Determined defending earns a point

Deulofeu and Mirallas are luxuries to have on the bench. Our midfield looks solid. Just hope that Barkley supports the strikers. And that Barry provides cover to Oviedo. He could be a weak link.

I would also like to see Kane man-marked. But Martinez does not seem to play that game. But all-in-all, I have a good feeling about this game. Can we do a Southampton on Spurs? Why not.

One-nil or two-nil to Everton. Lukaku to score anytime. COYBs

Barry must be dropped for Besic. Deulofeu should have been on with 20 minutes to go.

Bad news about Cleverley, I thought the tackle was nasty though the cowards on Sky wouldn't say so.

Credit where credits due. Tim Howard also had a good game today. With the saves he made and the chances they squandered. I fancied us to sneak a goal and a win.

Get well soon, Tom.

Solid display that.

Passing was poor, resorted to far too many long, hopeful and aimless punts upfield. How Barry was playing is beyond me. I think Kone has deserved his place in the team, but for crying out loud if he's gonna play, play him up front for fuck sake! This was all very reminiscent of a Moyes performance, including the cameo of Naismith on the right wing.

Shame about Cleverley, who was beginning to win me over a little with his 'decent' performances. I would rather him or Besic in the Barry role! It will most likely set him back some way depending on the severity of his injury, which hopefully isn't too bad.

Overall, we were shocking!!! It was a mismatch to play a centre-mid and a stringer in the wing positions. We were fortunate to get a point in truth. Passing and movement needs to be crisper, with a higher tempo.

We didn't close down all day either which suggests we were set up for the counter attack... but, if that is the case, team selection was wrong as we had no pace. Lukaku CANNOT play as a hold-up striker with such a poor touch and passing. Always at his most effective facing goal. Naismith on before Deulofeu was ridiculous as well!

Think he'd have buried the Kone header chance.

Then can someone tell me where Ross should play, preferably by completing the following sentence: "Ross Barkley should play behind the main striker because he has... [name attributes]."

He gave us no control in the central areas today and in the last 20 minutes, when both sides were struggling, Leon Osman would have been a great sub who could have done that 10 metres further up and have been untacklable given their bookings. Ossie wasn't on the bench, I know, but Steven Naismith could have done similar.

Fair play to John Stones who did a thoroughly professional job at the end of a tough week for a young man away from his family in difficult circumstances.

Desperate defending, no creativity going forward, gave the ball away constantly and hardly a shot on target all game.

Thank god for Howard and the ref. jagielka's distribution is absolutely shite and he has no leadership skills whatsoever.

MOM for me was Kone followed by Oviedo.

Howard won us a precious point he was outstanding, Robles will never even come close to having his ability, only in his dreams. Sad to see Cleverley get hacked down by that thug Dier, he should of been sent off for sure at some point in the game.

The choice to leave Kone on over Lukaku was the right decision on the basis of their contrasting performances today. Lukaku was at his infuriating, disinterested, been dunked in 'slip and slide lube' laziest. Kone, on the other hand, provided the work rate and hold up play his team mate was either incapable of or couldn't be arsed providing.

Naismith, for all his limitations, at least gave the Spurs defence something to think about and was more of a physical nuisance than his bigger, stronger, faster, younger teammate.

As for Lukaku converting the headed chance Kone sent narrowly wide? If the rest of the game was anything to go by, then I doubt Lukaku would have shown a similar level of desire to even make the run in the first place.

I agree with the other comments on here: Barry had a shocker and, for me, Oveido is not good enough. They had some great chances and Howard more than made up for last week. I wondered why Besic didn't come on for Barry.

I hope Cleverley is OK, he really got us going in the first half when we were right under the cosh. He was chasing everything.

I thought we did okay today at a ground where we rarely get a sniff. Tim was brilliant, Kone had his best game, and Stones handled the occasion well. It was also encouraging to see Oviedo playing himself back into action after all his misfortunes.

I still think we are crying out for someone with Osman's creativity and perhaps, that will be 'the one more' Roberto referred to after the game.

I wonder what else he might go back on before Tuesday?

"1. Stones will benefit from staying and playing

The Chelsea target wanted away this week but he will learn more in another season with Everton captain Phil Jagielka. The latter is the best centre-back in their team. Stones had a quiet game – probably welcome after the last few days."

