A dismal dreary welcome for Carlo Ancelotti

Pickford, Sidibe, Mina, Holgate, Digne; Delph, Davies, Iwobi, Siggy; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Baines, Keane, Bernard, Kean, Tosun

I hope Delph is fully fit or the same applies.

Arsenal have Lacazette on the bench... madness! They should put two strikers up against our backline.

The good news is looking at the Arsenal defence. Surely we can score against that lot.

My concern going into this game was, with all the injuries and sickness, Duncan was seemingly limited on how to freshen the team up and give some a break.

Let's hope his medical staff have advised him well.

Very few of these players should be exempt from an Ancelotti clear out.

We are actually getting into some good positions, but our delivery into the box from open play and dead ball situations is woeful today.

Get that right and we can win this.

Mina much improved from Wednesday. Sidibe doing OK. Digne still off it, both defensively and with two dreadful corners. Delph a solid anchor at the base of midfield. Tom as ever trying to make things happen.

DCL battling well. Richarlison looks just a tad off the pace. I saw him on his haunches and looking groggy just before half time. Is he carrying the bug that struck others down this week?

Tosun for Iwobi I could understand more if he was pushed up front and playing close to and alongside DCL, but if anything he appears to be playing deeper and behind him. Can't figure out what he is meant to do from there.

Arsenal carry very little threat, but still we need to avoid getting caught cold because they can counter attack with devastating effect.

A little more pressure on Arsenal on the ball. Keep getting into good positions around their penalty area. Better delivery into their box and we can win this.

And the officials suck bigtime again. How they are getting paid to do this is the ultimate question...

Stonewall penalty denied by both the moron on the pitch and the moron behind the screens... Goalbound shot stopped with the arm raised above the head when sliding... Absolutely mind-boggling... Penalty all day.

"It was a bit scrappy and we were a bit leggy after Wednesday but we fought it out and we got a point and a clean sheet."

On the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti: "It's fantastic for the club for someone of that pedigree to come in at Everton. I haven't spoken to him yet but hopefully I will tonight over a couple of glasses of red wine."

2 points to make - what Everton was he watching, and shouldn't he have said WHITE wine in CAPITALS?

Dreadful display from both teams but I'd have taken 5 points from those games beforehand but the cup penalties hurt the most !

Started well, Richarlison and dcl look good together. Lost momentum when Tosun came on and richey went out to the left. On reflection surely Dunc will think he should have brought Bernard on for Iwobi.

Injuries and illness contributed but it was a scrappy, listless performance with the ball - big job for Carlo!

On too many occasions in promising situations our first touch allowed the ball to get away from us to cheaply turn it over to Arsenal.

On too many occasions our delivery from open play and dead ball was woeful. As a result, there was little or no threat on the Arsenal goal.

I have absolutely no qualms with Duncan, for the 2nd week running, subbing out the sub. His call to bring Tosun on for the injured Iwobi early on, but tactically the Turk added nothing. If anything, it blunted Everton's threat up front.

Under Ferguson, playing DCL and Richarlison in close proximity to each other has kept the opposition defence honest and worked well for us. Bringing on Tosun broke up that speedy and intelligent partnership with the Brazilian pushed left.

All good if Tosun assumes the Richarlison role in playing close to DCL, but he didn't all game. He was either wide right or deeper and behind Dom and not in close proximity to feed off our number nine's knock on and hold up play.

Just 5-10 minutes into the 2nd half I was calling for Tosun to be replaced. That he finally was I totally agree with. He was contributing NOTHING. If anything, he was being detrimental to our cause.

The positives, Sidibe, Mina, Holgate, Delph, Davies and DCL had decent games (but not faultless). Richarlison bust a gut for the team, but wasn't at his best attack wise. Digne was poor, Siggy peripheral, Keane skittish and Italian Kean failing to stir the crowd in yet another brief cameo appearance.

Carlo Ancelotti has got a big job on his hands.

It's going to be a fascinating watch seeing what he does with this squad - and club.

"in terms of quality on and off the ball I'd say that we've not had many worse showings over the last six years."

It pains me to say it Andrew, but we most certainly have had many a worse showing than that in recent years.

I can see why Dunc played Digne as asking Baines to play again today might have been too much but if it was up to me I would bring Baines back in for the next game.

