Key absentees highlight difficulties for Benitez's shallow squad

That lack of commitment is the Everton disease. I don't think it has much to do with the manager, or whom he selects - it affects every manager and all the players. I can only suggest that there is something very wrong at Finch Farm.

In my opinion, we are a side transformed under Rafa, in terms of our energy and commitment levels. We were a shade unlucky yesterday, but to say that our defeat was not in some part down to the absentees is bewildering. Not only were we without DCL, Richarlison, Pickford and Coleman, but also without Siggi and James. All six of those could make a claim to be starters not just in our team but in many PL teams.

Good report Lyndon, I think you saw the same game as most of us.

I disagree that the Everton team hasn't been fully committed in most of their games this season, lacking in quality on occasions, yes, but they have mostly worked their socks off, which is testament to the lack of quality within the squad, as good sides don't need to work as hard for so long in games because they can retain the ball for large spells, which Everton patently can't do.

Fact is, this current bunch of Everton players isn't good enough to be anything but mid-table, without working hard they are likely to be considered lower than that, which is why I get annoyed when people bang on about Everton haven't played anyone of note, as every point is earned not awarded and almost every game is a lottery, hence the term small-margins being bandied about so often.

We can't alter the skill-sets of the current crop of players we can only ask them to work hard and give their all, which on the whole is what they have done so far this season, if they stop doing that as a basic requirement then that should terrify us all - boardroom included.

Our first team isn't that special so replacing 4 with "lesser" isn't going to end well.

The reason domestic cup competitions have become a farce is managers whip out half the team trying to be clever and end up losing at Harlepool etc.

Don't change a winning team is a much repeated truism for good reason unfortunately we had no choice.

This performance reinforced what we already knew: square pegs in round holes and substandard understudies cost you moments in matches, which invariably leads to dropped points.

Rondon and Godfrey did quite well up to a point. I was disappointed that Rondons feet didn't seem to leave the floor when he jumped.

Also disappointed Digne got outmuscled for the first and his starting position for the corner meant he couldn't attack the ball. Have we done away with having a man on the near post?

All in all l thought we did quite well. Mainly though Allan and Doucoure got overrun in midfield and neither looked comfortable. Our manager should have seen that. And lwobi is so much better through the middle.

Now the test comes to not go on any kind of losing run like we did last season. Positive signs that heads didn't drop and l thought the players worked hard. Next.

In their absence we are left with Gray and Townsend to offer an attacking threat. Stop those two and very likely you will stop Everton. Even so, had Gray been able to hit the target a minute before Villa took the lead, the outcome might have been very different. Until that point we had held our own.

A lot don't realise the importance of Richarlison in particular. Teams are bothered by him and focus their attention on him; target him. It's why he gets fouled a lot. Even if that means he is taken out the game, it frees up others.

If he was an English starlet, he'd get the same level of protection from Referees that Grealish gets. But he's considered a South American diver always looking for the free kick apparently. Like when he almost had his leg snapped against Burnley. No foul. If that's Grealish, it's probably a red card to the other player.

We were missing half a team yesterday, depending on everyone's views on who should start.

And yes, if that shot from Gray is 2 inches to the left, we're 1 - 0 up in what, until then, had been a pretty even encounter. Villa upper hand? Possibly, but that's home team v away team.

Flattering scoreline for Villa, harsh on Everton in my opinion.

Having a Villa supporting wife, I do hate these fixtures. Either way, it creates an atmosphere!! Roll on Tuesday night and Shepherd's Bush.

You are spot on about how important Richarlison is to this team, his work rate is as good as any striker in the league, and he is a constant threat to the opposition. I think when he and Gray and DCL are fit we may see a different Everton. The tackle by the Burnley player was a red card all day long irrispective on who would have been on the end of that challenge. The intent was clearly to hurt Richarlison and it looks like he may be out for a few weeks.
I sometimes think he goes down a little easy and that's why some refs don't give him the protection he deserves.

I think the reason why Pawson didn't award Gray a free kick for him being pulled back was because if he had then because the defender was the last man he would have had to send him off thats also the reason the VAR ref didnt intervene but if that had been against one of the top 6 Villa would have played the rest of the game with 10 men.

No when a team has 4 players (almost half their outfield lineup) surrounding 1, that means there is space elsewhere and they are bothered by him.

But is that because that's what they have available at their disposal and is better than whatever else they have available or because they have genuinely rated him?

I never like to judge young players too early as there are many factors that can determine their development and eventual progression or level they achieve. Very few are a Rooney, a Foden, Gerrard or a Grealish. Right now, Gordon isn't ready for Premier League standard, even in a paper-thin Everton squad. It doesn't mean he won't be, but just not now.

The most disappointing thing about our squad is how few youngsters have come through. Having a third of our squad out injured (or sitting at home waiting for a trial date) should mean a host of U23s or even U18s getting a place on the bench at the very least, but where are they? Where is the exciting young talent banging on the door to get their opportunity?

But goals are the key. The first goal, really. At first, I was blaming Digne, but Cash is the full back, and he can't mark two people, even if he was outmuscled. And the second goal is just rank bad luck.