"5. Everton's away fans are the best in the league

There was a party atmosphere in a corner of White Hart Lane with the travelling support belting out: "Money can't buy me Stones” to the Beatles tune for most of the first half. Accompanied by the less poetic“**** off Mourinho!”

Cracking point.

Your agenda for Martnez out, is miles off.

Howard: 9- Top drawer and almost singlehandedly got us a point.

Coleman: 8- Probably the best of our back 4. Want to see him take on his man a bit more but did well.

Stones: 7- Looked considerably less perky than usual and was brushed off once or twice but did OK for the most part.

Jagielka: 5- Worst i've seen him for a long while. Beaten in the air and ground and terrible distribution. Won't be getting back into England team on that form.

Oviedo: 7- Despite looking knackered after 10 mins actually got better as it went on. Defended reasonably solidly, blocked a few crosses and put in the one that was probably our best chance of the match.

Barry: 5- Poor from Gareth. Bad touches gave them a couple of chances and his passing was less reliable than usual. Should surely not be playing 2 matches in a week. Will he get dropped? No.

McCarthy: 6- Not much better than his partner. Covered ground and did put in some good tackles but somehow the defense is always left exposed and he doesn't create much either.

Kone: 8- Thought he did very wll for the most part. Good movement and able to hold onto the ball in tight spots pretty well. Not as quick or sharp as he used to be but still offers something and had our best chance with a good run behind defence and a header just wide.

Barkley: 8- Very tidy tonight and showed much better awareness and decision making. Wasn't quite able to make the breakthrough against a tough defence with his main striker failing to hold onto it but always looked bright and a definite cause for optimism. Is Barkley back?

Cleverley: 7- Looked quietly effective untill taken off. Fingers crossed Tom but not sure we will see you for a while. Good luck.

Lukaku: 5- Pretty woeful. Did not get alot of service but we were mainly unable to build because he lost the ball so much with poor first touches or headers to no-one. Must do a lot better if we are to challenge top 6.

Sub:

Mirallas: 6- Barely remember a significant contribution. Tracked back a fair bit at least.

Naismith: 7- Injected some much needed urgency and spikiness that rattled Spurs and had us playing better. Not my favourite player but has an infectious energy.

Del Boy: n/a

Martinez: 6- Not quite right tonight. Things needed changing sooner and the whole organisation seemed off. Perhaps the lads were tired but they did not seem well motivated. A decent if somewhat fortuitous point.

Dominic, did we improve after Naismith came on for Rom? Yes we did. Oviedo was good, don't know what you are getting at. Jeezus.

You are spot on about Barry though.

Besic, was cramping up the other night and played the full match. He might have needed extra recovery time and was on the bench to fill the numbers. No idea where Osman is. But, you'll probably get more Besic with Cleverley's injury.

Kone was the MotM for me.

I am not saying it will be easy, but how many more seasons do we have to endure, until some one at Everton realize that this area needs, and has needed for a couple of seasons, to be resolved. Surely considering the miserly amount of money we have spent so far ,there must be enough money available to purchase someone that will be able to fit in this position.

If Mori is our big defender to replace Distin, then we are in trouble. One can always stay positive, but with Martinez it is clear that he is average at best with transfer dealings.

Howard saved us today, and if we had taken Barnsley seriously from the start, then we would not have the tired legs out there today.

Cleverly injury is a big loss for us though.
We badly need a replacement for him if the injury is as bad as it sounds.

Tony, I've been saying for ages that Everton, lack a leader, a fetch and carry midfielder could turn us into a top team.

Could Ross Barkley, be that player. someone to speed us up from deep, instead of the constant slowing us down, of both Barry and McCarthy.

I think Darren Hind called the summer right when he said we wouldn't bring in a number ten, unless it was on loan. so on that basis I would still like Janazi, to give us a bit more balance, through the middle.

Good point from a poor performance, we have to thank the goalkeeper for that today.

Thought Jags looked scared of Kane , his pace and movement was too much for Jags.

We desperately need another goalscorer and this elusive No 10, but I suspect we won't get either

My money would be on Lennon, especially now that old Beatles Classic, is gonna start getting belted out.

There were so many more. God, I wish somebody would freeze Ambramovich's assets for some reason, and cut off their money. London would flood with Chelsea tears.

I expect Chelsea will try once more for Stonesy (cool as a cucumber) but will be told to sod off again, despite what his media lackeys think. We desperately need that MF general who can control the tempo and organise things. Roberto said one more player to come in. I hope he's that MF general we need.

