Off-key Everton have to settle for disappointing draw

Drop both! I like it. Watching them has had too many annoying moments for me these last few games.

No guarantee Tosun will produce — he rarely does — but it will say something if Richarlison scores tonight.

Tosun must play down the middle, so that's Richarlison back wide left and Lookman on the right.

Harsh on Keane giving way to Zouma, but I guess all our centre backs need proper game time in this busy month and Mina has played less football due to his earlier injury.

Plenty in that team to beat the Barcodes, so don't fluff your lines, Everton!

Let's see if they can take their opportunity.

Quite a few Evertonians left disappointed. Hope to find a live stream, but it won't be the same - no post-match scouse in the Dark House tonight.

Sunday will have tired Gomes and Gueye so expect some subs second half.

I had a bad feeling about their goal as yet again Everton coughed up cheap possession in midfield with our two full-backs pushed on.

Newcastle exploited the space left by Coleman and Mina and Digne between them made a cock up of the cross. Digne is having his poorest game in an Everton shirt tonight.

We finally scored off a corner, more of a gift from the Newcastle defence rather than anything we did.

Silva clearly not happy with things. Newcastle were more than content to sit deep, waiting for Everton to come on to them. Needs more movement, better passing and better control when receiving the ball to shift the Barcodes out of their comfort zone.

Our better players need to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and lift the whole team. I'll settle for any sort of win right now.

His confidence is so low he isn't even showing for the ball or making runs to get on the end of things.

The cross for their goal should have been defended better by Seamus, then Mina, then Digne. Poor all round – especially the official who seems determined to piss us off.

Newcastle United at home for God's sake!!!!

Painful to watch.

Worst I've seen Richarlison play.

I wouldn't put Bernard near the team until he agrees to wear studs. Sick of watching him slipping over.

Some poorer performances out there tonight; I thought Digne was awful tonight which is hard to understand considering how well he has played previously.

I think we need a big target man and presently Calvert-Lewin is the best we have; we need a target when the pretty football doesn't break the other teams down.

A very frustrating night.

Dire second half. We could have played for another hour and still not score.

Nobody can seem to cross a ball with any accuracy. I lost count of how many corners we wasted? Our dead ball specialists were dreadful. Digne and Sigurdsson need to sort it out. We have guys that can head the ball but nobody that can bloody well cross it!

We had all the possession but never looked like scoring again.

We didn't deserve more than a point tonight.

I don't think Silva's subs reacted to how the team and individual players were performing.

Digne's performance tonight, I'm sorry to say, was possibly the worst individual game by an Everton player this season. When he took that knock, I thought it was a good opportunity to put Leighton on, to give us some control down the left and the chance of improved delivery from open and dead ball plays, because Sigurdson wasn't much better than Digne.

The poor passing, poor control on receiving the ball and truly woeful delivery into their box was absent all night. Very easy for Newcastle to repel, whils,t in the last five minutes at the other end, they had two great opportunities to take all 3 points.

We HAVE to take maximum points at home against this type of opposition. Two points definitely dropped.

I believe Tosun has sealed his fate in the same way Niasse did in September.

The Watford game is huge if we want to still be around that top 6 or 7 come New Year because, after Watford, wins (and goals) will be thin on the ground.

But the worst individual game by an Everton player this season?

We are heading in the right direction. I think some of us can't see it because the shite are doing well, and we have this inferiority complex that we need to lose. (The fans, I mean; Silva and Brands never had it.)

Unfortunately, while things are improving, we are so far behind the top four it is demoralizing. Tosun – by all accounts, a good guy –seems, right now, to be a second-rate player, devoid of any hint of ability that would make him a Premier League striker.

Unlike some, I thought the team selection tonight was appalling.

We have rarely ever pulled off a successful striker coup from unknown leagues and Tosun was quite an expensive flop really. At least Niasse only cost 㾹 million but he was another dud.

Better scouting and a player from a stronger proven League but my first choice now would be Callum Wilson although Bournemouth would have a big say in that no doubt.

We did have chances to kill the game off. Tosun should have scored and is, I'm afraid, not good enough. Walcott was through on goal and showed how lacking in confidence he is.

Richie was a forlorn figure in the second half and struggled. We need a speedy, mobile striker who will make his own space and space for others. Oh and we need an intensive course on how to cross the fucking ball beyond the first defender.

Hangover from the derby? I hope so.

Yes, we can all get angry and frustrated but it's difficult to back up a performance like Sunday with only a couple of days break. We are only just starting to become competitive against the big boys. It's going to take longer to gather that consistently and dig out gritty wins when clearly under par.

We are still 6th with Watford at home Saturday. Rome wasn't built in a day, COYB!!!

95 minutes on the clock at Anfield and you think we are heading away from that dreaded bogey fixture with a hugely morale boosting result and clean sheet until our goalkeeper does something that belongs on a Danny Baker gaffs DVD.

Life was looking rosy until Pickford did that, a 0-0 at Anfield very satisfying and we are happy, all set up then with the team and fans confident going into tonight the odds are we probably win this game against Newcastle and march on brimming with the momentum we are building.

But no, as I say, life being an Evertonian just has a habit of kicking you when you are down.

Tosun is really non-existent and allows teams to maintain a high defensive line, which reduces the space for creativity in the attacking midfield. Players from the wing and midfield are reduced to long-range shots and the defending midfield is reduced to long-range passes.

Everton's finishes are not good enough. Coleman is weak at the back. Passes in the final third have a low completion rate.

Maybe Silva will get his act together for the Watford game. No Tosun please.

I know I'm shouting (again!) at the player on the pitch or the bloody telly at home at his weird, off-balancing acts. Have his boots got studs in them??

Ffs. Every time he is in a commanding sweeping position towards the box as well.

Completely mystified me.

Lookman was fine, though we needed a little more than "fine" in this sort of match.

Digne was poor, but he's been almost breathtakingly consistent up to this point, so I'll cut him some slack.

