Everton hang on as they almost let Fulham back in

The exclusion of Kenny and the manager favouring a centre half at right back tells you that at almost 24 years of age Jonjoe Kenny's Everton career will end either in January or next summer.

I feel Bernard has been hard done by though after his promising spells against United, again it's clear that under Carlo Ancelotti his Everton career will soon come to an end.

The bench is even more worrying with Holgate, Bernard and possibly Tom Davies to come on and improve matters, not having a go at Olsen.

As for Kenny he's just simply not good enough.

Squad is still lacking a first choice right back (in the Digne mold), and someone like Richie who can sit in front of them and graft like he does. Until we get that (2-3 Windows) remember that Carlo inherited plenty of shite, and so far has had one spending window to sort it.

Calls for him to go are just daft.

COYBs

One thing we should celebrate is that he hasn't tried to shoehorn Siggurdson into the team . It makes me a bit more confident.

On the face of things it's Godfrey at right back, James as a number 10 (or at least advanced midfielder) and Iwobi/Richarlison on the wings.

I suppose it could also be 4-4-2 with Richarlison up front?

Or back three with Digne/Iwobi as wing backs?

I'm not sure if it's a good sign or not that it could be lots of different formations.

Gordon has shown more than most when he has played this season. What is the problem.
We deserve an explanation if we fall flat again today.

Hope I'm proved wrong but...

Holgate will be our best centre back again - he was always going to be a bit rusty on his first game back.

Why play a converted centre back at right back when we have a right back?

We look light in midfield, Allan and Doucoure could be overrun unless Richarlison works his socks off to get back and help.

Rodriguez and Iwobi in the same team - 2 passengers defensively. Not sure where Iwobi fits in here.

Why deviate now from a set up that worked so well in our first 8 games? We have the same players available again (Bar Coleman - but could easily play Kenny), why not go back to the same setup now that Richarlison is back?

If we come out of this with fewer than 5 goals it's because we've gone easy on them or lost our way. It already looks like everyone in the team fancies a goal today.

But this is Everton, we have seen us toss away games we have dominated before so let's wait and see what the second half brings.

3 at the back is never the way forward for us. All three don't look comfortable defensively, and going forward Keane on his left looks just as uncomfortable. With the channels beside each centre half, any other team would've exploited them half a dozen times.

We definitely aren't missing Lookman nor Robinson.

No doubt that DCL and James will get all the plaudits, but Lucas Digne for me is absolute class. Bainesy was a favourite of mine, but even in his prime he wouldn't get the nod ahead of Digne for me. You take him out of this team and you can see why the goals dry up. He is always an option for James and his delivery is second to none. It must be a joy for DCL to play at the moment.

We look great attacking and Iwobi has been excellent going forward. A fit Rodriguez, Digne and Richarlison are a must for the rest of the year.

I do think this formation is made for Holgate in the middle, he's the most confident to step out with the ball and reads the game better than Mina.

Alan@19 - Bizarre that you think loaning young players out is somehow a bad thing, because that's exactly how they will start to fulfil the promise (or show they never actually had it really). Godfrey wasn't bought because Branthwaite got injured, we'd been linked to left sided centre backs all summer. Not sure playing him right back was part of the plan, but with Seamus out and Kenny in and out too, I'm glad we've got a lad who's versatile. Give him a season or two and most think he'll be a shoo-in for 1st choice LCB.

Our better players here look like they can do whatever they want. I wouldn't bet anything on Fulham staying up... they're so far off the level needed.

And, whilst one swallow does not make a summer, this is easily the best performance I've seen from him in an Everton jersey.

Gary(#30); Where did I say that about loans?

Iwobi looked good today. Coleman's forward runs were missed.

You've just seen a team stop playing against the worst side in the league. And you somehow find a way to blame the substitute.

Embarrassingly dreadful right through the team. I'll cut Calvert-Lewin some slack. He did play 90 minutes.

Massively worrying why season after season we always look like the most knackered of teams in the league, we don't seem capable of playing 90 minutes.

Anyway it's a win, three away wins, I'd have taken that before kickoff but still clearly big improvements needed in the physical fitness side of things.

That second-half was woeful, against better opposition, we'd have been beaten or at the very most drawn the game.

The whole game summed up what we all know: there is some great stuff and some really poor stuff in this team. Mina is an enigma: he looks good at times but mostly looks suspect in our area.

Three welcome points and it does stop the rot, but there is much to do for Carlo.

First half: good. Second half: shite to pure shite.

Penalty miss saved us. Shambles second half. Thank the lord for a win, well done, Calvert-Lewin.

When he eventually makes the change, Sigurdsson is one of the substitutes. He's the last man you'd want on the field when you need some grafting & physicality. At one point, he actually turned his back on a challenge.

It's three points but, against better opposition, things may have been different. I thought Iwobi played really well. Is Gordon injured???

We need to desperately stop conceding at least two goals every single game, it's eventually going to send the team down the league.

Rumour has it Carlo is looking at signing a launderette for some clean sheets.

It's got to be issues with fitness. Don't think the internationals are helping, but all teams have to cope with that.

Just can't keep allowing teams to come onto us. :(

Very worrying 2nd half, team and manager seemingly trapped in the headlights, against a very poor team. Sigurdsson for Richarlison absolutely perplexing. Mr Ancelotti hasn't impressed me at all yet...

It is inviting trouble in my opinion, you are effectively allowing the opponents possession and a chance to dictate the game. Better finishing from Fulham today, could have produced a different outcome.

Thanks God, today we got away with it!

However. The performances of Yerry Mina are of extreme concern.

Still a lot of work to be done with this side.

Why didn't we adapt? Man mark him and he won't be as effective. I am sick of hearing about how these managers are tactical geniuses. My old amateur team would have at least tried to man mark him.

Moreover, he looked a player. So Brands sold him for a negligible fee? Not getting that one at all.

Anguissa was a beast in the middle. What I had hoped we were getting in Doucoure...

One thing I can't quite fathom is Mina's heading. When the ball is dropping in the area, you arch your back and head the thing out wide... not jump unchallenged and let the ball hit your head on the way down, so the ball drops on the edge of the box.

He's about 6'5". Someone somewhere must have taught him how to head a ball?

Anyway, I'd say that was one-quarter of a sublime performance and three-quarters of a very poor one. In spite of the quick-fire goal, thought we were pretty shaky out of the gate... but eventually we settled down and played some superb stuff, looking like we'd score four or five easy.

And then... we completely shut off in the second half. And you knew exactly what was going to happen. Fulham eventually pegged one back, making it an incredibly nervy last 20 minutes. I don't need this kind of stress at 5:30 in the morning.

Godfrey seemed an odd choice, given that Holgate is by far the most comfortable in a back-three, and can actually play on the right. On the other hand, thought that was easily one of Iwobi's best performances for us.

For those keeping score at home, that's now six straight matches we've conceded at least two goals, and seven out of nine for the season. Not good enough. We were lucky we were playing one of the worst teams in the league.

But I'll take the three points and hey - three away wins in London already. Now I'm off to bed.

Iwobi had his best game for us and Dcl and digne were excellent.

Mina was poor and I'm getting worried that teams have found James out a bit.

We don't tend to buy in January and I'm not sure if we need to sell first but we still need a few players!

Our physical conditioning also needs to be worked on as we cannot match the intensity of other teams. Surely, that should be a given but it has been a feature of every Everton side under recent managers.

Think the reason why posters are specifically singling out Sigurdsson's contribution as a substitute was because he was absolutely terrible. Might as well have brought on a hologram of him.

Sorry, there is no such thing. A win is a win is a win. So like you I'll take the three points and go back to bed. ZZZZZ.

I thought Allan was our best player, I know BBC gave it to DCL who scored 2 and also played great, and Richarlison showed how important he is to this team until subbed.

Ahoy gents. Been AWOL the past couple weeks because I've been fixated on the election here in the States (emphatically anti-Trump, if you couldn't tell).

Me, too! Except I was emphatically anti-Biden! Let's now pray for Joe's good health because that nutter is second in line!

Election totally took my attention away from TW. Nice to return to all things Everton.

Ugly second half, three points, moving along. Hopefully TW mirrors the election result and we can see a return to civility and friendliness in the future. Even though I'm not a big Biden fan, he'll hopefully destroy the vitriol and shit-pot-stirring from the Orange one.

Cheers. So nice to return to TW and all things Blue. UTFB. Three points.

Iwobi finally had a good game

Allan looked good, even if he did give the ball away a fair bit

Second half well, what to say? The downside of having a squad full of international players is that they all go away and come back tired? Richalison and James both looked shattered

You constantly say how poor he is.

Yet you're disappointed that he can't single handedly turn around a woeful team performance in the space of 15 minutes.

He did nothing in the 15 minutes he played of that second half. Which makes him less culpable than those who played more and achieved the same.

We looked very good first half; good press and wing backs pushing them back. Iwobi was particularly good. Should have gone in more than 3-1 up.

Second half showed us plenty. Fine margins and all that. The press disappeared, Loftus-Cheek came on and made a big difference. We didn't get a foothold in the game. The moment our standard dropped, we suddenly looked like an average and purposeless side. DCL was immense second half.

James was anonymous. Richarlison started to tire and we were outnumbered in midfield. So the relatively percentage players, Davies & Siguurdsson, were the right substitutes in my view.

Too many people get obsessed with formations. When we press well, we create space for our attacking players. When the press drops, we turn into a muddled mess. Carlo's job is to get the team playing like it did in the first half more often.

SIXTY - SEVEN.

The last time we had that level of defensive ineptitude, the sacked the manager and appointed Joe Royle.

The difference is we are scoring more - but how many of use started watching the second half and said - I am sure they will score and then I am not sure we will be able to hang on. Someone posted about Eddie Jones' England against Ireland that they are great at defending. You didn't think Ireland would ever score. Looking at us - you really can't see the next clean sheet.

6 in 29 games. I love the excitement of our going forward - but I hate the stress on the heart of wondering if we are going to win. He needs to find a replacement for Gana to lock up the middle and get Holgate back. Even Marco Silva has 11 clean sheets in his last 29 games.

We were passing well, showing nice composure and with Iwobi (made up for him) and Digne getting down the flanks with purpose. it looked like it was going to be Calvert-Lewin's birthday...But as so often happens, somebody flicked the self belief switch. We suddenly stopped doing all the things which had gotten us into the comfort zone.

I cant blame their second goal or the substitutions, because we had already started to unravel. I'm fucked if I know why that happens so often. I swear I would pay good money to the fella who can give me a logical explanation

Lets take the win and the three points and welcome them, but I'm going to have to watch it again to see if I can spot the moment when we went from being assured and confident to being a panic stricken team riddled with self doubt

As was proved in the 7-game winning run, when we're good we're very good with a potent goal threat.

And as was proved in the 3-game losing run, when we're bad, we're very bad.

Richy scores in the 1st minute of the 2nd half and we're cruising at 4-1. He didn't and we then allowed Fulham to play the entire 2nd half in our half.

Why? Over-confidence with the ease and comfort we took a 3-1 half-time lead? Or a lack of confidence to continue doing the same?

Off to a flyer with an early goal to which we could have added before coughing up a soft equaliser - their goalscorer running off Doucoure and beyond a switched-off Mina too easily.

Thankfully, we got a grip again with Digne and Iwobi excellent and pivotal in our play and goals.

But the 2nd half was just perverse, inviting Fulham onto us rather than keeping them at arm's length and turning them back towards their own goal as we had done so well in the opening half.

Whilst the back 3 allowed a base for Digne and Iwobi to get forward in the 1st half, it inhibited us and stuck our feet in clay in the 2nd half.

Keane was the pick of our centre backs. Mina continues to cause concern. Godfrey yet to impress me as others are claiming. The only reason Holgate didn't fill one of those 3 slots today is because he must still be short of full fitness, as showed v United last time out.

I can see the value of playing a back 3 in certain games, but personally I'd be surprised if it becomes 'a feature'.

Praise to Scott Parker for introducing Loftus-Cheek. Until he was introduced on the hour, Fulham had not really encroached our penalty after the interval. He changed all that, winning the missed penalty and scoring the 2nd.

Lookman had also been kept quiet, but his one quality burst created their second goal.

There were some good performances by individuals today. The collective at times played some easy-on-the-eye football. But we need to stitch together more of the good stuff over two halves of a game, be calmer and clearer with better game management during the inevitable sticky moments that occurs in games.

It's a worry how we are leaking goals and how many we're needing to score to get over the line. But for a blown pen this is likely a draw, which given how poor Fulham are, is baffling. We have enough centre-halves and midfielders now, it's up to Ancelotti to find a system and personnel to keep us solid without affecting the attacking play.

The international break continued to have a negative effect on our south-American contingent. James looked sluggish, but for a couple of moments of involvement for 2 of our goals. Richy was a threat and added much-needed dynamism, but faded early in the second. Allan, who missed the second Brazil match lasted the pace far better. Thought Davies played well off the bench and should have been introduced 10-15m earlier. Sigurdsson, not sure why he came on, completely bypassed; Bernard would have been a better option, considering he offered more against United than Gylfi has all year.

So, dodged a bullet there and lots more work to do as we've earned 3 points without actually playing well.

Don't know how many noticed - the 20 seconds of commentary around that late Sigurdsson corner from the left was total satire... with an inevitable ending. Hope it's on the highlights later.

We need to get Holgate back as centre back and drop Mina, Holgates pace will hopefully allow Daucoure to push a bit further up, supporting the midfield.

Our weakness is at right back, Iwobi was top drawer today but Godfrey is what Martina was at left back, a player playing out of position.

Sort the right back out in January, Mina and Siggy should be nowhere near that squad.

When you are on the backfoot you need to bring either Bernard or Gordon on, two players who can at least turn the opposing defence round.

We were brilliant first half, second half more quality teams will pick us off with that style we served up, inviting teams to attack us.

George #81, I'd rather not see Siggy in a blue shirt again. I couldn't think of a better midfield option on that bench, which tells us plenty about our strength in depth.

3 windows / 15months, then start whinging / worrying

Just as other circumstances, but mainly the abolition of the maximum wage (aka Money) did for decent teams like Burnley, Preston etc...sky money and the CL is tilting the playing field...Nobody said it would be either easy or instant.

3Pts gained; bring on the next game please.

Reasonable enough against a half asleep opposition then monumentally flaky when they rouse.

The usual cowardly collapses against anyone driving at us will continue and we will praise the lord for the likes of Fulham etc buffering us from relegation scraps.

Our vice-like grip on mid-table obscurity is assured, I can hardly contain the excitement

I was thinking during the first half that Fulham, are actually okay on the ball, but then Everton stepped it up and blew them away.

Same thing happened in the second half, because we stopped working and I couldn't believe it took our manager that long to make the changes?

Davies, done okay, Sigurdsson offered about as much energy as a tired Rodriguez, but we dug in, and thankfully held out for the vital three points in the end.

We all see a different game, Iwobi, was good, Lewin was a real handful, Digne was outstanding in the first half, but for me I thought Doucoure was our best player overall, although I sometimes wish he'd drive forward a bit more with the ball.

This team is set up to attack and we can't defend with 8 guys on the 18yard line, it's madness. Until we can buy the players to handle that kind of tactics we have stay on the front foot.

Should be the Alamo v Leeds next week!

Carlo (3) - the wingbacks worked well, causing chaos in first half. Took way too long to change one way traffic starting to wonder if he's the cause of it with ‘sit back and break' instructions.

Overall we are desperately short on the right hand side. When we over compensate, teams switch and hit the left. Unfit and unbalanced, without at least 1-2 in January we aren't going to make top 6.

Yes, 2nd half the team looked shattered, and then Richarlison went off and the drop off is huge, plus no fit Coleman equals a weird right side for 90 minutes.

However, we're 6th with a lot of players the manager has inherited in the squad still. Allan has definitely addressed our soft centre, and Doucoure likes a battle too and can hang in there when it gets scrappy.

One reason why I think there's no Gordon on the bench is that the U23's plays him against teams fielding 17, 18, 19 year olds, unfortunately. Every one of those players who played today would look world beaters against another U23's team, or should do anyway. Gordon still needs time to develop and fill out. As an example, look how often Richie has his shirt tugged, other lads jump on his ankles, and how much of a scrap he can handle when there's a 50/50. When Gordon is very good at handling this and not just running with the ball against teenagers, he'll be flying as his talent is the best in our academy for ages from the clips we've seen. In a nutshell, the Premier League is an unforgiving physical place and just the final bit Gordon needs to handle. Another example, Lookman looked decent quite a few times, someone we've all had a little shout for. Defensively, I don't see it in Lookman. Iwobi was tugged and pulled and bumped into all over the place on the ball... and I reckon Iwobi will overall be a better player when we look back over the years to come.

Siggy come on, yeah, we've all have known for ages his legs have gone. But what can a manager do, buy players with his own money after loads of players already came in, in the transfer window just gone. Carlo knows I'm sure Siggy is done as a Prem player physically.

