Everton find their fight but shoot themselves in the foot

Allan gave more momentum to Everton's play and quite a few players stepped up to the plate. Iowbi played one good ball when he seen the board go up for his substitution. Everton whole attack was up the opposite wing to the one he was on, because of his poor play. He could have been subbed after 10 minutes.

Keane was making mistakes all evening and cannot defend on the turn. He knows this and tries to avoid such situations. Holgate has lost his defensive consistency and distribution, since his injury last year.

So Everton played better, playing a poor Spurs side, and Pickford didn't make a mistake, but others did gifting Kane goals he did not deserve. We might be glad of the European Conference league, given some of the players Everton have, so as to claim some progress this season. The fact that it is a league would give season round extra games, getting some payback for the wages paid out and preparation for the Europa and Champion League in subsequent seasons.

Aleast Everton got a draw, with players like that it could have been worse. Everton will be lucky to get a 6th place, but may get 7th. But then , the fans are due a bit of luck.

Now the dust has settled I think despite the obvious disappointing results here and there we have the makings of a good team especially if we can keep Allan and the imperious James fit and on the pitch!

It's the previous few games that were the frustrating ones.

Carlo's priority was to create a style that could compete with the better teams. Having done that has he now found a way to dominate those winnable home games?

We may only find out when the squad is fully fit but I am still optimistic.

Frustrating we didnt get three points but happy enough with the performance.
Allans energy made a big difference in midfield, he needs games to get him back to scratch but happy with him.

James.
A joy to watch, doesn't always come off but that will happen when a player tries things.
A pure footballer.

Tom did well last night, best game for a while, although he should have done better cutting the cross out for thier second.
Saying that the cross wouldnt have mattered if not for the sunday league defending from Keane and Holgate. Not good enough, both of them.
Seamus is on the back end of a great career we all know that. The fight and reaction of the players when he comes on tells you all you need to know about the esteem the players hold him in.
There will never be a signing made by Everton who will give the value he gave us, and all for 60 grand.

All in all a good game to watch and one we should have won

We could play Spurs a thousand times, and that wouldn't happen again!

I thought the goals conceded were both very unlucky on the whole, but I think big Yerry would have cleared the danger away for both goals. Spurs were damned lucky though the way both times the ball landed to Harry Kane almost on a sixpence.

Only one concern for me last night was Iwobi, again. The player continues to struggle, can't get past a full back, can't get crosses in, ball retention is poor and passing is errant. Unfortunately the player has become a liability and doesn't deserve to be starting matches until he can demonstrate improvement.

When he got taken off you could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from Evertonian's up and down the country in front of their screens. Seamus came on and offered more immediately. It's a position we need to recruit for in the summer. If Brands can somehow sell or trade Iwobi he will be really earning his wages.

If they sell Holgate and the ex Burnley player in the summer they'll have more clubs interested in Holgate and get more money for him as well.

The overall team performance was much, much better than recent ones - I would go so far as to say, one of the best of the season.
2 freak defensive errors - which gifted the goals to Spurs. Those were the only 2 genuine chances they had all game, and unfortunately for us, they fell to the most clinical finisher on the pitch.
We had excellent chances of our own to get us all 3 points, but it is clear, Richarlison is no Harry Kane.
Special mention to Godfrey, Davies, Digne, James, Siggy - they were the standout players on the pitch
I thought Allan was pretty quiet and Davies carried the midfield. Iwobi was poor, but at least, he was working hard and trying to do something.
Coleman and Josh King when they came on, looked lively, and they both created great chances - Coleman's resulted in a goal, and Josh King's effort should have resulted in the winner.
I am not trying to belittle Richarlison - the amount of effort he puts into every game is immense, if he just develops that consistent goal-scoring touch, he would be a top, top star.
Once again, there was a big difference in bench quality between the 2 sides.

Really disappointed with the result, but greatly encouraged by the performance.

Keane has been much improved this season Dave, but only due to the deep defensive set up we've employed regularly. But, concerns of those like me will always be there. What you say, he watches the game, watches the ball and then decides to do something. Lacks the anticipation and reading of the game to compensate for lack of pace.

Okay, I don't want to dwell on the negatives. The overall consenting sentiment on these pages is that the performance warranted a win and we enjoyed the performance. Refreshing to still see that fans will always respect effort and performance even if the result doesn't go our way. Over to you Everton; of course we want the win, but if we don't win, then leave us knowing you tried to.

Everton's defensive weaknesses have been evident lately with Holgate not looking particularly smart and I am not sure he is good enough to start and certainly not at central defence.

Swapping all the players around at the back has not been a good thing and Injuries don't help but Carlo has to get a settled pairing for next season amongst other things.

One thing that I omitted and which you are rightly pointed out was Keane's confidence. I always maintained that Keane was a confidence player.

When he played along side Jagielka his confidence was completely shot. Jagielka communicate little and was not dependable covering his team mates.

