Silva: We have to score more goals

No shit, Marco lad!

We have scored one goal in open play from visits to Arsenal, Man United, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

People might want to cream themselves silly over this better style of play but, let's be honest, Bisto Tits probably would have yielded the same outcome from those away trips but would have been destroyed for his style of play.

Are we really playing sexy football or were we just that turgid last season that we now welcome the Roberto Martinez approach again? Because really that's all we are at present, it's Roberto's third season all over again (minus the goals scored before Christmas).

Anyway, sod it – I'm not going to allow Everton to spoil another Christmas for me so I can't even be arsed.

We still have plenty of room to develop and grow within the framework of what Silva is putting in place and, frankly, I'd rather go to City, have a go, and come out annoyed we didn't put a clear-cut chance away than go to these top-six grounds and barely muster an attack in 90 minutes.

Write this season off (the FA Cup aside) as a season of transition and growth. We're not finishing in the top six this season but we're putting the foundations in place for being able to challenge next season Until then... patience.

It feels like all we ever hear is “this is a season of transition”. Bloody hell I think Aliens will have taken over the Earth by the time Everton eventually move on from 'transition' because that's all I seem to hear anymore.

Since late October, we have beaten Brighton and Cardiff — that tells you everything really.

I said the season before last, you could arguably write down on paper before every season starts the fixtures we might win and the ones we know we can't win and so far I've seen zero surprises.

We got knocked out of the League Cup in October, no surprises there – nice to keep up appearances. We lost at Anfield and never scored there, surprise surprise,, Cilla! We have had 5 trips away to our hoodoo grounds and failed to gain more than a 0-0 draw, and 4 defeats. We will get knocked out of the FA Cup as soon as we draw one of our big six bogey boys.

People can slate me for being negative but I'd call it decades of watching Everton just bringing about a very predictable outcome of mundane boredom these days. I guess it's better than the relegation battles of the '90s but then again there were some rollercoasters in that era too.

It just feels very unfulfilling watching Everton attempt to convince people that genuine progress is being made.

Silva vs Sam or Koeman:

We've been to Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Man City and our performances are streets ahead of what they have been for many years.

Results haven't changed but at least we're having a go. Once / if we take our chances and cut out the gifts, we can be a force to be reckoned with.

How about stopping 2 headers from players 5ft-7in against our 3 6ft plus defenders. I do think that Zouma should be playing each week not sure about Mina he looks like he has too many mistakes in him.

No doubt we need more quality and better decision making when in possession.

There is a predictability about the Premier League, and has been for 25 years, barring Leicester crashing the party.

Against all of the big boys this season, we have had good spells and decent chances but haven't taken them.

We are a work in progress but so are all of the other teams chasing Man City.

We've lost to all the big sides this season largely for completely failing to take the chances. There wouldn't have been any chances under our former manager.

I'm happier with the style of football than I am watching our guys spooning shots over the bar from 6 yards.

If anything, today's game away at Man City has confirmed to me that we are two transfer windows away from a top 6 finish.

Hope I'm wrong but we were doing better with Keane and Zouma as our centre-back pair. I think Silva needs to go back to what was working 4 or 5 games ago.

Look at the start of the season, West Ham went about 5 or 6 games without a win after spending a lot during the summer, they have improved remarkably since then, and could be potential Europa slot contenders.

Although, while we are not exactly a shambles, it's the passing, and not finishing any chance that is created, coupled with the 'kick it anywhere' defending, (usually back to the opposition).

Until we get clinical forward players who can get one chance and be certain to score with it, then each season will be transition and we'll always be just competing but not beating the top six.

It's not even really just the top six though that we are struggling against, we failed to kill the Watford game at half-time and we allowed Newcastle to be comfortable.

At the moment the squad looks exposed and like it's hit a wall, the ideas are running thin on the ground, the subs are having little impact and certain players, Pickford, Mina, Bernard and Sigurdsson have struggled for a few games. Seamus Coleman is a massive problem right now also, his form is Marc Hottiger proportions lately.

We are coming into a crucial point of the season when, if we don't start amassing some points (through wins not draws), then we are likely facing an 8th- or 9th-place finish again.

I'm not sure you can coach clinical finishing, the player can either deliver or not — and those who can... they go to the very best clubs.

This contrast invites the tantalising prospect of what we could do with this team and a top striker like Lukaku. We could no doubt open teams up through our very good midfield, and then finish them off.

It would be nice if Brands could get Lukaku back. Yes, I know that a lot on here would say they don't want him back, etc, but the fact is, there's a very good chance that, with this team and a striker like him, we'd winning a lot more games, including against the 'top' teams.

If we could work out how to find him with a set-piece (I'm mystified by how few corners we actually pose a threat from), he might be able to compensate for some of those defensive concerns by chipping in with some goals but, until then...

You are drawing too many conclusions from what is a team in transition, 4 months into the manager's new reign.

There is no way that Silva and Brands could right all the wrongs of previous regimes in one transfer window.

For the record, I think Silva got his tactics wrong today, but I think that's the only time I could say that so far this season.

We've shown more promise away at the top 6 teams this season than any time in the previous 5 years. We are crying out for a striker, but let's give the manager a few years, not a few months. Things are just beginning to settle down again at the club.

We went down fighting today, admittedly with our flaws exposed. We are definitely heading in the right direction. We won't be the only team taken apart at Man City away.

Don't expect much improvement on finding players from corners or set pieces.

I think if Silva was working on this side of the game then, more than six months into the job, we would have started seeing the evidence in it by now but, each passing game, it's just the same shit half-baked cross that none of our players ever win.

Since Moshiri clambered aboard in Feb 2016 Everton have played some 105 Premier League games and have lost 36 of those, drawn 28 and won 41. Marco Silva is responsible for six wins, six defeats and five draws, which is roughly the same as the record has been under Moshiri's stewardship.

