Dan, yes terrific performance. Playing at that tempo in the first game was going to be difficult for 90 minutes. It was close in the end but it's Utd who were lucky not to have been beaten by more. We will play better for a full 90 minutes as our fitness improves, this time not waiting 20 games into the season though this time.

Moyes in the transfer market could again amaze us all. He looks to have improved the team with no net spend. Only Arsenal could hope to say that, yet we have to live like this and credit to the manager for his returning astuteness that brought the past gems in.

I saw Moyes's interview on Sky, he looks more focused and upbeat now than he has been for a long time. The team looks ready to continue the form we finished the season with and nailing Villa away next week will be just as important as this opening-game victory.
Time will tell, but there's a steel with no shortage of skill within this group of players that makes them capable of surprising us all.

Great 3 points. Villa's got our next 3 in their pocket. Let's go take them.

Hopefully that performance and the spectacle of a rocking Goodison will persuade a few potential loanees that their careers may be enhanced by joining us.

Kevin Mirallas must've been left with the felling he'd made the right decision coming to us rather than going to the Emirates.

COYBB!

Mirallas must have been inspired to see his compatriot boss the mighty Utd so comprehensively. Fellaini has shown him the bar, and he's set it high, but that can only be a good thing.

Kevin will also be sure to have noted that although his new home ground isn't the best looking or most modern in the league, there really is no place on earth quite like it when it rocks like it did last night!

Just seen the game a couple of hours ago from a roasting hot Florida condo.
What a performance by the lads, surely we can build on this and put behind us the slow starts from the past.
Jelouse of all who where at the game, the atmosphere oozed through the tv.
The Yuengling has been flowing, its the only beer I can get with any semblance of flavour.

It's really funny and I know we Evertonians don't like him because of who he played for, but listening to McManaman talk about Everton and Goodison Park was great. His ESPN colleague loves to try to talk to him about the reds at all costs, and McManaman goes along with it. But I swear, when he speaks about Everton, and when he was commentating on tonight's match, it really does seem like he loves Everton. Maybe he's divided, and yes he played all those years for them. But I don't know, he seemed to really love the performance put in by Everton tonight and especially love the atmosphere at Goodison Park tonight. I remember thinking the same thing when we beat City last year and he also called that game. It was like he was having trouble containing his joy, something that isn't so evident when calling other matches. What an atmosphere tonight though, it gave me chills through the TV. It reminded me of the atmosphere when we finished 4th, when I took my brother to his first match, The Carsley Derby. The place was rocking.

Dave try a Redhead or Amberbock if you can get it.

However I would have drunk dshwater and still felt good after tonight.

David,

Forget where he pllayed, McManaman was a childhood blue!! That's why he is so in love with the blue...

My oh my, Fellaini can really be a top 5 player in this league! What a stud.

Great night.

Big question for me is wether after that performance anyone can really vindicate playing fellaini anywhere else than the Cahill role? His ability to make the ball stick up front as well as providing knock downs for the likes of Osmans crossbar challenge surely make him a necessity in that role.

If he does continue there then who fills the gap in midfield alongside Gibson? Neville was great last night but not an ideal long term solution. Perhaps ossie or young Ross, but both are prone to losing possession in costly areas. I wouldn't mind seeing pienaar there. He has the mix of tenacity and creativity and was outstanding there for Ajax a few years back. Or perhaps moyes will bring in someone.

For me though the big fella should continue in the hole which actually leaves us a bit short in the middle.

You know the Manure have been spanked when Whisky Nose starts being petulant instead of praising the opposition.

Some of the signs are:

- mentions "maybe" penalties
- claims the crowd influenced the referee
- makes silly comments about opposition (e.g. "lumping" the ball)
- fails to mentions the opposition's star by name
- focuses on his team - "we didn't play to VP's strengths" (the fact is that VP was hardly on the pitch, which was WN's fault).

We had all of the signs here. He must have felt really spanked.

Chris 899 and Jamie 900 - I was thinking the same, what great introduction to Goodison for Mirallas, he must be thinking 'I'll hae a bit of that...!'

Tony 933 - too true, shows Fergie up for what he is, a down right horrible bastard. On the bright side he'll be giving his players some shit today :D

Hi was thinking similar to you Sam that Fellaini's best position is behind the striker, we will have people say thats where Mirallas will play personally (that means my opinion) thats why he(Moyes) has looked at Charlie Adam.

12 months ago everyone was screaming to get him in and to be honest I think he can do a job in the engine room alongside Gibson.