On the game today, I think Everton are toughening up a bit. This is most welcome.

Much more interested in our problems which are legion and never seen to be addressed. Starting with our alarming lack of creativity which makes watching Everton about as interesting as paint drying.

Howard man of the match, it looks like my waiting for the end of the transfer window has been a wait in vain if only one man is coming in,Kenwright I hope this is wrong, because there should be some money somewhere, is it worth waiting until Tuesday or is there really nothing to look forward to.

If, after this window closes, all we've bought are Del, Mori, Henen and Leandro then the 'Sack the board' protests need to start in earnest. Absolutely disgraceful this state of affairs.

Howard or Kone Motm for me.

A lot of things shake up on deadline day. Remember Roberto's first season; Chelsea decided on that day, I think, to let Rom go on loan. And he almost went back to WBA until we stepped in. Barry wasn't made available until the last moment, we sold Fellani on deadline day, then quickly grabbed McCarthy.

Let's just see what happens. I have a feeling we might grab somebody that was completely off the rumors grid.

Let's just make sure everyone brings their blue dildo for the Sky cameras on Tuesday.

Tim and Kone were the pick of our players and Ross had another good game, albeit with 1-2 (non-critical) errors. He has started the season very well and is looking an exciting talent again.

We started the game well, Spurs gained ascendency by half time and continued on top in the 2nd half, but we finished the stronger. Another positive in comparison to last season's lethargic start. We look fitter and far more able to endure the full 90 minutes, rather than only 70 minutes.

I was concerned with how Stones would play given recent events and the stamina of Oviedo, but John was sound and Bryan ok, but clearly still working himself back to full fitness. He still doesn't display the speedy high octane performance we know he had before the leg break.

Jags was very poor, with Barry not much better - 2 players you can usually rely on to perform better. McCarthy again contributed little, even in his primary defensive role. Naismith was brilliant as the nark, ruffling feathers and winning free kicks all over the park.

Sad for Tom. He's played well since arriving. I hope it's not as bad as it first appears.

Not a pretty performance, but for all the time spent under the cosh, away from home against a serious opponent, a clean sheet and a point is a decent return.

Everton's last 6 away games in the PL now reads W3 D2 L1.

Encouraging.

Let's see though what happens by 6pm Tuesday.

There seems to be a bit more steel there this season, if only we had a Yarmolenko!

Howard definitely earned us that point
2 very poor displays from Jags in a week - needs to improve
Kone is getting better
We must support Lukaku up top, he was lost today

Still, 5 points from 4 pretty tough games, I'd be really happy with another 5 from the next 4

They really aren't the same team without Eriksson, which brings me to my point in chief. We need a someone in midfield to take charge & who can pass the ball/create.

Barry for me is a spent force he is too slow, he's becoming the same type of player as Gerrard was for the Kopites last season.

Yarmolenko would of been the sort of player we needed, but I wonder whether the entire saga was all smoke and mirrors from the club, was there ever a possibility of him coming?

Our current spending this window is pitiful, I'd like to think we could bring in a couple of players in, not one & one needs to be a marquee signing for me.

Overall I'd say a real disappointment compared with expectations because these are the games we must expect to win especially when Spurs are on a downer, today we made them at times look great and at times as awful as we were. I have never seen two teams give the ball away so often in one game although that is one area where we outclassed them. There was one period where we had 65% of the possession, if there is a more meaningless metric I don't know what it is.

I used to blame Martinez for his mind numbingly awful tactics but I realise that even he can't make them so poor that they constantly turn the ball over under no pressure. The worst thing? Despite the excitement of both teams giving the ball away at will it was a pretty awful game.

What about our defence? My opinion is that the weakness in our defence is the incompetence of our defensive midfielders not the back four.

Mark,

It was obviously a point and a welcome one. To proclaim it a 'cracking point' is probably going a bit far though. Spurs haven't really got going so far this season and, yet for the goalkeeper coming over all 'go, go gadget legs' and giving his best performance for some time, they could have been out of sight early in the second half without ever really breaking sweat.

We didn't offer any concerted attacking threat, as the vast majority of our approach play was undertaken at a meandering walking pace, and our defenders were once again too easily put under pressure by meat and drink balls directly down the middle.