Glad to see Pickford come up with a big save late, not that I was in the mood for any nervy moments at that point.

I don't know what it is lately but every time I visit Goodison I can't help but think the atmosphere gets worse and worse. Newcastle outsung our fans all evening, credit to them for making the journey and supporting their team like that.

As for us, well let's just say, I think for the first time Silva got the lineup wrong. The only player that should of been dropped and replaced was Walcott for Lookman; everyone else deserved their place on merit alone, to drop Keane, Walcott and Bernard was a strange decision to me.

Although I like Tosun I feel we aren't ever going to be the team that play to his strengths, he is at best a Burnley or Brighton type of player. It's important we have Brands in the case to try and find a better striker. Although the Calum Wilson shout is going around, surely there's someone better out there that will bring more class than him upfront for us.

What I noticed tonight was a complete lacklustre performance, especially when getting into the final third. We pretty much had them contained all evening, although they should of snatched the win late on, we seem to be able to play the ball forward and then suddenly we don't know where to go. I suggest our attackers watch videos of Man City or Liverpool who pass, move, pass, move, all the time forward.

Digne had his worst game for us. I can't remember one decent cross for him, and Walcott when he had a chance to run in on one with the keeper, again stumbles his control, Bernard does his usual slip and airbag shot and Lookman to me looks a bit of all huff and no puff.

It's the same old story. We play epic in the derby and lose the game then play terrible at home against a struggling Newcastle. Typical Everton one would say.

The less also said about Newcastle the better. Time wasting from the first whistle should never be encouraged and tactics such as players taking a drink of water then throwing the bottle on the ground so the goalkeeper has to go and remove it before taking a goal kick to me is such unsportsmanlike behaviour and the FA should look into it. How dare Newcastle perform in this way, this is football, a game which we all love being tarnished by time-wasting, throwing the ball forward ten yards for free kicks, flying in with dangerous tackles etc. Just poor in my opinion.

Also they were very lucky to get away with a hold on Mina in the box, I was sat right opposite and it's a clear penalty. Poor from Lee Mason, who is quite frankly an awful referee.

All in all, a horrible evening at Goodison. Promised so much. Let down, dare I say it, as per usual.

Lookman had a chance to stake a claim and, for me, he blew it. He was poo,r as was Sigurdsson and Tosun. We need to invest in a top striker and midfielder asap or we won't move any further forward than we are now. Squad just isn't good enough. Tosun huffs and puffs but he just ain't up to it.

That's 2 massive points dropped in a very poor performance. We need to step it up next Monday – that's for certain... Very disappointing.

I think Silva got outsmarted, and made a few mistakes changing people round too much during the game (Richie played left, right and centre at some stage).

We'll learn, he'll learn. We are miles better than last year, and we need to keep the faith.

Kudos too to the crowd for good cheer for England's Number One ahead of the game.

Our fans don't sing or do atmosphere anymore.

To be honest, Goodison hasn't “rocked“ since the midway point of the Moyes era and the last time it was truly noisy was in the 1990s.

Don't know what's happened to fans now, too busy on iPhones taking selfies probably.

Not sure why he had to rest players as we aren't playing again until Monday.

Tosen didn't take stake a claim for a spot whilst our quality was poor and passing too predictable in the final third.

Gomes again motm. We are already too dependent on him other players have to take responsibility.

We went for a promising talent hoping for the best. If the plan was to make a serious challenge for top 6 with him, we failed. If the plan was to steady the ship until a proven top manager steps in, we seem to be ready for the next step. Current team is good enough, even with obvious room for improvement. Silva has not managed to bring on any kind consistency nor do I detect any clear mode of play or tactical vision. All we can expect is mid-table mediocrity and 7th (or 6th...if one of top teams fail) place is seemingly more than a challenge for us. With a top-notch squad...

Silva is a decent guy, he needs time, investment etc. The question is how much? We are in the most competitive league and any real success can only be based on results, not wishful thinking.

Tosun barely had a kick in the time he was on. Compare and contrast with Rondon on the other side.

Gana had a bit of a shocker, very slow and inaccurate when on the ball, Newcastle offered so little there was no opportunity for him to do any tackling.

Coleman had one thing to do all evening, which was to cut out the cross for their goal, and he messed it up.

However, the real raspberry goes to Digne. The 'bring back Baines' campaign starts here. Digne must have had 20 or more opportunities to cross the ball, and he made a mess of all of them.

A really disappointing evening all round.

We are still inconsistent and have been for as long as I can remember. Silva must put a stop to it or obviously we will just languish in mid-table at best.

Will Everton ever make us proud of them again? I am beginning to have my doubts.

In the unlikely event that Gomes stinks out the gaffe as much as Digne did this evening – I doubt it – but you never know!

Tosun looks utterly devoid of confidence but nobody apart from the majestic Gomes looked good. Mason was awful and they did a good spoiling job on us.

Oh well. 6th, above Man Utd and 17 points from our last 9 games and yet we are still disappointed. Shows how far we have come.

This time last season we had just drawn at Anfield and won at Newcastle on the Wednesday night and we had registered 5 wins (against Stoke, Bournemouth, Huddersfield, West Ham and Newcastle)

We have registered the same amount of wins this season by the same date and without Europa League football which hindered us grossly last season.

So whilst it looks better on the eye (at times, not always) — are we really really miles better?

I think you're right. Silva got outsmarted and his selection of Tosun played right into Newcastle's plan.

They were a joke of a team who didn't seem to play football with disgusting and dangerous tackles trying to disrupt our brand of football.

I think we will be much better against Watford who I think will come to play a proper and better style of football.

The fat Spanish waiter should be condemned for the type of football (if you can even call it that) they played.

We are currently on 23 so we need a win on Monday to be three points better off unless we get furth bonus points (unlikely) against City and Spurs.

Think we are somewhat clouded by this progress thing.

