Perspective

Lost away from home. It happens.

Generally the team is in better shape physically but still not on a par with the top six squads, not surprising given the time the manager has been in place.

Chins up. Win the next game and it's all rosy again.

I concur.

In the first half against Bournemouth, we were not able to compete with the level of intensity that the home team brought. The speed of the pressing game employed did not suit our team and in particular Gareth Barry, not sure if he was playing with a knock. Despite the poor first half, if Lukaku and Ross had better directed two headed chances, we would be here celebrating a victory, even though undeserved. Cherries fans could point to hitting bar and post in first half and wondering how they didn't win 3-0. That's football.

We have to take the ups with the downs, prepare the team to play well, and hope the breaks go with us. We are going to have to get to grips with this 100-mile-an-hour pressing game, which seems to be employed more regularly now.

The Bournemouth game was a throw back to last season. We are short in attack, but there are reasons for optimism, such as our defending and pretty much all of our signings under Koeman.

Within a couple of months, our fitness, organisation and attitude will be what Koeman is looking for. If we can then get a few in and a few out in January, we will be in a better position again.

There is going to be a few bumps, particularly between now and January. I also dread to think what will happen if Lukaku gets injured. But what is needed is indeed perspective. We will be a bit up and down until we get better players in, particularly players who are more mobile. But we should still finish in the top 10, and after the last 2 seasons of bottom half finishes, that would be progress.

If we can have a good run and qualify for Europe, that would be great. Koeman could then see for himself next year how many fans we bring away in Europe. But if we were to finish, say, 8th, it shouldn't be viewed negatively. Koeman is having to rip up a lot of what the previous regime put in place, where players were told that every move was phenomenal. It is going to take time.

If the players look interested and are trying, the Goodison crowd will react in a positive manner, like they did in the last league home game against Boro, when every tackle seemed to mean something to the team, particularly when we went a goal behind.

Stop finding fault with the people who actually take the time and trouble to attend Goodison Park and start focussing on the real villians of the piece, namely the half-hearted, self obsessed footballers who seem to believe they are doing everybody a favour by just showing up at Goodison or elsewhere.

The squad just isn't nearly good enough and we've had decades of people trying to be positive with little effect.

With the money that was available for transfers and a new part-proven manager of top class playing pedigree, I expected us to start this season with some verve and serious intent. Martinez did as much in his first season.

Thus far, Koeman has not really done anything to show he can definitely return us to the upper echelons, and there is an argument that our points haul was out of kilter with the actual performances. Fortunately I am not out to judge him in the short-term and I am happy to wait until the end of the season before I pass judgement.

There are those who have proclaimed him as messiah pretty much as soon as he signed up, and those who seem convinced even a very average manager couldn't fail to get more out of this squad than Martinez. On the evidence of the last two games, we can't be confident that Koeman can get anything significantly more out of the squad when his smattering of key performers are absent or just not on peak form.

I'm not saying he won't be the success we hope he will be, just that so far there is nothing to be gained from jumping to conclusions about what lies ahead.

Everton can lose I can accept that but I cannot accept a display such as the one at Bournemouth. Koeman now knows what he's up against and I sincerely hope he can sort it out. It could be worse though, we could be England supporters!

Also, Koeman was not able to secure another midfielder on transfer deadline day. Because against Norwich and Bournemouth, Everton could not dominate the middle. And if Everton cannot dominate in midfield, the only way is downward in the league.

Talking about perspective, just read how most of these so-called "great coaches" put things right when they hit a bad spell (Conte at Chelsea for example) they get rid of the dross and spend a fortune on new "world class" players.

Koeman is unlikely to be able to avail himself of the necessary funds so don't get too optimistic just yet. Give him time and enjoy watching a coach doing a proper job at a real club – developing youth, instilling discipline, team spirit and an excellent work ethic, peppered with real coaching skills, and maybe we'll win something.

Surely this direct style of play is coming from the instruction of Koeman. Surely our players are better than this? I really hope I'm wrong but am not at all convinced by what I've seen despite our high position in the league.

As for Saturday, if Barry had a knock, why risk him? I think that was a mistake... and he was too slow in making changes – it was obvious things needed changing after 20 mins. In this season of ups and downs, he needs to be more decisive earlier in games.

And let's have our strongest squad in the FA Cup each round when it starts and give it a go.

But, all-in-all, the article will gain concurrence with most Evertonians, I think.

The only thing that brings you success in this league now is cold hard cash and lots of it. You don't spend, you don't progress. Leicester last season was 5000-1 freak occurrence – it will never happen again.

Martinez liked us to play out from the back but changed it to a more direct style when we struggled in the lower half of the table. He often drove us mad with his selections, playing square pegs in round holes and his unwillingness to change things until too late.

