Everton eventually demolish 10-man Hull

Shame Mirallas is out as he's been involved in a fair few goals recently, but birth of a child trumps just about anything, even playing football for the greatest club on earth.

You never know!

With Arsenal dropping points, a win today could set Everton up nicely for our neighbours and Man Utd game, two big performances and who knows.

I would just be grateful of 3 points today, but as always, when we have a chance of making a mark, one team that can fluff their lines is Everton.

We really need these three points today.

Avoid defeat at Liverpool and United and with City playing Arsenal & Liverpool then we can come out the other side of this with a real chance.

An echo of 04-05. Give yourself a chance blue boys.

Let's hope Koemans fitness program and organization carries the momentum to the end of the season and Lukaku learns to shut his moth and let his feet do the talking.

Competition: Premier League
Date: 11 March 2017
Stadium: Goodison Park (Liverpool)

http://www.fnatix.com/2017/03/Everton-vs-west-bromwich-albion.html

C'mon Everton, let's have 5 more.

4-0 flattered us but we did defend well, again we have a habit of seemingly not playing for the first twenty minutes of the second half?

Enjoyed seeing Lukaku get a great reception from the Goodison crowd, and a nice touch by the big man to run over to the crowd and give his shirt to the young lads at the end of the game.

Barkley was MotM for me.

We were dominant in the first half, a bit casual in the second but eventually saw Hull off after the red card. Would anyone argue?

The intensity and surety waned from our play once Schniederlin left the scene.

Davies very good, Barkley keeping his standards, Gana was excellent.

Clinical, absolutely we were, but our general play was a little loose and interesting that Koeman felt the need to go to a back three.

I asked before the game we give ourselves a chance, we have that chance. It's there to take, do the players believe?

Oh and 'eventually' is spot on.

Glad to see Lukaku getting the crowds support. He may be hard to like, but there's absolutely zero point in berating him while he's on the pitch. If he keeps banging in goals then his value goes up.

Didn't really understand Koemans switch of formation. It gave Hull the upper hand, and they were the better team until the red card.

Don't think this game gives us any indication how things will pan out next week at Anfield.

Believe me, his scoring record is a smokescreen, nearly always the gloss or a consolation, rarely vital.

...another clean sheet by Joel Robles, awesome! Well done, you've hardly put a foot wrong since you've been given the chance to shine, hope you're getting the recognition it deserves from your peers and we fans alike. Keep it up Joel, all the best!

Looking at the PL table that positive goal difference will help, yes teams around us have 2/3 games in hand, but they've to play against each other and us. April will be interesting.

Yes RL we know you can talk the talk and build yourself up but after the international break you'd better start walking the walk and performing against those media 'TOP' teams, in that if you can't score against the top teams in the PL, then those teams in CL that you do so desire to play for, won't give you a second look, they'll have looked at the stats. on your 'success' rates, participation in those games it doesn't yet make for good reading, let's just say there's room for improvement, so good luck, and luck comes from the rest of team also pulling their weight and in most cases 'delivery' to the current PL top marksman!, don't just get it to him, support him! back him up!

Onwards and upwards, up and at them, they don't like it up em!

COYB !!!!

Good result. Performance dipped after Morgan went off, but Valencia made a real contribution when he came on. Nice performances from Davies and Barkley too.

Before Schneiderlin went off injured it was all Everton, but when he went off, Everton began to struggle in midfield, and Hull were in the ascendecy until the red card offence.

So this is not a time for McCarthy to be off playing for ROI with dodgy hamstrings when he is needed to be playing for Everton against Liverpool and Arsenal. These 2 games will define Everton's season.

Scan tomorrow, hopefully it's not as bad as they think. For sure we need MacCarthy back soon

Have you checked the goal-points stats for the other top goalscorers (esp Costa, Sanchez, Ibra...). It will make interesting reading no doubt.

Have you considered the effect of killing off games with goals?

Why is there this absurd attempt to always downplay how good Lukaku is? I've/others had to suffer this idiocy for years and I can't believe I still have to when Lukaku is the league's leading striker with 21 goals!

He has been 'useless', 'lazy', with the first touch of an amateur. His movement was poor apparently. He could never improve his first touch or technical ability, because apparently these things were innate. We should have got Bony, or Mitrovic, or Benteke and a strewn of other players not fit to tie his boots. If he was any good Mourinho wouldnt have sold him...if he was any good, Origi wouldnt have started in front of him.

Some of us, luckily, can understand the game we spend so much time watching. Lukaku is our best player, and interim hopes of reaching the UCL rely on him. He has scored two more than his nearest challenger, does not score pens, and is playing in an inferior team than most of the top scorers in this league.

Leave Lukaku alone. If he ends up going we will have made a massive profit and benefited from alot of goals. If he stays, then that will be even better. But he is a top striker, and anyone who thinks otherwise does not understand football, or numbers.