Yes, at times the play is good but it's results at the end of the day – we need to win more games for real evidence of progress.

Our performance as I suspected after the derby was dire absolutely dire.

We are totally fixated on giving the ball to Gomes regardless of any other pass that might be on.

Now that might be great if he gave the killer pass but tonight he was like the Portuguese Ray Wilkins.

Absolute crap and a waste of a night. Who got kicked out the jungle? That would have been more exciting.

We need more goals in the team and the likes of Bernard, Lookman and Walcott have got be contributing to that end. Tosun regrettably looks insufficient for a team with top 6 aspirations so a striker is surely top of the wanted list though its very, hard to find good ones available in January.

A transitional period in which we were always going to get results like this.

Lookman proved why he isn't first choice, and Bernard has lost his way since he first burst into the team. But the situation is that without a mainline striker – as Tosun, despite his lack of service, is way out of his depth in the Premier League – Everton will continue to have real difficulty in breaking teams down, particularly those who come to stop us from playing.

Jim #53 Everton had played 18 league games by this time last year and had 25 points. That team only took another 24 points from the remaining 20 games. I'm hopeful that we can take more points than that from our remaining 23 Premier League games. Even though tonight was very poor and extremely dissapointing, there was more football played against Newcastle, than in many of the games played last season; unfortunately, the crossing and decision making in the final third let the team down very badly.

Everton are not going to be champions or even Champions League contenders any time soon, and nobody really expected us to be so, but with the right additions, there are signs that this side, providing they keep the likes of Gomes et al are heading in the right direction. Silva got his selections wrong tonight and the players looked psychologically tired and were a yard off the pace throughout and at no time, apart from late in the first half, did they look as if they would win the game.

Sunday was a real blow to the morale of the team and the supporters and unfortunately the hangover from that result continued into the game tonight. Hopefully, Monday will see a vast improvement and a better perfomance and result. If not those naysayers who like to point out the negatives in Everton's team, management and supporters will be out in force to inform us that the Premier League, apart from the top tier teams is crap and that is why Everton are 'doing well'.

Results are everything in the modern game, but there has to be a transition period when a club is attempting to instill a new style of play, with a new group of players; that is where Everton FC is at the moment. Let's see where we are this time next season. If we are still struggling to beat obstinate teams at home easily, then perhaps those naysayers will have a point.

Our general play has been good to watch this season but, when it comes to the end product, we are still lacking. We are so predictable using the wings, and when we do get a corner, it usually comes to nothing. Today, I think, was the first time we have scored via a corner this season.

Newcastle just sat back, ate up time, and watched us do what they expected us to do.

Digne not only gave the ball away all night but he stood and watched Rondon steal in behind Mina for the goal that he could easily have prevented. Let's hope that it was his worst performance of the season.

Lookman and Tosun both failed to take advantage of the opportunity that Silva gave them.

I still think that we are going in the right direction and games like this let our management see our deficiencies, which they probably already know.

We are nearly there? Really? The bar has been set so low, we as may be a non-league side. Tell me, how much have we spent over the last two years? 𧸖m I believe.

We played footy in the derby – yee fucking ha!!! Allardyce set a record and some said that'll wind the Reds up. They're challenging for the title; we've got the lights. Fantastic! This club and the fans have lost it. We used to be massive; no more.

If this season ends with us in 6th place I'll be pleased in a way, but dismayed in thereby qualifying for the draining, un-lucrative Europa Farce/Cup. We need that like a hole in the head unless Moshiri finds funds in January to significantly bolster, and also further trim of dead-legs, the squad.

We'll see.

If January sees no meaningful additions or trimmings, the season is likely to be like those of recent memory, and that means boring, predictable and fundamentally disappointing.

Silva needs to spend every training session between now and next Monday practising crosses. Truly awful.

Hate to say it but credit to Newcastle. Wasting time from kick off to final whistle but they got what they wanted, a point.

Poor at best.

Lovely blue lights – shine on.

No I don't think lighting up the Liver Bird means anything at all to those of us who attend Goodison regularly. If Silva, Brands and Moshiri can't or don't get us going in the right direction, then – as you say – we are finished as a club.

However, I'd still prefer to look at things in a positive light, at least for this season, even if it's misguided... else, I may as well find something more rewarding to do with my time and money.

What did we do? Well we went at them over and over again. Defensive walls make you try things that are out of the ordinary but we kept on going. When we scored, we should have just had a penalty and we were on our 10th corner of the half!

Our quality with the ball was a problem, but Newcastle made the game that way. The biggest crime was the goal we conceded. It meant that even a goal to us didn't change the way Newcastle played. They still had something to hold on to.

There were individual errors right through the goal. Lookman was fouled in my opinion but it was still possession given up too easy. Even then, we still had enough men back but the cross was too easy and the defending from Mina and Digne beyond woeful.

Digne switched off and Mina makes you wonder why we wanted a left-footed defender in the first place. I'd rather have one who has two feet.

After that, well I reckon we tired as much as Newcastle did. The effort was there but the legs and brains were gone. Second half was really poor. We just didn't have it in us to keep going at them and force another goal.

We'd have been better going for a short-term fix getting Defoe in for a year last January and just paying his wages.

You're only as good as your strikers and this is going to cost us serious money to fix.

We all knew it will take time to fix everything that ails our club. But I don't believe any of us really understood the gap between us and the top six. I mean yes, we are sixth at the moment, but I think it would be a miracle for us to finish here. I just wonder if Moshiri wised up yet and sees the real financial commitment it will take to break into the top.

We need a STRIKER so bloody bad. Like someone said even last year we should have gone for Defoe because it would have been better than nothing. Which is really what we have. None of our real strikers could play on any better team.

At this point Wilson would be amazing, Vardy would be excellent and even Mitrovic would be great.

To fund this need of a striker please Brands further reduce our wage bill. Scneiderlin, Niasse, McCarthy and even Lookman imho would be expendable to fund this. And if you can get 25M from Leipzig to have to get a great striker just do it already.