Like anyone would if you were hypothetically on Monday announced as the Everton manager, you'll find the board says you'll have to wait for the transfer window to ship players out and find world class who want to come. Until that happens, you're in the same place as Carlo. You look around and see a lot of old academy players like Broadhead and Pennington, and Siggy type players to put in the game to ensure Richie is safe for the next game. That's the transition we're in.

With this in mind, 3 wins in London and 6th place with a 1/4 of the season gone. UTFT!

Whilst there may be an excuse or two about the performance today I would like to think things will improve as long as there are no silly suspension or injuries. Whilst Godfrey is young and helps with aerial balls I would like to see Seamus back or at least another quality right back.

Davies for Allan, Bernard for James and Gordon should have been in squad for Richarlison.

Press high, feed wingbacks left Calvert-Lewin tap ‘em in.

As this side evolves, Sigurdsson and Gomes will be phased out quickly.

'I remember being ridiculed by quite a few on here for suggesting a conversion of Iwobi into an attacking full back. Jay Wood I think was particularly critical of my thinking around this.'

You are given to self-aggrandizing, aren't you Tommy? And poor recall.

You did no such thing, Tommy. You did not qualify your suggestion by saying 'attacking' full-back. Just converting him to a full-back, full-stop.

Your response to the many detailed replies you got as to why your idea wasn't perhaps the brightest was to list players from as far back as the 70s and 80s who had successfully converted to different positions (not strictly full-back), believing you had made a knockdown argument to counters.

Iwobi was excellent today...going forward. Bursting from midfield. Nice give and goes. Great feet to dance past people around their penalty area. Excellent delivery - high balls and crisper, accurate flat balls.

Defensively, he was part of the 2nd half problem. And no, I am not singling him out for special blame. He is a wasted asset defending deep as he and Digne were both forced to do in the 2nd half.

His better work is clearly in the opponent's half and around their penalty area. Everton's puzzling withdrawal to our own half after the interval neutered him and denied us an out ball, to both his and the team's detriment.

Amen to that! Tearing my hair out trying so hard to understand what happens! It just doesn't make sense!

Bernard was one of our better players in the last game and scored a goal. Ancelotti is losing credibility by persisting with him as far as I am concerned.

We'll get destroyed in the up and coming fixtures in December if this is not worked on. January can't come soon enough. Need to bring in a couple more I feel.

Very few chances to do anything in the second half, not his fault at all on that, but as many have already said it's 3 points, when all said and done. Don't think too many will be rushing to buy the DVD of this match.

The positive aspects all stemmed from the attacking play. DCL was man of the match not only for his two goals but also his hold-up play and running. A mention should be made also for the contributions from Richarlison, Digne, Allan and Iwobi. The last named has been the subject of considerable criticism but the player has enough attributes to be an effective performer at this level. Today operating from a deeper position he offered pace, skill and attacking quality in the way Conte used Victor Moses at Chelsea in 2016/17.

The change of position for Iwobi required James to spend more time in the middle of the field. Although he played a part in two of our goals, the Columbian playmaker rarely looked comfortable and was plainly struggling to cope with the work rate required in that position. As others have suggested his substitution should have been made well before the seventy fourth minute. At his most effective James is a key player but how best to use him in a team formation which brings the best out of all the talents available is something which will no doubt exercise the manager in the coming days.

Remarkably this season we enjoy a 100% record in London, a city where our victories have been in short supply for several decades.

End to end first half, loads of chances. 2nd half was as I expected, sit deep, lack possession and hope that the 2 goal cushion is enough.

We are mentally weak when we take the lead. I don't know if it's coached into the players to sit deep and try to counter but it's frustrating as hell, with a bit more self belief we could have put a few more past them. I can't see us winning a game by 4 or 5 we always do just enough and against better opposition that mentality will cost us.

We are shipping far too many goals. In midfield we need more legs and desire alongside Allen and Dacoure whilst at the back one of either Branthwait, Holdgate or Godfrey need to step up to replace Mina.

Our defence is not tight enough. We play two defensive midfielders and still look so open at times. If kean is going to be our captain for years to come he must be more vocal. Start shouting at players to get tighter and do their jobs.

James was carried and surely Carlo saw that before 60 minutes?? Mina is to inconsistent and reactions are slow. Davies played well. His decision making let's him down at times. We need pace from the bench when under so much pressure.

We must remember Carlo can see what we lack. Going to take a few more transfer windows to get the squad capable of competing for top 4.

Pleased to get back to winning ways.

That second half was more a lack of purpose than fitness. Its a mental thing. The best teams acquire it over time. It's Carlo's biggest job.

Calvert-Lewin will be the subject of huge bids in the summer. His all-round game and his touch are fabulous. I also thought Allan and Doucoure were much improved. Digne's assists record continues to climb.

Our fitness is a big worry. There are always phases in games when we lose the pace and the plot and we did that for most of the second half, not helped by our tactical retreat. But some of our play in the first half, admittedly against a woeful defence, was the way Everton teams should always look to be: swaggering, imaginative and beautiful.

it was imperative for us to win that game.

Second half, we looked like a team of 94 year old Brazilians!

At least we know that the system isn't entirely blame for the leaking of goals now, and that Iwobi can make an excellent wing-back.

Let's see how we fair without any internationals, and that will give us further insight into the rest of the season.

6th - I would have taken that at this stage!

Pickford no major involvement, could have maybe closed down for their 1st, decent finish but he got nowhere near it. Unlucky deflection off Mina for the second which I think he'd have stopped. One error away from being benched, for me.

Godfrey was OK, obviously an error for the pen, so dodged a bullet.

Mina and Keane, can defend high balls and when facing play, but struggle on the turn and dealing with low crosses.

Iwobi played great going forward, but don't think wing-back is his position, or ours tbh. Everything he did today he could do as a right-midfielder or winger.

Digne, class as usual, beaten by Lookman for pace for goal #2.

Dacoure, best game for us imo. Good to see him get in the box for the goal, harried the opposition and carried the ball well.

Allan is just one of those 7/10 players, very consistent and composed under pressure. Battled well to stop us collapsing 2nd half.

James needs a rest. Thankfully no more international jaunts for a while. Still think he'd not 100%. Bypassed for 20m before getting into the game. Looked tired and off-the-pace in the 2nd, should have come off at least 10m earlier.

Richy took about 30 seconds to show how vital he is. Could have scored 2 and should have scored 1. Tired after about 55m.

DCL lethal and ran a lonely furrow gamely 2nd half.

Davies showed why he should be involved, energy and attitude from the off. Won a couple of fouls, very important the way we were hanging in.

Sigurdsson is sadly finished. Did nothing wrong after coming on, but barely noticed him. Doesn't get on the ball and can't get close enough to pressure opponents. Looks lost in midfield. Surely needs to be actively moved out.

The league table tells you we have more of it now than under Koeman & Silva. But we need more of it, more often. My suspicion is that it needs to be imported. In the meantime, we'll be a mixed bag of inconsistency, with a puncher's chance in the cups.

You just knew Fulham would fight to the end as they had nothing to lose.
Had they scored the penalty it may have gone pear shaped but we got lucky in the end.

The midfield area still lacks a Peter Reid type general both mentally and physically to keep driving players on.

My bigger hunch is that he'd love to get shot of both their wage packets for more effective reinforcements.

I don't understand the Jekyll & Hyde syndrome, came back to haunt 5his team.

We were so lucky to ge5 the result, but we invited trouble, and any decent side would have put us to the sword early doors in the second half.

Bielsa will be fancying his chances. I hope today that perhaps the international games and het lad kicked in, but that's no excuse for not pressing up the park.

It could have been that Creek, we know so well today, but shipping goals at this rate, we'll be very lucky to stay mid table as W3 are inviting trouble, every game.

Pleased that Richarlison is back, and in my view his selfless running and defending makes him our key player.

At least we won, but we were lucky. Let's hope that the concentration levels are back for Leeds.

Owing perhaps to a lack of pace at the back our defenders sit quite deep. When we lose possession the likes of Allan and Doucouré plus whoever is playing in the wide positions are required to chase back to the eighteen yard line. Having to do that repeatedly over the course of a game leaves players knackered and more hesitant to move up to support the front men when possession is regained.

I am sure the Manager sees this as much as we do. Finding the players to fit into a more compact system will resolve the fitness issues.

Davies was the right move. We were effectively playing a 5-2-3, Allan and Doucoure had no chance. When Davies came in, that extra body made all the difference.

As for Sigurdsson, 3-2 up is an excellent time to bring Sigurdsson on. He thrives off space and, when a team is chasing an equaliser, there is space. Unfortunately, he replaced his main outlet in Richarlison, so that made the substitution pointless.

Overall, delighted with the win, hopefully it will be the confidence boost we need, but baffled by some of Carlos decisions.

You've had your eye wiped I'm afraid. At least try and be magnanimous about it

“ you may score two but we will score three”.

Carlo went for the win and decided to let Fulham worry about us rather than vice versa.

We played some scintillating stuff for 45 mins, 3 goals didn't do us justice. Richie's directness makes a big difference. Also Iwobi was on fire in the first half, some good play and excellent crosses causing all sorts of problems. Alex has to do the consistently, it's in his locker he needs to bring it to the table every week. He was unplayable at times in that half.

I too thought James Rodriguez should have been subbed earlier. He was struggling for fitness or his balls are still not swinging right. With him fading, we lost control of the midfield in the second half. It's a warning to Carlo, better teams will make us suffer.

All in all though a good win away from home (does that make a difference anymore?). And more importantly, I will be happy for a few days.

The 3 standout performances came from DCL, Digne (apart from being skinned for their second) and Iwobi who played easily his best game in a blue- or slightly blue- shirt. Granted that is not a high bar but even so, he looked a £28m player rather than a £2.8m player. Like others, I am not remotely convinced by Mina. I had also hoped for more from Doucoure. He's been OK, and he bagged his first goal well, but I can't help feeling he can give us much more.

We clearly still have a hole to fill at RB, it seems likely that as he ages, Seamus will be out with injuries more. I'm not convinced we have yet found the best way to use James. The back 5 was clearly an attempt to accommodate him but it literally only half worked. I've begun to feel sorry for Siggy, so obviously out of his depth. That first goal against Split was clearly the high point, it has been downhill from there and we have now reached the lower point of the valley.

We got the three points but will not meet poorer teams than Fulham very often, by the way they looked fitter than us and overall passed the ball better too, not good for your ticker watching the Blues.

Andy Crooks also ridiculed it as well as Colin Glassar, Steve Ferns, Drew O'Neall. Pretty much everyone.

I justified my thoughts at the time. I said this:

“Attributes I think would serve him well are his ability to carry the ball forward. Seamus was excellent at this also. He's got good stamina and sufficient pace to be able to cover a lot of ground on the flank. Physically I think he has enough strength to cope with the role. I disagree about your earlier comments about his work rate, he covers a lot of ground in a game. He could be more intelligent and decisive in his closing down but my own assessment would be that he has been trained to press space around players rather than win the ball.“

I actually thought he was ok today defensively. Lookman had more joy against Digne

When we lose our sense of purpose, we sit deeper, bearing in mind we're already deep enough because of our slow centre defence. We become reactive, and anyone who's played at any level knows when a team is passive and reactive, its a lot more tiring.

In any event, we need a commander, as many of us have suggested on here, someone who keeps and dictates our rhythm. Allan does that to some extent but he's not quite the sort we need. Having criticised him and Doucoure, though, it was great to see them both getting back some form today. A fit, confident Gomes might have done it.

It'll certainly be a test against Leeds who are one of the fittest teams in the league.

IMO James, Richy and Allan are all carrying knocks. Mina is just Mina. His awareness under pressure is poor and he runs like he is carrying a bag of cement.

The logical replacement for Richy or James was Gordon. Dont know what he has done to upset Carlo but the lad needs a chance to show what he can do. Would certainly be no worse than Siggy.

JJK is certainly a better RB than Godfrey.

IMO James, Richy and Allan are all carrying knocks. Mina is just Mina. His awareness under pressure is poor and he runs like he is carrying a bag of cement.

The logical replacement for Richy or James was Gordon. Dont know what he has done to upset Carlo but the lad needs a chance to show what he can do. Would certainly be no worse than Siggy.

JJK is certainly a better RB than Godfrey.

The bulk of this squad has played under a succession of managers that produced dull, purposeless football. Does habit drag them back into this state the moment they're put under pressure?

There are too many in this squad that lack the real desire to be better. Too many who aren't desperate enough to really succeed. This squad might win a cup, which may prove the catalyst, but I think that mentality will need to be brought in.

That your first thought to post on Everton's first win in 5 games is to recall how you were - legitimately - challenged on a whimsical idea to play Iwobi at full-back. Not wing-back as he played today. Not wide defensive midfielder. But an out-and-out full-back.

What did you yourself write in that post?

'And, whilst one swallow does not make a summer, this is easily the best performance I've seen from him in an Everton jersey.'

You might like to edit that to 'his best 45 minutes for Everton.'

If you cannot discern the difference between the role and remit of a wing-back as the attacking midfielder Iwobi played today within a 3 centre back system, as opposed to playing an out-and-out defensive full-back in a flat back four, then perhaps you're not as tactically astute as you keep broadcasting that you are.

Davies also did a good solid job when he came on. He got some tackles in and helped us keep possession.

We were poor second half once Richarlison and Rodriguez tired - we ended the game with pretty much last season's team. We saw the game out well though at 3–2. We would have drawn this game in previous years. Hopefully we can build on this much needed 3 points.

When James and Richarlson are at it so are EFC. When they are not its backs to the wall. DCL is real class at present and deserved his MOTM award. Pickford looked solid and Iwobi had his best game since he signed.

If we don't get that defence shored up Leeds will score 3 or 4 given how many of their midfielders get beyond the forwards, as Fernandez did for MU.

A few on here knocking Rodriguez and his lack of work ethic. Why not concentrate on what he can do rather than what he cannot.

He's in the team because he can do things that very few players can. The kind of quality and creativity he offers is simply unavailable to most teams. Most teams rely on pace, power and quick interchange of passes.

James can creat and see angles that destroy entire defences time and time again.

In supporting an extremely hard working duo in DCL and Richarlison then it is ridiculous to question if there is a place for him in this team.

However, we need Allan and the other sitting player to offer as much endeavour as the Brazilian. When Gomes and Sigurdsson play we then carry the burden of James' lack of physicality with that of Siggy or Gomes too. And that will leave us exposed. And has already

Coleman would have started ahead of Godfrey, not Iwobi. Iwobi was playing instead of Sigurdsson.

Also, Iwobi has finally emerged the player Marco Silva thought he signed from Arsenal. But I do believe he would be better in midfield where his attacking instincts can link up with Richarlison. Because turning defending into quick immediate attacks provides more chances and more goals, but it should not be left to Richie.

As for Everton defending, 3 at the back does not really work for Everton because Everton naturally play 4 at the back. Holgate needs to get his fitness and form back asap because Mina is having difficulties defending at time when he is being 'turned around' by quicker players.

'Had Coleman been fit today he'd have started in the position that Iwobi did.'

Sure about that? If you did but notice there was a major tactical switch from a flat back four to 3 centre backs supported by two wing-backs.

This effectively meant (ignoring the switch in of Mina for Holgate) that Godfrey came in for Coleman (NOT as a right back, but as a 3rd centre back) with Iwobi coming back half a notch as a wing back from his usual further forward and wide position. Iwobi actually replaced Siggy in the starting line up from the last match.

My reading of this is the following:

* Possibly Carlo anticipated his 3 centre backs would have to deal with the physical and aerial threat of Mitrovic, who of course didn't start.
* Carlo is aware of what James gives us going forward and whilst the Colombian is game in tracking back at times, it is not always effective and it does and has exposed us. The Italian's solution today was playing Iwobi in the role he filled (very well), freeing up James who played much more centrally rather than nominally wide right today than perhaps any game in an Everton shirt to date. Ergo, James filled more the Siggy-Gomes role and whilst subdued, he was still instrumental in some very fine attacks, including the lead up to Doucoure's goal.
* In the 1st half when Iwobi was at his most influential (deep in Fulham territory) he ventured forward safe in the knowledge Godfrey had his back defensively behind him. It was similar for Digne with Keane behind him.
* That winning strategy was neutered by Everton's submissive surrender of territory to Fulham which saw us under siege for almost the entire 2nd half.

Now if Coleman had been fit to play and selected, that might well have seen a retention of the flat back four and an entirely different strategy by Carlo and a different role for both Iwobi and James as described above.

Unlike some, I do not have a 'down' on Iwobi. He is technically very good. He showed that in buckets today. There were a couple of interchanges with James which showed, for me, that they were on a heightened level of football which was encouraging.

Carlo clearly likes Iwobi as he keeps finding ways to play him. That said, he does let himself down too frequently, getting a starting berth, but performing so badly he is replaced at half-time.

I will continue to disagree with you that Iwobi can play as an out-and-out full-back as you stated in an historical post from months ago that you (nobody else) chose to recall as your 1st post-match utterance following Everton's 1st win in 5 games.