We stuck at it, were always in the game right up until the final whistle and could've even sneaked it, but the same old problems and deficiencies that plagued this side last season were still very much in evidence again today. The fact Spurs proved incapable of profiting on them had as much to do with the point gained as did the performances of our own players.

I certainly don't have an anti-Martinez agenda and have defended him on these pages numerous times, but it's long overdue for him to remove the scales from his eyes when it comes to the strengths and weaknesses of certain players and their suitability to play a particular style of football.

The only time we ever look a threat capable of worrying any team is when we go forward with urgency or break at pace. It's the only time Lukaku (our £28m record signing let's not forget) looks comfortable leading the line. It's the only time we witness any movement into space from our attacking players and the resulting creation of room for Ross to drive forward without being instantly crowded out. We don't have anyone with the nous or 'through the eye of the needle' passing ability to create chances when we're operating at a crawling pace.

The first step towards eradicating our dreary, dawdling, dancing about in front of ten defenders before losing it and having to leg it back default mode, has got to be the long overdue ditching of the double defensive midfield roles. What exactly does it offer us at this moment in time? It's not like it makes us any more solid or difficult to break down. It merely encourages pointless possession deep in our own half, delays any forward movement until the entire opposition team is dug in and back in their defined defensive positions, and it also leaves a huge swathe of space slap bang in the middle of the pitch that has caused us to be exposed numerous times by a bit of direct running or early closing down.

Despite it's inherent deficincies, we're destined to watch it being deployed for the duration of the season and, for me at least, that's a depressing prospect.

Only difference for me so far this season is the improvement of Ross and Aruna.

Same tactics and shortcomings and deluded after match ramblings. I approve of Martinez's building from a young base but what's the point when his tactics are shit?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kzp6k15Syk

I wonder if they will have an update about creasehead's latest activities in the states? I saw yesterday, on the BBC website, that creasehead took his kids to a concert and had "a smashing time". Really? I'm mean, really? Pathetic.

Clive (75) Irony is lost on you

Martin # 74, I agree with your post apart from your comments about Tim Howard. He was superb today. Last week I believe he cost us the match. I feel no shame in that. I have never berated a player at a game, ever. However, I believe it is fair enough on a forum like this.Why should our views as supporters be so entrenched that we cannot moan at the crap( our coaches outdated tactics) and praise the good( his dignified dismissal of Chelsea).

No:
Aaron Lennon
Adnan Januzaj
De Guzman
Nolito (Average)
Anyone that Martinez says is "world class and one for the future"

I remember that season and the previous league winning and European Cup Winners Cup Winners season so well.

I've given up trying to fathom this current state of affairs. Can't be down to just the money. Other teams are unearthing some excellent players and young and exciting managers.

Palace today is a good example, and look at Bournemouth and Swansea's rise through the ranks. The lack of money was not allowed to be an excuse for defeatism by these clubs, and compared to our progress over a similar period of time we have stagnated against what they have achieved.

Something stinks, and I think we know what it is.

The real concern for me which seems to be a hallmark of this manager is the way we stand off particularly in MF and we never trouble the opposing GK.

Another point of concern for me was Roerto's statement of "We hope to get one more in" before the deadline.

I hope he is talking about a "marquee" signing and not Mori.

Fans showed great support tonight, we made it throughly enjoyable despite the boring football!

Are they deliberately trying to wind people up or just morons?

Don't care if it was Howard or the defense or the mids or the entire team, I am not too upset over taking only a point from Spurs. Now my Everton son and I are meeting my other son, the Spurs fan, to listen to the excuses that he will make. He was predicting a 3-1 victory to Spurs before the match. Petty maybe, but fun certainly.

Rom's off day wasn't really an off day. It was pretty much par for when he comes up against two decent centre backs. Move someone alongside him, move him wide, or simply move him off the pitch. He toiled away and ultimately got wound up before being subbed. Not the actions of a man not trying - it's a bloke being played to his weaknesses.

Other than that we were ok. Set up to contain but Spurs didn't particularly over commit. Could have gone more attacking but who knows whether that would have played into their hands.

As I said, decent point. You have to acknowledge Spurs aren't a bad side.

We still lack a cutting edge in possession.

I'm still a big fan of Tim Howard (in a minority it seems).

Lukaku looked knackered after 120 minutes midweek.

A good point away at a filthy dirty team of thugs - Dier in particular should have walked.

The RS got thumped 3-0 at Mordor.

