Jagielka reveals the small tweaks behind Everton's tighter back line

Some people just can't help themselves get off of planet negative.

4 conceded in 6 games is hardly 'leaking so many goals'.

It's refreshing to hear that Koeman, an outstanding defender himself, has established this new defensive organisation early in his tenure... just a shame that the front five are misfiring at such an alarming rate that each game it appears in on a knife edge.

Senior players like Mirallas, Lennon et al should have been stepping up to levels more consistent by now... it's too early for Bolasie and Valencia to be targetted as the people misfiring, as I continually read on here!!

Williams provides a wealth of experience and Gana is more mobile and hungry than other midfielders we had. It's offensively where we are short and a creative diamond in midfield (again offensively).

Overall, I'm please with the progress made so far this season – if it continues we will be fine. Although, there are several players not up to playing for a club like EFC on our books at the moment.

"unfortunately my arse is bigger than my mouth!"

Which are you talking out of at 1?

If you had taken the time to actually read the interview you might have found it revealing and reassuring. It describes in detail how our obvious defensive improvement under Koeman is by design, not accident, whilst also detailing what was apparent to many over the past 2 seasons, that defence was seriously neglected under Martinez.

You might also have taken into account how our previously porous defence is this season one of the meanest, with just 4 goals conceded and a league high of a paltry 12 shots on target on our goal IN TOTAL across our 6 PL games to date.

Far, far from your knee-jerk claim that we're "leaking so many goals!."

We seem unable to solve the problems posed by the now increasing use by the opposition of 'defence in depth' to frustrate and nullify any attacking ambitions we might have... and, even when we do create a scoring chance, as we did last week, we never seem able to cash in.

Well, just my guess. I didn't get to watch many matches last season, and zero this season so far, but remember many people here not happy with Jags as he's too quiet a skipper.

I suppose there is not much to be gained from slagging off the previous regime, but Jagielka is simply too nice.

It's a knock-on effect, and previously we might have been left not isolated, but that bit more isolated?

Little tweaks? I can't wait for Koeman to really change something!

We kept reading that it was individual errors, without acknowledging that we put players in positions where the slightest error resulted in a goal.

These are real basics. Defend as a team. Fill in spaces and support the guy next to you.

Most of us could see this; I'll never understand how Roberto couldn't.

Read the article, anyone can talk a good game (except me apparently), but these are professional sportsmen and I would much rather they spend time on improving than talking about how they are going to improve!!!

Ben, this is Everton, show me some positivity, I will be positive – Norwich and the mighty Bournemouth!!!

Not missed a game so have seen as much as you!! My comments are on our defence as a whole, you and Ste are more than naive if you think that 4 in 6 games is anything to shout about – this time last year we had conceded 5!!!!!!!

Oooh our defence are doing well.

My comments are on our defencive unit overall and not just in your golden dawn that is 2016-17!!!!!!!

I hope Lennon starts on Friday instead of Mirallas; Lennon will work his socks off, something the other forwards don't do.

4 goals conceded is not bad after six games but I expected more end product than we have seen in the attacking third. It's great we have tightened up but, if you don't score, then, as I mentioned, each game feels closer than it should be. Bolasie will come good and I'm sure Enner Valencia wasn't pot luck, he will bring something to the team by season's end!!!

The same frailties in the defence still exist, because Everton don't defend as a team and the back 4 don't push up towards the half-way line to press the opposition's attackers. The goal that Everton conceded last Saturday against Bournemouth proves that point.

Worse still, the Everton defence are still reliant on Barry, who is 36 years of age next birthday.

They have a solid answer for such requests though; they need to do less talking and more playing. Do their talking on the pitch so to speak.

Meanwhile, we can satisfy ourselves with monthly rumours such as the imminent capture of Troy Deeney.

I think that last comment is a really good observation, Ernie. How hard it must have been for those lads to know that they were leaking goals, and always likely to because they had to follow orders; and to top it all, to hear the fans slagging off individual players.

Pity we're still "leaking so many goals" still.

Not simple these plans but the upshot seems to be more effort from all midfielders when the opposition are doing well in wide positions. After all, it is from there they will want to find somebody in the middle.

Every team has to be outplayed and outfought in order for Everton to be successful and, if we don't play well or battle for every ball, we see what happens for example Norwich City and Bournemouth.

The better teams do have extra qualities lesser teams do not possess. That's why they are prepared to pay the huge transfers and salaries. Everton's transfers were a net again. So much for the extra £100 million which was promised – no extra top centre-half, midfield player and striker. Yet, there was a record amount of season tickets sold on that belief.

I'm not saying that the transfer funds were adequate – because they weren't – but we have what we have until next August probably and those fans, if they were 'misled' will be able to decide what to do with their money when renewal time comes up.

We are a handful of games into a new era – never mind season – and we are 5th with a housefly's dick between us and the rest of the top positions apart from Man City – who themselves have only played one 'top' side in Man Utd.

Can we please just get a grip of reality, take a deep breath and give the new regime themselves a few months breathing space? Commenting with at least some justification around February/March would be reasonable – given the journey we have, hopefully, embarked upon.

I dread to think what some of the views would have been, if we'd suffered a slow start this season.

Can you show me an interview with Moshiri, Kenwright, or anyone at the club who promised this sum for transfers???

Great to read Jagielka's comments... very informative. Credit to Koeman for changing both the priorities and the plan from last season. But two key items are overlooked in my opinion: Williams is a much better, more physical man-marker than either Stones or Funes Mori, and Gueye is a superior close-down artist and ballwinner to anyone we've had in years.

Those two being a bit off-form were important to the problems at Bournemouth... Williams had a tough time controlling Wilson, and Gana was left too isolated when he closed down on the ball.

We did have two clear-cut chances that we really should have scored from. There are some good signs defensively whereas the middle and forward area is misfiring. If Barkley isn't up to it, let's have a look at other options. I'm sure Koeman will sort it out.