Generally agree your individual markings (thought Ross and Tom were pick of our outfield players) but maybe would have scored Joel slightly higher.

Despite what some others are saying elsewhere on this site, the appalling conditions most certainly did have an effect on our performance and acted as something of a leveller. Obviously hoped for three points but the one we got was hard fought and well deserved.

One final point – Adama Traore was exactly what I expected: electric pace and tricky but no end product.

The effect of a disjointed midfield had a knock on effect on the rest of the team, with the defence unable to push further up the field and allow Baines and Coleman to get forward more often. Yet, all could have been forgiven if Lookman and Lukaku had tucked away those relative easy opportunites. If Everton want to be taken serious as a top 4 team putting away chances is part of that.

Gueye had probably his worst game for us, but I feel even at his best, his passing isn't that great. Pressing and tackling he is superb, but passing is one thing that slightly lets him down. He's good at basic passing, but creative balls he seems to struggle with. The variety of midfielders we have now should allow him to focus on the defensive role which he excelled at during the first half of the season.

Martin #2, good point on Traore. He reminded me of Deulofue on steroids. As both came through the Barca academy together, you can see why they are so similar. I'm sure Traore wasn't that bulked up last year when he was at Villa.

I sometimes think I'm watching a different team to half the people on here. This "revolution" is surely a figment of imagination?

Did those who have busied themselves excusing the insipid dross our boys have served up after our last couple of away games actually watch our other games?

A "cruel braw windy night at the potteries" ... A "biting swirling North Easterly at the camp of the Riverside White walkers"... fuck me. You sound like the watchers on the wall trembling at the thought of coming across the wildlings. These are not excuses – they are clichés... "Let's see how he managers on a frosty Tuesday night in Stoke!"

Did you think the rest of the league were playing in nice warm stadiums with the sun on their backs?

One question? How do you explain the other twenty matches when we have looked like Stoke City's ugly sister? The incessant hoofball nobody wants to talk about? The complete lack of flair in the squad? Why has this functional ugly football seen as a major improvement?

The only real change to our style is we now want to play THREE defensive midfield players. We have to play that way because two transfers in and the manager has not shown the slightest desire to bring in a Number 10... how many tackling machines do we need?

If I see Funes Mori or Ashley Williams hack at another clearance when there's nobody near them, I will end up doing time. Can somebody please explain the meaning of 'composure' to these two.

Ah but, no but, yeah but, no "we don't concede as many this season"... who fucking dares? This soul-destroying "anywhere will do" shite will never replace football.

I'm sick of hearing about the "great improvement" – where the fuck is it?

Ask those making these claims to name the games where they were entertained and they will most certainly point directly to the 2 or 3 exceptions and completely ignore the 20+ that rule. There is no improvement – our football is still painfully disjointed.

I don't mind seeing a team making themselves hard to beat in order to beat the drop or win a trophy, but to play this percentage shite, settling for draws in order to finish 7th or 8th, is just unforgiveable. I thought it was when Davey Moyes was doing it... and he didn't inherit a Lukaku or get £70m to spend.

How we rejoiced when TGT left. Who could have predicted we would wind up with TGT Mk II?

Ask yourselves how many memorable moments you have had which didn't involve Lukaku breaking the boredom... Think of Koeman's team without Lukaku?

Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce, Davey Moyes, have been stealing a living for years doing what Koeman is doing.

Winning trophies and qualifying for Champions League is a tall order, but if you can't do it, at least have the courage to entertain.

I don't want to hear 3 or 4 places from lower nowhere, up to higher nowhere constitutes an improvement – not when we are sacrificing entertainment to achieve it.

Now he has he'll develop the attack more. Key signings in the summer surely will follow. Time and patience needed. Foundations being laid. Everton are on the right track.

Now we're a rich version of that Moyes team. Something exciting might happen in the next year or two. I'm hoping rather than expecting.

I'm increasingly convinced that there's another man out there who will end up building on what Koeman's doing and make it brighter.

One thing's sure. This time we won't be waiting patiently for years with Koeman.

I posted the below on another thread.

For balance, here are some stats from last season to emphasise the shambles that Koeman inherited:

Everton had their worst ever home record (23 points) [adjusted for 3 points for a win].

Everton kept just 3 clean sheets at home in the Premier League – all against the relegated teams.

Everton won 6 home games in the league. They have won fewer in only one season previously (5 in 1957/58).

Everton finished in the bottom half of the Premier League for the second consecutive season after finishing in the top 8 in the previous 8 seasons.

Everton have finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000/01 and 2001/02.

Everton conceded 30 goals at home in the league – the most since 1993/34.

Everton conceded 3+ goals in 3 consecutive games for the first time since 2002.

Everton lost 18 points from winning positions and won just 7 points from losing positions.

Everton lost their last 10 games when their opponents have scored first.

Everton allowed their opponents to score at home 10 times in the league and did not win any of those games and lost 7 times.

Everton were in a losing position at half time 11 times in the league, winning just once and lost 9 times.

Everton conceded 15 goals in the last 15 minutes of a league game – the joint-most in the Premier League.

Everton conceded 16 goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half of a league – the most in the Premier League.

Everton conceded 31 goals in the last 15 minutes of a half in a league game – the most in the Premier League.

Everton conceded 2+ goals in a game 19 times in all competitions.

Everton conceded 3+ goals in a game 11 times in all competitions.

Everton were the only team to go through the entire season without scoring from a free kick, directly or crossed, in the Premier League.

If THAT doesn't make the cast of Les Miserables who haunt these forums think, then nothing will. We are making progress, maybe not as quick as we'd all like – but it's there.

We have made some discernible progress this year, not least of which is stopping the rot and tightening up at the back. We will finish higher and accumulate more points than last season and that should be considered as progress.

Thanks for your post. Koeman had a big job on his hands to repair the state Martinez left the club in. To expect him to come in and have us challenging the top 4 in his first season is unrealistic.

Why Evertonians jump on him with criticism at every opportunity is beyond me.