Mourinho looking glum after getting pumped at home by Palace.

All in all a decent afternoon really.

Lukaku is so inconsistent, I know they crowded him, but he seems to have no idea how to drag opponents to make space for team-mates to exploit. His first touch was made of plutonium.

Kone, however showed intelligence, and his lay-offs were nicely weighted, and as for a comment above claiming that if Rom had got the headed chance it would have been in, well that is way out of order. It was an instinctive glance that was a gnat's whisker away from the far corner.

Coleman was repeatedly turned on his inside by Chadli. He allowed himself to be done 3 times by the same guy.

Jags couldn't cope either and although Oviedo improved as the game slowed, he showed why Martinez has been using a young centre-half instead.

Thank God for Tim Howard. He kept us in the game at St Mary's before we scored, he made a string of good stops against Man City, and he more than anyone earned us a point yesterday. He has upped his game after his slump of last season.

The biggest disappointment has to be our over-cautious manager. If we has got some width on earlier, we may have won the game. I saw a bit of the hammers charging down the right wing at Anfield, and saw a bit of Palace running the channels at pace and terrorising Chelsea. They won away counter-attacking with real pace. Most of our pace was kept on the bench for far too long. We can't defend properly with the two screening centre-mids, we might as well sacrifice one of them and play with some width.

The Stones issue has masked the fact that we are not playing well. The win at St Mary's will be put into perspective when they get relegated, watch Norwich win there today.

We are just like last season. The only difference is that Barkley, Howard and Kone have started well. The transfer window has been a big let-down. We should have lost by 3 or 4 yesterday, and by 3 or 4 against City. We were 2 goals down to a League One team in midweek, so there is much to moan about, and keeping JS may well be a feather in Roberto's cap, but he needs to up his game if we are to compete with even West Ham and Palace.

In games like this, he needs somebody close to him as it is apparent that he cannot hold the ball up. Kone was too far away from him. When he is running on to the ball the kid is unstoppable.

But Martinez went with a plan; when Naismith came on, I really thought we might nick it. I'm happy with a point as not many teams will pick up points there this season.

I was going to have a pop at Oviedo but I didn't watch the game midweek and didn't realize he played 120 minutes then so no wonder he looked knackered. I bet he is sore this morning.

We look at sea defensively and uncreative in final 3rd. The results have been decent but somehow it feels like the blueprints haven't changed. We definitely need a Yarmolenko type to inject some cutting edge and we have to see our forward players making better runs behind the defence (like Kone's for his header). Otherwise mid table awaits I fear...

Mirallas, Deulofeu, McGeady even, all full of pace yet not used enough. Yesterday Spurs were crying out to be countered for long periods but we just kept humping the ball forward, or playing sideways.

It was an odd game I thought. We seemed to be setup to counter like e did at Saints, but oddly didn't counter them at all. Strange.

Given we have had a number of injuries both during and before the season and the fact out first choice CB has clearly been unsettled I am happy with the season so far. Let's make sure we get the No 10 and Funes Mori before the end of the window and get Mourinho the sack in our next game. Definitely "glass half-full" for me.

I also think in the main we have played well, although I agree with Lyndon's article in that Spurs were there for the taking yesterday and our counter attacking was poor. I am willing to put hay down to tiredness from the cup game on Wednesday.

Maybe only by a single goal (still 3 points), but again I feel that the substitutions and the timing of them, were a factor.

Why bring Delboy on with 7 mins plus injury, in the hope of him swinging the game. He should have had at least 30mins, when the game was increasingly looking like stalemate then.

My mate has started playing walking football and he tried explaining how it works but watching Lukaku yesterday I now understand what walking football is. Yet another very very ordinary display from McCarthy still waiting for him to have a good game this season.

I think if RM is going to persist in Lukaku and Kone playing then I suggest he swaps them over and plays Kone down the middle and Lazy Lukaku out wide. The only problem with that is I would hate to be the fullback playing behind Lukaku, as you would get no help defensively from him.

I am afraid possession football without penetration is useless and thats what RM is turning us into. A team more interested in possession than getting into the opponents penalty area.

Not sure about the substitutions and impact. Was going mad when Naismith came on, but then he had a positive impact. Kone was our best outfield player, and I am not sure who else Delboy would come on for. Don't believe Mirallas made any impact. But he was always going to replace Cleverley.