Work on signing Gomez as well in January and we understand if the rest has to wait for summer.

COYB

Seemed the first half we dominated? A goal against the run of play hurt.

Second half sounded like frustration personified. I'll watch the 20 min highlights on the OS.

If, (IF) we are 6 points or less off 4th place come Jan 1st, we need to buy a striker. If we're more than 6 points off 4th I'd say save the money, make an FA Cup run best you can, and then look to offload more dead weight to help finance a top striker.

We're clearly missing the tip of the spear.

but the fact we've matched the RS in a derby is seen as the second coming makes me spew.

We've not had a good game against Liverpool in years. Just because many people are happy that we finally, finally, took it to them in a derby and played toe-to-toe with them does not mean it's "seen as the second coming".

People are genuinely enthusiastic about the direction of the Club. I don't think anyone is saying we're "all that" currently. But we are moving in the right direction.

So if people are happy, it's not an overreaction, or that standards have fallen to unforgivable levels.

There's just finally some hope "mate"!

There's going to be days like these. It's not acceptable or preferable, but it is sport. In the main, we're moving forward.

So get it out of your system, and go find your smile ya dour sum bitch.

Tosun may have pulled the shirt on for his last time as I think Silva has now made his mind up on him. We really need a centre-forward and, until then, it's a run for Calvert-Lewin for me if we're going to play a target man.

It was an off-day with 74% possession and a team and manager that seem to have victory imprinted in the ethos. Next 4 fixtures are far from easy but I remain very optimistic and love the Silva/Brands axis to date.

We are getting behind full backs and creating chances.

However, so many points have been squandered. We should have beaten Huddersfield and Newcastle, let a 2-0 lead at Bournemouth slip and conceded late at Wolves and RS.

9 points squandered.

I've just now seen the Newcastle goal.

Forget for the moment Coleman not stopping the (sublime) cross.

Mina was marking Rondon. He left Rondon for the ball, which he misses. Digne was strolling and didn't pick up Rondon. You can hear Digne yell, "Yerry!" (I think) when the goal is scored.

Who's at fault? Yerry for dropping his man for the ball and missing, or Digne for not keeping switched on and not picking up Rondon?

Digne was subjected to some ruthless tackles and I fear against Watford some will get their wish and Bainesy will be restored due to Digne's injuries.

Newcastle came to spoil the game and hit us on the break, which is exactly what they did, assisted by Lee Mason's laissez-faire refereeing and very poor defending by Seamus.

Teams know that if they come to Goodison and park the bus that we will find it hard to break them down and that the crowd will get frustrated. Once that happens, the team gets nervous, tries to force things and mistakes will happen. I am not blaming the crowd as such but it doesn't help the team and I am sure it is a factor that other teams know and use to their advantage.

Contrast this with when a top team comes to Goodison Park midweek – the crowd is right up for it and we generally play much better. Not sure there is anything that can be done about this but more of a general observance.

I sense Tosun, whilst getting general poor service, yet again showed the lack of finish. I don't know why he didn't head them cross and Siggy by his level a very piss-poor finish. Tosun I think is gonna be lucky to start again as, like the West Ham game, he failed to capitalise on every good chances. Lookman disappointed and the most rank dead-ball deliveries and crossing this season.

Points lost and back to the game plan for Watford after a night when too many players under-performed.

That man should not even be allowed to be on charge of a Sunday League match.

That does not excuse the very poor display we produced last night but, at the same time, matches should not be effectively decided by poor refereeing on such a consistency as occurs in games controlled by Mason.

As soon as I saw he was last night's ref I feared the worst and, lo and behold, the entire ground saw the foul in the build-up to their goal, except, of course, Lee Mason. I would be hard pressed to select a worse referee in 60 years of watching the game, and I've seen a fair few in my time.

He is not a top defender, he is slow on the turn in a flat foot race and in his reactions and anticipation. He is too tall and gangly legged. He has also got a head like a 50-pence piece and struggles to win header's when back-peddling. He got away with a few against Cardiff and one against Van Dijk in the derby when Origi hit the bar.

Not cutting that cross out for their goal last night was shocking defending. Okay, Coleman got outpaced and let the cross in but he had plenty of time to anticipate and deal with it before it reached Rondon.

Zouma is a miles better defender for me and I hope he plays with Keane against Watford.

It's so clear to me: he is not good enough.

He brings a major element of WTF to this team. Capable of the kind of thing that just makes you shake your head.

So basically. No right foot, and no brain. I wouldn't pick him.

As if we needed reminding, Cenk Tosun, is not a Premier League player, another Allardyce - Walsh waste of money for the Club.

I had no pre-conceived ideas that this would be an easy game for us, but I didn't think in all honesty that it would have been a hard fought draw either.

Another two points lost at home to allegedly inferior opposition; did Marco make too many changes? Maybe we are not as accomplished as we thought, but as a work in progress, hopefully we will have learnt another valuable lesson.

As luck would have it, other results went a long way to us staying in 6th position but another lacklustre display against Watford on Monday could tell a different story.

He scored five goals when he first came but I kept seeing a lack of mobility, pace and a player too fragile to go up against the burly centre-halves that most teams play with now, I just knew he'd struggle for more than 6 or 7 goals this season.

The lack of striking options is laid bare when people come out with the line “it's time for a run in the team for Calvert-Lewin”, another who's better as a late, late sub and rarely produces more than a couple of flick-ons and weak headers.

Obviously we need a striker, but I'll reiterate also what I say yesterday before the match, we have two players that contribute regularly to goals: Richarlison and Sigurdsson; when they don't score, we will struggle.

I have backed Tosun big time but he has been a let-down. He is not going to make it.

Only consolation – I thought Zouma had a good game.

Let's hope for a much better performance against the Z-Cars stealing B-list Premier League team!

