Koeman hails better second-half display in win over Hammers

We took the goals well, though and rode our luck early on. Great save high to his left by Joel.

Things can only get better!

I am glad they won so I can have a rant about the referee Anthony Taylor who continues to give little to Everton. The last minute refusal of a penalty adds to the many poor and important decisions he has ruled against Everton gives me reason to believe he should never referee any future Everton games. A look at his running of Everton games will show his bias against the Blues.

I might add that the linesman with the yellow flag was equally very poor... as was his eyesight.

Gueye had a bit of a shocker, but I thought Oviedo was great, Barkley's work rate was tremendous.

As for the ref, is it me, or did he seem to have the notion that in any 50/50 collision, the player left standing is the one to be penalised, regardless of anything else?

For a start, Mirallas is not a left winger. He does not aim towards the bye-line with the ball and deliver a cross, that a winger would like to do. Instead, he wants to cut inside and try a shot.

Bolasie is more of a left winger yet he plays on the right on his weaker side.

Barkley is still isolated from the midfield pairing of Barry and Gueye, who still play too deep in the Everton half, as Barkley forages foreward by himself. The isolation of Barkley is one reason why he is not playing as well as he should be this season.

Lukaku still not getting the wing service he deserves has given up on expecting, so creates his own scoring chances with decisive runs towards the penalty area.

We lack totally a desire to keep the ball, that was completely remedied in the second-half display – but why does this one-half display consistently get repeated, week-in & week-out? Makes MotD horrendous to watch, other teams being completely competitive, even when losing!!

We deserve MORE – especially when at home, & consistently blaming a referee, missing the main point, even if he was pathetic – just play to the whistle, regardless!

Surely any honeymoon period is well over – many players in blue are just completely inadequate. Other than actually scoring, what does this centre forward actually contribute to our team effort? Poor control, effort, attitude zero & body language pathetic – always offside... strolling around???

Here for a season, what a fantastic decision made!!!
COYB

Unless there's a major new mindset, we will not win away from home verses the Prem big boys!

Isn't that what you want forwards to do Steavey? Gamble, be decisive and make the run into the box to anticipate the delivery, not resort to running the channels as many a Moyes striker ended up doing. If the delivery doesn't come, the forward has done his job so you can't blame him.

Yesterday, he did – with explosive awareness from Bolasie on the right side to beat 2 players to a loose ball he had no right to beat them to, and get a right-footed cross (from the right), to set up Lukaku who had made a decisive run into the box to make the chance (like I would expect a good forward to do) and create a goalscoring opportunity. If he hadn't, we'd have been calling him a lazy shit for not being instinctive enough to be on the end of it.

I think Bolasie can play both sides, which is a great attribute.

With you on Mirallas. Personally think he should have played supporting striker more (or number 10 as they now call it). Seems his pace makes many think of him as a winger but agree with you, not one in the traditional sense.