From My Seat: Norwich City (A)

There was a great deal of luck in both of Norwich's goals... on the first, Baines got his foot in on Whitaker and the ball bounced directly back to Whitaker -- you can see Baines' dispairing reaction behind the play. But primary fault is Mirallas' -- he posed over the ball at the touchline, trying to wait for a throw-in, and was outhustled for the ball that Norwich turned into a goal. The second was an accidental cross and an excellent header.

Barkley finally showed his true star potential, Fellaini won every ball as usual and our passing was very good, particularly in the second half when we increased our pace. Some may complain of too much passing when insufficient penetration, but I think the key is how quickly the passes are sequenced. When RM had them quicken the passes, unlocking the Norwich defense got a whole lot easier.

And due credit to our old boy Ruddy for a great save on Naismith, who had the gamewinner on his foot.

I have to agree with the comments about DM but he was the same with Everton trying to get players for a lot less than their value and loosing out on them.

The performance by Barkley displayed the talent that people have been talking about and I hope that, with this performance and the manager's comments, he becomes a regular in the team.

Norwich are a poor team yet they put two past us. If we don't get another couple off midfielders in, we are going to struggle this season.

It's proof if any was needed that Martinez is already miles ahead of the other fella in the man management side of things. All our players now look as though they are enjoying playing the game and the game will become easier to play the longer RM works on them. The days of trench warfare knife-to-a-gunfight mentality have gone: it's there for all to see.

They were not 'sloppy' goals to concede. They were incredibly lucky goals. Huge difference.

I don't honestly know what Baines or Fellaini could have done to prevent their first goal. Their lad attempted a pass, Baines blocked, it ricocheted back straight into his path. I don't think Martinez will be analysing that one tomorrow morning.

Try this. He was 18 last year, still coming back from missing a whole year of development because of the injury. His own teammates commented that he needed to do more. Bet they and Moyes were wiser about the lad than you.

He wasn't ready. Now he is. Credit to Martinez for recognizing it. But who got him ready over the past two years? Moyes.

Fellaini played really well yesterday, it's obvious to me how weak our midfield would be without him in it.

He did give Ross 2 minutes here and there... but such was the clamour for Barkley to play in the end Moyes tried to be a smartarse and played him away at Arsenal thinking he would bomb out. Barkley was our best player on the night and his reward was — you guessed it — dropped for the next game not even on the subs bench... How is that right? How can you defend such nonsense, Mike, when a crab-like Osman played every minute of every game???

Some of us could see the potential in Ross Barkley and screamed for his inclusion yet Moyes wouldn't let it happen. Every time the kid got a couple of minutes, it was begrudged through gritted teeth. Moyes was even slagging Ross off after one game saying he had a lot to learn — instead of bigging up the lad he puts him down. Moyes is a shit man-manager — just ask Rooney.

Let's put it this way, Mike — if the Ginger Fool was still at Everton, Ross Barkley would not have played yesterday. End of story.

I reckon if I had to pin blame on someone it would be Jagielka for not closing the man down quickly enough. That's nitpicking though.

Anyway, despite conceding two goals, I don't think we looked too leaky - which is what I was filling my pants about pre-match.

Plus, Moyes hardly ever bigged up Barkley, rather choosing to highlight that he had given up the ball on 1-2 occasions.

So, in this case, I am with Tony that DM did not do anything great for Barkley's development. I rather tend to believe that with a different manager, Barkley and a few other youth players might have developed faster. This was one of my main gripes with Moyes – not doing enough for youth development. The signs so far with RM are encouraging in this respect.

You also don't mention two crucial points -- one, that Barkley didn't really show that much in those appearances, and two, that it was just last April that Pienaar gently, but publicly, called on him to dedicate himself more. Obviously Pienaar, a respected veteran and national team captain, saw something there that needed fixing. So if Barkley developed more slowly than we had hoped, I would tend to blame the lost year and his own lack of maturity more than Moyes.

As to Moyes's alleged failures to develop young players, I don't buy any of that for a minute. Most young players eventually fail. If Moyes smothers young talent, how come none of the young players he oversaw and eventually sent away became stars under other managers? Or do you really think Moyes utterly destroyed the dazzling potential of Vaughan, Gosling, Forshaw etc.? Sorry, no way.

However, we'll have to wait until Barkley writes his memoirs at the end of his brilliant England career to be sure. Let's see if he credits Moyes for helping him grow or blames him for holding him back.

And one more thing... if you cite Wayne Fucking Rooney The Publicly Admitted Liar, who was guilty of libeling Moyes and had to apologize and pay him a six-figure settlement, as an example of Moyes being a "shit man-manager", then your values are a little strange.