Koeman's team has improved and is looking tighter at the back. However apart from Spurs, we have played sides that I doubt will finish in the top half of the table. The acid test will come when we face Arsenal, Liverpool and the Mancs. This team let Martinez down on many occasions and we have seen either a lack of quality or a lack of application from this group.

It will take time and although we have said goodbye to some of the older brigade, we are still lacking in midfield and attack. Until Koeman has had at least two windows to bring in his choices, then we realistically can't expect to stay in this league position. We might improve a couple of places on last season, but I think even the Europa League places will be beyond us.

It is early days, and Friday will give us a chance to show some character; whether we do or not will be illuminating.

I don't think there are many who will be throwing their toys out of the pram if we don't get top 4 as most know that our squad does not compare that favourably with most of our rivals. Leicester was likely to be shown an anomaly rather than the start of the trend.

To call for calm is tad patronising In my book. There's no panic. Yet.

Whether Koeman is a good manager or not at Goodison remains to be seen. Improving the discipline and attitude does help, it won't make Cleverley the new Xavi, or turn Jagielka into Bobby Moore.

The Crystal Palace game is a key one, a test of Koeman's managerial and coaching skills. They are doing well, had a good result at Sunderland, whereas we are coming into the game after to quote one correspondent "a bad day at the office". A good result, a convincing win, would be a great statement.

There are players on notice that will be sold if they cant perform. It's important that we get a replacement for Barry both full backs can go along with Mirallas and Barkley if they don't improve. Rom will go and I imagine others will be tempted away.

One person happy to see out a five-year contract will be Niasse who can then can retire.

If the players run their hearts out, and try then lose, fair enough. But to not put a shift in is inexcusable for me.

Only half-a-dozen games into the season, and already a crunch match.

I haven't seen a penny spent on players yet and the old lady has had a lick of paint. We have been beaten in successive games by Norwich's second eleven and Bournemouth. The promising youngsters that trounced Norwich at the end of last season have been relegated to the U23s and replaced by underperforming senior pros. Please don't expect me to be happy about it.

You need to take out a new mortgage to buy a pie and a cup of tea. It's 㾶 to park within a reasonable walking distance of the ground. We have not won anything for 30 years. I'm happy to believe we're not in danger of relegation (shifts around nervously in chair) but what else is there to be cheerful about?

I suppose Ron is getting the players to run around a lot more and has at least addressed some of the absurdities of the Martinez era (calamity goalkeeping) and we've bought someone from a relegated team that is plainly better than anyone else we have had in midfield but contentment and happiness still seem elusive. We need to start winning football matches, preferably at a greater frequency than our nearest neighbours, if I am to be convinced of any real progress.

I expect that the top three this season will be City, Liverpool and Arsenal. City and Liverpool are playing quicker than everyone in the league at the moment, and teams look unable to cope with the speed and movement in the main although defensive issues will cost them points. Arsenal have a great squad, and an incredible array of passers (I was at the Emirates on Saturday and a midfield of Xhaka, Ozil and Santi offered the kind of passing and first touch we can only dream of). I think United and Spurs will compete for fourth and Chelsea will fall short, because of a woeful defence. I have no idea how Ivanovic is still starting.

I think we will compete for sixth/seventh, in a Premier League season which becomes a lot more predictable than the last. Leicester's season was the anomaly not the new rule, even if the spread of money allows the likes of us, West Ham etc to bring in talented players capable of competing with the teams above us.

We have issues – we didn't finish in the bottom half for two seasons running without reason. It was principally the result of Martinez's tactics, and the eradication of our defensive strength, but it was also a product of inconsistent players.

Chief among those is Ross Barkley, who must bring more to the table. I do not think he will ever be the player some imagine, and I think swapping him for someone like Mata could be the difference between a couple of league positions. I don't think he is a bad player, but we need someone to dictate the pace of the play and play others in at the right time.

Our speedy attacking players would be benefited immeasurably by a playmaker behind. Barkley, whichever way we look at it, does not measure up with the creative options of our rivals. Deulofeu is the best bet in terms of chance creation, but he is inconsistent and marginalised by Koeman's preference for Bolasie and Mirallas.

I think Koeman is a wonderful manager, and his tactical flexibility at Southampton was magnificent, and marked him out as far superior to an inflexible Martinez. But he needs time and he needs a better squad than we have to make a dent at the top of the table. He is also unfortunately competing in a league against two of modern footballs great innovators in Klopp and Guardiola, with a fading Mourinho with a bottomless pit of money, with one of the great Premier League managers in Wenger and an extremely youthful and energetic Spurs side. He needs time and any hopes of top four football this season are wide of the mark in my opinion. But we will improve, and we must be patient.

