Cornish Steve

Because they have way too many new players to create a well-functioning team. This game pointed that out - and that they have no real bite to them now Suarez has gone (not my pun - I read it elsewhere). And they have the CL to contend with, which will not only be a struggle but losses could affect morale. I'd be surprised if they make top four, really.

Personally, I see them dropping to fifth or sixth.

Maybe he'll set off some indoor fireworks again and burn down their changing rooms. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2052207/Mario-Balotelli-house-catches-firework-let-bathroom.html

If there's evil, there must be good. If there are good and evil, then there must be an objective definition of the same. It doesn't come from genes, and it doesn't come from education. It comes from a conscience, and that must emanate from somewhere. CS Lewis, a rather down-to-earth man albeit an Oxford man, had rather a lot to say on the topic.

How on earth can you conclude that? McCarthy right now is perhaps the most important person on the team. He's the engine that drives the team, undoubtedly the team's future captain. I'm convinced that Martinez would have turned down even a 50m bid from United. Besic, on the other hand, is an unknown, purchased for a comparatively small sum. It looks like he has a lot of potential, and it will be great when he strikes up a partnership with McCarthy, but he has a ways to go to get there. He's yet to play a competitive game for Everton, so it's simply impossible to know where he stands at this point.

Yes, I was watching the same game and growing more and more frustrated by him. He was getting in there, he was full of energy, but he wasted opportunities time and again. As was commented earlier, maybe that's part and parcel of his play - the great comes with the frustrating. Honestly, I didn't see much if any great from him yesterday.

Yesterday, there was more rough than smooth from him. Let's hope he inverts that ratio next week. I'd be only to pleased to sing his praises when he deserves it.

There are times, yes, when his approach pays off. I can imagine, though, that there are times when his teammates are pulling their hair out (other than Howard, that is). And I know Martinez likes his players to express themselves and enjoy themselves - but that has to be done in the context of the team as a whole.

You're not the only one.

I'm glad your opinion is turning towards him. Yesterday, for me, he was man of the match. He did so much off the ball, he won many loose balls, and he contantly hassled the Arsenal midfield. I have no idea how he manages to cover so much ground, especially when so many others on the team are running out of steam after 80 minutes.

Put aside your bias toward Mirallas for a moment. Yes, he tracked back, and yes he displayed impressive energy. However....he is so selfish. Why did he attempt that shot from the halfway line? As I remember, it would have been a fast 3 on 3 sitaution, and Mr. Ego had to take a stupid shot. Also, the team was lined up for cross when he decided to go for glory himself with a free kick attempt. This selfishness, together with his tendency to get caught offside, too often undermines the positives he brings. We now play as a team, not a bunch of individuals, and Mirallas needs to respect that.

Here are the results for week 2. Alguna Vez Tonelada wins this week's contest and, with one game left in August, leads for the month.

Doe.

On the positive side, Barry and McCarthy were terrific. Nasimith played well. Lukaku was sharp when he needed to be. Maybe age is beginning to tell with Distin, Osman, and Jagielka?

For the second week in a row, took the foot off the pedal. Looked tired.

But he hasn't done much right either. He's been totally anonymous. Which is better? Osman being anonymous or Mirallas getting in there and being totally wasteful? I'd prefer the second, because some times he might make a good decision.

First half summary for me... - Barry player of the game so far. In control. Great cross for first goal. - McCarthy full of energy. Ensuring we win the majority of loose balls. - Lukaku a factor in both goals. - Phenomenal speed on the counter-attack. - Osman completely anonymous. - Mirallas just too selfish and wasteful. - Naismith gets into great positions. Yes, we were lucky to be given the second goal, but 2-0 is deserved.

Codswallop.

And there's the minor point that thousands of innocent people, already under duress, would be killed or injured.

