Blues thwarted by Espanyol at every turn

Complete joke giving him a new contract. I hope it's at least on a pay as you play deal.

Besic and Gibson can't be relied upon for a while and Barry's too old to play the RK pressing game. So we only actually have 3 CDMs.

Local licencees, chemists, barristers and panelbeaters must be fuckin delighted !

Normally, I don't want to wish my life away at almost 60 years of age... But oh how I wish the time will pass quick enough, to rid us of these frustrating non-performers.

“Darron Gibson is not fit enough to be part of the team but will be able to train next week.”

No big deal, he's not injured as such, just a minor.

Let's be positive – it's a new season starting and a new era.

The potential starting team is starting to look a little better on paper!

Keeper (Butland/Forster), Centre Back (Van Dijk/Williams... Maybe both), Midfielder (Witsel), Winger (Ziyech/Frei), Backup Striker (Bony/Iheanacho/Haller) still needed to have a strong squad!

One is injury prone and has gone sidewards all his career, the other isn't good enough to be our first choice left back, or left mid, and in my opinion is holding back the progress of Garbut and Galloway.

It was good for the club to cut some dead wood in Pienaar, Ossie and Hibo, but the other two would really have thinned out the squad.

IMO the games the above players (all 5 of them), have played over recent seasons, hold quality youngsters back.

Otherwise, any links?

I don't know why Everton TV is not live though.

Club will be wanting people to attend and pay £20 than £2.99 for a feed.

But what about the millions around the world that can't get to Goodison Park? Multiply that by £2.99 and it will soon compensate.

Watching a stream is not a patch on going to GP but unfortunately I am out of the country.

And they have done it in previous years.

http://goatdee.net/157261/watch-Everton-vs-espanyol

I was just thinking exactly the same.

Do we look like scoring?

Lukaku limped off, we seem to be dropping like flies.

In that respect, it was a good test, but the skill level, mutual understanding, and team cohesion were miles away, I thought, and the Spaniards really showed us up at times.

Let's see what Big Ron has to say about it...

No acquisitions... unsettled squad... and a manager who will say it as it is, which is refreshing. But, when the positive is your manager saying your crap, things are pretty concerning. Gut feel (no whispers or stories) is that all is not well.

IMO, leaving out the RS, Man City and Man Utd, we would be hard pressed to beat any other Lancashire team in the whole Football League!

When you've got a bunch of prima donnas having their ego massaged by a bullshitter every week and then someone comes along to tell them how it really is, I suppose the truth hurts.

I thought there were a few good individual performances today but no cohesion or team spirit. Maybe the "new" wage structure and giving a useless lump £125k a week (if true) might have something to do with it too.

One thing is money is not everything in football. I'd love to compare the two wage bills of the teams today. One team looked an organised, cohesive unit with intelligent players who can do the basics, ie, close down, control the ball, pass the ball. The other was Everton.

Huge improvement needed for next week. Enough said.

I didn't see today's game, but I wouldn't get too upset if I did. Let's be patient, we've had plenty of practice!!!!!

So, unless the club think he's that bad that we would pay him to leave, I doubt it's true; he'd be worth a couple of million to someone surely.

Kone, McCarthy, reliant on Barry, no outfield reinforcements of note. My optimism of a month ago has no eroded and I am back in usual negative mode!

It's not just you who says this, but what's with this let's see where we are at the end of the window – whatever is the problem with being ready Day 1?

One of Martinez's undroppables, I thought they were the problem the last 2 seasons? Try Barkley with Gana or Barry to start next week, and get rid of Stones for Bony and cash, throw him up front with Lukaku, put Jagielks with Holgate or Funes Mori.

4-4-2 with Mirallas and Deulofeu as good old-fashioned flying wingers.

But I get what you're saying. It's time to bring in players (needed to awhile ago). It has been a tough transfer window for a lot of teams with the delays caused by the Euros; players taking extended breaks, new managers wanting to assess their squads before they make moves, clubs holding out for very high transfers fees with all the new TV money, etc.

However, it's obvious that the fans and the players are looking for new players. This is a thing. I remember Osman commenting how exciting it was to get a new face into the locker room, and Gary Neville once analyzed the dismal Moyes Man U team (which at that time was also lethargic and lacking in any cutting edge) as a sign that the "players need players - the players need help!"

Until then, I think there's a little "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" attitude among players and fans alike until they see changes.

And can we drop this best squad bollocks? It isn't.