The third is poor positioning, but let's be fair, Godfrey is much better at left-back than right-back for some reason, and has also mainly played at centre-back and midfield. He just didn't instinctively know where he needed to be.

I was really worried about our centre-backs yesterday, but actually I think they played quite well. In fact, other than the goals, we handled Villa very well on their own patch.

And lastly, if the referee had a brain, we'd have been playing against 10 men after Gray was hauled back, at nil-nil, cos that was a goal-scoring chance.

"I am puzzled about Gordon. He was so highly rated by many on here who watch the younger teams play and yet he seems lightweight and incapable of getting clear of his man."

I'm one who enthused about Gordon when playing for the U23s. I think it's a signal to those who say "Throw in this or that U23s player," and saying "It can't be any worse". It can – it can possibly destroy a player's confidence if it's a dire failure.

I've been enthusing about Dobbin but his marker against Sheffield United on Friday had him in his pocket – okay, you can have an off-game, but...

"Is it that he needs a proper run of games or can he not perform at this level?"

Yes, maybe it is a proper run of games. Or would that just show the fans what the coaches (Carlo and Rafa) already knew / know?

Everton were playing well yesterday, and were close to scoring, and I think it was the 2nd goal that deflated them.

Yes, we have a weak squad, with a strong first 12, but we are not strong enough to cover multiple injuries like yesterday, along with a couple of players playing below their expected standards.

The only player that I could attribute to the malaise you suggest is Digne, but I do think in both games work and effort was evident from the team. Michael #3 and Barry #4 give truer reflections of the team.

The Preston loan wasn't a good experience because, I think, the manager got sacked and replaced by someone much more direct – and Gordon's ability on the ball wasn't valued. I'm not sure the Championship is the best loan destination for kids who can really play.

The other squad players who came on last night, Kenny, Gordon and Davies, made no impact at all. Particularly Gordon, who appears always to look around when he comes on as a late sub, waiting for other players to make an impact, instead of him wanting to get hold of the ball and do something positive with it.

Part of the problem with not having a large enough, good enough squad, there is a lack of younger players not playing alongside with and against more experienced players in a reserve team playing against other reserve teams.

The old Central League used to provide far more players for the first team than the Everton Under-23s do. The best they can hope for is to be loaned out to a League One team, which does not really serve the needs of the Everton first team, which is desperate for some younger players to go knocking on Benitez's office asking for a first-team game after convincing themselves of their skill.

I could not imagine a 17-year-old Rooney hanging around the Under-23 team waiting for a call for a first team opportunity. He would have been telling the manager "Give me a game or I am off somewhere else." He did go off, but for different reasons. Not because of questions over his skill, but Everton received a large amount of money to let him play somewhere else.

I would regard Rondon as a mid-second half replacement for a tiring Richarlison or DCL or perhaps someone to get stuck into a violent defence (i.e. Burnley as reffed by Atkinson), not as a fully fit solo up front performer.

Richarlison is an absolutely essential part of this team with his defensive performances often as critical to a good result as anything he does in front of goal.

I believe Benitez has already shown his credentials as a tactician with the introduction of Gomes last week. I sat and watched a toothless Everton attack transformed by replacing a failing back line defender with a fairly slow midfielder who's never been the same since he was attacked from behind by Son.

I'm sure Benitez will be working his socks off to get the team back into a coherent unit, albeit without most of his best players, and I regard yesterday as a horrible result resulting from the disgusting refereeing vs Burnley, which caused half the team to miss several matches. The next time Atkinson turns up at Goodison, Dunc should put him in intensive care before the kickoff.

I don't think he is as good as many here claim or that he thinks he is. He is fast in open spaces but is extremely selfish, always going for his own goal rather than passing to a teammate in a better position.

Gordon looked out of place when he came on, but if these youngsters don't get a chance we will never know. We played 3 different options up top in one game a recipe for disaster if ever there was one.

Dave Pearl - give a call about Saturday mate.

The VAR ref decided it wasn't a clear and obvious mistake by the referee.

I can't understand the logic or reasoning behind that decision, very disappointing interpretation.

He was clearly and obviously being held back. I think in reality was the capacity home crowd impairing the referee's decision making and the VAR ref just taking the easiest way out.

Perhaps we can bring in one or two in January, but next summers transfer will be pivotal for both ins and outs.

How the hell Pawson done nothing is beyond contempt and the VAR referee, can't have been watching the game.

QPR and a tough away game.

Hopefully the squad will show character and bounce back from the Villa defeat.

On the plus side we have 10 points on the board and I always thought 10-12 points from the first 6 games would be a solid if not spectacular start. We'll have to manage with plasters for the next two weeks and Man U away will be tough.

It's a long season so both DCL and Richarlison need to be given proper time to recover and not rushed back. If that means losing to Norwich and Man U, then so be it. Would hope however we can get something against Norwich. These two players are absolutely vital and we need a full season from them.

We must get Rodriquez off the books so we can finally sign a RB. It's beyond a joke we still don't have a replacement for Coleman, its been obvious we need one for about 3 years!