I'm sorry but that kind of thinking is absurd.

Moyes was perhaps overcautious with Barkley's development but he started him in two huge away games against our CL rivals. To suggest he wanted him to bomb is juvenile.

Also those who think Moyes was really bad for Barkley might want to read these quotes from the lad himself:

‘Every day I had been at Everton, David Moyes was there and everything I did was based around trying to impress people so they would tell him.

‘I owe (Moyes) everything. He brought me on as a player and looked after me when I had broken my leg. I was out for a while with a hernia and a broken foot, too.'

But he's been a staunch supporter of most new stuff with RM, and as such I won't say a bad word! I was there with Moyes, he never really let us down. Tony hated him (I sort of guessed, I must be psychic...) :P

And yeah, I loved Moyes for keeping us up, but never for thinking about the way to go UP! :P

Barkley was a joy to watch; yes, he does have faults but bloody hell he has talent. He's still a kid so I completely agree with RM that focussing upon his talents will encourage him and his faults will fade. This approach will surely create a confident and positive player looking to fully utilise his gifts rather than a cautious, reluctant one focussing upon percentage options. In short, Barkley is a mouthwatering prospect being encouraged to play football.

Conceding 2 goals was disappointing, but not because we deserved to concede, but because there was a large portion of jam about both of them. Van Wolfswinkel looks an interesting signing, his finish from the entirely unintended "cross" was class. By contrast, Whittaker got lucky big time yesterday.

Coleman continues to impress both going forward and defending, he's looking better every week. Contrast Shay with Vic? When Shay arrived he was a raw talent, but we could all see there was deffo "something" shining in there – I always felt the same with Vic.

But, Shay has converted "raw ore" into an ever increasing payload; Vic hasn't done that yet, and maybe never will... that'd be a real shame – but Vic? Take a hard look at how Shay has developed – take a bloody good hard look: he hasn't finished yet, mate, but anything you copy will only make you a far far better player.

I felt that our overall performance was sound for day one of the new season. I will not be drawing any 10-year conclusions based upon 90+ mins maximum of performance as to how RM will pan out. Suffice to say: Roberto, it was pretty good mate (not perfect, but I wasn't expecting perfect yet), and if Everton progress from yesterday, like Seamus Coleman has done from his raw start, then I'll be a very happy Blue!

Yes, we wanted to see more of him as our excitement at Everton comes from our youngsters as we can't afford to buy anyone... But Moyes has overseen Barkley his whole playing career and he is the best player in his age group in England. Surely he must take some credit. Coleman said to one of the supporters who wrote on TW that the most improved player at Everton is Barkley. It shows he was not the complete article.

It needs to be more balanced than all this. Could he have played more, and I have no doubt under Moyes this year he would have got some serious game time. You could see at the end of last season Moyes grooming him in. Why he dropped him I have no idea... Then brought him back. Moyes is odd that way.

Do I think we will see more of him under RM? Yes, I do, actually... and I am happy for us to let him learn. Man it can be frustrating how quickly so many fans (not all) have such short memories and such inconsistent opinions. I would love to see the list of folks, of which there were scores, that were writing him off after the Betis game and then come back calling for Moyes head for not playing him sooner... At least a couple have acknowledged they were wrong after yesterday's game.

The biggest credit RM can have for Barkley: he got him a year older and a season readier for the Prem... He got him ready to unleash, his injuries behind him and on the brink of being a man. Well done, Martinez, your timing is impeccable.

I haven't written much recently so that was therapeutic. Oh and one opinion I have been consistent on since 2009 – Jags and Distin as a combination give me sleepless nights. Individually they might deserve a place in the side, but together they just don't connect in my opinion. I unashamedly feel Heitinga was shafted start of last season. He was Player of the Season and dropped as soon as Jags/Distin was available and ready to ship the dumbest goals ever.... Can you blame him for not having his head in the game after that treatment?

Now I'm done.

Secondly, of all the big away grounds, the Emirates would be the best to start in. The ground spend their entire time moaning about their own team so his presence would have been focused on by only the blue contingent. It's not hostile like an Anfield or a Stamford Bridge.

Lastly, for a player with his physical attributes and talent, the Emirates also suited. Arsenal have a small midfield compared to most and also allow the opposition plenty of space in the middle. Barkley prospered with some driving runs.

I was there that day and I saw it as positive choice, especially when he put Wilshire on his backside.

But because the new man preferred the ever-useless Naismith to Heitinga when we were ahead,he`s a fucking hero.

Amazing!