Of course it's going to take time but then again Evertonians have been told for a decade (going back to the Moyes era) that "this time in two years, we'll be the bees knees".

I'm fully behind Silva but I think it proves that every single transfer window from now on is going to have to be absolutely spot on.

We got burned badly with some major poor signings for big money, Schneiderlin, Klaassen, Tosun to name just a few but there's been many more.

Every transfer window needs to see a top-quality signing brought in and a striker that we can hang our hat on, not just one who “might be great when he settles in”.

I still think right-back is an area where we need to maybe start looking at over the next 12 months as well, I've loved Coleman but hand on heart is, is he the player he once was?

Clearly there's nothing special coming through our academy in terms of a Rooney, Barkley etc.

We are definitely heading in the right direction but we're still capable of putting in some below-average performances like last night and against Huddersfield and West Ham at home.

We desperately need a quality striker and, out of all of Silva's and Brands's signings, I'm yet to be convinced by Bernard.

We need a good performance and result against Watford before the daunting trip to the Etihad.

You can't really believe that we are not making progress. Obviously we are not the finished article, and are very unlikely to be after the next window but the football being played is better than anything since the 80s.

The squad, apart from the obvious holes is stronger and younger than it has been since then and although we are still struggling to get the results against the Sky six we are closer to them than we have been. We look like we are only a couple of pieces away from actually beating them on a regular basis.

If that had been an Everton team, managed by Rafa, and playing against whoever was 6th this time last season, we would have been slapping Rafa on the back. He came, he saw and he returned with some spoils and now finds himself a whole 4 points(!) off the drop zone. So we can't really criticise their game plan too much even if it was somewhat Neanderthal.

We are the architects of our own disappointment. We should have won that comfortably with the level of possession we had and the number of chances we (almost) created but a combination of shocking crossing, forgetting to put our teeth in, and an inability to get on the end of anything in their penalty area, cost us 2 points. I was trying to work out if Newcastle had a defence comprised entirely of giants because we simply couldn't get anything past their men.

This was a lacklustre, not entirely unexpected, 'hangover' performance after the derby and it was always going to be unlikely we would retain the same psychological momentum that would have been built up for that, but disappointing all the same.

I expected them to score but genuinely thought we were good for 2 or 3. And indeed we were, if truth were to be told. I quite like Tosun, but said yesterday that I thought this might be his final audition, and think I may have been right. He blew it. So expect to see him move on in January if we manage to attract an out-and-out striker.

Digne was frustrating beyond belief yesterday but I do not worry about him. He is a good player who had an off day. Gomes remains immense (I would love to know his pass completion stat). He reminds me of Howard Kendall, not so much in his style of play although I see similarities, but in that, when I used to attend Goodison regularly back in the day, I kind of relaxed instinctively when he was on the ball because you knew the next pass would likely arrive with an Everton player. I feel the same with Gomes.

Bernard? What can one say. As someone (I think it was Jim Bennings) said further up this thread – I also wondered if he had forgotten to screw his studs in. A tricky footballer with quick feet for sure but reminds me of Deulofeo. Much huff and no puff (again as someone else said).

So – we move on to the the next game. I am away in Dorset on Monday so hope to find a decent stream and hold out hope that we get back on the winning track. I believe we will. The prequel to a couple of very tough fixtures before things (theoretically) get easier again over the New Year.

3 points in the bank on Monday will leave me sleeping much better, and I am not going to dwell or agonise over last night too much because, as I said at the start, Rafa and Newcastle came to do a job which they pulled off with our help, and if that had been us this time last season, we would have been applauding.

It's all down to us at the end of the day.

A few players have had off days but it happens. In general, we played fairly well, kept the ball but just couldn't tease a mistake out of them.

I was glad to see Lookman given a start but the fact Tosun played upfront didn't help. Either keep Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin. At least they'll have a go, close down and harras the defenders.

Walcott will never improve as a forward but his pace and running are a big asset when trying to win the ball back. I hope Lookman starts next game.

I think Bernard plays well, he again is full of energy and gets stuck in so perhaps it was more of a rest for him. I'd start him centrally next game and rest Sigurdsson. Richarlison stays left, Calvert-Lewin up front.

I've thought for a few weeks now the set-piece routines are getting worse. Baines and Kenny for me remain the best crossers of the ball. I'd be happy to bring one on for last 10 mins as a Plan B or C and push Mina forward.

It reminds me of what happened under Martinez and he apparently gave set piece routines no thought or time practicing them. A big mistake. There are so many goals scored from set pieces. Does anyone remember the World Cup? All the best teams used them well.

It appears to be the downside to the obsession of keeping possession. Free kicks are kept on the ground, short backwards passing and it annoys me. You have to mix it up to keep the opposition guessing. If an opposing player is stood within 5 yards preventing passing forward then simply whack it into their faces, try and get them booked and annoyed.

A bit of a reality check for some fans. We have greatly improved the playing style but are still very much a work in progress.

I have no belief that a top 6 finish is realistic or wanted this season. It's simply about laying foundations for next season. The way we play with and without the ball, the right personnel and the right mentality for everyone associated with the club.

We remain vulnerable to counter attacks as we lack genuine pace in the spine and have full-backs that both push up. This is something Silva clearly wants them to be doing and therefore will remain an issue.

Hard to believe he is a graduate of Big Dunc's school of hard knocks.

“The football being played is better than anything we've seen since the 80s”.

I think the football has been decent but that's a bit of a bold statement judging on what I've seen so far; it's been good at times but still feel we are guilty of overplaying and being too pretty and not getting enough end product.

The Moyes teams of Pienaar, Arteta, Cahill, and Osman played some dazzling football with Yakubu up front (7-1 against Sunderland)

Martinez produced beautiful attacking teams going forward in spells (13-14 and 15-16) so it's not like we are seeing something amazing for the first time in 30 years.

I'm behind Silva but let's not get too carried away with what we have seen.

