From My Seat: Tottenham (H)

Second half (after the subs) especially a different side, one day just hope they set up well and play for 90 min (plus any add on time).

I share your view on Besic's contribution and, on that form, he adds an extra dimension to Macca's rather pedestrian contributions. Odd to think that had OPM allowed him to leave, McCarthy would probably have been in Spurs midfield yesterday instead of 'wonder boy' Alli.

Not to mention Besic's game-changing contribution – I agree with Phil above.

I might be alone here but I like Barkley and thought he had a good game. Not everything he tries comes off, admittedly, but when he runs with the ball he puts the fear of God up defenders.

A decent referee might have given us a bit more in the way of free kicks... and the booking of Coleman when tackles from behind go unpunished? Eh? What's that all about?

I agree about Barkley but I've been saying for a while he should have a freer role replacing Kone. Play three central midfielders from Barry, McCarthy, Besic and Cleverley.

I think this would tighten us up significantly and play Ross in the area he can do real damage.

Well, there is a simple reason for that, you squeaky shithouse, you were incapable of doing what John Stones can do.

I think in hindsight he may regret telling the crowd to calm down but I do understand the sentiment. He was never in trouble.

There seem to be two schools of thought when it comes to central defenders. Some seem to prefer the Shawcross Row Z type, but for me when you have a talent like Stones you let him play.

I do like Ross a lot. I've come to accept that he's never going to get a foot or head in. But the skill and pace with which he can bring a ball forward puts pressure on their defence. Decision-making and vision sometimes suspect but a talented lad.

I've just read Carragher's comments and, do you know, a little bit of wee has run down my leg.

For the first 45 mins I was wondering whether Funes Mori had been a colossal waste of money and that perhaps we can't attack without Deulofeu.

Second-half was a reminder that we have some decent players, Barkley was much more lively, Funes Mori and Stones more assured and Besic very good – I'd almost forgotten we bought him.

Deulofeu wasn't as effective as he can be and Lukaku didn't really get a clear opportunity.

Also amazed to see Baines put in a decent corner finally – I was beginning to think we might as well give the opposition a goal kick instead!

It was important to praise the defence after a period of stick and Barkley needed encouragement following his second-half display. It was inevitable that the 'Young England' articles would be written after this game and our two needed to be in a good light.

In reality the defence was poor first-half and Barkley disappeared.

Barkley has been giving some good performances recently; yesterday wasn't one of them, he constantly made the wrong decisions when releasing the ball, and his lack of effort when defending and his tackling was non existent. He pulled out of one fifty-fifty tackle, shameful.

A game we should have lost, we got a point from; when we start playing for most of the game, we might win one.

This season is still just about salvageable despite the frustrations but will require some better results in the cups.

Given our players, it's hard not to feel that we are badly underperforming in the league.

Will Martinez ever pick a first eleven that every supporter looks at and says "That looks balanced... that looks good....", I very much doubt it. When we have six players on form, we always seem to have five just not doing the business. So bloody frustrating. God help some team when everyone decides to turn up.

I' m just about happy with yesterday's draw. It is better than another defeat. But has Martinez learnt anything from a reasonable second half? Only when we see his starting eleven for the Man City game, will we know. Why (apart from Howard) should he change the team that finished yesterday's game? Maybe also play Lennon. With Del to come on second half. I also like Kone, but it is time now to take him out of the firing line. And just think what damage Naismith or Mirallas might have done, second half yesterday. So many options... but does Martinez really see them? I sometimes wonder what Martinez sees. Waffling on about that game yesterday being a great game for the neutral. Who cares. He should have only been concerned about making it a great game for Everton FC. I would have taken a boring 1-0 win. To hell with the neutral.

Last point... I just read this morning that The Barcodes might make a move for Charlie Austin. Why are Everton not looking at this player? He would be a great addition, now that Naismith looks certain to go. But no, we are looking at a Swiss youngster, who will most likely end up going on loan to Oxford or Bury. And not be heard of ever again. Such is life at Everton. And where were we when top class Goal Keepers were on the market for £8 to 10 million????? Rant over. Happy New Year.

We just gave Tottenham so much time and space in that first half, it was men versus boys... embarrassing.

At least second half we grew a pair and had a bit of fight in us, it should always be that way at Goodison Park though, the form at the Old Lady this last 18 months has shamed the reputation.

I'm also sorry but I'm with Carragher regarding Stones. All it takes one of these days is Stones to lose his footing on a wet pitch doing those needless Cruyff turns in our own penalty box. (Why for heaven's sake?)

It's not about what you can do on the ball, John, if you're reading this, we know your skillful, yes, but your job is first and foremost to DEFEND lad!

Yesterday I thought Coleman was poor, he's not been the same player as he was two or three years ago, switches off too much and even going forward this season he's been off.

As I say, a point does little for Everton at this stage, more fight in one half yes, learning from our mistakes defensively or concentration wise? Still no for me.

