COYB

Glad to see Tosun is involved after recent form for Country and last week's point saver, but I still don't believe playing any 'lone striker' works!

Their midfield will be very deep and very solid and hard to get through. They've picked a team of workers. I hope Sigurdsson can have a bit more energy and try to make things happen. He will be key to getting 3 points today. I hope he's shown Marco something special in training to get this start and then carries this into the match.

Interesting promotion for Tosun. Richarlison back in his best position the way Silva's Everton plays. Great to see young Gordon on the bench. I hope we are in a position that he gets sone game time.

Saints will be well up for this. Will we is the question?

BIGGGG game this, absurd as that sounds.

As he said in his interview recently, he plays a key role in the side a bit like that chap at Barca.

Just seems funny to me that this key role in the side coincides with many of our poor runs like this season and the late Koeman - early Allardyce malaise.

Tom Davies will be a busy boy today.

Gordon seems like he might get his first league game, as Walcott never lasts the 90. Be great to see him on for the last 10 minutes. I Think he's in the squad to stay now as I think he will grab his chance.

The big question though, is where is Moise Kean?

Any of the youngsters would be an improvement - Baningime ?

Disgrace

He's 19 and has only performed sporadically. If his dropping out of the squad opens a berth for Anthony Gordon I ain't knocking it. Silva has to strike a balance between risk and reward, experience v raw novice.

Given his limited options I'm guessing both Baines and Coleman may be called on to play in midfield if necessary. Fair enough, I reckon.

The obvious concern is Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson. I would have played Iwobi for his physicality and movement alone, and also his link up with Walcott. I would have played Davies and Sigurdsson as deep midfielders and left Schneiderlin on the bench. Oh well.

Both teams are low on confidence, so I'm expecting a tight game. Hopefully we can edge it, we may need DCL and Iwobi off the bench to do so...

The brillo pad works it's magic and gets on the end of a Digne cross.

Southampton 0 Everton 1

If you/we agree that the team picked is a good one and they go on to play well and win well, is that down to Silva?

If you/we agree that the team picked is a good one and they go out and perform badly and get beat, is that down to Silva?

I ask because it seems, a lot of the time, that, when we do well, it's down to the players... but, when we do badly, it's generally considered to be the manager's fault (IMO).

Hope Brands has a better plan B this time round. Or maybe Holgate will really make that CB spot his own? Think Mina May have been our player of the season so far (little competition).

Fingers crossed Silva has this right as we desperately need a win. Not a team I would have gone anywhere near but it won't be the first time I have it wrong.

COYB.

Team playing well and positive and no signs of tension. Long may it last.

The rest of the half showed what an anomaly that was. Nothing from another ELEVEN attempts on goal. Just so little in terms of end-product...

The last 15 minutes or so he's actually done well. But we're playing Southampton who were pretty much returning the ball to us to attack again.

The first half really felt like we're playing a team that are ready to crumble if we get a second. For all our endeavour, I think the Tosun headed chance was all we managed?

The early goal lifted us and deflated them, including the home crowd.

Nice to see our 'Championship level at best' young 'uns playing so well. Again.

Good corner from Siggy, intelligent header by Mason, good positioning and finish by Tom.

Two assists and a goal from Holgate now, as well as playing well defensively. I'm pretty sure he tried a Beckham spotting the keeper off his line with that long punt from the centre circle.

No one playing badly. Tom excelling in midfield. Walcott very lively down their right.

But...we need that 2nd goal. There is no denying that Everton get very flakey after conceding.

The Saints surely won't be so poor 2nd half, so we need to be switched on from the restart and stitch together two good halves of football. Something we've done too rarely in recent times.

Looking like we can no longer win an away game when we are up let alone come back from behind. I sincerely want to see some players in blue prove me wrong and settle my nerves

What a depressing thing to say when considering pre-season optimism.

Issy Crowley.

You chose to say it. You could have said three (yes, 3) points off 5th!

We are only 3 points off Sheffield United who sit 5th.

The win was deserved and it's a very important one giving us daylight between us and the drop zone heading into the break. Also, we're nicely nestled between Spurs and Man Utd, which should keep the spotlight off Silva in the "sack race" for a few weeks at least.

Davies excellent first half then faded but he's doing fine. Holgate just needs to hone his concentration, though he has so much class and I think if he keeps learning he will be playing for England in a couple of seasons. I thought Richarlison, despite the usual nonsense and misfires, was our best player overall.

Anyway, the details don't matter. Let's all enjoy the result and the rest of the weekend.

Sidibe owed us his excellent cross for Richarlison's winner. It was his extremely poor control from a good crossfield pass from Schneiderlin that invited the early pressure and consecutive corners that eventually led to their equaliser.

Sidibe gathers the ball in with space to attack and Walcott offering himself outside and we are on the front foot.

Missing it as he did and we suffered the consequences with both the home team and support lifted.

It got wobbly for a bit, but a couple of consecutive attacks kept the pressure on and we scored a good winner in a little bit of adversity.

Siggy, Walcott and Richarlison played well, as did Iwobi when he came on, but Tom Davies MoTM for me today.

It was VITAL we got the win, all the sweeter that it was away.

Immediate pressure greatly eased for all. Now build on this, Everton.

Davies was good first half, Holgate too, and I thought Sidibe was class most of the time. Richarlison needs to give his head a good fucking wobble with his embarrassing antics at the end.

Just incredibly relieved really.

It's a mad season where a few results will make a huge difference. Or a few VAR calls.

Personally I don't think we can afford patience. Our guy isn't good enough and there's a big opportunity for someone this season.

As for today's game, we lacked finishing in the first half, but Saints blocked well and looked alright in defence. We played well up until the final third (an old Everton story). After they scored against the run of play, we were able to (slowly) get back on top and deserved the winner.

It might not be that first come-from-behind win, but we've seen this Everton side lose when pegged back against the run of play and it was good to see us roll up our sleeves and dig in to get the 2nd goal and then hold on for the win. Good to see Silva being a bit more savvy and bringing on Keane for the end.

Decent performance, but all about 3 points away from home for me. And I'll repeat what I said on the live forum, so you can shoot me down on it: This Southampton side will not go down if they keep Ralph Hassenhuttl. Now you might think of course if they do go down, then they'll sack him before they do, no one doesn't roll the dice. So, I'll say if they give him until the end of the January window, he will keep them up. This was not a bad side and he is not a bad manager.

The only thing that now matters is that we bin Silva asap. Give him tomorrow to tell us how great we were in moments, however lucky we actually finished up. Then taxi on Monday.

Very tense listening, but at least they fought back to win, against a poor team.

Sidibe is good going forward, but poor defensively, and postionally suspect. Richarlison sounded like he damaged his thigh, but how do you tell? I hope not.

Strange table this season, with teams that we think should not beat us, getting results consistently against others as well.

What does Moshiri or anyone think is achievable this season? Is it a write off with 2/3rds to play?

Arteta would unite the fans, Moyes would split the fan base, and Hughes... l'd rather have Allardyce back than him.

We weren't perfect but 24 shots to 4 away in the Premier League is always good and Southampton are not as bad as all that, they gave Man City a good game for large parts.

Win against Norwich and we will be in the top ten and heading in the right direction.

Let's enjoy a rare away win.

We just need to be a bit more ruthless and kill games off earlier, let's face it Southampton were poor, apart from early in the second half, and the goal certainly geed them up a bit.

Confidence should be high for the next game against Norwich, but sadly another International Break intervenes again when we seem to start some momentum.

I honestly think the biggest difference between us and, say, Leicester City is that they're much more ruthless in their finishing. If we'd gotten a second goal before halftime, I think it would have put the match to bed. No reason things had to be as nervy as they were at the end.