Sam Allardyce should never ever be the benchmark for Everton Football Club and neither should the last five years; however, that's the situation that Marco inherited and the one he has had to deal with.

I hear and agree up to a point about the lack of tangible progress made on the pitch, in recent times, despite the significant monies invested in the playing squad, but imagine where the club would be without Moshiri's money; it doesn't bear thinking about, does it?

Also, bear in mind that every Premier League club is making significant investment in their playing staff, not only the chosen few. Spurs have been cited as a club that has made less investment since Moshiri arrived at Goodison, but their starting point along with Liverpool's wasn't remotely the same as Everton's.

Even with his financial backing, the club is still too reliant on loan players such as Gomes and Zouma who may or may not become permanent signings in the future. I do think that retaining Mina in defence at the expense of Zouma has backfired in recent weeks, but it's understandable that Silva made that decision as Mina is here for the longer term, unless of course, he can persuade Zouma to remain at Goodison beyond the end of his loan period.

Everton Football Club needs to generate greater revenue from sources outside of the income it receives from the TV broadasters, in order to retain its best players and thus enable it to invest in better recruits. Until it does that, the repetitive nature of the last decade will continue, unless of course Silva and Brands manage to stumble upon a few unknown and relatively inexpensive superstars and create a team that shocks the footballing world.

Money alone won't solve the issues that our players seem to have with controlling and retaining a football, or with their basic decision making, but until the side is packed with consistent performers, we are doomed to suffer such periods of mediocrity. That's the fate for most club's outside of the elite group, it's depressing and frustrating but it's where we are, it's where we've been for too long.

Now is not the time to pick over Silva's tenure, it's still very early days and, like most other managers, he can only work with the players he has available in his squad. I'd liked to have seen Everton a bit closer to the clubs in the top positions in the league this season but, without a recognised and consistent striker, it was never likely to happen.

Howard Kendall's team was promising, making chances but not taking them. Enter Reid and Gray – the rest is history.

Mina made the schoolboy error of a defender passing across his own goal. The other two goals where the result of poor marking, with defenders not having a clue about getting in front of their marker. Again, a schoolboy error. Two 6-ft defenders beaten by two of the smallest forwards heading in goals. This is woeful coaching and tactics.

And finishing wasn't part of the training ground routine again. Diabolical.

Vardy, Callum Wilson, any proven Premier League centre-forward.

What we don't want in January is another punt on “potential” or another “supposed to great judging from YouTube” straight from some far flung league abroad with no experience of English football.

We need a “here and now” striker.

I think he's gone stale at Leicester now, maybe he'd be up for one last challenge in his career; there's nothing left for him to achieve at Leicester following that title win.

He's a super fit lad who's naturally fit and lean and you'd probably get another good two seasons out of him. I'm not one for all this “only buy players with sell on value”.

I want a player doing it in an Everton shirt now – not have people tell me that we've bought a player that might be amazing in five years time.

Today we learnt more than through any other game we have played this season, and it's a benchmark for our aspirations.

The faithful need to have patience as project Everton is in its infancy!!!

Our midfield is shot-shy and our strikers are shite apart from Richarlison. Get ruthless our continue as we have for years as cannon fodder for the big boys. We can't even beat a piss poor Newcastle and Watford at home. Things need to change and bloody fast.

I for one am well and truly pissed off with our limp perfomances of late. Most of that squad need to go between the next 2 transfer windows. That includes some of the untouchables who get their money far too easily.

Yerry Mina is the poor man's Marco Materrazi.

Walcott, is like a fisherman with a £1,000 rod. It all looks great, but nothing ever ends up in the net!

Calvert-Lewin will come good but, for now, just someone to knock them in will do, and there's a man wanting to play who fits the bill: Defoe.

I know he's ‘experienced', for want of a less kind word, but he knows how to score and will help the other lads in training.

[*tin hat on*]

Keep the faith – we're getting there!

Even if we do click sometime soon, we will not hammer anyone because we do not have enough goal scorers in the team, a click and hammering from this current team would be 3-0 at best! That would do me though.

Two years ago I'd have sold my house to bring Defoe here but I don't know if he's going to last much longer, I'm astonished that bigger clubs over the years never went for Defoe, especially before his bizarre move to Sunderland.

We do need a Premier League proven striker though. I believe it's the one area of the pitch where you don't take risks on unknowns from abroad. We've been burned too many times over the years on unknown strikers.

And those talking about Lukaku, Immobile, Timo Werner, etc are living in Fantasy World – they won't come to a team that does not play in Europe.

Richarlison can move to the wing with Lookman and then Bernard in the middle.

The only stat that matters is the result at the end of the day but Silva can't put the ball in the net for these guys. Richarlison has to head that first opportunity and just get the second on target and it's a different game.

For those too tired of hearing 'transition', even Klippety took 18 months to build his side. Do you remember what we watched last season, being bossed in Europe by minnows and have the worst shots per game in the Premier League. No-one can take the side from that to top 6 in 6 months.

Jermaine Defoe is NOT the answer!!!

I'm no tactician, but I agree with those who question the use of three centre-backs. It simply will not work against the top sides, because it gives them the space they need for their expansive football, and denies us the space we need for OUR expansive football.

This Everton side has the ability to fight fire with fire against the top sides, albeit without the final killer punch in front of goal. But playing three at the back seems to reduce our chances of creating opportunities in front of goal. The less chances you create, the less chance you have of scoring.

It seems that three at the back has never really worked well for us, and I can't understand why it's continued.

I can't see Calvert-Lewin being anything other than a present-day Cadamarteri, Barlow, or Vaughan.

He's a substitute that fluffs or mis-hits the odd goal here and there and those talking about the goals he's scored, well 5 of his goals have come against Rotherham, Sunderland (when a Championship club) and Ruzemberok (a dog-and-duck team). I just don't see how he'll be any better at 25 than he is now.