When Mina came in Keane was a different player, thought still badly exposed when the right back was committed, which has cost Everton three goals since Xmas. It could be the unexplainable drop in Holgates level of competence is having a knock on effect on Keane. It may also be that Holgate is trying that much to get up to speed he is just looking after himself and not really communicating with Keane.

Keane was exposed all game ; giving away the ball just outside the penalty area; exposed covering the right back position ; poor clearance headers and getting caught in possession coming forward. He just looked he was having a nightmare of a game.

I have had games like that myself and it isn't a pleasant experience and, I guess, even more difficult for a Professional footballer to overcome.

Agree with Danny #10 that Keane (and Mina imo ) is exposed when Everton a pushing forward. both Keane and Mina are more comfortable when play in front of them. Holgate was a better footballer than either of them prior to his injury and had no problem.

The concentration lapses causing the gifts to Kane, last night and recently Burnley, Chelsea and Palace, means Michael Keane position is uneasy and Ive said we should have got his the defensive partner Ben Mee, whose agile and mobile, and Michael Keane, in my view is a cricket player.

Mistakes happen in every game but these big mistakes have not helped the cause this last month.
The flame of hope burns still and there's still an outside chance of making the Europa.

Hopefully the Everton management team will now have tangible results to warrant a summer transfer campaign to buy at least 4 players - perhaps, CB, Koulibaly,RB - Florentine's, RW - Leon Bailey, midfield - Rabiot and a CF - Belotti.

The time to start the phase 2 of rebuilding this squad starts this summer, but the challenge of off loading the sick notes and deadwood won't be easy.

Marcel Brands has a challenge but I'm confident he can step up to the plate and whilst, I don't like to presume he's staying, and has a new contract signed or pending signing.

This summer is key to building on this year and the style of football played last night.

All enjoy the weather and to victory at Arsenal.

Put simply, in my opinion, if we played like that on a consistent basis we would be sitting in the top 4 places now.

If only Carlo could bottle whatever last night's team seemed to have and dish it out every week.

Special mention to Ben Godfrey who seems to get better and better. If that lad Aarons is cut from the same cloth he should be our No1 target for the summer.

It's hugely disappointing because our home form has cost us arguably a top 4 placing, given our fabulous away form, if only we could have pinched wins against Newcastle and Fulham or Burnley.

As it stands we have won just 5 home games all season and only once since December, that's curtailed our progress.

Last night the blame is because one, our forwards can't shoot accurately enough when more than presentable chances arise and two, because Michael Keane and Holgate is a partnership made for nightmares.

Neither Keane or Holgate are switched on enough for my liking and last night illustrated why they shouldn't be a pairing.

Mina and Godfrey will be the way forward unless a move for Koulibaly does materialize in summer which would be a great coup.

Now the remainder of the season is about fending off Arsenal, Leeds and Villa for a top half finish.

The game against Arsenal next week will be crucial as they should dispatch Fulham tomorrow, whilst the two matches we have against Aston Villa will be pivotal too.

The display was so much better than previous outings and much credit must go to the work rate and overall performance of the oft-criticised Sigurdsson. He played a blinder and blended very nicely with the pure genius that is James. A nod here as well to Godfrey, Allan and Davies.

On another night, we would have secured all 3 points but what I witnessed brings much relief and hope for the future. I don't worry too much about this season. That particular horse has bolted IMO. I am looking forward to what might be next season. The acquisition of a proper centre-back, a right-back (although I personally would play Godfrey there provided someone like Koulibaly comes in), and a little bit more inventiveness in and around the forward areas.

Just sort out those injury problems, please, Everton...

Holgate is a useful squad player for now but not commanding enough to be a regular centre-back until his composure and concentration improves. Like Stones, he cannot be forever potentially a good player if he is to play at a club that aspires to be in the top six.

Stones is a top 6 player. He is more than that. Football is a game of mistakes. All players make them and defenders' are more exposed than others. John Stones was always going to be top draw, we just panicked because he could play football. Admittedly, that panic was justified given what he had in front of and around him.

He is about to add his 3rd Premier League winners medal to his collection of FA Cup and League Cup medals.

King was a threat when he came on and was more up to speed than his previous appearances. Digne is back to being consistent, probably putting in the best Everton player performance. Both James and Sigurdsson were at a different level. Iowbi was not at the races and Coleman showed him up every time he got the ball. Allan and Davies can at last play in the same team.

I expect Ancelotti to reexamine his centre-back pairing, although Godfrey did add much-needed pace in his present position. Carlo will also look at the attack and King may get more game time.

Europe is still possible, but maybe not as we know it.

I thought Sigurdsson played really well, full of energy and running plus skill. Holgate looks to go back many times when he should go forward and so takes positive momentum from us. On the couple of occasions he moved or passed forward, the team was on the front foot.

If we play like this for the rest of the games, we will move up at least a couple of league placings IMO.