Listened on the club site commentary. Sounds like the young lads played well again and churlish to criticise his selection after an away win.

The table is crazy and if Silva can really get his act together, as he did eventually last season, we could still have a decent season. We can't afford to keep chucking cash around so a chance for the likes of Gordon and Adeniran might be a good move to see if they might be ready to step up.

As for Southampton, I think Steve may have been celebrating our win rather too well – they are going down!!

I didn't see today's game, but we are doing okay at the moment, hopefully we can build on this momentum.

I can't comment too much on performances at this stage but Holgate and Davies appear to be playing a big part in our upturn.

They will have bad spells but we need to be patient and hopefully they will both continue to shine for a long time in Everton blue.

Disappointed in Schnides starting but in Delph we bought an injury-plagued player who is proving just that.

We need to buy a striker in January but we also need a quality midfielder. It's a key position and, as much as I like Davies, he's not the main man just yet.

I thought Davies and Holgate were the pick of our team and was hoping Gordon would be introduced near the end. All those chances we created, imagine if we had a 20-goal-a-season striker, we would be up the near top, where we belong. Buy one in the January window, please, Moshiri.

The league table looks a little more rosey after that result, here's hoping for a few more.

We had 24 goal attempts and only 5 on target – we need to be more efficient. But win at home to Norwich and we might get confidence before the killer run of games begins.

I could dig at all of his critics and say you lot must think tactics and subs were amazing today due to every time we drop points they all blame tactics and subs.

Have you ever thought Silva might be doing something right. Three managers have had control of Davies now and he got nothing but stick under their wings. Now he is getting praise under Silva.

Ever dawned on anyone the manager might know more about them and has worked to tune their faults up.

I think hes managed Davies fantastically and it shows.

Anyway, barring a complete meltdown, I will support him at least for the rest of this season. He's had very bad luck, we're in the QF of the Carabao and the players want to play for him (however scrappy it may be). That'll do.

Marcelino.

Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson have to be on the bench with Iwobi at No 10 but that can come later. Recent results, if we include the cup game, are showing an improvement, so let's see if Silva can keep it going.

At any rate, I think partnering Schneiderlin with, say, Delph is where you run into issues. Having Davies out there seems to balance things out more.

There is no decent striker at the club so we will continue to struggle. Lower mid-table most likely.

I don't think Davies is a top midfielder but we are finally seeing the best of him now.

Next we will have people blaming Silva for the chances we missed and rumours of training with smaller goals at Finch Farm.

Take the points, move on, but not sure where to.

I'm looking now for back to back wins with a win over Norwich in two weeks time and hopefully go into that period of December in some kind of form.

Tom Davies has really stepped up and whilst he's not top class he's starting to show the same form he did when he first burst on the scene, the energy we saw from him back in 2016-17 somehow dissolved and I think the spell out of the team has done him more good than bad, he's come in and looking a different player.

He's got that berth now it's just who plays either side and in front of him, that's Silva's conundrum to solve.

I've found myself to be suddenly rooting for Silva now that Hughes's name is in the mix, lol.

I personally last season gave Silva 10 games this season before I decided. This season with the – on paper – relatively easy start was Abysmal. In my opinion, nothing has improved. The result was great, the performance poor. If you think Silva should stay then fair enough.

I actually think his tenure has been woeful. But please don't treat me like some non entity and embarrass me and you by asking me a him or him as if that's it like it or leave it. You've nailed your colours to the mast with Silva, your prerogative but don't treat the non-believers like that.

I want Silva to succeed. I wanted him as our manager. Two week break. Lets enjoy the day. Even the rain can't spoil this. This club will put me in intensive care one day!! That I am sure!!!

By the way our results so far:
Palace away 0-0
Watford home 1-0
Villa away 0-2
Wolves home 3-2
Bournemouth 1-3
Sheff United home 0-2
Man City home 1-3
Burnley away 0-1
West Ham home 2-0
Brighton away 2-3
Spurs home 1-1
Southampton away 1-2
14 points

last season:
Palace away 0-0
Watford home 2-2
Villa away - n/a
Wolves home 1-3
Bournemouth 2-2
Sheff United home n/a
Man City home 0-2
Burnley away 0-1
West Ham home 1-3
Brighton away 1-0
Spurs home 2-6
Southampton away 1-2

If you substitute Fulham in for Sheff utd, and Huddersfield for Villa:
Fulham home 3-0
Huddersfield away 1-0
12 points

We are actually 2 points up on last season! But we have the following teams next:
Norwich home (beat Cardiff 1-0 at home)
Leicester away (2-1 win)
Liverpool away (0-1 loss)
Chelsea home (2-0 win)
Arsenal home (1-0 win)
So need to win 4 of those 5 to maintain that.

I have no love for Silva or any manager but it's stupidly obvious he lacks certain resources and even worse to dismiss the fact.

I wasn't saying that either of them was your choice. These are the two realistic options according to the reports. I think we could get Marcelino, if we went big, but he's similar to Silva and would have us over a barrel, contract wise. Which is why I think Moyes is the backup plan as he would come in and do a job until the summer when we could get a decent manager in.

In the bottom half you've Man Utd, Spurs, Everton and Wolves. It's finely balanced. Anyone could go on a good run and crack the top six or go on a bad run and join Norwich and Soton in the bottom 3.

The winner showed all the difference about how much better we are when we play quick, (isn't everyone) and although I thought Richarlison had been poor today, he definitely showed his quality when it mattered.

Maybe his theatrics at the end had been rehearsed and this little injury can stop him going to play for Brazil, (if they have got games) because the kid needs a little rest, and so do I from watching Everton, for a couple of weeks, although I will raise a glass to the “travelling blue army” who have finally got something to celebrate on their long journey home!

I must add that I have seen him animated many times this season, and he is not the sulking recluse some would have us believe.

Mina played well as did Sidibe and Man of the Match was surely Davies.

How marvellous to not have the weekend ruined. I wonder if we are actually better off without Delph?

Maybe from today everything will change, maybe today was our Oxford “moment”. We seem to have had a few of those with Silva...

Just take deep breath, relax for just a minute, and look at his tenure here.

Exhale! Now what do you think?

Poor positional and cover positional defending for a soft equaliser but give credit where due and the plater# stuck at it.

Spurs and Son are distant bad memories now so we must unite and build on this win for Norwich.

Let's face it on their day they can turn any one over and I'm sure Pukki, whose gone off the boil, will want to prove a point. Remember Ethan Ekoku got 4, in 1-5, route, and that was at a time similar to now, in 1993.

Another massive game next week, and glad today we've had no descisions against us.

So for Norwich, Leicester and Old Nick away.

Taking nothing for granted, an away win anywhere is always good. Now for some consistency and a win next week at GP.

"For me football is a privilege. Being manager of Everton is a privilege", Silva just now. That's how I want our man to speak.

They may not be world beaters, but all bar one beat us unfortunately and Palace drew.

One of our problem as fans was our expectations pre season, and the expected gaps in the usual top six. Our actual performances are measured against this.

With the ‘benefit' of actual performances maybe our expectations were a bit too high.

Our first team at the seasons start was arguably worse than last season, though paradoxically, the squad had more depth after this summers recruitment, where potential sell on value was a factor. This depth has been destroyed by injury, both long term and short term. But Davies and Holgate have stepped up and taken their opportunity

I reckon Brands and co knew this which is why Silva is still there.

Cue him now getting fired!

