Ball: Why January has already become a huge month for Everton

Left side. Well ..how long is it now?

The Number 10/Ross Barkley conundrum. The fact that people say we need one speaks for itself. Ross just doesn't do enough. People say he is the first player to be jumped on, and that 10 role is ruthless as there's no hiding place but, the constant mutterings about his performances and the need for a new signing in that role say it all. He isn't cutting it.

Getting a creative midfielder in would do him a favour. He plays every game, regardless of form or confidence. Home-town club, under the microscope, it must be mentally draining. There have been times he's needed resting and it hasn't happened.

As it stands, it's all on him to create in there and he could do with some help. If we got a new Number 10 in, he could play a bit deeper, which may suit him more, on the ball anyway. Although whether Koeman likes what he sees enough to trust him in a deeper role off the ball, I doubt.

Cards on the table from me. I don't see this "prodigious" talent. For me, Leon Osman was more talented and had a much better football brain. He just didn't have the physicality & pace Ross is blessed with. If Osman had had Barkley's physical gifts, he'd have got over 50 caps.

Ross is... decent, a good Premier League player (I don't say this as criticism, I wish I had been) and, for me, an average Number 10.

Problem is, there isn't much call for an average Number 10. It's shit or bust in that position. You either play with a shit hot one or not at all, as in that position if you don't contribute enough you affect the whole team, to its detriment.

Long-term Ross needs to develop his game, find another position and become more versatile. Although alarm bells started ringing for me when he, as a ball playing midfielder, didn't appear to have much idea how to play left half. Although Roberto's batshit bullshit may have had a role in that.

The first priority should be get rid of those who plainly aren't going to make it like Niasse and the perennial sicknotes, Gibson – re-signing him really worked out, didn't it? One of Valencia and Kone should be an able deputy for Lukaku and Tom Davies, Liam Walsh and Kieran Dowell would add competition for places.