Davies reflects on his journey thus far and his Everton dreams

If he makes it in the team any time soon then he must be one special talent. Hope he is.

I'll be sorry to see Ross go. Someone is going to do well with him and I just hope he doesn't drift into obscurity a la Jeffers, Rodwell etc.

I hope this might be a start of regular games with the first team for Tom and best of luck to him. If we can keep our energy levels and motivation up like Tuesday then we might really, this time, be on the cusp of some good times. I think even Ronald Koeman stepped up on Tuesday – far more animated, and of course all you guys at the game were a big part of that.

"Ronald Koeman has erred on a more cautious approach"

So you think Koeman has blundered on Davies? Or did you just choose the wrong word?

He'll get his chance.

I for one sincerely hope so.

I aould love too see Davies more, he could hardly do any worse than the current crap, could he? Also sounds like he has a good attitude.

I'd be happy to see Ross go, he has had more than enough chances. Rodwell Mk II for me, he'll be at a West Brom or similar in a few years.

When he mentioned different style, sounded like he meant he wasn't sure about Koeman's style, but decided to be polite. Interesting that he mentioned defending a few times when talking about Koeman, I do think Ron is very defensive minded... probably more so than Moyes.

I'd like to ask those of you who continue to rip into Ross Barkley, what you would expect of Tom Davies if he were to be played? I'd imagine you would want 20 goals and 20 assists, as Ross got double figures last season and clearly that's not good enough.

Granted he's not done that yet this season, but he is joint 6th on chances created (joint with Fermino), and above David Silva, despite being constantly knocked by our manager and some of our fans.

I'd genuinely worry about blooding young lads atm, as we always seem to find faults with young lads at our club:

Rom is the first player to hit 20 goals in a very long time, but he's useless and lazy....

Stones was chased by Mourinho and Pep, yet he's a clown.

Ross is our best midfielder, and most creative player by a mile, yet we want to moan that he doesn't tackle.

I wonder what faults we will try to find when Tom Davies comes through! Worth a think.

As for those willing to sell off Barkley... Get a fucking grip, call yerselves Evertonians?

I'd love to see the kids given a chance but they need to be extremely mentally strong to cope with the expectations.

I'm not saying non-scouse players get an easier ride, far from it, but I've always felt the local lads are shown a lot less patience. It might just be me, and my sensitive side, but I'm always desperate to see these young blues succeed at the highest level so I err towards patience and hope.

He's our most creative midfielder some of you say!!! What games are you watching! He is shite and needs to be dropped if not let go. I watch every week with hope in my heart that he looks better and improves but it's beyond a Joke at this point. It will be sad but he needs ditching and give Davies his place, or Dowell etc.

Barkley doesn't set chances up, doesn't score, doesn't take people on often, doesn't tackle. He's never got over the triple leg break I'm afraid and the modern game isn't about sentiment or nostalgia, it's about winning shit!!!!!

If Ross Barkley is compared to Deli Alli then there is no comparison. Watch Tottingham next match and it's clear, Alli is playing passes in the box, hitting the post, taking people on, tackling and moaning at refs, that's what we need.

I truly believe that our Ross was the reason Bob lost his job, if Kevin Mirallas had played every single game in Ross Barkley's position last season, we would have been top 4!!!

Love him to bits and I'm sure He's just as mad of a Blue as all of us here, but Ross is shite and TOTALLY slows our play down when he's on the pitch. I'm sick of it and can't put up with all these knobs saying how good he is. It's bollocks!

So it's not that fans dislike Ross, it's the opposite – we all want him to succeed, but demand nothing less than seeing total effort on the pitch, to match all the hype. It's a dream of every one of us, to pull on that blue shirt, and we expect any Evertonian to play like we would given the chance.

That usage is unfamiliar to my Yank ear... I should have guessed that it was an example of Britain and America being two nations divided by a common language.

Well played Sean (#23)... I'm still laughing at that comment. Priceless!

I suspect very few on this site have seen anything more of Tom than his brief cameo appearances for the senior team. I sincerely hope he makes the grade but please don't put the future of Everton on the poor kid's shoulders.

Record last season - 8 goals, 8 assists.
This year, 2 goals, 2 assists.

Dele Alli (as you brought him up)
last season 4 goals, 1 assist.
This season 1 goal, 0 assists.

As they say, you are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.

'As for those willing to sell off Barkley... Get a fucking grip, call yerselves Evertonians?'

Yes, Tony, I'm an Evertonian. Grandparents were, went the game. Dad is, ST holder for years, every cup final since 66. Me, ST holder. So yes, I'm an Evertonian thanks.

Don't fucking tell me to get a grip and question whether I'm an Evertonian (especially after the mileage and cash I've spent being one) just 'cause I say we should sell Barkley. Lad's been shite for a few years. Pull ya head out of ya arse.

Being an Evertonian isn't about mileage, nor cash spent. There are many here from ALL continents who would crawl to "The Grand Old Lady" and really are "True Blues".

Don't post when you're bevvied.

So your criteria to be a Blue is:

1. Must like Barkley.

?

There are five months for the manager to introduce some of the Under-23s. Injury and loss of form to first team players will force his reluctant hand.

Firstly, Sean, although Paul Thompson has just proven with clear cut stats that your claim about Alli is flawed, you have just nailed my issue amongst blues. You instantly compare Ross with Alli, can I ask why?