Delboy does need more time on the pitch. But Martinez needs to consider Cleverley for Barry in midfield for this to happen. Cleverley is doing well for us. But Villa fans have said he was better for them last year at CM.

I thought Barry was poor today. But can't see Martinez making the change soon. Howard was MotM today. How good would he be if his hands were as good as his legs when stopping the ball.

What we lack is a Silva type player with the ability and skill to make things happen in the middle of the field. When teams stay in front of us we struggle, we simply lack creativity.

Nobody's telling me that Martinez is going out of his way not to sign players, any manager would be crazy in that instance because they live or die by results. The reasons that seem most likely to me are that we are no longer attractive enough to players, or the manager has a limited budget once more!

If we only knew what Martinez has to spend things would be a lot clearer.

There's no point bring on Deulofeu for the last ten minutes, he hardly had any time to make a difference. Apart from Cleverley's shot and Kone's header we hardly threatened. The Southampton game showed we've got it within us to take teams apart but yesterday just seemed like a blueprint of last season's style. Baffling I'm afraid, just can't get my head around RM's tactics.

You've played a blinder this week, but don't spoil the good work by referring tour our beloved club as a 'project'. Leave that horrible word to the greedy bastards who justify it to join one of the moneyed elite. Everton are much more than a project.

I attribute this to poor defensive organisation which means we have a tendency to drop deep when the oppo raise their tempo and come at us. We then try to retain possession in deep areas and are afraid to push up.

Sort out the back line and give the team a platform. McCarthy and Barry could become more confident and push up, breaking up play further up the field.

Until Martinez is gone we will be a boring team to watch most weekends. Maybe he should study Pardew's tactics?

At times we defend way too deep, and other times we defend way too high - that pass yesterday to Kane a case in point. Jags & Stones were the last men and they were both standing in Spurs' half when the ball was played!

Sorry, but what the hell are they doing leave half the pitch wide open to run into? Again, it was only good goalkeeping that saved us.

There are times when we just seem to lack a gameplan, or we shift from one gameplan to another in the blink of an eye which is as confusing to watch as it must be to play in. Hungary '54 we ain't.

He's done it at Goodison, he's done it at Anfield, He's done it at Old Trafford. He's even done it in Brazil.

He plays too high. Sometimes almost to the halfway line. The tremendous pace of Distin saved us on many occasions. Without him we have to be more careful but I'll be surprised if Jags alters his ways.

As mentioned numerous times on this thread, Howard was different class yesterday & definitely kept us in the game, his one save in particular, down low to his right & he got down and got a hand to it at point blank range was an amazing save. However, if Kane wasn't going through a goal drought as he is at present & short on confidence, I am sure he would have been clinical with at least one of his chances!

Our defence were cut open quite easily at times yesterday, it was embarrassing, still to defend that poorly & still get a clean sheet, I'll take that! I think Barry gave their forwards more chances than their own players did, he was definitely out of sorts yesterday!

I do think you can't ignore the fact that we played 120 mins away at Barnsley only a few days prior & then played away at Spurs yesterday, fatigue showed in a few of them, Jags, Lukaku & Oviedo (although I think he did okay yesterday). I don't know what Barry's or Coleman's excuses were though!

I totally agree with everyone on Deulofeu. I find that when coming on as a sub, it takes him a little time to get into the pace of the game & to find his touch & range. Bringing him on with 5-10 mins to go is totally pointless to me, he needs at least 20 mins if you are to get anything out of him, look what he did to Barnsley, albeit a lower calibre of opponent! Its a shame really, because Danny Rose is a converted winger playing at full back & not a very good one in my opinion, I think if we had got Deulofeu on earlier, he would have had Danny Rose on toast & I believe he could have been the difference to us nicking the game yesterday.

I will reluctantly settle for a point & we aren't in bad situation in the league table, but there needs to be a vast improvement, we have got quality players so it is within us, let's hope we do get a decent addition to the squad by Tuesday.

Perhaps it's McCarthy who should be dropped instead of Gareth? Something seems a bit off with the midfield duo. Or is it that the organisation is not quite right?

I also think Barry takes a lot of flack because he's not the quickest and people focus on him chasing back, or rather struggling to chase back, but I see him do a lot of good/dirty work as a footballer which often doesn't get noticed.

When I've watched him in the flesh he looks like a player with a very good football-brain, way way more so than McCarthy or any of our midfield players in fact.

