Elston Gunnn

Radio: Besic having poor game.

2-0 DCL Now waiting on Pete0 for description.

HT: 1-0

Sky commentary appears a minute ahead of OS radio feed.

Goal DCL says Sky. 1-0.

Radio: Klaassen to Vlasic, good shot, no goal.

Radio: "Final third of the field lets us down." Over and over and over and over.

Praise for DCL on radio. Wins corner. But poor corner from Klaassen. Free kick now. Taken by Sandro. Good effort by Sandro. Saved.

Just referred to Holgate running down left side.

Got the OS radio feed now.

Bill is MOTM.

Yes, this for me, too. Stekelenburg Kenny Holgate Williams Martina Besic Lennon Klaassen Mirallas Sandro Niasse Bench - Robles, Lookman, DCL, Vlasic, Charsley, Gana, Jagielka Subs - Preferably use 3 of Lookman, DCL, Vlasic, and Charsley

Like MJB, I don't know what sort of lineup Koeman will go with. The Sunderland match is near the middle of 6 matches in 18 days, and it's the first of 4 matches in 12 days. Koeman has somewhere in the past few days referred to this busy scheduled and that he has to rotate the squad somewhat. That seems obvious and sensible to me; others may disagree. We're at a very delicate moment. We desperately need a win, yet for me this is the least important of our 4 straight Goodison matches. I don't totally discount the League Cup, but at this specific time and in these specific circumstances, EPL and EL matches take priority. Rooney needs a rest, Baines, too (good luck on selecting Baines's replacement). I hope we are capable of beating Sunderland - near the Championship relegation zone themselves - even with a lot of rotation. I'd like to see ...... Stekelenburg Holgate Keane Jagielka Martina Besic Vlasic Klaassen Mirallas Sandro DCL

Despite the dispiriting final 10 minutes today, the upcoming 4 matches in 12 days are - and to me were before the start of today's match - more important than this match. We are now home to 4 straight mediocre opponents. it will be interesting to see the starting lineup Wednesday v. Sunderland. Rooney needs a rest, and we have replacements for his position(s). Baines needs a rest, but we seem to have not a single logical replacement for him. I'd expect to see Besic, Klaassen, Mirallas, Holgate, Sandro, DCL all start. Lennon?

If still 1-0 at 60-65 minutes, I'd like to see ..... Jagielka Keane Williams Baines Besic Schneiderlin Davies Rooney Mirallas DCL

Yes, major frustration. Nine defenders and not a one near Valencia.

I could see at any particular moment a back 6, with Gana and Schneiderlin consistently staying back alomg with either Martina or Baines. The other of Martina/Baines pushing forward intermittently, joining Davies and Sigurdsson behind Rooney. I'd prefer to see Rooney and Sigurdsson staying forward constantly. Our best chance is a corner or set piece, somehow hold them 1-1. Unlikely, but my best hope.

I'd say things will look much better or much worse in 2 weeks time. Even if, as most of us expect, we struggle to take a point today, we then have 4 straight matches at Goodison against mediocre opponents. If we do not win all or at least 3 of those 4 matches, Koeman-critics will have a much stronger case in favor of his early sacking. And, in a miraculously alternate universe, 5 straight wins starting today will (temporarily) satisfy (almost) all Evertonians.

We're now looking at 5 matches in 15 days. Even a loss Sunday wil be grudgingly acceptable to most on TT, so long as it's noticeably less embarrassing than our recent 3-goal horrors. The real test comes in the 4 matches (in 12 days) after ManU. All 4 are at Goodison, against mediocre opponents. Anything other than 4 wins - or at worst 3 wins and a draw - starting with Sunderland, and Koeman will be in deep trouble. The team's performance against Sunderland will arguably be more important than what happens at Old Trafford. As pathetic as that is.

Although I've not watched either Everton or football generally for as many years or as closely as many of you, I'm questioning the skill of many of our players. Especially basic, basic passing. Ours is maddeningly off-target so frequently. Do we happen to have a collection of players who just aren't so good at this basic thing?

We are totally out of sync. Don't know whether that's Koeman, too many new players, or players who somehow don't fit together. The physical flaws that jump out at me are poor passing and few players with pace. The psychological (?) flaws are lack of aggression and a kind of emotional lethargy. Utter absence of relentlessness - the trait I value most - both physical and emotional.

Besic outhustled. Seemed surprised that the other player was there and stronger.

Sigurdsson outhustled and outmuscled. Ends up on ground complaining to ref.

Outhustled for that pass. Outhustled and outmuscled.

Keane outmuscled by much smaller player.