That's true. The season could go either way. We had bad starts under Moyes and climbed to sixth. In RM second season I kept thinking we would and it was pretty open a lot like this but we kept dropping points to the likes of Palace. I hope we do it but my point about those teams is that on paper one of us, Utd or Spurs SHOULD climb up but who knows?

I'm with you. I need a break too. It's time to mix it up and let rep of Ireland stress me out instead with the euros

If you want me to do a Steve Ferns and nail my colours? Personally I would bin Silva tonight and ask Unsworth to stand in to the end of the season. I would get Brands and all his highly paid staff to sound out whoever and get him lined up for preseason.

The Club know everyone there is to know. They have access to everyone there is. They are paid God knows – more than me and you–- to sort things out. Sort it out!!!

Your opinion is that Silva is the man. Truthfully Steve I wish/hope you are right. Me, I think he's useless.

Silva has made some decisions as baffling as the others, but has given the biggest glimmers of hope. We've been very unlucky with officiating and injuries, and the Board have failed to make some crucial signings.

On balance, I'd stick with Silva for the moment, hope we're turning a corner, and see how things pan out when injury issues become more resolved.

Performances have picked up of late. Let's hope it continues. The manager seems to be playing the players in form, so the onus is on the players to deliver more than it was previously, or they'll be out of the team. Is this what is motivating them? Credit to Silva where it's due anyway...

Truthfully I hope you are spot on and we have turned a corner. However, I seem to remember hearing the exact same when we beat West Ham.

The only thing I would suggest about both games, West Ham and Southampton, were that both teams were absolutely completely useless but somehow, in comprehensively, could have got a result!!

Our wins this season, so far, have been, well lets's be kind and say less than comprehensive.

No doubt we will beat the odd team or two but is that really what we are about?

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I just expect more. Possibly seeing a team being built under Carey and carried on by Catterick has spoiled me. Who knows?

What I do know is this present manager is crap

Now, that's not to say we've been playing brilliantly, as the performances have remained largely hit-or-miss. Silva has persistent issues he still needs to rectify, and we've been hit hard by injuries. But there *is* cause for optimism here.

In particular, if the Brighton match hadn't been derailed by that ridiculous penalty fiasco, we could be looking at back-to-back road wins right now, which puts our season in a *much* different light. Again "ifs, ands & buts." But I choose to look at the positive.

I still think Marco needs binned, there are plenty options out there, far better than Moyes and Hughes.

Anyhow, is it true that this win means Rob has to fly to all domestic games now?

Today we still showed the same problems, we did not score goals when we were on top for most of the first half, and didn't concentrate on defense for their equalizer.

Today we defeated a team, that with a number of previous teams, we should be beating. Yes we had some good performances from individual players that led to a good team performance, but this was the poorest team we have played against this season and does not gloss over the previous performances.

Today's win and hopefully 3 pts from our next game will be very welcome,but this does not give the manager a get out of jail free card,and until we start wining against teams above us and not below us, he will still be under a cloud of uncertainty of his position as manager.

David #126, always glad to see you post. I don't think Silva will survive the season, and perhaps not even this year, but I don't see anybody currently on the Unemployed Managers line that excites me in the slightest. And yes, we'll all have to donate Rob our Frequent Flyer miles so he can travel in the appropriate style. If this keeps up we'll have to fly him across Stanley Park by chopper for the away Derby.

Amazing how a managerial change can alter a team's path -- Bayern is doing a Bolshoi Ballet number on Dortmund after sacking Kovac (which you, Steve, predicted correctly).

I don't think we would have to go to the unemployed managers club to replace him. Stoke just got themselves a manager who's fantastic at organising and motivating a group of players and making them hard to beat.

It's nice to enjoy a Saturday night for a change!

On another note is Danny Ings going to finish his career with half of his goals against us.

We can't even escape little defects like that.

Sidibe, Mina, Holgate and Digne, any combination thereof for me.
Not sure where that leaves Keane?

We keep hearing from younger guys about these great managers fro AC God knows who Guys who have names ending in vowels. Guys who for some reason have to have won the Albanian Cup or whatever

Why can't we look at managers who are absolutely shit, wastes of space
How about Alex Neil at Preston ?
No aeiou after his name. Done nothing as a player. Manages a forgotten team
Ideal for us !

Perspective and looking at the table, it's a strange season, and we are now 4 points off 5th place.
But we won, which is a great surprise and has become a novelty, as EFCs, away record is the pits, across the last 15 years.

The next game counts and the next couple of months will, in my view define this season, in that it could resurrect a dire season so far, or cause a merry go round of change.

Thinking of the Devil etc in 3 weeks or so, and accepting our injuries, let's build and get strength.

Leicester are formidable but not unbeatable, the RS, are good on the counter, but pretty average in defence.

So, it's an away win, nothing to get carried away with, as we've been here so, so many times, - false dawns.

May be the season, in adversity and fewer players available, could start today.

No Hopefully there's no more injuries, reported after today's game.

It's possible that the ship is starting to turn. Even the officiating issues could improve, if that news report in the Telegraph is anything to go by.

Interesting to see any ones views on any business in the January transfer window, but I can't see much, aside loans, but let's see, what transpires over the next set of very tough games starting with Leicester.

The system is a 3 man zonal system across the 6 yard box, left, right and middle. The rest then go man for man. Big Yerry is set on the danger man and he eats him up every time. Richarlison still seems to be on near post duty.

Mike @139, I agree he's going to be wonderful, but we were lucky to avoid a penalty with his strange lunging. Like Holgate, he's getting used to it all.

For what it's worth, I don't want to write off Keane by any means. He's a good-hearted player.

That was the case against Spurs as well - Jamie Carragher mentioned it in commentary on Sky.

Silva is a stubborn sod, but this is one more reason why I am feeling more confident about him and the Blues in general. His team selection at Burnley away was very disappointing and I thought the end was near. He seems to have got the players all pulling in the same direction, however, and he has clearly made some changes. He has dropped some of our underperforming players since then - like Keane, Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Coleman and Kean. The message is clear - if you want to play, you have to perform. Let's hope it continues...

Dude got ROASTED.

Sans that, he played well. He actually played the ball forward multiple times. But you can't defend like that and concede.

Still think it was a great game. Many things to dissect, but I'd rather enjoy the three points right now - it was so, so needed that victory.

Good signs, but must be kept consistently to be ready for the next battle, v Norwich.

We can't afford any more injuries, but let's keep up the team work, spirit., and belief, shown today.

May be some finishing practice and also shooting outside and from the edge of the box.

But at least a decent Saturday night, which has become another novelty of late, with the teams performances.

Young Kean must be totally pissed off not even getting on the bench especially after the imposter - yes that is Silva excuse

The Club is more important than one man Moshiri must act now

Let us all enjoy a win FFS! Polluting a thread yet again calling for the manager's head...

How we play is an indicator of future results. And we're not playing well. In a season where a few points is the difference between a European place and the relegation spots.

Show some ambition and sack the guy. And don't tell me we can only get Moyes or Hughes. We're still a club with a big budget (including the manager's wage on offer) and some good players.

I think what I am many others are saying is yes we can enjoy a much needed win but is that one off a get off ?

You say let's enjoy the win Totally agree
How many times have you said that this season?
You should be like me, appalled by our results

Don't get on at me ask Silva why we couldn't get these results earlier Why we are where we are

I heard an interesting interview on the radio today about Leicester when they sacked Puel last season. It was because the board thought the Leicester squad was underperforming. Look at them now. We just accept rubbish periods where we go weeks without winning, months without winning away and think it's ok . It's not ok, we have won nothing for 25 years.

