Keith B

I'm not feeling super confident this morning. I hope I'm wrong.

To date, I think Koeman has mostly used players in the best way possible. His subs have also been a breath of fresh air compared to Roberto. Against Swansea, chasing a goal late he put on attacking minded players and removed under-performing defensive players (hi Jags!). It sort of worked, accidentally, as Coleman headed it home for the draw. I thought we were more likely to win it late too.

The problem is that I don't think he has the players to do what he wants to do right now. I think he's smart enough not to toss his players under the bus by saying, "They aren't the players I need to be successful in my system." But I expect to see a lot of changes in the side over the next two windows. If we still look like this in February 2018, then I will worry. But we've got to give him time to get things sorted.

I love Ross Barkley. I want him to be great. But he's a big part of our problem right now. Almost all of our attack is going down the wings; there's no creativity in the central midfield. He does need to play deeper--his passing map for the Swansea match looked like he was playing striker next to Lukaku. But I'm not sure that solves the problem. He seems unable to make that final, incisive pass. Obviously, he needs more time with Koeman before any rash decisions are made, but if his form doesn't improve I can see him moving on this summer.

Soton 2 - 2 Everton

Bolaise

Everton 4 - 2 Swansea

Bolaise

I'm so sorry everyone. The USA made a catastrophic mistake tonight.

Chelsea 1 - 2 Everton

Barkley

We have a really stupid system of selecting a president. The actual vote count doesn't matter. The state by state vote is what matters and Hillary starts with an overwhelming advantage just by carrying California, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington. If she wins Pennsylvania, and she's up by 8 points there, she wins. That's the key state. Ignore the national polls.

Trump's not going to win and I hope Hillary's first foreign leader phone call is to Theresa May; not because they agree on stuff, but just to cement the friendship. It's a crazy world out there and England and the US need to be together. Second foreign call should be to Angela Merkel. Same thing. No more wars in Europe.

Steck

Funes Mori - Williams - Jags

Coleman - Cleverly - Barry - Barkley - Mirallas

Bolaise-Lukaku

I know it is not a way we've lined up before, but let's be a little bit ambitious here and try to steal 3 points.

Chelsea 0 - 3 Everton. Pays them back for the hack job we took last year at the Bridge.

Lukaku

Ross for me. When he plays well Everton are much better.

Burnley 1 - 3 Everton

Ashley Williams (Header off a corner!)

The news about Baines isn't great. Koeman has shown an ability to adapt and change tactics when necessary, so I trust him at this point. I do think 3 at the back makes the most sense given the squad available.

Easy choice: Steklenburg. Gueye was quality too.

That match almost killed me.

We were hopelessly outclassed in that half. I'm not sure if our strategy was to bunker and counter or if Man City is so good in possession that they forced in on us. I suspect the latter. I did notice that at about the 20 minute mark Gueye came to help Oviedo on the wing and that helped some. But all things considered, we are incredibly lucky to be level at half.

City is kicking our ass right now. It looks like we are defending and hoping for an opportunity on the counter attack. But that's not working because we can't beat their counterpress.

Disappointed that Baines isn't ready to go. Cleverly is going to have to have his best possible match for us to scrape 3 points. Still think we can do it. Spurs pressed City to good effect. Maybe we can do the same.

let's hope the club have a word with him as this isn't the sort of press everton wants or deserves as the peoples club. pay the lady, you're stealing a wage anyways.

Yep. I've got no patience for this sort of thing. He's got the money--make good on your responsibility. Not the sort of behavior I want from anyone, let alone a player for our club.

I'm hoping he'll do well at Swansea -- for obvious reasons -- except when we play them of course.

Yep. We play Swansea in 3 or 4 weeks. I am not a fan that week.

For my friends across the pond in England and Europe; what are your thoughts on an American manager in the EPL? As you can imagine, there's some excitement in the American soccer community. He was a really good coach for the US and probably shouldn't have been fired. He got a lot of out of his players and they seemed to respect him. Heard he did good things in Norway and missed promotion in France by only one goal. Did a stint as Egypt's manager as well.

I wish him all the best. He's got a difficult job at Swansea.

I'd seriously be looking to start with Gerry at City with the instruction chase down that fucking shit keeper! Even if it's for sixty minutes. I think Celtic gave everyone an idea of how to play against City, go at them! At the back they are piss poor. I'd be made up with a point in all honesty but I really don't think they are as good as everyone is making out.

This is a great point. Bravo has been shaky and Geri is just the guy to run at him every time he's got the ball. It is higher than we typically press, but it is a way to generate an easy chance to score.

Man City 2 - 2 Everton

Lukaku

We weren't good. And that's a bad sign. Totally winnable game that we dominated for long stretches that we probably should have lost.