New-look Blues hold on for a vital win

I would be happy if we used him as bait to get Sissoko or Kone.

Lennon would be a good buy for the likes of Hull. Kone, well, considering Hull only have 14 players .

So, let's sell Gibbo, Kone and Lennon to Hull. Cleverly I'd keep as a decent, versatile back up. McCarthey should only go if we sign a top quality centre mid.

But the type of role he plays is often not the type to catch the limelight, unlike perhaps Del Boy who is possibly worthy of greater levels of complaint?

The bench could be stronger as others have pointed out. But Deulofeu and Lennon are potential game-changers in the second half should things need shaking up.

Hopefully the rumours of Sissoko for McCarthy plus a bit of cash to sweeten the deal are true. For the other 2 read Davies & Dowell.

Be nice to see Munir El Haddadi as a late signing even on a loan deal.

Good game this.

From our perspective Barkley, Bolassie and Lukaku have been poor.

I'd bring on Gerry for Bolassie.. the other we have no decent cover for.

I disagree with pretty much everything you said

And how immense is Gana?? On the evidence so far and for the price, for me, one of our best signings we've made in the last 5-10 years.

Get ol' Mr Traffic Kone replaced we're looking in pretty good shape.

On the downside, Lukaku looked poor. I feel that we should have sold him while his value was ridiculously inflated. He may be worth half as much or less by the end of the season. His team mates were unhappy with some of his decisions.

Gueye, Barry and Holgate – brilliant.

Fine lines though. Walters and Arnautovic were inches from making that "New Everton, same as Old Everton".

The need to convert dominance into goals remains.

2nd going into the transfer window and international break! Good times ahead I hope!!

I'm very impressed with Stekelenburg, and Holgate had me cheering most of the time! I'm so glad we kept him, and off-loaded Stones for good money!

I hope those sneering at us bothering to get that 'old' Williams into our team will be able to enjoy the result as well!

Williams and Bolasie solid, but in Idrissa Gueye we have found a diamond and for £7 million?? The lad is world class and will be the best bargain of the transfer window by miles.

As for the game we should have won comfortably, rode our luck but have to put teams away. As for my favourite player Lukaku I've taken advice on board and will leave it at no comment for this game and the rest of the season.

For all our praise of Galloway (deserved) when he was in the team, Holgate has shown far more potential in these few games. Interesting decision for Koeman when Seamus is fit.

Bolasie was pretty average but he is notorious for being just that - expect more of the same! We might be treated every now and then - well worth £25 million' eh?!?!

Our new goalie looks really solid and Holgate very impressive again. Very happy with our start under Koeman.

Solid was the word I'd use today. Gueye and Holgate the stand outs for me today. Lukaku still not firing but he was very unlucky today - two cleared off the line and hit the post (it looked like anyway from my seat right in line).

Also, Ross not quite hitting the mark today but it's clear someone has been coaching the Martinez crap out of him. Today he was turning and driving forward much quicker as soon as he go0t the ball, after two years of turning backwards, taking an extra touch and shielding, all the while slowing down. That's the Martinez Disease that will take a while to work out of the collective system. But the whole team got forward much quicker and looked much more solid throughout. Fitness is obviously improving also.

And guess what? The crowd responded to the effort and the whole thing kept going as a virtuous circle, as many of us have been saying for a while. It is the job of the team to get the home crowd going and we collectively responded.

My enthusiasm is coming back after two and a half years of having it drained out of me. Very pleased with obvious progress and more to come. We'll come out if the break knowing our squad and we will definitely have some comings and goings this week.

Hard to choose at motm between Gueye and Holgate.

Lukaku and Bolasie were a bit underwhelming and should have done better with opportunity presented. If I'm honest I wish we'd got Arnautovic who looks to have more end product than Yannick but time will tell.

Great start by RK and the boys and so good to go into the int break on a win!

Holgate looked unbelievably calm. He's going to be a terrific player.

I thought Bolasie was alright. He gives the full back hell and his delivery is usually good. If there's anyone to be disappointed in today then it's Lukaku.

Those who watch and say he was poor, I really don't know what game you are watching.

Bolasie got better as the game progressed, and Lukaku did well I think against a very compact and physical Stoke defense. He's not yet at 100%, but he was good.