It is different now. Yes, teams have a youth academy and bring through younger players, and Everton has done this. But look at the difference between the current transfer window and the previous ones. Before, it was a matter of bolstering the team in the short term. Now it's consciously different. Other than converting Gareth Barry from a loan to a transfer, every single player brought in is young. Moreover, not one of our solid young players left the club, despite there being speculation in the press. Before it was doing what everyone else does; now, it seems, there is a conscious strategy to build a legacy around this core of young players. When you look at the transfer dealings of other teams, players were brought in for the here and now - and are of all ages. That is not true for Everton. Players are being brought in to build a long-term legacy. It's as if there's a filter in place that's used to decide which players to bring in. It's not just about today; it seems equally focused on tomorrow.

We don't know when it happened, but the video has surfaced only now. It is totally barbaric. In recent days, there have been reports of IS beheading Christians and others who will not convert to Islam. All non-Muslims have been driven from cities and towns and are being hunted down. For sure, hundreds have been shot and buried in mass graves. There have been pictures of crucifixions, although it seems most individuals were killed before they were nailed to a cross. Nonetheless, their bodies are left to hang in public for many days. These early reports have been largely ignored by the world powers, but the death of this journalist appears to have captured everyone's attention. Let's hope it spurs people into action. There have been far too many cases where we've stood by quietly and done little to stop genicide (Rwanda comes to mind).

I must confess that I have a hard time understanding the vitriole in this thread. I'm with MC 100% on this. Let me make clear my stance: Family comes first. When they do something, I help them and encourage them and do all I can to allow them to succeed. If my son played for Liverpool, of course I would support my son and support his team - in the sense that I hope they do well because he plays for them. It doesn't mean I would stop supporting Everton, but my son's success would count for more. As someone wrote above, to be an Everton fan does not mean having to be a Liverpool hater. Despite the rivalry (and rivalries add to the enjoyment and competitive spirit of games), I see no reason to hate another team. As it is, my oldest son (the most gifted football player in our family) is a Liverpool supporter. Years ago, when traveling home from a business trip to Europe, I flew through London and flew him from Atlanta to Manchester airport, and we went to Anfield to watch Liverpool play Charlton. (It was the day the queen mother died, because funeral music was being played on all the radio stations.) It was a good game with his then-hero, Michael Owen, scoring right in front of us. Was I pleased that Liverpool won? Yes, because my son is big supporter, and I was treating him to a great experience. Again, family is more important than any game - full stop. These days, my son follows Everton as much as he follows Liverpool. If some other fans don't like this, hard cheddar. It is what it is, and there's just no way that choice of a sports team is going to create any kind of rift in our family.

This transfer window, for me, has provided a glimpse of Everton's long-term strategy. Just think about it: Other than signing Gareth Barry (an interim measure for three years), we've been bringing in a bunch of talented youngsters. Why do this? 1) We can buy great talent at lower prices when they are young. It's more risky, because they may not pan out, but it's a great way to buy future stars at a lower price. 2) The goal is to build a team, ranging in age today from 18 to 23, that will potentially stay together for a decade. If this is indeed the case, I would expect to see these young players develop together so they are ready to become our first team in about three years' time. 3) As part of this strategy, there will probably be a transition plan for having these youngsters slowly but surely take the place of our older players: Jagielka, Distin, Pienaar, Howard, ... 4) With a strong and stable core, our dependence on the transfer market would be greatly reduced. We will have made the key decisions today, not in three or four years' time. The key to any strategy is staying focused, keeping the vision in mind whenever any important decision is made. Once Henin is on board, we would appear to have most positions on the team covered by one of these youngsters waiting in the wings. I'm sure we'll be using the League Cup, and possibly even one or two games in the Europa League, as a way to give them solid competitive experience. What positions do we have covered and which remain to be covered by another youngster? Right now, we have Stanek, Stones, Oviedo, Galloway, McCarthy, Barkley, Besic, Lukaku, Henin, and Atsu (assuming the goal is to keep him). Should Browning and Garbutt be added to the list?

Everton 2-1 Arsenal Lukaku

Exactly. Yesterday's was not his greatest game. The only goal to which he contributed was Leicester's second. It's all very well having favourites, but there's no point in exaggerating a player's contribution. Yesterday he wasn't really prepared enough to play.