Koeman will need to grind out results next season, make us difficult to beat and try and attain 8th/9th place finish, signs of improvement may mean he could possibly attract a better calibre of players to push again for European football the following season but right now, and looking at things objectively, Everton are not an attractive proposition for the level of players acquired to take us to that next level.

It was always crap and now reality is well and truly biting and not before time.

It is also quite apparent that we are in need of quality all over the pitch and the present squad is weaker than the one that finished last season. In a long hard campaign we need cover for every position if we are going to show improvement on last season.

We started OK last season but flagged badly after Christmas with no strength in depth to cover adequately for injuries and form loss. I am a bit apprehensive at the moment and we probably all need a few decent signings to lift the morale of the squad and the fans. It is galling to watch as other clubs seem to complete deals faster than we do but we seem to be able to loan out youngsters so easily and quickly.

The releases and failure of Niassie to justify his high fee has left us all a bit flat. Naismith was allowed to leave without a replacement and now we have lost Besic before the season begins. >I just hope that Mr Koeman can turn things around pretty quickly.

Didn't see this game but I wonder why Barkley took the pen? Is Baines no longer the taker?

How can this be justified.

If we won comfortably you could accept the wait for new players, but after reading the reports it seems that all our attacking players lack flair and ability, whilst some lack the basic ability to try.

FFS, have a bit of faith will you. Unbelievable.

There will be ups and downs (the Hibbert story etc) and then the signings (we will get some good signings); we just need to all be patient and stay behind RK and Moshiri. It's going to be like a roller-coaster. Just hang on and the wait will be worthwhile.

This manager is not Martinez, he will not tolerate lazy and indifferent players; the team will get better – just give Koeman time.

Sammy Lee told a mate of mine "You've got a great manager" he (Sammy) wanted to come here with him but it never materialised. A bit more patience James, just a bit you will surprised.

The most telling lesson from it was that the best player on the pitch by some way was Gana.

What does that say about Martinez phenomenal team on the verge of something amazing. He was no more than a poor deluded fool!

Koeman will by now be starting to appreciate that he has a a far bigger rebuilding job than he could ever have imagined. Having said that I've no doubt he will do it. Unfortunately it will take far longer than he or the rest of us ever thought!

One interesting observation is how come Mane whom played for Southampton ended up at the RS? Does RK have any influence in terms of buying players? With Lukaju and Niasse heading to the exit but still no attempt at signing any striker replacements????

I'm glad Koeman has taken his time though, because, although things don't look too clever at the minute, patience is something most Evertonians have really learnt over the last couple of decades, if they weren't born with it!

I don't want to go over old ground, but things could be a lot worse, because at least nobody is telling us how 'phenomenal', the players are looking right now.

All will be fine. I never used to even know what a pre-season was, let alone get excited about it. That's what over-exposed media coverage is doing to us.

And if we lose at home to Tottenham on the first day of the season (4-1) and do the same again away to West Brom in the second game (2-1), I still won't panic. Been there, seen it 1984.

We'll be fine. Let's see what we're like when the real business starts.

It just does not make any sense due to all the other signings happening at the moment.

If history repeats itself we will end up with average players during the last week of the transfer window.

I still believe that by the time the window closes we will have shuffled the team in preparation for the January window and I firmly believe that we will finish the season in a healthier and better position than we were when we finished the last.

I'm already optimistic about next summers window. The new ground will be underway and Everton will be on the up. It's not all pie in the sky. Presently, sorting out what happens with Lukaku and Stones is key but we just need to be patient.

But most of us have faith in Koeman and with Moshiri's money oft talked of, everything SHOULD be alright.

What we do know is that the new manager came here to double his money. Now he must be beginning to realise he will have to earn it.

Let's hope he makes a start soon!

The short-term view of everything fails to appreciate the bigger picture.

The objective short term has to be to stay in the Premier League. Longer term, hopefully we can bring some quality in through the academy. Short term we are looking at bringing in hungry journeymen to keep us afloat.

We've a crippling wage bill and deadwood with no resale value like McGeady, Niasse and Co. A triumvirate of happy has-beens and too many chances who aren't going to make it in the Premier League like Barkley, Dowell and Deulofeu. We are in a similar boat to QPR post-Hughes.

No marquee signings until next season as there is no reason for them to come; all clubs are rich and wages alone won't sway a player.

Probably more like 25 years!