I cant work Silva out. We had an awful 3 months last season, finished the season really strongly, playing exciting football yet start the season very very poorly again. I think I've been entertained twice this season, the rest of the time has been cross. Yes we are in the quarter final of the league cup for which I'm eternally grateful but the league form is shocking. This league is a very poor league. City and RS are light years ahead, leicester and chelsea playing ok, the rest are just much of a muchness despite millions being spent by clubs. Its not competitive it's just poor. We are one of those poor clubs. Silva needs to show a lot more than he has to date. Nobody wants a succession of managers, least of all Mark bloody Hughes or Moyes mk2, but he cant keep producing half arsed performances week after week, he needs to start showing he can hack it at Everton. Presently he isn't doing that for me.

Show Gordon he has a glimmer of hope, and then kill any confidence gained from it by bringing on a centre half when it's his own position who goes down - why?

Bring on a Center half for a attacker, telling the other team to ‘go for it, we're going to sit back and hope' - why?

No bringing in Beni / Adeniran to subs to get them ready in case needed (only a Davies injury from being in real shit in this area) - why?

Kill off the fragile confidence of a 19 year old potential star by preferring two ageing full backs on the bench - why.

This isn't “polluting a thread” this is simply asking genuine questions about a baffling manager who has “moments” and not much else. If you're happy with 13th and a “moment” against a shit Southampton good for you. Personally I want more from this great club!

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum remember.

We're not playing well, but we won, and last week we drew in the face of appalling officiating that pissed a lot of us off. We're not shite.

Hey we won, 3 pts is 3 pts. No style point bonuses, alas. But, an AWAY WIN!!

Very pleased over here, something to keep building on. Not for nothing, but (counting the Cup tie), we're 3-1-1 in the past 5, and 1 terrible VAR intervention away from 4-0-1. Happy Int'l break fellas.

For what it's worth Jay, I do agree with your post at 16! I just worry our young Italian is having a nightmare that's getting worse and then ends up in disaster. I hope he's able to prove himself in training and get back in the side and show us all what he showed for Juve only 6 months ago.

You told me after the West Ham game to calm down that we were on the up
Sorry mate wrong
You tell me how long we have to put up with this dross?
Please tell me when you, his most supportive follower, will say enough?

Steve, I personally put a limit on Silva and it had now passed

Surely even you must have a limit

The odd win just masks over his incompetence surely ?

The confidence to approach the Leicester game in good spirit is massive.

Waterloo, Dunkirk Spirit, and Rourkes Drift spirit, stoically, is needed.

I agree this malaise of form can't last but it's a perennial issue at the club, and since the events of May 1985, the club has never returned in to the real world of football.

The squad is down to the bare bones, and it looks like we have a few players whom will, always be sick notes, unfortunately.

But if Leicester are the yard stick this season, then surely we can compete and be on par.

The lack of an end product in front of goal, is crucifying is, and I fear, very, very harsh lessons in the next couple of months.

But I see Mina, as growing by every game and will be a match winner for us very soon.

It's no where near close to good, but some better signs, at the end of last weeks games and during today's game.

I am just sick and tired of year after year we have to endure awful periods in a season and then come good when there is nothing left to play for. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum has never felt further away.

24 chances for the Blues today. We got about them well except for just after the restart. I thought it was a decent performance. I thought we played well against Spurs and should have won. I thought we played well against Brighton and should have won. I think we have been the better side in most of the last 5 games or so, City aside, but even in that game we had chances and could have won. I think we could have won every game we have played this season. I think we need to be better, but if we are only slightly better then I think we were winning 5 of the 6 games we lost. I think the manager will get that bit extra to win those games out of the players and improve us. So, no I won't be giving up on him.

I saw Mike Walker's Everton getting smashed. I saw all the Everton managers since getting smashed in the games preceding their sacking, Moyes excluded although he had his share of big defeats. This is a long way from the end of Koeman's time.

I also think we will win silverware this season.

Likewise, I will not suddenly think we are the worst team in the world if we lose our next 2 games.

Perspective is seriously lacking with some of you.

Stan at 159 sums it up perfectly.

Sidibe - Moments of genuine class, but whats with this quitting lark when he should be busting a gut to get back ?

Mina - Trusts Holgate more than he trusts Keane. He played well today, but was very lucky boy not to concede the dumbest of penalties
.
Holgate - Oozes class, very comfortable with the ball at his feet, but guilty of being over casual on more than one occasion. He got away with it today, but he must learn.

Schneiderlin - One of his better games.. but very poor for their goal which could have cost us dear.

Davies - Does Tom go for a Tacho break ? I really like this kid, but one minute he is really looking the part, Then, for some inexplicable reason he disappears for 15 minutes.

Walcott - gave us much needed pace and looked quite impressive at times. . but he chickened out of a couple of challenges when the going got tough and allowed Soton to get out and counter.

Richarlison - I thought it was quite revealing when Holgate ran 20 yards to drag him to his feet. Seems the players have had enough of his antics too . . Then he only wins us the match.

I though Siggy, Digne and Tosun had quiet games and Pickford didnt have much to do either.

We were lucky in the sense that we came across the only team in the league who are even lower on confidence than we are. but I'll take this victory and celebrate it. God knows we needed it.

I also hate the notion that if we win, everything is automatically ok, and if we lose, the dummies get thrown out of the pram and we are shite etc.

Some people just have an agenda, and are waiting for the ‘told you so' moment when we get beat. And if we win or are doing ok, they will persist that they are right all along and that anyone else trying to give a balanced judgement lacks ambition.

Unfortunately it will never be the right enviromment for Kean to develop; he should have been on the bench at least.

Let's have though, that should have been put to bed by half time. Those were terrible. The problems are all still glaringly obvious and a better team doesn't let us off the hook.

Some great combinations, which didn't quite come off. Thought Davies was excellent, Schniederlin very tidy, Cenk did link up well and Sidibe is deffo the current answer at right back.

Holgate and Mina very solid. Despite that, it took only 5minutes of pressure for us to concede. We also simply aren't clinical enough. Those are the big take always, and they have to be addressed.

Marco fresh from slyly putting out some scary alternatives in the press, keeps his job for now. Well played, Marco, well played.

A very bold prediction there my friend, "we will win silverware this season". I sincerely hope you are correct, but we will either have to be very lucky, or pull off a miracle under Silva, because quite frankly, I can't see it with even the most optimistic expectations!

Derek Knox (178) – Agreed. We are 10/1 to win the League Cup, and best price 25/1 (with SportPesa – which says it all...) to win the FA Cup. I know we're probably due something after missing out for 25 years but for Steve F – why do you "think that we will win silverware this season"?

One Day Soon, Please, for Everton to win a trophy before the Everton oldest and old guard is brown bread!

Thank you.

You remind me of me when I was younger and used to say to my dad "We shoulda won" and he would say "Shoulda doesn't get you the points, lad, only wins do that."

Silva is a busted flush but I do think if we win against Norwich and have a half decent December he will have earned the right to get until the end of the season.

Leicester and Sheffield Utd are currently showing us what good managers can do with a team.

I am grateful and relieved to get the 3 points today but, as John Keating pointed out, we have only done well against very poor sides. West Ham were the poorest side I've seen at our place and Spurs werent much better but for Southampton to still be in the game and equalizing after half time is a disgrace.

We need to score goals and defend better ( Schneiderlin was a disgrace for their goal just brushed aside and not even a token challenge).

Our build-up play is good but at times we couldn't even score in a brothel.

The lad looks stronger now and that has taken time. He was very timid on the ball, possibly nervous of the crowds reaction and lacking confidence.

He still has flaws now but is building confidence. He's not the finished article and sensible management has kept him out of a struggling side.