How long did it take Moyes to play Baines?
How long did it take Moyes to play Coleman in his best position?
Can anyone honestly say that Rodwell fulfilled his potential? Moyes turned him into a crab, then injuries took over.
What about Vellios, who did well initially but was then bombed.
What about the likes of McFadden & Vaughan, who had talent but are now disappearing out of the game?
Moyes did a good job for us, but he didn't always do too much for the young players. He was often too tough with them, especially the attacking ones, as he was reluctant to trust them.

The real odds are he would have talked Neville out of retiring played him in the middle pointing like a demented traffic cop and Barkley would be on loan at Southport

We would have lost via "same old same old" and the usual comedians would camply muse "ahh yes, we are slow starters remember...... but it's nothing to do with Davey".

Get a grip lad.

Kone,yes...Victor maybe....but Naismith -do me a favour. The guy should never be anywhere near an Everton shirt.

The real question is whether RM can get more out of the players he has inherited (either because of a team strategy or personal development) and it will take a lot more games than we have witnessed before anyone can answer that one.

Of course, had Ruddy not come up with an outstanding save, Naismith would have had the gamewinner. And Phil would have been writing something completely different.

WTF is a travelling hoard?? - As said in another thread I am floored by the flawed speaks in the spokes on TW

Wanna volunteer as sub-editor, Brin???!?!?!

[The only Brin I know is that weird bloke off that South Wales comedy prog...]

Coleman WAS playing his best position at the time, because up until the end of last season, Coleman was an absolute disaster as a RB, a ballwatcher who couldn't handle even the most basic man-marking assignments, and I cringed every time I saw him on defense. (And I give Moyes full marks for working with the young man and turning him into a solid fundamental defender.)

Rodwell's injuries came first, then he lost confidence. Moyes gave him every opportunity to excel. So did Mancini. He could not. So far his potential has remained just that, potential. Let's see how he does under the technical master, Pellegrini.

Vellios? Give me a break. You see a future star there? I don't. Moyes didn't. Martinez certainly doesn't appear to, because the kid didn't see a minute of playing time even in the friendlies. Isn't even starting for the reserve side.

McFadden? Are you joking?

Vaughn? Moyes gave him playing time at 17. Was he responsible for Vaughn's nightmarish injury luck?

Sorry, the blame-Moyes-for-every-youngster-that-doesn't-make-it routine just doesn't hold up on any level.

Unless, of course, you also give him credit for giving obscure youngsters like Lescott, Baines, Jags and Coleman the guidance that turned them into stars and internationals, and helping transform Fellaini from a card collector into a transfer target.

Our current manager rewards good play. Barkley is on form and a generally better player than Osman. He's better at pretty much everything. More athletic, more adventurous, a better dribbler, and can actually play someone in on goal.

That left-footed strike was harder and more accurate that anything Osman has ever hit with his right. Osman was awful in pre-season and his form yesterday was no different.

Whether you're young or old, I suspect RM wants the best possible eleven going into each game. Barkley has to be included in that, regardless of all the years of service Osman has given. He's simply not the best option anymore.

Given how much RM has talked Ross up before the season began, it wouldn't have been all that surprising to have seen Barkley starting even if Gibson was fit.

It seems that Vellios has not been involved at all this pre-season, bar that first game.

Either he is injured or out of form, and to not be playing for the U-21 side makes me wonder what is going on with him.

He needs regular playing time, perhaps a loan move would be best for him.

Much more positive with regard to youngsters this pre-season with RM.

I hope we will see more of Green because he was suppose to be the hottest thing around.

I hope our new coach can develop better then Moyes did.

I can't believe how negative some people are, I think Martinez is a good appointment and given time will do well, he knows how to win big games against big teams — something Moyes never did. Moyes did okay for us keeping us top 5 6 or 7, but couldn't take it further or win a trophy.

Only time will tell but I'm right behind Martinez and I like his way of playing but it's going to take time. I would like to see a centre-back and central midfielder in before deadline day.

And to all those STILL bashing Moyes for his tactics (Tony Marsh excepted - at least he's consistent!) - can we move on please? He's not here any more, get over it.

If you want to bash Moyes for his attempts to buy Fellani & Baines, by all means, as if they go we can wave goodbye to a top 6 finish, even top half. To think that Moyes might be responsible for destroying our season is a bit much, frankly.

How long before we see him in a Sheffield United shirt ? Soon ,I hope.

Go easy on Naismith. I think we'll see a different player this season.

Just like a new signing.

Coat.

Everton can pass the ball as well as they like; but if there is no one who can put the ball in the back of the net, time and time again, then Everton will have to rely upon something special from Barkley or someone else.