There's no way we can move forward with the belief that Calvert-Lewin will be a long-term answer and when has Ademola Lookman really looked like scoring many league goals? (And he's played more minutes than people think.)

Our strike force is frankly shit for a team wanting to challenge the top six.

Seriously, Jim?

Was Cadamarteri, Anichebe, Barlow any better at 25 than 21?

Not every young player is going to be great.

Have you seen any improvement in him at all since he broke into the team at 19? You think he has peaked at 21?

Each to their own but the odds are not in your favour.

Calvert-Lewin has a better attitude than James Vaughan, the lad who ruined his body through basically running through brick walls playing for us?

If you really think he's going to be that good at the age of 25, then we'll await the big offers from Manchester United or Tottenham, eh, when he's had two or three seasons of scoring 20 Premier League goals... I can't wait!

Out of our so-called strikers, only Niasse can be called a goal-scorer but has other obvious limitations. Maybe play Walcott centrally as he always wanted to at Arsenal.

Calvert-Lewin should probably go on loan to a Championship club. I think he has a future but he's definitely not ready yet. Bin Tosun back to Turkey asap.

'Since the start of last season, no Everton player has scored more goals than Calvert-Lewin (13, level with Sigurdsson).'

I don't know whether this includes cup goals but it tells a sorry tale as far as Everton are concerned; it also makes me think that Calvert-Lewin deserves a place in the starting line-up as our main striker – until we purchase one better than we have.

He's scored 13 goals which have all been scuffed or bounced 20 times before hitting the net; the least tidy striker of a ball I've seen since the Arouna Kone days. (Even Kone scored a hat-trick in one game but that doesn't mean he was the answer.)

After binning the Koeman -Walsh regime, Allardyce was appointed to 'save' us. After we were clearly going to finish in the top half, Allardyce managed as if nothing beyond the next game mattered. Moshiri clearly saw this and made the changes on and off the pitch.

If we're going to get near the top five, we won't do it in 4 months. We've bought footballers, we're starting to look half-decent on our better days without the quality finisher we desperately need.

A proven scorer would make a huge difference to this team, as would a strong, passing midfielder.

I think we're nearly there.

I thought we already had a strong passing midfielder in Gomes?

We've got a goal-scoring midfielder in Sigurdsson so that's not a pressing issue either?

I'm not too sure I'm as positive as where I see us heading right this moment; I think, if we are still languishing behind the likes of Wolves by the Spring, then it's not even a case of challenging the top 6 but not being good enough to fend off the teams we should see off.

If we don't get our act together then, come New Year, it's quite possible we could be 12th in the table and that's not part of the plan, even short-term.

I get what people say about things taking time but it seems like it's the same shit every year with a slightly different dressing.

Regardless of the style of football (we've had sexy under Roberto and then had dire under Allardyce), at the end of the day, it's a results business.

Plus, in Silva's defense, his subs as game-changers are very limited; whether he's a bit indecisive or not, I hope that's all it is... otherwise, the hunt for a winning mentality and manager continues.

I think that kind of midfielder, with a proven finisher up top, would make a huge difference to this team.

Of course it's a results business, but I think the way we're building, if we get the recruitment right, it is the way to get lasting improvement.

You don't need to be a blind optimist to notice the improvements this season; you don't need to be a curmudgeon to see the two types of player we need to start bridging the gap.

Also, yeah, I do think Vaughan was better at 25 than 21; he was banging goals in at Huddersfield. Something to do with more experience.

"He's scored 13 goals which have all been scuffed" — Bullshit of the highest order.

I get that you don't rate him, but stop constantly shifting the goalposts (now big offers from Man Utd need to vindicate him!) and recognise that the chances really are that he will be an improved striker in four years time.

"Calvert-Lewin ...scored 13 goals which have all been scuffed or bounced 20 times before hitting the net, the least tidy striker of a ball I've seen since the Arouna Kone days."

Garbage. Pure invention. Back up that claim with a detailed description of his goals, Jim.

The facts are, based on this season alone when many are demanding we add more goals to the team, Richarlison leads with 8 with a goals-per-minutes-played rate of one every 161 minutes; Sigurdson is 2nd with 7 with a goal every 213 minutes; Calvert-Lewin is 3rd with 5 and a goal every 114 minutes. Add to that tally another 5 goals he has scored with England U-21s in 192 minutes – a goal every 38 minutes played.

Those stats alone might suggest to some we need to give Calvert-Lewin more game time, not less... or, even worse, pack him off to a Championship side so someone else can benefit from him.

In the meantime, do what you always do, Jim: promote the flavour of the month, week, weekend or day you randomly pick up on as the solution to our striker issues.

I also suggest a genuine serious contender to replace Seamus Coleman at some point. No matter what way you look at it, Seamus is 30 and his particular position is all about running up and down the flank; I don't think he can do that well anymore.

We were outplayed by a struggling West Ham at Goodison; same can be said for Watford, so you think travelling to clubs in the recognised top 5 or 6 and losing is a surprise?

Those who have said we are no better than a decade ago are right; so too are those saying we've reverted back to the Bobby Brown Shoes style of Chuckle Brothers back-five passing – not to mention the same around the opposition's penalty box.

Pre Moshiri, many of us said that Lukaku would be replaced by an aged Rooney; yep. Pre Moshiri, many of us said that, when Lukaku leaves, we'll not replace him; yep.

The only thing that's changed is the price you pay for mediocrity. Oh, and maybe the polish — we've replaced the Brasso for Goddards.

There are two types of evidence people can usefully bring to any debate: statistical and empirical evidence. The latter refers to that which is seen, which is more open to dispute and varied qualification determined by each individual beholder, oft times heavily influenced by their own preconceived notion of a player.

Jim doesn't 'do' either. He makes wild unsubstantiated claims which are easily disproved by both statistical and empirical evidence.