I think the problem with Holgate was that in his first game back he had a real stinker. Over the last few months Carlo has had more time to work with th others so Holgate having failed to hit the ground running is having to prove himself again

Some on here have eloquently stated their dissatisfaction with the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. I respect their opinions but I don't agree with them, believing the club desperately needs someone of his vast experience and knowledge at the helm at this critical in our history.

We can also see what Carlo lacks. He tried to sit on a 3-1 lead and we almost got punished. He did it against Newcastle and we threw away two points. He also did it in a Champions League Final in Istanbul and got punished. More attack-minded managers at 3-1 would have gone on and won by 4 or 5. Defending leads is Andelotti's mentality. This will happen again and again. Sometimes like today he'll get away with it. Sometimes he won't.

I always thought Moyes was ultra negative/defensive. Last minute today, with West Ham winning away, his holding midfielder Rice was attacking by the corner flag. Compare that with Ancelotti.. last twenty minutes Calvert-Lewinwas playing on the edge of our own penalty area.

Most Everton fans think Ancelotti is a God because of his name and what he has won. Brian Clough had a big name and won trophies. He took Forest down. I'm not saying we will go down... I just think Ancelotti's star has faded and he's no better than our previous Managers. The only difference is his name has brought some better players.

How long can he survive on his name???

Having said that, I think in an ideal situation, would be that every player should know that having a 'stinker' on the pitch should result, if availability permits, that he is replaced or demoted to the bench.

This would keep them more focused and none of the hitherto feeling of " I will get picked next week, barring a disaster attitude ". They are getting paid enough to be professional, and there is also an element of providing entertainment thrown in.

As it happens I thought 5-3-2 worked pretty well (except Rodriguez') limited mobility left us outnumbered in the centre of the park. Iwobi shone. He was really good. Godfrey was good too.

That's Ancelloti making a difference, figuring out how to sort out the flanks without Coleman. It worked well. We played excellent football, could have scored 6 etc.

But yet again, it falls apart without Rodriguez and Richarlison. Not Ancelotti's fault

The first half was sublime football, the result fortunate based on the second half only.

Fortune is not the devil but a large part of the game. How many countless times have we seen it go against us? Celebrate the highlights and accept the need for improvement without fixating on personal entrenched dislike of certain players to the extent of blotting out all else the team has in periods displayed.

Christy and George Cumisky, has Sigurdsson been to your houses and left a floater or maybe wiped his bits on your curtains on his way out? Yes, he is spent as a player – a shadow of his former self... but come on, change the record. It's not all his fault or intention when the standard drops.

COYB – we won and will get stronger.

You said :

“Tommy, you are usually pretty astute but I genuinely believe that if I lost a bit of weight, well, okay, quite a bit of weight, I could do a better job at right-back than Iwobi.

Having said that, I think he is a decent player in his right position but is a confidence player. In a good side he will excel.”

Just citing an example of someone who disagreed with me. That's all

We're all entitled to an opinion. I just felt that of all options available, a try of Iwobi at Full Back wouldn't be a bad idea. I gave my reasons why. The idea was ridiculed by most.

I just felt today was good evidence of what I was thinking.

I'm not saying he's going to be a brilliant full-back. But he just has never performed for us in any position. Before giving up on him or watching him toil every chance before being hooked, I felt he could be worth an investment of a re-position down our right-hand side.

That's all.

For the record, can you tell me why he keeps getting selected when he brings nothing to the team?

For the record, he hasn't been to my house but, if you can give me a valid reason why he's even on the bench, I'll hold my hand up and apologize.

Everton won so I'm happy, but I'm happy because we played some very good football in that first half, and I'm happy because I thought we were going to throw it away, and we never.

It didn't stop me screaming at Ancelotti on the telly, who I thought should have reacted both quicker and better at trying to defend our lead!

I don't like using the RS as an example but they would have won that game and today's game by 3 or 4 goals. I cannot stand this "keep what we have" attitude for the sake of free-flowing football like we produced first half.

It is the same attitude from him that sees Sigurdsson, Mina etc being in and out the team when they are continually shite while younger hungrier youngsters like Gordon are being ignored. Carlo doesn't like inexperienced youngsters.

First half was great and shows what we can do when we are pressing high up and balls are going to feet. Though even then we were a liability in defense at times. I was excited when we signed Mina and have been an advocate of him at times but I think he needs dropping; he just seems like an accident waiting to happen and never reads the game that well in my opinion.

Three points away from home in this league is always a great result in my book and I'm hopeful that this team can kick on now the schedule is a little lighter.

Thought Iwobi was great today. Another player that I've been an advocate for. He's not deserved my backing often this season but we saw what he's capable of today; quick feet, good vision, very tidy with the ball and solid athleticism. Still not sure that he's suited to play out wide but he definitely has attributes; doesn't deserve quite as much stick as he gets on here.

After half time, I just didn't see what the plan was? A 3-1 lead – you either go ultra-defensive or go to increase the lead. We did neither.

Yes, we are a squad that a two-goal lead at half-time is rare but training for those leads is crucial with a plan to implement. Jose was king at defending a two-goal lead in his Chelsea days and still is.

Perhaps the leading players were just knackered from the international break? A plan was said but just not implemented by the players? Who knows?

Those questioning Carlo at Everton. Give me a break. Some of our football first half today and early on in the season was the best for years. Carlo has brought quality to the squad. Not Everton or salaries but him. A Champions League winner and many League Championships.

He has the respect of quality players. Our attacking play is a delight at times but yes defensively needs working on. It's early days of the season and, with no international break till next year, Carlo has more time to work with the players.

Today was about 3 points and getting that winning feeling back. Remember, it's Work in Progress.

I cannot see Everton taking over any of the top 4, we have improved already, but there will be no Champions League football next season and Richarlison will be off.

The rot started well over 20 years ago though, Carlo cannot be blamed for that. As we know, last progression: Park End 94, FA Cup 95.

Tired players is one thing but James (and Gomes for that matter) could do with a training camp to bring them up to speed. I really hope James is not so up himself that he doesn't feel the need to train hard.

I remember getting the Victor comic as a kid and there was a story about a player called George who was a Lord and a great goalscorer who refused to move to receive a pass. Any pass which was straight to his feet was despatched into the net. James reminds me of him: ball to his feet and watch out... otherwise, don't expect much!

I thought Iwobi was excellent, even in defending. Allan and Calvert-Lewin were superb, as was Digne, and Tom made us more solid. Mina should be knocking attackers around and making life unpleasant for them but he never quite does.

Three valuable points and some great football yet dodgy defending. We move on!

All he has to do is show the attitude he played with today, looked like he wanted the ball and when he got it he used it well. It's up to him, keep it up and that will shut us up, me anyway.

Game of 2 halves, pretty much sums us up. It was clear that James and Richarlison were knackered and we then became unable to stretch them. James's passing went awry, Richarlison's running less impactful.

They brought on fresh legs and our midfield struggled. Davies should have come on earlier, and Sigurdsson shouldn't play again as, once again, he offered nothing. Gordon should be Richarlison's back up, and it's frustrating that he is continuously ignored.

Mina also looked leggy, and I'm not convinced from what I've seen of Godfrey, but too early to judge.

3-4-3 can work with this team. It gets the most of James. But as soon as James is out, it should revert to 4-5-1/4-4-2.

So positives to take, but much to work on still.

We need another midfielder, Davies did well when he came on. Iwobi looked great as wing-back. Hopefully with rest and training, we'll take Leeds apart.

On that basis, Mike Walker was a genius giving Wimbledon a 2-goal lead and coming back to win 3-2, and save us from relegation. We got lucky that game, just like our neighbours got lucky that evening.

What you are missing is that, wherever Carlo has gone, he has managed to bring players in and sell players as well.

What he has here is a lot of players on high wages, who he cannot even give away, no one else wants them, or are willing to match wages we pay.

It will take a good two years to offload all, some may leave this Summer, and that is the job Carlo has at the moment.

When fully fit we have as good a starting 11 as any, the backup is where we are struggling, so until we can get these off the books and bring in quality backup, it will be a case of patience.

Only wish I knew what Sigurdsson has on Carlo though, unless he is trying to get him in the shop window, if that is the case, I would leave him on the bench.

We need that type of passion in our team, I honestly think we have better ball players in our team but they are lacking in desire and a will to punish teams to the maximum.

The Carlo knockers are the same ones lauding him a month or 2 ago, it took Klopp 4 years to build that team so give him time.

Don't forget that the Kopites where questioning his credentials and ability 18 months into his tenure. It's a process that cannot be rushed.

However, after calming down a bit (that second half cost me what's left of my fingernails) I feel a bit more positive.

Digne was magnificent - first half especially. Richarlison showed why we've missed him so much the last month. Highlight for me though was Alex Iwobi. I can't claim to have seen him in every game he's played but surely that was his best performance in an Everton shirt?

I've supported Everton for too long to count my chickens, but, if Carlo's figured out how to make a decent player out him then that would be awesome. We would have lost without his efforts today. He broke up attack after attack and was a massive threat going forward too.

As I say, not counting any chickens, but credit where it's due. He put in a shift today.

Carlo himself attributed the second half to tiredness, not a deliberate strategy to sit back and soak up pressure. Like others here, I'm very concerned about fitness levels, even accounting for the international break. I've just watched Leeds v Arsenal, and they must feed the Leeds squad raw meat because they were up and down non-stop - not just one but the whole team in unison. If we play against them like we did in the second half we'll be slaughtered.

And finally Rodriguez - he looked like a pub team player today, shirt out, loping round the pitch. Granted he played a couple of influential passes for the 2nd and 3rd goals but honestly, we'd have been better off leaving him out today.

James won us that game. It's his passing that time and again puts Richarlison and Digne into positions to score and create goals.

But in the second half he was a spent force. He played 2 x 90 minutes in the previous 5 days and got back from a long-haul flight on Friday.

The problem we had was, when he tired, no-one else was able to pass in the way he does, and we were thus woeful.

But leave him at home? And play whom? Sigurdsson????

He was on the bench. For 76 minutes. So, no, Carlo isn't persisting with him.

He came on because, as a team, we'd been utter crap for 30 minutes.

He didn't change the game, but is that what you really expected of him? If so, why are you so surprised that Carlo ‘persists' with him?

Just a nonsense witch hunt. Squad depth is a big problem for us, but our second half against Fulham wasn't down to Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Hardly. Richie, Digne, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin – any number of players had a more influential game. Any good professional could have played the passes he did for the goals.

The rest of the time today he mostly loped around and wasn't involved anything like his usual self, and that includes the first half. Of course he was tired, but we're not going to get the best out of him by running him ragged.

Most weeks, of course he's the first name on the team-sheet. Today though, I'd have left him on the bench and brought him on later.

That's just not true though is it? Especially that pass for the 3rd goal not a single other player in our squad would have done that.

James's passes are always with intent, always targeted towards that area of the pitch for both Richarlison and Digne to run on to. And no-one else can do it like he does with such consistency.

Even when he's at 50%, he creates these goals and that's why he plays. That's the difference between special and just plain good.

If James wasn't playing in the first half, it would have been 1-1.

Clearly Tommy meant attacking full-back or wingback, whether it's a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 – who cares?

It would be great if we can get a player out of that £28.5M investment...

Evertonians who don't realise how good a player like Rodriguez is just don't understand football.

James is a match winner.

Most teams are capable of fielding 11 players who probably won't lose you the game.

However not many teams on the planet at the highest level have that one player who can win you a game. We do.

I love seeing him in an Everton shirt but he is in danger of becoming a luxury item.

Hopefully with no international breaks now until next March we can get him fit and keep him fit because, when he is on it, we look 4 or 5 places higher.

No coincidence that Richarlison faded badly, as did Allan, who was superb for an hour. I thought Tom did really well when he came on.

But listening to him after the game, he said we lose quality when the two South American's are not on the pitch, so he kept two very tired players on, because he's a conservative manager?

Leeds will be a real test; if we carry on with terrible passing and woeful marking, we will be humbled big-style.

Got away with it today, but it underlines why we won't challenge this season.

I'm never the best observing Everton as I get too emotionally involved. However, as I saw it, we tired and that was a poor second half but this time last season we lose, let alone get a point, from a match like this. That in itself shows there is more resilience and a better mentality about the team.

I want us to win pretty, but I'll take winning ugly. Good teams can do both. Where we are now, go out and score; play to our attacking strengths. We are not great defensively, so expect to concede, just go and score. Work in progress, team in transition, call it what you want, but that's where we are.

I wonder if Gbamin will make a difference if we get him fit. Today, Fulham seemed to find pockets of space between our back 4 and the midfield 2 of Allan & Doucouré. Both of them are more inclined to press, which will leave space that can expose the central defenders. With a genuine holding midfielder plugging that hole, we might look more solid and provide the protection this rather ropey back line needs right now – we can fix that later.

Hear this loud and clear: Ancelotti is the best thing this club has done since Joe Royle. We have had too many mediocre managers who have bought shite... absolute shite.

In one transfer window, he has changed our team dynamics and got Calvert-Lewin scoring goals.

And yes, his name has brought players here that we would never have gotten. Those players have taken us to 7th in the Premier League.

I'm sick of hearing he needs to go, for fuck's sake, we are in the position as a club because of past bad recruitment in managers and players and now we have a good one who's attracting top players some on here want him gone. I'm at a loss, I really am... I just don't get what people want from our club.

The other thing is what is alluded to above; bring in players we simply would not have attracted otherwise.

Is he the golden ticket? Probably not. Is he past his best? Arguably but then so is Mourinho. Does he raise our game and profile in the interim and have the potential to put us in a better place? Absolutely.

Even if he is a gradual stepping stone to greatness (think how City done it before they got Pep), then he's going to get us to a better place and attract better successors in 2 - 3 years time than the bizarre appointment of chancers we've made in recent years.

Look at the derby post lockdown. Liverpool had Milner at left-back and we parked the bus. We defended so deep we were virtually in the Car Park. Ancelotti needs to grow a pair.

I'm not saying Ancelotti should be sacked.. I'm simply saying he's not the saviour our fans think he is. He won't lead us to glory.

We are currently sixth and four points off the top of the table, this evening. None of the teams yet to play this week can get closer than 4 points off the top of the table.

We made three signings in the summer that greatly improved our team and we have the January window coming up in 5 weeks.

Our striker, who many on this forum dismissed as not good enough over the past couple of seasons, currently is the leading scorer in the division and, barring injury and allowing for a good service into him, certainly looks good enough to remain top scorer throughout the season.

We have suffered false dawns many times since the mid 1980s, but I do honestly believe that if we give Carlo, a bit of time, a bit of money and a bit of support, the signs are all there, even now, that he can, and will, deliver for us.

Let's hope that against Leeds the team we had at the start of the season turns up and continues to turn up from here on in.

Not to mention that regardless of Everton players and managers, we had a typically Everton October!!

We could have Pep and Klopp as Manager / Assistant and a combination of their current players but we would still have an Everton October.

He's a frustrating player and he'll probably be useless next week! But he is capable and I hope he gets a run and puts in a few more games like that as he's very much a confidence player. As much as I often defend him I don't know whether he's got that consistency in him.

Goodison was better than most pitches at that time but I recall the pitch heating system and the laying of the sand and turf didn't get done right.

But pitches aside, the the teams in them days, had to give a lot more than you get now from the average player due to the low tide state of the pitches.

Still there's hope on the horizon and this is a work in progress and, whilst a quarter of the season gone, all considered Everton, are in a decent place.

I respect every ones view as is right, but the next month represents a good chance to build on today's win, and to get to a semi, but only any progress can be achieved by working hard and staying together as a unit,

Stay solid, stand and stick it out. It ain't perfect but there's a good chance of making progress this season, small steps in the right direction.

This is evident in almost every game we have seen over many seasons to the point that it might be incurable. Many managers and medics have tried their hand at appropriate treatment without significant success. In fact, they have come from all over the world, being paid vast sums of money. Dr Carlo is the latest to come up with a diagnosis. He must be given time, although we have been saying that for the last 25 years.

From reading the posts from true Evertonians, it seems obvious that the psychological problems of the team can be passed down to supporters. The results are extreme anxiety, an inability to concentrate, and angry flareups and irrational behaviour. Throwing objects at the TV and screaming obscenities at those who don't agree with your astute observations is a common reaction.

One final major observation is the inability to maintain any semblance of sanity when the Blue patient sees anything red. Even worse when eleven arseholes dressed in red win a game against any team in the league. Of all symptoms, this is by far the most stressful. It can result in extremely violent and irrational behaviour. Unfortunately, it can be a concern for your loved ones.

In my particular case, my loved one was quietly reading a book "How to Relax when Living with a Lunatic". She was in another room and I was with my two sons, both afflicted with the same "Blue" mania.

Before she fainted, she had heard demonic ranting from the room where the television was. I dabbed her head with cold water. Surely she would understand when I told her that Fulham had just equalised due to fucking Mina. She was drinking a large gin and tonic after the 90 minutes. We "Three Blues" were so happy. We had beaten mighty Fulham 3-2.

