How do Everton take the next step?

I think it would be a mistake to focus on one position in our recruitment.

Firstly, we have all positions well covered with quality, so recruiting isn't our issue, becoming settled, familiar and consistent is more important.

Secondly, the quality of player who will improve us from here is going to be very, very difficult to sign; players that good will want to go to established top six sides or the best teams in Europe.

Brands will have a huge database and files on all the players he thinks are good enough. We need to sign them if and when they're available, whatever their position, rather than trying to focus on signing a position, where the new guy may not be better than what we have.

For me it’s not even about signings or something just as simple as signing a striker.

In my opinion we are already a very good football team, yes we are still in progress but we are a team that looks very confident playing against the teams outside the top six.

But now let me take us to my next point, which is where we need to improve.

Since we beat Manchester City 4-0 in January 2017 under the leadership of Ronald Koeman we have played 21 matches home and away including league and cup against the top six and we haven’t won any.

This for me is where we can take our first step to the next level.

If we can somehow beat a top six side then that will be a huge mental boost, a shot in the arm to the players who look so confident and classy against 7th place down but come up against a Chelsea, City, United, Liverpool, Tottenham or Arsenal and we have sudden attacks of the jitters in front of goal with silly decisions being made and easy chances scotched.

Ok, we can blame referees to some extent too but let me say this.

Does anyone think we would have scored that wonderful breakaway goal against Brighton if we were pitted against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge?

We look so much more worried and doubtful when we face a top six side, players seem to take leave of their sense and madcap decision making comes to the fore.

So that for me is how this Everton team moves on to the next level.

We are playing some dazzling football right now but until we lose our inhibitions and let ourselves truly go against a top six side then you get the feeling the sides above us are quite happy in the knowledge that there’s a safe glass ceiling between 6th and 7th.

Let’s see what Sunday brings but I’m not holding my breath.

Our next step has to be a change in attitude and mindset and that we can go and compete and beat these teams.

Do that and the sky’s the limit.

There never was a surplus of wingers in the squad, just Walcott, Bernard and Lookman. If the wingers play well for the rest of this season, we will see Richarlison transition into our main striker and goal threat over the coming months. Calvert-Lewin and Tosun will play from the bench.

We perpetually seem to be 2 players away from being a good side. I wonder if, in reality, with a bolder mentality and a plan to succeed against the top 6, we may be able to cover for squad deficiencies.

We need a top centre-forward for sure. But from what I have seen, on any given Sunday we have at least 5-6 players capable of putting the opposition on the back foot if they are confident and in the mood.

Win one of these games away from home and I think we will not only be on our way to consistency and winning a trophy, but the top centre-forward we want may actually be ready to join the club knowing that the side is tuned to perform on the big stage.

If Everton are to reverse the trend of struggling in the deep end, two areas of the team have to be addressed: the right flank and the forward line. They are both seen as weaknesses. Arsenal exposed the forward line as being easily channeled to the extent that Cech looked as if he was on the training ground. Man Utd exposed the right flank as Everton's tactical weakness. All the top teams will relentlessly pursue these two areas in their tactical plans against Everton and will try to break up Everton team play in others areas. These two weak areas will give them more time and opportunities to exploit the latter objective.

To have a centre-forward who is playing out of his best position doesn't happen in the top six, To have two centre-forwards who are not first choice in the squad would never happen. Everton have one of the poorest records in the Premier League regarding completed passes in the final third, with corresponding stats for forwards to prove it.

On the right flank, we have a winger who, in the last four games, has had the least amount of touches than any other outfield player. At right-back, we have a player struggling with fitness, due to a botched recovery which the Club and himself share responsibility. His rehabilitation at the end of last season was rushed with predictable results at the start of this season and he himself did not show the necessary awareness to guide his own successful recovery, allowing Big Sam to play him for two 90-minute games and allowing himself to be called for international duty though struggling for fitness, resulting in a setback injury. This player is capable of playing at the highest level but could be lost due to this botched approach. A replacement is being sought as would be the case in a top-six club.

Brands and Silva are definitely heading in the right direction, though football authorities are definitely not Everton-friendly. It is to their credit that a line can be drawn, as Gary has outlined, and the areas that need improving can be clearly seen.

We haven't had a result like that away against one of the top 6. Yes, I know we beat Man Utd when Moyes was in charge but Man Utd were poor then.

So our next 2 games will tell us a lot about our ability and belief, to play 2 teams away in the top 4 will be a real test. I don't think this season will be the season to start winning away at the top 4 although would be delighted not to lose both games.

Talking about the next step... well, a lot may depend on if we can persuade Gomes and Zouma to sign permanent deals. I also think the more Richarlison plays up top the better he will become, whether he can fulfill that role time will tell but I am very hopeful he can. There is no doubt Silva has made great strides with this team in fact what he has done in such a short period of time is brilliant. Not only the results but the style of play, has improved and will keep on improving the more time he has with the players.

But we have decent players in every position as well as decent cover. Improving from here by simply adding new players will be difficult. But if the team gels then I think we'll see a dramatic step up.

To make the step up we need to realise that we do have a team and a squad that is very competitive. Fully tuned up we can match or beat any of the top 6. Yes, Man City included, and definitely the RS.

We played Arsenal and Man Utd away from home. We were unlucky. We can take revenge.

We have good players to come in due to injuries or drops in form . This factor will come increasingly into play as the season develops and other sides suffer squad depletion.

Unless say a club comes in with silly money for Tosun and or Niasse in January and we have a quality replacement lined up, I would stick with this squad for this season and see what they are made of.

Also of interest is Silva's ability to keep the form consistent. It will be a challenge. The stability he now has and the superb backing he has had from Farhad and Brands will help him here. I'm confident he can keep the players focused and playing well throughout.