I know you delight in cheery post but even the most pessimistic of us have to appreciate that (1) Koeman needed time to properly assess the team; (2) the club were always going to bring in a Director of Football; and (3) the decision was to let Koeman get on with assessing the squad and raising their pretty dismal fitness levels.

I think right now Evertonians must show some patience. We've put up with Martinez's shite philosophy, fitness levels and sheer detachment from reality.

Koeman is already showing that he has clarity about many of the issues that Martinez chose to ignore in the interests of a misguided positivity.

Just be patient and reign in that natural sourness. This is a new era and it will be like John Moore's second coming – if you are able to recall that!

I know we finished a handful of points ahead of Sunderland last season but both clubs were bottom half and it will be interesting to see which club makes the better recovery.

I smell a betting opportunity opening up!

And if Rock Lobster picks up the ball to take a penalty when Baines is on the pitch again I will struggle not to pitch invade!

1. We have a lot of players who turn to face the passer (Barkley, McCarthy are two of the worst). This means they are slow to turn forward or their first instinct is to pass it back where it came from. Better players mostly stand on the half turn when receiving the ball so they have more options.

2. We have players who still look like they can't run full pace or look like they are running in treacle. That's what comes of nearly three seasons of only doing ball work. The collective energy could not power a 60-watt bulb.

3. We have players who take their man on, pivot, stop and pass it backwards – Coleman has developed this habit over the last couple of season and Barkley is another one.

4. We have players who can't zip the ball along the ground with any accuracy. A lot of the passes are slow, inaccurate and telegraphed. The defending team can easily see where we are passing to and intercept. Tom Davies came on and instantly started fizzing passes with some pace and along the deck.

5. We have defenders who can't keep a defensive line – Coleman, Baines, Funes Mori; or win a header – Baines, Stones.

6. We have players who, given two choices, will usually pick the wrong one. Shooting when they should pass, passing when they should dribble, dribbling when they should pass. To me, if a player reaches 50 games and is still making mostly wrong decisions then we should get shut.

I hope the manager and staff can work the oracle on the training pitch but I think it's going to take at least two seasons and four windows to get anywhere near top 6 or 7.

Insult to rock lobsters everywhere.

I honestly don't think any of us will see a successful Everton team in our lifetimes.

The we'll knock spots off other teams!

The hopeless Martinez took up his appointment just NINE days earlier (on 20 June 2013) than Koeman did this summer.

The Spaniard managed to improve by one finishing place, his predecessor's customary sixth, but, such was the mess he eventually made of a decent side, he left us six places lower.

All I have ever expected of the new man is that he gives us hope by getting our team back in the top half – say three measly places in year 1 – and doesn't spout crap.

Not too much to ask of a so-called top manager surely? But he certainly needs to step up the pace of his putting together a team for that first season or else he will be left in the stalls!

We need to sort out our issues quickly. If the current team is not capable of scoring goals then find people that can. It's that simple. Loyalty will not win you games(see last season). Replace the slow and unimaginative and spark some life into the team. Are we waiting for Baines and Barry going back to being 25 again? How about waiting for Macca and Barks to understand creativity? I am not saying to get rid of these servants but are they improving us going forward?

Unfortunately, Koeman has a task ahead of him that may take past this season to fix. If that is the case then so be it, but clean your house now so the stink doesn't fester. I truly believe that he is the man to do it and he deserves us to have faith in his abilities right now. 4/5 points after 3 games would be a successful start(from what we have seen so far) – at that point, Koeman can start to push his tactics a bit further.

But Kone... That's a nightmare, right?

We also have a disruptive squad. We have players in this squad who are all about the "me me me" syndrome. They don't give a flying fuck about the team, that showed over the last 2 and half years. Very few in this squad would be willing to put their bodies on the line for the team. How many times have we dug deep and ground out results when needed? Very few indeed. I'm sure that some Martinez/defenders of the average players will come up with a couple of examples but not many.

Martinez bought very poorly. He obviously never did any homework regarding who would be a good fit in the dressing room or not, you can see that on the pitch with players giving up, not tackling, throwing arms in the air, the list is endless. We went from a decent side with great team spirit to a team that couldn't give a flying fuck about each other, that is the Martinez legacy. That is the size of the job that Koeman has. It will not be a quick fix. He needs to get rid of disruptive characters as well as the deadwood. As much as I think Lukaku is/can be a good player, I think he is very much a disruptive influence in the dressing room and needs to go as soon as. We know how good he can be but is very selective as to when he can be arsed to play. Stones seems to be back on his game and would like to think that he would be well worth keeping.