Gana is class, having such a player really makes a difference. While Holgate is doing great, will he drop a bit like Galloway? Let's hope not.

Williams is a physical defender, and him and Jags looked solid. Stek in goal is calming, he catches everything and when he needs to punch he is great at it. A good shot stopper too. At peak age for a keeper too, could be the bargain buy of the season.

Great to see us converting three points where previously (e.g last years 3-4 fiasco) we would have lost 2 or 3 points !

All very pleasing and there was some real spice in the Park End too.

He's not anything like the sparkling lens-louse that RM was. And RK actually has something of substance to say while he's squirming there! Happy days for me, the results considered, ofc!

As for Gueye, just shows you don't have to spend a fortune to buy an absolute gem.

Also, I just dropped my phone, but luckily Idrissa Gueye was there to pick up the pieces.

The manager has become our 12th man.

Fran agree with all your points too. Almost everything went through Barkley today
Stek solid as were Jags and Williams and Gueye and Holgate were immense. Great to see Kev back to his best too.

We just need a bit more target practice.

We deserved to win but fortunate in the way it happened. We'll take that though. Good move from RK to go to a back 5 to shore the game up. What a difference!

Let's hope the fan in the Park End stand is ok.

Onwards and upwards and well done blues. Still work in progress though.

The Blues felt it early and defended well but eventually started to turn it around and played some very patient stuff against the massed defence. Stoke obviously wanted to steal it but apart from some late desperate attacks didn't deserve anything.

I agree there is a lot more in Everton's play these days and Idris Gueye has to be the best signing in a long while. Barkley is getting back to his best and Holgate continues to shine.

Barry had a great first half but does tire as does Mirallas who put in a great shift. Not sure I want Baines to take future penalties.

It's been a long time since you could say this about an Everton team. Seriously, we could have dropped more points in all three games this season under previous management.

It's early days, some catching up to do by some as far as fitness is concerned, and the new team needs to learn and gell together, but you can see what's happening here. There is a plan and it's taking shape before our eyes. The new players are all upgrades on what was there before and I'm sure we will see reinforcements soon.

The crowd clearly responds to what they're seeing. All in all quietly satisfied at the progress so far and looking forward to steady improvement with a few winnable games coming up.

There is only one thing that worries me.: a lot of criticism of Lukaku, as to the subject of whether we should have sold him. But the positives far outweigh the negatives, with Lukaku still to produce what is expected of him, and with Holgate and Gueye showing far more than what was expected of them, we have struck gold!

If we can win, without conceding, even when our forwards are not firing on all cylinders, that's got to be good news. Imagine when they are. We created a lot of chances and looked dangerous going forward against a stoke team that are no mugs.

One last thing. I'm glad referees are starting to crack down on the manhandling of forwards in the box. Teams like Stoke have got away with it for too long. About time.
COYB!

I'm looking forward to Saturdays once again. And the future is really exciting for all Blues. Yes!!

Now I know they're still a work in progress, but we look as solid at the back as I can remember for a long time, which can only breed confidence through the team and hopefully make us a bit more potent up front.

He just needs to get Rom firing (and working) with a couple of additions and on today's evidence, we are most certainly heading in the right direction.

The keeper, back 4 looked really secure with excellent protection from Gueye and Barry. A hardworking display from Mirallas and Bolasie. The only gripe is the big man not scoring, and Barkley still making indifferent decisions that frustrate.

Man of the match goes to Holgate. Good turn of pace and composure, he did really well against their main danger threat Arnautovic.

Mccarthy not on the bench, but injured and possibly needing an op will put an end to his £15-20m move I guess.

We MAY get a good attack going by holding onto the ball, but versus a team like Stoke, not enough time for that. So I hope we can retain him, but also only if he can vary his playing style as necessary. He did good this time around as a sub, though!

And Holgate. Consummate professional of tender years. To say that we haven't missed Coleman is a great tribute to the lad (defensively solid and confident going forward) and is no sleight at all on Coleman.

Williams is slotting in nicely. I feel he's not very comfortable on the ball or passing long, same as Jags, but he'll do for me.

Ross and Rom were curate's eggs today. Ross shows so much skill in taking the ball, shielding it and beating a man, but just fell short a few times on his passing and decision-making. Rom had decent game, control reasonably good and strong on the ball, but again into a few cul-de-sacs. They'll both come good, I hope.