I would use Mirallas on the right Pienaar on the left and Felli up top with Jelavic. I know we have Naismith but its a squad game, we will have injuries and suspensions so having Naismith to play behind or left or right is invaluable.

I also believe that Niang wont sign now as Milan are interested and he was a plan B if we didnt get Mirallas.

On the brighter side I can see Big Victor moving to Wigan before the window closes, but no idea who he will bring in.

Finally the right back position, we have Hibbert who played well again last night, Phil Neville and Jonny Heitinga who can play there, plus Coleman who I prefer a an impact sub 15 to 20 minutes to go.

Just thoughts, and going back to Charlie Adam, 5 million worth it we havent had a nasty bastard since Big Dunc and before that Peter Reid

Peter I think Charlie Adam is a good shout. Similar to Gibson in the way he plays but with a run in the team he could prove as effective as in his blackpool season where he clocked around 10 goals and as many assists. Would not be a popular signing but think he would win people around. Plus his agent is moyes brother. Failing that, if we could somehow highjack arsenals loan move for nuri sahin, I think he will be a superb player.

The problem with Adam is that he is as slow as hell and pace is needed. He does pass the ball well but I would much rather see a more mobile player than Adam at Goodison Park.

Felli had a great game and Gary Neville was full of praise for both him and every other player in blue. All the defence were fantastic and it was hard to single any of them out for special mention. Ossie did tire and I'm still not sure of Gibson. Pienaar also faded a bit towards the end.

I liked Jelavic's attitude all through and he was not given much protection by the officials, he could be a great foil for Felli if the big fella can keep his form and stays away from injury.

Our squad is still very small and some positions do not have top cover... But if we have a season without too many injuries then I am optimistic. It will be good to see how Mirallas does but I hope it does not mean leaving Jelavic on the bench!! If he is played wide right then he may make up for missing Donovan.

The player I'm really interested in seeing is Naismith. Perhaps he will be the midfielder we need and save buying the likes of Adam... I hope so!

Wow, way to bring me down after last night by talking about buying Charlie Adam. Did people not watch him play for the RS last season? He is shit. He looked above average when he played for Blackpool but makes way too many mistakes and always goes for the "Hollywood" pass. We can, and should, do better.

Paul, being shit for the reds doesn't mean he'd be shit for us. Moyes might be able to engineer something better from him than Gerrard-esque balls to touch and late tackles.

However, having said that, he is a bit shit, isn't he...

Charlie Adam was shit at Rangers too. As a rule, we just shouldn't do business with the RS. If we signed Adam and that let them buy Dempsey it would be a bad move because it would allow our rivals to strengthen. I think the only reason Adam is being linked with us is because of his agent being Moyes' brother.

The most pleasing thing about last night was that we looked similar to the team that finished the season. I know that's an obvious statement considering it was the same team in terms of personel but what I mean is every time the new season starts we look a completely different side. Usually Howard drops a clanger, Jagielka takes 5 games to get his positioning right, Neville plays wayward passes all game, Osman has absolutely no touch and Hibbert's hoofing / crossing is unbearable. Instead, we looked solid, fitter than our opposition, and everyone's touch was there (even Neville's!). We normally bemoan the end of the season because we've finished so strongly and last night looked like last season hadn't ended. Hopefully we'll pick up where we left off.

Adam? Do me a favour, he wasn't even the best midfielder at Blackpool.

I don;t want to be a party-pooper here or take away some of the gloss on what was, in the main, an excellent performance but wasn't anybody else a little worried at the way we sat back and defended our box from the minute we scored...

Yes Distain & Jags ( and the rest) were excellent in the last twenty minutes but they had to be cos once we scored we never mustered another meaningful attack... even the commentator made reference to '..Everton not making any attempt to get forward..'

Prior to the goal we went at Utd and created numerous chances and could have desrvedly scored more than once but after we scored not another shot.... I just hope this doesn't be come the trend as normal....nick one and defend a 1 goal lead.

I know i'll get some stick for this post but anyone who doesn't believe me just watch the game again....I'm sure many of you have it Sky + 'd.

Please Moyesie no more nick one and sit back....last night ( and several performances last season proved) we are a far better team when we ATTACK !!

I agree completely Nelly. If I have any criticism of Moyes from last night it's that he should have brought Coleman on a little earlier. The team was absolutely knackered and the injection of fresh legs actually made Untied have to defend a little more.

I was convinced it was going to be a repeat of the semi-final against the RS but thankfully we got away with it this time. That said though, with a little more luck and were it not for De Gea we could have been 3 or 4 in front by that point.