My loved one needs to be more patient and understanding. She should never have thrown that book at me. It really hurt my head and my feelings.

6th and 4 points of top spot blues. Be positive!!

RS concede 7 against an average Villa team but nobody was writing them off.

Sometimes it can work against you getting an early goal and being so much the better team early on. An air of complacency can creep in thinking the game is already won. This is where a good coach and a strong captain can come in.

At the moment Carlo doesn't really speak good English and may have a problem getting his points across during the game and I know that Everton are lacking great leadership in the midfield also.

The building of the squad and the mindsets is still a work in progress so let's see what the new year brings before we start getting too upset.

We didn't play great (particularly 2nd half) but took 3 points today. That is what winners do.

Plucky heroes do their best but lose.

But it's part of life and a very important part of life.

What gets to me, is that the clocks been running, a long, long time. To get some consistency, predictability and playing good football, would be bliss.

I hope v Leeds, next week, and Everton, won, and kick on, and it will be a big test.

There were many positives to take from the first half. An excellent display from Digne, Calvert-Lewin in top striker form and fast effective movement all round. Where did it go wrong in the second half?

In actual fact, signs of defensive panic were already evident before the dramatic deterioration after the break.

I don't know what to make of Mina. Some games he has looked a solid defender, who provides us with a set-piece goal threat, but others, as was the case today, he looks a liability who lacks pace. It's unfair to judge Godfrey at full-back, as clearly he isn't one.

An argument for the players back from International duty could be made that they simply ran out of steam. Rodriguez is a world-class luxury who we will only see the best of when the rest of the team are performing as a well-drilled unit.

So, for me, the real culprit of our second half decline was Ancelotti. He was far too slow in making changes, indicating a hesitancy and uncertainty in crucial decision-making. It could easily have cost us the game; we were fortunate towards the end that it didn't.

When we were 3-1 up, if he decided he wanted to kill the game, along with Davies, who incidentally played well, he had options of bringing on Gomes or Holgate to stifle their midfield threat. Yet he stubbornly persists with Sigurdsson, who has neither the bite nor the precision to calm such situations.

Yes, we won and the 3 points are the main thing, but there are still some question-marks over the new signings. We already know all about the deficiencies of the rest of the squad. Carlo, nobody should be above the axe.

'We threw away the two-goal lead against Newcastle because Ancelotti took off our offensive players so Newcastle piled forward as their defenders had no-one to mark.'

Simply. Not. True.

Get your facts right.

I think it will take him a good few months to get used to the pace of English football. Okay, today he wasn't as eye-catching as he was at the start of the season, but he had an assist in 2 goals.

Quick point on Davies; I thought he settled the midfield down, won the ball and used it well, what more do people want.

Yes, I criticize his team selection and tactics at times, particularly the omission of Gordon, but would I swap him for any other manager? Hell, No!

He has class, breeding and has played the game and managed at the highest level. We are still in Phase One of rebuilding the squad and he has had less than a year in the job. Patience and support is needed, not impatience and negativity.

1st showed how Everton could play; 2nd showed how Everton actually play – no consistency at all which is a worrying sign. If we play against Leeds next week like the 2nd half, we shall get hammered that is for sure.

Geez Gomes must be training really badly if he cannot get game ahead of Davies & Sigurdsson (who brings nothing to team at all) his confidence would be at a low point and we all know he does not play well if no confidence will Everton look at offloading him in January???

With the team's energy level, it would be a suicide to play an open game against Leeds. We would be definitely outrun. I wouldn't be surprised if Carlo park the bus and wait for set-pieces opportunities.

I know Fraser is not someone we want. But we need another player like him who is quick, can play direct and cause trouble.

No he wasn't to blame for the poor 2nd half showing, but neither did he improve matters in any way, shape, or form.

People on here talk about how crap he is (constantly, which is strange considering how little he plays) yet he's criticised again for not coming on and improving the team when they're struggling.

It's a nonsense.

It's about as plausible as the guy on this thread who somehow found Pickford to blame for the second goal.

I'm just surprised no-one has blamed Barkley, Kenwright or Moyes yet.

All James did was to play two or three passes that led to a couple of goals and Mr Ancelotti only has that remarkable record because he has always inherited teams of talented players?

You know, I'd almost settle for a manager who at least was that lucky rather than some of those we've had recently or indeed the blokes he has replaced who put those squads together. And, a player who can only play a major part in a couple of goals? Sounds good enough for me, especially, if that manager can luckily get something more from him.

Strive for, and insist on, excellence by all means but don't play down or overlook the talent and ability which we have.

Regarding Klopp's teams, they seem to focus on fitness and stamina. You have to wonder what else they put in their Weetabix though...

Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are the future of the football club, whilst bringing in first team ready replacements at right back and centre half must be a bigger priority than somebody like Isco.

Timely reminder that Firmino's manager has been there five years and for his first 18 months, was repeatedly questioned by many of his 'knowledgeable' fans

Not sure about the Chelsea comment John. Unless of course PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are considered a step down from Chelsea?

A win is a win but we are going nowhere until we stop conceding goals. With almost 2 goals per game, we will lose more than we win so this problem needs to be addressed urgently.

Unusually, I do not have an opinion except to say that we certainly seemed to concede ground possession to Fulham in the second half.

Quite how Carlo achieves that first half brilliance consistently is the dilemma that he faces, it must give him nightmares because we have produced that brilliant form earlier in the season.

Working out our best back-four formation could be the key but the squad we have is not strong enough overall, the players coming off the bench are not good enough to sustain us over 90 minutes. Carlo will no doubt strengthen the team during the next transfer windows. Those decisions and additions to the squad will be crucial to our success or failure.

Tom Davies came on at the same time and stabilised the team. His contribution was in stark contrast to Sigurdsson's.

Some fans are having a go at Godfrey; they might reflect that Lookman got nothing out of him and had to switch wings before he created anything. Ben is going to be a goodun'.

If both these lads wore red, we'd be seething because we only had Beattie and Johnson would-bes in our team. I'd rather watch a 'lazy' James than a donkey who runs around a lot but contributes little going forward. And Richarlison is the dynamo that makes this team tick – did anyone notice his absolute frustration when Everton conceded the equaliser?

A good side is a blend of hard-workers and mercurial players; Everton aren't there yet and it will take time, but give me that 30-minute purple patch every week over the tired 'keep it tight and nick one' mentality that has beset the club for decades.

The defence is fixable and it will be fixed, eventually, but probably when it is, knowing our luck we'll stop scoring – that's what Everton do.

Yesterday, he looked composed on the ball, won out with his tackles on the winger, and was a revelation going forward with pace and purpose.

When will folk learn to give young players and new players a chance to settle in? Just as well there's no crowd at the moment!

Take the 3 points, take Calvert-Lewin still having his mojo, take Iwobi looking like a new signing, curse the International Breaks... and move on.

Play poorly, get 3 points... repeat for the next 20 or so games... what's not to like?? Well plenty, the goals against for one.

3 points – take them, worry about Leeds on Friday.

Negatives: Another poor second-half performance. Mina is a liability. We look so shaky at the back. We're shattered after an hour. Sigurdsson gave one of the worst performances from a substitute that I've seen.

James cut a frustrated figure the whole of the second half. First half without him we don't score 2 goals. I put his second half display down to fatigue with the international break and Columbia's performances. Must have taken their toll on him emotionally.

I don't recall anyone questioning Richarlison's value to the team while he was missing. It was clear how much we missed him and how important he was to our attacking threat. Yesterday showed that and again, whilst I didn't want him taken off I presume he was tired after the travel and games in Brazil.

Whilst we may not agree with substitutions (I certainly didn't with Richarlison yesterday), we have to remember that these players run around with data sensors and coaches on the bench have access to real-time info. In a 10-minute period, if a player work rate and speed drops, then clearly they are tired and need replacing. I'm not a fan of Davies at all but his work rate yesterday helped us close the game out.

I'm not sure why we have to dissect everything and look for ways to criticise. We needed that win and we got it. I don't care how. I do sometimes wonder what ToffeeWeb would have been like in the '80s.

I wonder how many would have been calling for Howard's resignation before our success or criticising Sheedy and Sharpe for no end-product. I imagine some would also have criticised Lineker for not adding anything to the team other than goals.

l've said my piece about James in a previous post. Yesterday Richarlison could have scored a hat-trick, he missed those chances. One was brilliantly made by himself in the first half but, after weaving his way through three players, he had the whole goal to aim at, instead he telegraphed to the ‘keeper where he was going to put it. He miskicked completely for another, and passed tamely to the goalie for the only shot we had in the second half.

He's better in the team very obviously and we are better but he's not the world class player many fans think he is.

Richarlison will retrieve the ball form the edge of his own box if he needs to, James goes AWOL when the hardwork is required. Nobody will support Richarlison's red card tackle in the derby but it came out of a desire to get the ball and get it forwards and not out of any sort of malice. I don't see that from James and I don't know why because he's clearly not soft.

For their second goal, when Lookman bursts past Digne, we have five Everton players in the box marking three Fulham players. We have extra men and yet somehow no-one is anywhere near Loftus-Cheek. Mina again is not doing much here and ends up simply deflecting the ball past Pickford.

To my eyes, there's too much ball-watching. Mina especially is a defender who seems to take a position that he thinks is right without actually having awareness of where the opposition players are. He often seems to be close to goal, allowing too much space for any cutbacks.

Maybe the defenders have been told to play zonally but too often it seems there are large gaps with attackers left free. People aren't taking responsibility and it is showing in the scoreline.

We've conceded 2 or more goals for 6 matches in a row now. Ancelotti needs to fix this as we can't keep relying on scoring 3 goals or more per match. Great that we are scoring goals and are entertaining watch but most good teams are built on more solid foundations.

Then you have Valencia and Young at Man Utd, Moses at Chelsea, although he was more wing-back as Iwobi was on Sunday. Then you have Bellerin, Alba and Alaba. Before them, Dani Alves was a winger and further back you have Zambrotta. I'm sure that's the tip of the iceberg – it's a well-trodden path.

I also think full backs nowadays also have to have different skillsets to before, even when playing in a back 4. People like Alexander-Arnold could arguably play right-midfield or right-wing and often does in formation terms. Someone like Gary Neville might struggle to get a game nowadays.

You are right that Richarlison could have had a hat-trick yesterday but, for me, he is our only world class player. I am sure that if we don't make a European place this season, his mate Neymar will be telling Leonardo to sign him for PSG, and I don't think they would be the only club after him.

The difference he brings to this team is there for all to see: he gives us so much going forward, can beat a man, has pace, and is a good header of the ball. Then on top of all that, he does as much chasing back as you could wish for.

You mentioned the chance when he weaved past three players before the keeper saved his effort; he actually started that by chasing back and winning the ball in midfield first – we don't have anyone at this club who could do that.

Also, Digne makes more overlaps when Richarlison is there and Calvert-Lewin certainly benefits from having him in the side.

Yes I agree with quite a lot of your post, except that, yes, he has pace but not great pace and I don't think he is world class but we are better when he plays for us – I don't think any fan would deny that.

When is he going to score a league goal from open play this season!!! Thank God for Dominic!!!

Mina needs shipping out in January – now there is a Championship player if ever there was one. Branthwaite, Godfrey and Holgate are (or will very soon be) better players.

Davies did a sound job yesterday and those who write him off as yet another Championship player should show more patience. Our youngsters are only given a precious few minutes to prove themselves, which invariably heaps even more pressure on them, whilst £100k-a-week big-name signings can stroll around match after match contributing nothing.

Sigurdsson can't even point straight and needs some special coaching from Phil Neville to show how it's done.

I agree with you about the defence. To aspire to be a top 4 team, you need a good defence and Mina for me just does not cut it. I think yesterday Ancelotti thought Mitrovic would start and played him for his aerial prowess but it didn't happen.

I also think our main priority in January is to buy another defensive midfielder. Playing with 2 defensive midfielders will shore up that leaking defence, leaving Doucouré to get forward more.

In the meantime, I would definitely train this week with Holgate, Godfrey and Keane as we will need pace all over the pitch to cope with Leeds's fast pressing game. Mina just won't cut it.

I would play Pickford, Godfrey, Keane, Holgate, Iwobi, Allan, Doucouré, Digne, Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison. In my formation, I would play Rodriguez central of the 3 forwards, using Calvert-Lewin to help out Iwobi. Just for this game.

He brought on Davies and Coleman.

The other point is also very good, because Mina and Keane are both very heavy on their feet, and rarely anticipate the pull-backed cross along the floor, but this could also possibly be because of a lack of communication?

It's rare to see the one in front, on his toes, staying free, positioned to stop the cross or waiting for the cutback. Maybe it's because we do defend zonally, although this is highly unlikely unless it's a set-piece, and I'd say more to do with a general lack of real anticipation.

Sigurdsson is on the wane and the system doesn't suit him. It is our defensive frailty that is letting teams get the better of us and Carlo has said that he has had little time on the training ground to iron out problems.

This week, he will have some time; with a vibrant Leeds next, we will need energy and organisation.

Unless we seriously believe Iwobi has a future at right-back, our most urgent need is there, given that it seems Kenny has been deemed to be not good enough and Seamus seems to be getting more injury-prone as he gets older.

They will never compete for anything, this lot:

Southall, not a team player.
Stevens, gets forward a lot, but at the expense of defending.
van den Hauwe, can't cross.
Ratcliffe, poor in the air.
Mountfield, can't read the game.
Reid, yard dog that can't pass.
Bracewell, jack of all trades, master of none.
Steven, no end product.
Sheedy, luxury player that the team has to carry.
Sharp, not a natural goalscorer.
Gray, injury-prone and only good in the air.

Carlo is building his team although it remains strange that some players are still in the squad. Maybe the new year will answer a few questions in that regard.

Many teams are playing with three ''centre backs'' these days but the two wing backs need to be very effective in helping out especially as Everton have a couple of the slower centre backs in the league.

Not surprisingly I have been impressed by Lampty of Brighton and I am sure he will be snapped up by a bigger club in the New Year.

I've seen a fair few stray passes, clumsy tackles and his enthusiasm to go forward occasionally puts him at left wing when he should be at right back. Such 'freedom' wouldn't be accepted elsewhere - if he does.move to a big team, I expect it to be similar to when Johnson went to Chelsea.

I still think central midfield is where we most need someone...but we must shift Gomes, Delph and Sigurdsson.

Davies did well yesterday and should be used more often.

A central midfielder with discipline and a decent passing range is needed - Rice at West Ham would be a good option.

So I am sure he will be hoping that certain players will be looking to move on in January, which would release funds to bring in new acquisitions. But as we have seen in the last window the likes of Besic and Bolasie are quite happy to stay here and collect their money even though they will get no game time. So unfortunately we will have even bigger problems moving on the other deadwood as no other club would be stupid enough to pay them the money we do. So unless we massively reduce any transfer fee I can see us having the same problem as we have had trying to off load Besic and Bolasie.

Why you've raised a game from 11 months ago, the 2-2 draw v Newcastle, is known only to yourself. Gratuitous Carlo bashing, I presume.

You continue to misrepresent actual events of that game.

We did not 'throw away the two-goal lead against Newcastle because Ancelotti took off our offensive players so Newcastle piled forward as their Defender had no-one to mark.'

We twatted them. All game. Even after the goosed Moise Kean was withdrawn on 71 minutes for Coleman (you can't even get the sequence of subs right), our attacking intent remained fierce.

In the next 10 minutes only by good goalkeeping, good fortune and poor misses did Newcastle stay in the game with glorious chances hitting the woodwork (Bernard), being saved (DCL and Walcott) or being badly missed (Mina) with a free header.

Indeed, Steve Bruce got so desperate that on 78 minutes he withdrew his only striker Joelinton for a central defender Schar in an attempt to stop the Everton tsunami flooding his defence.

Davies came on for the flagging Bernard on 83 minutes. Niasse for Walcott on 88 minutes.

Newcastle 'piled forward'???!!! Utter bollocks. Their goals came at 90 + 4 minutes and 90 + 5 minutes and were only two of 3 shots they had on target all night.

And they came courtesy of Everton errors and poor in-game management by the players on the pitch. Absolutely nowt to do with the falsely alleged conservative, negative mindset of Ancelotti as you claim.

The whole point of having 3 at the back and Iwobi at RWB is to allow for James lack of work rate so we can get him on the ball and do damage at the other end. He was involved in 2 goals yesterday making passes any of our other midfielders would not have seen let alone been able to play.

I think I'll stop reading the comments, if we can't trust that someone of Carlo's experience, repeated success as a player and as a manager then perhaps some of us should be getting our uefa B licence and become coaches and managers. We've had the best start to the Premier league in years and only been defeated when Richarlison wasn't playing. If that doesn't tell you how important he is or how class he is then nothing will.

At the moment, Mina at centre half, and Godfrey at right back is just not working.

That's because we pose no real threat without those two players so the opposition can flood forward. This is why / how we lost the last few games.