Look at the lads again today, they look together and seemed to either love the fact Davies scored or the fact a plan worked?

They all speak highly of Silva and look happy, our problems are down to quality overall.

Everyone here has seen us blow many games we should have put to bed.

I also have had the feeling that this team could win silverware this season. I think that this team is more a cup type team. In one-off performances, they are able to raise their game and players brought in, who are seemingly out of form, can do likewise.

The other thing is that enforced changes are building enforced resilence in the team. I also think they will just about avoid relegation and will infuriate throughout the league campaign.

Really pleased for Tom Davies as I thought he was "boss" today and for someone so young (that some forget!), well done.

Completely agree. I said it myself, he played him because he'd no-one else.

I agree with you. I am not quite the fan of Silva you are yet I see a team who need some luck and for some players to hit form.

We don't look as lost as we did under Koeman. The players still show fight and appetite.

The relationship Silva has with Richarlison is key as that guy can score the goals we need.

We need certain players to step up like Tom and Mason are doing.

It's a shame we won just before another break.

He's too attacking at times, reckless and when we go behind he throws on too many attackers without having players in midfield to give them the ball, when sometimes we just need to get hold of midfield. He also doesn't protect leads enough.

I was pleased to see he sent on Keane today to shut up shop. Something he hasn't done for a while. I also think he has stood by Coleman too much, this season and last. He doesn't play Davies or Kenny enough. There's loads of stuff he does wrong.

Yeah the away fans were fantastic today. Louder than the Saints from the off and there in large numbers to the end. Long old trip from Merseyside too.

Contrast that with the dourness of Spurs, who seem to be defined by the likes of Eriksen and Alderweireld at the moment – guys who were looking for the exit and forced to stay put.

So my reaction to seeing the result on the BBC website this morning was one of enormous relief - we needed those 3 points like a drowning man needs air.

We need another 3 against Norwich.

I have to say I saw some signs of life from the players in this game. Even Schneiderlin, despite the fact that he did get done like a dinner for their goal, showed much more desire today.

I thought Davies and Holgate were terrific, and Mina is really starting to look like the Colombian World Cup center half we signed last season.

Actually, Mina and Holgate look like our long term centre back pairing to me and we will rely heavily on these two young men to perform well if we are to get through December relatively unscathed.

As for the managerial debate, I am over it for the time being, I just want the players to show the same attitude they did today during the rest of November and December.

I admit I have been like a bear with a sore head for the last 4 or 5 weeks. My only excuse being that their is SO much at stake for the club between now and Christmas.

There is a huge financial decision to be made by the board in the very near future and the players have to make that decision easier for them.

I didn't watch it either just listened in to the live forum, Everton and a few on live forum raised my blood pressure a lot higher than it should have been.

As you say, those three points were massive, no matter which way we got them. A bit of English steel were added to the team in the last three games, Holgate and Davies, and have improved the team no end.

There is still plenty to be done, to turn the season round from doom and depression, let's hope Silva has the answers when Brands supplies more ammunition in January, still a long way to go.

Hope springs eternal, it absolutely has to when you are an Evertonian.

Up the Blues!!!

Again a far more energetic player than the likes of Shneiderlin and Delph and he is prepared to play the ball forward rather than sideways or back just to keep possession. I also think Silva needs to keep Tosun up front rather than DCL or Kean. It will give us an experienced striker up front who is prepared to get into the box.

He needs to stick with this side as much as possible until any of them lose form and then make changes and not just keep picking them in the hope they'll just get better again. The players have to realise that no matter how senior they may be their spot in the side is not assured and they will be dropped if they fail to perform on the pitch.

Also, what a great move before Cenk made a mess of his header. Incisive ball from Schneiderlin was part of it and then great work from Tosun himself and Theo.

It's these flashes of excellence which keep me hoping.

The performance of Holgate and Davies yesterday show that our youngsters have the fire in them so lacking in others. There are others beside Gordon who at least merit a place on the bench.

I agree his substitutions are sometimes frankly ridiculous but disagree as to Silva bringing on Keane yesterday. We often invite pressure onto ourselves trying to defend and almost inevitably concede to set pieces.

Silva's only saving grace is that our clueless board see Moyes and the Lego headed Mark Hughes as the solutions to our plight. It beggars belief.

With you 100%

A very good post.

I saw Kean at Juventus, for your information, and he was the supporting striker, and never a winger. I was at the cup game against Watford, where Silva played him as a right winger, where he was completely lost, and was substituted at half-time. So playing him out of position, and then dropping him completely, that tells you everything about Silva.

You also praised Silva for the way he has handled Davies. Check it again, he only played Davies against West Ham, because he had no one else, he kept playing Schneiderlin and Delph, two holding midfielders, when Gomes was out, and Davies has proved himself, despite Silva.

Very picky to suggest hes out of order for giving him a chance supporting the striker from the right, where he gets a bit more time and space then subbing him because he was poor.

I can't remember who it was above suggesting Silva gets no praise for Davies because it was forced on him but praised him for Holgate who actually came in because Mina was injured if we look at the real story.

I can't understand why we waste energy making things up to suit our arguments and holding things against him for not playing a player that has shown no potential here whatsoever.

Why don't we make some comparisons before slagging the manager that knows Kean well, before we decide to hold onto small points about one kid.

Look at Rashford for instance. Right, Left Central. Kean is working for a future in the game, learning the front line. No 19 year old comes to the prem from abroad and leads the line. Its absolute blind to think it should happen.

All modern coaches talk about attacking playerd needing to learn different positions. And especially when they are not a great striker yet.

Kean needs loads of time and if you bought into Brands great ideas you should be willing to understand hes got to learn how to take the pace and physical side of England before hes got any chance.

That has been the case with most youngsters from abroad and plenty of experienced players.

As for Rashford, do you not think he's a lot more effective as a striker? I like Holgate, and he deserves to keep his place.

I'm not slagging Silva, but we lost Jagielka and Zouma, neither replaced, and with Mina injured, Holgate was the only replacement and thankfully it worked a treat.

That should take a little bit of pressure off and maybe we could go on a run?

But then again this is Silva. Look at Lampard & Rodgers. Good managers are good managers they have an impact.

Silva has had a season and a half and two of the main transfer windows and look where we are. Does anyone seriously think if we stick in 18 months time we will be top 4 or 6 contenders? Seriously?

Silva isn't a good fit for EFC same as Emery isn't for Arsenal. The inevitable will happen & month by month Silva gets cheaper to sack.

Its interesting that with Unai Emery they say its communication that is the problem, he can't get his message across due to the language barrier and as such doesn't have a good relationship with the squad as he doesn't talk to them much. Is that Silva's problem he just can't communicate with the squad very well?

But Silva won't go 4-4-2 as long as he's got a hole up his fundiment.

These guys are on massive salaries, if that was the main problem, surely they would employ an interpreter so nothing gets lost in translation, and they could easily afford that out of their own pockets.

If I were in a Foreign Country and in any walk of life that is what I would do, while learning the language myself. I remember Pochettino when he first went to Spurs, any interviews were carried out this way, and presumably on the training pitch too.

Since those early days he has learnt the English Language well, and I can understand him very easily and distinctly. I do admire Pochettino by the way, but the problems at Spurs are not from his mismanagement but lie somewhere else.

Richarlison is miles ahead of Kean in any position across the front and he is still learning his trade too.

I hate these expresions to be honest mate. I always believe a striker scores goals and the rest is the down to the rest.

In the modern game which is becoming more and more confusing for most novice players, I have to be realistic and go with the "learning his trade" bracket when it comes to Kean because so many factors stop him doing what we need right now.