Coo, man!

McCarthy will be an important squad player at least for us.

On to today's game – Ross is an absolute gem. He's so close to being a really top player it's untrue. Just got to hope that it all clicks properly (and he stays loyal to the club!)

What ON EARTH was he doing in Fulham reserves?!!

We're still lacking that killer pace up front. Rom did look half interested and I'm sure this boy needs a goal to settle him down. Ross is fucking clueless in the last third, his head must explode whenever he gets near any real positives towards goal... needs help!

Holgate, Gana, Barry and our captain Jags were fantastic for me. It was a dirty win but that's wot good sides do.

Good to see RK has already solved the GK problem. But from Fulham Reserves? And Gueye continues to get rave reviews even though recruited from a relegated side.

8 points from 4 games will set the standard to challenge for the Euro spots and long may it continue!

Only last week one genius was claiming Koeman would not play Jags Williams and Mason as he would put up with three "hoofing it".

The Kids a proper footballer, The sort I love to see in a blue shirt. Lets hope the panic merchants don't all jump on his case when he hits an inevitable sticky path.

Gana - fantastic, incredible energy
Stekelenburg - who Knew ?
Barkley and Mirallas - new lease of life
Bolasie - exciting
Williams and Jags - focused and determined
Baines - looks like he may be rediscovering his Mojo

This was a good performance against a far better Stoke team than I expected.

We just need Lukaku to start firing on all cylinders and perhaps sign a couple more and we could be in for a very interesting season.

Bolassie did improve in the second half and Gana was superb. But Lukaku was atrocious... Summed up by one passage of play in the second half when he gave the ball away with a sloppy pass, then held his arms out as if it was someone else fault. He'll score goals, but I'd love to see us get a ball playing striker.

Plaudits for Barry and Mirallas as well today... And as Michael says above, Koeman for closing out the game.

I'm also worried about Lukaku, all strikers hit a sticky patch but Rom just seems to have lost it. If we had alternatives it'd be good to rest him.

Apart from the shots his general game wasn't bad, give him time.

Edit: Gana Gueye, for those not reading it originally.

Personally, I can't believe he's that daft... Moshiri that is!

The Toffees said the 51-year-old passed away shortly after being rushed to Aintree Hospital on Saturday afternoon.

The man was sitting in the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand at Goodison Park when he became unwell around 15 minutes into the second half of the game. He was given CPR by police officers, an off-duty doctor and paramedics before the ambulance arrived.

Everton said it was "deeply saddened" in a statement posted on the club website.

It said: "The thoughts and prayers of everybody at the football club are with his family and friends."

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as well – so sad, doing something he loved doing.

Be very very assured that if Holgate was injured Funes Mori would have played.

Mason is an even better centre-back than he is right-back but as the better footballer of the four he is more capable of adapting to different positions. Funes Mori did not play because Koeman went for talent over experience.

Our more grumpy posters will/could have infected me to the point that I expect the worst... :) This time it was just an excessive amount of victory pints that turned my reader either off, or too sensitive!

Phew! Don't do that... :P

Last season, this would have been a 1-1 draw or even a loss. Will engage brain before typing next time!! Lol.

Apart from the 'coo', that is. One character I longed to kill in the Baldur's Gate 2 game, I guess... Or is that a real expression somewhere??? Then I'll just want slow pain for him from now on... :D

For me, were still lacking a serious creative spark in the final third, that player who sees early runs and picks the passes, puts players in on goal. I like Barkley in general but he's not the answer to our No 10 problem. In time, he will make a good CM where he will play from a deeper start point and see the game ahead of him and be able to burst into the spaces has opposed to being there with his back to goal already and not being has effective imo.

With Williams in the backline alongside Jags we look solid and organised at the back. Stekelenburg is doing well in goal but even though he's started well, I still think we need a top No 1. Hart would of been good but obviously Koeman doesn't rate him. Maybe he's got another keeper in mind, maybe the one he wanted wasn't available this summer? Although he says he does want a third keeper to add competition.

Gueye and Barry seems to work and there's a great balance between the two and with the back four and those two screening we do seem more solid back there.