The only problems really throughout were Mina is not very agile and neither Mina nor Keane has a left foot.

There's only so much Ancelotti can do until he gets players back fit and some quality reinforcements.

Until then, we will see that our first pick first 11 is very good - but remove a couple of key players and it's very ordinary. The results will follow suit.

This is why we will probably finish between 6th and 9th. It all comes down to the extent we have our few really good players on the pitch. Those players are Holgate, Coleman, Digne, Allan, Rodriguez, Richarlison and DCL.

I then had time to read the comments to the match reports on ToffeeWeb and it made me think how differently we see things in a game and what might be the reason why some players under-perform or just plain run out of steam at the 60-minute mark.

In fact, we never got going in the second half until Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson were subbed on for Richarlison and James Rodgriguez, who had recently got back from South America. Despite what you might think of Mina's and Allan's performances (they both lasted the full game), all four of them were 4,000 miles away on Tuesday evening.

If you or I fly from the north of South America, it would take us the best part of 24 hours including 3 stopovers. Maybe they came back by charter so eliminating a few hours. But I doubt if they got into Finch Farm much before Thursday afternoon with a 12 noon kick-off on Sunday. Whenever I fly east to the UK, I am usually jet-lagged for a couple of days and would not feel like playing footy!

We were good in 1st half when Richarlison and James were at their best, especially Richarlison! We are going to have to accept that, when James plays, he is not going to do any defensive duties. Possibly this is why he has not played much in the last few years, playing for managers who don't want to carry him just for his attacking quality as Carlo does.

We were awful for the first 30 minutes of the 2nd half and didn't seem to be able to get hold of the ball or even string two passes together. With the players we have, we are always going to struggle against teams (not necessarily better teams) who move the ball quickly and have a midfield and attack of fast-moving young, athletic players, such as Fulham did today.

Once Davies and Sigurdsson were brought on for the last 20 minutes, we took back control of the game and Fulham did not trouble Pickford once before the full-time whistle blew.

Now Davies and Sigurdsson get a lot of stick on here but not today. Tom Davies covered back, tackled well, and got up and down the pitch, certainly stopping Fulham keeping the ascendancy. I watched closely what Sigurdsson did as well. Basically, he chased, harried and tackled the Fulham players as they crossed the half-way line and forced them to go sideways or back.

He also was the only link going forward – not that he did much of that as he was brought on to shut things up. Why Sigurdsson and not anyone else? Because, when we are winning and closing up shop, he does this very well. He has the experience to know how to slow down the other side. He is most definitely no longer the player he was and should never start but today he and Tom were instrumental in managing the last 20 minutes and getting us over the line.

I disagree with Lyndon who said we were hanging on. I thought we were in control and, unlike many previous times when faced with playing out the clock, we were very effective.

The other person who gets some criticism on here is Iwobi. He had to get back from Africa and I thought I heard that he had a difficult layover. Plus Africa is mostly in the same time zone as the UK. Carlo would not have had much time working with him and Godfrey to play down the right side. Except for the opening few minutes when they struggled, they worked out what they were expected to do, they both performed creditably. Going forward, is this going to be Iwobi's new position?

So, putting this all into perspective, I thought we did well to come away with 3 points against a team who will spend most of this season around the relegation zone. I hear people say "Well, a better team than Fulham would have torn us to bits today".
Maybe Carlo will have a different plan against "better teams"?

What I have noticed is that, when we are given time on the ball, we are very dangerous and look likely to score whenever we get into the penalty area. In Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin, we have two players who can match any attacking pair in the Premier League and will always score goals – even against so-called better teams!

Some of you comment with such conviction and yet you don't even know what formation we were playing.

It was a win, not the cleanest but who cares. I also disagree with the "hanging on" assessment, we dropped off in terms of energy and shape but outside of the pen and their, deflected, goal I don't think Pickford had a save to make did he? If you have seen any of Fulham's previous games, they've had plenty of the ball in each and have some good players going forward, they're just not finding the net and are far too open at the back. So it wasn't a surprise performance.

I've been critical of Iwobi but fair-dos to the lad, he put it in yesterday. He's obviously got the talent, it's the consistency we're looking for. I thought Allan had a great game and as for James, I thought he seemed to work harder yesterday, I'm sure I even saw him make a few tackles and blocks!

C',mon the moaners, crack a smile every now and then.

Bobby (256), that is exactly the team I would like Carlo to play against Leeds. Previously, I was in favour of Davies playing at right wing-back/midfield, but based on his showing yesterday, Iwobi should be given opportunities to consolidate his position there. Godfrey at LCB and Holgate at RCB as part of a back 3 would provide pace and athleticism to counter Leeds and Keane at the centre would hopefully marshall the young guns. However, I don't agree that DCL should be switched out wide, he is scoring goals for fun up front, let Leeds worry about him. I think given time, that team could settle down to be an exciting combination of defensive solidity and free-flowing attacking football.

David Cooper (271) - I vote your post as being the most sensible on this thread, and you are therefore banned from posting on TW ever again :-)

The great start to the season is a double-edged sword. It gave us - well, a great start, but fans' expectations might have been set unrealistically high, exaggerating disappointment at results / performance in the last few games. We need some more very decent signings in the next window. Up to Brands to hatch a few deals.

Some defenders will happily take the easy option and mark space, and unfortunately when it's three centre-halves playing against a team that are not really playing with any out-and-out centre-forwards then there are many times when at least two of the three centre-halves are marking space. The midfield will always struggle to press successfully in such an instance as they are numerically disadvantaged, and it can lead to that lethargic shuffling from side to side as our midfield do not really ever aggressively try to win the ball back, and Fulham are able to move the ball quite freely up to our penalty area. Mitrovic not starting was obviously a surprise, and perhaps it threw the system a bit, but I really think Holgate must come back in as soon as his fitness allows.

Iowbi was better before he found himself less on the back foot, with the stands behind his back. This is the poor position that he find himself in , particularly when Soggy plays. What Ancelotti did was to have him receive the ball on the front foot which made all the difference.

Ancelotti tried to set up shop in the second half playing Richarlusion and Iowbi deeper against a poor Fulham defence, allowing Fulham the space to push into midfield. Everton a poor when compacted like this with pointless tackles and passing, adding to the pressure they are under , depending on the high bal! to the isolated Calvert Lewin.

At least Davies looked positive and involved, whilst Soggy was over whelmed or under whelmed as per usual. Which ever you like.

Christy #287, bit deceptive there, 6 of those 7 were clearances out of defense, which is what he was brought on to help with.

Another interesting stat: the much-derided Iwobi completed five dribbles yesterday, most by any Everton player in one game this season.

How many interviews do you need to see from DCL and Carlo to understand that? He is a completely different player to Richarlison so trying to compare them like for like is beyond my comprehension. Ask DCL to play like that and he doesn't score anywhere near as many.

The other reason he does so well down the middle is because Richarlison occupies both the right back and the right sided centre back who has to cover across for when he steps inside. It often leaves DCL one on one in the box against the CB or the space between the CB and LB.

James is a luxury player and the reason we signed both Allan and Doucoure was to do the running for him so he could drift into the space between midfield and defence and release Richarlison, DCL, Digne and Coleman with balls that no one else in our squad has the ability to play. He makes the LB and CB make a decision about whether to follow him or not and disrupt their defensive shape, again creating space for DCL.

I think this midfield and front 3 is the best I have seen at Everton for a long time. It is only going to get better if we can keep everyone fit and get fortunate with suspensions.

Brilliant body position to watch how it was unfolding and check what was happening behind him. Then, didn't react when Keane had to go and close down the space and just watched the Fulham player run into the space vacated by Keane and by the time he reacted the guy was 2 yards ahead of him.

He is totally reactionary and doesn't appear to be able to read the game or what is happening in front of him.

I actually like him but he doesn't have what it takes for top level football in my view. Shame we can't bring him on as a special team for corners, both attacking and defending.

I think tackling in this Everton side is woeful. Allan and Doucoure do win the ball regularly and Richarlison also wins a few, but the rest usually fail miserably, which obviously puts the team under added pressure.

Holgate at left centre-back and Olsen in for the Leeds game please. Keane goes to the centre.

Well done to Tom Davies too; when he isn't careless with the ball, he is useful.

Mike #289,

Sigurdsson's resulting pass competition rate I bet you wasn't good. . . I still think Christy is right.

So that's one thing we're not too bad at!

If a player is signed by a top Premier League club, the chances are, he will represent his country and could be called upon every time there is an international tournament. When you sign the best South American and African players, you already know this. It's the trade-off. You cannot complain when your club has to fulfill its part of the deal.

We have a real problem at this club and we won't solve it by making lame-arsed excuses about our players getting tired after international duty. For years, we have been unable to play two decent halves of football in the same game. Any good second-half performance will invariably follow a ropey first half... and if we do blast out of the traps and play well in the first half, a poor second half will follow as surely as night follows day. It's been going on for fucking years (international breaks or not) and it drives me mad.

I definitely subscribe to the school of thought which would question our mental strength as opposed to physical tiredness. Every one of the top group of teams play more games than us. They must be tired too... but, while their players traditionally dig in even harder, our players just fold.

It's important to remember that we did actually win this game and we are allowed to enjoy it. But make no mistake: we were most definitely hanging on in a game we should have won at a canter. Watching our defenders adopting an anywhere-will-do attitude when clearing their lines was a little embarrassing.

Something had better change.

Aside from that, the first-half performance was good and I expected us to press on and score more. We got out of jail in the end. A win is a win.

The deflections leave the goalie stranded and often unsighted... a keeper's nightmare.

Now I'm not writing off the gigantic Colombian because he has many qualities, but he has been making some dumb mistakes of late.

Travelling halfway across the world doesn't help anyone but the man needs to sharpen-up or else lose his place to one of the youngsters.

Also, he was supposed to be this amazing threat at set-pieces but I can only recall one goal from them so far.

Totally agree with everything you say. No mental toughness. The nearest they got to it was when Big Dunc took charge for a while.

In my opinion, Dunc for our next manager – if the board don't dick around and get another foreign flop.

What other sport in a pandemic organises games with nothing on them and flies players all over the world, putting themselves and their team players at risk when they return?

Andrew@285, yes exactly. Mina especially is a culprit for marking space rather than men. I hoped his positioning would improve over two or so seasons in the PL but it's not really happened.

I think a back three of Holgate, Keane and Godfrey is quite exciting potentially and should suit us perfectly as Holgate and Godfrey are both quick and pretty decent on the ball and Keane is one of the best in the league in the air. Digne is obviously a perfect wing back. The RWB is an issue probably and I don't know if Iwobi can keep up his level yesterday, I suspect against better teams he may be found out defensively.

Pickford
Holgate Keane Godfrey
Iwobi (WB) Allan Doucore Digne (WB)
Rodriguez Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

With Coleman and maybe Gbamin coming in if you need to be more solid then that is a very decent starting XI when fit.

Amazing how many average central midfielders being paid £95k+ we have. I'd happily keep Davies and find new homes for Gomes, Siggurdsson and Delph. Maybe bring in another central midfielder who can carry the ball whilst covering the pitch and putting in some tackles too.

Everon FC has to overcome the mental barriers that have plagued the outlook for years, we need a winning mentality and belief, and quick as too many of us are sick of it.

For this game. I also believe Calvert-Lewin is so fit and energetic that he will still be able to get in the box for goals – just my opinion.

I totally agree about our players lacking mental toughness more than being physically weak. I think one of the biggest jobs Ancelotti has is to breed into some players that mental toughness. As you say, we have seen over the years we have not been able to string 2 good halves together.

When I say 'mental toughness', maybe a lack of belief is more appropriate. The top sides have belief in abundance, and it comes from winning on a regular basis. The self-belief follows but, when you constantly fall short in important games, that sucks the belief out of teams. And gets in their heads so, the next time things start to go wrong, all those negative thoughts come flooding back,

Many of this squad have been involved in games where they are winning and are clearly the better side, as they were on Sunday; yet, as soon as Fulham scored, you could see the belief drain away from some players who have become used to seeing leads slip away, or even turn promising positions into losing ones.

I know in many sports they bring in psychologists to help players, even probably the greatest snooker player ever Ronnie O'Sullivan has Dr Peters as his psychologist. Now you would think the last player who need one was O'Sullivan but, if he needs one, then I could think we have many players who would benefit from something similar.

A winning mentality cannot be instilled in players who don't give a fuck. Sigurdsson, Tosun and the like know they have no future at the club.

If I was a manager, I would say to them in no uncertain terms to get your agent to find you another club because you will not play another game for Everton.

If they had any pride and actually wanted to play football, they would engineer a move for themselves.

Whilst the Jekyll & Hyde performance had us asking as many questions as answers, I do really wonder if the halves had been transposed would there be such a miserable tenor to posts following an away win with some excellent togger for the goals?

I get it, our defence isn't great, centre backs in particular, but it isn't helped by the midfield still not protecting them adequately, despite much-improved recruitment. That's what went wrong yesterday, we were not protecting the back four. No excuses, and an area we still need to improve without doubt, but there's still something not right in front of them on a consistent basis throughout the 90 minutes.

My gut tells me we need Gbamin (or a player like he was brought into be) sat in front of them as a true protector / holding midfielder.

Doucouré and Allan can then do what they instinctively do; go and press higher. At the moment, they're trying to do that and by doing so leave the pockets of space in behind between them and the back 4 that we saw get exploited yesterday.

I think that gives the midfield more balance and the defence more protection. Yes, the defence should defend better, but when you allow shots to be lined up and rely on your defence and keeper alone, you will inevitably concede (law of averages).

Also, we then don't need to worry too much about the front 3 of James, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewintracking back. Attack is the best form of defence, depending on your footballing philosophy obviously.

Maybe right now it just exposes the lack of depth in the squad. Once we use up the first 11, we start encroaching on last season's underperforming players and the collective fragile mentality they bring to the pitch.

If we are putting so many tackles in, as your figures indicate, how come what I see is the opponents coming away with the ball so often?

I can see both sides of this: the team tackles often, but does it win possession? If it has to tackle as much as you say, then the opposition is seeing far too much of the ball?

Perhaps I need to visit Specsavers sooner than I thought.

With the utmost respect, and I truly mean that, but a back three of Godfrey, Keane and Holgate could never, ever be “potentially exciting” with Keane in it. Just my opinion, but Keane will never be more than an average centre-back.

I agree on Keane; never convinced and for those who criticise Mina, Keane is for different reasons equally a liability. He is okay and, going back to my earlier point, good enough for now given defence wasn't a priority last window. But if we are serious, we don't have a central defence with Michael Keane in it next season or beyond.

And to be fair, sometimes as a defender, you are alive and mark space. Space is what teams exploit. Good teams find space. Good defenders mark and cover it. Hence the concept of the sweeper.

I also like the fact that Holgate can step forward and be the defensive screen and suddenly we're 433. We can switch in game depending on circumstances.

But yes we need to shift Gomes, Delph and Sigurdsson really because all are generally very ineffective.

Danny O', all good posts. Agree with you and Dave on Keane -- much as I admire him and salute his improvement, he's not ultimately a top 6 CB and will need replacing at some point, although it's not a priority now. Once we have a Digne-quality right back, that's time enough to address CB.

Joe #315, they're both out of contract and available!

3-4-3/3-4-1-2 has potential. In Holgate we have a talented ball playing defender, and I'd assume Keane and Godfrey will be the long term partners (with Branthwaite in development).

Iwobi and Digne on the flanks, and the 2 midfielders covering a lot of ground. This gives James the freedom where his quick passing will create chance after chance, with the James - Digne - Richarlison axis being our No 1 threat.

It won't work in every game, but it's something new and different which can work. It gives another option.

We still need a 3rd midfielder and a right-back so we can still utilise 4-3-3, and back up forward is also necessary because of we swap Calvert-Lewin for Tosun, we're screwed.

It was refreshing to see a new system tried and work – even if it was only for 45 minutes.

Green shoots and all that...

"Those 2 would solve some problems we currently have."

No, they wouldn't. Give yer 'ed a wobble, lad. They are gone. Have been for years. And they are not coming back.

We conceded a lot because of Pickford, then it was Mina, next up Gomes too slow, Siggy yep it's his fault, Delph hasn't fucking helped, nope it's Godfrey, no it's Rodriguez the lazy fucker, no it's Seamus now, nope it's Keane. Holgate back so problem solved nope he's useless too.

Shit problem still not solved. It's the system obviously 433 or the 451 versus Newcastle? This 532 will work, nope still can't put my finger on it. Systems, players, what going on?

2 constants in the team as our defence is continually breached.

Note in the Spurs game Gomes releases Doucoure and covers Allan brilliantly- no goals.

Brighton game- another solid defensive display with Gomes dovetailing Doucoure. Allan out- one goal conceded.

Fulham game a shambles again- Davies comes on and the game changes. No goals conceded.

Lessons; when Doucoure sits we are in trouble especially if partnered by the equally defensively lamentable Allan. Neither reads the game, tracks runners, has defensive instincts or concentration levels better than a frog.

