Gueye shines in promising dawn of Koeman era

All this running around shite with no end product is something we all knew when Lennon and Cleverley came on... As for Kone... I give up. Time to bring in the numbers as Sharpy said way back in May.

Can't wait to see Williams and Bolasie slotting in. We are starting to shape up into a real Koemanesque outfit. Happy days ahead for long suffering Toffeemen!

The shambles of the last two seasons replaced with well managed organisation. Bull shit replaced with straight talk. Back passes replaced by forward passes. Substitutes strategically used opposed to sitting on Catalan hands. All of which thankfully brought the Goodison roar back.

The shape of things to come fills me personally with excitement for the future. I agree with the view the signing of Koeman being monumental. OK, so one swallow doesn't make a summer and much work needs to be done - but leadership has to come from the top and in Moshiri and Koeman we now have that. The new coach's straight talk will not just be pointed at the players if they fail to perform. Those within the corridors of power NOW also need to perform (likewise) as I'm sure if they fail to deliver to his specification they too can expect a dutch blast.

One final shout out to the people who made and delivered the huge sign in the Street End saying something like "Our Motto is the standard we expect". Delivered a precisely the right time to remind ALL that our pride of this amazing football club knows no bound.

Happy Sunday laa x

How many times did it happen last season, where Everton were ahead comfortably and we all knew to well that they would capitulate in the final half-hour... 6, 7, 8 times?

Thanks to Koeman, we all know it's down to poor fitness levels, which in his own admission will take up to three weeks to crack the whip and get them in shape.

To think, if Martinez would have noticed this basic lack of fitness problem (as thousands of fans had done) he would still be the Everton manager.

He is still way short of what he once was, and I wonder if Oviedo should be given the job next week at the Baggies?

He's been a brilliant player, one of Moyes's best signings in fact, but he is on the way down not up.

Gueye is exactly what we needed in midfield. A really athlete winning the ball back, making interceptions and harassing the opposition.

Once the game was at 1-1 we didn't have the options on the bench to really alter the flow of the game. Hopefully there will be some more additions to come this week.

I think Galloway would have done better in that situation.

As for the defence, it is the same as usual. The defence having to rely upon reinforcements to bolster them. Everton need strong defenders who don't take prisoners. As for the wing back pairing of McCarthy and Baines they did not get as far as the half way mark. Another failed experiment.

Delboy needs to understand that finishing is part of the job of being a striker. Everton could have won yesterday if he took his chance and scored! So it is back to the drawing board.

New faces are desperately needed if Everton's season is not going to end up like last season. Spurs were not that good yesterday.

He should have cleared his lines better, as should Jagielka, in the passage of play that resulted in the Spurs equilizer, and he could have done more to stop the cross, but other than that I thought he had a very good game.

He does a lot of running for the team, and I counted at least twice yesterday, when Baines ran at least 60 yards, to try and go on the overlap, and his team mate chose the wrong option, and tried to go inside.

I suppose that after 10 games or so, we will have a better idea if it is a question of fitness, I hope he improves but have to say I was impressed with the dynamism of Oviedo in his last outing.

Also I suggested on a recent post that Stekelenburg has all the credentials to give Everton a couple of swansong seasons if we're lucky. Surely looked that way yesterday.

More impressive than the result was the visible collective spirit in the team. Even if they were knackered (no bullshit from RK there then). Jags back as solid as always; evergreen Barry, and that tiny little opposition irritant Gueye was superb.

It all looks good for the future. I keep thinking we need to be patient. However, I think Moshiri has spelled it out to Koeman that he is being impatient for all the right reasons. Money obviously but also the imperative is to get back into the European elite asap. Hence buying very good experienced players at the same time as developing the young players.

I really liked what I saw yesterday and believe we are in safe hands, including the goalie's!

The ground was (eventually) full but the crowd at kick-off time was 35,000.

We might get it right by Christmas!

Love the new signings though, very impressive!