I can see positives in every game; even in a loss or a draw, I can appreciate some individual performances and some of our one-touch linkup play is great to watch. So different from the dark gloom of the Allardyce period.

But most of all, what I came on here to mention, was how proud I am of my Evertonian brothers and sisters. When the team lineup was announced, and the announcer said "...and in goal, Jorrrrrrdaaannnn Pickfooord..!" the roar of support from the crowd brought a lump to my throat.

When I thought of the image of Karius, sitting alone on his haunches after the Champions League debacle, only consoled by an opposition player – and the way their fans hounded him out of the club...

Only separated by Stanley Park, but a gulf in class between us.

Kim #94 – Monday will be on Sky so find a pub and you won't need a stream.

I lost count of the number of times in this report the cross or free-kick did not get to where it was needed. We all lauded Mina for his prowess in the box and yet has he looked like scoring? All about service?

Burnley (7th last year) are struggling. Everton sacked Koeman after finishing 7th the year before last. 2015-16 West Ham were 7th and got knocked out of the Europa League before the group stage and finished 11th. I'm not sure finishing 7th is that good an idea.

Very disappointing second half last night with Newcastle creating the better chances and we're lucky Atsu did not take either of them. Everyone seemed to be off their game bar Gomes and Zouma perhaps and I agree that there are some worrying signs showing with Mina.

The festive period is a challenging one and I'm particularly interested to see the Spurs game. So far, we have performed decently against the top 6 away from home and perhaps not reaped the draws and points we deserved but can we actually beat them when they come to Goodison? I hope so.

I agree that we have had good spells and some exciting football at times but I genuinely think that this is the first time that we have virtually an entire team that can play skillful, exciting football and in virtually every game I have seen some beautiful play. Watching Gomes alone thrills me.

It's not the finished article and there are weaknesses but I genuinely believe that this has the making of a great team and I have never been this confident since those wonderful days. In the derby, their playing out from the back and the confidence they had in doing it against players as dangerous as the RS have was a joy to behold.

Talking of bringing an element of WTF to this team, you can put our keeper in that bracket too.

Again the front 3 way below what is needed if we ever hope to challenge for a Champions League place. Bernard instead of improving with every game is getting worse with every game. I was really looking forward to seeing Lookman start a game but he like the other 3 offered very little in the final 3rd of the pitch. Tosun again proved he is not up to it, may as well have played Calvert-Lewin – at least he will give the defenders a physical battle if nothing else.

So again another December and Everton as usual start to fall away, had we held on for a draw on Sunday and collected all 3 points last night we would have started to open a gap between us and the teams directly below us.

I don't expect we will rectify our striker problems in the January window as all you do in that window is buy a player for extortionate money and very few January signings ever prove they are worth the money. But, unless we have better options up front for next season, it will be again another season of us finishing between 7th and 10th.

Sigurdsson had a second stinker in a row, Tosun was rarely involved, and Digne looked tired. Baines should play on Monday and Sigurdsson should be dropped to the bench.

Firstly, he has been excellent as a substitute in many games before last night.

Secondly, he will almost certainly get further starts this season – let us judge him at the season's end.

Lastly, other than Gomes and Zouma, no one else really shone last night. All of our attackers had a tough time.

As for his positioning, well, it may have been deliberate. Lookman and Richarlison were both roaming from wide positions to give Coleman and Digne room to overlap. Sigurdsson too went wide. It seemed like a tactical decision.

We have a very good talent on our hands.

However, I was hoping for a significant result following that debacle, not so much because the players 'owe it' to us fans but more because it would have really set the bar for the team in terms of character and given us an insight into their mentality.

Sadly, it seems there are still too many passengers on this journey. I think Silva will know who.

Corners, free kicks, the Newcastle defence were like kids in a sweet shop, but we kept persistently pumping the ball into their penalty box with any success, why? We have the players to come short for corners.

Before we spend another shedload of money on buying or attempting to buy him, are there any other options out there?

Hopefully I am proved wrong but the little I have seen of Gomes almost everything is sideways. Very little forward.

There seems to be the need to take that extra touch. A few times last night he almost got caught out keeping the ball. Had he lost it in those areas by a decent team we could have been in trouble.

As I said, hopefully it's just me and maybe, as he gets up to speed, we will see more forward passing but, right now, he looks as if he would fit right in with a Martinez team.

Everton will improve after adding to the squad soon and Man Utd may lose a few players including Pogba.

Whilst Bournemouth and Leicester are close I cannot see them being a danger in the New Year.

Despite the recent disappointments Everton will rebound in a big way.

There! It's optimism all the way.

Completely different players entirely for me, Gomes reminds me of an elegant but far less aggressive version of Patrick Viera in that he moves the ball around very smoothly and can take the ball under control and hold players off.

Arteta was more of a creative technician, a dead-ball specialist and scorer of goals, a more forward and arguably very versatile player (remember he got Player of the Year when stuck on the wing most of the 2005-06 season).

Gomes is class and he has brought something to midfield we didn't have, but I just don't see where those Arteta comparisons came from.

If you can't rest a few players in a home game against one of the lower teams in the division, at home, after a derby like we just had, then when can you? It was the right time to do it so I'll defend the manager on that one.

People have every right to be irritated when we don't win, I just wish people would temper things a little bit with the fact we're 6th in the Premier League, which is about where we'd hope to be at this stage of the season (well we'd hope to be top obviously!) given the state of each team in the Premier League so we have reasons to be cheerful.

It's glaringly obvious we need a decent striker. Gomes stands out every game he plays.

Keane and Mina lack pace and struggled against the RS but fortunately Mane had a bad night in front of goal.

I think we're seriously snake-bit the last two games. There's an element of bad luck presently.

How many times should we have scored in the last two games, only to not score through some insane save, or some heroic defending?

Tosun's point-blank save last night I saw on the OS 20-minute highlights, and I was just like, "What the fuck? How'd that NOT go in?" (Was he offside? Looked it... but I don't believe the flag was raised?)