I have said all along its a great signing but it wasn't and isn't enough. Why buy Kean and Iwobi when them 2 fees and wages could go to a real forward is always my thinking and I feel that is far more logical to keep improving results.

Thats just me. I used Rashfords name with intention too Christy because like you I prefer seeing him central.
Do coaches though? They choose which opposition he can expose before he gets a start up front.

Against the other shower he is always trying to expose Terence Trent Alexander West Derby from the left.

Look at clips of Kean at Juve again mate, a lot of his running comes from the left and bits from the right and centre.

I don't mean to offend by the way mate I just think we look into the wrong things far too often.

There must be some reason for our abysmal form and lack of fight this season.

Maybe he needs a good boot up his fundiment! 🤔

Arsenals front 3 I would love here but bar that I think its the worst Arsenal spine I have ever seen.

I wouldn't have 90% of their players here but lets have it right, they decided to settle for top 4 as success a long time ago and now its affecting their ambitions.

Taking a striker off and replacing him in the closing stages of a game with a central defender to shut up shop usually has the opposite effect by causing confusion in the box.

Walcott is way past his best and Richarlison is still playing the fool when he gets tackled. As for the rest, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun and Niasse all triers but below the standard required at this level.

There will be much sterner tasks coming up than Soton pretty soon so Silva better get things right.

Pochettino's big problems are that Spurs play relatively low wages, they've spent/borrowed heavily on the stadium and they still haven't won anything. Something has to give there.

At Arsenal, they're struggling from a few years of stagnation under Wenger. Emery's English appears very basic - would that be an issue in such a diverse squad? Looks more to me like, similarly to Silva, I'm not sure he's getting his message across and he doesn't know his best team. I'd love his forward line!

For me, it's all to play for for us, with the right manager. Is that man Silva. I'm not convinced, but it looks like he's going to be given the chance. I hope he finds the answers.

For me, a couple of games stand out as real potential defining moments - Liverpool away and Leicester in the league cup. A win in both gives Silva the chance to inject belief and build a rapport with the fanbase. Beating Liverpool at Anfield is long, long overdue - what better time to stop the rot there - it's not impossible. Getting ourselves to the league cup final isn't impossible either - Leicester at home - they're doing well but they're not Barcelona.

So Marco, you have a fantastic opportunity in December to make a huge statement of intent. Alternatively, you could be starting the new year looking for a new job – over to you.

That was me. Holgate came in when Mina got injured, but Silva did not opt to pair Keane with Mina as soon as they were both available again - he has stuck with Holgate and been rewarded by his generally excellent showings thus far. Tom Davies has been repeatedly overlooked in favour of players who were unfit or out of form. Silva may now decide to stick with Davies, but until we have other players back in contention to replace him then it feels premature to give Silva much praise. Regardless, my issue is with your original statement that “Silva has managed Davies fantastically”. I don't see it myself.

I remember arguing before last season started that Holgate was a vastly superior footballer to both Mina and Kean.

In fairness Steve Ferns, who had clearly done his homework on Silva, told me That he wont play Holgate because always preferred the big dominant type of center half. and so it proved to be. Shortly after the start. Holgate was shipped out.

Holgate brings us something different to the other two. He is a footballer, He takes chances, but he will not take a backward step. if it gets a bit fiesty.

I hope Silva now sees what some of the fans saw and realises Mason does bring something different

Seems a lot stronger and a lot more streetwise since he came back.

Still has the odd lapse in concentration but he's definitely learned a lot in the Championship.

He very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He could play anywhere across the back four. WBA lost their right back and thats where Mason played all season. I see that as a year taken out of his development as a center half.

I don't think he became street wise because of the loan period at all. he just matured. that happens between the age of 21 and 23.

We are weak in central defence, really weak and Silva must take the blame for that. Keane has been exposed without Gana in front of him and although Mina is improving You always know there is a mistake in him. He could well have cost us the game yesterday.

Keane only has size/prescence over Holgate in attributes but as soon as Holgate makes a couple of errors hes back out. No manager will have a player getting used to making mistakes so the media and fans can tag them.

I find it crazy that people get the ideas in their heads that the manager has a ageism issue now.

Only our fans could come up with that and forget he has signed Richarlison twice (few months older than Davies) and countless times picked Calvert Lewin over Tosun.

The simple fact is Richarlison is more advanced physically and balances both sides of the game better than all our younger players.

Give Davies a quiet game or 2 and everyone is on his case again.

Darren Hind blames Silva for us being weak at Centre Half. Words fail me. He must have said spew the Zouma deal and lets stick with Keane who was grim under Koeman aswell.

Holgate went on loan because Zouma Mina are better than him and we obviously wouldn't loan Keane out.

How on earth does anyone know the loan wasn't marvelous Marcels idea?

I think Holgate's loan was good for him, not for his CB development, but more for him getting games. Like all younger CBs, he has lapses in concentration, but that will improve with games. I'd keep him in the team.

It's interesting you said:

“We are weak in central defence, really weak and Silva must take the blame for that.”

I'm or going to disagree entirely with what you have said, but surely this is more down to Brands than Silva?

I'm not a fan of having a director of football. I believe that without a DOF, we would have replaced Lukaku. Instead, we seem to be trying to sign either kids (Sandro and Kean) or value strikers that may pay off (Niasse and Tosun scores goals in obscure leagues so we're considered worth a punt. We also took a punt on Rooney on a free).

Back to centre-halves anyway. We had to let Zouma go back, and we let Jags go. Everyone knew we needed a centre half. Silva made noises that he wasn't happy that we hadn't got more players in by August, and I think he also said something about being disappointed that we didn't get a centre half in once deadline day had passed. The manager wanted another centre half, but the club didn't bring one in. Surely Brands is culpable for some of our recruitment issues this summer, and the manager has been dealing with it since?

Personally I think he can only be a long term centre half in a 3-man defence.

Mina is a great partner for him right now because his presence is huge where he can dominate and Holgate is good across the ground.

His best game for me was the same game he pushed Firminho. He was solid that day.

Danny @233, I don't see one tiny detail to suggest you are wrong?

"There's an undercurrent of negativity in regard to Richarlison in this match report".

I agree, Steve. Credit to Michael for typing out a live running report on every game, but this one reads as predisposed to be critical of Richarlison.

Michael describes the 1st foul on Richarlison as "collapsed under minimal pressure, a light hand on his shoulder."

No it wasn't! He was chopped down by the defender who got nowhere near the ball.

His running and positioning for the winning goal is curiously described as 'uncharacteristic'.

The incident in the dying minutes which saw him subbed off was described as "time for Richarlison's dead swan impression as he twitched in agony, awaiting the last rights, Paul Tierney finally stopping the game because Richarlison was grasping his head... just pathetic."

This ignores many things. It was not a foul. I don't believe Richarlison was playing for one. But in the coming together with the Saints player he clearly takes a heavy blow on the thigh.

Anyone who has played football will, in all likelihood, have experienced something akin to that. It can leave you with a dead leg, immobilized and unable to run freely.

He was clearly holding the injured thigh as well as having his palm over his eyes.

IMO, it was not 'pathetic' but genuine.

Richarlison had a very good game yesterday without any of the histrionics he has been accused of in the past week.

Criticize him for his more evident simulation. Don't be predisposed to ridicule and condemn him when he is innocent of the charge.

The loan has ensured he plays games which was never likely last term and with losing Zouma and Brands cock up over the summer it was clear to me that he would get his chance as the Keane Mina partnership was never going to work.