My thoughts exactly, I do believe Koeman is a very good manager, and he will need time and money to put right what Martinez did. It also won't happen overnight, and if he looks at these pages he will see that some expect the impossible.

But a good start and he should not be judged by one bad result against Bournemouth. If you weren't aware of our league position and only read some of the posters on here you would think we were in the bottom 4.

Let's at least see where we finish at the end of the season before judging Koeman. Let's also remember although Klopp seems to be flavour of the month and you can't deny that they are playing well, he was there all last season and they had a very average season, even missing out on a Europa League spot.

For most of the Martinez era and recent beyond, I have been sold on the myth that we do have a really good team, one of the best groups of players in our history etc. Well this season has been a wake-up call, even though we are doing very well after a good start but a sudden implosion for the last 2 games.

Let's consider the following:-

1. Our new goalie is good, very good, and I am grateful for that. He was brought in from Fulham where he was not first choice. He still merits his place above our 'No. 1' from last season.

2. We bought a 33-year-old centre back from Swansea. Again Williams is great and he has helped to shore up the defence, last 2 games apart.

3. We bought a defensive mid fielder for a knock down price from a relegated team. Idrissa is now a fans favorite, and has been the player of the short season so far. He has made our previous ball winner look poor by comparison.

4. We bought an attacking forward who is unpredictable but he knows how to cross a ball and he has kept boy wonder Geri out of the side.

5. Gareth Barry is quality. We bought him in the evening of his career. He is now theoretically past it but is playing better as well as any time during his career, and is up there with Idrissa as the best player in the team.

6. Rom has accepted he will have another season with us. He was not chased by another club simply because Everton played hardball and overpriced him. Rom is professional and has decided to play accordingly and not sulk.

7. What is left? Ross is brilliant on his day but there is not enough of them. His glittering career is in danger of passing him by, and that would be a great shame.

8. We still lack quality across the team and if the examples of Stekelenburg, Williams, Gueye and Bolaisie, are anything to go by, all good buys but brought for the exchange value of our previously star defender, who did not even figure in the Eurpoas!

The message behind all of this is Koeman has a massive challenge and he has set the timetable for 2 years which is reasonable. If 4 to 1 exchange players can improve us (but not as much as we like to think they have) then I have to acknowledge the squad is, man for man, bang average, ageing as well, and lacking in fitness and mental toughness.

When Koeman and Walsh follow through with their task we may all be well happy, but the familiar faces of the playing staff will have long since gone – they simply are not good enough to get us to where we need to be. It has become painfully obvious, and for an Evertonian the feel that is very sad.

You make a very good point about consistency which IMO has been the hallmark of this group of players for the last 2 years. They can really turn it on when they apply themselves but look very ordinary when they don't.

There is obviously some fundamental flaw which needs addressing probably with a change in personnel which regrettably may lead to the departure of Barkley and/or Deulofeu.

you have to calculate the huge elements of luck we have had so far, coupled with the good performances, albeit against weak opposition, including an off colour Spurs. Although we came up against a good Bournemouth and on form Norwich side.

I think that up until now RK is doing a fantastic job , as he has strengthened the squad and gave us hope. I think we got somewhat carried away pre Norwich match, given the results and the performance.

The players that Koeman brought in and the form of Lukaku, were the catalyst in our positive start. They played well and were consistent. Whereas, 3 or four players have remained consistent in being inconsistent.

This element is Hugely frustrating and if we are to be taken seriously and advance towards a top six finish, consistency is the crux. I can hang in for the 2 years its going to take RK to transform the team.

I have more faith in RK's 2 year plan than the length of time its going to take to get the inconsistent players to become consistent!

We are not Man City or Chelsea that can go and overpay for the odd player who's currently with a Champions League club. The only time we have used the January window wisely is when we got in Jelavic and Pienaar. That probably was one January window in about 10 years.

We are not going to attract players in January, sadly the summer was the time when we should have prioritised getting in a decent striker and playmaker.

We all will have to be patient. The aim this season has to be getting a European spot in the hope that Everton are able to to bring in better players and push on from there.

I have disagreed with one or two of your posts since the start of the Season. But, I absolutely agree with you, word for word, comma for comma... Koeman has his work cut out!

Now a pitiful plea from Jags who never has a hard word for his lazy arsed team mates almost begging them for a wee bit of effort this Friday.

Oh' for a Roy Keane type of captain

The Crystal Palace game is massive for Koeman after their comeback against Sunderland and Everton's poor show against Bournemouth. It is also on Sky which means the publicity level will treble. The players need to try, but sheer effort only wins odd games. Tactics and efficiency win more. Let's keep our perspective and hope that Everton win well, but that alone won't make them into a real top team.