A Smash-and-Grab Raid Against the Odds

Have watched the Everton winner several times, I reckon it was a pass from Kean on to Walcott. So he should gain a "Blue Peter" badge (showing my age with that). Walcott took his opportunity brilliantly, too!

With Richarlison and Iwobi back we have plenty of attacking options and Kean is now contributing; it would be great to get Gomes on the field but don't rush him back. Also interesting to see Keane get some minutes, maybe that could free up Holgate for midfield at times, like he did late on.

A good Saturday.

While the debate rages about whether Kean meant the winning goal as a pass or a shot, you simply draw attention to the fact that it doesn't matter.

"Kean nipped it off his toe into the path of Richarlison"... Bingo.

Without Kean starting the counter, we wouldn't have had a goal to debate. That's what really counts.

We seem to be playing with some resolution and determination since the ‘Ancellotti effect', and I'll take a smash and grab because we have been on the other end of them... eg, Brighton.

In the game I am referring to, Crystal Palace vs Sheffield Utd, a Sheffield player was allowed to stay on the field after a bad foul; he was already on a yellow but the referee let the second foul be enough not to use the second yellow, both fouls seemed to me a lot worse than Delph's two yellows.

Referees are the ones to blame for inconsistency in making decisions, both on the field and in the VAR room.

I expect us to win at the moment, other than against the top two. Frankly, I'd rather see us consistently beating those around us and below us first.

He's inherited a team made up of jigsaw puzzle pieces from different boxes and has them third on current form.

You don't have to be a 'fanboy' or an idiot calling him a 'fraud'. You can appreciate someone coming in and doing a good job, with acres of room for improvement.

What caught my eye is Holgate when he moved into midfield. It's a shame that we're so light in the centre-back department because Carlo Ancelotti could do worse than give him an extended run.

A crazy game (crazy couple of games actually) in a crazy season; apart from the usual two, if we put a run together, we could plausibly end up in 4th because all teams are so inconsistent.

I certainly wasn't thinking that after the derby.

Ancelotti has a lot of work to do with this squad, and I just hope we are able to give him the funds he needs to bring in the quality of player he will want. I think what will please him is the young players he has to work with, possibly only Richarlison who has that star quality at present. But Holgate is getting better and better with every game and what a bonus he can acquit himself so well in midfield. DCL and Kean are learning week by week and I am sure Davies will improve under Ancelotti. Also shouldnt forget another young player JJ Kenny will be back in the summer. So a lot to be positive about, lets not forget back in December when Silva was sacked and with a tough fixture list, many on here said they couldnt see where the next win was coming from. But thanks to what Duncan Ferguson did and now carried on by Carlo Ancelotti we are now looking up the table not down.

The win is very welcome, especially after Newcastle. Most importantly for me is we are now looking like a team. There is a different mood and aura about the club. Players look more focussed, there seems to be more togetherness and more of a will to win.

We have a good squad and some really good young improving players. I imagine most clubs now fear our attack. We have pace, arial strength and goals. Additionally, we have Moise Kean who will be exponentially improving over the next months and years.

I would hope we will be discerning and just focus on one astute quality signing or maybe two in the summer. The right player signed and we will be back in the big time challenging for top 4 and a cup. At the moment there is no team apart from the top two that are streets ahead of us and we are gaining ground as our young players improve.

I was very critical of Carlo after Newcastle and Brighton but today as in his first two games he made little tactical changes which brought about 3 'lucky' wins. This awareness is the big difference between him and Silva and no doubt under Silva we would have gotten 2 points and not 9 from these games.

Detractors have pointed out that we are just playing just as poorly as before, that Ancelotti is getting the breaks and that he has had a decent fixture run and the next month or so will be different gravy. These are all valid but credit has to be given also for his initial impact.

The big thing I like about him is that he seems to know his players and builds his team and system according to those traits. Playing with two up top suits our 3 strikers individual qualities so every player except Tom Davies has been given the best chance to show their attributes to best effect.

Today many will view Bernard's omission as ridiculous considering his form in the last two games. Iwobi was a poor replacement but Carlos idea was spot on as he wanted more energy to compete with their powerful midfield and Bernard has often been a passenger in these types of games. The player perhaps let the manager down. This is what I like is that he tries to manipulate the squad like chess pieces rather than just play his best eleven despite their suitability for the conditions.