Gomes is our most intelligent defensively even if his body lets him down. Davies although not the best defensive brain has the legs and desire.

Solution; one of these must play to get Doucoure up the park and help protect Allan until Gbamin is back and then he only should sit.

Every game the opponent who destroys us attacks the same area; Diangana, Ward Prowse, Fernandez, Loftus Cheek.

Carlo told us he bought 2 defensive midfielders, unfortunately he only stockpiled two more midfielders.

The football in the first half was fantastic. Much to my surprise DCL is developing into a terrific centre forward.
Allan and Doucoure fought for everything when Fulham got the upper hand in the second half. Something we have lacked for years. I really enjoyed that.
Ancelloti appears to have solved two problems by moving Rodrigues inside and playing Iwobi on the right.
I would never have picked Iwobi again after his previous performances but again - much to my surprise - he had a terrific game and looked like a 35m footballer.
Lastly Rodrigues maybe unfit, tired, or just plain lazy but that lad brings a smile to my face when he gets the ball at his feet.

As you know I rarely go back to historical Everton players, it was just so Everton the final stages of the game yesterday.

One thing we agree to disagree on is Distin. I thought he was good enough for us given where we were at the time. He couldn't stand him. Then again he thought Jagielka was the best thing since sliced bread, whereas I thought he epitomised acceptance of mediocre mentality that we are still trying to rid ourselves of. There are parallels there. For too long, we've had players who were good enough to keep us just above average, which was considered success to an entire generation. I think we are starting to change the tide but some parts of the team still contain above average, but not great players. And the main culprit is our defence.

I've slagged Keane off a great deal in the past but I think he seems to have worked extremely hard on upping his game since the restart. I agree he's unlikely to ever be top class but he's a very good stopper currently and, in the middle of a back three, his mobility (or lack of) would be less of an issue.

We lost that game under a myriad of managers in the past. the tactics were unmistakably defensive, not the first time away from home under Ancelotti when we have a lead. I wasn't impressed but we didn't lose and frankly Fulham got nowhere near an equalizer. Carlo can feel vindicated.

The rub for me is Ancelotti accumulates points which allows him time to evolve the team. Previous managers would probably lose that game, and spiral into a poor poor run to the point we're we lose faith completely. It then becomes a matter of marking time until we sack them.

He's on the right track for sure.

Considering he seldom makes a tackle and his attempts to do so usually result in fouls. His lack of pace also makes us very vulnerable to any counters. Not sure we'd have seen him make that goal-saving challenge against Lucas Moura that Doucouré made in the Spurs game.

He wasn't playing in the Brighton game but he was when we shipped two goals to each of West Brom, Newcastle and Liverpool. So his presence isn't quite as therapeutic defensively as you intimate.

I agree that the midfield balance is still not quite right; Doucouré is not great positioning defensively I don't think and Allan is not ideal for the sitting midfielder. But I think Davies would be a better option than Gomes if we are talking about defensive solidity.

It will be interesting when Carlo brings Gomes back into the team and how he does; when on his game, he is probably our best midfielder at retaining the ball under pressure, which can be vital against good pressing teams.

"Fulham got nowhere near an equalizer."

They spunked a penalty. Certainly gave me the distinct impression that they got very very close to getting that equalizer.

We're still missing a few players to make a functional system for me. It's much more balanced than last season, but not there yet.

I like what Ancelotti has done so far. The key being "so far"... He is not even 12 months in and we've had Covid. Yes, so has everyone else, I get that, but it's an inevitable inhibitor to probable plans.

We are far from a finished article, but we are much improved and picking up points from scenarios that in recent seasons we simply don't. Come January, we may even look a better prospect after another transfer window. There were those who suggested we would not be capable of adding in the summer; we did. Stepping stones, people.

An ex-colleague at work had, as a youth, played for England schoolboys several times, including at Wembley. He too told me he hated football, but regularly played rugby and cricket at a low level.

David Batty, the Leeds yard-dog we could badly do with right now, played for England but even at the time made no secret of the fact he hated playing football.

So, talented footballers who hate the game have always been around. In the old days they gave up and did summat useful but for the past 25 years minimum such leeches have latched onto the money, with no wish to play or put themselves about, certain that by doing so they'll become multi-millionaires minimum, and all the healthier in body if they avoid playing and anything potentially painful.

Just why so many of these types have been attracted to or developed at Finch Farm in the past quarter century might cause some fans to question who's been at the top of our club throughout that period

...... if they're interested in an answer like.

Of course, that wonderful team of circa 85 didn't play well every time they took to the pitch, however, apart from the away leg of the Semi-Final against Bayern, I can't recall that team being on the back foot for long periods during games.

Spurs at White Hart Lane may have seemed that way in the last 20 minutes or so but that was because we had a lead to protect and Spurs were a very decent team at the time, plus the victory almost cemented the title for the club.

There's nothing wrong with battling for the points, but there is something wrong when we allow inferior teams to take the initiative, and at the same time resort to hoofball. Whether it's a physical or a psychological problem, It's one that Carlo has to solve if we are to stay around the top six this season.

I also think that Carlo will at least recognise the issues, whether he's able to solve them, we'll have to wait and see.

Sorry, Rob, but that means they came very very close to the equalizer that would have denied us 2 points. Moot because they missed the penalty. Whether that changes the game or not is also moot. No-one can ever know.

But to pretend that they did not come anywhere near an equalizer is plain wrong.

How many times have we seen an Everton side have loads of pretty possession in front of an opposition and not lay a glove on them?

Come on, give me the shots they had on target, the saves Pickford made, the amount of times the woodwork was left rattled, the last-ditch tackles we had put in? It may have felt like they would equalize, but that's the collective PTSD we have of watching Everton! In actuality we didn't play well in that 2nd half but did dog it out, surely that deserves some recognition?

We showed glimpses of good play in the first half and faded in the second. Last season and seasons previous, we capitulate or collapse and come away with no points – let alone 1 or 3.

Perfect... and what we expect? No. But are we improving and on an upward projection? I would say yes. Finished article? No. But the current manager has had one transfer window that was genuinely his and has prioritised accordingly, which has had an impact.

I'd argue on Sunday it was about the result. We'd lost three on the bounce: it was important to stop the rot. They are games we've comfortably found ways to lose in the recent past, so it has to be an incremental improvement? So I'd take a win at all costs!

That lot won the title last season playing a pale imitation of the heavy metal stuff they played a year or so ago. They won plenty of games by one goal, I think maybe a dozen or so. They are Champions and care not a jot who they beat, even if it was a relegation candidate.

I alluded to it: if a manager accumulates points without the death spirals we are used to, he earns time to improve the team.

I'd always take the points or progress in the cup by whichever way is necessary – losing any match is bad but losing when playing well is worse.

The caveat being that good teams don't play badly very often. They might not be up to scratch in some matches and may drop points here and there, but the better sides stick to their game-plan most of the time, and if they perform to that level often enough, they'll win more often than not.

Obviously confidence is the key element and it is so hard to instill in teams, especially those that like us that have suffered set-backs when least expected. I agree that the result yesterday was more important than the performance and I think that was in the players' minds too.

Whilst they didn't drop any points, they didn't ease the pressure by creating anything worthwhile after about 10 minutes of the second-half.

The players and Carlo may have felt more comfortable than we did, but I would just like to enjoy one Everton victory whereby we aren't worrying about conceding the next goal.

Onwards and upwards, hopefully!

A guy with your knowledge saying Everton missed Gomes defensively, must be a wind-up surely?

Also, Fulham deserved a draw on their second-half performance, but luckily they did not get one.

Me too, Sam, because I didn't say that. What I did suggest was that, when he has played midfield, we have been a lot better than without – which I know kills you to hear since you attribute most of our ills to him and your prophecies that we would excel without him have been exposed fully, as were your summer description of Allan being a world-class defensive player, which you quickly and intelligently abandoned.

I think you can see I meant the Palace game as opposed to the Brighton one by the goal tally and your inclusion of the Newcastle game is undoubtedly a little naughty since I'm sure you are well aware he played in a left-wing role.

As for your criticisms of Gomes defensively, I fully concur with almost all of them. In the four games where Gomes played in the midfield role I spoke about (Spurs, West Brom, Palace and Liverpool) we conceded only 1.25 goals a game. In the five games where he didn't, this was a massive 2.2 goals a game.

My point was merely this: since Gomes was made the midfield scapegoat, we have deteriorated. Partly because Sigurdsson is as bad as the others; partly because Doucouré gets released but also because of Gomes game intelligence in reading the danger even if he's often too slow to make a difference.

My solution was Gbamin in the original post but suggesting Gomes or Davies as a must until then. Hopefully when Gbamin returns, we will have the choice of a three with both summer acquisitions playing either side in a tough away match where we can trust our front three to win the game with that protection behind them.

It will then give a choice of one of Doucouré or Allan with one of Gomes, Bernard or James against a team we need to break down. Or even just two of the latter in front of Gbamin.

Sigurdsson must not ever play in midfield again. If he must be brought on for any reason, it should be only as a Number 10.

It would take less than half-an-hour to watch the period from when they pulled a goal back to the final whistle. Anybody who cares enough to watch again, will see a panic-stricken Everton team hacking the ball down the park.

Some of these clearances were "Get after that" balls aimed in the general direction of Calvert-Lewin; some were good old-fashioned hacks – the most telling hallmark of a team in panic.

Fulham were not able to capitalize, but that was due to their deficiencies rather than us remaining solid. Time and time... and time again, they were getting into good positions but could not find the final ball. The headless Robinson was imposing his will and forcing Iwobi to stay home and Godfrey to come across.

Thankfully, as always, he kept running down blind alleys. The clueless Lookman did what he does, danced past players only to fluff his lines after creating the space; Loftus-Cheek was running through our midfield. Even the carthorse was leading us a merry dance. Cavaliero twice went for Hollywood.

This game had some enjoyable moments in the first half. We played some good stuff, but that last quarter was like watching two pub teams slug it out on Sunday Morning – one panicking at the sight of the opposition goal, the other panicking when the ball came anywhere near theirs.

I suspect we were seeing a snapshot of the season for both of these teams. We went from being composed to complacent and, as always when tested, our confidence was shown to be surface-deep, while Fulham's inability to find composure around the opposition area, would have had the neutrals up and down the country marking them down as relegation certainties.

I do agree with you, however, that Gomes sits far better than Doucouré in the midfield 3, we just played a different system on Sunday with only 2 central midfielders.

As for the people saying we weren't hanging on, last ditch blocks by Davies, banging balls anywhere down field, giving the ball away in our own half. I was sweating profusely and it was only the last 5 minutes where we managed to hold onto it a bit better and gain some territory.

It seems strange that he didn't figure in the previous 4 games when Sigurdsson was stinking the house out. Did he have a knock? We'll never know. He made a good impression anyway, along with Iwobi. It's good to see players really giving it everything when they get a chance.

We would have thrown that game away under Silva, make no mistake. The biggest problem for me wasn't the way we defended second half on Sunday – it was ball retention. The amount of times we won the ball back, only to give it away cheaply, was criminal.

We are still a work in progress in terms of our mentality and certainly our passing. The second half without Rodriguez and Richarlison was pretty much last season's team, with Sigurdsson a passenger and no outballs.

We've shown we can score goals this season when we have our full complement of players available. We need the balance in midfield to be right to make us more solid. Allan and Doucouré have both impressed me. We just need to knit the team around them.

Hang on... I just remembered George and Christy – that's all you ever post, every game, no matter what the outcome or actual events may be. I don't understand why you watch the games at all if that's only what you see.

I've also never prophesised that we would excel without Gomes or that Allan is "world class defensive player". Feel free to look for such prophesies, you won't find them.

What I did say was that Gomes has not offered enough consistently, which I stand by, and it seems that Carlo may agree. And I also said that Allan is a very good tackler/presser, similar to Gueye, which I especially stand by as he is currently leading the league with an impressive 4.4 tackles per game. He's capable of playing the sitting role but like Gueye is likely to roam and press, which may not be ideal.

I agree Sigurdsson is just as bad if not worse than Gomes and I'm curious to see what difference Gbamin could make. Or even Davies if given more minutes.

The difference is that, in certain areas, we have more quality in certain areas of the team. Quality that will see us through most games, as it did on Sunday. Whilst working yesterday, several people around the UK told me how good we were in that first half, so there's definitely something there.

If we're going to improve, we're going to have to get stronger mentally. If I think back to the 80s, I think it just emerged and the team seemed to really believe in itself.

That's Carlo's biggest job. It'll define his time here.

We never saw shots fizzing past the post or over the bar, or even Pickford diving here, there and everywhere keeping shots out. They may have had a lot of possession on the edge of, or around our area, but did absolutely naff all with it.

I agree the defending was of blind panic, but the ball was only coming back as far as the edge of our penalty area before being given the wellie up the field again. A bit of composure wouldn't have gone amiss in the last 20 minutes or so.

We have enjoyed more success since then but none for too long. It will return but building a great side does require a little time. Carlo has made a significant start this summer. We are not making a cup of instant coffee, if only it was that easy.

Stay safe everyone and dream of getting back into Goodison soon, COYB.

I maybe old fashioned in this, but I see a really hard pre-season as money in the bank, skill is a finite god given thing, fitness is more of a movable feast and can be improved upon.
Its no good having all the skill, if, when you need to use it, you're bent over, elbows on knees, blowing for tugs.
A tired body leads to a tired mind and poor execution.

The old thing of the 6Ps...prior preparation, prevents piss poor performance.

It is true that if you're knackered it doesn't matter if you have Messi's tricks if you can't run.

When I was in my early 20s, I did martial arts, played footy twice a week plus 5-a-side (two hours on a Sunday) thought I was fit.

One Saturday, the Tae-Kwon-Do club had a boxing training day. I was taking on an experienced boxer, a Sergeant in the Paras. He was taking it easy on me (no mouth guards, or head guards back then!) After two rounds, I was blowing for tugs and in the third he said "Drop your guard and I'll make you see stars". Suffice to say, I kept that guard up but it was the longest couple of minutes.

I wasn't as fit as I'd thought. There are definitely different levels of fitness and in the Premier League, teams like Leeds look much fitter than most of our team. I fear we will struggle after halfway when we play them next weekend.

Yes, I understand your meaning of how they would line up and the two younger players watching the pace of the game and covering up on both sides of Michael Keane. At the moment, it's worth a try.

Something needs doing about the way we are defending – so badly – at the moment. Thanks for your reply.

Your third paragraph down: “ball retention, the amount of times we won the ball and gave it away so cheaply, was criminal”.

Exactly, Danny, it grieved me to watch. Not one player had the nouse, or calmness, to put his foot on the ball and find one of his teammates. It happens every game under manager after manager. It beggars belief how this is allowed to happen. What exactly do they do at Finch Farm? So easy to do but no-one does it at Everton.

I backed Calvert-Lewin from the very start and was thrilled to see him make the next step. For me, Richarlison is world class, and he was a massive loss when he missed the 3 previous games.

But it sticks in my gut, when you look at the lack of effort, as on Saturday and the previous games from Sigurdsson, when we needed 100% commitment.

Some comments here that Fulham didn't put us under any pressure at 2-3... Well I remember one last-ditch tackle by Davies on the edge of the box that looked very threatening. Tom put in a huge effort when he came on, not standing with his hands on his hips, giving the ball away.

Fitness is an issue for us, I think some of our lads look after themselves better than others. It creates a mismatch in the team when some players clearly don't train hard enough or look after themselves in their private life as they should.

I am not saying they are not super fit, but I am talking relative to the standard now being seen by more and more teams in the Premier League.

Possibly some players are harder to train than others but this needs addressing. To me Gomes is a prime example, he has all the talent he needs but he just needs to be 20% fitter.

The game has changed, it has become faster and more dependent upon mobility, fast passing and aggressive closing down. Players like Gomes, Sigurdsson, Delph have been left behind, the game's moved on. Have they got the will power in the cosseted autumn of their careers to change with it?? Doesn't look like it.

Questions need to asked and we need answers to help us improve this fitness discrepancy with a lot of our direct competitors. We need to poach ideas from the likes of Bielsa, Klopp, Hassenhutl, and Mourinho etc and hire the best we can (A director of Player Fitness?) to implement and improve upon the best training regimes out there.

Doing so I think would move us up a level as there is only so far you can go with players who are outdone for fitness by the likes of Southampton or Wolverhampton, however talented the players on our books may be.

The injuries he suffered mean he might return as the player we signed – or not.

We need to sign a defensive midfielder as cover for Allan and a striker. If Conor's judgement is correct on Allan as a defensive midfielder (I don't wholly agree), then cover for that position is the priority.

The next investment could be a fitness science stamina guru – we seem miles behind every other team in this regard. Surely even if it cost £10M or so, it would be a massive improvement just to be able to stay in the fight for 90-plus minutes.

Like attacking being the best form of defence... I wouldn't be surprised if this is going on already though, to be fair. Surely the heads running our club can see what us mere mortals can??