Play like we did in the first half yesterday on Wednesday night and the Semi-Final will be all over before we reach Manchester!!

A monumental performance and a near faultless one is required on Wednesday.

Lets hope RM drops this archaic set up that everyone has now sussed and retains 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.

Those that call Barkley lazy need to check out the amount of ground he covers.

We won't play a better team than them this season at Goodison. I'd be very surprised if another team dominated the possession against us like they did.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday...

Other than passing practise what do the players do during the week? There were three incidents at corners where a huge area within the penalty area was left void of defenders and the ball was played for Spurs players to run onto. When we have a corner, players look to Martinez for instructions on where to stand. There is such a lack of awareness, it's frightening.

It's not as if we change them on a regular basis, after all... our last one was here for 11 years.

I think quite simply because he is and you never know in footy from one week to the next.

Jose and Rafa come to mind at the moment.

For some reason. we can only manage one decent half, the other being absolute shite.

Robles will, no doubt, get a chance and I suggest we all take a close look at his sometimes unorthodox approach to the 'custodian' role before lobbying for his regular inclusion.

However, optimists insist that Martinez excels in plotting knock-out games and his surprise FA Cup triumph tends to support the view although tactically two legged ties call for yet another approach all together.

But I think the Spurs game went a long way to restoring the confidence of our squad and I shall be surprised if we don't take goal advantage to the Etihad.

Unless we switched to also playing with three centre-backs, I think we would be left with the same lopsided formation we presently have. Unless we played Besic or Cleverley out wide, which would then only leave us two in central midfield.

We have had bad luck in a lot of games, but only against the lesser teams though. The system we are playing is useless against better teams, and unless we can get width and balance on both sides of the pitch, do you honestly think results could improve?

I feel like a scratched record going on about this fatal flaw in our team, but that's what it is to me. Absolutely fatal.

I think a more defensive central three will make us more solid as the current formation has left us very vulnerable to counter-attacking teams especially at home.

I think it would also give our full backs much more license to play to their strengths and get forward.

Graham, a more defensive three, giving license for the fullbacks to get forward, I agree with. three at the back and three in midfield; two wingbacks, and someone to float off the midfield or Lukaku.

Either that or three in central midfield, and two natural widemen, with Lukaku up top.

If Martinez picks a team with balance, I'm convinced we will start winning games, and that's why it's so frustrating watching Everton at the minute. The lack of balance, whilst only hurting us offensively, is absolutely killing us defensively. Only an opinion of course, but I surely can't be the only one who feels this way, when watching Everton at the minute.

I was very worried that they seemed able to rip our defence apart at will for the majority of the game and yet our manager seemed to think it was a good defensive display. But for a reversal of luck as compared with the Norwich game, we could have gone down 4 or 5 to 1.

Am I wrong or was it bloody obvious that the defenders have zero confidence in Tim Howard? It really looked like they were scared to pass back to him, particularly in the second half. This put players such as Stones and Coleman in difficulty in the box at times as they tried to turn and find a way out without using Howard.

I also agree with you regarding Cleverley; his pass to Lukaku to knock down for Lennon's goal was first class.

Besic's introduction certainly found the lost voice of the Old Lady. Only time will tell if Martinez has stumbled across a formula, but some how I don't think so...

But enough of this frivolity and back to the game. I see you named Barry as Man of the Match again. I agree 100% – top professional who has kept himself in good nick. At 34, he is a credit to the game. Apart from his willingness to present for the ball, awareness, and distribution, what I like about him is he is hard.

It is no surprise to me that you gave Funes Mori and Besic praise for their contribution to the second half performance because they both have one very important quality in common with Barry - they are both hard. In the EPL you need hard men in your team to compete. The introduction of Besic tipped the balance in our favour against Spurs.

Perhaps our present manager has indeed stumbled upon a formation that works. Barkley is a very very talented footballer. I have come to realise that I have been whistling in the wind expecting him to defend and win the ball in midfield – it's not going to happen. Just give him the ball and let him do his stuff.

What I saw in the second half yesterday was that, with Besic and Cleverley playing alongside Barry, having Barkley and Deulofeu on the pitch with Lukaku is not a luxury – it works and frightens the life out of the opposition. I wouldn't like to be playing centre-half with Lukaku and Barkley, and Deulofeu coming at me. Only a very, very good back four could deal with that.

So for me OPM's best combination is definitely 4-3-3 or if you like 4-3-2-1. If Deulofeu or Barkley could defend we would be in the money because he could revert to 4-4-2 if the situation demanded it – but that isn't an option because they can't.

Perhaps starting with Lennon and bringing Deulofeu on in the second half (or vice versa) does give us the best of both worlds. It certainly was the case yesterday. Lennon helped out Coleman when the heat was on in the first half and scored a cracking goal – I don't think he has been given enough credit on the post match threads.

Another encouraging thing about this possible formation is that Gibson (another hard man) can slot into that midfield three as can McCarthy when he is fit again.