I think Carlo's thoughts will be he needs to sign some players quickly in the January window.

It was a lot to ask 3 games in a week, 2 against good / quality opposition. You could see DCL had nowhere near the same energy level and playing 3-4 players after long injuries, sickness wasn't ideal. The irony was that Arsenal were there for the taking and we couldn't rise to it. Brighton took them to the cleaners 2 weeks ago and we never got near them today.

Ancelotti has the biggest challenge he has ever faced, so few quality players, so many poor players and unfortunately a problem with so many injuries, far too many than there should be. Gomes and Gbamin are one offs you can't do anything about but frequent muscle injuries to Delph, Walcott, Schneiderlin, Sidibè, Bernard, and Mina isn't right.

Anyway thanks to Duncan, restored passion, fight, and unbeaten over 4*90 min matches all Top 10 teams wasnt expected. Over to you Mr Ancelotti - can't wait to see what he does for Burnley at home.

One last point why is our passing so bloody poor, Davies can't pass ever ever and his control is shocking

Very happy with the draw and the performance. We need to keep in mind we are in a relegation battle with a squad of limited ability and beset by injuries.

Sorry but that was a dreadful game, and a dreadful result against a team 'there for the taking' as the saying goes. The failure of any of them to raise their game was a huge disappointment. The lack of quality all across the park was criminal. How anyone can be happy after watching that utter dross defies comprehension.

Nevertheless, if I was offered 5 points against the run of games we had I would have taken them gladly, so a well done for that.

We need 2 or 3 top quality players from somewhere but I can't see that happening in January, although they will probably get a few journeymen in to shore us up.

Still give a thumbs up on balance to Duncan's brief caretakership, and the lift in spirits (fans and players alike) that it brought.

You can't get blood out of a stone. The same players have been asked to go again and again at a much higher intensity than they have been used to.

The players who have been playing don't have the required levels of stamina and the ones coming in (Delph, Sidibé) aren't match fit.

He wanted to bring on Bernard but I suspect he was feeling it in his warm up hence the decision to introduce Tosun.

It's going to be a tough Xmas period and there will be more games like that while we recover the squad. Hopefully we'll continue to pick up points.

The bigger picture is: 5 points and unbeaten, from Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal is a good return in the dire circumstances we were in 3 games ago.

Duncan has done himself and the club proud. Big thank you to the big man.

He will not accept below-par performances.

Kean looks like he's put on about 2 stone since he arrived?! Look at the picture when he signed!

Also, can Carlo insist on practising dead balls?! Digne and Sigurdsson were really bad today!

Well done, Dunc, for steadying the ship!

"Siggy were really bad today," today? I am pretty sure he left his dead ball skills in Swansea. The guy has been absolute clown since he rolled into Goodison.

I was thinking the same about Kean, looks like he has put more than a few pounds on. On the Deliveroo diet?

Maybe Kenwright can hook us up with the "Green Goddess" from TV AM to get the squad into shape.

Our passing was abysmal and we can be thankful that were up against a worse team in Arsenal.

Davies, Tosun, Sigurdsson and Delph are four of the slowest players I've ever seen in an Everton shirt.

Lucas Digne seems to have had a full body replacement with Mitch Ward over the summer, he's been total rubbish all season and Baines must play at least one of the next two matches.

Only Sidibe came out of that match today looking like a Premier League footballer today.

I'm just praying that Ancelotti keeps us up and then has a total wipe out in summer and replaces all the players not good enough and gets proper genuine match winning quality in.

I was listening on the radio when Tosun came on and I actually said to my step-son, "I bet you he gets taken off" – which is not about being right, but just knowing that certain players are just not good enough for Everton.

Let's hope Duncan is given a much bigger role to play under Ancelotti because he's earned it, and let's hope the week's rest and some fresh ideas off Carlo can reignite our season, which has been so, so, so very bad.

On what basis were we "up against a worse team in Arsenal"? Current league placing? Squad net spend? Record in the last four or five years? Overall history? They are presently a "better" team than us by any metric you care to mention so, while no-one is saying today's performance was amazing, you should at least have some context.

Very fair point! That was always one of his main strengths too! Without that and his goals, he's offering very little!