That's right, but the old regime still exists with Mauri (physical conditioning) and Mirabito (recovery) attached at different levels within the structure. Physiotherapy is under the old regime control.

In my opinion, in the past, the old physiotherapy structure was taken advantage off, being soft recovery based, by some players, as is the case in most clubs. I also think that Everton have improved in this area since Ancelotti's changes with a harder recovery regime. A combination of injuries, rehabilitation and having to use below-par players, who slow the game down, has given the impression of an unfit side.

I would say that the squad is a lot fitter than prior to Ancelotti and problems are more technical and poor coaching uptake based.

Rob (350) - Couldn't agree more.

Totally changed Dom into a brilliant striker, Iwobe a growingly consistent and reliable player – hopefully no more hooks at half-tim. Keane, even Richarlison looks like he's running with purpose and into threatening areas immediately.

The next magic trick... Davies is the new Allan – he was very smart against Fulham in everything when he came on, and at such a young age he is getting better still. Written off too many times, but bounces back with good performances a few times this season.

I'm really looking forward to what Professor Carlo's coaching does for Gordon, Godfrey, Branthwaite and Simms in the next year, especially with cup games coming in a few weeks time.

Calvert-Lewin for sure, but Iwobi! He's had one decent game! Steady-on, I hope you're right but one swallow doesn't make a summer.

75' – comes on as sub for Richrlison and takes up position behind Calvert-Lewin. Immediately he combines with Iwobi to force Fulham to lose the ball deep on the left side of the Everton defence.
76' – runs and challenges side to side just inside Everton half.
77' – left side outside penalty area wins a defensive header. Chases side to side slowing down Fulham going forward.
78' – same chasing side to side, delaying Fulham progress.
79' – Again side to side wins tackle on edge of Everton's penalty area.
80' – loses challenge edge of EFC penalty area.
81' – Everton go to a back 4 with Sigurdsson now on left side.
82' – Everton move upfield and win a corner. Sigurdsson takes and hits it into the hands of the keeper.
83' – always on the move, challenging and slowing Fulham as they press forward.
84' – wins the ball, then loses it in Fulham half. Clearly keeping his position in midfield 4. When Everton go to 4 in midfield, they are much more comfortable and effective at dealing with Fulham possession.
85' – challenges and loses ball in Fulham half.
86' – challenges for the ball and loses it. Retains possession and plays ball to Tom Davies as Everton keep possession and move into Fulham half.
87' – ball on Everton right side; Sigurdsson holds position in middle.
88' – moves out wide left. Everton keep the ball and move downfield.
89' – gets the ball, keeps possession, loses ball in Fulham half
90' – picks up ball wide left and passes to Calvert-Lewin who runs down the wing eventually winning a foul.
91' – challenges and harries Fulham progress in midfield.
92' – wins ball outside Everton penalty area; out pass to Calvert-Lewin on half-way line
93' – Everton keep their defensive shape, keeping Fulham out of the penalty area and in front of them.
94' – picks up ball in Fulham half. Chases back, picking up Loftus-Cheek. In the last 20 minutes, Loftus-Cheek's influence on the game is severely restricted.
95' – whistle blows. Job done. Good game management.

Now, if you read all of that, it was pretty basic, mundane, defensive play which Sigurdsson had clearly been brought on to do. This he did very effectively. In this instance, coming on as a sub for the last 20 minutes was not earth-shattering but evidence of good defensive professional work. As such, Sigurdsson should be congratulated along with Tom Davies as they were influential in keeping Everton in front and winning the game.

This in no way excuses Sigurdsson's terrible performance in recent weeks when asked to do more. But, on this showing, he and Davies did what they were asked to do – and did it very well.

I really don't see how Sigurdsson can be criticized for what he did in this game.

The World's Best 25 Defensive Midfielders

The appointment of Ancelotti was not as much to bring honours to our club but more a guarantee of remaining in the Premier League as the Bramley-Moore Dock project comes into view. Accept that fact and regular ninth will seem like success!

I thought Ancelotti gave us just as many problems as Fulham did by not freshening us up a bit earlier. Although I understood what he was saying about how much quality we lose without the two South Americans, they were both shattered and should have definitely been replaced earlier.

Allan was also shattered, and he also lost a few 50-50s near the end because of this (he usually tackles his weight, but his legs had very little left). This is the main reason I'm looking forward to watching us play Leeds, because it's definitely a game in which we will be able to gauge our fitness, especially with everyone being at Finch Farm all week.

I checked Sigurdsson's stats yesterday: played 14 mins, 14 touches, gave away possession 7 times.

I was afraid to check his stats from previous games.

I can fully understand why you say this, as Iwobi has had his fair share of "no-shows" since he's signed with us.

I know it's fast to judge, and I think against Fulham he confirmed he has everything in the locker we need in our league. He showed more than Zaha against us - which is a good comparison due to that transfer period when we went for Iwobi.

Against a few teams he's looked very good this year, and did a nice technical trick against Liverpool in the corner giving Robertson the chase.

I'm sure Carlo will adjust to get the best out of Iwobi more, because Richarlison and James can do it anywhere in the opponents half, and three is always better than two to feed Calvert-Lewin.

I think you even waited until Sigurdsson was about to join the action against Fulham to make your first contribution to the live forum, and every post was about Sigurdsson.

I'm all for criticising underperforming players, and Sigurdsson definitely qualifies, but you are allowed to deviate onto other subjects – and your unwillingness to do that is becoming alarming.

The lure of playing for Carlo has been a big bonus for us, and continue to be. It's the in-game management and timing of subs and basic team selection that has shown he is only human and not the next messiah.

In that respect, he's no different from the recent managers we have had but I'm still glad to have him as long as he starts to get brave with the untested kids. Could save us millions and they can't do any worse.

I'm no Leeds expert, but isn't their main striker a box player who scores a few with his head? If so, and excuse my ill-informed ignorance, then maybe a Mina - Keane partnership counters that. And Mina brings with him an attacking threat from set-pieces against a team that concedes a lot.

Going to be another rollercoaster. Two teams that can score but concede. As I've said many times on here and this season, right now, in these matches, just focus on attack. If we try to defend with this defence (whoever it comprises), we concede and lose.

Bamford is their main striker, he's 6ft, and Rodrigo about the same height; that's not saying they're not good in the air.

Regarding fitness I think you are exactly right. We can talk about team formations and which players should or should not be playing. We can talk about who we should sign and why they would make us a better team. Rarely do posters mention fitness.

From my observations, what we often perceive as a lack of effort is really a lack of fitness. I just don't think that Everton are as fit as most of the teams we play. We do have lots of skillful players but if they are not fit they are obviously not giving their best.

I would like to see more players chasing down opponents and closing in on defenders trying to bring the ball out of defence. We need to make the opposition feel uncomfortable.

I was delighted for him this weekend because it must have been torture for him since he got here, but he didn't suddenly become a wing-back.

You have to get on the Yellow Brick Road to find a heart. The wizard lives in Oz – not down by the river in posh West London.

Much of the 2nd half performance of the team was clearly down to players running out of energy, which is exacerbated by long flights to and from South America in particular. However, although looking somewhat weary at times, Allan's tenacity and inner strength showed up well.

I do wonder why Gordon isn't being used!?

The red media propaganda machine cranked into action - Klopp and his squad, ex-Red commentators and pundits and that whole generation of 'plastic reds' in the media who adopted the red shite when they were dominant in the seventies and eighties and have now reached positions of seniority.

The result? We wilted under the scrutiny and lost the next 3 games. If the club had a winning mentality, the players and management would have walked off that pitch with a calm smile of satisfaction and pushed back hard at the coverage.

In the last 2 seasons, almost every one of your posts are anti-Sigurdsson. I don't recall you ever giving him credit any time he has played well – even though they are rare occasions.

But he has played well so rarely any comments giving credit are few and far between.

But maybe you are happy to give credit to players performing abysmally? I am not.

I will post what I want, when I want, within TW guidelines of course.

Unless of course you have now become a moderator and can delete, or block posts? I generally scroll right past your posts; maybe it's time you adopted the same principle with mine?

Just to let the Sigurdsson apologists know I wasn't referring to the last live thread.

We can all see Sigurdsson's a spent force and is no longer the player he was; time has caught up with him. I am sure quite soon he will be replaced by a younger, fitter version. I just don't think full-on chasing around, tackling has ever been his game or strength; he was a playmaker and delivery, dead ball quality player, now sadly fading.

Lack of fight and effort was never his style but now he just can't go full tilt anymore. That's my honest assessment and the exact same applies to Gomes, sadly, who has slid (thanks to injuries) even further into decline.

That's an insulting and unnecessary cheap shot. Of course, that's just my opinion and you can "feel free to ignore" my post.

I read yours because on the off-chance you ever do post an opinion on a subject other than Sigurdsson, I don't want to miss the historic occasion. We might even hold a brief ceremony to honor the moment.

Hasn't happened yet, but hope springs eternal.

I'm genuinely shocked that I've seen someone call Allan 'lamentable'. The lad has 35 successful tackles this season so far. More than anyone else. To put that in some form of perspective, Kalvin Phillips, who seems to be flavour of the month as a defensive midfielder, has 18 tackles; Fabinho 17.

It is amazing how differently people see the same game. I don't feel I have any bias towards players or against. I'll praise someone who I think deserves it and call out poor performances where I think they are under par. The only one I've repeatedly criticised is Davies who I thought was deserving of real praise on Sunday and helped get the 3 points over the line.

Allan lamentable and Calvert-Lewin to be played on the right against Leeds are 2 of the most unbelievable things I think I've ever read on here.

Sigurdsson is past his best. Not his fault – he's not a cunt taking the mick, he's just not as good as he was. The top sides would replace him with better and move him on. We aren't yet in a position to do so and until we do he, Gomes, Tosun etc will do the job they are asked of by Carlo until his squad is assembled.

Sadly I remember Joe Royle, Howard Kendall and Peter Reid being given dogs abuse for being past it – and they would've died for this club. I'm not a fan of Sigurdsson but I'm not angry that he's not in his prime.

This argument that Allan has impressive stats with regards to tackling and pressing are similar to the ones that argued Sidibé was an excellent defender. I'm not implying there is anything wrong with the guys character, courage, will or strength in the tackle – all highly commendable – as is his distribution which has pleasantly surprised me just how good he is technically. The issue with Allan is that he always wants to engage and seems in an almost chronic schizophrenic state of 'should I stay or should I go' so your assertion that he is "capable of sitting" is one in direct contrast to all the mounting evidence.

Gueye is a lot speedier than Allan, didn't often get played around and his fundamental asset was the athleticism to recover when he made poor judgements or was found wanting tactically. Allan unfortunately doesn't have this luxury and, as a consequence, when he goes hunting and comes away empty-handed, the team is often severely punished.

The Brazilian is like a bad episode of the Tasmanian Devil cartoon in which he constantly goes out chasing only to come back into view when his opponent is about to put the ball in the net. That's why for now I would prefer to see Gomes play, as he is aware of where he needs to be for the good of the team, even if his body isn't necessarily on the same wavelength.

If the Premier League had stats on 'percentage of fried brain', I think both Allan and Doucouré would also be among the highest in the league. Of course I'm only joking but the serious point is that concentration levels, awareness, smelling and acting upon danger and discipline are imo more important than tackling, pressure, competitiveness and aggression for someone tasked with a defensive midfield role.

No pace at the back means our defence sits deep, Doucouré covering for Rodriguez. This also definitely leaves us short in the middle of the park. Until these two issues are sorted out properly, the area of the pitch that Allan has to patrol is just too big, imo, mate.

There seems to be a misapprehension that the second half performance was a fitness issue. The problem was that some players were below par technically and tactically: misplaced passes, opting for long ball clearances to an isolated Calvert-Lewin, poor positional play, poor tactically covering, and not getting in front of their marker.

A poorer quality, as Ancelotti would call it.

I always describe football and form as not being like a tap. (Only the greats can turn it on when they please.) Once your standards drop, it's sometimes very hard to pick them back up again, especially once your opponents have got a bit of wind in their sails, which is what I thought happened on Sunday.

Or put a sneaky bid in for Ozil on a pay-as-you-play basis. Ozil is a good player.

I agree with Conor that stats don't tell the full picture. I also agree that Gueye was slightly more athletic than Allan. I also agree that Gomes dropping in to the left side of Allan in the opening fixtures provided good balance to the midfield.

I just have to completely disagree with your view on Allan as a midfielder. Without him, we would not have as many points as we do currently. For him to be so far ahead in tackles of more fancied defensive midfielders says a lot in my view and confirms to me my impression of his merits. I'm not convinced Doucouré is the best partner for him as a 2. Be interesting to see how that develops.

Anyway, time to stop disagreeing and back to job hunting. Have a good day, everyone, fingers crossed for a much more complete performance this week.

I agree with what you say about Allan, that he is expected to cover far too big an area, and the reason for this, in my opinion, is Doucouré is poor defensively and just doesn't do enough defensively to help Allan.

Also because both Mina and Keane have no pace and are slow to turn, so their default position is always to drop off instead of closing down, so the gap between Allan and our centre-backs is far too big. Added to the fact that James, although very talented, doesn't track back, so again leaves our midfield light defensively. I think that's why Ancelotti went 3 at the back against Fulham with Iwobi playing wingback to help cover the area where James doesn't cover.

The problem with this system is the back 3 can sometimes become a back 5 with no out-ball, as we found that's what happened against Fulham. Fulham quite rightly decided at 1-3 they may as well throw more men forward which meant for large parts of the second half we had a back 5.

I am sure Ancelotti will be working this week on how best to make sure the 3 at the back doesn't become a 5 at the back, except only when necessary. I am sure come the January window, someone to sit alongside Allan and another striker will be his priority and maybe a centre-back as I am not convinced about Mina or Keane, but we can't put Godfrey and Holgate together as although both have pace, I think a lack of height would hurt us, plus I think Godfrey will need more time to be first-choice centre-back.

I'm not sure why the onus is on me to trawl through past pages in relation to something you claim I said but I have done netherless. What I said (and stand by) is

"2 years ago Allan was one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Italy. Maybe Europe. And he had been for a few years.

His form suffered when he didn't get his desired move to PSG (bought Gueye instead) and with the arrival of Gatusso. But if he can regain the form of a year or so ago then he'll be a serious asset."

And consequently when Steve F claimed he was not a ball winner I said "Allan is a ball winner in a similar mold to Gueye. He may not want to sit and screen but he will step in and win you the ball. He makes a lot of tackles (not as many as Gueye who was monstrous) but he'll win us the ball back considerably more than the likes of Davies, Sigurdson and Gomes."

At no point did I say he was a world class defensive midfielder as you claimed.

Allan is similar to Gueye as I said. He prefers to roam than just sit and like Gueye his pressing sometimes leaves holes. I agree that Gueye was a touch quicker and probably better able to cover but both are still very high level ball winners.

Doucouré is much less of a defensive midfielder than Allan so having them both is problematic potentially, but I certainly don't see Gomes as being the answer. Last season he was dribbled past more than anyone in our team and if you think Allan is slow then Gomes if positively glacial. Perhaps Gomes offers a good balance in terms of being able to retain the ball under pressure and distribute to the wings but his defensive contribution is minimal.

Ineterstingly in the thread on Allan this summer you claimed he was no better than anyone we already have. Would you still stand by that?

It could be that Ancelotti anticipated what you say and adjusted tactics. But the players were not up to it for the reasons you give, resulting in technical and tactical difficulties. Sigurdsson cleared and tackled the ball at least 7 times in the second half, but mostly to opposition plays. He was a sub.

It did occur to me on reading posts that wondered why Everton did not continue as in the first half, that teams only dominate parts of games, for the reasons you say.

Allan can sit but is more of a presser (like Gueye, as you say, Sam). This player needs to be athletic and relentless and win tackles.

Then you have those like Fernandinho at Man City and Busquets at Barcelona who sit and hold a position in front the back 4. This player needs to be intelligent and disciplined and good on the ball.

Both defensive, but very different styles.

Yes, Sam, both the new players have improved mentality, competitiveness etc, as you would expect from new signings. Personally, I hated Schneiderlin and thought way less of him than Allan when he arrived but felt he had a greater initial impact than Allan has made.

I, like yourself, wish to see him in the role against Newcastle where he played some lovely little through balls. He is a little warrior and I love his desire but I just wonder if he has the energy and dynamism to play that role; to me, he looks like a player on the decline. I would guess that others on this thread will be referring to him as 'deadwood' and 'positionless' by this time next year.

But to be so shocked about my opinion when I have presented my argument to back up my thoughts where you have only offered a stat which can actually be a negative rather than a positive and nothing else constructive, unlike Tony, who has offered his analysis of why I may be misguided.

If Allan is so good defensively...

1) Why are we conceding more than when we had the worst midfield in a decade and virtually the same players and manager from January?

2) Why is Allan's direct opponent causing us all sorts of problems game after game?

3) Why has only Carlo Ancelotti been convinced by him in that role? Sarri preferred him further forward while Gattuso preferred him further away. Indeed, he produced his best form in front of Jorginho.

