As ever before Ken, your match day report is loaded not only with accurate recounting of the action but with the true feel of "going the match". Thanks.

Sad to hear that one of our Toffs passed away amongst us today. However, the respectful applause from both sets of fans was a class way to (albeit unknowingly at the time) mark his passing.

From my own perspective, I can think of nowhere that I'd rather breathe my last. I'm certain that William Ralph soon had a brotherly arm around our fallen comrade.

Rest in "God's Acre".

I could not get to the game but your report gave me the best insight to the match as a whole. I enjoy the unbiased way you report, it gives a truer reflection of how matches play out. Stoke are a tough handful for any side and it is a relief when we get past that particular obstacle.Gana seems to be the legs of the midfield and I am sure that Barry benefits from his support. We still need that craft in midfield that separates us from the top teams. Barkley is an enigma and like you say, his end product is lacking.We are two or three players away from being real contenders. I hope that we get Brahimi and a second striker (not Balotelli). We received really big money for Stones which has paid for all the players we have brought in so far. We need to spend decent money to bring in the likes of Brahimi, Ziyech or Adrien Silva.Offering £25 million will not cut it at today's prices. Brahimi is at least as valuable as Stones. If we can get him for £30 million then he is a bargain.

Ken, spot on as always, things are on the up! Very sad to hear of the loss of life.

Great 'local' feel to all your reports, Ken.

Perhaps the dilemma with Barkley is that nearly ALL Everton's attacking thrusts through the middle of the park are led by him, so that ,when he does misplace a pass, it always draws great breaths of exasperation from the crowd.

In his favour, he is the only one of our current lot of midfielders who can genuinely put defenders on the back foot. Some of the stuff he tries is overly ambitious, but he does get me excited when he's on the ball, and very few players in the current game can do that.

Looking to the future, and after many false dawns, I am really optimistic, our club is CHANGING for the better, both on the field and off, after years of stagnation and mis-management. Interestingly, Robert Elstone's influence at the club is becoming less and less as Moshiri and his own handpicked staff effectively take control of proceedings.

I believe it will be next season before Koeman is able to put together the team he wants. One transfer window won't be enough to cure the ills of the Martinez regime, but the green shoots of recovery can most definitely be seen.

Excellent write up again Ken.

Season's kicked off very nicely. Looking at the opening 3 games before the start I was thinking 9 points would be an unreasonably good expectation but 7 was reasonable, with 5 being the minimum for a solid, if unspectacular start.

Very early doors but 7 points from the opening 3 is a great start to the season. We're slowly making GP a tough place to come to again. Sunderland, Boro, Bournemouth and Palace to come in September so hopefully we can get another 2-3 wins and keep the unbeaten run going.

One of the best starts to the season for many a year.

Thanks, Ken – just goes to show that pre-season friendlies mean sweet FA.

As with most Premier League matches, the margins between success and failure were narrow. On another day that was a game we might have lost 2-1. Eking out 1-0 wins is vital and something we have rarely achieved in the past 18 months.

I also had Idrissa Gana Gueye man of the match. He may be a player with three names but at times his work rate matches that of three players.

It was interesting to note the BBC and some of the national newspapers gave Barkley the star rating. From where I sat he had a decent game until tiring in the last twenty minutes but as so often with Ross the end product of his work does not match the build up. His decision making remains faulty. He passes up good opportunities to shoot inside the penalty area yet we often see him shooting from hopeless positions well outside the box.

The Baines penalty was far from convincing. Yes, it crept over the line eventually but Given could count himself unlucky. The short acute angled run up which he has adopted in the last couple of years makes it easier for the goalkeeper to read the shot.

Hopefully Koeman and the coaches will sort out our penalty taking because we now have four first choice players, Lukaku, Barkley, Mirallas and Baines himself who have all missed in the past couple of years.

Sunday is for reading the Observer and then "From My Seat". Atmospheric. Gana also my MotM, Ken. Love the lad. And Holgate a revelation.

Idrisse Gueye is just amazing. BBC pundits drooling over Kante, great player, but how can they not mention our boy? And he has been doing it from the first game of the season! Sign of a seriously good player there, and what a scoop for the Blues. What he lacks in size he more than makes up for in heart and attitude. Superb.

I'm not surprised at BBC, William. Typical. I don't think they actually take much notice of us. They won't watch all games in full so rely on some highlights I assume.

Great match report as usual, Ken.

William and Brent, I don't take any notice of TV pundits, they know a lot less than you two and many more on here. They get paid for their opinions but I take more notice of lots of fans on here and around town.

Barkley MotM? He had a decent game but, as Ken and most Evertonians say, Gana and Holgate were streets ahead of him.

Dave, and I see Ross doesn't get a call up by Uncle Sam.

Ken, I was unable to make it to the match yesterday so am even more grateful than usual to read your take on matters – thanks.

Oh 1-0 victories how I've missed you!!!

There's something quite satisfying about them especially after being so terrible at "hanging on" last season.

Our last 1-0? Newcastle on Boxing Day (our only 1-0 for the entire season!)

Thanks as per usual Ken. Always a pleasure.

Idrissa Gana Gueye, top man. I get to admire this bloke more each game. Peter Reid with a turbo ?

As I've already predicted on other threads, a cult hero in the making. No wonder Villa fans thought so very highly of him.