I'd like to see us moving out from the back as a unit and I mean a complete unit – including Lukaku – rather than him waiting in the middle for a pass that doesn't come and getting frustrated we need to open defences on the run – Dortmund style. The McCarthy/Lukaku goal a couple of weeks ago was a perfect example of that kind of running.

Time to get a couple of players back, and some fresh ideas in final third. Still, happy days and luxury problems.

Ossie had a stinker but he is one who relies on instant control, quick feet and move away. If he's tackled, he loses it and last night he couldn't get control quick enough. Lukaku's control isn't the best at most times and he just couldn't hold it up. I thought once again he gets poor service particularly from Mirallas.

I couldn't understand why Martinez broke up the Baines/Oviedo and Coleman/Mirallas partnerships as he played Oviedo and Mirallas on the opposite wings.

Last point – I thought McCarthy looked lethargic and with Ossie also having stinker it left far too much on Barry's plate.

How can the fans be optimistic when it is obvious we cannot compete with our other top contenders when it comes to the run in. Other teams have many injuries too but they are able to cope as they have top class substitutes and they all carry game changers on the bench if the tactics need changing. So far in this window we have sold Jelavic and bought no one.

We have an obviously unfit McGeady and a completely untested potential loan from Monaco who may be unfit ! Every new player needs to be brought up to speed and trained in Roberto's method of play before being thrust into the first team. We have had a magnificent season so far but I was concerned about the usual glut of suspensions and injuries that occur at this stage of every season when the winter pitches take their toll and the FA Cup adds to the fixture list.

This is not an unforeseen situation but we are seemingly oblivious to the fact. Our bench is woeful and amongst the weakest in the division at present. Luckily our defenders are not collecting yellow cards and once again they are carrying the team heroically. We cannot maintain our entertaining football without Barkley, Deulofeu and Pienaar in the team.

Our attack is severely blunted without those players and it is useless blaming the players available who are trying to maintain our winning form without those three in the side. Osman is now a decent impact substitute and he is struggling to last the full ninety minutes but we had no one on the bench who could do his job. Naismith can do a job but he is not creative. Heitinga is a liability defensively and should really be shipped out. He supposedly wants to play regular football but he is now just hanging around on wages for doing nothing and I do not think he is seriously looking for another club. Gueye and Vellios are also non-productive overheads and they are using up valuable bench room that would be better served by youngsters who may have some ability.

When our best eleven are all available and fully fit, we can compete with any team we play, especially when we have Deulofeu and Osman on the bench. Old Distin has just come back from injury and now we have lost Alcaraz who deputised very well for him. Stones is a promising youngster who also deputised very well in Jagielka's absence. With all these players fit and well I feel optimistic playing against anyone but we need more decent squad players otherwise I am afraid our challenge will peter out.

Let's hope that BK opens his purse and allows Roberto some money to remedy the situation before it is too late. It would be a crying shame if we missed out for lack of support and the fans deserve something to really cheer about.

Even though I watched the match on TV, I know from decades of following EFC all over the country & Europe, being at the game is a totally different experience, to television gazing!! I would have to agree with just about everything you commented on Ken, it also had similarities to the Palace away game, don't you think?!? That being said, we obviously don't like teams playing a 'high line' against us, nor a pitch that levels out any advantage, that a passing team like ourselves seem to gravitate to!!

We sure did miss Barks & Del Boy, oops Deulofeu, also I thought Peanuts too (the good one anyway), then on top of that, Rom was sadly way off his normal rampaging form, then Macca wasn't his normal superb self, add all of them together & perhaps we have other reasons, why we looked so jaded!?!? Not sure we would have gotten anything out of this game, had it been last season, same with the Palace game, but it is, what it is....

