Elston Gunnn

From radio commentary, it sounds like what I think I see pretty regularly: we don't have many players who like to get in the box, and we don't have tough players when they are in the box.

Barkley off. I haven't heard his name much in the radio commentsry. And his going off suggests he had little positive impact. Not a good sign.

Appears now to be .... Robles Coleman Williams Funes Mori Baines Davies Barry Deulofeu Barkley Mirallas Lukaku

0-0 halftime

I wonder whether these days Koeman assumes he'll have to use one of his subs for Barry on 60-70 minutes. Cleverley or Jagielka if we're winning, Deulofeu or Mirallas if need attacker.

No Jamie Vardy. Glad to see Deulofeu and Oviedo on subs bench. Kone, too, who knew?

Amen. Every word.

For those unable to watch the match, I generally agree with TallPaul1878's several comments mostly critical of our play. Anything could happen, but we are poor in the final third of the pitch, and Southampton looked dangerous 3 times on the counter. On his shot near end of half, Mirallas missed a golden opportunity to cross it in to Lukaku, who was clear of defenders, and onside.

I don't know how Baines's cross could have been much better. And Mirallas got back onside, knowing the cross was coming. Still couldn't get a toe to it. Our offense is dreadfully boring. We could nick a point, or even 3, but more likely Leicester will score on 91 minutes with a long, lofted ball that confuses two of our CBs and Joel.

I've been a Barkley critic, mostly on football-brain and over-dribbling grounds. I don't know whether or not he has the mettle. I do marvel at his physical skills, but either he doesn't understand how to use his great skills, or the systems employed by Martinez and Koeman inhibit his play. But Romey's comments here strike me as spot on, matching my more recent concerns about Ross's utterly aimless running about. Although it may be "unfair" to contrast his pitch-sense with that of the near-perfect pitch-sense of Gana, the contrast at least allows a focus on the problem. I don't think it's merely Gana's physical quickness that allows him to be everywhere. It's his ability to see a couple of passes ahead, and so anticipate where he needs to be to disrupt the opponent. As Romey says, Ross "never anticipates anything." So he's nearly always -- nearly always -- chasing the play when on defense. I'm not willing to say he works hard consistently. He does run a lot, but too seldom to good effect. I suspect most of us admire pressing teams, principally because we think it leads to opportunities, and to wins. But also in part because we're sort of pissed off at overpaid, pampered athletes, including (maybe especially) our own. We want to see our boys exhaust themselves, earn their paycheck, take it directly to every opponent. Hence the outrage among Everton fans at the recent displays of lethargic play. So we want to see energy, aggressive pressing. But It looks to me as if Ross is a major liability to high pressing. Maybe he's not the only wasted-energy presser, but I haven't seen any Everton player so totally ineffective to this "attacking defending" we want to see.

Appalling ball-watching by Williams and Funes Mori on the goal. Basic, basic defending, failed to follow the ball toward the goal. Basic. Just like our inferior passing. Basic. As Sturridge was making his run,, Barkley was just watching the game. Ross just has no sense of where the ball will be, the opposite of Gana, who has a great sense of where the ball will be. Probably not fair to contrast Barkley with Gana, but too often it's painful to watch as Ross wastes so very much energy, running from here to there, always 2 steps behind the play when on defense. And Ross should have seen a red card. The 2 injury substitutions really limited Koeman's options, and Calvert-Lewin was a long-shot gamble that didn't pan out at all. Gana and Coleman had strong performances, as did McCarthy.

Are there either rules or a general pattern regarding red card appeals? Does the ruling on the pitch stand unless there's clear video evidence that it was an incorrect call? Or is it haphazard, random, no telling how an appeal will be decided?

Vardy red card, won't play against us on Boxing Day.

Sounds exactly right to me.

Tempers going into the tunnel. No idea why, but I'll take some Everton anger over passivity.

Momentum goal at end of half.

Baines with right foot cross!

Yes, that's it.

Barkley's given the ball away 3 times. Not making the best of his chance so far. Lennon and Valencia working hard.

Basic passing, over and over.

Basic passing, over and over.

Barkley

Glad Barry not even on bench. Still valuable, but too soon after weekend. I expect him to start in the derby, unless McCarthy and Gana shine together today. Valencia starting is sensible, or desperate. Barkley now has a chance to reclaim his spot, as does Jagielka. Lennon needs to make a mark right away.

I didn't understand TP1878 to mean Valencia to start instead of Lukaku, but with. Both starting is what I hope to see. I'm interested in what lots of others think about Valencia starting with Lukaku, whatever the exact positioning. Opinions about both whether Koeman should do this, and will do this.

Yes, we could lose badly to both Arsenal and Liverpool. Seems obvious to me that Koeman has to follow up on today's press conference blunt comments that, other than Lukaku, our attacking players aren't producing. That means Barkley, Deulofeu, and Mirallas. I thought both Deulofeu and Mirallas would play well this season. Generally they have not, though Deulofeu showed well at times at Watford. I am a Barkley skeptic, but I think he must be given a start today. Same for Valencia; he deserves a start, to see if he can interject some badly, badly needed energy in the final third. I am also skeptical that Barry should start 2 matches in such quick succession, so I'd prefer McCarthy (or Davies, or even Gibson....) to partner Gana. I'd like, but do not expect, to see: Stekelenburg/Robles (no clue, both are adequate at best) Coleman......Jagielka.......Funes Mori........Baines .............McCarthy.................Gana..................... Lukaku...................Barkley........................Oviedo .............................Valencia.................................. I'd prefer to see Lukaku driving forward with the ball at his feet more, cutting inside to shoot. Oviedo is better used at LW than LB, and giving him the start at LW would put Mirallas on further notice. (I hope Mirallas comes good, and soon. He's a willing shooter, unlike Barkley. Hard for me to explain or accept how little Mirallas has produced. I want him to do well, and if in my suggested lineup Oviedo is a non-factor in the first half, bring on Mirallas at 45 minutes, no waiting.) I'm desperate to see Koeman shake things up. I suppose the danger is that doing so on short turnaround risks an embarrassing smashing. But hoping business as usual will allow us to lose "only" 1-3 would hardly inspire. I'd even prefer 3-4-3 to same old, same old. Stek/Rolbes Holgate.......Jagielka..........Funes Mori Coleman...McCarthy...Gana...Baines Lukaku.........Barkley.........Valencia I worry about a sullen crowd tomorrow eve.