Thankfully he has grabbed it with both hands and since his introduction we look a far better outfit. I still hope we sign a left sided centre half in January who has pace so that we can have a combination of partnerships and wouldn't be averse to letting Keane find a new club.

I don't agree. Holgate may have been a baby by center half standards, but was playing first team football long before Silva got here and he was looking the part. (many people forget that) He was made scapegoat by Silva for some desperate defending throughout the team. and he sent him out. Unfortunately the defending was still pathetic. Silva had failed to identify the problem.

Holgates problem was he didnt cost a fortune. There was no pressure on Silva to play him.

We'd have surely lost that game yesterday if it was Mina and Keane. Mina cost us one goal and was very fortunate that he didnt cost us a penalty too

The first goal is beyond me though, i thought the rule was any touch of the hand in the box is handball regardless?

The Premier League is awful with these 2 sides dominating.

I feel he needed to grow into himself and working at WBA who are a really physical unit has improved him immensely where he has hasn't been bullied once since he has come into the side this time around.

For me he is currently the centre half who should be first choice despite playing on his unfavoured side and him and Mina complement each other well.

Harsh on Mina, for calling him out on the Southampton goal ?. . are you sure ?

You may want to look at it again.
He has a free header from the corner which he should have powered away, instead he connected with his ear and got no clearance. Then when the ball came back in He is standing square on with his legs wide apart giving himself no chance of adjusting his feet. If Ings doesnt tap that in, its going in off Mina anyway.

Lets not forget the incredibly stupidy push which should have resulted in a penalty. Most top defenders would not commit that many errors in ten games. Big Yerry did it in ten minutes

He is very strong and wins his fifty fifty tussles which catches the eye and endears him to fans, but his poor positioning and ball watching have been awful this season.

I'm going to give him time because I can see potential and I know he has had problems finding full match fitness, but I wont be won over because he shakes his fist at the crowd to show how much he cares

I don't even think it needed a second look. Mina got the ball away from where it was heading (the 6 yard box) and Schneiderlin was slow and lazy in pressing the second ball.

Then like a dosey schoolboy, failed to show the man onto his weaker side and allowed the man a huge advantage for an assist.

Mina had a free header and by that I mean no challenge whatsoever. He fluffed it, it came off his ear and was bouncing without even reaching the edge of the box.

He does his job and heads that clear, we don't concede the goal. He gets his angles right and clears the second cross... we don't concede the goal.

It's okay for people to have different interpretations of things. I agree with you on many things but, on this point, I think you are being overly critical of Mina – that is all.

I doubt he's a barrel of charm but that's all to the good as far as I'm concerned. He looks like a winner, now he has to make himself into one.

I believe he could become one of the great defenders and he could also be a nasty, successful captain in due course.

'm a big fan of Holgate and his pace is huge, because Mina and Keane aren't as quick, he's like Ake at Bournemouth. I remember him playing in the derby against Firmino, and he impressed me then.

I believe the loan to WBA did nothing for him, because he played at fullback. Luckily because of injury he has proved himself, like Davies.

I think he is an easy target because he as been so poor recently, but Mina is the defender here. His header is as poor as they come and that's what put Schneiderlin in trouble. The guy was quicker and if he'd challenged he risked giving a penalty. Mina then compounded his first error by standing square on doing an impression of John Wayne. Two glaring errors. which led directly to the goal.

If you don't think those two really poor attempts by Mina (not to mention the stupid foul he got away with) make him culpable, that's up to you. But what I saw was abject defending.

The TV commentary said it was another set-piece goal conceded which was a bit rich bearing in mind the ball was cleared (okay, not very far but cleared nonetheless) and they then attacked fresh from the corner.

We are looking better at the back and the unit needs games to knit together. Mina looks good and Holgate has it in him to be a top-class centre-back but needs to concentrate.

I remember remarking when we sold John Stones that I wasn't in the lease concerned, because I thought that overall Holgate was better and would develop into a better all-round CB than Stones.

Hopefully his current performances are helping him get there.

The Mina and Holgate pairing has done pretty well but against out of form teams.
Mina has the size and strength, Holgate adds speed and composure. I'm not a fan of defenders over playing and Holgate does have a tendency to do that.

He's compared to Stones for more than one aspect of his game and when 'the mistake' happens I only hope he realises it and cuts it out. Stones never did.

I've no issue with Schnides getting roasted and out paced. It happens to everyone. I just don't like him or think he's good enough. Bad attitude, poor to average player.

Unfortunately his current inclusion (no excuse at seasons start) is similar to the managers situation. We currently have no better alternatives.

We need to limit taking gambles in players (Davies and another teenager would be a risk) and also our next managerial appointment.

So we are stuck with them for the season and as much as I never wanted Silva the football is watchable, a massive improvement on Sam.

I'm sure Unsworth or Moyes could come in and do a good job but they are not going to get us challenging for the title.

IMO Mancini would, he may become available after the Euros. He's always been my number 1 managerial dream.

So it's sensible from Moshiri to be patient and stick with Silva until a more proven quality manager becomes available. It also helps hide his own misjudgement.

What's missing is a clinical finisher. But we fans know that, why doesn't Brands and / or Silva?

Kean may come good. But if he's sulking, unhappy, not playing or training well then Silva is right to drop him. He may have a niggle or illness that we are unaware of. Being the only Italian he may be home sick, but it's upto Kean to help himself as much as the Everton staff.

Fingers crossed Santa can bring him and the rest of the team what we all want for Christmas, wins, goals, clean sheets and smiles.

It was woeful from Morgan and I'm judging it only on the incident and not of a pre-determined view of the player.

Firstly he strolled out to his opponent letting him get set and turned when he could have closed him down immediately.

Then he backed off him showing the player where he wanted to go but without putting in a tackle. Yes he got done for speed but this was after his first two mistakes.

Not only this but just before it he was roasted on the other wing.

Sorry Mate. I think your confirmation bias is showing there. I don't need an invitation to criticise Schneiderlin, but he was never in possession of the ball. He had a man driving at him in the box.

We had two glorious chances to clear that ball... Unmarked, unchallenged Mina fluffed both of them. I don't see how anyone can defend that header. It was appalling, an absolute invite.

First rule of football get yourself goalside of the attacker.

Second rule of defending "They shall not pass" (legally of course).

Schneiderlin just jogged along making little or no attempt to stop the cross.

Ok fine, I'll tell you.

One.

Yep, one! It came earlier (early October) but we still only had the one. We got a second in very late December. Perspective is oh-so-Important when building cases for, or against, someone or something (99.9% of which on TW is re: Silva).

Ok part 2, do you know how many points we had through matchday 12 last year?

Ok fine, I'll tell you.

Nine (with a -9 gd, compared to our current 14 pts, -5 gd).

Yep, nine! Against very similar quality of opposition, contrary to the narrative that many have espoused. More perspective. Everyone try to smile over the int'l break, things aren't as bleak as they seem.

You might want to check your sources and your data.

By game 12 last season we had 19 points and a positive goal difference of +4, having just drawn 0-0 in an impressive performance away to Chelsea. We sat in 9th position.

That's 5 points better off than we are now and a goal difference negative swing of 9 goals when compared to this season.

And whilst some fixtures were similar to this year's opening 12 games, by game 12 we had played away to Wolves, Bournemouth, Arsenal, Leicester, United and Chelsea. A far more challenging set of fixtures.

Methinks you have skipped a season and compared this season to the Koeman-Unsworth opening fixtures of 2017-18.

Your numbers and conclusions are way off from the reality.

I see Arteta is being linked tonight... it had to improve over the Moyes and Hughes links from the weekend.

It wasnt from the daily snot saying Pep was leaving City at the end of the season and Arteta was going to move on was it.