If Koeman gets it right in the final days of the market and adds the right quality in the required positions, then we can definitely build on the positive start we've had, especially with the next round of fixtures coming up, we could gain momentum and confidence and go on to have a very good season!

Holgate doesn't look to have the stature of a CB - remember how easily he was beaten in the air by Lamela for Spurs to equalize?

However, I think he looks like terrific RB who is capable of doing a job on the right of a 3-man defence. It's still early days for the lad though.

Rest in peace.

What he did bring to team is that he gave others space as he had 2 or 3 Stoke players on him as soon as he received the ball, I thought his off-the-ball work, covering and tracking back was a big plus and that what makes a difference in this team ethic our manager is bringing to our great club,

Cannot not mention Gueye he was awesome. When he signed, Everton got loads of negative vibes from us the fans ; this guy is a good reason to trust this team and they will bring us success.

You clearly haven't seen him before this season. He is a center half and a very good one

We have just paid £9m for Williams at 32, he is going to play. so is Jags, This was a clear cut choice between Holgate and Funes Mori.

Funes Mori was rag-dolled on a regular basis last season (three times in five minutes against West Ham). He was desperately poor at West Brom and I said before today's game that would have alarmed Koeman. It clearly did. It was 3 from 4 and Funes Mori was number 4.

Funes Mori will need two injuries to get a Premier League start.

I believe that what Rom has shown he can do is indicative of how he can play consistently if we get everything right in how we play. That is, he's a very good player who is having a bad patch of, er, getting on for a season now.

I don't believe Moshiri is daft and that, if the club believe that Rom is worth keeping by any means, then who am I to say they're wrong? It can also be that they want to send a message to everybody inside and outside of the club that we will fight to keep quality players.

i believe that Rom is quality and that he will come good; we're a team in transition after the one man footballing disaster area that was Martinez and nowhere near the final product but as we get towards it I hope that Rom will become the world class striker that I believe that he is.

I'm worried about him at the moment Phil, only a top level striker can score goals like the one against Chelsea in the Cup last season yet he missed one today that my Mum would have scored.

With the own goal today, the new players hitting the ground running, the unearthing of 2 real gems in Holgate and Gueye, Mirallas being rejuvenated...

We have to have players in every position at the back who can play the ball out rather than throw away possession by hoofing it or having the ball taken off them. That is why Guardiola bought Stones and wants Hart out; if we want to aspire to be of the best then we have to have the same mentality.

I posted several times that I was desperate to see a Stones/Holgate Partnership. I don't subscribe to the theory that you can't have two footballers at the heart of your defence.

Stones is gone; my interest in his development went with him. They will both make an awful lot of mistakes before they reach their peak, but I reckon they are a nailed-on future England partnership.

The front 4 were miserably poor, to a man, with Mirallas at least working hard; fair play to him.

What has Lennon got to do to get a start?

It was a joy to watch; the Blues are not the finished article by a long way, but it was the pragmatic use of substitutes, the game plan of the manager and the sparkling first half performance of Mirallas.

The new boys look good buys, I prefer Funes Mori to Williams but that's personal preference.. There feels a genuine cause for optimism around the place. And personally I felt so at home, at last... once more.

Sad to see the passing of a fan though, my condolences to all the family. (Everyone on the main stand applauded respectfully for the gentleman showing much genuine warmth.) God Bless.

I remain extremely high on Bolasie. I think consistency will always be an issue with him, but you can see the unique qualities he brings to the table, specifically his pace, power and dribbling. Put some real sting in that shot that just missed wide near the end too.

Felt extremely reassuring going into the game's final stretch, knowing we have the benefit of a war horse like Ashley Williams anchoring the defensive line.

Holgate (dear autocorrect – please stop changing to "Colgate") was superb yet again. I don't advocate dropping Coleman, but it seems almost criminal if RK can't find a way to keep him in the starting XI after this self-assured start.

I think most of us automatically dismissed the Stekelenburg signing because he'd been toiling in relative obscurity for Fulham, but I have to ask – what the heck was going on there? He's been pure class – and it's not like he doesn't have a World Cup Final on his resume.

Most coaches would agree that the spine of a team, the central axis, is critical for success. The defensive part of the spine was excellent today, but the attacking part of the spine in Ross and Rom looked very wobbly.