On a side note many of our fans have been unsure about Kean but go back and look what happened after his scuffed shot. The player fell to the ground, looked up and desperately tried to get to his feet in anticipation of a sniff of a goal. Obviously Walcott scored but his instinct I haven't seen from a blue since maybe Jeffers.

Interesting comments about his tendency to look right, but mu,ch less so left, when passing the ball around in defence.

We are clearly far away from what we should be, our midfield is sub par, none of Sigurdsson, Delph, or Schneiderlin have a future. Huge questions around Davies and doubt many would she'd a year if he was sold.

But the psychology behind the team is transformed. European football is there to be gained this season. 2-3 new central midfielders and we'll be a different proposition next season.

Bad mistake yesterday for the 2nd goal, and a stupid red card nearly cost us again. He's had a poor season, and I'd move him on to another mug team willing to give us a fee and take his wages.

Why is there no come back for the action of the Watford player, who despite not being touched by Delph, rolled all over the place, costing Everton a player for the last twenty minutes, maybe Delph shouldn't have made the tackle, no doubt, in my mind, he shouldn't have been sent off for that final tackle, and the first one didn't look like a yellow to me either.

Surely a sending off is a major decision, so the fact that VAR, hasn't been introduced to help determine if it was correct, just adds more bemusement, as to actually what it's main aim is?

Surely it would be fair, for the ref to be interviewed at the end of the game, and asked to explain his decision, and if he was influenced by his colleague, especially because a sending off, is normally one of the most contentious things in football.

We all know it could be done, but it seems to me that football or the television companies that pay hugh amounts of money, want controversy.

Imagine at the end of the game a ref saying he was conned, which automatically brought a suspension for the cheat? Not hard to implement, if people got serious, and it might just take away a lot of gamesmanship, now wouldn't that be nice? Especially if they could make it that black and white, that we wouldn't have to hear loads of absolute shite getting talked by ex-players, or maybe I'm just asking for too much now!

What a wonderful buy Richarlison has been though and what a great player Holgate has become. When you look at Digne and Calvert-Lewin, there have been some amazing positives amongst the disasters and, if Moise Kean can meet half of his potential, then we are in good shape. Shame on the club forever for Allardyce, Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson.

Just get Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson sent off and we might look half-good!

Watch carefully, his reaction after the 2nd goal; he drops to his knees, and punches the ground 3 times. There was no obvious defensive lapse to explain this; no massive deflection. The logical inference is, that it was frustration at his own performance. I'm not saying he was bad... I'm saying, perhaps, he could have been 5% better.

I suppose firstly, and analysing the immediate aftermath of the last 2 games, had you told me we would take 4 points, I'd have been satisfied. Don't confuse satisfied with pleased but a home win against Newcastle followed by an away point against a Watford team recently "stubbornised" by the appointment of one of those British managers that makes them difficult to beat would have been a decent return in the context of our season to date.

But then we're Everton. Of course we would be cruising in the 93rd minute to Newcastle only to gift them a point. Of course we would be 2 - 0 down in the 45th minute only to go in level by half time & then steal the points in the 90th minute.

Give them their due; this lot keep us guessing & on our toes!! Why on earth would you want to support a normal and predictable football club when you can have Everton?!!

Seriously though, just before half time yesterday, we are nervously looking over our shoulder. Now, even after Tottenham's win today, we are 4 points off 5th & automatic Europa qualification. Given Chelsea could also capitulate as they are intermittent at best, we are 8 off Champions league.

Bizarre season in a bizarre and sub-standard league outside the runaway league leaders and the 2 behind them who are better than the rest. It says a lot about the standard of the league.

In that context, anything is possible so right now I wouldn't like to guess whether we'll finish 5th or 14th!!

I can't believe the criticism he gets.

Could never understand Koeman's fixation with Siggurdsen. He's competent when played a certain way but he's never fitted into the Everton team, and certainly can't fit into the current formation. Too slow to play out wide. Not skillful enough to be a No.10. Not strong enough to play in central midfield. Decent long range shot on him and at time decent footballing instincts but its not enough at his price tag.

I also thought Holgate wasn't going to make it after he seemed to stall at the beginning of last season, but he's looking very special now.