4) Carlo himself told us that we would improve the defensive side this season, which was one of the worst we had, primarily due to losing Gueye. Carlo has replaced Gueye and Schneiderlin with Allan and Doucouré and we are conceding double the rate of the previous season and we have so far played most of the worst teams in the Premier League.

Ancelotti argued we had excellent midfielders technically but defensively needed addressing and Allan arrived to the fanfare of a "world class defensive midfielder". So even the manager who brought him here is telling you he is failing because he is not protecting the defence and he has not fulfilled the primary objective laid out by the manager as to why he was brought to the club.

In a 5-3-2, he's exposed because oppositions tend to have 3 in midfield these days. Rodriguez doesn't count. So we're outnumbered.

So Allan is subject to overloads in his area, whatever we do.

That said, he as an individual is generally playing very well.

He obviously wants and needs the flair of James Rodriguez, but he also needs to find a system that suits everyone, and all for the good of “our team”.

What was obvious in the second half was that, in my opinion, we are a bit one-dimensional, which makes sense given our current strengths. Our front three can and will create and score goals when given the ball quickly. They won't when we have a ponderous slow build-up.

We aim to get the ball wide and cross it in as often as possible as we have a real threat between the posts with Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison (plus more from set-pieces). Once teams have worked this out, we struggle and need a Plan B and C when this happens.

From my (albeit poor) memory, it is rare that we pass the ball around the edge of the opposition box and dink a pass in around the centre-back to score these days to set up a goal.

I've said this on previous posts but, if we are expecting Sigurdsson to track back, we have lost our minds. It would be like asking Allan to play in James's role! Sigurdsson is an (aging) No 10 with great technique. He is (rightly, imo) now a squad player and I can't see him leaving before his contract ends so impact sub is what I hope for. Just don't ask him to defend as he has never been a defender or a defensive midfielder.

Against lesser teams, it will have some success but better teams will be a different proposition. Especially if the second half lethargy takes hold.

I wouldn't be surprised if the first business we do in January is get a right-back in on loan as Seamus will be in and out with increasing regularity.

I think it will strengthen and balance the team and give us more options. Sam, Robert, any decent ones on the market for a 6-month loan or loan with an option to buy?

I appreciate your comments, and agree about Sigurdsson, bit I'm still hoping that Gomes can still do a job for us in midfield. I still think he's not back to 100% after his horrific injury.

Broadly speaking, we are in some agreement. There is clearly something not quite right about the midfield set up at the moment and that does relate to the fact that Allan prefers to press, and that Doucouré is even less of a defensive midfielder than Allan. But I think the centre-backs also have a lot to answer for in terms of our defensive frailty.

Gbamin (or maybe Davies?) coming back in could help the situation but a lot of our issues in the run of 3 losses seemed to come down our right flank rather than the centre. Perhaps this new system with wingbacks might help that as it means the lack of defensive contribution from Rodriguez is better masked. A solid right-wingback or even right-back may help as Coleman is struggling with injury and Iwobi can probably not be relied upon against better teams.

Incidentally, Allan would not have been my first choice either. I prefer players with more room to grow. His success here will depend a great deal upon his desire and professionalism, as you imply.

He's done many positive things in an Everton shirt but, sadly for him, he is past his best, playing in a system that doesn't suit his skill set!

For what it's worth, I'm sure he really tries, wants to do well, and cares... but I just think time has passed him by for where we want to go!

I think played in his best position he could probably do well in a team that was lower down the table, with legs around him and a big target man striker to hit from dead balls

However, if I was him, I'd try my luck in MLS?!

Sigurdsson 50
Davies 38
Bernard 32

Allan has 33 already.

I'd argue that we have conceded far more largely due to the poor form of Yerry Mina who, for me, has been largely to blame, Saturday being prime example for both their goals. His poor reading of the game and reaction time causes lots of issues. Performance of Godfrey on Saturday for me leads me to hope we will soon see him and Holgate in central defense.

Yes, we have conceded 3 more goals this season than at this point last season. We've scored 11 more though and my opinion is that this is partly due to the work Allan does that frees up the likes of Richarlison to not have to track back quite as much as previous season. Richarlison was our leading tackler last season who wasn't a defender, with 70.

With him able to concentrate further up the pitch I think it is a reason we are scoring more, if we had him for those 3 games I do not think we'd have lost all 3. He has that much of a difference to the way teams have to defend.

I don't think Doucouré works in a 2; Coleman missing makes a huge difference to how we have to set up also.

Every former professional you hear seems to be praising Allan. I think there has to be some merit in that.

If I look at our managers over the last 30 years, I trusted Moyes to not get us relegated and keep us safely in midtable. I was excited by Martinez but couldn't trust him not to take us down either. If I look at everyone else, I wouldn't put any of them ahead of Carlo and I trust him. No manager will get every decision or every substitution right; they won't get every game right. I trust him to do far better with this squad than anyone we've had managing in the last 30 years would have done.

All this is just my opinion and interpretation of the stats. They are open to interpretation after all.

There is also the fact that this season has seen an increase in the average total goals per game – something that has been partially attributed to the lack of crowds and the density of the domestic, European and International fixture list.

I believe the average goals per game is currently just above 3, which makes this season's game average almost half a goal more than the all-time Premier League average.

Do you mean Mario Götze? He signed a 2-year deal with PSV Eindhoven and there's a reason no bigger club touched him. He's finished.

I'd be very surprised if we did this. But someone like Odriozola at Real (if fit) or even Sidibé again.

Much more likely to buy in Summer 2021. There are lots of options, fortunately – many of whom we were linked with a bit this Summer. Aarons, Dagba, Emerson, Dalot, Celik etc – with Lamptey also now looking excellent. That will help. But we also need a high-energy player to replace Gomes in the central 3 to prevent overloads – with some goals in him. That's a much harder player to find.

With Seamus being out, substantial pressure is being put on the midfield combo and particularly Allan, who is a great addition to the team. Guts, character, skill and the rest.

Do we want James or do we not want James in the side? Well, if anybody says "No" to this, they need to go back to the school of 'Think Big'. He is a class act and every team needs this kind of game-changer, which he clearly is. And this goes beyond any single game!

So, the Coaching decision has to be "How do we accommodate his pluses and his minuses?" That is, it is no good having his pluses if we can't use them to create goals. Yes or No, anybody? And it is no good having no cover for his minuses that lead to chances for the opposition to score.

So, give him the "wandering" role at which he is so good and ensure there is positional aptitude within the rest of the team to create cover, whilst providing for taking advantage of the positives. It's not that difficult providing we can teach the other players this and their role(s), or manage to buy a suitable additional player to fill the required gap.

First signing in January has to be at right-back as Kenny isn't the answer in the current Premier League.

He can do the job of shielding the defence and allow the other two to press and chase the ball higher up the field, which also means Richarlison won't need to come so deep to get the ball.

If Gbamin doesn't reach that level, Carlo and Marcel will need to think long and hard about bringing in somebody who does.

Max Aarons remains an option though not my pick. I like Emerson at Betis (on loan from Barcelona); Montiel at River Plate could be good value; Atal is a great attacking full-back; Dodo at Shakthar looks an interesting prospect; Celik at Lille looks good; and I like Simakan at Strasbourg though he may be more of a centre-back (like Holgate). I was quite keen on loaning Dalot. I'd probably take Maitland-Niles from Arsenal were he not likely to be overpriced.

In the Championship, Callum Brittain (Barnsley) and Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) appear to have started the season well.

Not many stand-out options. And it depends if we want someone to play right-back or right-wingback. Do you favour attacking potential or defensive solidity? How I wish we'd bought Ricard Pereira when we could have for £20M a few years back.

Emerson from Betis might be my top pick... but again, he'd probably be overpriced.

But it really surprises me that Allan gets criticised by some. One thing some seem to forget is that Allan has only played 8 Premier League games, we all know it's very different from the other European leagues. There used to be a bedding-in time but, sadly in these days of instant opinion, patience is in short supply for some.

I think he has the energy and the awareness; he's good technically on the ball and of course, loves making tackles and winning the ball. Can't see much wrong with that?

Jordan Pickford. Michael Keane. Yerry Mina. Allan. Gomes. Sigurdsson. Davies. Even Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin.

No matter how well they might play, their perennial detractors will contrive some way to criticize them, often resorting to pure hyperbole and ignoring both actual performance and data which challenges their assessment.

Allan, for example, leading the Premier League's tackling stats, is described as a 'lamentable defensive midfielder', 'a headless chicken', 'a bad episode of the Tasmanian Devil'. Indeed, on another recent thread, you have the warped opinion that his tackling stats are evidence and proof positive of him failing in his role!!

Andre Gomes is offered as our most 'intelligent defensively midfield'.

Riggghhhttt...

Conor's attempts to make Allan the root cause of all our defensive failings this season reminds me of another poster in this thread – Tommy Carter – who once went to great lengths to 'expose' the shortcomings of Jonjoe Kenny by 'proving' the full-back was responsible for virtually every goal we conceded when he was on the pitch.

The only thing Tommy demonstrated in his hatchet job on Kenny was his own predisposed prejudice against the young full-back because he inflated his part in many goals when the blame could clearly be placed elsewhere.

Conor is now doing the same towards Allan.

Like many I'm sure, I have studied the goals we are conceding. Now last season, when we were going for nearly 3 goals a game under Silva, you could identify systemic failings as to why that was happening. The opposition happily invited us on to them, won the ball, quickly bypassed a non-existent midfield, overrunning a seriously exposed back line as our full-backs were also caught out of position. Zonal marking from dead-ball situations into our penalty area further compounded our defensive woes.

I've looked for repeated patterns of a systemic failing this season and there isn't one – or several – systemic failings you can identify, as was the case in Silva's final few months last year.

There are one or two patterns in one-off failings from some of our goals conceded. Coleman too easily skinned by Robertson vs Liverpool. Not closing down either Shaw or Fernandes quick enough from a similar position for Man Utd's two 1st-half goals against us. On the same two goals in the United game, the space and distance between the two centre-backs, possibly due to the returning Holgate not being up to speed after a long lay off. The too-frequent failings of Mina in a number of goals.

One thing I personally resent about the rumblings that emerged when we lost 3 straight was how a small handful on ToffeeWeb tried to denigrate and completely revise the performances in our stupendous start to the season. That the performances were nothing special. That we got lucky. That there was nothing to get excited about.

Bollox. Everybody (well... most) was loving it. The mood was extremely buoyant. Many noted and commented – including Lyndon in a commentary piece – that the improved performances of the new first XI was also lifting the levels of those they had displaced, knowing they had to perform well when given the chance to regain their places.

A mixture of suspensions, injuries and poor selection and tactics by the manager in the 3-game losing streak stalled the early-season momentum. Sunday's bipolar performance of the best and worst of Everton in each half reminded us again we cannot yet fully trust this Everton team.

Some fine tuning is necessary. Individual mistakes are seeing us concede too many goals.

But, for me, overall, there remains a great deal more to enjoy and anticipate each game as opposed to the nervous trepidation before each game in Silva's final months.

I often wonder if some posters just want some sort of notoriety, so they post the complete opposite as to what the majority on T/W feel about certain players or indeed the manager.

Look, this team needs work on it, there is no question about that, but you can see certain aspects of our game improving especially since the signings in the summer.

As you say, last season, opposition midfields had an easy day playing us usually allowed to walk through our midfield unchallenged a lot of the time. Although Keane has improved as has Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison under Ancelotti and this is not me assuming this, this is the players themselves saying how much Ancelotti has improved them. I still dont think he and Mina together are the answer to a good centre-back pairing.

I think if you had said to most blues would you accept being in the top 6 after 9 games most would have bitten your hand off. We will have to sign better players to stay in the top 6 undoubtedly, but in his first window Ancelotti has made a good start. But it takes time to build a good side that can compete for honours and no we are not there yet. But I believe Ancelotti will get us there.

Have you ever considered cannabis?

A lot of good points made there!! I'm going to remain optimistic!!

In the old days, if you wanted to start a footy argument, there were only 2 ways of doing that: in the boozer after the match with your mates or you had to write a letter (remember them kids?) to a fanzine and maybe, weeks later, it would get published. These days, you only have to hit Tweet or Submit, so it's far too easy to be outrageous or controversial.

You talk a lot of sense, this is not an overnight revolution, it's a gradual evolution. Unfortunately, some people don't know who Darwin is on this site.

Maybe if you had read every single post on every single thread you would be able to prepare your ceremony already? Obviously though, you haven't.

As I said previously, the easiest thing to do is simply scroll straight past my posts. That way you no longer have to wait in hope for anything.

Silva was without Gomes. This is why I only spoke about Ancelotti's time for a comparative tool because Mina was shit then too, Holgate largely absent and our midfield was a complete shambles. We used Siggy,Post injury Gomes, Keane,Mina, Pickford, Davies, Schneiderlin, Delph and despite that being disastrous we are worse now defensively than even with those players. We had balance, structure problems then also. ToffeeWeb murdered them every week. Everything was like for like apart from the signings.

You can put at least 6 goals extra to Rodriguez (3 goals and 3 assists),possibly many more. Some wanted the manager sacked and gave up. I have never seen us have a front three like this one so it's difficult to quantify their input there if any to our greater attacking threat but even so you are comparing it with the worst midfield in a decade and the defenders were poor then also.

As for your stats the best midfield performance I saw live by a country mile was Keane in Amsterdam against a great Holland side. He never put a tackle in all night, it was like watching a pinball machine as he read everything. In the reverse fixture he put Overmars in the stand to set the tone for the evening, that was a tackle with merit. He knew when to tackle i.e. against Viera and when to control. A high tackle rate doesn't impress me as Sidibe was similar.

For those like Tony and Robert who are talking about structure. Look at Fulhams first goal. No one out of position, no one stretched. Our two midfielders body shape is all wrong, no looking over their shoulder to see Caballiero running into the hole. A quick give and go and they are standing like statues. Mina of course was also woeful. Same for the penalty.

The second you can argue was structural because Allan decided to go out and cover. However as much as we hated Schneiderlin that goal would not have happened as his cowardice meant he would have retreated to the edge of the box and allowed Doucoure to get back forcing the opposition to break us down which at 3-1 wouldn't have been a bad thing.

I actually disagree with both Sam and Dan who believe Doucoure is worse defensively as although none are proactive in sensing danger Doucoure does at least react, all be it too late,as we see for the second Fulham goal.

In our game with the neighbours when Robertson gets the ball there is only one danger. Doucoure again asleep as he lets Mane run off him. Allan can see the whole play develop in front of him but is focussed solely on the ball. Not only is he not proactive in sensing the only danger, he never once knows we are in trouble until it leaves Mane's foot. The problem is not that he doesn't prevent the goal as he may have been too late like Doucoure but he just doesn't see it.

He can see the whole play develop, he never deviates his run to show that he has seen Mane and jogs back like he is a centre forward going through the motions defending.

Brian- I don't seek notoriety though you are correct I only tend to comment on things which haven't been covered or discussed or blame in my opinion is wrongly attributed. Example; If Gomes is woeful in a left wing role I am more likely to blame the manager than the player. When there are 200 posts calling Gomes useless I don't need to make it 201 as I don't think he's our next Richarlison.

Let's see where we are half way through the season before we give out accolades. You have given players who you feel have improved but there are those that have regressed. We have six of last seasons top eight to play in a tough December and January.

If we are top six this season don't worry I will be the first and most vocal in labelling myself a clown for doubting the Italian Maestro and I will be more happy and proud to do so than those who would take great pleasure in sniping. I didn't realise that this was a communist site that we must all think the same Brian.

By pointing to the fact that we are conceding at a much more alarming rate than we where before Carlo stated he would improve the defensive side of our midfield, you are not (as logic would suggest) pointing to the huge gaping holes in the argument that we are much better in that department.

Who care's about facts ?..Have you not seen Allan`s tacking stats?

It's clearly not enough for you that Carlo used his amazing pulling power to bring in world class to play in our midfield. I get the distinct impression you are just not going to be happy until we are actually improving on the record of what many believe to be the worst midfield in our history.

Our lad will probably be outsider of three, but he's come out if the race well, goes well at Newbury and has more chasing experience.

Let's hope he makes it count in a much better race!

Good luck

You do make me laugh.

So the people who see through your blind support which you so often mistake for positivity are not only in the minority but, if they disagree with you, they are seeking notoriety...

It makes me laugh that you of all people should attack posters who criticise players when you have repeatedly apologised for this manager by claiming they are not good enough.

You then attempt to give "Carlo Fantastico" credit for the development of the two forwards who were rapidly improving before he even got here.

Not only did Carlo fail to even try to replace Richarlison when he was suspended, he badly let down Calvert-Lewin in the process...

Conor,

I`m sure you will see right through these foolish attempts to paint you as a minority of one.

As you pointed out in a recent post, the crushing negativity reigned upon those criticising this manager is a clear attempt to shout down alternative views.

Heaven save us from this relentless positivity.