Digne rescues a point for shabby Everton

Watford: Foster, Kiko Femenía, Cathcart, Holebas, Kabasele, Quina, Doucouré, Sema, Pereyra, Isaac Success, Deeney.

I can't complain about the starting 11 though.

Should be able to win this with that side.

Send Walcott up there.

Silva will keep playing Richarlison there because he knows that he'll develop into one of the best in the league. How many chances has he missed? Not many. He just needs better service. I bet he'll get 20 league goals this season.

Have to laugh when people go on about putting Calvert-Lewin or Tosun up top when neither are in the Brazilian's stratosphere.

Not the best game so far. Obviously Gomes has been exceptional again.

We've also had luck. Walcott should never have touched the ball but it's a clear offside. As bad as the one Arsenal scored against us.

Commentators were adamant Mina didn't get the ball at the end. If that's the case then we would definitely be down to 10 men.

We are standing up well to the physical challenge Watford presents.

Very impressed how Jordan is coming out under the high ball with some big units honing in on him but clearing his lines well.

Got lucky with the goal. Walcott's touch before Gomes took it back off him should have seen the play stopped for offside, but another thumping finish by Richarlison.

Walcott, Bernard and Digne much better tonight.

It will be three very hard points if we get this over the line.

Kevin Friend is having a blinder, isn't he..?

Bernard and Digne – mistake... goal.

Pickford stays on his line – mistake... goal = another loss.

Gueye off with a groin strain, from bad to worse, and Man City next.

Everton really know how to put someone in bad form.

Everything was so poor tonight.

After this draw, I'd be stunned if the majority of the posts aren't entirely negative – and deservedly so.

That was a dire, dire half of football. Embarrassing.

Outplayed, second to most balls, headless chickens for the most part.

I don't know what the answer is moving forward. In three games I've gone from completely positive to suspicious and negative about the immediate future.

2 points from a possible 9 – 2 games of which were at home against crap teams, but we're just as chronic.

Is Silva really better than Allardyce? Check the stats.

Watford deserved the victory.

Roll on, Man City – and a cricket score.

I've just had enough of living this >30-year nightmare.

Silva has been worked out. Sit deep, disrupt, then hit on the break.

We threw everything at the derby and now look spent. Digne out of form, ditto Sigurðsson. No senior striker. Walcott keeps starting, lord knows why?

A very worrying dip in form; at least the next game is a simple one...

We played alright, Watford played out of their skins. We should have sealed it in the first half.

We're never satisfied unless it's a win, especially at home, but credit to the opposition.

Since Zouma was dropped, our defence looks shaky again... Plus, it's time to plan for life without Seamus.

I know Watford were pushing hard to equalise, but they got it down to poor football from Everton. Pickford was given a pass back, and as good as he is, he is dreadful at kicking a moving ball. His clearance did nothing, and what the hell Coleman was thinking for the rebound is anyone's guess.

I love Coleman, and I know the leg break was always going to change him at his age, but it seems like he's not really paying attention lately and is on a much lower level than most of the team.

The team look like they underestimate teams below us and think turning up is enough! No steel!

Has that last-minute fluke at Anfield caused even more damage than initially thought?

This team needs to buck its fucking ideas up!

We were totally bossed for the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd half and nobody had the guile or the courage to win us a foothold in the game.

Their first was unfortunate for Seamus. We were totally undone for their second. Even then, we were given an immediate lifeline to get back into the game, but once again Siggy failed big-time.

Penalty taking duties definitely need a review.

Silva – not for the first time at Everton – went too gung-ho, too early, and the shape and set-up of the team was a mess as a result.

Watford looked more likely to get a third than us an equaliser, so thank you the Watford defender who coughed up the soft handball at the death. (Was it the same player that gave away the penalty?)

A sublime strike by Digne. But we have truly shot ourselves in the foot in the last week.

After the first half, if you were negative, I'd have argued that was a bit over the top. I didn't think we played poorly first half.

But the second half was abject. It was awful.

I'm usually a happy-clapper. Any negative comments about this game are justified. Terrible, terrible second half, and not near good enough on the whole.

We've now drawn with Newcastle and Watford at home and lost to the obvious.

I still have my doubts and always will — I've never seen Silva get animated on the sideline or bark out any instructions when it's going pear-shaped — very strange indeed?!

Personally, I thought we needed an extra man in midfield to get back control. I would've taken Bernard off and brought Davies on. When eventually he changes things he goes same old, same old. Lookman for Walcott, Calvert--Lewin for Bernard. Even when Gueye's groin goes, it's Tosun who gets the nod.

If he's only ever going to use the same subs, the others may as well not bother getting changed. I wish Silva would be more imaginative and proactive rather than reactive.

I don't think I'll be watching on Saturday; I think it may be a cricket score.

But remember, up to the goal in the derby, things were very positive: we were on the up, playing some great football, looking like we could beat anybody, looking vastly different from last season.

It's still the same team, still capable of being vastly different from last season, still capable of sparkling football.

There are two possibilities here:

(1) We've regressed, our confidence has gone in the typical Everton style. We'll stay midtable, and we'll find it impossible to keep the best players.

(2) This is just a blip, a hangover from the derby, a loss of momentum, from which we'll recover soon, and be back on track, even more so if we get a striker in January.

I think (2) is far more likely than (1), based on what we've seen so far this season, but I can imagine what will happen, that most posts on here will assume (1) has happened.

I think we need to stay positive, to support the team through this, because if we don't, it sure ain't gonna help.

The majority of this lot aren't good enough to take us to the Europa or above. I had no confidence the penalty would go in. Just not acceptable.

I didn't think Siggy could play any worse than he did in the first half but he managed it. He must be the worse value for 㿙 million in the history of the Premier League.

We didn't seem to have a game plan: it was every man for himself. If I was Moshiri, I would be asking Silva some very hard questions about that performance.

Awful luck on the own-goal, no chance on the other goal – only to find a 30 something growth-spurt of 6-7 inches.

Poor guy needs Lady Luck to smile on him.

Everton outplayed for most of the game.

No point in blaming Seamus, he was on the ball more than most and was involved in most of our attacks. Gueye appears to be carrying an injury. Is it time to give him a few games to recover and get McCarthy back.

Not looking forward to Saturday.

Simon @ 35, bang on about the penalty. If you pay attention to the player before he takes a penalty, you start to pick up little things that give you an idea. I had very little confidence in that one tonight as Sigurdsson kept moving his focus from the ball to the goal and back again, then had that god-awful run up that, in my opinion, should be banned.

Fingers crossed we off-load Niasse, Schneiderlin, Tosun if we get a decent fee and bring in a striker. I'm sure Man Utd would sell any one of Rashford, Lukaku, or Martial if they got a good fee. Looking further afield, maybe Andrea Bolletti from Torino who Man Utd were looking at last season.

Coleman was far from involved in our attempts, he receives the ball, slows everything down and passes back.

A good servant but, like Jagielka, Baines etc needs putting out to pasture.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one not to turn up. Gomes was quiet, Mina looks better with Zouma, Gana seems off the pace, and maybe needs a rest for Tom Davies, Richarlison spent too much time protesting to the ref and Sigurdsson was just shite!!!!

Which means we go to the Etihad and beat Man City to do them a favour.

Oh to be an Evertonian.