Until Koeman starts to get rid of a lot of players and brings in new ones who will play for each other then we have rocky roads ahead. The saving grace is that Koeman has rebuilt teams before. Nobody is bigger than the club so if that means getting rid of the so called better players for the good of the team then so be it, bit it will take at least 2 years until we start to get the quality players interested in coming to us.

"Barkley back in midfield!" – No, no, no, no, NO, NO!! How much evidence do people need that that kid could NEVER play in centre-mid? He's a supporting forward, or he's on the bench (which is my preferred option).

This lad is a real issue now – Koeman has to make tough decisions. We sacrifice the whole shape to squeeze him in.

Stop reading my dark thoughts, then posting them here. Please!

PLEASE?

Phil?

Luckily pre-season games don't mean anything...

In saying that I hope he has a fairly thick skin because as we know - us fans know better a lot of the time !

As others have eluded to Everton are a hard sell at the moment even with a billionaire investor.
We need at the very least , players who are going to compete hard for places on the team - until we have that we are looking at mid table again in my opinion.

Until we buy genuine class and replace at least two of these player's we will struggle all season long, especially at home, because we lack balance, and are very easy to play against.

A new striker is also a must, we have no back up striker, Kone is a nightmare, he will never score goals. Hopefully we can recruit the player's we need, and get rid of the dross, before the window closes or it will be a long hard slog of a season, in the bottom half of the table, over to you RK !

Stones is a shadow of his former self. Lukaku simply cannot hold the ball although surprisingly today he won a few headers.

As for the style of play I couldn't see much difference from last season.

I don't like mentioning Moyes but the last few years show me he knew how to create team spirit and would never have bought Lukaku. Koeman has his work cutout. The preseason matches are training exercises that highlight issues and good things. The first few matches proper are the litmus test.

The ones a lot of people get behind and still have faith in! Mirallas, Deulofeu, Barkley, Lukaku... (now I have stopped citing because the list is long!) etc.

I have read people's opinions and a lot are still smitten by these three players who have now become average and tiresome; we have to move on. They are yesterday's potential. And I say 'potential' because they have shown zilch end product!

Hopefully Koeman can make something out of Ross cos really he has gone backwards over the last couple of seasons and I for one don't see any change in him at all.

At the end of this coming season I hope I am made to eat my words.

Stekelenburg;
Holgate, Jagielka, Funes Mori;
Coleman, Baines;
Gueye, Davies;
Barkley;
Lukaku, Mirallas.

Doesn't leave them enough time to come in and get to know their "job" or role in the team.

We will be lining up against Spurs with what we have at the minute.

Great assessment that Ray, agree with everything you said, except your last sentence. We have some good players, who just need a couple of leaders to show them the way, and once they gain some confidence, I think we will improve rapidly.

Clive 105, I also think we are struggling to get the players that we really want, but with Kool Hand Luke, now in charge, I would be very surprised to see history repeat itself, because I'm sure Koeman, knows a good player when he sees one.

Clearly he also knows re-inforcements are required so not to worry right?

But a moderate Spanish side outclassed us in every area of the field, and not one aspect of the game today could give one cause for optimism.

Shape without the ball was hopeless, I'm afraid thats on Rom for me. In previous pre season games I've seen Everton press from the front effectively and consistently. Today with rom as the spearhead, nothing, this fed back to the rest of the team. Zero intensity no pressure on their defence, no shape.

With the ball, poor passing, no outlets, build up was poor, no discernible pattern of play? Careless might be kind but actually we had not one player in a central area conducting the play or capable of spliting them open. Hugely concerning

Aerially we are handicapped and its shows. Name the players decent in the air defensively? Barry is okay, Mori is and thats that. Most of the side are vertically challenged and regardless of their height are actually lamentable in the air

What are Lennon, Geri, Mirallas and Ross doing at set pieces? Based on the risk, I'd rather leave two on the edge of the area and two on the half way line, at least if we clear it we have decent breakaway potential

As for individuals today several stunk Goodison out roundly. Stones, mistake after mistake, just casual in his approach. Rom, sulking and unfit doesn't appear to fit this style of play. Ross looked lost, sure flashes of skill but no substance. Gueye, well both he and JMac could be the same player, from the corner of your eye they seem busy but actually under closer examination they do nothing, give the team no extra dimension whatsoever.