Who would take him off our hands though? Would we get 㾻M for him? Would someone pay his wages?

The same applies to Tosun, Keane, Schneiderlin?! Walcott could attract USA money?

We can write off Niasse, Martina etc but it would be nice to get some of this money back before our next spending spree! Hopefully this one has more thought and planning attached it!

It wouldn't have surprised me to read that both Arteta and Ancellotti had both declined the job as the only plus is that they can't do any worse. I suppose Dunc now goes into the history books as an undefeated Manager while Mr Brands won't be getting any time off in the foreseeable future.

We got another point, which was the only decent thing about today. The least said the better, except to say Sidibe had a very good game. Disgraceful performance, absolutely pathetic.

Sigurdsson has been a major disappointment: slow, not direct at all, no goals, no extra quality than any other player from dead balls. He is a player , at 45m , I was hoping to equate to Erikson at Spurs but he is a million miles away from that.

As soon as Gomes or Gbamin are fit there is no place for him in his current form. Maybe Ancelotti can coax something out of him? Since the summer break he seems a different player. Has something happened to affect him back in Iceland in June/July.

I still can't understand why Carlo has agreed on Everton though. He doesn't need the money but this will be the worst squad he's ever had to work with.

I've watched enough Everton v Arsenal games over the years to see a great Gunners team to a bloody awful one, I don't think I've ever seen them produce so little going forward – and it wasn't because we were that good because we passed like a nervous Mastermind contestant.

Two poor teams that need major surgery, one glance at the league will tell you that we are in a fight to stay out of the bottom three and on today's evidence it's going to be a real tussle to just get over the 40-point mark.

I'm quite satisfied that we got the point in the end in all honesty because we were that bad; Arsenal will no doubt be kicking themselves also.

Ancelotti won't want to suffer these players for long, I'll tell you that.

Thank you, Dunc, for doing some sterling work as interim manager.

I agree on the last point. But, if Paul The Esk is correct with his financial analysis, it's going to be a tough gig reshaping this team.

There has to be Usmanov money somewhere in the equation. Ancelotti is no dupe.

I don't know on Sig. But. we've seen on Merseyside in the past some top players just turn into complete crap overnight. Harry Kewell and Nigel Clough spring to mind. Given Sig's age I don't know if it's worth the trouble to give him another oil change. He may be for the scrap heap.

The mass clear out Shankly instigated on taking over at Liverpool creating an empire has been needed here for decades. The Moyes remodel into "non-entity Everton" should be dispensed with asap.

Hope he realises he has to hit the ground running because fans will accept a few poor results if they see "something" happening but same old same old will see the knives out for him before summer.

That's my suspicion/hope. Maybe we can get USM to pay over the odds to have their name on our boot laces or something. Maybe that or Moshiri is going to disregard the FFP penalties given the fines amount o less than the rewards based on the City/PSG experience.

Sigurdsson's legs have gone. He's finished.

Norwich also winning means every game now we must pick up points in, Burnley will be a huge game especially with two hard away games at Newcastle and City to follow it.

Moshiri seemed to be talking a lot to him when ever the cameras were on them. Leaning forward and distracting him from the game, like a used car salesman when the engine starts rattling.
Overall DF did a good job. Tosun for Iwobi was strange, but what do I know.

Tosun? Has he ever had one single good or even half decent game? Make it easier, what about one good 20 minute period in any game? If he has I haven't seen it.

Iwobi did himself a favour by getting injured so at least he didn't repeat his Wednesday night performance.

Keane came on and looked shit. No change there.

Digne should have been hooked for Baines. He's not been remotely close to the Digne from last season for whatever reason.

Sidibe is not good enough and apart from a couple of decent crosses in his whole Everton career to date has looked poor.

Delph is injury prone fortunately so at least he doesn't get to show us his mediocrity every week.

DCL and Richarlison at least always put a shift in and created the odd opportunity. Some hope there.

Pickford made one excellent save today and looked solid, but we know he's prone to a howler.

We have a squad that's lacking in every position. I think it speaks volumes that when their new, world class manager sat in the stands watching them today, most of our pllayers bottled it instead of rising to the occasion. They haven't got the mental strength required and many are not top EPL quality players ability wise.