I couldn't see the game plan or tactics. You can't play without the ball, and we were sloppy in our passing. I'm hoping things will improve for Saturday.

Is this what happens when you play mostly the same players over and over again? Eventually it goes a bit stale while the players on the bench don't get enough game time to come in and make a difference. Same thing happened with Wolves.

Just have to say, again Walcott got into some good positions but, as soon as it comes to taking a shot, he half-arses it. Zero confidence.

Weirdly I'm looking forward to the Man City game. We'll more than likely lose but I think we'll see a much better performance.

We threw away 3 points at Wolves, threw away a 2-goal lead at Bournemouth, only team to lose at Man Utd for months before they beat us... etc etc etc.

We carry too much deadwood in the team, regardless of who we've shipped out this year. Coleman's terrible injury playing for Ireland has ended him as a top-flight player. Would Seamus get in any of the teams above us in the table? No is the answer. Same question about Gueye, Sigurdsson, Walcott and Pickford — again, the answer is No.

That' is 5 players who aren't good enough to play for top level teams but they're guaranteed to start for Everton every game. Simply mind-numbing.

There are no certainties in life but I am certain Gomes won't sign on permanently for Everton. I also think, if the money is right, Richarlson will be gone. Never rains but it pours.

None of our players had a very good day today. Bernard was sharp in the first half and Richarlison worked his socks off but he is starting to pay the price for spending so much time on the turf and he is not getting the call when is genuinely fouled.

Lookman was fine for the first three minutes that he was on the field. Calvert-Lewin and Tosun had no impact.

Our squad looks thin and I wonder how we will cope when we pick up injuries to Richarlison or our first-choice midfielders.

Early on, Watford were disciplined. Teams will do that against us at Goodison — the key is getting the first goal to open the game up. Then we (very fortunately) did that and sat back! We gave Watford all of the initiative and they played well. How do we expect to win home games if we don't take the initiative after scoring?

Second half, we didn't show up whatsoever. Even Gomes, who I thought was our best player in the first half, had a quiet second period.

A couple of players have me baffled. Richarlison looked brilliant off the wing early in the season. Now I can't figure out what he is. His touch is awful, decisions dreadful, he can't run at a man, doesn't really compete and spends the game crying and moaning. What the hell did we do to him? It's not just tonight, he's been like this for weeks. Goals are masking his performances... which is a debate I feel like we've had before on here.

Bernard is just far too lightweight. Capable of the sublime, but then fails at the basics. How is he getting game time?

For me, we desperately need a new right-back soon. Coleman has been a great servant but his strengths were always going forward. I don't feel like he offers this team much anymore.

The real concern for me is Gana. He can win the ball back brilliantly on his day but his distribution is often pretty poor. I'm still really frustrated that we made the three changes against Newcastle. Bernard was just finding form and Keane was playing out of his skin and, for me, it was the wrong time to rotate them although Lookman for Walcott I could understand.

Keep the faith lads this is still a new team learning to play with each other and, with a few more signings, will only improve.

Let's not get carried away blaming what we have got on pitch as we are just bang average. We need big investment again in January and I for one am only 50/50 about Silva (but he is a step up from Koeman and Allardyce).

Close our eyes as what is on the horizon in the next few games isn't pretty. Bring on Lincoln, get our 40-odd points and please bag silverware to shut the RS up.

Pickford's kicking, and our midfield over-ran and smashed up by Watford's today.

All is not lost but back to basics and a few players need to decide if they want to put the Everton shirt on.

I thought Keane was very shaky and not convincing today, but so we're so many others.

Maybe Silva shouldn't have tinkered with the side, but the bad signs are there and we should have been put to the sword, so a very lucky point.

Interesting to see who starts at Man City.

We nearly played well in the first half but too often our final pass was played at such speed that players lost control of the ball. Breaking at pace is great but, when playing the intricate stuff, I think we need to slow down a bit.

Sigurdsson works hard but doesn't convince me and Gana is too small against teams like Watford and Newcastle. I thought Seamus was decent- far better than I have seen him of late, Mina was fine and Digne much better than last time.

We just didn't get going in the second half but to suggest that Silva has now peaked is pure nonsense. There will be ups and downs in his first season but I think he will get there.

Man City will be difficult but we may be better on the counter with a bit more space to play in. I'd be tempted with three centre-backs!

He benched Lookman after last week, he was no worse than his replacement. But it's the same most weeks, would that make it easier for other managers to play against? Sure it would?

At least Everton should have a new penalty taker in Digne, whose superb free-kick was out of this world. Sigurdsson's last 2 out of 3 penalty failures is not good enough.

We've been here before under the last manager, the manager before that and the manager before that.

We hear that we have a plan but the plan seems to be never learn from mistakes made in the past.

We can't beat top 6 sides home or away and we then hear people saying “It's okay we'll easy beat Newcastle and Watford.” Errr... no, it doesn't work like that with Everton, never has.

We finish roughly in the same place every season because we can't win enough matches to finish any higher, it's hardly rocket science.

Our away form each season is poor and now even our home record has become patchy.

We have an early exit in the League Cup every season, nice to see we kept up appearances this season anyway with that record.

Two final things as well: I love Seamus Coleman but we need to stop being sentimental; at the age of 30 and on the back of a horrible injury, he's not the player he was, the daredevil bull-in-a-china-shop running has completely gone from his game. And why the hell have two successive summers been and gone and no decent striker been signed?

We all need to stay on board and back the team and stop the bollocks. We are making progress. It's not happy clapping, it's reality, and Rome wasn't built in a day.

I despair at the negativity — it sucks the life out of me. This season is about taking a step forward and entertaining surely?

The past two games have shown how far Everton. are off the standard.

With Gueye probably out for the Man City game, will Silva bring Schneiderlin back into the squad, or will he be tempted to bring back McCarthy, who is probably fit, but lacking match fitness?

This wasn't a bad game at all. I thought we payed well in the first half and Watford out muscled us in the second.

We still could have gone on to win this but for yet another I'm-a-good-player penalty from Sigurdsson. Is that 3 of his last 4 missed? When you strike the ball as well as Sigurdsson, you put the ball down take a PROPER run up and batter it past the keeper, job done.

Fuck knows what that soft-shoe-shuffle is meant to achieve.

I'm not going to blame Seamus for the equaliser but how the hell can a player at this level not convert a free shot one-on-one with the goalie? I'm not a Premier League level coach or even a Sunday League level coach, or any level come to that, but when an International Player can't score from the spot, then we're goosed.

An awful performance and not one single player in that team came out with any credit tonight. Ernie got it spot on about Richarlison and his antics; his going to ground easily does my fucking head in. That said, 8 goals in 12 games is one hell of a return.

Doesn't bode well for the next 2 games and even the most optimistic of us can't really see us taking anything from them. I'm a big fan of Silva but it's going to take him 3 seasons at least to get this right.

The football at the minute is quite honestly no better than under Allardyce or Koeman; we just huff and puff... and while I'm still fuming — How the fuck does Sigurrdson manage to not get himself hooked is beyond me! Bullied easily by Watford's midfield and actually looked cowardly from where I was sitting.

As for the penalty... well, let's not go there. Same old blues — love to let you down. Very very lucky to escape with a draw.

Bottom line is this side still severely lacks quality in the first eleven.