And Breathe..

I'm not in the camp that Koeman can get the best out of him and polish this rough diamond.

I honestly think he has reached his level and that is bang average.

Now it is a long-term project and requires a complete overhaul of the squad.

Personally I'm fed up of the hyperbole (both praise and insult) and wild predictions. Can't we all wait and see were we are in a couple of months before we start celebrating or kicking the cat?

Ain't gonna happen. –30M and Bony defo on the cards.

Also never befriend a Dalek – they have more faces than Big Ben.

Highly topical at this time, but that's enough about agents.

Anyone at the game today have any feedback on progress with Goodison's facelift? On task? Looking close to completion for next Saturday? The reason I ask relates to early clues as to how our new owner and board set-up are delivering on the perceived modus of silently getting on with the job and changing perceptions of the club's status.

I, for no logical reason, have trusted that Moshiri and the restructured board will deliver on forwarding the club significantly on and off the field. A lack of signings to date and no further info on progression with stadium location haven't worried me as a have blind faith that both will be delivered to good affect.

The plans of a facelift for Goodison was welcome news, even if just for a few remaining seasons as home in an effort to change perceptions of the club from its stagnating image of the past 2 decades. And so, are there signs that false dawns are a thing of the past for the faithful?

For two years, results were not important only performances. Neither any good. Change the formation, training, and the style but the mindset will take time. Some of our player's have performed poorly over the past two years and may need moving on.

Koeman took over Southampton on the up. Everton are on the slide. He needs his own players who will buy into his methods. Are we kidding our selves about how talented the sqaud are? Koeman will have a heart attack before September at this rate on the touchline.

I believe it will take three transfer windows to get the team he wants. Today showed the reality that a new manager is not going to solve the problem completely. Koeman must be given time and our patience.

We are playing like a team waiting to be relegated. We need some serious changes in our playing staff. Koeman is still the right man to make us a force again. But It's going to take a long long time.

I've said before that bad habits are easy to acquire, but very hard to remove. Martinez did the easy bad habits part. Koeman may have doubled his money but he's going to double his efforts to reverse the trend...as will many of the players – and some that can't or won't will be gone.

Fast forward 13 months and we will see a vastly different squad...that's the sort of time scale needed. If we come out of this season with a single digit League position, we will have done well, in essentially what could be a 'write off / transition' season.

I shudder to think come October or November where we would be with Martinez still in charge.

In the event of there being any actual 'Real' bids, Koeman / Walsh / Moshiri must have collective minimum figure in their heads Re. Stones & Lukaku. But what we do have now is the money to get replacements / cover in whether they go or not.

I know all about the stats and how it's all about the Goals and how / where would you replace him, etc, etc. but more and more, by accident or design, Lukaku is slowly morphing into a very, very, expensive Anichebe, whose minuses, at the moment, out weigh his pluses.

"I know all about the stats and how it's all about the Goals and how / where would you replace him, etc, etc. but more and more, by accident or design, Lukaku is slowly morphing into a very, very, expensive Anichebe."

Seriously, Derek...? Methinks that is said for effect, rather than something to be taken seriously.

Anichebe took 8 seasons and 131 Premier League games to accumulate his career total of 18 Premier League goals for Everton, the same return Lukaku achieved in a poor team last season. Anichebe's total goal return in his 8 seasons and 168 games at Everton was 26 – just 1 more than Lukaku achieved in a single season.

Moving along...

Koeman quite rightly should be given some leeway and time. He is only in the 2nd month of his tenure. But some of the time frames suggested before seeing improvement at the club – 10-15 YEARS???!!! – are absurd.

With the players he has inherited, the (alleged, no evidence yet) of the transfer budget at his disposal and the skill sets he brings to the job I expect to see considerable improvement in results THIS SEASON.

Martinez praised the players in his successful 1st season for how quickly they adapted to his preferred style of play in weeks, whereas at Swansea and Wigan it took many months.

I have more faith in Koeman and our squad to successfully adapt once more to another playing style than some in this thread.

I'd rather hoped we'd seen the end of 'who grabs the ball first can take the pen.'

If Leighton is on the pitch HE takes the penalties. No arguments.

I've been watching Everton nigh on 50 years and I couldn't tell you one preseason result that Everton have played; simple reason – they don't matter. The real stuff starts next week.

