Robles to remain first choice despite Stekelenburg's availability

He's treating the squad as most fans would if they were to turn on champ manager or something, he's binning players who aren't worth a carrot, he's blooding the youngsters, he's loaning players out to gain experience, and he's making players play for there spots rather than just saying he's my number 1.

It really is refreshing.

Joel is doing well but to challenge for the Champions League places we need a really top keeper. I may be wrong but I just don't think he has that X-Factor.

Erm... explanation please?

Colin @ 5, I honestly don't think there are much better keepers in the Premier League than Joel at the moment.

I was thinking the same a few days ago... I bet our neighbours wished they had him...

Well, he spent the entirety of EPL career under OFM. Maybe he received about the same amount of defensive training as Stones did. He did mention, "I got angry". In the best way possible, it seems.

I think his "anger", combined with getting professional goalkeeper coaching for the first time in years, has really improved his game. Who knows? Maybe he's a late developer. "Commanding" fairly describe his current form.

I'm especially glad seeing Koeman taking a different approach to earning the starting keeper spot than Martinez did.

IF and it is an IF he does not continue as he has been, the OK, we may need to go shopping. But lets not give up on him yet and lets see whether he can continue or maybe improve further with more game time and a decent run in the team.

Needs to be given chance to bounce back. I think he has everything to be that top class keeper we need! Great age for our squad!

In this new transfer window except for the top 4 - 6 clubs, who likely already have a surplus of strikers, or the lower tier clubs who have sufficient striker/s to be a threat, lots of Premier League teams have apparently been buying strikers or transferred them on loan.

What have Everton benefitted that they didn't before the transfer window, not much as they already benefitted a good defence and midfield, with a detriment upfront before and now, it seems, still a detriment up front as no striker except Lukaku. Is it any wonder he (Lukaku) tried to steal the glory from young Davies? No, not really as Everton dictate the tune and Lukaku plays his instrument to that tune like a good boy.

Everton do not reinforce their A-team in terms of strikers, but they do reinforce and shape their young squads in their academies, which is good in the long term but bad where this requirement is not necessary in the short term, ie now. It's like an army reinforcing the defence but not reinforcing the front line for battle.

It's a shame Koeman / Everton do not have West Ham's fore-seeability to attract the services of even lower tier strikers such as Snodgrass, to strengthen Everton's striker positions. Koeman is about as predictable as a soap cliffhanger. There is just no originality of thinking with Everton.

Now that Robles has given us clean sheets regularly by his own actions, I'll never ask for us to get Joe Hart (shoot down to his left, dummy! ...)!

Lets give Joel the support he deserves for being as good as he is at this moment! If he falters, then jeer...

I had a quick check on the facts. 9 Premier League clubs have bought strikers so far in this window ( less than half) and Everton are one of them. In fact after Jesus to City Lookman is the second highest transfer fee paid for a striker along with Snodgrass this window so far.

Buying top of the line strikers is tricky. I agree we need cover for Lukaku but at least we have him, other clubs outside the top 6 do not have players of his calibre or profile. In fact his presence makes it harder to sign any cover because they know they won't be first choice.

I don't think Bony or Benteke (two summer transfer High profile players that went to lesser clubs) have really worked out- it's a high risk purchase

Robles has improved hugely – presumably given the extra game time – and is well ahead of Stekelenburg on current form.

He has always had the physique and his instinctive shot stopping was really good, now he is displaying superior technique and confidence in other areas (such as claiming crosses rather than punching). There has been some criticism here of his distribution, but I'd counter that he does move the ball out quickly when he spots the possibility. Sometimes at cost of accuracy, but worth the risk I think. Continuing in this vein can only be good, surely.

Seems that Koeman is at least interested in seeing how this pans out by close season. Over to Joel to continue to prove his claim.

He deserves his place for sure. More power to him and the coaching team.

I used to be angry as hell when Tim Howard came straight back in after injury. Joel is the real deal.