Coleman needs replacing next summer, the entire midfield needs breaking up and rebuilding again; we need a midfield around Gomes if we are to retain him, Gana, Sigurdsson and Bernard should be used as squad players and Walcott should be moved on.

Two quality strikers in and I think we may compete challenging for the top six. I'm happy to see what Silva and Brands deliver next summer.

I don't know who was our best player but there was plenty in the running for our worst — I made it a dead heat with eight of them. Never rains but it pours.

Am I missing something? We've beaten 1 team in the top 12 so far this season (Leicester, 9th). We failed to score a single goal from open play against Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal and taken 3 points from home games against West Ham, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Watford.

Yes, the football has been better than last season but that's not exactly difficult. A few half-decent performances and some fans think we're Brazil circa-1970. Results & performances have been nothing to write home about. We could (and should) be doing better. NSNO.

Lots of these guys are running in treacle, even golden bollocks Gomes is like a VW diesel.

We would have been better with a back 3 and big Kurt helping to counter their monsters – never mind Steve Ferns!

I've said that for a couple of weeks.

Since August 18th we have beaten Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Leicester (who were down to ten men) Brighton and Fulham.

It's hardly anything to get carried away about in all honesty and probably not really any different than what Sam Allardyce wouldn't have bored his way to.

The football at times has been easier on the eye but it's also at times very Martinez 2014-15 like in that it's too slow and laboured.

And we still don't look a fit team either.

One thing I'll say for Klopp: within three weeks of taking over in 2015, that bastard had Liverpool running more miles than any other team in the league and it took him no time to get their endurance levels bang up there, so why do we always look knackered?

I don't even like being too critical of individual players. We play as a team and lose as a team. It was accurately pointed out that we were bullied in both midfield and on the wings. Their first goal was a total fluke but it was expected and deserved.

Please surprise your loyal fans at Man City. Why do we seem to put on a better effort against the better teams? Mind you, we never beat any of them. But we are still far better to watch than last season.

Why does this happen? Is this club scared of the pressure it will be under if we start winning games and competing with the big boys? Sometimes I just think to myself the mentality at this club is rather than "Nothing but the best is good enough" instead it is "See what we can do".

As much as I hate them. Liverpool have become a completely different team under Klopp. They look dangerous, forward thinking and actually want to compete. And will give their fans something to get excited and shout about. Our club is just happy to be close to the top 6. Typical Kenwright mentality. Man's a loser.

If you cannot beat Huddersfield, West Ham, Newcastle and Watford at home then what chance have you got with getting in the top 7 let alone top 6 or top 4. It's frustrating. Nothing changes, Nothing at all. Never known a team to be so inconsistent in all my life then Everton Football Club.

Sad thing is though. I have never seen my club win at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal or Anfield away, let alone seen us lift silverware and, to be honest, I don't think I ever will. Because the mentality of the club from head to toe is a shambles and sometimes humiliating. These last 8 days have just summed Everton up. Build you up the knock you down.

I'd love nothing more than to see Everton prove me wrong on this one but sadly I cannot see it.

Pickford
Coleman
Keane
Mina
Digne
Gueye
Gomes
Richarlison

The others do try but are just not delivering at this minute in time and may never deliver.

Bernard needs a season or two to get up to speed, but might never make it.

Sigurdsson, I'm still not convinced about him. Yes, he can produce something sublime, but more often than not he is found wanting.

Walcott can be electric on his day, but that's very rare now.

Tosun not good enough.

Calvert-Lewin might come good, but I'm not convinced he will.

The same for Tom Davies and Lookman.

Niasse tries hard but ain't good enough.
Schneiderlin – well, he just ain't good enough.

Baines and Jagielka are just back-up and will probably be gone next summer.

I could go on, but I'm not going too. So this for me is the problem.

We are still lacking class up front.

Far from a disaster but disappointing.

We need to roll our sleeves up and scrap harder as we didn't scrap enough against Watford. Troy Deeney's comments were telling. They knew how to manage the game better than us, and that's exactly what happened.

We were too nice, too naive. Richarlison might dive, but some of them were fouls and our players didn't go after the ref. Watford's did. They even did so to the detriment of Sigurdsson for the penalty. God knows what Friend was up to as he then made it worse. How can a ref put a player off like that. Disgraceful.

But no excuses, we should be winning those last two home games and we need a result fast so all the progress made could really evaporate.

A big couple of weeks or so coming up. A real test for Silva now.

Also, his defensive management has not been good until this season after they put massive resources into new signings. He's been given time, often in the face of criticism from their supporters (who've called for his head at times).

So please let's not be unrealistic about Klopp. He's had big resources, and hasn't won anything yet.

Regarding Silva, he's been here 5 minutes, he's made good signings with Brands, and he's changed our style of play and potential threat beyond recognition. Like Klopp, let's give him a chance, eh?

Earlier in the season, I could see a pattern of play emerging, which was both effective and easy on the eye; however, the last month has seen the team looking laboured and lacking in most areas of the pitch.

Older players seem lacking in confidence and the younger players are lacking guidance from the older ones. It's just another season of misplaced optimism and likely another mid-table finish without much hope that future season will be vastly different.

Comparisons with the top four teams are so ridiculous when we can't even take advantage of Manchester United's lack of form whilst simultaneously failing miserably to put away sides such as Huddersfield, West Ham, Newcastle and Watford on home turf.

I hope we put this mini slide to bed sooner rather than later, but I can't see this current team in its current form adding too many points to the tally this side of Christmas.

As for Klopp's verdict on Silva and Everton, he was always bound to say those things after his side had secured three points against us. It helps him in giving his own team self-belief, a thing that this current Everton team is sadly lacking. Hence a very quiet fan-base at Goodison who recognise the real deal when they see it.

We have much road to travel before we will see the side we all yearn for, but I'm running out of years and patience and can only hope that we see a team that can regularly make games like the last couple at home routine victories and not hard-to-gain-a-point type matches.

I can't explain what was going on with every single one of the outfield players and the management staff. But all of them need to take a bloody good look at themselves.

Sigurdsson should not be let near a penalty spot again. Isn't there anyone, apart from Baines, in the entire squad who can effectively take a penalty?

Now the authorities really need to take a retrospective look at this kind of thing, as it brings the game into disrepute. Cheating.

There will be dips in form, it is to be expected for a team in transition but overall we are streets ahead of the Koeman and Allardyce days and mostly Martinez also.

The team and manager needs our backing; slating them after every setback does not help. So let's stop the “we are crap” shite and get behind them.

What I will say is this though, Jordan Pickford made an identical penalty save from Milivojevic when we played Crystal Palace, and everyone says it was a great save. Ben Foster makes the same identical save and everyone says it's a shit penalty by Sigurdsson.

So come on, what's it to be, a great save by Pickford and Foster, or two shit pens by Milivojevic and Sigurdsson?

As you yourself put it, Goodison is such a quiet place these days, the atmosphere for night games used to be bouncing but it's just placid these days.

Fans still don't have an “up an at em'” type of team that gets things rocking straight away, it's all slow and laboured.

Under Moyes, it would always be an early Cahill aerial challenge won or a Phil Neville crunching tackle that would get the ground bouncing and a quick succession of early crosses causing a stir but nowadays we just don't make enough happen in the opponents penalty box.

