From My Seat: Tottenham Hotspur (H)

"... most seemed happy and thought we could progress." Spot on, and my thoughts exactly. We didn't win, which was a shame, but the green shoots of recovery are certainly showing!

Koeman must be given time to stamp his mark on the team, but I fear the damage done by a certain Spaniard in the last two seasons will take a little longer to eradicate.

He knows he has to improve the overall fitness of many of his current crop of players (and he will), to avoid the current 'hands on hips' that many of the players seem to be suffering from after 70 minutes.

At the moment, we are definitely at the 'work in progress' stage but the signs are promising.

Klopp had is lot doing double shifts and endurance training and they improved. To compete, they have to be super fit at this level and I fully expect we will see this over the coming weeks.

Not sure I see a role for McCarthy or Cleverley and would have preferred to see some kids on the bench. As for Kone, 6 goals in 42+ games tells the story... take away the hat-trick and it's very poor indeed.

I thought we looked comfortable and though they were targeting Holgate he coped well until the goal - one shot on target? The goal followed a short passage of play when we stopped pressing as closely but two or three passes went astray from our right across to the left whereupon the cross bought Holgate out. The first collective drop in concentration? It will get easier.

More than one comment pointed out that Williams would not have conceded.

Not so sure striker is first priority. A better provider of crosses in open play and quicker midfielder to get up for the crosses on the break seem important for this style of play.

Green shoots indeed.

We now need much better than Kone, Lennon and should get better than McCarthy, Cleverly. Deulofeu tried hard but that miss cost us all three points and he just doesn't see that first time cross, loses too many one-on-one with keeper/weak shot - we no longer need to wait for young players to develop while playing them in the first team.

Who to make way for Williams & Kone? Holgate & Funes Mori but Jagielka phased out this season, ditto Barry but both very good yesterday.

On the evidence of a dodgy stream two thousand miles from the action, I go with Ken's verdict – a promising start.

Have to say I'm a bit suspicious of so much dough being spent on tarting up the Old Lady. Almost certainly to be trotted out as a sop for not delivering a new stadium in my lifetime!

However, "The Room of Nonsense is soon abuzz as matchday friends meet up and discuss the goings on of the close season. The majority of opinion is: let us let the dust settle and see how the squad looks after August 31st and how we are shaping up by Christmas."

Surely this "Room of Nonsense" of which you speak is nothing of the kind!
Indeed this is a veritable "Conclave of Sages"!

I left The House in New Brighton very early. Excited. More than that. New season Ticket in my wallet. A New Season, a New Start. Maybe A New Era.

On the bus through The Tunnel, headphones on – Beatles, some Soul and Van The Man – I was already in an ecstatic, ethereal mood with Into The Mystic Floating around in my head... Let Your Soul and Spirit Fly Into Into Into The Mystic.

Off at Scotland Road and a walk through my childhood haunts: Smith Street and Westminster Road, where I walked to the match in the late '50s and throughout the '60s...

Suddenly, I stopped for a moment and looked into the distance. There it was, shimmering under a Blue Sky, The Dark House and above it the Roof at Goodison. I was moved and touched at once; I felt like Wordsworth when he first encountered London and wrote of his vision in The Prelude, The City glistening and shimmering before him as he stood on The Bridge.

I went into a flower shop and bought some sunflowers, obviously for Sandra. San and Tony are great to us Blues at TDH.

I entered... John Potter sitting at his stool as always, but unusually The Irish lads in very early – like me, I guess, couldn't wait.

I saw Sandra and walked towards her with the sunflowers; she was in white... Dylan's words somehow flew out of my mouth:

"Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there,
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair,
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns,
Come in, she said, I'll give ya shelter from the storm."

Within a moment, a glass of The Golden Nectar in my hand, a drop running down the side like John Mill's beer in Ice Cold In Alex.

Camera out of the bag – Week 1 of New Season/Age/Era... Felt good. Felt so good. Felt so good I blew a note on my harmonica a la Van.

I for one am feeling optimistic, but I generally do about Everton. The general feeling before and after the game in TDH was optimism. Most felt Gana/Gueye was MotM, but special praise for Holgate.

Everyone knows this will not be the starting 11 within the next few weeks, but a decent start. Good energy and work rate, much to be added, but off to WBA next week and we shall see.

If you would like to see photos from TDH, go to FB Page "The Dark House Blues", posted every week.

Jagielka and Barry were both very good yesterday, brave and watchful, but their age is catching up. Jags has been criticised for lack of leadership (other than by example), blocks well but not a passer, and can be dominated by quick or big attackers. Great value for money but we are no longer shopping at Tesco's.

We no longer have to squeeze the last drops out of slowing veterans, no matter how good. They should see less action this season if we are aiming top 4.

Then, I don't think too many of us are expecting 'top 4' this season as you are!

Time for cautious optimism.

Great stuff George.

I thought Gueye was MotM closley followed by Maarten and Jags.

But overall it was good to see us shake off the Martinez "methods" and start to play with proper tactics and formation.

Great start to the season. More energy and yes we struggled towards the end. Time and patience is required by all. New methods are being implemented with new formations, players, and change in mentality coming through.

Koeman is a manager who will tell it the way it is. He wants to succeed and with a sense of realism. He is ambitious and the board know it.

Patience is the key.

Anyway enough of that. Great report as usual, Kenneth, but what watering hole is the Room of Nonsense?

Gana MotM for me. Agree that Barry and Jags were both very good. Clutching at straws, but I saw Ross doing more than ever before in terms of chasing and competing for headers and some tackles. Just work on the decision-making now.