His positional sense is excellent, he reads the game very well and often does things that as I say go unnoticed. He's our Deschamps, and I think a vital cog.

Our organisation is our problem - midfield rotation is difficult, and we have players changing positions continuously which is really hard to do over 90 minutes without leaving gaps and getting caught out. How often do you see our midfield all bar one player caught the wrong side of the ball/play when we lose it? Often I'd say, and that's an organisational issue which lies with the manager as much as the players.

You can drill them as much as you like in trainig, but if the players can't match the system you want them to play, it ain't gonna work 100% of the time. I believe Martinez himself believes in a 'total football' philosophy, and I believe we simply do not have the players to carry it out over 90 minutes.

It works in flashes, but that isn't going to cut it game in, game out.

"The win at St Mary's will be put into perspective, when they get relegated- watch Norwich win there today."

Hope you didn't have any money at that Eddie!

He got caught in possession several times & his touch was terrible in & around our box, leading to two chances that I can recall. It was a bad day at the office for him, I think he will have better games than this one.

I certainly wouldn't make him a scapegoat because, as I said, he wasn't the only one, but I can only call it as I see it!

Tim Howard was quite awesome yesterday and if it wasn't for him then we would have taken a good hiding quite frankly. The 2nd half in particular was poor and we did our damnedest to give a goal away with pissing around at the back yet again. Please get a defensive coach in who knows what they're doing as soon as.

A draw with Spurs away on the face of it is a good result but the fact that we could have taken a hiding and created very few chances against a team low on confidence themselves is worrying. I do hope the Southampton result wasn't an exception to the rule rather than the norm. The Chavs at home is an important game now. We need to start making a statement of intent rather than drift through games as is normal these days.

Also, other than the throughball to Kane and Chadli walking between Coleman and Stones, Spurs' main other chances were due to poor defending and communication from Everton. With Barry twice and Oviedo again twice not clearing the ball properly.

I thought it was the other way around, Stones stepped up and if Jags had done the same instead of hesitating, Kane would have been a yard offside.

Either way, poor defending.

I can't agree with you regards Southampton, they will definitely NOT be relegated.

I predict any two of the promoted sides + Sunderland.

The definition of team work in the dictionary is: "Concerted action or effort by the members of a group to achieve some common end, as the "coordinated" play of an athletic team. Going on this statement, the one thing Everton's team lack is coordinated play and the fault must lay with the manager.

Last, season the TW site was inundated with comments about the Tippy-Tappy football that was ineffective and it took till March and only after comments and action from players to change to a more direct style. We also had players playing out of position and unable to adapt to a system that the manager wanted played.

This season, with the expectancy of new players and with the manager being more experienced the supporters were expecting a better season but, since the start, we have played I good game and the team was more direct on the break, while the other games reflected the same as last seasons games. I have not asked for the manger to be replaced, that is the board's job. As Martinez has previously stated, we have practically the same players we had when he was so successful in his first season, so what has happened?

Injuries have caused a problem at left back but 2 players who were effective in his first season were Pienaar and Osman who, though still at the club, can no longer be good for 90 mins and there has been no attempt to bring in the type of player they are. We seem to be obsessed with wingers and defensive midfielders, and seem to be going back to the tippy-tappy from last season that proved to be ineffective.

Surely we must have enough video evidence from his first season that can be studied to find out what has changed that is not successful and use it for improvements. Other clubs with less skillful players are still able to adapt and build them into a team.

We need some reinforcements to quickly slot in. Surely there is a hidden plan to surprise us on Tuesday? A playmaker who distributes well would turn this team into a top 5 club real quick.

Normally I would say a point at Spurs is good but this Spurs team are crap and any kind of sharpness in the final third could have taken care of them in the first half.

Deulofeu should have started but RM is sold on his own ideas and it's costing points. The procrastination in the transfer window is amazing and happens every year.

Everton have a bunch of players on the books who are no longer good enough and yet there is no sign of them being moved out which would make some room in the wages department to attract better players.

As for McCarthy, he is either unfit or disinterested as I believe he has the ability and engine to be something much better. I agree with the comments made by Eamon Dunphy who has similar concerns over his performances for Ireland.

As for a No 10, there is no-one else about with the potential of Ross Barkley. I am not a Take That fan but try a little patience.

