chicagoblue

No Coleman and no defenders on the bench...?

Has to be McCarthy. He was everywhere and very tidy. If he could learn to shoot we'd have a real weapon. He never shapes to shoot and when he does it takes him that extra half second and he's closed down. Can't remember the last proper effort he had on goal. Don't think Besic did anything wrong, not sure how he was 'poor'.

Sure we had an obscene amount of possession, but never seemed like Swansea wanted it. We didn't threaten, no through balls, far too few shots. And then when Shelvey was sent off we didn't step it up at all. Just kept passing it around without a hint of threat. Really thought it should have been Eto'o and Lukaku both up front. Thought McGeady should have stay on, he was our biggest threat through most of the match. For my money it would have been Barkley off instead, he didn't provide enough and with him on we had three central midfielders, none of whom were really creating.

I'd feared after the last Kone interview, where he said he was still having pain regularly, that he might truly be done. This report is at least a glimmer of hope. I've abandoned any thoughts of him playing regularly for us, but if he can himself in shape to play 15-20 minutes here or there he could still start to provide some value.

Not got a stream of this match, but have to agree generally with Peter that Pienaar's diving has been doing my head in of late. It's embarrassing at times. From the evidence on the pitch you have to fear for him having a walk along the water on a blustery day. Again, haven't seen the evidence today, but my sense from Everton Radio is that McGeady is really letting us down. He's meant to be the pace in behind that stretches their defence and he's just not doing it. Atsu for me at the half.

Sounds like Ross is as rusty as you'd expect for his second game, but still the one everyone else is passing to.

You can just hear the disappointment dripping off the voices of the announcers every time McGeady needlessly loses the ball.

"And Aiden McGeady just gives it away far far too easily" to the surprise of no Evertonias

Damned early games, can't get out to watch over lunch, have to listen to radio. COYB!

The only real concerns for me are McGeady and Hibbert. Don't think we're materially weaker owing to any of the other changes. I'll again express my concerns about Barry's ability to stay at the top of his game. Hope Roberto has some plan to get him some rest before he hits empty (as he seemed to do last year).

I think they missed Delph as much as anything. He's their Barkley. Not that he's anywhere near that level, but he's the one player they have who will pick it up in the middle of the park and run at people. They haven't sorted out how to play without him yet.

Lille have just lost to second from bottom Guingamp (who?), and have lost 3 of the last 4. If we can't win and make changes I'll be disappointed.

Watch?

Doesn't sound like they've done a scan yet, too swollen. He's young though and don't think he has a history of ankle injuries, so the outlook may well change once the swelling goes down and he gets the scan. All the same, it's not good. We desperately need the injury fairy to fuck right off.

Not trained in 10 days!? If true that is flabbergasting. Speaks to something deeper amiss with the squad.

When hell freezes over. Alcaraz is in there way before Hibbert. Agree that Browning might as well start if we don't have Seamus. Hibbert has been steady, but we're shooting ourselves in the foot with substituting our right back on 70 minutes. Totally agree. Thought Utd were really poor overall. They had 15 minutes in the first have and 10 in the second where the threatened, otherwise they were wasteful and disorganized. Really disappointed that we didn't get at their inexperienced back line more. Not sure what Lukaku needs to realize to start using his size and strength. Should be turning the ball around the corning charging straight through defenders, especially early in a match and against a CB with about 90 minutes of total senior football.

Got the draw we came for

Have to really feel for Barry, not sure how's he's meant to 90 today and another 90 on Sunday at noon.

Eto'o!!!

Time for the rest of the subs.

Everton radio announcers sound apoplectic about our horrific play. Can't be good that.

Not with Osman as the left wing

Lukaku for Atsu

Went to sleep there?

Two bad early give aways from GIbson putting us under pressure.