U23s begin title defence with a draw

It must be heart-breaking for Jonjoe to realise he is third choice for the right back position, I hope it doesn't get to him too much.

This situation stinks to me even though I was told a couple of weeks ago that Kenny was more than likely to be going on loan pretty soon.

So Jonjoe is third in line behind a reserve centre back and a free transfer who couldn't get a regular game with Southampton last season – great reward for the years of hard work he has put in at Finch Farm and Everton. I hope Koeman knows what he is doing in this case.

No striker; no decent right back – even Leicester look a decent outfit tonight.

I despair and I am beginning to worry before a ball has even been kicked. It must be the gin affecting my judgement – it is after all Friday night!

I saw Jonjoe's dad when I was going into Goodison Park last week, asked him if his lad was starting, and he said "I don't know".

"He should be" is what I said, and not because I was talking to the kids arl fella. I said it because I think he should be given his chance but, like thousands of Evertonians, what do I know?

If he got a chance and didn't take it, then I would know a lot more, but as it stands and putting myself in the kids position, then I would be thinking that I've got to get away from Everton, for the good of my career.

As big a statement as it sounds, Kenny is already at this young age a proven winner, that is a quality lacking from our first team and needs to be installed into the first team squad.

Kenny playing right back is a no-brainer, at very least he should be back up to Holgate; the signing of Martina is a big fuck up all round.

Side-note: did anyone watch Sunderland yesterday?

Galloway defended excellently, he is an ideal replacement for Funes Mori and great cover for Baines.

Galloway back and Kenny instead of Martina would have freed up money allowing us to buy more attacking flair that we so desperately lack.

After the bright start to the window, we have again faltered and failed the fans imo, we are being spoken about as big spenders but the truth is we've spent fuck all and we won't get Koeman's main striking target and have waited far to late to sign Sigurdsson who is Koeman's main target. Stoke will be tough but the next few will be even tougher.

Nobody is suggesting he will oust Coleman as first choice but in his absence what better chance to blood him into the team. I hate having to pick on Martina (like poor Cleverley before him) because it isn't his fault but what sense does it make settling for such average fare when Kenny has the potential to be so good.

I feel your pain, regards Jonjoe.

I have to agree with all the posters. That Jonjoe should be playing right back in Seamus's absence.

Ron wanted to play Gana, Morgan and Davy but the first two don't work in the same team and Tom has shown yet again that he cannot be ignored. Jonjoe has to do the same.

Ron has assembled a very unbalanced squad with too many pedestrian CMs and a shortage at CB whilst farming out Galloway who should be the cover we seek at CB/ LB.

I have still to be convinced by him and feel that he is trying to get top 4 by buying rather than building; great if he can but very difficult. Better for the club to build with the youth and use their energy and desire rather than buy established players who might not have the same winning mentality.

What I can't fathom is the lack of a replacement for Lukaku; we all knew that he was going before the end of last season so what was the plan? Sandro looks decent, Wayne might work out well but neither could be viewed as a replacement for Lukaku so what was the plan and why hasn't it worked?

Why buy Davy if Gylfi is a must-have – this overloads us in CM whilst we are too light elsewhere.

Hopefully it will all gel and we will be praising Ron for his astute management. If it doesn't then with the difficult start we have and the money he has spent then his job could be vulnerable by October.

In another thread Lyndon asks are we making progress ? are they faltering steps one thing I wholly dislike about Koeman is his reluctance to give our youngsters the opportunities they deserve. Having once aspired to be a professional footballer I know that it is demoralizing being constantly overlooked in this manner / farmed out on loan especially when the rewards are so high.

Some folk defend Koeman by citing his selection of Davies, Holgate and Calvert-Lewin but they are only bit part players who he only selects when his chosen XI are not available.

Based on merit Kenny should be playing right-back today, Mirallas has done nothing to suggest he should start ahead of Lookman. On current form how does Schneiderlin make the squad? Credible cases can be made for more of the youngsters to be given their opportunity.

0-0 away to West Ham Utd is not a bad result. What was our centre-back pairing? Jones & Feeney?