We don't have Alli as a possible replacement. We have Cleverley, Deulofeu, Mirallas and a few kids who can occupy Ross position in our team, and clearly none of them are even close to him talent wise.

As for Dermot saying "Sell him to the richest club in the land for 㿔m," can I ask you why you think one of the richest clubs in world football, managed by one of the most decorated managers would want to buy Ross? Maybe for one reason, because he's a very good player.

Mick Davis, I think what you say is flawed for this simply reason, last season Ross was one of our most productive players, playing almost every game, putting in 90 minute shifts (whether you agree its a shift or not), and still people moaned about him.

Then there was Deulofeu, who turned his back on the ball every time he felt he had done enough running, dispite the fact he was mostly used sparingly. Del is one of the most unfit 22-/23-year-olds I've ever seen, yet his name rung around the stadium like he was a god every time he touched the ball. Can you honestly say he shows anything like the commitment of Ross?

When you answer the above question with an answer of 'No', can you tell me why no one really ever takes to threads to complain about him, despite the fact he's the outstanding talent at U21 level for a brilliant Spain side.

Ross is always a target, he puts in the miles, he creates chances, he scores goals and he's the best of an average bunch, I don't understand why he's the main person to get on.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but my opinion is Ross is amongst our best 3-4 players; worry about the other 20+ in the squad first before clearing Ross out.

As for Tom, I really hope to see much more of this lad, I like the look of him, he's tidy on the ball but the question mark will be whether he's strong enough to cope with Premier League football yet.

Anthony, you ask " I don't understand why he's the main person to get on." Maybe because he's a local lad and a Blue. We have a history of expecting too much from a local lad and eventually turning on him if he fails to live up to the high standards others expect from, you know, the World Class coaches who know everything, providing it starts with "Fuck off Hibbert/Osman/Barkley" or "Get fuckin' stuck in". I've scoured the coaching manuals and have yet to see that phrase anywhere...

Mike Gaynes (#26),

"Two nations divided by a common language".
Yes. Quite. But just remember old boy, it's OUR language, which is why it's called "English". We don't REALLY mind you over there in the Colonies using it but please, it's AL-U-MINIUM, not ALOOMINUM" OK? Now, when that's been digested I'll tell you how to make a proper cup of tea. It might be an idea if the French listen in to that, too.

(Waves empty glass – "When you're ready, Maureen!")

The simple argument is even if you lot "developed" the language, we, being bigger and more influential in the world, for better or worse, now control the beast. As you know, we fix and change things that need fixing.

So, seeing the need, we now change the language to a more modern and proper pronunciation (correcting the English manner of emphasizing the wrong syllable). Oh yes, we also change the spelling of words. The English have for years used too many vowels. (humour vs humor – what did the "u" really need to be there for?) We try to be helpful like that, it's just what we do.

The gulf between the nations in the use of English is not so wide that it cannot be spanned, so long as you, like Canada, minus those stubborn few French-Canadians, just accept our changes.

So carry on, stiff upper lip and all that!

BTW, Davies is one heck of a "soccer" player and I hope Everton keep him.

Bet you didn't realise that when they were electing Trump!

You can tit about with the language all you like, doesn't hide the fact that dropping vowels from perfectly good words like "humour" is just idleness on the part of the gum chewing, knuckle dragging red neck who can't see that ALU-MIN-IUM etc., is how it is spelt and should be pronounced. There is NO double "oo" in it.

"Aloo" should only be accompanied by "gobi", not "minum".

Now, please, if you can't accept simple pronunciations like that maybe you'd better invent your own language. Cherokee or Sioux or something like that. After all, they were there first... ;-)

And while you're at it, put your baseball cap on the right way round.

Tut... kids today.

Just a bit of humor (oops! now look what you made me do).

It's all in good humoUr.

Deffo for worse.

Pray tell me when the last thing you changed was for the better? I'm struggling

Daylight savings time here in the midwest I think. Also, we fixed the old Top Gear by bringing the lads over here! Oh, and by fixing, I meant also improving things. We do this to your broken English and look at the thanks we get from over there!

Here was me thinking you where referring to world matters, when in fact, you where referring to insular mid western American values.

I mean... When has the good old USA ever put itself first.

The English "twats" who can't spell or the American "twats" who think life doesn't exist outside the USA.

Unless it conforms and pays homage to the dollar bill.

Hear to help. ;_)

ps: This started as a little joke from me at Mike Gayne's expense when he mentioned two nations divided by a common language. It was a light-hearted jest and not meant to turn into something nasty and an excuse to turn on our American fans. Give over, eh?

I took no offense and intended everything as humoUrous. Besides, I assume all of Geoff's comments are tongue in cheek as no one could, I would hope, seriously and honestly hold the opinions he posts, could they?

Oh, Dave, you missed the impact of the daylight savings time. It allows a large percentage of the American population to watch the EPL games and still have most if not all of the afternoon and evening on both Saturdays and Sundays to continue working on our place as a world "Super Power".

How on earth I could have missed daylight savings is beyond me.

I'm therefore gonna book myself into Guantanamo Bay health resort asap to atone for my error.

Merry Christmas by the way mate, hope you have a good un.

By the way, it's "offence" not "offense". ;-)