We've had a cracking win at Southampton, a draw at Spurs, a loss to City, who are on top form at the moment,, and a not-too-great a draw when we were at home to Watford. Just look how unpredictable the league has been so far!

Unless we spend big money, the truth is, we are short of a couple of quality playmakers, one in midfield and one upfront. Just look what the usual top 4 clubs have spent, they are not spending fortunes for the fun of it!

You can argue it's the manager's fault because he favours a possession game; fair enough, it's not overly exciting a lot the time... but, at the end of the day, it's the quality of our players that really decides our fate.

"Fair play to John Stones who did a thoroughly professional job at the end of a tough week for a young man away from his family in difficult circumstances."

A 21-year-old pro footballer in the Premier League... Poor lad, I do feel sorry for him. Perhaps he shouldn't have handed a transfer request in then.

McCarthy is our midfield enforcer and when all this "broken promises" nonsense was going on, I would have been happy to see him go for any of the rumoured £15-20 million being spoken about.

He has got a good engine but is very limited otherwise. He should be driving the team forward at every opportunity but it's always nearly always sideways or backwards.

We have a player in Besic that in another year will be a proper midfield destroyer with a bit of skill. Besic hasn't quite got the engine but has more bottle, is a better passer (both short and long) and is also a better footballer technically.

He needs to learn to hold back his enthusiasm to win the ball at times, and not get involved in silly stuff but I am convinced this kid is going to really break through.

Why play a style of game if we do not have the players that have the quality to play it?

And why do we insist in the purchase of wingers and defensive midfielders and try to play down the middle and use the forwards to do it?

And why have we not got in a quality midfielder when a majority of supporters are aware we have needed one for a number of seasons?

The odd pundit had him being worth 㿀M is crazy and I think that belongs to players who can do it all, not just chase shadows all day long. He chases shadows very well but beyond that is limited.

I'm happy we have him, he's a good player... but the love fest he was getting was overdone in my opinion.

Since his injury, apart from a few games, he doesn't seem to have the energy or drive that came natural to him; he seems to be holding back or is frightened to go all out in case his hamstrings go again.

Maybe it is me, making excuses for him, but there is definitely something missing in his game, especially this season. I hope he sorts it out; there is a much better player in there than he is showing.

I really don't know if he has been told to stay back, or if he is another, like Baines, carrying a long-term niggle, but he is very one-dimensional, and really needs to improve other aspects of his game.

Martinez said some time ago that they have to hold McCarthy back some in training in order for him to be ready for match days, whatever that means.

It said "JUAN CAR".

I found that amusing.

This particular topic is about a line which was too high and there's only one person responsible for that: the captain. The experienced leader. All ten outfield players in the opponents half is asking for trouble, especially when you don't have Usain Bolt playing centre back.

To early for a "Bob out" shout? Well if I could see a difference in our play, something that would give me a bit of hope that this "philosophy" of his will ever work, I'd say no... but, seeing as we are playing exactly how we finished last season, there is no hope at all.

I am bothered about the "special one" and I don't mean Mourhino.

There is no doubt with Ossie and Pienaar fading and Gibbo, well, just being Gibbo, we definitely need a quality MF player who can create and score goals.

As someone said earlier, we need quality now not quantity.

Thankfully Ross has progressed and Galloway, Browning and Pennington are making progress.

If I had my way, we would have a "Jack Butland/Joe Hart" type in our sights together with a quality goalscorer and Creator. (Yes, make that divine.)

The Stones situation apart, this has been the biggest letdown of all the windows so far because we had so much time to plan and execute and once again have let the supporters down.

The ball was lost halfway in to Tottenham's half. You would expect Everton's back line to be pushed up otherwise they are leaving more space for the opposition to play in should as is the case here position is given away.

Kane is not exactly Thierry Henry, both Jags and Stones should be quick enough to cope with that. Jags just made a mistake of hesitating before trying to step out.

I'm also struggling to think of a goal we have conceded by trying to play to high with a ball over the top of the defence this season, most have come from wider positions.

I've seen enough. We indulge him game after game. Hopeless off the ball, and erratic on it. I don't see any improvement (admittedly he's scored a couple... but given the freedom he gets he should be grabbing 18 a season).

The one at Barnsley where he gets a second chance, after a block, and blazes it to Row Q finished him off for me.

There are times he can drive at the heart of the defence, he automatically draws two sometimes three players towards him; when he learns to use the spaces that leaves, he will be there.