Based on his performance, big Stek should get the benefit of the doubt, at least until August 31st, if not until the next transfer window. I know it's a little early to be thinking Neville Southall, but would Joe Hart (Bobby Mimms) have done any better?

And the money saved could reinforce so many positions that were exposed yesterday – back up for Seamus, backup / replacement for Baines (I don't think Galloway is ready yet), a couple of midfielders and at least one striker. There's too many has-beens and wannabes on the current squad, but they would make somewhat good backups (McCarthy, Lennon, Duelofeu to name a few).

However, game 1 is just over, we are only 70% fit, and if anybody can get the best out of our current crop, it's Koeman, so I guess time will tell. Either way, we still need to buy... and soon.

However, I was happy to only concede one goal. I would have heralded Koeman as the second coming if he could have saw out 85 mins without conceding. However, that was expectedly beyond our squad at this early stage.

With goals, I think we'll be dangerous, but until then there is a distinct lack of promise in my opinion. That performance wasn't something to trouble the top 4.

I feel you are being a little over critical of Baines. He still offered much in terms of width and penetration to the left flank which was not evident from the right flank. He will return to his best champions always do.

As for replacing him with Oviedo, that would be a deceive move in the wrong direction. I wouldn't have Oviedo within a bulls roar of first team football unless we are in desperate times. I would rate most of our good kids ahead of him especially in the fullback role were he was so badly exposed last season. Remember the 'Anfield Train Wreck' and his woeful part in it.

No, Oviedo, Besic, Gibson should have been outed at the end of last season.

I agree we are still carrying a lot of dead wood at the moment , however while Baines might be a little past his best there are more pressing needs that need to be addressed before we begin to think of replacing him.

We badly need some firepower front the fact that we are still relying on Kone three years after it became apparent that he is totally useless says a lot.

I didn't really like the subs though (all like-for-like subs), but let's give Koeman some time. Should have been 2-0 up and won the game.

Pochettino also seems like a great manager, made the adjustments to get back into the game and should be happy to get away with a point.

The only worry I have over Leighton, is that if we carry on playing him as a wing-back, I'm not sure he has the skill to really go past a man, one on one. I think he needs someone to play with, as Eddie says, because he's a very, very good, give and go player.

Koeman, is very refreshing, because he talks a lot about how energy, is very important. So on that basis, I think we will still be seeing quite a lot out of Baines, for a good while yet.

Of all the players in our squad that require coaching or motivating just how many seconds each season does he demand for the glorification of his ego ?

"Past his sell by date", well that's a fucking beauty, anyone who reckons there's any truth in that needs to be gently lead away to take a lie down in a padded room to the gentle sound of the breeze, the aromas of lavender with oil of fuckwit and hefty shot of elephant tranquilizers.

I would guess that he's not at full fitness, perhaps from resting the ankle over the summer, but I still think he's top quality and will show it. And hopefully RK will rest him more, which will give Galloway more opportunities - also a good thing.

Oviedo, one of my favorites, is only 26 and remains a valuable squad player, providing important cover. Michael #31, Oviedo played completely out of position at Anfield (right back) and was still our best defender on the day, so of all those who were "brutally exposed" he was the least culpable. Definitely worth keeping IMO.

Oh my, are they really that desperate?

He's as hard working as any player in the league, he has a left foot like a wand, he's everything you want in a modern day full back.

I'd love to think he will get a decent run of games over the next month or two, and he will get back to were he was at.

With Yannick in front of him he will have a regular partner, who is quick and strong, and will have all the attributes to cover Baines as well as keeping the oppositions full back out of our half, allowing Baines to cover the oppositions wide attacking player.

I don't think Baines played particularly well v Spurs though, some of his decisions were a little dodgey to say the least. He didn't seem to realise just how much quicker Walker was than him. I don't think Baines could blame Mirallas for a lack of support either, as I feel Kev worked hard as anyone.

As I say, Baines has been suffering with bad injury's recently, so hopefully the worst is behind him now and he's ready to return to the old Bainesy.

Having breaks during international weeks will also be a big boost for him.