The real test is going to be against Villa now to see if we can keep this going. I can't wait to hear all the pundits on MotD write us off and for us to just keep on winning.

Paul, you are right about keeping it going. Our next three games are Villa, Orient in the cup and then West Brom. That brings us up to the 1st September and the close of the transfer window. Four good performances and advancing in the cup, plus hopefully not losing anyone in the transfer window. That would provide serious momentum and confidence.

The reason we sat back after our goal is probably because it fortunately came right at the end of our period of dominance.

Let's face it the first half is probably as good as you are going to see for a performance against United. Unlike the semi-final when we 'created' only one chance for Jelavic, we created at least 7 or 8 good chances and forced De Gea into numerous very good saves. We could have easily been 2 or 3 up.

When Osman hit the bar I thought it was going to be one of those nights, fortunately the goal came from the corner. No-one is going to maintain that sort of intensity for 90 minutes against United; United aren't going to play that badly for 90 minutes. There was always going to be a period when we had to defend (like every team has to do against the top teams).

Chelsea and Liverpool have won champions leagues on doing very little but defending. It's part of the game as well as attacking, anyone thinking that we'd not have a period of defense against a team with Rooney, RVP, Valencia, Nani, Kagawa, and Scholes, is living in a bit of a dream world.

Spot on James Martin 008 - Chelsea won the Champions League last season doing what we did for 20 minutes for entire fixtures. It's not nice, it's not pretty, but sometimes its necessary and when it is we're pretty good at it. One criticism I'd have is we seem to be well versed in soaking it up but not at hitting back on the break (not enough pace / attacking ability / got everyone camped behind the ball). It is what it is though, Italian viewers would love it, especially given we do it in Blue....!

Nail on the head James 008. If we can manage to put those chances away then we're not having to defend a 1-0 with twenty to go. That said we created the chances and against a side that many think will regain the title this season! I'm sure we will improve from a finishing point of view and for once we can build on a great opening result. COYBB!!

It also should have been 2-0. How mariner didn't give a pen when Jelavic was literally hauled down in the box early on. He also bottled sending any of the utd players off for persistent fouling when on yellows. Utd were very poor the title is Citys.

Fantastic performance last night, all heart, guts and don't forget we played some lovely football at times. I can't wait to see Kevin down the right as at times when we broke down the right we slowed it down...

And Felliani was world class last night, simple as that.

As for new players, I agree we need another center mid as Neville should only play there against the top teams. I'd like to see Huddlestone instead of Adam – better pass-range, stronger in the tackle, and much better than Neville.

A cheeky £4 million bid?

I would like to see another creative mid added, maybe a little gem from one of the troubled Spanish clubs, the way Swansea took advantage and got Michu. An extra winger wouldn't go amiss either.
Fellaini was class up top but I'd still like him next to Gibson with Naismith behind Jelavic and Pienaar and Mirallas on the wings, then if we need to change things throw the big man up front. There is time to do more business so fingers crossed we can add one or two more and have a real go at top 6.

Personally I'd hate to see Charlie Adam play for us, purely because of his horrible nature. The blokes a nasty piece of work, a coward, a cheat and a filthy hurtful player. I really hope we don't sign him. He'd be a disgrace to the shirt in my opinion.

Stop beating around the bush, James Marshall. Do you want Charlie Adam or not?

Paul, look I know it looks as though I'm sitting on the fence here, but the guy really grinds my gears...

Watch the footage of him shepherding Rodwell off the pitch when he got sent off against the RS. Massive wa**er.

Charlie Adam? No thanks but the Tom Huddlestone shout is a good one he would do a job for us.

I totally agree James M.

Nelly, i'd agree with us holding on and defending for the last 25 mins but I think its unfair to say we nicked one. It wasn't as if we scored against the run of play. It was well deserved.

Sour grapes from a cockney united fan on talk sport, saying we were just lumping it long, Moyes is shit and we've no chance of top 4. Please prove this twat wrong blue boys!

Fair enough with the comments on Adam. Personally I think the lad has a bit of talent in him but no need to take the RS cast offs.

I do think we need another centre mid though. Even if Fella drops back an injury to him or Gibson and we are back with Neville in midfield or Heitinga or worse both of them. Not sure Barkley is ready yet. Think Huddlestone is crocked for life. Someone in the Essien, Tiote mould would be good or a Cabaye/Cleverly type...

Really surprised by Moyes playing Fellaini up top last night - clearly a masterstroke with Carrick playing centre-half. I thought he would be nailed on to play as a sweeper.