Ancellotti will have seen it for himself. Let's not forget he's been used to working throughout his career with many of the best players in the world, not some of journeymen and has beens that steal a living at our club. Their days are all hopefully numbered, as indeed should Brands' be for his own transfer market failures.

It's going to be a revolution as long as Ancellotti is given free reign (no Brands sticking his useless nose in) and cash to spend. Or, it'll be a disaster of epic proportions if Ancellotti is expected to polish a squad that mostly consists of blue shirted turds.

re. Soton/Norwich, one of my concerns being in relegation under Silva was that we were the only team down there seemingly unable to get the odd surprise result. Dunc has changed that much at least.

He only had a thigh injury, how bad can it be? He was due back in January wasn't he...?

It wasn't just a strain, he burst open his quad didn't he? That's a major injury. Can even be career ending. I think Jan was the timeframe to start exercising again if the surgery went well but I don't think it was anticipated he'd be playing again any time soon.

It look like a game with two caretaker managers for sure and almost had the feel that it was two teams that were just not wanting to lose the game.

Arsenal will go their own way Under Arteta, good luck to him but our concern is here at Everton.

Hopefully Ancelotti can weave magic and somehow change the mentality on the pitch too.

We must keep putting in endeavour each week, I said yesterday you will get no good football from these players they are not good enough, but endeavour is needed to battle to safety that's the priority until Carlo can sign his own players.

Talk about glass half empty.

Thank you Duncan and Welcome Carlo.
And thank you Everton Football Club for this appointment.

Merry Christmas ToffeeWebbers.

Running our club really is a thankless task for poor old Moshiri et al.

So many ‘fans' ready to throw out another baby every time the bath's run!

Ancelotti has a mountain to climb with the players we have and can only wish him luck

The only good thing about the present is that he has a week to look at the squad and more important the players get a few days before Burnley to recover as for sure Burnley won't give them an inch.

Not sure why Dunc made the changes he did as they certainly didn't increase the tempo of the game. Too many well off the pace.

Err.... gotta excuse you but, with Richarlison and/or Digne, there's no top 4 quality including the daft goalie and the iffy centre-halves.

Sure, some of the simple passing, final balls and basic decision making has left a bitter taste that it could have easily been an extra 2 points - but after the Derby we'd have ALL taken that.

Football is fine margins and confidence. If (and it's not easy in January), we can add 2-3 decent players we could be a really good team, and a match for anyone. If we balls it up we need to be aware that we are not too good to go down.

Time to stick with Carlo no matter what. He's here for 4 years, and we need to now trust him. Hopefully he can attract an extra 10% on the quality of players we can get, and in this league that's the difference between top 4 and bottom 4

Everton will go from a family club to a Family club, if you know what I mean!

We have a very good squad, but with some players who still need shifting out, and several more, of top quality, bringing in. It is certainly not necessarily a case of complete rebuilding, as many drama queens would have us believe.

Many on here sound like the media, which is a shame, because the media generally talks shite, as it's certainly doing at the moment when discussing Ancelotti joining us.

When well organised as a team, and barring the ridiculous injury list we have at the moment, we are still, overall, 'top part of midtable' and trying to achieve the next level of competing at the top of the table and winning trophies.

Ancelotti is, in my opinion, the perfect appointment for us, and nothing that he's seen today will have surprised him in the slightest. He knows what the aims of the Club are, and there's every chance that he sees us competing at the top far sooner than the four-and-a-half year duration of his contract.

Ancelloti is now on the sick list

And Ferguson waves a fist in the air and calls it a brilliant display!!!!!

Utterly shite

When a manager takes over a poor team losing games the first thing he must do is stop the rot by turning probable defeats into draws. Ferguson has done that. We could not have expected much more from a squad severely depleted by injury and illness.

On that subject Arteta took a pay cut to join Arsenal and Rooney when he came back was earning 60k per week more than Salah, who notched up over 30 goals!

Anyone who watched it on TV and thought it was a poor game, believe me it was ten times worse being there and seeing the wretched, woeful attempt at anything resembling football,for 95% of the game, I couldn't wait to get out of the ground as soon as the final whistle had gone. You are going to earn every penny of your wages Mr. Ancelotti.

Kean is a young lad who is still struggling with the Prem like more experienced players like Fabinho and Keita have. Had we better options we could give him time to adapt.