How anyone can say Ross was man of the match is beyond me. He and Lukaku were the weakest players out there. All too often they gave the ball away needlessly and made poor decisions when in possession.

Someone else on this thread mentioned it, but Rom always throws his arms up in the air when he screws up, as if blaming someone else. Both of these players, in critical spots in the spine of the team, have to up their games. I think Koeman is fully aware of this. It will be interesting to see if any new signings come in before the end of the month and also to see what position Deulofeu ends up occupying the most.

I must wonder if Funes Mori ran over your cat or some other equally heinous act? Funes Mori is not a right back. He isn't a right centre-half by position. How is Holgate, at right fullback, a replacement for our left centre-half?

I know that some Englishmen think that we over here don't understand the game, but neither Williams nor Jags were playing right fullback today were they? When has Funes Mori ever played that position for Everton? Are you suggesting RK was confused over the basic positions of defensive players in soccer?

Holgate has come in for Coleman. Williams has taken Funes Mori's place. When Coleman returns, Holgate will drop to the bench and Williams will continue to keep Funes Mori out. Holgate hasn't displaced Funes Mori.

I agree that he is an exceptional talent, but you seem to be twisting the facts to suit your prediction.

Gana is getting the plaudits while Barry is quietly going about his business and being exceptional. The two are forming a top-class partnership.

I really hope you enjoyed Everton winning while you're consulting your dossier of TW comments, trying to prove that you were right over some historic point; most of us have other things going on in our lives, but well done, teacher may give you a gold star...

Thought Holgate was (again) terrific.

But apart from the pen, the biggest thrill for me (I stood and applauded, as did the feller behind me) came in the first half.

Not a shot, or a save, or an overhead-kick, or a mazy dribble.

We were defending a throw and suddenly we could hear (and see) Williams screaming instructions at everyone around him.

All around me loved it and were giving it 'Fucking hear that? Great! You tell 'em lad!'

Okay, he's not Bobby Moore but it's going to be a lot harder for our defenders to switch off with this lad in the side.

Thought he had a good game too.

I'd also like to express my sadness over the untimely death of a fellow Blue. He's passed away at the home of his beloved club, as did the great Dixie; their souls are forever with Everton.

Very sad to hear about the Evertonian passing into the next dimension.

A bit envious really in a strange metaphysical way. What I'm trying to say is, if you were going to die, what's the best place would you say where you would like to score your last goal?

Mine would defo be L4.

At least I'd get in the ground for free,

For all eternity...

Yeovil have offered 㿲 and the suits are mulling it over.

An interesting season has started and the one constant is that the media are still a bunch of shite!

Off to bed now and to listen to two Owls chatting to each other.

Everton third in the table Owls hooting.

Bliss....

You're right about Williams. Every time the camera was on him he was yelling and pointing. Something that our defence has missed since the days of Dave Watson.

I always thought Williams was a bit of a gobshite to be honest. But he's bloody great to have on your team.

Stekelenburg is also very vocal which can only serve to reassure the defence.

BBC giving Barkley MotM was a joke. He was ok.
Gueye was the stand-out player by a mile.

I forgot it was you who shouted people down with the "historic" (last week) point, that Koeman would not play Holgate, Jags and Williams together because he wouldn't want "three of them hoofing it". Why not be pleased that the guy you thought was a hoof merchant has proved you wrong ?

Jim Hardin

Let me try to explain the situation to you.

Holgate is a center half, he came as a center half, every time I saw him play for the younger sides he played center half. He started the pre-season at centre-half. he was part of a back three against Spurs, just as he did against West Brom.

Now whether Macca was withdrawn so early last week because he was injured or because he was having a Weston isn't 100% clear, what is clear is that Koeman switched to two at the back and it was "The footballer" who he asked to play out on the right. He could have turned to Jags who has lots of experience playing right back, but he had obviously seen something in Young Mason... understand?

Koeman is known for liking three at the back he could easily have gone with Funes Mori, Jags and Williams. He chose not to. do you understand that bit? He chose not to. If he wanted to get Funes Mori into a back four, he could have asked his captain to play right back and put him next to Williams... but he chose not to.

Koeman is no mug, he was always going to play his captain, and after paying £9m for a 32-year-old, he has to play him. He was faced with a very clear decision: Holgate, or Funes Mori – and those who scoffed at the idea that young Mason would replace the Argentine are just going to have to admit they were wrong.