He will not, for example, be able to back up his earlier claim that all of Calvert-Lewin's goals have been 'scuffed or bounced 20 times before hitting the net [and that he is] the least tidy striker of a ball I've seen since the Arouna Kone days.'

Any 'Rant Radio' station would love a contributor like Jim to boost their ratings, who brings a scatter-gun approach to all things Everton, but seldom, if ever, hits the target.

The manager doesn't seem to be learning from past mistakes. I really hope he starts to; if you think we are making progress, then you're watching a different match to me.

And please don't say we're a work in progress as you don't get time for that in the Premier League.

We all know, if someone feels something to be true, it is... and that – if things always went tits up in the past – they will always go tits up in the future.

The one thing I wouldn't agree with Jim on is Vardy, who is 32 and, as someone rightly pointed out, he's hardly banging them in; he has been benched a lot lately. That said, he can take a penalty better than the Icelandic imposter, so maybe that's a reason to sign him.

Wilson I'm not sure on either; he seems to be flavour of the month. I'd have Doucoure in a heartbeat. Big, strong, quick, and will weigh in with the odd goal — something most of our midfielders seem to be lacking.

I think Jim has made some good points because, what I'm watching, the football has been no better under Silva than what it was under the last two clowns. He will get it right, though, I'm certain of it.

The atmosphere is so turgid and silent at Goodison Park these days that even most long-serving fans seem to reflect the malaise about where this club is or is going — excitement and the surprise element is virtually null and void.

But don't worry, we are 'a work in progress' and 'in transition' aren't we?

After all, isn't that what we've been saying the last 10 years?

“We are a work in progress — this time next year, we'll be great.”

I suppose it beats "This Time Next Year, We'll Be Millionaires..." lol.

I've no problem at all with your opinions or analysis – some of which I agree with; some of which I don't.

I would suggest, however, if married, you spend some time with your Mrs and try to get lucky. It'll help the pent-up frustration. If you're not married, hook up or take matters into your own hands.

Laugh, Jim. The second paragraph was a joke.

Surely it would be better, when you have no-one else, to give some encouragement to a player who never stops trying. I doubt if anyone would complain if he scored with the ball deflected, going in off his head while lying on the ground, if it came against Tottenham next weekend.

Jim #5, #13, #18, #22, #24, #35, #43, #45, #48, #51, #53, #60, #75 – please never become arsed!

Your post is living proof of what I said about empirical evidence, the most difficult type of evidence to find common consensus on because each and every individual sees the same scenario differently.

You (and evidently Jim Bennings) are not seeing any progress, either by the manager, the team or individuals. Plenty others are.

And everything in life, never mind 22 blokes kicking a bloated pig skin around a field, is always transient.

Everton certainly have been under the ownership of Moshiri. We are already on to our fifth manager (including Unsworth) in less than 3 years; one wedge of a transfer kitty was wastefully blown last year; Brands and Silva inherited a shambles. There was never going to be a quantum leap forward this season, let alone in the first half-season.

But yet again, in his last post, Jim invents an attitude he attributes to the wider Everton support: that we are 'happy' with 8th and always (and only) apologetic and saying 'we are a work in progress.'

There are plenty – but plenty – who want not to just win one-off games against the very best in the Premier League, but to genuinely compete with them for trophies. I am among them.

What I will not do, as way of example of Jim Bennings's very particular mindset (which he laughably mocks and questions in other Blues), is – as he did in the wake of the derby game – wish for some bizarre Faustian pact that would see Liverpool eliminated by Napoli in the Champions League, with the pay off being that Everton wouldn't win a game this side of Christmas. And in the same breath, claiming himself to be a staunch Evertonian.

And he mocks the 'ambition' and 'small-time thinking' of fellow Blues, then posts verbal diarrhoea as per the example above.

Phhhttt...

Jim Bennings, you talk about lack of ambition but then say we should get Vardy, an ageing player who can't get game time for a team below us in the Premier League and who will be 32 in January and relies heavily upon his dwindling pace!

Callum Wilson is a different kettle of fish and I think he would be a good signing, though rumour has it that Chelsea have lined him up. And the notion that we should only buy players with proven Premier League experience is obviously garbage; see Bolasie, Williams, Schneiderlin etc and also Aubemayang, Aguero, Lacazette, Henry, Suarez etc.

“Oh, he's a lazy inconsistent nobody — why would we touch Shaqiri?”

Too many Everton fans these days have probably started watching this club when Moyes was here, content to always celebrate finishing 8th, punching above our weight, getting pats on the back from big Pep and Co.

The sheer nerve of people to be born after you, Jim. Wish these young people would all just fuck off.

Oh, by the way, what does 'empirical' mean? It will save me getting my dictionary out.

What did Einstein say about doing the same thing over and again? Surely we should be giving Calvert-Lewin his chance if only to determine he is not the answer.

As someone identified earlier in the thread, we have only scored once in open play against the top 6 so far this season – yeah and guess who scored it.

1) How do I get my match credits up if I cannot buy tickets for away fixtures in the first place?

2) If I bought a ticket through StubHub, will I receive the match credit for it?

Help!

This season started so brightly but the basic fact is we have still not won against the top six and we struggle with teams from six down to 12, and again we have been knocked out early in the cup.

I guess another season of skits and jokes from the Everton - Liverpool banter page from my friends (I live in Melbourne, Australia and have supported Everton for 50 years. I blame me dad – he was a mad Everton supporter who emigrated to Australia when I was 2. Over here, everyone is a Liverpool supporter.

Even when my dad was alive and they started the Merseyside Darts and social club, it was like 50 members, 3 Everton supporters, the rest Liverpool supporters.

So, as a result, when I go into social hibernation due to built-up frustration at never really being in the same league as the big teams, my friends know not to send me or give me any Liverpool banter.

