Gueye on target for Senegal while Mina's Colombia best Argentina

He can't be blamed for that, and if he has a full pre-season with us, I think we'll start to see the player Brands bought. His performance against Messi and Co was awesome.

Agree 100%. Add the injuries to the fact that he had to get accustomed to the faster pace of the Premier League and there are the reasons.

Players having their first season in the Premier League regularly mention our football is faster paced than anything they have played previously. The great Marcel Desailly was awful for the first half a season when he came.

I'm not putting Mina in that class but shows the adaptation required.

"Don't ask me if the football is better or worse than in Italy. It's just different. In Italy, even if it is a big game, the two teams will look at each other for a time. Here it's straightaway, kick the ball, you run, you jump, you fight from beginning to the end. It's really very surprising, but I will get used to it."

Marcel Brands held this player in very high regard and he knew exactly the quality he was bringing. We could have a real bargain on our hands here.

As for Gueye, he's been my favourite Everton player for a while now. I've always thought that he is better on the ball than people give him credit for and he played some superb passes in the last third of the last season. No Pirlo for sure but certainly good enough on his day. Hope he picks up next season where he left off from last one, though interesting that I thought he actually had some of his best days next to (or just in front of actually) Schneiderlin rather than Gomes.

I'm with you, mate, there is a colossus in there somewhere in Mina, we've just got to get it out of him like we did with Keane. The lad's still young for a centre-half and is getting to grips with his injury problems and lack of games. The Premier League is quick and physical, get Mina some game time and we will have a good defender.

Colombia deserved to win, good team performance.

Vamos Colombia!!

Mina is a good player. He was a colossus in defence and attack here in Brazil when winning the title with Palmeiras 3 years ago. I don't think he was as outstanding as some have stated against Argentina on Saturday, but he was very good and very solid in everything he did.

Colombia is managed by the exceedingly experienced and savvy Portuguese Carlos Queiroz these days. Queiroz leans more towards defensive solidity and it was noticeable that, unlike in previous Colombian teams when both Mina and Spurs' Sanchez often ventured forward with the ball, that both centre backs vs Argentina barely ventured over the halfway line, 'staying at home' more.

Argentina had neither the guile nor the speed to move the Colombian defence around and the pair of them were on 'easy street' for most of the game. The Colombians fully merited their win, scoring two cracking goals.

Everton, remember, lost Mina's services at the back end of the season when Queiroz foolishly played him in two consecutive friendlies when he was still recovering from an injury. I'm happy for Mina to be playing in the Copa America. It gives him much-needed game time and a competitive pre-season to Everton's own pre-season training.

Both the player and the club can benefit from this.

In last night's game, Uruguay and Ecuador there was another Everton connection. Our former loanee Enner Valencia played for Ecuador in their 4-0 loss. Uruguay benefitted from a harsh VAR red card for Ecuador on 25 minutes, but they do look very good.

Astonishingly, Cavani's goal was his first ever in a Copa America tie. It's taken him 11 games to break his duck.

I believe Eurosport are covering the Afcon games and is usually available on Freeview.

It's not those games I worry about, it's the lesser games he loses concentration in and appears complacent. The Millwall game, he was at the root of the mistakes and didn't fancy it at all.

He won't be forming a partnership with Keane – they are essentially the same centre-half. Together, they would be exposed for pace and Keane needs stability around him to perform well; Mina is not stable!

If Mina comes good, I think it will be at Keane's expense. We need a pacy centre-back to complement both.

To date, Mina hasn't put a decent string of starts together without either getting injured or doing something weird. He has to do that before, in my mind, he is a regular starter.

Weather has plays well or not for his country still won't answer that question.

Is he fit enough for the Premier League or will he be an injury prone player whose body isn't suited to the rigours.

Is he good enough to adapt to the different styles that are played each week? The Premier League is like no other.

Hopefully in 6 months, and in 6 years, the answers will be a resounding Yes! Until then, I'll continue to be concerned about our defence.

As for Gana, he's simply great and starting to add goals to his game. We need to keep him!

Cuco was beaten by a thru ball for the only goal of the game.

Argentina are a perfect example to those who believe a 20-goal-a-season striker would be the answer to all our problems. They have got two and they have spent forever trying to remember how to get the ball to them.

Looking at the TW survey, I see the overwhelming majority think a 20-goal striker is our priority. It won't happen. They cost too much. I'd rather Silva developed a system where 3-4 players will get enough opportunities to get comfortably into double figures.

Going back to central defence, I sincerely hope those calling for a Mina - Keane partnership don't get their wish. Both have a questionable first touch (the predators will already know this) and while Mina takes 4-5 strides to get into top gear Keane hasn't got one... We would either go back to the dark days of defending deep, or the speed merchants would murder them.

Regards getting multiple scorers rather than one high contributor, that was Koeman's thought too, and seems to be the way now in most top Premier League teams.

But, most of the best teams have those 3 or 4 players AND a 20-a-season striker! We may be some way off that situation though!

I'm not sure I've seen many successful teams that never had pace at the back, especially now because the style seems to be about pushing up and pressing high, which surely means defenders have definitely got to have a turn of pace?

I'm looking forward to seeing if Mina can really adapt to English football, because he's definitely got the right attributes to become a very good centre-half.

Can we therefore conclude that he is crap in whatever position he plays? :-)

Examples of a centre-half adapting to a lack of pace include Maguire who was much derided and even ridiculed by one or two on these pages when he was suggested as a player we should buy.

I'm sure that a centre-back with pace must be high on Brands's shopping list. Unless him and Silva have great faith in Holgate (who sadly got almost not time at centre-back last season).

If we fail to keep Zouma, I'd go no further than Watford for the replacement. Cathcart was brilliant last season, including at international level when playing for Northeren Ireland. Unfortunately, his British origins and unsexy surname will go against him progressing his career.

I think there was a lot of interest in Maguire when Hull were relegated. I didnt see any reports linking him to us or read of any rumours on here, but he was linked to a few clubs and given Leicester had played CL football that year. It was a good move for him.

I did see one post saying he was linked to Man City, I guess thats why he has suddenly surfaced on here lately, but when I googled Maguire to City. I soon realised the story had orignated from that tatty little tabloid which the overwhelming majority of this city don't care to mention.

Needless to say, I didnt pursue it

Steve #24, like Darren I recall a whole lot of interest in Maguire at that time. I thought he was overpriced, although it looks like Leicester is going to reap a rich return from their investment if ManUtd pay anywhere close to that 䀆m figure. I still don't think he's that good.

Also Cathcart is 30, so any "progress" in his career has already been made, and he just signed a new four-year contract this week, so Brands and Silva will have zero interest.

That's where I seen it Steve. I can't vouch for anyone else.

“In the name of the father” a film, about Gerry and Giuseppe Conlan, the judge said if hanging still existed, they would have both been hanged for treason, which is exactly how I feel about the powers that be regarding Hillsborough.

McKenzie worked for Murdoch though, so why was Sky TV exempt?

An old but true saying Tony. The people fought long and hard for justice for their families. All to no avail when the establishment gathered the wagons. An absolute fucking disgrace the way they were allowed to do it.

His wages are very high but hes undoubtedly a top talent and would look great in Everton blue.

Might be over pushing but imo we should be looking to set standards high !