Now I'm not saying the squad is ideal by any stretch but, come the end of the window, I trust Keenan to have at least three quality players in. If we haven't, I'll be a bit worried. But the optimist in me says he's got a at least a couple of deals lined up. Rome wasn't built in a day, and all that...

What are we really expecting from this season? Personally, anything below 6th is a disappointment, anything below 8th is poor and if we ain't in the top 10 then it is a disaster.

The squad lack balance, and I do wonder why it is taking so long to address this? Do we have money? Are they waiting to sign someone specific and just 'waiting it out'. Will we only sign players as the window nears the end? Or will we only sign in January/next summer?

Annoying. Football is supposed to be a fun distraction from real life. Now work has become a more enjoyable distraction from Football life.

Stekelenburg looks solid. Seamus and Baines look better than last season. Jagielka's run out was decent but I've been encouraged by Stones's performances. First half yesterday he was very good.

Barkley looks better. His first half yesterday was a thing of beauty. I see his shortcomings, I don't know why people don't see his positives. Gueye seems like exactly what we're missing.

Deulofeu and Mirallas are huge ins for us and they've had good pre-seasons. Maybe Deulofeu supports the strikers a bit more to provide that nippy goal that we lack?

Striker is an area of concern but we've so got Rom.

Most of that is on an individual basis. They haven't clicked as a team yet but that's Ron's job.

Good luck to Koeman, he has a hell of a job rebuilding, and these greatest fans in the world will not help because they're too impatient,

One good game and they will be dreaming, one bad game then they will be screaming.

Nothing has changed, eh.

About time the rest of them realised that their efforts in training mean bugger all, Leighton scores every time from the spot.

"Stekelenburg looks solid. Seamus and Baines look better than last season. Jagielka's run-out was decent." I can go along with, but I saw the same slack defending and passing errors from Stones as usual.

The enigma which is Ross Barkley really has us blues divided. You say "His first half yesterday was a thing of beauty. I see his shortcomings, I don't know why people don't see his positives."

Since Barkley's debut I have wished him to fulfill the promise he showed as a youth but despite the chances he has had he is still the unfinished product.

My response was triggered by your first paragraph about seeing all pre season games and not a personal on you. I just thought the good thing about TW is when 2 people see the same games we still see things different.

Also, once the season really starts, the players will hopefully be in proper game mode. We should also see Koeman's preferred line-up.

It is very early days and there is still time for one or two arrivals and departures, so let's not get too worried. I knew that this squad was seriously lacking last term, with lots of deadwood as well as some big egos taking up space. Hibbo and Ossie and Pienaar have been put out to pasture, and now we await the disposal of McGeady, Niasse and Kone.

We need a creative playmaker, a centre half and another striker but I think the new goalie looks good. Next weekend is going to be interesting.

Lukaku's very good at scoring goals when he scores them...when the team plays to his strengths. But No goals AND very little off the ball / build up play = passenger. OK, he's a passenger that might score, but when he's in passenger mode, walking around, pointing where he wants the ball it's like playing with 10 men sometimes...Not quite Berbatov-esque, who when at United could bank on others chipping in, OR Anichebe.

Koeman has to decide, as does Lukaku and/or his Dad /agent, If they can live with each others demands / faults...they both have until 1st Sept. In the first instance.

We desperately need 2/3 signings this week just to lift the descending gloom!

As for the £100M warchest, did the club announce this or was it another well researched piece of journalism on par with Piers "Major" Morgan (the major stands for 'twat') selling our troops down the river with those "torture" photos? Prick.

Patience my friends, it'll be a hard start, maybe up to Christmas (IMHO) – hate abbreviations too. CWYL.

Looks like none of the proposed work has been done on the ground, anyone see anything different on the day?

Stones did make some errors. Some are forgivable (for me) for the reason that you have to accept errors if you want to be creative. But certainly one pass out towards Coleman that put us in trouble was very poor from a nothing position. Overall I thought he looked closer to his breakout season, graceful and committed.

Barkley will continue to divide our support (and other team's support). He's nowhere near the finished article (which is disappointing) but, similar to Stones, I think you have to accept mistakes.

My biggest criticism of Ross is that he's just not involved enough in games. I'm sure that will improve, but he'll never be the all action player that many want him to be.

I'm still excited for the season, despite the underwhelming transfer business. I'm hoping Gueye can bring the influence that Besic keeps threatening to, while our attacking players could be thrilling if we let them loose. I'm imagining us keeping it tight and then springing at teams with Deulofeu, Mirallas, Barkley and Lukaku.