Which really makes me appreciate how frustrating it must be for Everton fans living in Liverpool. My dad always used to say he didn't come from Liverpool, he came from Birkenhead

How we've got to this is beyond me, we've got so many wingers, we've had to loan two out but have got three of the poorest forwards in the Premier League making the matchday squads most weeks.

January can't come quick enough. Saying that, I think Silva's doing a decent job but this is going to take time.

I hate to break it to you but, no matter what manager we bring in, no matter what players we sign, no matter how much money we spend, it's going to take time. You have to crawl before you can walk. You have to walk before you can run. That's just the way it is. If you're looking for instant gratification, prepare to be disappointed.

You are evidently hard of reading. I gave a clear and simple definition of 'empirical', twice, using one of your own posts as an example – 'what you see with [your] own eyesight'.

And I'd rather have the capacity to express my own opinion than simply echoing another because it resonates with you, as you do without adding anything new. It's definitely not a gift on your part.

If ever Everton were to compete at the top again, it will be in my next life time. I'm just glad I witnessed the 80s although it would have been great for it to have lasted a lot longer than it did.

Man City are still in the shadow of their red neighbours and it will take another 10 years of consistant succsess before they are ever being talked about in the same vein as Man Utd.

Realistically, we need more luck than money... coz money spent so far has seen us swimming against the tide.

We sold Lukaku and replaced him with Tosun, and now Tosun doesn't start. Confused? Join the club.

We have to define which players play in which position, and stop this tinkering up front. Either play forwards as forwards and if they're not good enough get rid and buy a recognised goalscorer. Simple.

We have good enough players behind the ball, but we are asking Richarlison to play the striker role. Difficult to understand.

Richalison needs to be joined up top with two goal-getters, this will give us a potent strike force which is something we don't have.

The midfield is strong, the defence has improved, I love Seamus, I really do but he needs to either be given a rest or step up. If Jonjoe Kenny isn't good enough to give Seamus a rest then we need a new right back.

Goals are scored from all over the pitch by top teams; we play good football but we simply don't have enough goals in our squad.

The mentioned players may be out of our reach but, if the Blues were to sign Zaha, Rashford and a right back of the level of Digne then the top 4 would be in trouble. Ignore the names above as genuine targets, I'm more pointing to them as examples in Zaha scores from wide areas while creating chances for a striker, Rashford is a young hard-working forward who scores goals and has a bright future, and again the right back situation needs looking at.

If I'm honest, I'd look at giving Calvert-Lewin a run of games, with Richarlison left and Lookman on the right, this gives us a very mobile forward line with plenty of potential. Tosun and Niasse have no future at the club, I also wouldn't be surprised to see Walcott sold in the summer, so why not give the above three a real go at things between now and the end of the season?

A brief glance at the record since Moyes moved on will show that managerial appointments have been a disaster; most signings even more so and the outlook for the future 'top half' at best.

For those who have suffered less years of 'showing patience' than I have, it is their duty to serve their sentence as so many of us have done. I do not begrudge them their optimism nor the opportunity to fiddle around with team selection and formations – I've done it for years – but think not that you can turn this sorry lot into Top Five challengers.

Mid-table or just above is our lot – not just for now but forever.

I don't know if your post is the most optimistic or pessimistic post I have ever read on ToffeeWeb.

It's super-optimistic that we will forever be in the top division but no better than mid-table; or it's pessimistic for us never getting better than mid-table.

What's happened is since Moyes left we have been left behind again (much like in the early '90s with the inception of the Premier League). The last six years have seen Tottenham leave us behind in a trail of dust (Spurs a team who we were regularly finishing above under Moyes).

We are imagining that we are making progress when really we aren't even at the same stage we were in about 2007 when we were finishing 5th.

We have been left behind because, for whatever reason we can't attract big sponsorships, we can't compete off the pitch and it's started showing over the last six years that we can't. It's not Silva's fault because he's just another victim of this clubs inability to properly move forwards.

We can start talking about progress when we are in the Champions League most seasons or have won something noteworthy. Finishing 8th, 9th or 10th and just playing a better style isn't progress — that's just the same shit served with a different dressing.

Seriously though, I understand where you are coming from. Moshri was supposed to be our knight in shining armour, returning us to the top of the pile. Instead, on board the good ship Everton, we have had a bit of a mess and a broken rudder. We all know the issues, no point in me listing them.

Instead, try looking on the bright side. Man Utd, one of the financially biggest clubs on the planet, are having a great time. Maureen continues to sulk, they have wasted money on Pogba & Fred (𧵎 mill.) They got hammered at Mordor; at least we gave them a game. We still came away with nothing but... well... erm...

They say Jose has a 3-year cycle with any team, gets bored and loses focus. Well, Marco has a 3-month focus! 3 months of good results at Hull & Watford, then tails off; 3 months with us and he is tailing off, see the pattern? [I ain't being serious with the last bit.]

I still choose to believe we will get it right both on and off the pitch and hopefully Moshri now has the right people to advise him. I also believe the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium will happen as that will give him the returns he seeks.

Talking about our new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, I saw a tweet yesterday showing a video inside Spurs new ground. The pictures are amazing the concourse inside is brilliant!

I would be super excited if I was Spurs fan. I don't know who designed their stadium, but Dan Meis will have to come up with something very special to top it.

I generally avoid main-stream topics and focus on nostalgia, but I'm informed that there's no future in that now. I am by nature a 'glass half-empty' man but there are some who don't appear to have a glass.

We all know what needs addressing to improve matters on and off the field, and I include Moshiri, Brands, and Silva in that select company. As an 80-year-old supporter, 70 of those years regularly attending matches, I have seen the good, the bad, and the horrible.

I become as disappointed as any other fan when things aren't going well, but I don't beat myself up over it. I realise that I can't rectify the mistakes that have been made over the years. There are certain things that I may express views on (team selection, for example) but I also know that, if my opinion was shared by Marco Silva and Everton lost 3-0, I wouldn't have to face the flak.

