Big Second Half Sees Everton Into Last Eight

My ratings were as follows:

Pickford: Solid game, not much to do but his distribution was erratic. 6
Coleman: sub-par performance becoming the norm for a declining player. 5.
Digne: solid but unspectacular, almost scored the free-kick, but delivery not great. 6.
Mina: was playing very well until he had to go off. Hopefully it's a knock. 7.
Holgate: very competent performance from the young man, kept trying to be positive on the ball. 7.

Gomes: below par from one of our key men. Got better as the game wore on. He needs to stand up and be counted more often. 5.
Delph: solid, but just replicates a lot of what Gomes does, with a bit more work rate. No real weaknesses last night but just didn't create enough. 6.
Kean: was far too deep. Tried to make things happen but nothing came off. Very sad to see him hauled off and hopefully he bounces back fast. 5.
Iwobi: another solid but unspectacular game. He's not sensational but he is effective and when we shift the ball about quickly he is usually involved. 7.
Richarlison: as poor as Kean in the first half but got better in the second half. Took his goal well. Kept running. Kept at it. 6.

Calvert-Lewin: ran hard. Didn't give up. Never got much of a chance for a goal. Not one of his better games as his approach play can be better, but still did well. 6.

Keane: much better from big Mick, but that's easily said. Came on the pitch cold and made no mistakes. 6.
Walcott: made a big impact. Looks in good form and must get a run in the side now. He's a big personality in the dressing room and brings much experience. 7.
Tosun: came on and had a major impact. Lovely pass for the goal. Ran well and played for the team. 7.

Of those who played the full match Holgate was just about our best player last night. He was generally tidy in defence, made some key interceptions and tackles, used the ball positively and was in the right place to score the vital first goal.

Walcott made a difference in the second half but the forwards as a group benefited from earlier service and the midfield players pushing further up the field. Our problem is that when they do that Gomes and Delph plus the two full backs can be cut adrift if we lose possession, leaving our back line exposed to a swift counterattack. We were not punished last night but a better team might well have taken advantage.

Mine, short & sweet:
Pickford - 6
Digne - 5
Mina - 7 before he came off
Keane - 6
Holgate - 8
Coleman - 2 bye Seamus
Gomes - 4
Iwobi - 7
Delph - 5
Richarlison - 6
DCL - 4
Kean - 5
Walcott - 7
Tosun - 7 for 1 assist in his 10 mins

Cheers

As ever, it's all about opinions regarding individual player marks. The guy sitting next to me summed up Everton's general play this season stating simply 'there's no goals in this side', and I have to agree with him, after a pretty insipid first half, where we simply didn't look like scoring or more worryingly, creating any chances.

Although Richarlison scored what proved to be the winner, his overall play was poor throughout the game, and indeed it could have well been him instead of Moise Kean who was dragged off at half time.

On the subject of Kean, his arrival at Everton was unfortunate in it's timing. Being asked to make an impact in a team struggling for form and confidence, is tough for a 19 year old, who has ever only started five games for Juve.

God knows what last night's substitution did for the lads confidence, it was the biggest snub by a manager a player could possibly have.

On the plus side, In defence, Holgate offers us something different than Keane at centre half, he's quicker and more aggressive in the tackle, whether Silva affords him more games when Mina is fit again remains to be seen.

He'll certainly know he's been in a game this Sunday against Kane and Co.

It's a little ironic that Mina is now seen as the first choice of the candidates at centre half, yet pre season Kean was considered the no1 centre back with nothing to choose between Mina and Holgate.

Pity he's probably going to miss the next few games, as he really was making that position his own.

Just a quick word on the managerial situation. I don't know whether last night's result is just a 'stay of execution' or not. I think what all fair minded supporter's should be asking is 'Does this guy has what it takes to stop the horrible run of results in the short term, and realistically turn things around and move the club into the top 6'?
I'm not sure he does, although I'm desperately searching for the green shoots of recovery when I watch us play.

By the way Paul, which pub is offering the free pre match food? Or are you sworn to secrecy in case the hordes descend on it.

Keep filing the reports, it certainly provokes discussion

I think he has it in him to stop this horrible run of results. That must be the immediate priority. I doubt he has it in him to move the club into the top six. He certainly won't do it with the current squad. I very much doubt any manager could.

We will never be seen as a progressive club unless we have veggie dogs at Bradley Moore Dock. And that's only partly in jest because it's 2019 and the food available at Goodison is fucking disgusting.

Putting kean on the wing didn't work, but was arguably worth a punt to get him more game time.

if Silva leaves things as they are he gets it in the neck; if he tries to change it about, he gets it in the neck - even if the side win.

We're in a quarter final of a competition the club has never won. Something to be cheerful about, maybe?

So who takes Bernard's spot on Sunday? Does Iwobi move over and Siggy come in? Or does Richarlison move over and DCL come in?

I think Silva plays the midfield safe with Gomes and Delph (who, by the way plays the exact role as Schneiderlin but with a Yorkshire pudding accent). Fingers crossed we go with Davies and take this game to them, who are also going through a sticky patch.

Spurs have recently lost 0-3 to Brighton away. Confidence has been low. They need the points, we needs the points. I think this is the perfect game... for Spurs.

I have always been an optimist regarding Everton, our players and our prospects. It might be an age thing or l have finally succumbed to ToffeeWeb negs. I don't think so. I'm just watching the same tactics over and over again, the same mindset from players. Iwobi has made a big difference in midfield centrally but will probably move out to the wing again. Him and Davies through the middle has been a breath of fresh air. Walcott has also come back to form which has taken the better part of a year.

I recognise a team close to their manager and Richarlison could sulk but lf we lose, and badly like last season l want an end to this so we can save our season. It's the quarters of the Carabou Cup, not the Champions League.

AJay on another thread was right in saying we should be building around a core set of players. He just picked them wrong core.

Subway or match day hotdog from outside the ground (various establishments)?

I'll answer for you, there is no food like a match day hotdog from the burger van in the fan zone, bacon, cheese, sizzled onions, mustard, brown and red sauce added on top. (Just a little snack.)

Un-fooking-real, only on a par with a sausage dinner near midnight from Smithdown Road, once I've drank and pissed my pants into oblivion!!!!!

It was that it came at the expense of Kean playing out of position; if he actually showed that he cared about the lad he would've pulled DCL and moved Moise to CF, where he could at least have had a chance to shine. Lone striker isn't going to help him, but it would make sense to give it a go.

Finding mustard on the other hand...

It's a salient point though. I think the club are missing a commercial trick here. In the Bullens Road, accommodating new facilities is probably not possible due to space but there must be something that can be done with the Upper Gwladys Street?

That said, when I've been to Watford, their facilities are worse and at Stoke they only take cash at many stalls...