achieved for some time, averaging circa 58 points per season, which does not in my mind reflect the quality of personnel we have.

We simply cannot let disappointments like Sunday get us down because, if they do, it would seem to show a continuing problem at Everton, from which it would seem hard to escape. We would not be able to retain players of top quality, who would understandably seek success elsewhere.

Sunday was a disappointment; let's just treat it that way, and get on with the job of trying to win each game as it comes.

That is 3 points down against this seasons tally but we are clearly improving and we are much better to watch, imo. Still very early days but we are definitely on the rise.

What last night revealed, as Stan references, is that, while the football this season is easier on the eye, and the manager at least believes and sends his team out to play OUR way and to win, regardless of the opposition or venue – a resilience, a bit of nark, is still lacking.

With the heavy fixture congestion in December Silva was wise to rotate the squad. The 3 changes he made should not have been detrimental to our core style of play. The 3 players coming in should have been chomping at the bit to impress.

Of the 3, Zouma was the pick for me, Lookman flittered in and out of the game (and didn't appear very disciplined about holding his position) and Tosun, due to truly appalling delivery into the opposition area all night, was starved of service, fluffed one header and was denied by a good save for his only other chance.

The 'Big' teams we wish to emulate constantly change their starting XI from game to game and seldom miss a beat, or look fatigued or lacking in imagination. This is what we must replicate to break into the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Too many of whichever XI was on the park last night were poor in possession, passing – particularly crossing – and control. It was very easy for Newcastle to repel (and they have one of the best away defensive records in the league, in spite of their lowly position). There was no guile or speed to sufficiently disrupt their rigid defensive lines, or get in behind them.

I had the impression that Silva made his in-game substitutions based on a pre-determined game plan, rather than reacting to the performance on the night.

When Digne went down early in the 2nd half, there was an opportunity to introduce Leighton Baines to bring us some control down our left flank and possibly some improved delivery into their area, because last night Digne – as wonderful as he has been all season – possibly delivered the worst individual performance of any player this season. It would have been a kindness to the player and the team to sub him out.

I could understand removing Sigurdsson, because he was also poor last night, but the first changes Silva made unbalanced the side further with Bernard not doing very well in the Sigurdsson role as some have championed. Walcott also flickered, but ultimately failed to deliver any game-changing moment.

Now I thought Bernard had his best game in an Everton game on Sunday, but last night familiar failings reappeared: falling over at critical times, overhitting simple passes and passing on the blame to another player, equally bad crossing to other players.

I remain encouraged overall at our progress this season, but we are still falling short of what the most successful clubs do: being a monotonous metronome, always producing a performance, always getting a result, whatever the opposition, wherever the venue, whatever the circumstances.

We need to be putting away teams like Newcastle at home, even if it does come less than 72 hours after a last-minute derby defeat.

When you want to play a quick passing game, you need a ref who understands that 40k people don't pay to watch a bloke blowing his whistle every 3 minutes.

I'm not excusing the performance of the team and the game should've been won easily if we'd taken the chances we had. I just hope the referee's committee question how only 3 Barcode players were booked when they fouled 18 times — one of which deserved a straight red.

I think the crowd were correct to suggest that the prick wasn't fit to referee.
COYB

That wisdom appears to've vanished into the ether...

Although Digne did have a poor game last night, so did Sigurdsson. To anyone suggesting that Digne's performance was the worst by any Everton player this season, I can only respond in one word: Schneiderlin.

I rest my case.

When I say they lack "heart", I appreciate they really did give Liverpool a game and I accept that the last minute calamity would have hurt but the trophy winning teams, suffering just such a defeat, would have relished a game against the likes of Newcastle to get themselves back on track.

I hugely applaud the transfer activities of M&M thus far and hope they go on to get rid of "the Kenwright brigade", on and off the pitch, as soon as. That said, they need to be addressing not only the technical football abilities of further potential signings but also their heart/leadership qualities, because we're still very light-weight in those departments from what I see.

You case is not well rested, I'm afraid.

It might be valid to make the claim you do based on Morgan's displays last season but, in his few appearances this season, Schneiderlin performed quite well. Certainly far better than Digne's shocker last night.

Schneiderlin is not going to get anywhere near the first team again any time soon and rightly so.

Digne was truly awful last night, but you can bet your house that he will get back to the excellent standards he has thus far set very quickly.

There's the difference.

Right now, he needs a break.

Baines for Monday.

But we must improve our distribution. I've never before seen so many corners wasted when it was obvious both Digne and Sigurdsson were out of sorts, why not put Gomes on set piece duty? Or as many have said, bring on Baines?

That said, despite service to Tosun being poor, he also didn't bring much to the table. He didn't make space with smart runs, he didn't bully the centre-halves, for he is too slow and ponderous, and for a target man, isn't big or enough, and is quite average in the air.

For me, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman or Walcott. (I have a feeling Lookman is more suited to being an impact sub for the immediate future.)

I'd like to see Davies in for Gana, give Gana a rest and see if Davies ups his game alongside Gomes.

Also, Coleman continues to play below par.

Maybe a different system could be tried: 3-4-3 ... with Walcott and Baines on the wings.

We're playing a lot better than the last 2 seasons. But it still is early days for Silva and he has shown his ability by steadying our ship. It'll take another 2 transfer windows to be challenging the top 6. We need a proper striker.

I too think Bernard is struggling with the pace and physicality of the Premier League. After Leicester, our hopes for him were sky high, but the chances of being our David Silva are receding fast.

The early days argument still has some traction, but the wheels are starting to slip.

Lookman offers more, admittedly not much more on current displays, but a bit more nonetheless.

Some weeks one or two of them are just off the pace but Silva is playing a numbers game; with four gifted players your chances of all misfiring on the same day is offset by the moments of individual brilliance.

For me, I thought Bernard had a good game in the derby; I thought, and still do, that Lookman will be gone at the end of the season. Richarlson flits in and out of games but rarely terrifies defences...

But the point is, all of them, on their day, can make us smile or give us something not seen at the club for a long time — true class.