I can use the semi-final of the FA Cup as an example: I questioned the selection of Kevin Sheedy, who justified Howard Kendall's choice by playing a major part in the victory. Had the gamble not paid off, Kendall would have no doubt come in for a considerable amount of stick, and I would have escaped scot-free.

I also believe that berating the management, staff, and players relieves the pent-up emotions, but it does nothing to solve the problems. We as supporters are unfortunately in no position to right the perceived wrongs. Apologies for the ramblings, it's my way of letting off steam.

St Jordan of Pickford needs to be sat down and shown videos of his positional howlers. Don't get me wrong — he is a good goalie, one of the best in the Premier League — but still has an awful lot to learn.

Does anyone at Finch Farm work on corners and set pieces? We must be the easiest team to play against in the division.

We missed Gana against Man City. His break-up play is not replicated by anyone else in a blue shirt.

Bernard is not that good. Playing three at the back doesn't work. Zouma is much better than Mina.

Marco Silva must be given more funds and more time to build a team. ToffeeWebbers would have us relegated by now if we followed through with their suggested buys. Richarlison needs to stay on his feet more and stop complaining every time he is challenged (it's becoming an embarrassment). Lookman must start the next three games on the left.

Half-term report will read. "Improved style, same old results. C+".

As Sydney Greenstreet, in "The Maltese Falcon", said to Humphrey Bogart: "By gad, sir, I like a man who tells it like it is" — or words to that effect. I have not seen it lately.

Well, Derek, that's what you are doing, telling it as you see it. None of us can say you are wrong but "By gad, sir, I certainly hope you are!"

By the way, I am told that "sad tales" fella in Family at War was named Derek!!!

1) A top-2 on 44/45 points;

2) Then there are 3 teams battling for Champions League football on 39/37/34 points;

3) Then 8 teams from 6th to 13th with between 26 and 21 points, with the winners of this group getting 6th place (and a possible, not certain, Europa League place);

4) Then the bottom 7 on between 16 and 9 points, all of whom are battling against the drop.

Any movement between these groups is unlikely.

In our mini-league of 8, we're now in 3rd. Our aim should be a minimum of 2nd, and a target of 1st (6th place, above Man Utd).

Aspirations to move into one of the groups above us will require patience, money, and luck. To expect it this season, or to have expected it, is unreasonable. A shame, yes, but true. We have a generally new and young team, with a young manager.

Liverpool's attack, for example, as well as being well bedded in, is full of players at 26/27/28 years of age. They are at their peak, and it shows.

Richarilson is still a kid; hopefully we will sign others like him, and in 3 years they'll be reaching their peak together, and we will be a force to be reckoned with.

We are slightly underperforming from what should be our expectations: the 2 home draws, 4 points dropped, pushing us down to 8th, when we should be 6th. But it is no disaster, and we ain't in a crisis. We are improving, but to improve to the level we want will take much longer than many can accept.

Brands said from the start it would be a long-term project. The summer signings definitely took us away from relegation candidates to mid table.

My appraisal of the six signings:

Digne: excellent, would be comfortable in any team. Has pace and good attacking qualities. Occasionally caught too far forward.

Mina: good but not as dominant as I hoped, but early days and should improve with coaching.

Zouma: has improved with each game. We need his pace at the back.

Gomes: excellent, class player but won't give us many goals from midfield.

Richarlison: excellent, but is not as comfortable up front on his own. Should develop into a top player.

Bernard: struggles at times with the physicality of the Premier League, and won't provide many goals.

The amount of money the top 6 generate not only swells their coffers it also attracts top players. You only have to look at our neighbours never won the Premier League but because of their history in the Champions League they are still a big draw for players.

Spurs under Pochettino are now starting to get regular Champions League places, so while not having the buying power of the other top 6 getting into the Champions League will attract better players. I would also imagine that their new stadium will bring extra revenue streams.

I think they are definitely the template we need to follow, they appointed a young progressive coach and they buy very well. I think with Brands and Silva, Moshiri is looking to do what Spurs have done. they are probably 3/4 years ahead of us at present.

The worry for Spurs is a lot of what they have achieved is largely down to Pochettino, and should they lose him they might find replacing him extremely hard and it would seriously impact on them. Let's remember things didn't go great for Pochettino when he first went to Spurs and we must show the same patience with Silva.

Two or three windows I think you can make an assessment of what is possible. It looks a closed shop – but teams like Spurs need to deliver before the squad ages or stars brake up.

It will take time to repair...

He literally never gets to the ball first. It can't be pace, he actually seems to move away from the best position. His shooting is awful; he falls down constantly. When me and the boy are watching we often wonder if he's still on the pitch.

I was watching old footage of Michael Owen goals from 1998. Lad was 18, what amazing goals and pace. How do we uncover one of him, imagine if he didn't get injured in 2001.

Having the means to get the right people in, changed things for them.

Some may choose to believe Everton are 'destined' to be mid-table forever. But, for some of us, the world runs on cause and effect and we put pre-determined future destinies alongside bone-rattling and rune-tossing.

It ain't true.

It never ceases to amaze me the shite talk some people constantly come out with. It's so easy to say he's rubbish and she should be sacked and he shouldn't play but it's a lot harder to offer REAL solutions.

It took Man City years and a hell of a lot of wasted money on flops such as Robinho, Balotelli, Jo, Mangala, Bony etc before they started to get near the top. Liverpool have been there for years as nearly men and have spent millions and had some brilliant players who came and left but again never won the title.

The Leicester win was something unique and gives the smaller less wealthy teams hope but it is a bloody tough job to win football titles and trophies and that's why we need to be realistic.

We are not a big club any more, financially or trophy wise. Yes we can dream and believe we can win things but realistically we are probably scrapping with Man Utd, Arsenal and Spurs for 4th, 5th and 6th places for the years ahead unless one of them has a bad season or a very good season.