I'm confident we will see better signs in the second half of the season with Ancelotti a known admirer in charge. Next season I'm sure he will be unrecognisable.

Giroud? Ibra? Grealish??

But, precious point gained. Under Silva we lost far too many games where we were actually the better team but lacked incisiveness. If you can't win, don't lose.

Under Duncan, we got more out of those games than we'd previously hoped for. We lost to Leic only through penalties, which can be no fault of Dunc's - so I'd count that as a draw, and overall unbeaten over the 4 games (aye, I know what the record book says).

You can see from the four games what sows' ears Silva was trying to stitch into silk purses. Some excellent individual (and team) performances but some dire stuff through lack of consistency.

Ancelotti really has his work cut out to get this lot playing all the right notes, in the right order, and in time with the conductor.

I hope Carlo was told he was watching the U23 game prior to the main game.

There have been plenty of Everton games where the players have shown high levels of performance, i.e. those games where we've played well, where the effort they put in looks easier and produces greater dividends.

When we play badly, folks are always looking for individual factors to explain the bad performance, when in fact it is more complex than that (even though football is a simple game), with the various factors interacting in indeterminate ways.

It will probably be surprising how a few players in key roles will be able to lift the overall performance rating off the entire squad.

Firstly, as noted by many, will be the need to get the players as fit as is possible.

Then a few crucial key players in key positions can literally transform a team from looking a shambolic squad of misfits to potential European Cup winners.

The questions is, can Carlo Ancelotti identify the key positions and acquire those key players quickly enough?

That is the gamble the club are taking and why he is reportedly being paid a king's ransom to manage us.

However I think both sets of players were scared of losing so n played it safe.

I thought Sidibe and Mina were both outstanding but Digne and Iwobi very disappointing.

Duncan has done what was asked of him now comes the long term fix hopefully.

It's not a poor squad!! Yes there should be at least one more CB and the striker issue still hasn't been solved, but outside of that it's a decent set of players who should be challenging for a European place.
Too many have been off form this year, but how they have been utilised is also of consequence.
In Digne and Sibide we have two excellent attacking defenders. Our midfield, who knows how good it could be? We have only seen them play together for 5 minutes!!
Up front, Richarlison and Bernard both quality, DCL has his moments. If Carlo can get Siggy back on form there is more than enough skill and pace to trouble any team in the league.
Silva wasn't up to it. He produced some great moments, but needed everything to slot into place for it to work. Like Bobby before him, he was too stubborn to make changes when things were not going to plan.

There's no reason why Siggy can't get back on form. A bit of balance and perspective is sorely needed on this thread.

This season appears to be a write-off after pre-season optimism. Sadly this has been the case for far too long. Hopefully the new man will be able to recruit far more wisely than any of the last three. For this season, sad to say, but I will be satisfied if we can move away from the relegation zone and start to play some exciting football on a consistent level.

Alright, he ran around but he was totally ineffectual at closing down for most of his time on the pitch. Not good enough, along with 4 or 5 others. Get rid. Niasse would have done better, at least he hassles the opposition.

There was a distinct lack of quality in midfield, which was significantly addressed when Holgate moved back in to midfield, splitting up Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin destroyed the effective relationship they had been building. I think there is a far better chemistry when Holgate and Davies are in midfield than any other combination at the moment.

It's a pity Dunc hasn't got another game because he will surely have learned a great deal from today's display. I think he got it tactically wrong with Sigurdsson currently a candidate for the 2019-20 Schneiderlin Award for Being Useless. Putting Iwobi, Delph and Sigurdsson together is a mistake because none of them have speed or a decisive pass amongst them which again throws all attacking responsibility on Davies.

I found the reversion to Silva tactics in a whole range of places very odd. For the first time in Ferguson's reign, we saw them trying to play it out from the back, fine if you are City, but all it does for us is guarantee 11 players between the ball and the goal, Pickford's hoofs sometimes go out but far more often they cause all sorts of problems with a quick switch upfield.

Oh well, let's hope Carlo can work out where the problems lie and fix them.

Carlo, please choose a captain that's worthy of the armband.

Couldn't agree more. And he improved in his game under Ferguson, has been ill since.

He is quality, but again needs to be utilised effectively.