Loved that flexibility in composition of the back line. Back 3, into 5, into 4.

Report seems to be on computor but not on mobiles.

That man should never play for Everton again if we are to achieve anything.

Can't say I remember that particular nickname for Paul Bracewell, although I have heard several other players referred to in similar terms over the years .

George McKane, thanks to you for a journey into the ether, I would love to think that our players were also listening to those prophets of rock as they prepare for battle. I daresay that Baines would have been tuned in to Tame Impala, and perhaps Ronald would be listening to Focus, and planning his tactics to the sound of the "Hocus Pocus" album. I certainly hope he can conjure up some clever strategy for the months ahead.

Have to have a small disagreement though: my MotM would have been Gana.

Roll on WBA indeed.

I'm guessing your that little bit older than me by saying you were going in the late '50s early '60s. I'm 57 by the way. But hey ho. Brilliant that, George. Really enjoyed it.

I love Jags.
I bloody well do.
Jags would get into the Everton sides of each successful Era.

Jags wears "The Royal Blue Jersey" with dignity.

He defends from the heart and honors Brian Labones Corinthian Spirit.
He plays his football cleaner than Sheedy's shorts.
I fuckin' LOVE Jags.

Eddy (#38)... Focus – now THAT was a band.

Onwards and upwards for our Blues!

Good to see you haven't lost any match sharpness over the holidays Mr Buckley!

Let's hope the squad can get from 70% to 100% in a week.

Tony Draper - totally agree re Jags - can't believe people wanted to ship him out to sunnerlan!

Herkus Perkus by Ferkus!

Special praise for Tony Draper and Monday morning smiles. :-)

I try to make Match Day something really special for myself and my friends – bit of madness, bit of poetry and acting soft – always play "Its All Right" by The Impressions (Curtis Mayfield) on my way to the game.

The Dark House is a very lively football pub. See you there. hopefully. Written from Astral Plane 7.

He would still have picked up a medal, much as our unsung duo Kevin Richardson and Alan Harper rightly did.

My point really is that Jags is desperately underappreciated by far too many. Eleven footballers of his quality and dedication would have won us silverware by now.

Some of our youngsters "could do with a pint of his blood". Being great doesn't always require being or doing the incredible.

Your mentioning Brian Labone reminded me that he was, I believe, booked only once in his entire career. I remember the game, against Newcastle at Goodison, an evening game. The ref gave a dodgy decision against us, and Labone, who'd picked up the ball, bounced it in frustration. It looked innocuous, but the ref decided to book him.

The ref was then surrounded by players protesting against the booking, but the remarkable thing was that they included Newcastle players. You would have thought it was one of their players they were defending! Such was the esteem with which Labone was held.

Although I do have to say I moved seats this year back to the old haunt of the upper Gwladys St from the Main Stand – the level of negativity up there is poisoning. I cannot believe the fans up by where I am. I found myself asking why do they even bother coming? They may as well have been sat in the away end.

And to top it off, they where all adamant that Mirallas had had a good game! Now I don't know whether you've been brain washed for the past couple of years and your standards have dramatically decreased but anyone that thinks he had a good game has sadly succumbed to accepting bang average! Worst player on the pitch for me and must do a lot better if he remains playing for this club! COYB

And if Everton are going to progress this season, attack minded players need to be found. And other questions should be asked, why is the academy only producing defenders and midfield players for the first team and not attackers?

'Watching the moth catcher working the floodlights in the evenings
And meeting down by the pylons
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
In the days before Rock and Roll.'

Thanks for re-kindling the memory!

Your mention of "Luxie", floodlights and the earlier references to Dutch Rockers Focus brought to mind the Golden Earring classic that crackled away in my earphone (singular BTW kids, not a pair) on my "trannie" (a kind of small radio kids, not a kopite).

Radar Love

Link

Thanks.

But as Van says in Hyndford Street "There is only now".

Been some really nice comments and views on this – football, music, bit of poetry bit of lyrical thinking – what more can you ask for?

Oh yea Everton to win a Trophy!!! Ahh Take Me Back – Take me Way Way Back to The Holy Trinity before and so on.

Cosmic grooves all the way friends.

Thanks for the nice comment.

Keep cool, keep cosmic – George.

Let’s hope we finally have a trophy win for you to write about at the end of the season!

As for the match, I am cautiously optimistic for our chances with our new gaffer, and I am looking forward to him making this team and squad his own.

Baines was a concern for me, and looked a shadow of the player we know and love, but hopefully with a few more sessions with Big Ron Koe, he will be back to his best.

Brilliant stuff also George – some quality tunes on your way to the game there my friend, no wonder your sprits were high!

I may have to make time to travel to the Dark House on matchday and get a dose of cosmic grooves.

All the best for the season blues!

The one failing? His lack of presence on the pitch? I don't know. Just because you don't shout, doesn''t mean you're not being heard. Also Ron has intimated he will remain, as captain too, so it seems there is appreciation where it counts.

He has also come back from severe knock backs, cruciate ligament, cold shouldered by England so many times but he just keeps on turning up, performing, and repeating the act .

A great player and captain who leads by example and not the megaphone.

It has reminded me of the occasion when my Uncle Joe went up to St James's Park, meeting up with his old Geordie army pals. He was standing in the paddock with them, and Ray Wilson put in a crunching tackle on their winger. One lone Geordie voice shouted out a complaint about the tackle, and another one came back "Shut up. That's Wilson. He doesn't foul".

Put's the imaginary card wavers to shame!

Keep the faith.