I'd love to see Silva go all out to win the FA Cup as in play their best 11 every game and have a plan. Forget coming 6th or 7th and getting into Europe. We want the excitement of a good cup run.

I see enough progress already to think we are on the right track and it looks like Moshiri is willing to put his money where his mouth is.

If we had a good 20+ goal scorer like Lukaku a few years ago, we could be sitting 4th. I agree, it's hard to be patient though, with the RS sitting top of the Premier League.

I couldn't agree more with your "mini-league" assessment.

I feel we have to finish first in the mini-league, not second, for the season to be a success.

We're in a season of transition, but need to finish "best of the rest" to poise ourselves for a top 4 run in the next season or two. And Man Utd are simply awful this year.

Finish 6th and I'll look up. Finish 7th or 8th and I'm with Derek Taylor.

I agree with the mini-league theory but wouldn't be too fed-up if Everton ended the season in 7th, it's where we could reasonably expect to finish given that the current top six is made up of the same clubs that have usually ended in those positions for the last five years or so. The exceptions being in Roberto's first season (2014) when Everton took 5th place at the expense of Manchester United who ended in 7th and when Southampton (2016) ended in 6th with Liverpool finishing the season in 8th.

2018 Burnley (54) 7 points behind 6th
2017 Everton (61) 8 points behind 6th
2016 West Ham (62) 1 point behind 6th
2015 Southampton (60) 2 points behind 6th
2014 Man Utd (64) 5 points behind 6th

If we accept that Burnley's total of 54 points last season was exceptionally low, it would seem that to take 7th place requires circa 57 points and to take 6th place needs a team to achieve more than 60 points.

Man Utd are having a poor season by their standards and Everton should certainly attempt to overhaul them, but that will only happen if the Blues are consistently good from here on in and Man Utd remain erratic or poor.

Everton need to get in excess of 12 victories or the equivalent points from the remaining 63 available, in order to break the sixty points barrier, which is possible, but unfortunately unlikely, given our lack of goalscoring power and our propensity to give stupid goals away.

I hear what you are saying about points totals, and the historical amount needed to finish 6th / 7th.

But right now, at this point in time, we find ourselves only two points off a terrible, terrible Man Utd team. This is a Man Utd team who would have 11 different opinions on how to screw in a light bulb. And one asshole saying the only way to do it is to stop everyone else from screwing it in so you can do it yourself. They're a chemistry nightmare, and they're in free fall this season.

If we're going to start to actually look up, we need to make tangible progress. This season, more than any other, is ripe to pick off one of the bigger Clubs in the standings. It would be a step forward.

I remember everyone saying at the beginning of the season that 7th is about where we should be expected to finish. I agreed. But, I remember saying to myself, "That's where we should finish, where's the progress in that?"

For me, 6th is progress. Silva is a good manager. If we have progress, he'll look to improve the next season. If we finish where we should, it's all kind of "what's the point?" Again!

Hope you understand these ramblings.

We are playing good stuff but will never get near the top unless we bring in some goalscoring players and I'm not just talking about a CF. Bernard for all his skill couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo. Walcott needs to step up or step out and one of Gomes or Gana needs to be replaced with a goalscoring midfield player of the Yaya Toure kind.

Coleman has also lost his ability to get up and score a few and Digne for all his class is not contributing as much as Bainesy did in his prime. It is nice to have ability in the side but every top team needs goals from at least 5 or 6 players.

We had Miralllas, Barkley, Lukaku and Fellaini who despite their shortcoming contributed valuable goals. Come on, Marcel, find us some goalscorers and not just a centre-forward.

Our goal difference is also markedly poorer. The same fixtures in 17/18 yielded 31 goals for 20 against... This season it's 24-22.

Oh, I replaced West Brom with Wolves, Fulham for Stoke, and Cardiff for Swansea. This seemed to be the most balanced results-wise.

However, you have to have speed. skill, a high-intensity level and the ability to track back as a unit when needed and Everton among many teams don't have it and that's why it's becoming a two horse race.

We can only hope that given time Silva manages to achieve something close to that formation but it won't happen with what he has at his disposal right now.

January may see them turn in the right direction depending on new signings but new signings can take time to settle in so I would expect next season before anything great happens.

How many points did we have after 19 games, and what was our goal differential after 19 games? I would look it up but have no idea how to "filter" that type of information.

We can't be too far off where we were half-way through the season last year.

And one thing should be said before we start looking at the glass not only ½-empty, but ¾-empty. We are so, so, so much better to watch. And there's a style and plan for each game. Silva is doing an excellent job.

I think hopes got up quite a bit when we were in 6th. Everyone could smell a win at Mordor. Coming off **cough-cough** that, and then two pretty crap draws, it's so Everton.

We're close! Nah... reel it in a bit; we're not. Frustrating. But we are moving in the right direction in my opinion. Teams are way, way more concerned about us now than they've been for a few years. Sport is cyclical. We have the right management and team in place to be on the ascendency soon.

My God, what a win against Spurs would do for our confidence.

Jamie #126, we had a total of 26 points after 19 games with 24 goals for and 30 against. Based on this, unless, we get hammered in at least one of the next two games, it looks like our goal difference will be better this term at halfway and points very similar, possibly identical.

We definitely need a win to build momentum again.

I've no problem with them being asked to carry it out as that's what he wants as part of his team's characteristics. But to try it, as a formation, with limited ball carriers, dropped in away, to the best team in the league was definitely an error of judgment. I'd also expect the players to modify that instruction as soon as it's clear the ploy is hurting us, they need to show more game intelligence.

It left us light in midfield and that's where they completely out-numbered us. Swarmed! "Yeah, yeah, it was Man City," I hear you cry. But truly when you look at that game we're they really that good? I didn't think so.

I thought they were pretty average by their standards. Of all the away performances this year I thought this was by some distance the worst.

I hope Silva reflects on it. As long as there's a reaction, then all good. We are in far better shape since we changed the manager.