I can think of 2-3 instances against Liverpool where I said the exact same thing.

We need our luck to turn just a bit.

Not sure where you're getting the Gomes/Arteta comparisons from.

Many fans on here, when we first signed Gomes, were going on about him being the new Arteta. I don't know if they hadn't seen Arteta play for us or they hadn't seen much of Gomes but that's what I was hearing regularly.

Very different players.

Haven't seen those comparisons. However, Arteta was Arteta; so far, Gomes is a classy Ray Wilkins.

A fair few players had an off night yesterday but one who didn't was Zouma who looks an absolute beast of a player and far more convincing with the ball at his feet than Keane is.

January is coming and, whilst it's never a great time to splash the cash, hopefully that elusive striker can be found and the exit door is shown to a few of those not up to the task. And I'd include Walcott in that list who is approaching 30 and people STILL talk about his potential!! Allardyce's two purchases both look duffers to me and both should be moved on and the incoming funds reinvested.

The Z-Cars derby is next up. After last night, this has to be a must-win game to get back on track ahead of a couple of real tests against Man City and Spurs.

How much have you seen of Gomes? He is, in my opinion, the best at what he does since my favourite player, Paul Bracewell. His composure on the ball is simply a joy to watch. His ability to find space for himself is wonderful.

Yes, he often looks like he could lose the ball because of what he is attempting to do but so far I have only seen him do it a couple of times. There was an audible gasp last night when he over-hit a pass because it's such a rare event.

The idea that he only passes sideways is totally wrong. Last night, he played a lot more sideways because the movement wasn't there. I think that, at the moment, we would find it extremely difficult to find a player of his quality and we would inevitably have to spend a shedload. And they definitely wouldn't be as magnificently coiffured.

Sean, when Allardyce signed Tosun and Walcott last season we looked much, much better (though that's not saying much) and Tosun converted at such a rate, the best in the Premier league, that I for one cockily predicted he'd thrive on better service under Silva (ha!).

However, the bar has been raised considerably by Brands and Silva, what with three players from Barca, Richarlison, a rejuvenated Sigurdsson and a yet-to-quite-spark Bernard. I no longer think Walcott is quite good enough to take us where we are heading, though he will have his moments of course and remain a useful squad member.

Tosun is a major disappointment. Occasionally, the service to him has been dire but others on TW pointed out a long time before I saw it that he does little to help himself. His performance against the Kenyans was a major let-down and indicative of his lack of confidence or effort. A good man but not one to take us further, I fear.

I've probably seen as much of Gomes as you. As I mentioned he is definitely a classy player and in my opinion not at all like Bracewell.

Anyway, I hope, with better movement up front, we will see more incisive forward passing but, up to now, nearly everything is sideways. Even folk around me last night were commenting on this.

I wasn't at Anfield, I just watched it on the telly, but all the other games I've watched live and each was similar.

Last night, almost every time we got the ball, the player looked for Gomes. Now that might be good but, if we see Gomes as our only player, teams will suss this out and that'll be us out the game.

I'm sure Gomes can change his game as he is a very intelligent player but, up to now, I haven't seen it.

Gueye works hard but is missing something – maybe a goal or two or more impact when in possession – and the same can be said about Tom Davies.
Lookman, Walcott and whomever is the other option on right-sided midfield but none have impressed so far; although it has to be said, Walcott cannot play as a midfielder so, if he cannot grab a goal, generally he is anonymous.

Lookman needs a few more games before we can seriously criticize him.

Watford next... and then unbeaten Man City 5 days later. (Ouch!)

We definitely need to fund a striker in the January window, Schneiderlin and Niasse should be off-loaded to raise funds, and to be honest, neither are good enough even for the bench.

Vlasic is attracting plenty of attention; his comments and attitude are questionable, and Silva might let him go, if he got a good offer.

1) Bad passing in general, also passing to the nearest player regardless that he may be surrounded by the opposition (you would think the money they get paid they would be able to deal with a situation such as this but apparently not);

2) Free-kicks that achieve nothing (this has been going on for seasons and hardly a new problem);

3) Corners (I refer you to point #2).

Maybe fix this and we could improve?

One fella shouts out every game, "I love you, André" — that may just be because he has such good hair.

Rack your memory for one, just one, defense-splitting pass Arteta made that created a goal for Everton.

We have a squad; if the first eleven don't take their chance, then give those on the bench a start. Nobody should have a guaranteed place – they should all compete for their places.

Difficult to criticise the squad because we have made some progress, but the step to the top 4 level seems way off at the moment.

Do we sell some and spend bigger to compete or be happy with top 6? It's hard to call, but at least we aren't struggling in lower half of the table. Coyb.

Does this one count?

Link

If you don't have season review DVDs between 2005-2010, then I suggest you go on YouTube and take a look at Mikel Arteta in an Everton shirt and you'll see what a fine player he was, especially given for a couple of years all he had in front of him were players like Beattie, Beckford,and Bent.

Arteta would have been absolutely top class in this Everton side under Silva.

We all assume that it will only take 'a striker' to turn this lot into a winning machine rather than a team capable of a one in three win ratio but I fear it will require a little more than this, particularly at set pieces.

To me, in this latter aspect, our manager suffers from the' Martinez disease' of failing totally to see the value of the exercise as we appear to be clueless 'at both ends,,,,,,,,in spite of having some monster bodies looking clueless as to what exactly their role is 'in the mincer'.

So whilst I love the style in which Silva has them playing, I see him far from the genius manager so many consider him already and can only hope he will not just rely on colleague Brands to save us from yet another also-ran season to be sold to us as progress.

Last night Digne had his worse game for us, Richarlison and Sigurdsson were shackled and we just couldn't create anything at all. Try as he may Lookman just couldn't perform and Tosun was isolated.

Does it show Arteta making any of the defense-splitting passes I asked about in the five years you mention?