I thought we looked a lot more solid once we switched to 3 at the back today. Also was nice to see Lukaku get his customary goals at Goodison and top marks to the crowd for getting behind him. He'll be under no illusions as to whether the fans want him to stay, it's up to the board to match his (and our) ambition now.

I think if we were still relying on Jelavic or someone on a similar level to him, we'd be looking at 7th as a major achievement, rather than our bare minimum.

I have to say its great to have Goodison back to being a fortress again not the walk in the park it was for visiting teams last season.

I'm loving the welcome return of proper old school dirty defending, and Williams (the moment of hesitation partly due to Robles lack of communication aside) was completely rock solid again.

Special mentions for Barkley, Baines and the introduction of Valencia which helped us kill the game and congratulations for Calvert-Lewin on his first Everton goal, well in lad!

But you cannot ignore he is a bit of a flat track bully right? Scoring a heavy amount against the cannon fodder. In cricket they love a bowler who can clean up the tail, perhaps there's a bit of that in Rom. Be balanced about it as an argument 'cos there is merit in both sides. Rom is now feeding off play designed to get him going towards goal, a must if the lad is to keep scoring. Ever seen him score from a position where he had his back to goal? Nah. Some great diagonals from Bainsey to highlight the point today.

One thing that I would applaud his the lads accuracy, not one for wasting an opportunity.

But it's fair to say with Liverpool and United coming up, if he wants Champions League with Everton then a winning goal here or there might just bring a few off the fence me included.

One last note about the game Tom Davies, faded but just is a moving wall pass for our midfield, far more aggressive than Ross, clearly why Ronnie plays him higher up. Da Ketwig Kaiser!

Getting back to the game, I think that we will have to play much much better to get anything from the derby. In that game, we will come under relentless high-energy pressing for the full 90 minutes. I just hope our defence doesn't buckle.

Koeman is doing a great job and our record in 2017 is superb but I do want to see us get something from the difficult games coming up.

In any event, it's clear he would stay for us under other circumstances and he may yet. The top 4 may be just out of range this year (what the hell happened to us before Christmas?) but next year with the right signings could well be enough for Rom to hang around for another year.

"We have had a great run at home. But the final result didn't reflect what happened on the pitch.

"At several moments in the game Hull were strong. The decision [to send off Huddlestone] might have felt too harsh at that moment but it gave Everton the freshness to kill the game off.

"We were not at the best. We are strong and with 10 v 11 and we have a team who will punish them."

The next two games will show the extent of the squad's mettle. Anything better than two points and I'll be very, very happy.

Well done Ross, gueye and Davies BTW, great performances.

I think Ronald Koeman summed it up brilliantly by saying he wouldn't be here if we lacked ambition. There would be no shortage of takers for Koeman if he did want to leave due to lack of ambition

If Schneiderlin is out for the Shite and Man United, as it looks as though he could well be, then I would bring Barkley back into central midfield and play Mirallas.

You can't argue with the goals we're putting away at Goodison but the next two games are the ones we want.

Then he goes on to say he doesn't see us as a top 4 team, and looks shocked and bemused that we're level on points with Arsenal.

Okay we're not the best team in the league at the moment, but the RS and Man Utd are not better than us and Arsenal are falling to pieces. Why would everyone be so shocked if we got top 4?

Oh I know now, it's because we're not one of Sky's favourite teams.

When Valencia came on he created some space for Lukaku, admittedly versus ten men but he made a bid difference, hope he plays at least some of the games against Liverpool and Man Utd.

Made up to see Calvert-Lewin get his first goal for the club, he did well, and it should be noted he played out of position but still did okay.

Personally, I think it's quite telling that in Rom's interview he didn't once say that he wants to leave. For a contract to be 99% done then it can't be wage demands that are holding things up. I'm hopeful that the board can get some quality signings in early in the Summer and then convince Lukaku to sign on the dotted line.

Calvert-Lewin deserves credit though. We were getting frustrated but he kept a cool head to get the get the opener. The post red card Tony Cottee style piling on makes it easy to forget things could've been different if DCL had fluffed his lines.

Morgan was running the show when he went off and if out a while will be missed. Tom Davies had a good game, and a hard game too, on the receiving end of some heavy treatment again, after last weeks game. Didn't phase him, he kept coming back hard, aggressive and a nice touch too. Impressive.

Gana must have an extra lung and some of his tackling was superb..

A good word for Jags too, very steady, covering well and getting out of trouble well. Showed his experience.

Ross and Rom tried hard and did good things and it was good to see more late goals showing that this team is fit now and is still running hard at 95 minutes.

Rom got a good reception from the crowd, before the match and for his goals and rightly so.

Tense until the second goal went in. Nicely made and taken .

I saw the goal scorers stat too and that's encouraging. But I'd like to see someone emerge as a Deli Alli type to reliably chip in 15 a season. We've got a lot Who can score but only one who does it regularly. Maybe Davies can become the new Tim Cahill and take that mantle.