I saw something but it didnt sound credible.

With regards to confirmation bias last season I was arguing Morgan's case but cannot do so for this season or especially this incident.

I agree with you regarding Minas header that he should have got distance with a firmer connection but he did the job in getting it away from the danger zone.

I played right back at Irish league level and had I been in Schneiderlins position I would have been up the attackers arse before he could get turned.

Secondly there was a man beside him covering the inside so Schneiderlin shouldn't have been backing off as he was square on and couldn't react when the guy went for the line even though that's the only place he could go. His body shape should have been showing him that way in preparation for a tackle long before he entered the penalty area.

Mina is then just hoping as he's trying to cover the front post but the attacker can shoot, drill it like he did or cut it back so it's very tough to blame him for that as he's a little exposed.

https://www.rangersnews.uk/news/former-rangers-star-arteta-a-candidate-for-everton-job-report/

One of a couple on tonight.

What I meant to say was that comparatively to the same 12 fixtures, with only subbing the relegated/promoted sides as best as possible, we've actually done better. So it's a game like-for-like, not a 12 games through the season. Hopefully that clarifies things. Though a different road traveled, it still arrives at the same destination, we're actually a tick better than last year, given those 12 games/opponents.

I don't know how to look this up, but how many minutes have our presumed starting midfield played together this year? I'd wager 0. You can't just dismiss injuries as if they don't matter. (not you specifically, just in the general 'you' sense) How do you get a team 'clicking' when it's cobbling together a bunch of misfit toys?

Thankfully Holgate has really stepped up, but we are still razor-thin at center-half, and even as Kean's biggest supporter, we don't have anything even remotely resembling a regular goal scoring thread at center-forward.

None of this is on Silva. There's plenty that is, but none of this, and all of it has contributed to the difficulties we've faced so far. Would you agree that, since West Ham, we've been considerably better, both in results, and quality of play?

Games 1-8: 2-1-5, 7 pts, 6 goals, -7 gd
Games 9-12: 2-1-1, 7 pts, 7 goals, +2 gd

(And results are results, but most would agree that, if not for the horrible VAR overturned call at Brighton, we'd be 3-1-0 in those 4 matches)

Everton line Arteta up to be criticised for 3 years on tactics and subs.
Followed by a list of accusations with no substance or thought whatsoever.

If you look at the spine of our team from last season Pickford,Zouma,Keane,Gueye,Gomes and Siggy, it was only really up front where we were particularly weak. This season with Gomes being practically absent and the lack of form from the keeper and Siggy the entire spine of the team has been ripped out.

Yes we now have a deeper squad but the foundations are clearly weaker. This is not an attempt to excuse Silva for some of his stubbornness, loyalty to underperforming players and inflexibility but Moshiri and Brands have managed to escape criticism as the PR machine continually tells us that Silva spent over 100 million this summer and we should be top six.

We had all hoped watching Kean last year that he was going to catch fire early but in reality not many players rip up the prem in their first season let alone a 19 year old. Let's judge him next season as you see the progression of some players like Fred who was being described as one of united's worst ever players last season but has come on in leaps and bounds this year.

Its not your fault hype and a lack of open minds had too many thinking Brands could do no wrong and players were more advanced than what they actually were.

I showed people the reaction to your posts and they were pretty much disgusted. Loving a dutch newbee up while giving a long term Evertonian stick.

Some just felt that you could just replace Gueye with a new player to the prem and nothing would be lost despite him being as good as any player in that position last term.

Long term I think the window won't turn out disastrous as hopefully Kean and Gbamin will come good possibly next season and Iwobi and Sidibe have already done quite well but the top 6 predictions for this season I just felt were ludicrous.

Paul I think there was a fella who got quite personal abuse a week or so before who first questioned Brands. He brought up some great points about the lack of real investment and the youth paradox that Brands said he wanted yet sold 3 top prospects without giving a real chance. Yeah I remember he was getting called a nutcase and all sorts. I remember writing a post saying not too much he has said you could argue with despite him totally against the grain.

Reading those posts to you, demanding you just be happy, made me angry to be honest as I found it patronising and sounds like the attitude of a doormat.

It's common theme though. The irony in some of the most arrogant of posts is unreal and I can't get over how people can write so well with the most closed minds I have ever witnessed.

If Brands was this genius I doubt he would be here for a start because as these "just be happy" crowd tell you, you have to be realistic.

He is a simple book balancing assistant for Moshiri. The fact he left the manager short says it all. And like it or not, that is exactly what happened.

For you to get stick for that is just bullying.

In addition Brands has been a revelation since Walsh with how he conducts himself and his first window was an unparalleled success. Therefore most of our fan base were lulled into a thinking that this summers outlay was just going to work out like the previous one without analysis.

Many were so impressed by this guy that were deluding themselves into seeing things that weren't reality. For example some were saying that Silva seemed delighted with the transfer window despite highlighting the areas he wanted and didn't get, and that he looked happy in the Palace press conference when he was visibly annoyed.

The ironic thing Paul is that despite me being really critical of Brands this summer I am actually quite happy he is here as although I agree with you that he has been a balancing book assistant for Moshiri I do feel he is still being constrained by the previous regime and has showed a lot more vision and ruthlessness than we have had until now.

It is just now some of our fans are beginning to be more fair minded as this love in became so out of proportion that I joked that Brands had killed a twebbers wife but the supporter was delighted as Marcel was saying a few words at the funeral because he felt so terrible in mudering her in cold blood.

The other shower done it for years mate and while they couldn't get to where they wanted to be, odd things happened like Steve Finnan becoming the best Right back in the Premiership if you spoke to them.

We always had the opportunity to laugh at their delusion when in a normal world we had no right really, but we always had that consolation of their gullible opinions.

While everybody knew we had no money and it definately held us back, they were wasting it, buying 5 good players when they only needed 2 top players.

Arsenal started it and to an extent lately Man United have joined in. The penny has finally dropped for Satans sons and look at them now.

We obviously won't be able to go head to head for them top sides for players but there is enough scouting and slippery agents to get more quality in.

Injuries have been awful this season but on a positive note for us fans it should make us go for players in January. I don't believe that was their plan but it has backfired on them board members. Again.

Go back to Allardyce's spell. Moshiri has ended up having to lay 2 big wages out to basically keep us up. Again to an extent we are stuck with them players now, and now in the same position as then.

I can't believe we didn't learn from that and hate to think how much it could really set us back?

But the problem still remains as to whether Moshiri has the real desire to move us forward. I think he produced about 20million net despite all the bullshit top 6 noises. I would love to know how we fared in the net spend table as I know that even Villa went close to 100 million.

With regards to the winter window I'm not too sure they will dip in as they know the pressure is on Silva and not Brands/Moshiri and Marcel always speaks about not getting value. I wish he would just understand that you can also oversell as well as overpaying so it can be balanced out.

With Gbamin due back and Holgate doing well I would love a goal scoring winger or centre forward depending on the availability of the right player rather than the position. I think they will probably wait til summer for any other business buddy.

I also think Silva knows its a long season to leave the midfield on Davies shoulders while he is developing and lets face it Gbamin is looking at very late in the season to gain any form so he may look at bringing a midfielder in.

With Brands looking for the players or being key to doing the deals it doesn't really matter who the manager is mate, they just have to work with whoever he brings in.

If it turns out we are still within a few points of the bottom 3 when the window comes, we will be forced to buy.

Gana >
< Gbamin

Lookman >
< Kean

Vlasic/Onyekuru >
< Iwobi

Basically leaves Gomes & Delph, or the £35m.