The fans don't sing players names anymore; years ago it was the names of Cahill, Arteta, Yakubu or Phil Neville “superstar” and even Moyes had his song roared out Martinez got similar love in his first season and so too his players (the loudest noise tonight was saved for Geri)

These days, it's just as dead as a doornail; no wonder away fans from all these no-mark clubs take the piss. We need to start doing something to seriously wake up our rapidly withering fan base that continue to see a team in transition but not ever actually going anywhere.

The first Everton goal was offside, there was no reason at all for Walcott to touch the ball, but he did — so no goal.

The second was after an absurd amount of injury time, two minutes would have been fine. Even the penalty was dubious.

A horrendous spineless display.

We dominated the first, but we didn't score enough goals for the tidy football we played, we lack a cutting edge.

Bernard shouldn't have been subbed, he looked good and imo dragging him off was a panic decision.

We never started 2nd half, we have to accept that teams don't just roll over, in this league you have to earn the right to switch off by scoring 3 goals, not 1.

We are still building but today's game showed what we lacked, a top goalscorer to lighten the load on Richalison, and a top level right back as Seamus seems to be having more bad games than good.

1. Siggy should NEVER take another penalty for us. His conversion record from the spot is atrocious. Don't forget, he also missed one for Iceland recently too. Let Digne or Richie take them. Powder puff effort tonight, not good enough.

2. We allowed Watford to bully us in the second half. They were sadly first to virtually every loose ball and gave us no time on the ball when we did get hold of it.

3. They were aided by an appalling performance by the referee, Kevin Friend. He allowed Watford to get away with lots of niggling and at times quite cynical fouls which the whole crowd could see but he was blind to. Just what has happened to the standard of refereeing in the Premier League this season? I've never seen so many poor referees making so many poor or simply downright wrong decisions on such a consistent basis.

4. Gueye is not as good as some people seem to believe. Apart from being a good 'spoiler' in midfield, able to get in a few tackles to break up the opposition play, he offers very little in terms of creativity going forward. I was literally groaning at the sight of so many misplaced passes from him tonight. We need a more positive foil beside Gomes if we hope to improve our offensive play.

5. Finally, it was mentioned during the (very one-sided) commentary on Sky that Silva has had a tendency to do well early in each of his new appointments but then his teams' performances tail off after 15 - 20 games. Are we seeing that sad scenario being played out before our very eyes? I hope not but 2 points from the last 2 games where we could realistically expected 6 is not good enough from a team supposedly on the up. In fact, we have only 2 points from the last 9 available with an away game at Man City up next. It could be 2 points from 12 by the end of that one — hardly something to warm the cockles of your heart over Christmas is it?

In short, tonight was pretty much a train wreck of a performance apart from showing us how good Digne is with a dead ball.

Goodnight all.

Apart from the game nice touch from Delboy, the only Watford player not to celebrate either of their goals and stayed behind to give his shirt to the Gwladys Street and his shirts to the paddock... not sure what Watford fans will think of that.

We need a striker. We need a striker. If we don't control the midfield, though, nothing will help us

The pigeon is ours... the pigeon is ours! Fill in the rest as we celebrate our last two draws, fellas.

My gut feeling was that Sigurdsson wasn't going to convert it tonight. The guy is a great footballer but is very average from the penalty spot.

As with Newcastle, a slow first half and no response in the second; in fact, deterioration. I think the problem is we have a good first 11 with very little competition presented by the bench. Arguably only Lookman is threatening for a start and he's hardly pulling up trees.

Some of our players (Gana, Gylfi) bust a gut every match; they need pulling out once in a while to recharge. Others are inconsistent (Walcott, Bernard) and need rotating. We have no depth.

If we are going to make a challenge for 6th, we may need to introduce some fresh faces, even if just to spell our preferred starters. Assuming we can't land an upgrade striker in January I think maybe a couple of additions may be necessary, even if one is a loan (Loftus-Cheek etc).

Right now we have (players who have not flopped, been sidelined or aren't ready) Zouma, Kenny, Davies and Lookman, that's pretty much it for depth. Is this enough to secure 6th? I have my doubts.

Silva — you waxwork — paid ٣M a season.. .fuck me.

We have been so fortunate in many respects having a wealthy owner and investor, what other Clubs would crave for, but we still fail to produce on a regular basis.

Please tell me, where we are going wrong? Is it the Manager, the players, or what?

What is going wrong? Please tell me.

We need to continue in this much improved vein for the rest of the season and further, including riding out the inevitable lows. Until two weeks back, everything we could see was a noticeable improvement (whatever the comparable points at whatever stage last season). It will return. We are now entering a tough phase - hopefully, we come out the other side, stronger.

As mentioned above, the atmosphere at Goodison is now almost shameful. We were known for the atmosphere, and proud of it. What the hell has happened – is it because Millenials don't speak when offline?

Kevin @ 96: you forgot the little blue lights in the lampposts on Edge Lane. They've been holding the RS back for years.

Onwards and slowly downwards.

Experience? Faliraki 'Shoot to win', hit a target inside of either post, a "foot" wide, floor to cross-bar height from distance and you won a prize. Point being, I could hit either target with either foot, barefooted too, most of the time. Now if I can do that, professional togger players should at least.

We had the pleasure of many a premier league player try, never acknowledged I knew who they were (but they were all sweet to be honest), Mathew Upson missed three in a row; David Dunne smashed the target (top lad by the way, met him on several occasions and he always went out of his way to say hello to you). On his last go and at speed too, 50 mph plus and some lad from Leyton Orient-Steve 'something', quiet good to be honest and they were the ones that I remember most.

Met several more players out there, Stephen Hughes was sound too, but point being, if a piss head wearing flip flops in a Greek resort can slot a pen with both feet, how do these professionals miss (and woefully too) so much when it's all that they do!!!!

He made one and missed one at the World Cup, and has made one and missed two this season. I'm not sure if his confidence has dipped slightly, but it's not clear who the alternative would be.

Baines hasn't sniffed the pitch since August. I've heard Tosun actually has an impressive track record, but he mostly comes off the bench these days. Richarlison would be an obvious choice, being our leading scorer, but the one he ballooned in the shootout with Southampton (complete with overly-cutesy run-up) gives me pause.

I have no idea if Digne takes penalties, but he at least seems to have a cool head about him.

Tonight, I lost count of the number of times Pickford turned over possession. Goal kicks, that should/could be played out from the back, went to a defender on the edge of the box, then straight back to Pickford who punted the ball up long and we lost possession. The "fast break" kicks that he is becoming "famous" for, didn't work tonight, again possession was lost.

Our midfield was being overrun tonight, so maybe it was a deliberate tactic to bypass the midfield, but I think this is an area that needs to be addressed. Watford were strong in possession today and we gifted it to them far too many times.

The attractive football so far has conned us into thinking we are much nearer success than we are. No wins against the top 6 and inept at breaking down mediocre or poor teams, whose only plan is defense and thuggery.

Watching Everton last night was like a rerun of one of Martinez's last games.

A point, possibly three at Mordor; six points at home against the Barcodes and Watford. Probably none, being honest, against Man City. A point, possibly three against Spurs.

Reality:

No points at Mordor. Two (rather shit) points at home against the Barcodes and Z Cars thieves.
No way we're getting a point against Man City
No points against Spurs.

That's 2 points from 15, thinking previously possibly 8 to 12.