I think this is the one time where Silva has set us up more defensively, and (predictably) it didn't seem to work as effectively as fighting fire with fire against a team that plays attacking football.

Silva:

Played 17
Won 6
Draw 6
Lost 5
Goals For 24
Goals Against 22
Goal Difference +2
Points 24

Games played against the top six - 5
Lost 4
Draw 1

Allardyce:

Played 17
Won 6
Draw 4
Lost 7
Goals For 19
Goals Against 26
Goal Difference –7
Points 22

Games played against the top six - 5
Lost 4
Draw 1

We have gained two additional points under Silva, scored five more goals and conceded four less. The improvement in the goals tally is largely thanks to the contributions of Richarlison, who has scored a third of our goals, and Sigurdsson. The latter did not feature in the final eight games of Allardyce's reign owing to injury.

The improvement in our defensive performance is mainly due to the improvement in Keane's form and the avoidance of heavy defeats. The 4-0 and 5-1 reversals at Spurs and Arsenal last January and February have thankfully not been repeated in this campaign.

We have improved, albeit marginally, after bringing in six senior players at significant expenditure. Some pundits at the start of the season thought Silva would start well but struggle once teams sussed out how he sets the team up. We must hope that is proved inaccurate or the second half of the season will be hugely disappointing.

The Spurs fixture is already being labelled by some a ‘must-win' game, which is not a good place to be, against opponents we have failed to beat since Moyes departed in 2013. A win on Sunday would do us all a power of good but equally we need to see some victories away from home starting with either Burnley or Brighton, preferably both.

Better teams than us, notably a team like Chelsea have utilized full backs as part of the back three. It's a better way to retain the ball, maybe Digne in there and Baines might be a better way?

Coleman's weakness with the ball rendered him a passenger for the game. Is it coincidence that the goals in part came down that side? But more of a concern, is that conceding goals from crosses is happening again. Two from City, one from Newcastle and Watford in the last three.

The fact we don't stem the actions at source render the defending after that harder to critique and viewed with a deal of sympathy. Three from four down our right...

Weekend footy, this season, has actually been something of interest, of excitement, of actual entertainment. Maybe some frustrating results but, at the end of the day, entertainment is the reason I watch footy.

Last season was miserable, it was awful. I woke up on weekends and the last thing that I was interested in doing was wasting my Saturdays watching turgid, boring, crap football.

This season is different, and Silva deserves credit for that. We will improve still.

Guardiola – 47
Klopp – 51
Pochettini – 46
Sarri – 59
Emery – 47
Mourinho – 55
Espirto Santi – 44
Silva – 41
Pelligrini – 65
Graci – 48

I'd suggest experience counts, besides footballing nous and all the other attributes needed to be a successful top-flight manager.

In the whole Premier League, only Eddie Howe is younger — by four-or-so months.

In part, I put that down to the fact that the club continues to suffer from the perennial problem of no goal scorer up front. Moyes never really had a 20 a season striker not Koeman or Allardyce. Martinez had one for a couple of seasons and still managed to take us down the table.

Watching the games, the problems I see are pretty straightforward, Walcott is like Stirling for England: lots of pace but no end product, the odd great forward run as the ball goes backwards, a lack of movement from players particularly up front when we have the ball, people not understanding what the words "get in to space" mean and of course playing the ball from the back when the other team are marking all the defenders.

I was not comfortable with our move for Mina based on a couple of World Cup games – particularly when it was clear that the guy alongside him was by far and away the better centre-half.

I didn't want Silva as manager as I was not convinced and remain hopeful that I will be proved wrong. What I did want was a manager from Germany; perhaps the guy who got goals out of Lookman. And I noticed that one of the managers I thought might be worth a punt managed to beat Arsenal at the weekend.

The Man City game is not the one that worries me most, it is the poor if not dire performances against Newcastle and Watford. Against the former we had all the ball but could not break them down and against the latter had no hunger when compared to the opposition who simply ran over us especially in the second half.

As for the comment about Man City,118 years is a period that implies lots of, yet following the takeover by the oil men of Dubai they had won the cup in two and the league in three years. That is not "years" that is progress. We are nowhere near winning an silverware because our board pick people they like rather than looking at the CV of managers and saying can they win us things.

Silva has shown no evidence to say that he can win things and playing nice football is worthless if the other team in your city is bringing home the silver plate every couple of years (although probably not the Premier League title). I for one want to go to Anfield next season knowing that we stand a chance of winning (scoring would be an improvement but gives no boasting rights) and the same against some of the rest of the top 6.

Despite the farts we've laid as Joe points out, we're 1000 times prettier on the eye under Silva. It's night and day. Even when not at our best, we create some chances. Last season if we mustered a single shot all game we were fortunate.

Last season was summed up, perfectly I might add, by my fellow American on the live forum, Tim Greeley.

He quoted the King of Rohan from Lord of the Rings Before yet another dire Allardyce shit-show.

Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. How did it come to this?

I almost wet myself I laughed so hard. The despair was so tragic and so real.

We are MILES better off under Silva, thank you very much.

Mind you we're still down on points at home, I think it's 9 when you consider we beat Huddersfield, West Ham, Newcastle & Watford last season, 12 points from a possible 12.

This time it's 3 from 12 which for me is the bigger thing. In 2017-18, we scored 10 and conceded 2. Against these teams at home we've gone from a goal difference of +8 to –2.

I'm not forgetting either that the 3 points we did manage this season we had to salvage, we were behind against Huddersfield, Newcastle and Watford.

It doesn't look a lot but it's a quarter of our home games and I don't think the likes of Wolves and Bournemouth will be pushovers when we now know the opposition play a bit more negatively at our place... and get points.

We've had more of an even spread of fixtures these first 4 months of the season than the previous two starts under Koeman too.

But hey, we're nicer to watch – so it's all okay.