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At last, a clear representation of where the team / squad / club appear to be, and reiteration of the basics of what we should be progressing towards, without it sounding like we should collectively be as miserable as sin because we are already in some sort of death spiral.

The usual stuff on here about the manager and style of football. Just to say that, statistically, we have played less long balls this season than some teams that are regarded as having pretty good seasons — Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Brentford. In fact we are 7th in the list and about on a par with Man Utd, Bournemouth, Leeds and Forest. So about average in fact. In the matches I have seen this season, when we have our creative players on the pitch and are pressing at home, we tend to play it on the deck. The problem is, we are not that good at it, especially if we have players missing, and especially if we go behind. As others have said, we will need a few more windows of really good quality signings to progress and be able to play a more attractive style. What I would say, though, is that we are already playing a more attractive style than under Dyche, at least when we have our creative players available.

Any forward joining Everton currently will be living off scraps. The long, "hump it as far as possible" tactic isn\'t workingWe just need the manager to allow numbers to get forward to take advantage of the space created.The forward needs to create for himself. Neither is capable of it. Neither forward creates any assists, as their game is limited to heading only. it would seem.More creativity will be in the team when the personnel is back. Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Garner, Armstrong are five creative players who will create chances. This will negate the need to play long ball. Patience is required until players are fit, and the squad has more depth.The manager might be holding them back, but again, the current personnel don't help the situation. O'Brien and Mykolenko don't, cant go forward. When they do, the quality is dreadful. Keane and Tarkowski can't play a high line — see the Brentford game. So again that factors into the decision-making of the manager. Push out and leave gaps, or play tighter and be hard to beat. Away and home performances tell you that the team can do one, but not the other.Back-up players like McNeil don't get forward. He's scored some decent goals, and set pieces have been decent. But he isn't going to be a player that adds pace, technical ability and quality to our play. You can add Alcaraz, O'Brien, Mykolenko to that as well. Dibling and Rohl seem way off it currently.On paper, this is our most progressive side. It isn't amazing, lacks back-up to maintain that quality. It still has Ndiaye on the right, no proper right-back, an inexperienced left-back, a goal-shy centre-forward, and a 36-year-old centre midfielder:Pickford GarnerAznouO'Brien Branthwaite GanaArmstrong Dewsbury-HallNdiaye BarryGrealishWould it win a cup? Nope. Would it beat many teams away that are top class? Nope. But it would appear the manager is the problem when he is shuffling a pack of cards, where half aren't good enough.The team rebuild is way off. We need at least another 5 top players in it who you'd be proud to watch, to get to anything near respectable. And that\'s still miles off the top teams that win trophies.

Getting into Europe would be a complete embarrassment and would push us towards another relegation fight.

Grealish takes the ball in any situation, regardless of whether he is doubled or trebled up on. Always with head on a swivel, looking for the pass. He draws defenders to him. That, obviously, leaves us at a numerical advantage when attacking. We just need the manager to allow numbers to get forward to take advantage of the space created.