We're sinking, and I don't see any relief in the next two games.

The last 3 and the next 2 games have probably destined us to finish 7th - 8th. I still believe we're moving in the right direction overall but, as so many say, it's a results business. We need results. Fast.

We were so, so shit today in the second half. I mean absolute, unadulterated shit.

I don't know what you expected. We were poor all last season for a variety of reasons. The main one being through negative or terrible management but half the players who turned out in the starting 11 were regulars last season and some are not up to it.

You're obviously right in saying there's been no wins against the top 6 but we've played very well away to the sides we've faced and could easily have gotten wins at them – all but for the main reason why we are where we are now: the lack of a proper centre-forward. Come January, this has got to be the priority, allowing Richarlison to play wide and dropping or selling Walcott.

Like the 6th, 7th, or 8th best team in any league, we put in some good performances, put in some shockers, have some talent that gets us out of trouble now and again.

We look good, then we flatter to deceive. I've been expecting this; doesn't stop the disappointment... doesn't stop me noticing that the big picture is improving... doesn't stop me noticing the need for a striker, right-back and physicality in midfield.

As the article the other day asked about pundits and media ignoring Everton. They are right to do so – until the day comes when Everyone can beat Watford and Huddersfield at home. Never played in Champions League, no trophy for donkey's years.

We were awful last night. Marco has to take some blame, I would prefer Zouma back and the substitutes are all Blackburn Rovers standard; that said Bradley Sack is better.

Watford bullied our midfield in the 2nd half which shows we need an enforcer of size there, also up front we need a target man. Calvert-Lewin must start; he is not the finished article and at his age that is obvious but he is going to be.

We also need Aaron Mooy – he is the nearest player to a Peter Reid I have seen in a long time, he would be ideal for Christmas!

Silva has only been at it 6 months. The last couple of seasons have been dire, turgid and laboured. We knew the squad wasn't very good and Silva and Brands have brought in some good players. I don't think anybody can say to date Gomes, Digne, Richarlison and Mina haven't been quality additions. Bernard is taking a bit of time to find some consistency but will get better.

The remaining players are performing better also. We have a decent 1st 11 and a couple of decent reserves but we can't do everything in a single transfer window. I'm quite sure that Silva wants a centre-foward and I'm also sure that will be addressed sooner rather than later.

The top 5 are there for a reason. They have better squads so players who need a rest or not performing can be replaced without diminishing the quality of the team. We don't have that yet. We have played better football this season than we have done for a while and it will get better.

As others have pointed out, we probably would have lost both the Newcastle and Watford games last season. We stuck at it and while both games should have produced wins, we didn't lose so should take heart from the fact that heads didn't drop. I know that sounds pretty defeatist but it's not. It's perspective from where we were last season. The squad is better, the performances are better and we are not losing when we are not playing well.

No it's not acceptable to be happy with 2 draws at home no matter who we're playing but we need to see the overall picture. It's always feast or famine on here depending on results. I see a lot of improvement this season and we are going in the right direction but we were never going to crack the top 4 this season.

As it is, we have performed well away from home albeit without getting the results we have probably deserved at some of the top 6 grounds, more than most would have thought. So let's keep a bit of perspective can't remember where we were this time last year.

I've enjoyed going to the game this season which is more than I can say for a few years now. The last 2 results haven't been great but not catastrophic either. Let's just see how the rest of the season pans out before we slate the team and manager as not good enough.

It was a poor performance, I was particularly disappointed we couldn't just hold onto the ball as failed to put three passes together in the second half, or after we scored. I think Theo's confidence is gone as he just had no idea last night as he repeatedly tried running through everything and lost possession, I found him incredibly frustrating.

But those saying it's the same as with Fat Sam are crazy! That guy put me off football, and as bad as the last couple of performances have been, I'm still a 100% happier this season.

I feel we are progressing and are always going to have a few blips. We haven't truly clicked yet but I feel, once we find our gear and stop the nearly stuff with end product of assists and goals, we will compete and hopefully destroy some teams! (We might need a natural goal scorer first.)

What Marco Silva, Marcel brands have done in a short space of time is a massive step forward, this is one step at a time and we should not have too much high expectation as yet. Let's judge next year with more new quality signings.

As Klopp said this is the best Everton side he has faced and we are moving in the right direction. It takes time; Klopp is what three years into his tenure.

If players need to be rested (dropped), then so be it but too many players went missing last night and this needs to be stopped now. They need to stop moping about the derby result and get on with it.

I actually don't think the loss to the RS should have affected confidence as many are saying. It was shattering to lose, like 7 mins after normal time, but we played well and if anything, after that I was expecting us to continue in that vein.

As someone said earlier, they're playing these lower teams with the complacency that a win is given. I feel worse after the last couple of games than after the derby if I'm honest with myself.

Anyway...

We drew with Chelsea, Chelsea creamed Man City. We can win on Saturday. Eh?

You're right, I have lost it... Pass the happy pills, please, Alex (52).

We therefore don't put teams to the sword and they eventually fight back and either equalise or give us a jittery last 20 mins.

Pickford has saved our bacon many times this season, and we would be languishing lower down if it were not for him.

Until we sign a decent striker, we will continue along the same vein.

Digne and Mina tried hard and spent plenty of time cajoling others – they both play like they care. Gueye quite obviously has a groin injury and it showed, because he was lacking which meant Gomes had less freedom to play, which in turn made it harder for Sigurdsson who spent too much time chasing shadows. Beyond that, Bernard & Walcott spent a lot of time tracking back which they did well in my view.

It's all very well pointing fingers at individuals but football is more than that, and a team is exactly that, a team. One player's problems in a game can have a far reaching effect as we saw last night – our midfield struggled because Gueye wasn't as mobile as he normally is and we got overrun. Doucoure is a very good player, a beast in midfield for Watford.

Form and results tend to go in peaks and troughs so I'm not overly concerned at the moment. We're working with a new manager, new system and new players remember and while our expectations are high we do need to manage them and temper them a bit with the above.

A lot of supporters seem to just go crazy and call our players every name under the sun because it makes them feel better, which is fine –people are entitled to express their disappointment, I just wish people would be a bit more balanced and look at the bigger picture, even if only for their own sanity!

The live forum is painful viewing at the moment – even when we were winning last night people were spitting vitriol. Maybe it's just a minority of support. Who knows, but it doesn't do anyone any favours.

I think we're at the same stage as the RS 3 seasons ago albeit they had better attacking players. In that Silva like Klipperty wants a high pressing game and teams need to be superfit; if not, you get one game in three that it works.

The RS would start the season like an express train but run out of puff round about Christmas. Last season, Klipperty tried to overcome this by rotating his squad like a maniac, and this season they're a lot more measured.

IMHO, games against both the Barcodes and Watford energy levels were way down and Watford outmuscled and outfought and we looked tired.

God knows what's going to happen to the high press after the Christmas fixtures...

As you say, we lacked energy last night and Watford looked fitter than us so we lost a lot of ground. Richarlison is also shocking playing target man, which isn't his fault since he's really a winger being played up top because Calvert-Lewin & Tosun are both shite (my simplified term).

By then, what are we going to have? Another new manager, players coming and going? Will we spout the same old ‘we are rebuilding' ‘we are in transition' ‘it's a project' nonsense? Truth is, we are accustom to failure.

