Everton's reality check will have been instructive for Koeman

The EFL Cup is not important; continuing our good league form is.

I was a bit surprised at his 6 changes for the game, but I figured they all knew this was their big chance to challenge for a regular place...

Well, they didn't really play bad, but way before Naisy's stumbled/slipped-in first-half goal, I was tearing out my non-existent hair every time EFC-players received a seemingly normal football, but then had to 'fondle' it before they could bring themselves into passing it to anyone... And that was mostly because anyone to pass it to was as rooted in his place as any modest statue...

Everton, that. Needless to say, if we had actually beaten Norwich, we probably would have got drawn against Man City away.

Funes Mori, despite has detractors, has been playing very well for Argentina at LB and seemed like a reasonable replacement for Baines. Some on here lamented the absence of Garbutt but if you haven't noticed he's already been dropped to the bench by lowly Wigan, which doesn't bode well.

The real problem last night was Geri and Ross. They're not the players we hoped they'd be by now two or three years ago. In the absence of Rom, they're key but they're just not good enough.

Given this, it could be argued that if he kept playing those core players in every competition, league cup included, it would compromise our league ambitions, at least through the potential for injuries. On this basis, I can't get too worked up about last night's result, and I think what Koeman did was sensible management of a limited squad.

The League Cup is frequently won by minor teams, but only top teams finish regularly in the top 6 of the Premier League. Even without winning silverware, life gets far more interesting when you start showing that 'top 6' kind of consistency.

Whereas some teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool can introduce reserves with no discernible alteration to the team's pattern of play, we clearly cannot. Valencia cannot play Lukaku's role but he may yet prove a decent player. We don't yet appear to have a club DNA in terms of how we play.

Added to which, Barkley is not cutting the mustard. I must admit my patience is running out with him.

I have no problem with the multiple changes Koeman made. That argument doesn't stack up as we made six changes, Norwich made 10, and nine of our starting XI are full internationals, with the other two junior internationals.

Evidently, too many players did not play close enough to acceptable levels. So I have to disagree with Stan @ 5 who doesn't believe Koeman would have learnt anything from last night's game. I would be very disappointed if that was the case.

Surely he would have learnt (or had it re-affirmed), for example, a fringe player's ability to be immediately up to speed when called on, their hunger and desire to impress and force their way into the starting XI, their physical and mental fitness to perform in a sudden death game.

Nor do I get the laissez faire attitude by some across a number of threads that an early exit from this competition 'doesn't matter.' Of course it matters, if we want to improve our profile and be seen as winners!

It represents a trophy, a European place and all the associated glory that goes with it... yer know... a shiny, silver thing that we haven't lifted for nigh on 22 years.

Of course in cash terms, league position is paramount for the bean counters, but to be so flippant about a cup exit and believe we can cherry pick when and which trophy we can next have our name engraved upon... well, it bemuses me.

Will we win a trophy in the '10s? I'll say – No. Can't visualise it.

Surely your first year of such a project would contain targets such as 'win all home games against lower ranked opposition', or possibly 'win one of the cup competitions'.

Those seeing this early exit as possibly aiding an attempt at the league title are surely putting the cart before the horse.

Are even Baines or Jags worried that a major chance to win silverware with us has gone for another year? I'm not sure. Ossie seemed non-plussed that he didn't win a trophy with us, Hibbo will be mute on the matter and even Cahill was more interested in his own brand, really, than us winning when it mattered. Ron will be off to Arsenal or wherever in 2 or 3 years too. But ... okaaaay!

Had Everton beaten Norwich, I think the entire draw would have been different. Hope that makes you feel slightly better!

Speaking of Palace, I see Scott Dann pulled up with a hamstring injury in their League Cup game. I wouldn't wish ill on any player, but here's hoping he won't return in time for their visit to Goodison next Friday. He is a key player at both ends of the pitch for them.

For individual players, there will be positives. Geri, who cannot by all accounts manage ninety minutes, got a start and will now be that little bit fitter. You also get the impression he is a player who needs games for confidence and a start on Tuesday will also help with that. With Holgate, he had been quickly dropped once Coleman was fit. He got a full game on Tuesday, in his preferred position, and this will have helped his confidence.

Some of the performances were so poor it may well signal the end of some players' time at Everton and we could see them being shipped out come January.

We won't go far having to rely on players who have to be in the mood! Or have to 'find a penny and pick it up' in order to have the luck to have a good shoving, only to tantalise us to deceit!

These kind of performances from bit-part players who are on full-part pay simply isn't good enough for EFC and the quicker they are shown the out door, the better. Koeman's plan, as he stated, is ideally two players for every position and I doubt if he will entertain 'flash in the pan' back-ups.

There are no positives.

We all knew that we sorely lacked a striker able to score goals in Lukaku's absence and Tuesday night looked to confirm that we failed to properly address that situation.

All of our other top 4 rivals made multiple changes but got through. While the first team bears Koeman's stamp, the squad is still mostly Martinez's.

Having said that, perhaps the main culprits were first teamers Barkley and Deulofeu. Much of our creative output this season will depend on them and they must do better. A lot better.

For example, in the second round, we might have been match 15 to be drawn against Yeovil. In the third round, therefore, against Norwich, we would have been number 15. That tie might have been drawn match number 8, and therefore in the fourth round, Everton or Norwich would be number 8.

