Stones lauds Blues' character

Bainesy seems to be getting some better form, so onwards and upwards.

COYB

Glad Roberto mentioned the liveliness of the pitch. At first I thought it was plastic. Unlike our watered surface it was as hard as a rock and caused our lads to miscontrol all night. Stones had the ability to manage but it gave their three technically gifted Brazilians a big advantage.

Those that want Everton to imitate the big clubs and just buy new foreign players don't understand how important keeping players hopes and aspirations high are.

A case in point is Deelboy, who came on loan last year. He signed for a big club and keeps getting loaned out to a different team each season. The lack of continuity is not helping him. Maybe he'd consider a permanent move back to Everton.

It would be great if we could get Delboy back for two or three seasons.

There was plenty of men back and in and around the play so there was no need for Jags to step out like he did. Stones followed the man that made the run from left to right and Hibbo didn't tuck in and close off the space that was left in the box due to Stones doing his job and Jags not so much by stepping out of the back line unnecessarily, leaving Ari to run through and have a free effort at goal.

I thought Stones played really well Thursday, really stood up to the challenge, tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck, got stuck in, tried to make us play and tbh showed his captain up.

If we can keep hold of these top youngsters we've got, add to it here and there, then we're going to have some team.

Obviously Howard isn't getting any younger, and if I'm being honest, I'm not sure Joel is the answer to replacing him, so if we could get a good young keeper, to complete our spine of the team, it's gonna be some spine! A new keeper, Stones, McCarthy & Besic, Barkley and Lukaku, then we've got the likes of Coleman, Oviedo & Garbutt who are of a good age, Browning and Galloway to come through as well in defence.

In midfield we have Gibbo who is a good age still, same with Mirallas. I just think we're lacking another, young and talented winger. If Deulofeu was a possibility in the future, I think we'd be mad to not be in for him. I actually think we miss him this season.

Upfront we are lacking after Rom tbh. Kone has about another 2 years in him at us IMO, Eto'o another year... so we need to be looking at adding in that department.

But the core of our squad is of a good age and is very talented and with more years under Martinez, we will improve even more and get even better. We are in a bit of a lull atm, our first real sticky patch under Martinez, but we'll come through it and be sound.

I wish the players would show the character to actually beat shite opposition like Krasnodar. Stones is a great player but I wish he wouldn't take a leaf out of the manager's book and insult our intelligence with pish about character.