You comments are nonsense and media driven

All of the midfielders played well but Gana, Ross and Davies were excellent, very tenacious and they take a load of the defense who are quite slow. Hull's Harry Maguire I thought was awesome maybe the best player on the pitch that's hard to say when he's on a team that just lost 4-0 but what a signing he would be. Straight swop for Niasse?

I thought Huddlestone being sent off was well justified it was dangerous and reckless and showed his studs, so Hull can't complain. Job well done Blues.

Let's hope Morgans injury is not too serious... Let's enjoy the break and full steam ahead for the next game.

BUY

Yes we may think that we should have brought in some more quality players, but as we are not privy to the owners plans who knows who they tried to get and what was the reasons they were turned down..

There is only so much we can do at one time, so to insinuate that we have no ambition is way off the mark.

How many people think Lukaku would be able to walk into Barca, Real, Bayern Munich, PSG or even Juventus?

But it was great to see Ross bossing the game and the youngsters Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies having such good games, also Valencia was good when he came on. Gana is invaluable with all his tackles and interceptions – must have been eight or ten today.

Bigger tests coming up – we will then see how much better we really are.

Now for a moan, why do people see the need to leave the match so feckin early. I noticed some people going with 10 minutes to go. At the final whistle at least a quarter of the ground is empty. We won 4-0 today, stay and clap the boys off. There will be other buses trains etc, just allow yourself a bit more time to get home simple.

I certainly wouldn't want to play Barry in either game and, as I've suggested above, the only other option I can think of is bringing Barkley back into CM where he could be very effective against sides like the RS and United, running from deeper with Mirallas further up.

Today it's Calvert-Lewis, Calvin-Lewert, or effing Culvert-Luton (well not really the last one).

The lad's name is "Calvert-Lewin."

Would serve people well to get it right and remember it because the lad's gonna do great things for us!

If we must go into the next games without Schniederlin or JMac, then Ross it should be.

Barry affects the whole shape of the team, as they try to do a liitle bit extra to accommodate him.

I want to see Everton go for it in the next two games. Not sit and wait to be punished.

What do we have to lose?

As did DC-L, Davies, Barks.

Can't say much about Rom as he only scored two and had one assist. Not good enough.

Lukaku has improved immensely this year, he is bigger faster and even stronger, his finishing has improved too, but I cringe when I see people tell us he now has a decent first touch and those who don't see it don't understand the game – Oh the irony. He can still control it further than most of us can kick it

It's also a tad embarrassing when people boast that he "does not score penalties" ... it's as if they have forgotten why he no longer takes them.

Lukaku has had a truly brilliant season, if people just satisfied themselves with saying that, perhaps we would not get so many equally daft counter arguments.

Must give credit to koeman with playing youngsters and improvements of players such as barkley. A great run since coming back from the last international break. Hope the break doesn't hurt us.

Lukaku is also class. We all know he is not an Evertonian but we seriously need to do what we can to keep him..

If you ever used words like "i just don't see it" about Barkley, or called Lukaku lazy on a regular basis, get yourself one of them fly away balls, go in the garden and start from the beginning.

4 years down the line and Lukaku who is 23 still hasn't had a decent partner or at least some competition. He played 2 seasons in a dreadful set up and broke records but some people called him and slagged him. Unbelievable. Give me half a Lukaku over 10 Andy Johnsons.

Today's game was never in doubt, we were in control for 90 minutes.

Clean sheets and playing some nice stuff. Do you agree?

Reading your post, you have contradicted yourself in each paragraph and your post comes over as a veiled attempt to cover yourself from your constant criticism of a truly prolific predator, who proved you wrong today and continues to do so.

Your mention of the fact that it's embarrassing when people mention the fact that he doesn't score penalties, merely emphasises your begrudgery. You are a prominent poster on TW, often controversial... but very wrong regarding Lukaku and his stats.

There have been a couple of fantastic atmospheres at Goodison this season when we really did make a lot of noise but, slowly, the main change is that there is a momentum of trust building. It's still got a long way to go to reach the levels of enthusiasm I'd like to see but it's very promising and will build and build I hope.

Not long ago Koeman said publicly that Lukaku would have to leave to fulfil his ambition. This week, Lukaku reiterated his ambition, but never once said that he should leave Everton. Every indication was that he wants to achieve success, including CL, with Everton. Folks claim he wants out, but that is an assertion without supporting evidence, and it doesn't wash.

An irony of Koeman saying he was unhappy with what Lukaku said, is that Lukaku didn't say he should leave Everton, whereas Koeman had done. Koeman's criticism of Lukaku's comments has all the classic marks of management producing a defensive response to valid concerns being raised, in much the same way that Martinez shouted Baines down last season. Again, it doesn't wash.

Anyway, another good result, yet again playing below what we're capable of but still winning comfortably.

And Martinez swore blind we were an attacking team. Koeman doesn't have to say what we are he just coaches them to dominate the ball rather than pass and stand still. Its like Barkley and Lukaku have to be the focus because so many people have been wrong about them including the media.