So, onwards & upwards, Stevenage away in the FA Cup on Saturday, then Stevie G & Co away on Tuesday. Should we be fortunate...... no successful, on both counts, this site will be bouncing with positive activity, I sure know I will delirious ..... What is it, 14 years & counting, since Super Kev netted very early in the 'Handbags Derby'?!? It's a shame we will be so depleted with injuries for this Derby (It's always something when we play them, right?), but step forward all those who will be wearing the Royal Blue Jerseys, that normally don't start & give Roberto a nice headache selection for future games... not to mention being named in Everton folklore... COYB IMWT!!

One thing I noticed on Monday was that not only did West Brom play a high line against our back four, they also closed down our midfield. This meant we found it difficult to get our passing game going, everyone had a Baggie breathing down their necks or chasing them down. Hence, the 90s style, just hoof it to Duncan. As we know that didn't work, often teams would let Duncan win the header, knowing there'd be no support in sight and they could simply pick up the loose ball. Lukaku did win the header to set up the goal for Mirallas but he didn't win may others though up against much shorter Albion centre-halves. Also, for a big strong lad, he was outmuscled far too often, his performance in this respect was almost Heskey-esque. Further, his first touch is absolutely dreadful; the old one, "he can trap a ball further than I can kick it", sprang to mind several times, Credit where it's due though, Lugano played him extremey well.

I, also, think the pitch wasn't conducive to our passing game. The extra split-second required to gain control of the ball played into the hands of the opposition throughout.

At the moment suspensions aren't an issue but we do have a number of players injured, Alcaraz, Deulefeuo, Barkley, Pienaar, Gibson, Kone... But the tired, lethargic performance at the Hawthorns makes me wonder how many of the players are playing with little niggles? They'd just had 9 days "off", getting the sun on their backs for a few days in Tenerife. Are they over-trained? Or did they have too many San Miguels? Probably neither, it was just one of those nights!!

As a final point, did anyone else think Jags was looking a little chunky?

That is also why I am so gutted that Deulofue has missed so much game time because he is a player that I have not seen at Everton probably since the first year of Kanchelskis being here.

Del is simply so direct and when he picks the ball up he has only one thing in mind and that is to drive forward, its games like Monday night where we really miss that, as much as we miss Barkley.

What we are left with is only really Mirallas who is pacy but aside from the goal, I feel he needs to start being a bit better with his close control when taking a man on, he doesnt go past players like I remember at spells last season. I want Kev Mirallas to perform at Anfield next week like he did in last seasons Goodison derby, and if he doesnt then we need to question why, when we know he can.

There is no pace anywhere else on the pitch, the midfield was lacking drive, I am hoping when McGeady gets up to fitness he can offer that drive and also big Traore who from clips I have seen, looks like a big strong lad with a deceptive turn of pace so lets hope he can play before too long..

Does anybody think we should strike while the chips are down at Blackpool and make an offer for Tom Ince? We can only get rejected but with his dad just getting sacked, plus it being obvious Tom Ince has no long term future plans there, just maybe we can take advantage of that situation.

Pienaar’s absence was a big blow. There seemed to be a gap in midfield as we tried to move forward. No Pienaar, or Barkley, to pick up the ball and try something creative. Mirallas did well in his advanced role, scoring a very well taken goal, but there was always a gap in midfield.

The same situation arose against Norwich when Pienaar had to go off. Osman soon followed, as he is struggling after an hour. Norwich then came right back into the game.
Unfortunately, against West Brom, Martinez did not have the luxury of bringing on Oviedo for Osman – as he was already playing!

Martinez had little choice in the team he played.
The bench was unbalanced. Hibbert was clearly there only to make up the numbers, as Stones deputised for Coleman and would also have done so had a central defender been injured. Heitinga was also superfluous.
Don’t we have a young midfielder who could be a more proactive option on the bench – or are they all out on loan?

What is happening over Barkley, does anyone have any idea at all?

I've been told that he is out for another 5 weeks, and someone else told me he'll be back for the derby

Without him and Pinnear for the derby Roberto would be better parking the bus.