Goodison's mood lifted as Blues offer hope for the future

Better today. Barkley needs to forget everything that Martinez and crew told him and become the player he was 3 years ago. He looked confused at times about what he needs to do. Had a good run through though.

I see the fat Spanish waiters votes are creeping up on the TW manager poll. I can actually see someone like Moshiri with no real allegiance to the club going for Benitez. The pundits all seem to think he could do the job. It's always easy to say that though when it's not your club.

Funny if it was actually BK who stepped in and saved us from that happening.

That's probably just him and his missus voting, Gavin. But not to worry, he basically said he's staying in toonland for the foreseeable future.

I wonder how long it will be until Everton genuinely shake of the shackles that Martinez bound them with, and get back to free flowing football which we all want to see.

One swallow dosnt make a Summer, but this week the skies are Blue. Coyb.

Think we need to stop being so sensitive about Benitez. Look at the honours he has won at various different clubs. Would we pass up getting him on board and giving us probably our best chance of winning a trophy or two just because of our current general disdain for him? We'd soon get over it if he brought success.

Great win and pleased RM no longer in charge

Good report Lyndon - was hoping you might have given young Kenny a bit more of a pat on the back but Davies in particular and Dowell showed they are next season's first team players.

Mirallas's performance; Baines' smiling face, told us all we needed to know about the outgoing manager.

That's better...more like the Blues before Bobby brown shoes. Did not see it but reports are good. Baines taking penalties again is a good sign.

Howard gone is also good news. Some close season activity is something to look forward to as well.

Ian, Jonjoe, did really well didn't he? He must have stopped more crosses in 60 minutes, than any Everton fullback, has done for a long time. I'm made up for him, Dowell, and my man of the match, young Tom Davies.

Davies, looked really good. An all action midfielder, with loads of awareness and energy. Early days but this kid looks top class, a real players, player.

Makes you wonder where we may have been now if this regime had taken over before the semi-final.

Massive credit is due I believe to David Unsworth for infusing some youth into the lineup and somehow getting everyone playing not only organized and excellent football, but...

smiling.

Seriously... didn't expect that. There was a palpable good vibe present today and isn't that a refreshing change?

I don't know what his managerial future holds, but for one game I was very, very impressed.

He didn't sit idly on the sidelines as a caretaker today. He carries himself very well in interviews. He oozes charisma.

Ok, man-crush over. But I think Unsy has one hell of a bright future ahead of him.

Not too surprising to see a smile on everyone's face as the camp had obviously been unhappy for a while (as it had been from time to time under who we used to refer to as OFM, but now must be called our OFFM??) - and the yoke has been lifted.

Norwich were pretty dreadful. But we do see to have some talent in the youth ranks and I hope that two or three (or more?) become first team players in the next couple of seasons.

Tom Davies looked the part when he came on as a sub a few weeks ago - and was the same today. Like Barkley but he can tackle. Like McCarthy but he can pass forwards. Like Peter Reid but he can run around a bit. Actually the player he really reminds me of is Scott Parker. He could be a real gem.

As for the others who knows? They all did well. I've seen so many young lads come on and done well, only to disappear without a trace, but this does seem to be a talented bunch of youngsters.

McCarthy looking like the box-to-box midfielder we all hoped he'd be after his first season – even scoring and creating goals; Mirallas fighting for the ball and running 50 yards to tackle back on our goal line; Lukaku having a few decent shots on goal; a couple of 'real' right backs who Martinez had been hiding and the defence looking like they knew each other... what happened?

Well, free from the constraints of a rigid, demoralising system, the team looked like they enjoyed themselves for a change. The likes of Ross and James may be talented footballers but – and I don't mean to be disrespectful – they don't appear to be the sharpest pencils in the case: maybe too much useless information cluttered their natural thought process (in computerspeak it's GIGO – garbage in, garbage out) and coupled with the lack of a proper fitness regime, resulted in the obvious.

I expect a new manager, worthy of the position, will bring these two back to where they should be, and bring the best out of Davies, Dowell, Kenny, Pennington, Walsh etc. And, if Mirallas, Stones, Mori, Lukaku, Coleman and Baines are all here for a season or more, then the future of Everton FC could be a very exciting one, especially with Moshiri's millions... just as long as the Fathead Corrie Clown is pushed into a back seat, where he can do no more damage to the club

I'm dreaming of a similar team to United's class of 99'. A batch of graduate MU youngsters combined with leadership qualities and experience of senior players got them on a roll for a fantastic trophy laden 2 decade history. We need the right Manager to realize this dream that I'm sure many Evertonians share..

We'll all be full of hope and wishes again when next season starts. I wonder how long that will last. It's purgatory being an Everton fan. I'll still say it though, COYB.

The kids did well, but Unsworth knows what they can do & it showed.