There are fans who will have commented on these things that believed McCarthy was the best thing since Roy Keane not so long ago. They don't want him near the team now. This says it all about the level of support or criticism we give our more talented players.

I've supported this club for over half a century and while sadly I can't get to the match much any more I had a season ticket for decades and was there in person watching us pick up trophies at home, at Wembley and in Rotterdam. So most likely before most of the moaners here were even born. What we have right now is the best opportunity we have had in years and years of breaking back into the big time.

And Lukaku isn't just key to that, he is vital. As is Ronald Koeman. So please, just shut up. Stop whining, start making some noise and get behind the club you claim to support. Or are most of you actually RS trolls?

There's a couple of sides around us now starting to look over their shoulder, bring it on! COYBB.

On your first point of course he wants to improve hes 23. Thats what great players want. I heard Messi say he wants to keep improving when Enrique took over. Our fans would probably find something in Messi's decision making or hate him for saying he would like to play at the highest level.

Generally in the last three or four seasons they have scored roughly between 4-7 goals in all competitions a season against the Sky 6. In fact in the 2013-14 season alone Lukaku scored six goals against those teams. This season so far I think most of the top scorers have maybe three goals in those games. Aguero usually scores more "important" "big-time" goals than any other striker but this season I don't think he's scored any.

As for him going long spells without scoring, apart from the last 9 starts and 1 sub appearance last season without scoring a goal(in which time the team as a whole was awful) his goal scoring rate has been as consistent as other strikers. They all go three or four games without a goal two or three times a season and usually endure a barren patch of 5-8 games without a goal even Dixie Dean had lean spells. He also contributes a fair amount of assists per season for a striker whose is considered lazy and selfish. Lukaku isn't the perfect striker but he's scored 20+ goals three seasons straight, he'd be hard to replace.

Koeman has to stay for me. He is honest in his analysis of situations and wants more from the players. Lukaku is the best number nine since I have been supporting the club but his outbursts are unprofessional. Our midfielders provide chance's for him and if he goes we move on. Strikers are only as good by the service they receive. Barkey leaving would disappoint me greatly. Just think he is getting better and better.

A besetting sin of Evertonians, and indeed Everton players, is to imagine ourselves on a run of success or to be on the brink of serious achievement, when all we have really done is to win games we always should win. And then – bang – our party balloon gets punctured. It's become a sad ritual.

Get results in the next two games, showing courage and confidence, and we can all start to believe that something is happening, really happening.

Right now we seem to be getting more than we deserve. If it keeps on happening then you can't just call it good luck. 3-0 and 4-0 can't be that uninspiring can it? We're doing something right.

I can't wait to see the BBC's top 7 caption... there's no way they'll produce a top 6 with United not in the picture.

We're making a real go of it but these last two results show progress, rather than showing we are ready to take on the top 6.

The pessimist in me says that we'll be let down in the next couple of games, and go back to understanding where we sit (very, very seventh). But just maybe... it's just two games after all. We can take anyone on our day can't we?

Come on Ron. Have a real crack at these games. There's nothing to lose... you won't be criticised for going for the win and losing. If you play damage limitation and lose, you'll deserve criticism.

We've had all the big clubs except Chelsea at Goodison and we've done alright with one exception. Drew with Spurs, United. Beat City, Arsenal. Obviously we all know what happened against that lot.

Maybe our biggest problem isn't that we aren't good enough, but that we don't believe we're good enough. There's evidence to suggest that we're a good team. Certainly Liverpool have believed they were set for greatness with far less talent in their ranks... they don't want for confidence that lot.

I feel like our worst crime would be to go into these games hoping to hang on. Liverpool are nothing special, nor are United. Go through their teams... do they have a player like Lukaku available in their ranks? Are their defences anything special? Who in their midfield can escape Gana, create like Ross?

On current form who scores more than us? Who concedes fewer?

Two big games coming up, I just hope Rom has a go at these and does not set up to pack the midfield and defence, must need wins, may as well go shit or bust and have a go.

I agree with you entirely. I think Koeman is starting to get things rolling, we have talent and it could become very exciting for us. But, above all, we must develop mental strength and we need a leader on the pitch to stop us panicking and flopping in difficult games (and, in truth, sometimes in games that are not difficult). I have hopes of Schneiderlin in that regard.

If I'm honest, I still think we lack quality and would like to see 4-5 top buys in the summer. However, teamwork, bravery and confidence can work absolute wonders in any event.

Ernie, I will measure him in these next two games. If he sets up and wants to defend then even with better players next year he's like to instinctively want to do the same. Not good in my opinion.

Go for it and you just might cut our trajectory in half and get us there in one season.

If we win one and lose one then I'd be happy. Two draws, meh no thanks!

Given we are likely to play Chelsea post winning the league, that might help, Arsenal on the last day should mean nothing.

The rest of the games are very winnable. It's here if we can finally grasp the nettle.

The only quality outfit in there are City but nonetheless those results aren't coincidental.

Thoughts have immediately turned to the derby now. And the knots are there in the stomach. Anticipation and dread! Come on you blue boys!