The good thing is it's too early to say we won't! We'll see.

I wonder who said those things. Mirror hacks? Echo crawlers? ToffeeWeb experts? Or was it Koeman with the promise of Moshiri's money ?

Who knows? But, for all our sakes, I pray it wasn't the latter because, if it was, we are well and truly stuffed!

Now has individuals they've all got a lot of talent but they need to start working together and not for themselves. You don't see the class players the likes of City & Arsenal have all playing has individuals and selfishly, they all play has a unit and between themselves and look dangerous and create chances and score goals.

The stench of Martinez still reeks across our team and I think it's going to take time for Koeman to rid of it. It's gonna take at least 3 transfer windows to get in his own men, to get in the required quality to have us playing in the manner that he wants us to. It was easy for him at Southampton has although he lost a lot of good players, the team under Pochettino played in a similar way to how Koeman wants his teams to play so the transition was pretty easy, but at us it won't be has such and there's much work to be done and that's why it baffles me that we haven't got more players in through the door to help with getting our team moulding into one of Koeman's liking.

These very players are synonymous with what is wrong at Everton; each has their own many flaws and yet we are constantly telling each other on these pages and at the club that we should resist selling our golden generation and build a team around them.

But I'm afraid this golden generation as a bad as all the other recent golden generation's we've had shoved down our throats (Portugal 2004, England 2006, the current Belgium squad etc etc). Let Koeman get rid of these three wasters and start building again, but with a few quid at his disposal.

Like you, I hope there is all sorts going on in the background because at the moment it all seems like another false dawn. It was par for the course back in the day, but for the moment at least, this bright new world doesn't seem all that.

Without wishing to harp on re our neighbours, they stuff Barca in front of a packed Wembley. We laboured to defeat in front of a sparse crowd to Barcelona city's second team. I thought we were meant to be moving away from all that. Friendlies I know, but I can't see how you can just flick a, switch and make it 'Alright on the night.'

Judging from all the pre-season games I've seen so far, we look as static, unmotivated and lacklustre as last season!

I've seen no evidence of urgency in our play so far nor any signs of leadership on the pitch. Both need to be found and pretty damn quick.

Here's hoping, anyway!

Apparently Chelsea are offering Begovic and Remy to do a deal for Lukaku.

If it's true, please Everton make it happen.

I also now believe Stonesy and Lukaku will stay unless someone makes a ridiculous offer.

I think the new manager effect only happens when a season is actually under way. Look what happened with Unsworth one game in charge last season. RK has been at the club for a couple of months now so and new manager effects will have worn off.

We need to be playing real competitive football to sort out the workers from the skivers. I don't see what anyone gleans from friendlies.

I wasn't present but every report including that on OS said how vibrant the team looked.

Have we got an inordinate bunch of moody buggers, by any chance? Or are they missing the laxity of the Martinez regime?

Interesting comments from RK after the Manure game. Holgate at 18 or another at 38 it makes no difference. if you are good enough you are old enough.

I have faith in the Moshiri / Koeman / Walsh ticket, simply because there is no other realistic choice. Liverpoo's faith in Klopp is starting to bear fruit if their pre-season is anything to go by. (How and why they were invited to take part in a 'champions tournament still bugs me).

I believe we will have new faces in soon but the waiting is making my ulcer play up! What I did not expect, as I am sure neither did RK, was the actual level of damage the heritage of Martinez. Is this in itself a fair statement? I have been as anti-Martinez as anybody, but there were times when I thought the criticism was over the top. The along came Baines' chemistry lesson and that did it for me.

What is surprising is the manner of the last game of the season when the shackles were off. Obviously though the hard work over the long term has to start sooner than later.

I think RK has done everything right so far, except the open gratitude (pay-rise) to Rom. I don't get that. If a player wants to, and I mean really wants to leave, then he should be moved on with a damage limitation exercise put in place. There are other hungry, skillful players out there who could be drafted in, at a price, and with minimal risk to the dressing room morale.

Patience is a virtue. I wish I had more of it.

Mirallas and Deulofeu aren't up to it, Barkley is not getting any better, our defence is appalling, and we don't have any creative midfielders worth a carrot. I would keep Barry, the new fella, a couple of the kids, and Baines & Coleman and sell the rest tomorrow.