We play Liverpool and we lose, fact. We lost the game, good performance or not – we lost the game. Jordan Pickford failure to deal with the shot.

We play Newcastle at home and draw, failure to secure all 3 points. We play Watford at home and again fail to secure 3 points because we are a failure of a team. I don't know what's happened but I feel like the term Everton seems to of become lost.

We've probably got the best team we've had since the 80s yet nobody looks bothered, the name and brand of Everton is being muddied and it's not coming out in the wash.

It all seems problematic to me. Let's look at Liverpool: I hate to say it but the team is full of winners. I thought Bournemouth would give them a hard game but Liverpool wiped the floor with them, it was hard for me to watch in a room full of reds. But I remember thinking how easy it must be to support Liverpool as everything goes for them, every bit of luck, every jammy defelection or rebound but the truth is they make their own luck by having players who are winners. They want to win. Their game plan everyone knows but can't stop because their players want to win. Our players seem to be happy to pick up their pay and draw two home games which you know Liverpool would've won. It's the difference in mentality, will and the difference between being a loser and winner.

TalkSport are saying we will finish 7th and it's going to take years for us to even challenge the top 6. I argue, this just isn't good enough. We have spent a fortune, we have messed around with poor managers and poor signings, isn't it about time we started unearthing some winners. Mina and Digne look like good signings and winners but the rest of the team look lazy, not bothered and poor.

Where are the winners? Where are the players who will give everything in order to win? I don't see many so far this season. We seem to be accepting failure from the top down. We now have Man City next game and let's see how many winners stand up perform; I'm not counting any chickens yet.

We played shite and nicked a point!!

We'd be better off with the mega prolific Sam Vokes to Tosun, utter shite!

1. A poor cross-field ball by Watford was poor but a touch high for Digne, if Bernard who is behind him just calls for it then he clears it no problem. Digne slips and gives Deulofeu time to slide a ball through for Femenia who Bernard has not tracked. Femenia is then able to pick out Peryrya easily as Mina is ball watching and has totally lost his man. The rebound hits Coleman who might have done better but it was quite quick. Bernard and Mina definitely at fault in my book.

2. Quick free kick is not reacted to. Digne has tracked Femenia but he slips a ball through to Peryrya who Gomes and Sigurdsson have both left. His cross is deflected up into the air where no Everton players reacts or attacks it and a running Doucore can get above Coleman. Pickford could well have come to claim. A whole bunch of Everton players at fault.

The whole team looked tired, jaded and complacent. The 20 minutes at start of second half was worst I've seen us play under Silva, could not get or keep the ball. Not quick or strong enough around the park. No-one taking control. Must do better.

TalkSport and their kopite-inspired pundits can easily say it will take us four windows... yada yada.

The truth is Silva needs to at least get them super fit to last the 90+ minutes and eventually a winning mentality will seep through the club with the old guard gone and some astute known or unknown gems on board.

It doesn't have to take four years – just good management with someone who is learning from his mistakes. Mr Silva... are you listening!!!!

I'm sorry but the Premier League waits for no-one and, after all the money, we should be challenging the Champions League spaces. Another 3-year project and we'll be nine years down the line from Moyes and have we really moved forward?

Silva doesn't seem to want to replace these guys as yet and probably believes they would come good as a team until the last nine days turned everything upside down.

Even if they had held on in the derby match, it would have still only meant 3 points from a possible nine with 2 games at home against lower opposition. There was a notable lack of confidence from the outset which just got worse and if I were a Hornet player I would have been totally pissed at coughing up 2 points after outplaying the home side.

Where to go from here has to be on everybody's mind and the next game offers little hope of a revival with what they have at the moment.

January has to be a month of some big changes to make something of this season and we all hope they are positive changes that will give great optimism for next season.

If that doesn't happen, then it's 'Sayonara' Silva.

The live forum is painful viewing at the moment - even when we were winning last night people were spitting vitriol.

Regarding the Live Forum, you know how that works.

Reasonable, sane people come on. It's generally an extremely friendly environment with hello's a plenty, some weather checks in various parts of the world, and sometimes some personal tidbits.

When the team plays shite, the Negative Nancy's come out. You never hear from them otherwise. They never say hello, never a nice word to say, never an introduction... they just wait for the team to start playing shite and the Liver Forum turns into one gigantic, toxic venting ground.

If you correct them or take umbrage to their jack-in-the-box based upon the team playing poorly approach, they spring up with, "I'm entitled to my opinion" usually followed up by, "you cunt" or in my case, "stupid American fucking cunt" or my personal fav from a guy I actually have come to love his contributions over the years and is one hell of a guy, "Go back to your barstool in America."

Then, what's truly grand is, despite it being a "Live" Forum, and 99% of the acid-strewn shit you read being ignored, if you take umbrage with "the Negatives", you'll find your comments copied and pasted on the posts here – damning evidence taken out of context so whatever "dickhead's" motivations were, they can crucify you in front of the whole community.

The Live Forum is my single favorite aspect of this site. Tough to believe reading the above, but it is.

But it is the Wild West of TW, and soft souls should simply steer clear.

It serves its purpose for many a TWer who enjoy the 'camaraderie' of watching and commenting on the game with fellow Blues.

Me? I don't go anywhere near it because my focus is 100% on watching and deriving pleasure from the game.

Unless you have the rotating eyeballs of a chameleon, it's my belief that it simply isn't possible to simultaneously watch the game attentively whilst reading, posting and reacting on the live scroll.

Having scanned the live forum post-match on a few occasions, I now pay little heed or credence to evaluations made during or post-match from those on the live forum. Oft times, it reflects pre-conceived notions, rather than the actual events of the game.

Blanket statement for final sentence, certainly not applicable or directed at you.

As in many games at Goodison once the initial surge is over the opposition gains traction, however in most home games we get another spell in the second half. Last night Watford got a grip and kept it.

The pair of goals could be seen coming from miles away. I couldn't hold that advantage against Watford.

The penalty was never one I'd like to see given, especially since the ball was way over both players' heads.

Sadly, I cried ‘down the middle' before Siggy struck it. Subconsciously, I knew that's where he'd put it. It betrays his penalty travails dating back from the World Cup. Just not 💯 % confident, is he?

Anyhow, signs that against the poorer sides in the Premier League, Silva has to find an alternative way to beat them.

A lot of common threads in the performances at home vs the bottom feeders this season, hence huge frustration amongst the fanbase.

Walcott & Coleman stood out again as the pair who cannot establish a rhythm or chemistry. Sigurdsson for my money the poorest for some time. On Saturday we may well lose but probably we will play a lot better than the last two efforts.

I'm still fairly optimistic that we are heading in the right direction both on and off the pitch. I'm as frustrated as everyone with people asking for patience again but I have never believed the hype on TW that we were going to spank the RS at Anfield and finish top 6.

There is one certainty with Everton and that is that they will let you down when it matters. One poster in the preview to the RS game said something like I don't just want us to beat them but I want us to put 3 or 4 past them. We need to get real.

The RS, unfortunately, are better than us by some distance. As Graeme argues above, they are full of winners. They've shored up their weak positions and have a forward line that is light years ahead of ours. We put in a good performance against them but ultimately, we weren't good enough, yet again.