It's bad enough Shearer saying manure and the rentboys will be after him and I know its happened in the past with players moving to the shite but obviously Le Saux knows nothing whatsoever about modern football to even mention those fuckers in regard to an already touchy subject!

It would be world war 3 round these parts if that even had a sniff of a chance!
Stick to waxing your cow's lick, Le Saux, you absolute dickhead!

No...Let's.

Otherwise the point?

Fuck the BBC fuck the media Everton have to do no more than win three points from each game and that's enough for me. BTW 21 goals for our goalscrorer and whether he stays or goes nobody can take it away from him or the points we have accumulated. We are on the way with or without Lukaku but, if you prefer to listen to the media, we're doomed.

So typical of EFC to have a key injury (Scheiderlin).

But bollocks to all that.

Let's humiliate those bastards and take 4th place.

(I think that they were about 13 points ahead of us at one stage of the season).

Get Paul McKenna in for a "Think yourself totally twatting the rs" session.

As for the media / pundits, it's always the same whenever we put a decent run together - they are like vultures.

Screw the lot of them.

'Those that don't understand don't matter.'

He is so out of touch that he has clearly never heard of "Moneyball" and does not realise that the "Moneyball" philosophy would probably find DCL a reasonable target – but certainly not RL at the probable asking price.
Le Saux – like so many MOTD pundits, is living in the past and has no idea of the modern game nor modern values.

Why the BBC continue to dredge them up is a mystery?

'What sort of player scores 20-odd league goals for Everton and then decides to leave at the end of the season?'

Now I know the blokes got a God complex but that is fucking unbelievable.

These people will be the end of me.

In the first half when the game reached 40 minutes hundreds in the Park End headed down to the concourse presumably to feed their faces or drink the cold, fizzy, tasteless lager. Perhaps it is just the way many modern fans behave with their short attention spans or perhaps they just don't get fed at home.

We have one or two haven't figured out why.

Hahaha.

Truth is, pundits could just as easily discuss the situation from the angle of what Everton might do to keep him, highlight our club's obvious steps forward and so on. That almost never happens. Notice too the debate has begun to narrow more and more on other Premier League clubs as options, and not the European teams.

Several here have alluded to the suspicious way the status quo is maintained during the Lukaku saga. I agree, and hereby offer myself as captain of that team. I've been watching their tactics for years.

Ross Barkley is being "Coupled" with the Lukaku discussions more and more too. It's no coincidence. We're likely in for a bumpy ride with Barkley I believe. The wording in, I think, The Telegraph about Spurs' interest in Barkley and Zaha was to imply it a formality, written as what Spurs "expect to pay". The words are not random.

As to today, a thoroughly successful performance. The feeling in this thread is rightly much more positive overall. Our fantastic teams in the '80s played many games this way. We were tighter and more consistent, but usually stayed patient and just did what we needed to, when we needed to, particularly away from home. We were often simply efficient.

Chelsea are fantastic this season... and we've matched them in form for months. The difference is they've done it for almost the whole season. That's most of the difference. Maintain our belief, up our game against bigger clubs and improve the consistency, we're in the mix.

In all their successes in the Abramovitch era, Chelsea have won shitty many times. We have no problems worth being overly negative about on the park, injury worries aside. Plunder of our better players is the biggest concern.

Great win today, even though we got fortunate. It was a red all day for me, he went over the bull. Next two are a major test of our ambitions. We haven't won at Norway in years. But I'm hoping for 6 points. :)

After getting myself involved in a bit of trouble while young at Elland Road, my dad insisted I go in the stands with them the next season.

What a place that was back then. It was worse in the stands! Even the middle aged people, the families, the grannies, they were nasty as hell. We left that one about five minutes early.

Koeman after winning 4-0 today: "Everton were not so good"
Martinez after losing 2-3 at home to West Ham:

"It wath, a phenomen-aaaal performanth"

Enough said.

Evertonians are hyper-sensitive about all things Everton, just as shit-munchers are hyper-sensitive about everything that goes on over at Mordor. It's the same at every club.

Speculation is rife at Arsenal for example when talking about Sanchez, and the little bug-eyed-German who's name escapes me – Ozil – their names are plastered all over the papers just as much as Lukaku & Barkley.

We played well at times. Davies and Gana were terrors in the midfield. Morgan is a huge loss because he is a hammer – I hope he is ready to go sooner than later. We have a good chemistry in the midfield with Barks leading the charge. It just isn't the same with Barry or Macca. I think we're still one or two midfielders away. Perhaps a Gylfi or a Lamela (yes, he is currently injured but could fit our system), could spark some more forward progression.

Valencia is starting to perhaps be the option off the bench we have been looking for but he will probably return to West Ham after his loan. They will want him back now. Calvert-Lewin is not ready for a full-time striker role and won't be for another couple of seasons. He could be our next option off the bench to give Lukaku a break. I would like to see a Cavani or a Lacazette bought in the summer. That would surely keep Lukaku happy. It would spell the end of Mirallas and Lennon but that is a sacrifice that must be made.