One more thing, the breakaway goal scored by Richarlison was a super thing. This counter-attacking at breakneck speed is being drilled into the likes of Sigurdsson and is bearing fruit. I would like us to improve this further, it is the type of devastating play that gets teams up to the next level.

Sorry, another thing! Headed goals from corners and set pieces are an absolute essential for any team with top 4 aspirations. Yerry Mina's introduction will give us some of that. He could force himself in with a MotM performance against Chelsea.

Imagine the astronomical boost to fans and players it would give?

I firmly believe the win at Old Trafford in 2013 gave us the belief we needed to go on and finish 5th with our record Premier League points total.

It was just a shame things went pear-shaped afterwards but maybe if this current team could achieve it then perhaps the mental barrier would be knocked down once and for all.

When he doesn't score, some moan that it isn't his position. Do you think Spurs fans were saying that when Kane went 4 games without scoring recently? Even when he hasn't scored he's won a penalty or worked the defenders hard.

Who are these strikers that we can realistically buy who can score goals like Richarlison did against Brighton?

I think he is going to make the position his and will end up with 20 plus Premier League goals this season. The kid has something special about him. He's a winner, and we will be fending off huge bids for him in the summer. We don't need to worry about bringing in a new striker, we need to worry about keeping the one that we have got.

This season we have had a ton of corners – a sure sign that we are going forward more. Sadly we have done nowt with them. But Yeri Mina's main attribute is surely the goal threat he poses at corners (I am not saying he can't defend).

Hopefully we can exploit this, starting at Stamford Bridge. I think he can scare the hell out of teams at set pieces – also leading to teams doubling up on him and leaving space for others to take advantage. It really should bring back a goal-scoring dimension we have lacked for years.

I think you can see the team spirit, so obvious under Moyes' regime, is back. The players look happy and enjoying themselves. I keep hearing how the new guys really have blended in so well with the squad. A lot of this should be credited to the manager. He fills me with optimism.

I believe that his winning mentality will, in time, get us over the top 6 inferiority complex we have had for so long. Just look at how many of the current first team are new players (within a year of signing). These are the guys you can mould into a positive new philosophy.

I think we have the players – now it's all about attitude, desire, fight and positivity.

COYB.

Perfect signing: Usmanov.

Then someone like: Dybala, Bale, Malcolm, etc.Plus a better backup goalie than Stekelenburg if I'm being really greedy!

(ps: How cool is it that so many think we have so few changes needed. What a summer!)

That said, I agree that we need a striker. It's not just a case of we lack one, it's more the ones we have are atrocious. I can't think of a worse set of “strikers” in the league than Tosun, Calvert-Lewin and Niasse.

That gives us Bernard, Walcott and Lookman on the wings (plus Onyekuru).

I don’t expect to make many signings in January as there is not often great quality to be had then though you never know. The best move in January could be trying to negotiate a full transfer for Andre Gomes. And possibly Kurt Zouma, though we’ll see how Mina looks first.

Arguably top 6 sides do not have the likes of Niasse, Jagielka (age), Stekelenburg, Baines (age), McCarthy (injuries) as options for the first team. Certainly, top 4 don't.

How many times have we had to play squad members such as these or worse against top six in those games mentioned by OP? More than one derby for sure. Squad members need to be much better. I wouldn't be surprised if all of those have gone over the summer, assuming we retain our current two loanees.

How much more time should Tosun, Dowell, Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Kenny, and Lookman get to break into the team regularly? To the end of this season or next? How many of them can improve to top 6 level?

When we have £100 - 150 million of talent on the bench, we will be improving results step by step. Of course a 'breakthrough' win or two would boost the process.

Brands is already having a major influence on our rate of improvement and I still tend to think Usmanov is in the background – that is how he works. Experience & money is a good combination. Onwards and upwards.

But I do feel we need another attacker, Tosun and Niasse ain't good enough, leaving only Lookman and Calvert-Lewin as back up although I do expect Lookman to start pushing Bernard and Walcott for a first-team position soon.

The player I'd like to see us go for is Cristian Pavon from River Plate. I'd truly recommend any football lover to watch the Libertadores Final first leg on Saturday (Boca Juniors vs River Plate). Pavon is in rich form, not prolific (yet), more a left-sided forward with pace and skill. He could well be Madrid bound or something like it, especially if he has a good impact in the final. The guy is very highly thought of, and this is the type of guy we should be going for.

Richarlison, Pavon, Lookman, Bernard, Walcott, Calvert-Lewin. That'd be up there with the most exciting attacks in the Premier League, and with rich potential to get better and better.

We've had some stuttering, particularly at the start of the season, but that happens even when you have a 'top striker'. We seem to be getting over that stuttering, and gelling more, and now have a variety of options up front, finally supported by what's looking like a creative and quality midfield.

So I'm not particularly fussed if we don't sign another striker, so long as the improvement we're now seeing continues. That's the crux of the matter, the overall team performance, rather than any one striking option.

Strength is depth is needed another outlay of £100+ million to strengthen the bench and provide greater competition within a 16- to 18-man squad. We need a lot better than our first eleven and that will come at considerable cost.

"Cech looked as if he was on the training ground"

Errr, I think Cech got man of the match.

For the first time since Martinez's first season, we actually played football at Arsenal and Man Utd and were undone by 2 shocking decisions (that would still be on the back page if they had gone against any of the Sky 6).

I think the progress has been quite rapid from last season where I (for the first time in 40+ years, I couldn't be bothered).

Now I'm excited again thanks to Silva and Brands.

Spot on. Debunked some absolutely stupid remarks.

Dowell has wasted the first half of this season and he's not getting any better in the stands. We have a good balance at the moment so let's try keeping Gomes and Zouma and try to add a couple quality players each transfer window.