Hope that makes sense for you.

West Ham v Chelsea - 1

Manchester United v Manchester City - 2

Arsenal v Reading - 3

Liverpool v Tottenham - 4

Bristol City v Hull - 5

Leeds v Norwich - 6

Newcastle v Preston - 7

Southampton v Sunderland - 8.

Koeman: "Bill, we need a striker, an attacking midfield player, a right back and another goalkeeper as a minimum and I would like x, y and z, and if we cannot get them, I need a, b and c."

Bill: "I'll do my best, Ron, but you know what those agents are like, and now with Farhad's money, they all want big wages, but I am sure we can get most of these players in."

Deadline Day

Koeman: "Bill, we don't seem to have got any of my first-choice targets, or indeed any of my second-choice targets, but you have loaned Valencia from West Ham. He wasn't on my list and I think he's rubbish."

Bill: "We did our best, Ron, but you know what the agents are like, and the big wages, but hey-ho, we got Valencia on the drip and he is very cheap."

Koeman: "But we have no cover or depth if any of the first team are injured, banned or away on ACN duty."
Bill: "Ron, we are giving you £6.5 million a year so therefore you must be able to polish some of these turds into decent backup players."

Everton v Norwich pre-match, Koeman talking to wife: "That dick Kenwright bought no-one during the transfer window, the tight wad. I'm going to pick 6 of his so-called back-up players tonight and when we get stuffed, the penny might drop, he's paying me £6.5 mill a year to tell him what I need then he does nothing. Maybe losing tonight will get his attention."

After game

Koeman: "Well, Bill, your chickens have come home to roost tonight."

Bill: "Don't worry Ron, in January we will definitely get you x, y and z,"

Whispering aside to Moshiri: "As long as the agents don't want big wages."

Maybe this didn't happen but, if Koeman is as intelligent and as belligerent as he has appeared to date, I wouldn't put it past him doing this to force the issue.

So far this season, I have enjoyed his 'say it as it is' comments, including his remarks regarding Barkley. On Tuesday, he dodged the issues, including his poor team set-up and tactics.

After 3 years of Martinez's bullshit, it has been refreshing to hear from the manager what most of us actually see. This was not the case on Tuesday.

He played "ok" on Saturday but he should be bossing games against lower league teams.

He's so frustrating to watch its unreal.

I don't think anyone really wanted us to sign Sissoko but in hindsight, I reckon he would be in the team ahead of Ross.

I for one don't think that would be a bad thing.

If we are the first match drawn, then hopefully in the fourth round we would be number 1.

We scored 13 goals in 11 games in which Lukaku played and scored none himself.

That tells me we have others to score goals whether Lukaku is absent or not.

I know some fans were disappointed not to see Tom Davies feature on Tuesday. He would have given us more energy in midfield but both he and Kieran Dowell had played the night before against Arsenal in the Under 23s. I suspect Davies was already ahead of Cleverley in the midfield pecking order and Tuesday's game served to confirm that.

Ive said it before and I'll say it again - a Sunderland/WBA/Crystal Palace type club is where he will end up within 2yrs. And don't get me started on Lennon or Gerry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We Everton fans deserve only the best and the fact that we might have to wait even longer for an upturn in fortunes is not designed to inspire hope and glory in the near future.

I haven't seen anything to suggest the US MLS teams could compete at EPL level.

In a one-off game, certain MLS clubs can compete with midtable or lower EPL teams. However, the squads are not deep enough to go a whole season in the EPL. Generally, the fall-off after about the first 13 players in an MLS squad is more precipitous than in England (except maybe Sunderland this season).

I remember when all the hype started with him a few years ago before he was in the first team and viewed a stiffs or U18 or U21 on the RS tv channel (Only watched it because we were on and it was free). Anyway, the point I was making was that the game just passed young Ross by, the stand out player for us was a certain Jose Baxter and Ross showed little.

Says it all really, but I will be amazed if Ross gets offered a bumper, extended contract unless he improves very quickly. Hate to criticise but it just ain't happening, lad.

The manager's team selection enforced my point. I would rather Dave Unsworth take the U23s and play in the cup as year after year we make no effort to win it. Even Norwich made 8 changes from their full strength team.

The only thing Koeman has learned from the defeat is that we rely heavily on Jags, Barry and Lukaku.

I have him down to be reunited with Moyes at Sunderland. As for Deulofeu & Mirallas, they are definitely not top 6 players. They (andRoss) have had their limits exposed.

They have been accorded far to much patience by some fans. But RK is going to loose patience very soon. He has to bide his time but, according to his 2 year plan, they will be history!

I have to say, I think Koeman underestimated Norwich and overestimated our squad strength, a hard lesson to learn, but one that will galvanize his outs and ins list in January.

If it was up to me, I would pick my strongest team and try to win a cup – it's fundamentally why I go to the match though its pretty obvious, and has been for years, that the club value mid-table more than the League Cup. I won't be going to these testimonials next year.

I hope Koeman can embed a proper DNA from top to bottom at Finch Farm. This will take at least the length of his current contract, I suggest. It'll need other players yet to sign for us and it'll need Mr Moshiri to immediately act on those responsible for what he reportedly deemed an underwhelming window.