I think great times are ahead. It's very exciting. But, we have to keep hold of Barkley, Lukaku and Koeman. If not, Everton must open up the hidden wallet. Nobody will want to come to a place that trades their solid foundation for cement.

'DCL is not ready for a full-time striker role and won't be for another couple of seasons.'

Assuming Scheirderlin and McCarthy are both unavailable for the derby, I would like Koeman to go bold and field a mid-field of Gueye, Davies and Barkley with Lukaku and Mirallas up top.

3-5-2

Robles
Williams, Jagielka, Funes Mori
Coleman, Gana, Barkley, Davies, Baines
Mirallas, Lukaku.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Lennon, Barry, Valencia, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin

That second half and parts of the first showed how raw he is. He's a clever one I think, loved it when he tried to pull a Davies as he attempted to split two defenders, and it will happen for him but not yet. I would have loved to see him more involved today.

I like the lad and was really pleased with his goal because he was where he should have been. With that said, if Lukaku couldn't play for a match, I would go with Valencia. Enner hits his runs better, which is because of experience over time. Experience is what DCL has to gain. When that happens, he will be a fine striker-at least that is my hope.

By the way, not being critical of the kid. I really do want him to succeed. I just think we need to develop him at a good pace because he looks very promising to me. Another season working with Lukaku should do wonders for him.

GP W D L GF GA GD Pts 2.5+
1 Everton 10 7 2 1 26 7 +19 23 60%
2 Tottenham 10 7 2 1 24 8 +16 23 60%
3 Chelsea 10 7 2 1 21 10 +11 23 60%
4 Manchester Utd 10 6 4 0 17 5 +12 22 30%
5 Manchester City 10 6 2 2 17 9 +8 20 60%
6 West Bromwich 10 5 2 3 14 15 -1 17 60%
7 Arsenal 10 5 1 4 18 15 +3 16 70

It shows the improvement from the manager and his team. The performances are sometimes not what we would like to be watching agreed. In saying that, the performances will come. It's Koemans first season an he is settling into the job well. Having the benefits of a full season under his belt, and with the players he will bring in next season watch us go.

One thing that is mentioned on a regular basis is how Koeman is perceived to play too defensively at home. The fact that in the last 8 home matches we have scored 24 goals and won 7 games dispels that myth.

As for the media, they all want to maintain the status quo and is self-perpetuating. Let's hope like Leicester we burst their bubble.

Being the only Darren who regularly criticises Koeman on here I assume you were talking to me. I'll answer as honestly as I can

Koeman has improved.

He knew we had history when he came, but I don't think he realised the size of the task, the size of the club, the size of the fan base and I'm absolutely certain he wasn't prepared for the passion or the knowledge of your average Evertonian.

Slowly (very slowly) he has realised we are a million miles away from being a Southampton. He will by now, be in no doubt that he is in charge of one of the oldest and finest footballing institutions in the world.

Honestly Terry

I can sit and pick holes in Koemans management all day long. The speed at which he does things drives me nuts. I hate this "tells it like it is" bollocks. He talks as much shite as any other manager, more than most. I despair when people glibly claim "seeeee, he's better than the last manager"... Better than Martinez??? Surely we need to be setting the bar higher than that?

Our football has been disjointed and sloppy this season, but we are now scoring lots of goals. It could be worse, we could be firing blanks, or playing stylish football AND firing blanks.

Having said all of that, there is a growing belief that he is taking us north. There can be no doubt that the extra effort he has demanded from the players is beginning to bear fruit and they look far more confident as a result. It would be wrong to even try to deny him credit for that.

Our away record is still some way short of where it needs to be, but he has a golden opportunity to put that right. Two points or better from OT and Mordor would be lovely, Two really big performances would do me though.

I'm an Evertonian, I support the club, not a manager who is only here because we are paying him a kings ransom. If he justifies his wages and brings us CHampions League football or a trophy I will be right at the front when the credit is handed out.

the fact there's media skulduggery surrounding other clubs doesn't detract from the point, it reinforces it. Doesn't excuse it either.

We've got a great opportunity to go to those two grounds and get the wins that could help us force our way into the top four. Why would anyone want to be pragmatic about it?

Of the likely candidates, Besic hasn't kicked a ball yet, if he started tomorrow I doubt he would be ready for 5 or 6 weeks. McCarthy who knows, especially if he goes to the Irish squad and actually plays...they have form for ruining our players.

I just hope they don't rush Scheinderlin back to soon.

Off the top of my head 3 including yesterday's 2. ( the other was at Leicester).

However, he has definitely scored a lot more goals in the second half than the first and a significant number in the last ten minutes.

Maybe because he is lazy he conserves more energy to use in the last ten!

Also, a couple of them get irritated with Klopp's antics and showmanship. Like us, they're interested in what their team does on the pitch, not the peripheral media shite. Of course, it's even more irritating for us, because of the bias, so the best thing to do is ignore it. I watch MotD with the sound off, so I don't have to listen to the drivel.