I don't expect those living overseas to know much about Holgate, but just because he has been terrific over 130 minutes on the right, they should not be in a rush to pigeon hole him. This kid is two-footed and can play anywhere across the back four.

Oh, by the way, Jim, I have nothing against Funes Mori, but I don't buy the ridiculous theory that because he plays for Argentina he is top class. They may well have world class players but Funes Mori has very average competition for his central defender's role.

I prefer my defenders to be footballers too... That's all.

I thought Holgate had a very sound game. Defensively he dealt with Crouch well enough as Stoke did a Wimbledon, targetting our full backs with long diagonals.

Going forward, he had Mirallas and Bolasie infront of him so did not overlap, but on one occassion put in a beaut of a cross which a fox-in-the-box type of front man would have tapped in. I really liked what I saw from him.

The Jags-Williams partnership looked solid enough, and both are dangerous customers on set pieces in the oppo's box.

Bolasie looked erratic but he does bring a hugely important attribute. He travels with the ball and can relieve pressure at key moments.

Rom was strong and mentally fired up. With abit of luck and sharpness he will start banging them in. I do think we desperately need cover upfront as Kone does not look like anything except a cameo/bit part act.

The stand out was Gueye. What a marvellous cracker jack of a midfielder. Composure, touch, work rate. Walsh has earned his money on this signing. He was not one I would have gone for despite his stats. His arrival however will mean young Davies will need to bide his time.

Shooting is still piss poor – Ross & Rom will continue to frustrate all season.

We still need REAL quality to push on, but at this moment in time we look okay, with some winnable games to come next. To me we still look better playing away from home.

However, the fact remains that Holgate has not displaced Funes Mori; Williams has. When Coleman returns then more than likely Holgate will drop to the bench alongside Funes Mori.

When Holgate played as part of a back 3 it was with Funes Mori. Funes Mori has now lost his place to Williams. How do you not see that?

I thought he was brilliant today.

That was certainly the type of game we would have either drawn or lost over the past two seasons.

RK is delivering everything we have been asking of our managers in recent years.

Reads the game brilliantly, makes changes when he can clearly see they are needed and is not afraid to shut up shop and close the game out, when called for.

We are comfortable going into the international break and, (dare I tempt fate), I think that at last, we are going to have a good season and may well still be challenging for the top 4 come May.

Of course, what happens between now and 11:30 pm on August 31st, will go some way to deciding that.

I have not seen Lukaku and Super Kev run around like this before.

Bolasie is finding his feet but will be devastating when he does.

William and Jags solid in defence along with Baines who also looks better

Barkley? Well, things didn't quite click for him toady and he still cannot do 90 minutes, looked knackered after 75!

Yet all very promising, top tactics from Ronald too.

I believe we aren't there yet and that top 6 will be a very good outcome this season.

Koeman, in my opinion, is up there with the best managers in terms of his technical know-how, discipline, organisation and leadership 'charisma' (meaning players actually want to achieve for him, perhaps aided by his reputation as a player). He's not a showman unlike others, but doesn't need to be, since the substance speaks for him. So that's why I'll answer yes to your question.

If you don't already understand that either Holgate or Funes Mori were going to be out once Williams was ready, then you will have the rest of the season to come to terms with it. This was a straight choice: Holgate or Funes Mori; one was in and one was out. Funes Mori was in the starting 11 last season; now he isn't. Holgate wasn't; now he is.

Koeman could easily have selected Funes Mori, but he preferred to change the formation he has started the season with and play Holgate instead... do you see? Holgate on the field, Funes Mori on the bench.

Asking if Koeman is confused by the basic position of defensive players in "soccer" is the irony here. It`s like the guy who sweeps the stage for the local amateur dramatics society asking if De Niro could cut it in his league.

Top class FOOTBALL is different, Most top modern managers will not be bound by the rigidity of yesterday's defensive formations. The back 4/3/5 operate as a unit and the reason Koeman chose Holgate over Funes Mori is, he is not only a far superior footballer, but his ability to play anywhere in that defensive unit gives him a fluency the one-dimensional Funes Mori doesn't.

Baring injury, Jagileka and Williams will be shoo-ins for the foreseeable. The choice will often come down to Funes Mori or the youngster. Right now, the youngster is getting the nod.