The Pickford ricket has knocked the stuffing out of us. The way it goes for us it might even end up giving them the title. Goodison Park again feels nervy. Players like Bernard who started well in an Everton shirt are now looking less good. We aren't punishing teams when we're on top or taking our chances. It's the same problems that we see season after season.

I actually think we'll do better at home against the better sides, when Goodison becomes a bear pit again.

I also don't understand putting a centre-half or full-back to the left or right of the box for Pickford to play it to them, they play it back and then Pickford kicks a moving ball. Why? Why doesn't Pickford just kick a dead-ball long in the first place?

The biggest frustration with me is corners. I keep saying it but how can a professional footballer not clear the near post or first man from a dead-ball, time and time again? They should be able to land a ball on a sixpence. We must be the worst team in the division for taking corners. We force a corner, the Street End gets excited and then we can't clear the first man. Bloody annoys the hell out of me!

Personally I think whether we like it or not we have to play with either Tosun or Calvert-Lewin as centre-forward. We need a player who can play with his back to the goal. Richarlison can't do this. He is a winger. We are not getting the best out of him by playing him down the middle.

Also, I think the set-up needs tweaking. Silva seems to be another manager who is fixated on this 4-2-3-1 lineup. It plainly isn't working for us. The problem is without a really good centre-forward it doesn't work. The opposition just block off the wide players and that isolates the striker. I would go 4-3-3:

Pickford.
Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne
Sigurdsson, Gana, Gomes
Richarlison, Tosun or Calvert-Lewin, Bernard.

Gana can sit in front of the back four while Sigi and Gomes can support the attack. Tosun or Calvert-Lewin (I don't care which) can give us some physicality up front and hold up the ball for the supporting wide men and midfield men.

Also, the extra man in midfield stops Gana and Gomes from being outnumbered.

Yes it was ugly yesterday and on paper may be just as ugly against Man City. Anything else helps RS.

However, in realty RS are a far better team at the moment and have a strike force which is formidable.

It's looking like a two horse race between the super powerful billionaire squads so we can't worry ourselves about that fact but we can hope our beloved Blues recover soon and really start to get some decent performances together, not just results.

It doesn't seem it will happen given the current squad but they have new investment and a manager who has improved things somewhat over last season so let's at least wait to see what the second half of the season brings.

On the plus side, the RS game had a downright flukey ending which gave the Blues nothing from a decent performance considering the gap between the sides and the other two games, though poorly contested, did not end in defeat.

The lad is being battered by big centre-halves, and the refs seem to think it's par for the course. Give Calvert-Lewin a month there to prove himself, he's got the physical attributes to take that battering a bit more this year, and give enough back.

I also agree the 4-2-3-1 has been sussed (like Bobby's was) even though I think this may be defense sitting too deep and attack sitting too far up. The ‘two' in the middle are then isolated and exposed too much. I think Zouma helps with this balance, and Gylfi being asked to drop into a 3 would also add more substance there too. Him and Gomes taking it in turns to dictate and go forward:

Pickford
Colman Keane Zouma Digne
Sigurdsson Gana Gomes
Walcott Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Bernard and Davies to fight for a place in the midfield 3. Lookman on for Theo on the 70 as usual.

Genuine competition for Coleman and, for the love of ALL THAT IS BLUE AND HOLY, a ‘Lukaku with the touch of Gomes' in a January deal, please Santa!

This season, my hopes were building up (again ) and unless money is made available for a couple of good players I feel I will be let down again.

Early on, supporters were speculating on a possible top 6 place but our results against the present top 6 is pretty dismal, and to reach the top 6 you have to be beating some of the top 6 and also beating the teams below you, especially at Goodison.

I believe Silva with assistance from Brands have the making of building a good top 6 side but Silva has to realize that other teams are watching, and if you play the same system, same players every game, other managers are going to set up to get a result.

My problem with the present set-up, and is being proven nearly every game, is Richarlison cannot play with his back to the goal with experienced central defenders against him. i agree with other supporters comments that is he is better as a winger running at people.

If we do not get a top center forward in in January then we should persevere with Calvert-Lewin or Tosum and allow Richarlison back on the wing and move Bernard over to the right side.

Regarding Liverpool, I think you've got a touch of the grass is greener. Yes, they're better than us, but they've won fuck-all for years. And they make cock-ups just like us, like Gerrard's blunder leading to Man City's title a few years ago, plus we know what happened against Real Madrid. Liverpool have been the 'nearly men' for a long time, and are dining out on their history, not much different from us. Merseyside used to be the fulcrum of football, but that hasn't been the case for a while, and it's been Manchester and London for ages.

Football can change quickly. It's changed for us in the space of half a season in terms of quality of football and players, as evidenced by the massive difference in the tone of ToffeeWeb posts this season compared with last season.

We haven't had the consistent financial input that the top teams have had, but that's started. There will be bumps along that road to success, but you have to remain positive given the changes Silva and Brands have brought.

If TalkShite said the sky was falling in, would you rush and buy a tin hat, mate?

LFC with a team full of winners who have won fuck all as far as I can recall in last 10 years – although perhaps a League Cup. They also have had shit loads of money spent during that time and actually have had some brilliant players and still not won.

Don't get me wrong, their team has been and is far better than us but they are similar to Spurs yet Spurs have spent a fraction of what LFC spend. Their manager isn't a clown either and, despite getting pilloried and having loads of issues, they're going to have a great new stadium. Them or Arsenal in the past is what we're trying to get – not LFC which is media-fuelled bollox.

It is clear to see the improvement in comparison to last year and before, we are not the finished project far from it. I get frustrated as much as anyone else, but you have to take things in perspective.

As Anthony @151 alluded, yes a lot of money has been spent, mostly unwisely, but it is, unfortunately, water under the proverbial bridge. I think we have some seriously decent players and, with a couple of additions, it could be another positive move in the transformation.

The referee in the first half let loads go and played advantage. In the 2nd half, he blew everytime someone fell over. Success for a big man dived all night.

They got lucky with the equaliser as Coleman couldn't do anything with that also the cross for the 2nd took a deflection off Sigurdsson.

It would have been a half decent game for the neutral. Touch of class from Gerry at the end as well.

Let's face it, the best we can do this year is 6th but more likely 8th has our name on it.

It's obvious, that besides Sigurdsson and Richarlison we don't have any goal threat.

Put a fucking man at the near post when your team has got a corner, because I'd say at least 30% of corners taken don't get past the front post. (And at least 50% if you happen to watch Everton!)

Silva is supposed to be a top coach with a multi-million-pound squad. Why can't we expect them to get it together and challenge the top 4, why do we keep getting "This time next year Rodney"; Why is it always jam tomorrow?

Sorry to sound pissed off and frustrated but we get fed the same shit every year... When can we expect to challenge at the top? Next year, the year after, another 3-year project and then what?

Give me a decent run in the Champions League, and reach the final – that would compensate for the 20 odd years of misery we've had to endure.

Like it or not, they are exciting to watch, and score some great goals.

Watching Everton is like having a bad attack of constipation while waiting for the paint to dry.

He wanted nothing for it just an act of kindness as his dad couldn't make the game.

I picked him up and drove to the ground and we chatted football along the way and had a beer at the ground. (Well, I had a coffee as I was heading to work straight after.)