MOTD doesn't upset me at all as a result. If the way it's produced upsets you, just watch it at a time when you can forward through all the waffle from Graeme The Sox, and Alan Shearer – I have zero interest in what they have to say about Stoke or West Ham, or the shit munchers so why bother to let something upset you?

I don't own a TV for the same reasons, because advertising is (as Bill Hicks said) the devils work, and I refuse to have it in my home. Same goes for the MOTD nonsense.

"I watch MOTD with the sound off, so I don't have to listen to the drivel".

That works for me as well – with my wife.

His link-up play is massively improved and he's taken us to the point where not only is a half-decent ball to him out of defence a chance to relieve any pressure but also a huge threat on the break.

You only need to look at his contribution to the first two goals against W Brom to see this.

May no mistake, losing Rom would mean losing a lot more than his goals.

One final point about his late goals – how great it is that he still has juice in the tank to finish sides off at the end when other strikers might have been subbed earlier?

Where do you think we stood in that table?

Some saying that we are only 8 points behind xxx team with 9 games to play. It's the same to WBA, we only 7 points more with 9 games to go.

Enjoyed the game. Thought we were always in control and an easy win. Thought Davies played very well and credit to Valencia when he came on. It's refreshing to see is score so many every home game, famtastic to see!

Still not totally convinced Barkley is the creative midfield player that will get us into the top four and help to win us a trophy. If Koeman buys a top creative midfield player, would that mean Barkley is benched?

Shame Schneiderlin is out, but he should be okay. Virtually guaranteed Europe, let's have some fun trying to overtake the RS and Arsenal. 😃

Mike Gaynes has mentioned him as an option on here before. May be worth a thought as well as Keane. Interestingly, Williams is 4th in the clearances list, I see. Gueye is 5 tackles ahead of Kante, by the way.

I certainly feel more confident with him at the back than Stones! Sure his distribution can be poor but he does what most were calling for last year – defends!

The number of clean sheets over last couple of months surely means that something is going right!

I just watched MotD2 Extra, and they actually gave us some air time for a change. They started off about Lukaku making it public that he was not signing an extended contract, and that it was not a smart way to go about it. After that it was all praise for every aspect of the club from Lukaku, Koeman, fans, young players, home form, new ownership, possible new ground etc etc.

The consensus being that it is the wrong time for Rom and Barkley to leave Everton because the club is on the rise.

The main difference between this season and last is the acquisition of Williams. Perhaps we're (I'm) missing something.

Although he's not particularly outstanding in any of the games he's often clearing things, blocking things and organising others. Clearly not the answer long term but just what we needed after the diabolical defending of the previous two years!

Fella by me left at 1-0, but I think it was because his young kid was playing up, but he also had Calvert Lewin to score 1st and 4-0. Like yourself George, he came across as a bit of a character so I was made up for him anyway. I just hope his kid enjoyed the pub more than the match, because that's where he said they was going!

Also think Lukaku, will sign a new contract, but only if Everton, lower the selling price that is being reported?

Without a doubt the media, managers, players and other supporters have a sly look at what is being said on here, they wouldn't be human if they didn't.

I hail from the Wirral and travel by car with two others. We take turns in driving. I HATE the fact we leave early and swore after missing two goals on Saturday that I'll never do it again. I've never done it before travelling with those I travel with now.

My fellow "travellers" like to "miss the rush" and get back to the Wirral/home/ the pub 15 minutes earlier than they would if they waited until the final whistle.

Makes no sense whatsoever to me as I like to clap the last player off the pitch and see their reactions at the end of a good win etc.

So, in short, a lot leave early for convenience,,,,go figure, I can't!

It's pretty close!!

This would be a huge slap in the face for the investors as it has cost them a fortune to get this Klopp guy and the squad he has.

Pity we still have to play Man Utd.

The sort of stuff that must have given him nightmares. I would imagine they are told to stay away from such sites, but expect they can't resist.

One is obsessed with silver in the form of medals, trophies and success.

The other swerves them. Swerves silver like a vampire. Swerves trophies like Newcastle.

I know who I want.

Lukaku has never said he wants to leave Everton. However, Koeman has said that Lukaku will need to leave Everton. You and others have a vivid imagination, perhaps aided and abetted by the media.

Hmmm...let's see, 23 year-old striker, bangs goals in for fun and is desired by top teams. 53 year-old manager, scowls for fun, desired by nobody.

As Shylock Holmes said to Juliet in the Merchant of Vienna (part 1) 'Tis a comparison that is a load of fucking shite.'

By the way, I cheered loudly for Lukaku, simply to further enrage the unhinged 'drop the twat!' barm-pots on TW.

I'm serious - when he got a cheer, I smiled thinking about some of the posts I'd read on here last week.

All I could think of was a cheer coming through a radio in a secure unit and Jon Cox having to be liquid coshed (with a smirking Nurse Ratched looking on).