Most likely Holgate will drop to the bench alongside Funes Mori when Coleman returns. Williams will continue in the team in place of Funes Mori.

Not that it really matters. Holgate is an exceptional talent, but I don't think he'll be trusted in a centre back pairing just yet. If Williams or Jags are injured or suspended, I would expect Funes Mori to take the left CB position, not Holgate.

It's never easy to introduce 2 or 3 new players into a side at once, and they will take time to adjust. But to pick up back-to-back wins in the league while they are adjusting is a big bonus. There were a lot of very good performances yesterday, Gana, Holgate, and Barry catching the eye. I am sure when Lukaku scores he will be fine, but you can see he is anxious at the moment. But all strikers go through spells like this from time to time.

RK reckons we had 18 shots and 9 on target, I can't remember us having that many shots in any game over the last 2 seasons. He has already said it will take 2 years to get the players and the style he wants. But I don't think anyone can grumble over the start he has made, and despite back to back victories he has said the players need to improve. I think they will have to play very well to please our new manager and that's the way it should be, although deep down I am sure he is pleased with the start we have made.

Just a pity just as he is getting the fitness levels up, that we have an International break which I am sure he didn't want. Yes, it's only a start but you can already see the improvement in the fitness of each player in such a short space of time. I guess it will be a long 2 weeks for him and us before we can go again; let's hope the break doesn't hamper us too much.

Darren (156) You are swimming against the tide and are now stranded on a sandbank.
We played a back four 4 with Holgate right back. Williams took Funes Mori position at left centre back.

I only saw MotD (it really needs a massive overhaul!) I thought Lukaku was unfortunate not to score; at least he got the chances... hopefully that continues and he will put them away next time.

I remember the fuss when Harry Kane had a lean spell at the beginning of last season – I hope Lukaku has a similar season to what Kane's was then!

RIP to the Bue who passed away yesterday. Very very sad.

I think the difference between you and me is I watch the game. We did not start the first two games with a back four, we started with a back three and it was changed half way through the West Brom game. Koeman had shown his preferred formation.

After the WBA game, I posted Funes Mori was lamentable and I said before yesterday's game that Koeman would have been alarmed and he would be dropped – he was.

It was universally recognised that Williams was brought in to cover for John Stones. We had three central defenders last season; one has been replaced, another has been usurped.

You Chris and Jim can wriggle all you want to try to deny it, it will only make your argument look even sillier if/when he reverts to three at the back and Funes Mori is still sitting on the bench. I wonder what excuse you will come up with then?

What next? A left-sided centre-forward? The clue is in the word "centre".

Dear me... I sometimes wonder what people are watching.

I'm off to watch Songs of Praise.

LCB is the starting position for the CB on the left!!!! Seriously? Yes we started the first 2 games with 3 CB's and both Holgate and Funes Mori started. Therefore Holgate didn't replace Funes Mori.

For the third game, Funes Mori was dropped from the starting lineup and Williams was brought in. Holgate retained his place.

Therefore Williams has come in for Funes Mori. Holgate has not replaced Funes Mori in the starting lineup. That's clear to everyone except you.

He was sitting on the bench as Holgate spent the afternoon sending him further down the pecking order.

We at least agree that Holgate is an exceptional prospect.

"Those two absentees required a degree of improvisation from Koeman, with Gerard Deulofeu deployed as the furthest man forward, ably supported by Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley, while James McCarthy was handed a wing-back role to the right of a central trio of Ramiro Funes Mori, Phil Jagielka and debutant Mason Holgate."

Since then, Williams has come in, Holgate has been moved from a center back to a right back while Funes Mori has been dropped. Funes Mori has lost his spot to both players, as Williams is favored to him and Holgate has been preferred at right back.

To me this is very clear. Williams came in and Stones went out and given our situation at the moment I don't think there is any doubt at all that if Holgate was still in the juniors, Jagielka would have played right back while FM and Williams would have minded the shop. agreed ?

But here's the thing. unfortunately for FM, Holgate HAS stepped up and impressed the new boss. We now have four centre backs instead of three. One has been promoted and another has been benched, that is an irrefutable fact.