The majority of the team was quite poor but poor old Lucas was a standout. I'm sure he'll bounce back to his promising previous form on Monday.

But I think this was a very poor effort, similar to the Huddersfield game.

The control was there but the lack of incision was clear, a problem in all games this season even those we've won.

When our centre-forwad cannot occupy a pair of centre-halves then the rest of the team struggle to find a way in, especially at home. Untroubled by Tosun they kept their shape easily.

The game itself, too many players had an off night. Digne's worst game for the club. Coleman deficient for the goal as was Digne at the back post. Seamus still searching for fluidity and form. I think his place needs evaluating, an awkward conversation for sure but time to find competition for his place.

Gomes apart, no-one really played well. Our passing was very sloppy too.

Let's hope the emotional energy from Sunday was the reason we looked spent. Some dilemmas for Silva to work through, one of which is can Calvert-Lewin to get a run as centre-forward? Before we spend the money, let's see if he can deliver in his natural position?

I guess it feels worse than Sunday because we should beat a team like Newcastle every time.

Also, what was Silva doing taking off our most dangerous player and putting Bernard in an unfamiliar position only to then change it around again and put him wide left where he is even more useless?

I don't think the constant alterations to players and positions helped anyone but Newcastle in the second half.

A journo (I presume...) called Adam Jones did indeed give Digne a 7 (equal with Mina, Zouma and Richarlison, with Gomes top with 8. Jones wrote of Digne:

"Tried his best to get forward whenever he could, and his delivery from the left flank was fantastic when he did find himself in the final third. Was forced to deal with Yedlin's pace on the counter and did that well for the most part."

Jaw-dropping. '...his delivery from the left flank was fantastic???!!!'

I really don't like to call out individual players, but last night Digne was as poor an individual performance as I've seen not just this season, but in a long long time. His was a 2-3 out of 10 performance, at best.

I don't know where you watched the game but to say Digne was only worth a 2 or 3 at best that is way off the mark, not his best game but if you mark him as 2 or 3, then Tosun, Walcott, Bernard and Lookman must all get a minus figure. He made as many runs forward as Seamus and for me constantly delivers better balls into the box than Seamus. Newcastle's goal came down our right side which both Seamus and Yerry failed to deal with.

But Everton's problems are predominantly with the front men... obviously not including Richarlison.

Digne has been excellent for us. He will continue to be excellent for us, but last night he was awful – but AWFUL! – in pretty much everything he did.

He was very quickly taken off his usual corner taking duty in the first half after his early efforts proved so woeful. His delivery from the either-or free kick routine between himself and Sigurdsson was equally woeful. His crossing in open play all night long was abysmally bad. His usually sharp interplay further upfield was also off. He was co-responsible for the goal we conceded (and tried to shift the blame elsewhere in his reaction).

I said in the immediate aftermath of the game last night, it would have been a kindness to the player and the team, when Digne limped off the pitch early in the 2nd half, to replace him with Baines for us to regain some control and possibly introduce some better delivery into their penalty area.I stand by that assessment.

I think Silva's subs were poor last night, almost part of the pre-match plan, rather than reacting to actual events on the park.

As for your own negative evaluations of the players you compared to Digne last night, none of them were as bad as the Frenchman. I'd say Tosun and Bernard were also poor – a 3 or 4. (Tosun I have some sympathy for because of the total lack of quality service into the box.) Walcott less so – possibly a 5. Lookman not as forlorn as the other two, but still below the standard of his recent cameo performances – a 6.

Digne was spectacularly awful. I was disappointed with Silva here. It seems to me that his subs, as Jay said, were already decided. This was no master class, just a poor performance by the players and a very poor performance by the coach.

I think he is doing a brilliant job but, when he is poor, I see no harm in saying it.

There was 1 away win against Leicester – the highest placed team we've beaten at 9th position in the table. The draws at home were against Huddersfield (4th from bottom) and Newcastle (7th from bottom).

I won't mention our terrific record against the top 6 sides (currently 1 point from a possible 12).

If we beat Watford at the weekend, it will represent our best home victory against a team, which are as high as 11th in the table! What an achievement that would be!

Mr Silva, is this what we call "Work In Progress"?

No cross, no goal.

And it was him who provided the crosses for the two best chances of the game: the Tosun miss from two yards out, and Gylfi's chance he should have buried!

Digne has had a lot of game time. He has played well and I guess his confidence is high. Now, I haven't counted but, just watching the game, I thought his delivery was poor, very poor.

He was given many opportunities in the first 8 games of the season and missed so many chances and was offering nothing.

Quite how our record can deserve sixth place is merely indicative of the lack of quality outside the Top Five.

Moyes had an excuse. He had no money. We've spent a fortune in the last few years and don't seem any better. Our front four are nowhere near clinical enough to challenge the top sides as evidenced by 'good' performances away to four of those sides leading to just one goal from a penalty and one point.

We don't seem much more potent at home against resilient defences either and have struggled to win games against the might of Palace and Cardiff.

I don't understand the optimism personally. Tried to buy into it for a while but I keep seeing the same recurring theme of 'great football' not really producing a whole lot. I see us 'playing well' at Man City and getting beat and also scraping a win or two against the likes of Burnley 1-0 after another 'scintillating attacking performance'.

No real pace, so he keeps trying to run down the sides, on a wet pitch. Why would a player do this? If he really wanted the ball, then surely he would keep trying to show to feet?

Digne had his worst game, he looked tired, but he definitely wasn't helped by the system, which had him playing like a wing-back, with no real help in front of him.

Marco sent out Tosun, Calvert-Lewin and Lookman. Agree that he did so to effect the attack, and good on him. Nonetheless, none of that trio good enough for the future of the Club. It's glaringly obvious.

We understand that we're a work in progress. It's showing lately. A work in progress we are Tonight's game proves it.

Silva has built a fighting side, for sure. But also for sure is that we need more talent. Big, athletic talent. It's the way of the Premier League now.