One appalling corner, that's delivered to the first man at a height of around 4 feet is, maybe, excusable but two in quick succession isn't. Maybe if Digne was called in for extra training it may concentrate his mind.

We had absolutely no creativity in midfield so, all in all, a decent point but far, far from the standard expected. Dross.

Let's hope that we can recover in time for the Burnley match in just 5 days time, and Carlo can work some magic.

Today was arguably one of the worst games this season in that the basics got lost and the effort and legginess of the squad caught up, and lack of nous stood out miles.

Arsenal were there for the taking but it seems this was a game too many today, for this Everton squad. I thought we'd do a Chelsea on them, in terms of approach and play; it didn't start, and didn't happen. No spark, no nous and so it was a very tired performance.

I'm sure Don Carlo will have seen enough to know what a massive job he has taken on. Hopefully he'll have his own scouting network to tap in to, as to improve we need players, with energy, skill, heart and desire for every game, not just one in three games.

Proud as hell that we have at last got a proven world class manager. Today I pray is the start of a new beginning at EFC.

Farhad and his business partners must be serious about taking Everton up, and to be consistent regular competitors on all competition fronts.

Today shows the massive gap between where we are and our aspirations.

Let's back Capo Dei Tutti, and La Familia to the hilt, and believe, as this is the chance and the time to make Everton great again, after years in the abyss, and in the increasing dark shadow of Old Nick.

This is the challenge of Don Carlo's career, without doubt, and 100% solid support will see us start a new era, with genuine optimism and hope.

I sense today many of this squad will realise the clock has run out of time in terms of age, fitness and drive.

Onwards and upwards.

All Have A Great Christmas.

I think we all know that Iwobi is useless and that Sigurdsson is not far behind either. If our new gaffer can get a tune out of either of those 2 pathetic excuses for footballers, then he will have earned his crust. But I can't see it.

It was pretty tepid stuff today and I think the Ferguson factor may have petered out fairly soon had he been left in charge. However, we have a bona fide genius at the helm now, so with a bit of luck we will edge up the table soon, and maybe also get something from our now seemingly annual 3rd round FA Cup trip to Anfield.

NSNO etc. Happy Chrimbo chaps and chapesses!!!

Looks like the slide is arrested, we have to crack on and get some victories.

Hopefully the injured players will get back and we'll score a couple of players in the window.

I've always thought this is a half-decent squad that has been poorly managed by too many managers. It will be interesting to see what Carlo does with them and whoever he brings in. I expect some much-needed experience and nous coming in next month.

I have to say the last two games with Baines taking the corners, we looked a lot more dangerous.

Confidence? He took no responsibility in midfield. He did not want the ball; sorry to say this but he's been hiding in games.

Digne? Playing as though he wants away. Bring Baines back.

Today's shambolic performance, which I am hoping was just a one-off, exemplifies that Carlo has a lot to sort out with this bunch. I know we have been desperately unlucky with injuries, both short and long term, but that does not excuse some of the performances.

I really liked Alex Iwobi when he first came, and although I felt we had not only overpaid for him, but he was a last-minute addition,, which smacked of desperation by Brands to appease the fans.

Iwobi has been awful the last few games, and doesn't look like a ٠.9M player let alone 10 times that amount. That game was there for the taking today, but as it turned out it could have been Arsenal nicking the points.

Ibrahimovic on a 6-month deal. Steven N'Zonzi on a 6-month loan. And Jarrod Bowen for ٣m and Josh Bowler would be realistic signings who could make a real improvement before we do the real business in the summer.

Cast your own mind back to your twenties. Personally, at the age of 22, I was playing footy 3 times a week. Admittedly not at their level but I wasn't a pro athlete. Other clubs are coping with it.

I have thought our team has been lacking fitness for ages. Liverpool just won the World Wotsit Cup thing beating both thier opponents by being fitter in the last period of the game. Simples.

I totally agree regarding Bowen, he would surely improve our toothless attack.

And then today there was a grim nil-nil with Arsenal. Turns out it was helpful. Carlo will have seen first hand the mess he's got to work with, albeit a slightly less messy scenario than a few weeks ago.