Being an Evertonian travelling from Brighouse (near Leeds) it's quite a trek on my own and, working shifts including some weekends (Police – don't hold it against me!!!), it's not viable to get a season ticket. I am trying to find alternative employment to get my Saturdays and life back. (If anyone is looking for staff!! Ha!)

So for this act of kindness and genorisity it reminded me why I am a blue and why we are the best fans in the land. I think it's a gesture that we should all try and reciprocate for each other. Simple things like this make me proud to be Blue.

COYB

@ Peter. Liverpool are most likely going through in the Champions League tonight. Got to the champions league final last year and are currently top of the league. I don't want to talk much about that shower but still the mentality is different. Playing with 3 midfielders whom I consider to be poorer than our midfield, yet the difference is their mentality: they want to win.

I do believe we will get better and we obviously have the money to offer better wages, hence players like Digne and Mina coming, but we definitely need some winners in there. I suppose I am being greedy and impatient but tbh I feel like I've waited 30 years for us to start showing signs that we can attract big players and start to climb the league. I feel like finishing top 10 or top 7 (as most expect us to) just isn't good enough for me, and a lot of Everton fans I know.

What really makes us so different to Tottenham and Arsenal? Forwards? Maybe... but really they have good players and we have good players. Yet, when you watch Spurs or Arsenal you always think they are going to win, and most of the time they do.

You watch us and you get no feeling of winning the game, professionally, comfortably. It's just frustrating. We should all be happy after the derby loss, going into the next game after two home victories over 2 teams below us in the league, yet we've taken 2 points instead of 6. Just does my head in.

In reality, Silva appears to be taking each game as it comes and trying to win it, which is what we want. He and Brands have signed very good players, and I for one believe we have a team that can beat anyone, or nearly anyone, on its day.

I think the problem is lack of strength in depth, and really we need two teams that can beat anyone (so as to rotate the team) in order to be able to compete consistently, given the physicality of the Premier League and intense high pressing, that is bound to take a toll on players who are played constantly.

All that said, it is perfectly reasonable, given what we now have, to 'expect' us to get higher up the table. We've already taken on Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool (at their grounds) in a manner that is vastly improved compared with previous seasons. It is fine margins that have stopped us picking up points, contrary to some of the pessimism (and daft predictions) on ToffeeWeb.

In other words, I expect us to be competing within the top-6 positions NOW, and then to compete consistently for 'the very top' once we've signed further quality players to give us the required strength in depth.

For me, and I suspect for Brands, Silva and Moshiri, we are trying to do this as soon as we possibly can. I don't see any evidence that there's any 'jam tomorrow' policy.

Apart from Gomes, I think our midfield is weak. Gana is just not good enough, he is a good ballwinner but that's it. And no one on the bench is good enough to put is as a gamechanger as a sub.

And what happened with Walcott? I think he was really good when he arrived, but now he looks ordinary and weak. Not using his head. He lost the ball dribbling about 5-10 times yesterday. Very, very frustrating to look at.

Also Digne, a good player and yes brilliant free-kick, yea. But his gameplay, corners and throw-ins have not had high quality lately. He can't hit a single corner at the right place... what is that all about? And his throw-ins never pass the first defender... why do the same over again when it clearly does not work? Also stressing out is defensive situations like for example before the 1-1 goal yesterday.

When we have had the opportunity in finals, semis, European games, derbies, the big away games etc in the last 15 years, we have just consistently failed and it's been accepted as the order of things. Doesn't matter who manages or who plays, it's always the same. The only thing Everton guarantee the supporters is disappointment.

I am hanging my hat on an away win on Saturday just because it may be part of the devil's plan to help the RS win the Premier League but, in reality, I know it will be another routine defeat with a few sob stories attached.

Great forward play at times let down by poor defending and switching off at crucial times. ut I'm happy with another point and, in general, happy with the progress made.

I still think Richarlison is wasted up top. Sigurdsson should be taken off penalty duties for Digne (or Baines). I'm not sure if our best centre-back pairing; all five can look good one game and poor another. I think I would bring Zouma back in for his pace if nothing else against City.

To finish on a positive, we went for it and got rewarded for the positivity and attacking subs, that alone deserves a pat on the back, Silva.

If you don't like it, word to the wise: don't go on there.

I totally agree with you, I think though the problem we have at the moment is not able to rotate one or two players to freshen things up as the top 5 can do.

Our bench and squad players are just not up to it at the moment, I feel, and this is why we see the same starting 11 every game. We have looked – especially in the last two games – lethargic, clueless etc... but who would you put in place of some players to rest?

Tuson doesn't seem to take his chance; Lookman at the moment seems to be better as an impact sub; Tom Davies is hot and cold — just to name a few.

I think, once we get a few more quality signings either in January or the summer, things may be different and, of course, there is still a big task of shipping out the loanees and Niasse etc.

"I think, once we get a few more quality signings either in January or the summer, things may be different."

Do you really believe your own words? What you said, is repeated at least several dozen times a season.

Signings won't make any difference. We'll soon be in free-fall, starting with Man City on Saturday. Until we get the right managerial appointment, nothing will change.

Whoever thought Marco Silva was a solution to our dire predicament needs consigning to a psychiatric institution.

The back four: Coleman is on a poor run but by far the best right-back at the club as well as being the captain and leader on the pitch. Lucas Digne has shown to be a decent signing whom I think will improve. Keane, Mina and Zouma have all played pretty well for the most part. I am concerned that Holgate has not had a look-in as he was showing signs that he could step up to be a regular contender.

The midfield: This is where it starts to get a little tricky. Gana has improved this season and Gomes looks like a top player. Walcott has looked awful and disconnected from the team play. Bernard is skilful but he needs to learn when to hold the ball up and develop the play. Sigurdsson has been a breath of fresh air now showing why we paid so much for him. Richarlison has scored his goals and looked good in short spells but is only 21 and will get better. Beni Baningime, Tom Davies and Kieran Dowell are obviously not showing enough to give Marco a headache. Lookman has been okay but not really grasped the starter's jersey he craves.

Forwards: Oh dear! Oumar Niasse (bless him) is never going to be the answer. Tosun likewise I'm afraid. Calvert-Lewin needs to come on, score a brace, and force the management's hand.

Overall, we have a much younger squad with some added quality. It will take two to three seasons to get better than top half to seventh. Look at Man Utd. Billions spent, some of English football's top youth and a multi title-winning manager struggling to keep with the pace at the very top.

I know Spurs haven't splashed the cash and Arsenal were supposed to be regressing and Chelsea were supposed to fall apart. The truth is these clubs along with Man City and the RS have been building and tweaking for the last 10 years while we were potless. We will only challenge them with steady leadership, a steady improvement in the squad and patience from the supporters.

Recent results have been disappointing but, apart from the second half against Watford, we could have got a lot more with just a little bit of luck. Would any of you bet against us getting something at Man City? I won't be.
COYBB

I take it you're not happy with Marco Silva?

I think he is a good manager but we all have our own opinions, I do think we are moving in the right direction with the manager and Marcel Brands, and the signings so far have impressed me. The football is even better to watch.

Not sure why you think the manager is not any good.

It was meant light-heartedly, mate, but the point stands. TalkShite is exactly that! Shite. They're paid to be contentious in order for people to listen and/or phone in.

You don't have to put stock in what they may say. Seems sensible enough to me. :-)