It was nice to see the fast free flowing football that seemed to have disappeared under the previous regime.

The words 'senior players' should not be used again. If they are good enough then they are old enough.

Saegaran 15, we've got a great crop of youngsters at the club, the best we've had for decades. Nice to hear Unsworth say that there are 7/8 who are either ready now or will be in 12 months. Now we need to find a manager who can blend them in with some top senior players. Over to the board.

Davies and Dowell were completely at ease with each other, their interplay was Baines/Pienaar at times
The rightbacks also looked comfortable and up to speed; credit to all the youngsters and Unsy

Inevitable Baines would have / score a peno... should have had a bet on that. Why he was ever taken off is a mystery.

Hope an appointment is made sooner rather than later and the summer is not wasted...alot of work to be done, but great to see some of the U21s doing well.

I wonder what Martinez thought if he was watching yesterday, fairly clear condemnation of his reign given how happy and free everyone looked!

Wary of getting excited after one good game against poor, relegated opposition but even just the energy and feel of the place and the players felt like a different team. Really like the look of Davies, Dowell clearly has flashes of genius in him and Kenny looks like the new improved Tony Hibbert (he made one diving header near the end to clear what would have been an excellent chance for Norwich otherwise--the lad can really defend but also got an assist).

There's also the likes of Ledson and Walsh (who both excelled on loan) as well as Garbutt, Browning, Holgate and Henen.

Alot this Summer will depend on who stays and goes but i'm pretty sure that we will be stronger at least for having the likes of Davies, Dowell, Kenny, Pennington and the rest instead of Osman, Hibbert, Pienaar, Gibson etc none of whom quite have the legs to get around as quickly and as far as the energetic youngsters.

So made up for the youngsters that played. They all acquitted themselves very well, none looked out of place.

Hopefully not too much expectation will be steeped on them too soon, but the future looks much brighter.

Happy days are here again
The sky above is blue again....

Hee ha! Upward and onward we will march.

A veil has been lifted. The last few months have been depressing. Thoroughly depressing. Today I'm on a real high in terms of the way things are being turned round. To see our lads playing with a smile, positive body language, tempo. And the new kids (Davies only 17 years old! 17!) Now can't wait for possible transfer dealings in summer (as well as the manager decision) next season, and next season. Can't wait.

2 training sessions.....just 2 training sessions is all Rhino and Big Joe had?

Ill pinch a bobby word...phenomenal!

It was night and day. No square pegs in round holes, a slightly different formation (looked 4-1-4-1 in the main, but was dynamic and fluid) a sprinkilng of youth (shame on your Martinez for overlooking these lads when we were bare bones), but pressing, working together and closing opposition down. Basics done right.

Credit to Unsy for his work with the kids and what he did on Sunday. Loved his press conferences too, again, night ansd day to OOFM pressers!

Due to Rhino/Big Joe, I have hint of a smile on my face regarding our chances going forward, regardless of who is out the next transfer window.

Rhino is definitely one to watch for the future, as others have said previously. I am sure he will be back at Everton as Manager one day.

Unsworth in!

I'm not excited by any of the dutch or south american names being bandied about.

Unsy's the bloke who's brought these young lads on, got a great record this season with the youth team, as an Evertonian appointment will improve the mood and he's true blue.

You know it makes sense.

Colin - 28 - Few would disagree with your sentiments but as yet Moshiri doesn't know enough about EFC (or the city of Liverpool) to make the sort of decisions we are praying he comes up with, with regards to stadium site; manager; structure etc, as to date one suspects he has been relying on BK for such background information.

I suspect this will be the case for some time to come yet but I believe he will have the final decision on the new manager coming in, which I am praying rules out both Moyes and Benetiz (I doubt BK would give the green light to the latter anyway).

Dan -

I thought the exact same thing and then, a little voice popped up in my head.

"The Villa effect."

Villa basically went the same route with Lambert. He brought up some kids and played a very young team. Results didn't come, the fanbase became impatient, and they cut the cord with Paul Lambert.

They then went on to chuck shit against a wall and see if anything stuck, which it did not.

Then, relegation.

If we go the route of youth and Unsworth, we'd better be prepared to be incredibly patient and see it through. And I'm not sure, after the last two years, the Everton collective can exercise that level of patience.

DeBoer for me is clearly the man to blend youth and experience and have us kicking up the table.

I've no problem actually giving Unsy the reigns, but again we'd better be prepared for a rocky road. Yesterday was wonderful, but it surely wouldn't be that sunshine, feel good vibe after every game playing such a young squad.

Koeman deffo . Been a fan of his as player, then coach and has settled well in the Prem and done a top job with Southampton, a club that is a selling club.
But if they do go for De Boer, then sit Joe Royle and Unsy next to him.