Of course it's early days and I'm sure signings will be made. But whoever comes in, they will have to be of a higher level than the Championship fodder we've seen so far. Indeed, they will have to be a lot better than the players he inherited who have already showed their 'eleventhishness' two sorry seasons running!

We should offer them Oviedo, McGeady, Niasse, Kone, Cleverley, McCarthy, Mirallas, Deulofeu, Besic, Robles. And see how they like it!

"I don't see what anyone gleans from friendlies".

They are important Frank, the red lot have said so. It's got to the point where I cannot listen to another red talking about how their lot gave a good thumping to Barca.

Seriously, lets get this season going and we will soon see who is who in the EPL.

I still feel that Koeman has to have a period of assessment in any event. A simple observation is tat there are about 8 other teams in the Premier League who don't have Barkley, Lukaku, Stones, Deulofeu and Mirallas on their books and they seem to do OK.

If we get attached to players as they represent the Club we love then that is understandable. But there really are other options. I would swap West Ham's team roster in a heartbeat. Leicester too. I can't imagine what a player like Drinkwater would do to our ponderous group.

Come Saturday, I think we will play 3-5-2 formation with Stones playing slightly in front of Jags and Funes Mori and hopefully squeeze them in midfield, we need to be difficult to beat before we can play with s bit of swagger!

Double my salary and I'll work somewhere else; it doesn't mean you've got to provide me with additional headcount or greater quality, I'll put up with it for three years until a better opportunity comes along.

We don't look anywhere near ready for Saturday from what I've seen.

Have to admit that I really thought we'd have three new faces by now, one of whom would be of the punching the air variety.

I keep telling myself that there is plenty going on behind the scenes and keeping our gobs shut is the right way to go about our business. But, it's not working! I'm bloody fed up with this continual "Xmas Eve" feeling. I want a BIG box of toys and I want them right now!

The truth is they were never good enough, blame Martinez for buying some of them sure, but average players produce average play. Koeman has a clean slate and if true, has a lot more money to spend than Martinez had, so in theory should produce a much better squad than this bunch.

To be fair though we have a number of players worth retaining in my eyes, Robles, Coleman, Funes Mori, McCarthy, Mirallas, Deulofeu, Lennon, Cleverley, Galloway, Holgate, Browning + other young players who may make the grade. Quite a few are squad players at best though.

We have just bought Gueye of course, but I have serious doubts that Barkley is going to fulfil his promise, I would bite the bullet and off load him as well if we can get £30-40m for him. Not a suggestion that I like making as he's a local Blue, but I've given up on him.

Up to now player wise we are going to be bang average again unless we can sign some serious talent from somewhere, especially if Lukaku leaves.

Koeman has only been here five minutes – give the man a chance.

He can't just wave a wand and change all the bad habits and lack of fitness created by Martinez overnight.

The squad is littered with internationals; let's get behind them and the manager for a new dawn.

We have Internationals Jay but not what you would call outstanding Internationals, Funes Mori, Coleman I like, Mirallas and Deulofeu are dangerous players when in mood! I'm not counting Lukaku and Stones because I think their gone.

I'm not knocking our players for the sake of it, quite the opposite, but we need major changes if we are going finish up towards the top 8 places. I wish Koeman all the best, I very much hope he make us into a serious contender once more, because this club has the potential to grow massively if we can attract the right players.

Lukaku doesn't make runs into the channel (just watching Leicester, Vardy and the new lad Musa are making constant runs down the channels, pulling out the defenders); we have no movement anywhere from midfield players or forwards. It's just too slow and predictable. Alas Lukaku can't hold up play, his first touch and first pass are useless.

Can Koeman re-coach these lads to use quicker ball, to get it forward, to get runners in? I doubt it.

We don't have a single midfielder that gets beyond the ball or the striker. There's no goals. There's no options.

Personally I think he is way overhyped, I really hope he makes me change my mind.

Mata to Everton could happen yet !

I don't know much about Indi. If that's who you mean, so I'll take your word on him. But the other two... No thanks; we need better than them.

I wouldn't mind Mata. But any big signing now is looking remote with the season only 6 days away. I thought we'd have had at least three major signings in by now.

I'd love more signings and hopefully there's still positive movement in the next week.

But the season only starts next week. I'm holding my criticism until there are points to play for. My beloved Everton back in action without Roberto - I can't wait!

When is he going to become great? Great players learn and develop. He is still learning IMO.

It would not surprise me to see him linking up with Moyes again.