He will have watched Michael Keane come on and shin a ball into touch then place a cross field pass into the Bullens Road stand whilst under no pressure. He will have seen how the nice guy that is Tosun really is a nightmare waste of 㿇M. He will also have spotted that Gylfi Sigurdsson has somehow become so ineffective it's scary and he will like us wonder what the hell Moise Kean is all about.

It's a massive statement this Ancelotti appointment. He's a winner and a class act but he's never faced anything like this I bet. The crows were so low after twenty minutes you could almost hear Carlo tut tut and watch him shake his head at the antics on the pitch. Poor stuff with barely three or four exempt.

Time for yet another fresh start. I can't bring myself to get excited as there have been way too many false dawns at this club. Game by game, Carlo has to change that feeling.

Megafon of course is USM (Usmanov) owned (well 56%) by him.

Methinks it was a (more revealing) hint to prod Ancelloti that if there's any regrets about being there/here, he (Usmanov) is watching over!!?

Just a big thought!

Yet we have done nothing but waited for him to prove he is consistent, and his inevitable cost to rise. Whether he would even be considered by Carlo is another matter, but we have a lot more deadwood to clear, plus with the injury situation a lot of players to come back.

Interesting times ahead. I'm really looking forward to the Burnley game.

All I can add is the players were aware of Ancolotti watching and went safety first, trying not to lose or over complicated play.

I can go back to the mid-seventies when I first attended Goodison, well over 45 years, and in all that time I cannot recall Liverpool ever having long-term injuries where a player is out for months, certainly not two or three players at the same time.

You need luck in football, the first being avoiding injuries, do you think this super-fit Liverpool side would still dominate games with Firminho, Salah, Mane and Origi in the sick-bay, and with Lallana and Milner having to play as strikers?

That is what Everton have had to do in midfield. That team has played three games inside a week, with the same players, three players coming back from illness and injury and others plugging the gap.

I for one can forgive yesterday's performance with fatigue.

Surely in all that time you get bad decisions or injuries from time to time.

We are just an unlucky club, two world wars ended two Championship-winning Everton teams, you have the 63 team and the Tony Kay ban, you have the 70 team and Brian Labone injury, add to that the 85 team banned from Europe, the injuries long term to Southall, Heath, Bracewell, Snodin, Parkinson, Oviedo, Coleman, McCarthy, Gomes, Gabadin, the list is endless.

Throw in the 77 cup semi, the 84 Milk cup final, the Clattenburg Derby, Hutchinsons no goal, Ferguson's Villarreal goal, the VAR decisions this season.

One team is blessed with luck, the other cursed.

I wouldn't have swapped my seat in The Upper Bullens with Ancelotti's for all the tea in China.

If Ancelotti was a docker, he'd have turned his cap back to front, that's what dockers did when they were getting told ‘porkies' and Billy Boy is full of them.

Digne hasn't signed the contract he has been offered. I've also read that Lyon are interested. His persona has changed as well as his form. In my opinion, his heart's not there.

Thanks Duncan for your passion that helped gain a very valuable 5 points against 'Big 6' opposition that many were worried about. Several players appeared to take note and duly gave that extra effort.

I'll praise Calvert-Lewin for being more aggressive in a positive attacking sense.

Davies for continuing to be here there and everywhere looking for the ball and a quick forward pass.

Holgate for being immense in defence and midfield. So many important tackles, blocks, headers and good forward distribution.

However besides from the general teams woeful passing, poor crossing and general lack of cohesion against Arsenal I was really disappointed to see so many backwards passes that Duncan had appeared to have eradicated.

Delph, Sigurdsson, Digne, Mina and Sidibe all guilty of slowing play down and passing the ball backwards. Shame on them, they killed any momentum we built up.

We reverted back to every corner and free-kick failing to beat the first defender. Was Digne carrying a knock because he was took off corner duty after 2 poor attempts?

Did the new manager being at the game become an issue for individualised trying to impress rather than continuing to play as a team for Duncan?

Ancelotti will know it's a big job – perhaps his biggest challenge to date – but, despite my lack of enthusiasm about him before the official announcement, I'm slowly encouraged by his experience improving clubs and winning trophies no matter their previous stature.

Welcome and good luck to all, NSNO.

I believe Kenwright was smiling, and shaking his head, whilst telling our owner, “I told you we should have went and got Moyes”!