I don't think we sat back after scoring either, I just think we had ran our race and the lads were feeling the pace.

I can see us playing many formations this season, and I reckon Moyes has decided to try new tactics with the players we now have.

Great night, and I have still got a headache, as well as being two hours late for work !!

Moyes said he wanted striking support and pace on the right. Mirallas is capable of playing either, but a central midfielder is apparently not on his radar (selling Jack Rodwell when he didn't need to?).

Yes Felli was magnificent last night but suddenly everyone wants to organise the team just to accomodate him there for the rest of the season. That is crazy until we have seen how the team performs with Fellaini more withdrawn and the likes of Naismith or Mirallas playing just behind Jelavic. Who knows, he may be less prominent but maybe the team will perform even better.

I actually thought that the balance of the team looked a little off last night, though it was more than compensated for by the performance of all the players. Overall, and including Mirallas, the team would benefit from another player with pace.

Stuff Charlie Adam, our central midfield is good enough as it is, and bring in another quick and skilful wide man if a suitable one is available.

Mirallas is quoted in The Telegraph today saying: ''I am very proud and happy to have signed for Everton and I know it is a big club but when you add to what I saw last night, the atmosphere in the stadium and the way the team played, I am even happier now...''

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/everton/9490555/Evertons-new-signing-Kevin-Mirallas-rejected-Arsenal-in-favour-of-more-playing-time.html

I've rarely read a thread and agreed with so much of what was said! In particular James Martin and Si Cooper have made points that I was going to make so I'll just add my support to them. Strange that a good result brings out the intelligence in Toffeewebbers too.

I didn't realise people thought they way they do about Charlie Adam, I'd been thinking it would be a good signing for us and I'd never noticed him being a particular wanker in amongst all the other Liverpool players. I do though like the point about not giving them any money they might use to strengthen their team.

The only point I really disagreed with was Nelly Verdonghan's as although I can understand your concerns I think James dealt with the point well. And you also have the best name on Toffeeweb.

As for central midfield cover, I think Owen Hargreaves is still on a free. Would you take him? If he agreed to a contract that suited us, like Saha's 'pay-as-you-play' type deal I think it could be a master stroke.

Looks like a deal with Wigan for Anchibe is brewing so who do they have that is half decent?

The Villa game will be different with a lone striker deployed and a 5-man midfield and we will be looking at keeping it tight. It will be business as usual and Moyes will be looking not to lose so forget new tactics and attack at all costs. This game will give us an idea of what we can expect this season.

The Man Utd game was a bit like a cup final in the way it was played and we don't want that week-in, week-out because this squad is too small with not enough depth. We don't want to run out of petrol by Xmas. I want to see us maintain a top six spot and then have a spurt at the end for Europe.

On the other hand, I would love to see us win every game and score lots of goals. 2-0 Saturday eh?

James Marshall # 047 Well said James - Charlie Adam is a typical Liverpool scumbag in the Gerrard /Tommy Smith mould . The type of dirty mouthy scumbag player who is always at home at the Red Shite.

Did I mention I don't like him.

Great result, fine performance, excellent start to the season. Here's hoping we can keep it going.

Not much sign of the usual nay-sayers on here - funny that. I guess there's no point coming on to slag off Hibbert and Osman when both play their parts in a wonderful victory. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Moysey will have learnt a valuable lesson from this — next time we go into a gunfight we leave the knife behind and take the bazooka.

With hindsight, they were the right tactics on the night, but I don't think that's the way we should be looking to setup each week.

We've got the perfect group to play 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1.

Lets be generous and say we played "direct" football on Monday. That style might work against a team with an obvious injury induced weakness but, moving forward, we'll need to retain possession and work the full width of the pitch to break down teams who set out to KITAP1 against us.

Villa away might not be the game to go all out attack but I'd definitely like to see Fellaini back in the centre of midfield to control things - we'll kill him asking him to play that attacking role each week.

Jamie 068....I think you misunderstood my point...I totally agree we didn't nick one....we thoroughly deserved our goal and one or two more based on the performance leading up to our goal.

I was merely trying to point out that we seemed to defend our box for the remainder of the game from the moment we scored....this has been a common tactic of Moyes over the past couple of seasons (if not longer) which has resulted in us drawing and/or losing games we should probably would have won if we had kept the attacking pressure on...a la the semi v the Shite.

I really hope it is not the tactic he will revert to again this season once we have taken a 1 goal lead....As Monday night proved and games against City & Chelsea last season we are so much better when we attack (or at least try to) for 90 minutes.

That said we totally deserved the 3pts on Monday without a doubt