Koeman must have thought he'd won the lottery when he arrived and saw Holgate's class and composure. He tested the water by playing him in pre season friendlies, performances like the one against Man united's world class attack convinced him to risk his young ball playing centre back against Harry Kane in the seasons opener.. Young Mason has quite simply been a revelation . . Mori hasn't

It is incredibly simplistic and naïve to suggest that simply because Holgate has surprised even his biggest fans with his performances in this different role that he hasn't leap frogged Mori in the pecking order on pure merit.

Four centre backs. One promoted, one benched.

Koeman hasn't just shuffled his hand. He is (at least for now) choosing to play with a different hand

I wonder did Man Utd not rate him or did he just not fancy it there as he might have had to bide his time a lot longer to make it to the first team?

I think Coleman could find it very tough to get back into the team unless RK plays 3 at the back for certain games with Coleman and Baines wing backs.

No doubt Holgate will make mistakes at some stage and could get dropped but I think Koeman is quite ruthless and so if you're not performing you'll be taken out as I think Geri will find out again as I think he will always be our super sub.

I will be interested to see what happens with the backline when Coleman is fit again.

At the game on Saturday I noticed Leighton Baines clearly take control and make it clear he was talking it.

People often comment as to his record of taking and scoring from the spot.

Bearing in mind the goal has been counted as an "own goal" does this mean it was a missed penalty?

As I see it the excellent Holgate is replacing Seamus at the moment. Two good centre backs in Jags and Williams meant no place for Funes Mori. (IMHO of course)

Clearly Williams has replaced Stones and Jags is back, after being ably covered by Funes Mori.

Seamus hasn't played since last season. Holgate was already in.

What is it with this over simplistic view that it has to be a like for like trade? Every week people get dropped for players who can play in more than one, or even a different. Funes Mori may not be able to play right back, but Jagielka has played there on numerous occasions. Koeman decided against that. He decided to play Holgate and drop Funes Mori. Get it?

Holgate and Funes Mori had started side by side for the opening two games. The fact that one was playing out of his skin and the other had been gash is something you guys may want to consider.

Holgate – promoted? Yes. Funes Mori Dropped, axed, benched, replaced, usurped, not chosen, overlooked, ousted...

I thought Holgate was MotM, outstanding. Geuye was also brilliant as was Yannick. I thought Ross and Rom were poor.

The one thing we look like lacking? Goals. We need more goals. Good start to the season though, delighted.

Gutted there is an international break, bore off Sam! COYB.

I am disappointed, but not surprised, at your gleeful terms applied to Funes Mori being brought off of the bench. What I wonder is why do you take such relish in blasting a player who is starting only his second season with the club, and one whom has been a good player, and seems like a likable person? You are once again focusing on one player and directing all of your bile at an undeserving target.

Before coming back to this article, I fortunately read the article on Harold first and refrained from posting what my fingers were itching to type. Please stop Darren, your point was expressed with your first post, multiple others, including the last one, do you no credit and TW no good.

I have nothing against Funes Mori, but posters (some of whom scoffed at the suggestion that he would be replaced in the first team by Holgate) have gone to some lengths to deny it. So, in what I thought was going to be my last post on this thread, I used as many terms for somebody being stood down as my fingers could remember to emphasise the point.

I'm minded of a goal Stoke scored at Goodison last season, long pass by Bojan, caught a defender completely unawares (I think it was young Brendan) and Shaqiri was in to fluke a cross into the far corner. You murdered John Stones for it. You murdered John Stones for just about everything, often blaming him for goals he had no part in. Your campaign against John stones was concerted and relentless, often spilling onto threads that had nothing to do with him and was as vindictive as anything I have witnessed on these pages.

I will be delighted if Funes Mori regains his place, because it will mean he has met the challenge and has upped his game. We as a club can only benefit from that. Right now, Everton have better central defenders than Argentina (if only we had their creativity) and young Funes Mori is finding the competition at club level far tougher.

Given the hundreds of posts you registered about John Stones without finding anything positive to say about a boy who was deemed good enough to have been pursued by the world's top coaches, I find your faux outrage and false claim about somebody else directing their "bile" at an "underserving target" embarrassing.

When I logged on this morning, I was forced to race to open a window such was the stench of your hypocrisy.

When Funes Mori has a good game, I will be the first in line to say so... see the difference?