I'll accept he has had a good start for the saints but he will soon be found out ala Jelavic for us.

I believe the Belgians tend to stick together and that the player he was on about was Witsel.

'Obviously stuff is changing and stuff is happening, but like I said there were some players that we could have got. That I knew the club could have got and they didn't get. And they are playing in this league. I am not saying names, but they are doing well.'

Who knows, that fits though. But then it may have been someone like Mata who Rom might have been looking at as a potential supplier.

I must admit when he was signed I had the same feeling of underwhelment as when Walter Smith was appointed manager. All of the signings apart from Gana and Schneiderlin(excuse the spelling) have been disappointing.

I'm not including Lookman as he is one for the future.

Fintan, I think you're a plant. I don't mean a herbaceous perennial sort of plant, although your footballing nous is somewhat less than the average Begonia, but a plant surreptitiously slipped onto ToffeeWeb by our lovable neighbours to cause alarm and distress to the regular posters with your silly comments about Lukaku etc.. However, the regular posters have spotted you for what you are. Richard à la tête. Or Dick, to your mates.
.

I understand us looking up to him as the figure who guides us but I totally get your point too. He did need to raise his game as manager and credit to him for seemingly doing that. We are far more hopeful at this point than the last 2 years and hes changing the mentality.

At least since Christmas anyway. That didn't stop him making mistakes at Spurs so hes not immune to errors just like any manager. I just want him to continue as a whole like we have since Christmas and I will support his judgement until its worth poking at. Good post though mate.

As for scoring goals for fun... so did Willie Pettigrew... he now sells newspapers in Bellshill.

Eugene as Prince Lev says to Derek Dougan in Dostoyevsky's The Idiot'Ya made a right tit aff yer self big lad...'

Ray (#210), you are a daft old stick!

Great to know not everyone thinks I'm a complete crackpot.

Ray

Fintan a plant? Where've you been, fella? He too is a regular poster. He is more likely to be seen chatting with the intellectuals over on the OF.

Question his opinion, mate, but don't doubt his credentials.

Now, when you have facts, folks can interpret them, and those interpretations are subjective beliefs. Some on TW have interpreted them to mean that Lukaku wants to leave Everton. But there can be, and are, other interpretations. One, which is mine, is that Lukaku does not want to leave Everton, that he wants to stay here and achieve success, including the Champions League. I think that because, if he wanted to leave, all he need do is continue to score lots of goals and then other clubs would come running. The last thing he would do is make a fuss about the management of Everton. If he wanted to leave, he wouldn't care enough about Everton to make a fuss.

Now, I could be wrong in my interpretation of the facts, precisely because it's a subjective judgement. Equally, other interpretations could be wrong. With my interpretation, I would be tempted to say that Everton is having the same effect on Lukaku that it did on Alan Ball and Alex Young, that Lukaku has become an Evertonian. This is the polar opposite to you saying Lukaku is a traitor.

At the end of the day, rather than jumping to interpretations of the facts, it's probably a good idea to just stick with the facts. Otherwise, you're entering the territory of the media, the territory of gossip, soap opera, bias and propaganda.

My comments were purely for fun and I'm sure Fintan has a sufficiently good sense of humour to realise that.

Fair enough. It was probably your repeated use of the term "regular posters" which threw me.

My original point was that it was crass to cheer him on Saturday. Think of it this way... if on Friday night you heard your missus was shagging around and when you asked her she neither confirmed or denied it. Would you still give her a bunch of flowers Saturday morning, (or whatever else you favour giving her on Saturday)?

You heard

I'll stop you there, because you don't say WHO Stan is supposed to have heard this from and that is (surely) key.

If for instance he heard it from some local, mad, nasty-minded, swivel-eyed 'oul gossip, I would hope he would dismiss it and trust his good lady (or to put it another way, don't believe the shite you read in the desperate-to-fill-space papers).

You say - 'it really is not accurate to say Lukaku hasn't said he wants to leave. What is true is that he hasn't said it publicly.'

Sorry, is Lukaku being..bugged?

I'll tell you what he definitely said, the stuff that's in quotes - anything else is pure guesswork (which maybe right or maybe complete bollocks).

You add - 'What is also true is that he he has not denied the speculation...which would have put an end to it.'

This is absolutely true, you're right...but maybe he sees things the way I do.

And in his position, I wouldn't be denying anything either, I'd be thinking 'I'm not denying every two-bob fucking rumour posted online or in the shitty British press, fuck 'em!'

I'd also think 'and I'm not responding just to satisfy every unhinged online pot-herb who knows what's 'best' for me.'

He seems (to me) smart enough to know that once he starts answering questions, he won't get "Oh ok, cheers", he'll get "Why?" and end up here Link

In the 'Lukaku' situation I'd use a similar process of course, but of course the situation is different and there are different types of evidence to consider. And I don't know Lukaku personally. I wouldn't call him a traitor, but equally I wouldn't get any flowers for him, even from the cemetery.