MC11

I agree Elstone is not the right guy to be conducting such deals. He's yet to get a good one. However, I look at Everton as a brand we aren't global enough. Therefore massive sponsorship deals are going to be hard to broker. If we had consistent Champions league football, more television appearances and big named players we'd be able to compete at the top end of financial deals. Until we move forward in this manner we are unlikely to get the massive deals other teams get and this all comes down to finances of the board. Everton need to become a bigger brand as a whole on the pitch and off it.

If he was playing deeper with the freedom to go forward I think you'd see a lot more of them.

Tenacious is right. Nike at present is much better brand and the younger generations recognise this. Rightly or wrongly Umbro is now seen as a dated brand and lots of people wouldnt be seen dead wearing it. I understand it's difference in terms of sports merchandise but for me Nike is light years ahead of Umbro and gave the club and kits a more marketable look. I just didn't understand the fuss when we announced a deal with them I was gutted.

Wouldn't trade him for anyone and there is still huge potential to progress.

Nike is a better brand and I like their kits. Umbro on the other hand is a terrible brand. If it was 1992 I'd be happy. I'm probably one of few who is disappointed to be leaving nike.

That injury certainly seems to have put a halt on his progression. He looks a completely different player from the end of the year. It is coming though you can see he's getting fitter. He was brought back far too early and we've suffered a major dip in form ever since. Martinez has to be made accountable for that IMO. Yes he was a crucial player but we ended up on the end of a 4-0 hiding and lost him for a number of weeks afterwards. Lose lose

You could be right but I haven't seen anything to suggest he'll become a goalscorer. He's still young but he's also racked up a lot of premiership appearances. I just think a natural box to box midfielder is needed to play next to him. Two sitters isn't working at the moment.

McCarthy hits a brick wall once he reaches the 18 yard box. He is what he is.

4th spot usually goes between 68 and 75 points this season i think it may even go beyond. I think it's well gone. We'd have to win all our games

Agree with Matt. Their keeper was boss.

Rooney is just too good for that team now. I know he hasn't done much today but his technique etc just sticks out like a sore thumb

They are the masters of shear luck.

Clattenberg just couldn't wait to give it.

No contact at all there. Vidic/sturridge

I agree but Martinez has also struggled with teams like that. West Brom home and away. Palace away.

Nobody can say that for sure. Don't forget the late late winners against City and Spurs last season. Just saying

Today's games will have a good indication who is going to crack on from United and Spurs. If either get a win you can see their seasons pushing on. Defeats and I think we'll be in pole position. Lots of points to play for.

There is definately a time and place for the two sitting midfielders. It's worked a lot this season but if the full backs aren't getting forward enough we become short going forward. At the start of the season Coleman was bombing up and down. The same with Oviedo and Baines and teams couldn't cope with it. However because it's been highlighted so much in the media teams have clicked and I feel as though the success of it is fading. That's not to say we won't get success there time to time. I just think we need plan b and that's to remove one of the sitters.

Noticed this too. Happens a lot.

I think Barkley needs to eventually partner McCarthy. He is box to box. I'm not saying he's great defensively but he can jockey an do a job there.

I thought it would come across controversial like most of my posts. But I don't think the two sitting midfielders benefits us all the time. We are missing the goals from the middle of the park. Also the killer pass. I personally think it has a lot to do with teams pushing the full backs back and us having no goalscoring central midfielders.

Neither. Was just saying they came not to lose. That doesn't make the performance acceptable. I'm just of the opinion we aren't playing good football at the moment. It's flat/boring tika taka. The two sitting midfielders offer nothing going forward and our full backs (especially Coleman) aren't getting forward as much as they were. A box to box midfielder who can chip in with goals is needed.

They had 5 at the back most of the time.

It was lack of cutting edge. The same every week and they had a couple of decent chances and a decent penalty shout. All in all a very grateful 3 points.

It's been the same at Goodison since the turn of the year and there are people convinced we are playing good football. It's boring with no cutting edge.we lack ideas for 80% of the game. If the wing backs aren't bombing forward we are missing a box to box midfielder. Can't stress it enough.