The headline accurately describes a frustrating afternoon. Villa made it plain from the outset they had come for a point, wasting time at every opportunity. Without a goal all season they were woeful in attack. We had plenty of efforts on goal, too many of them snatched at. Martínez was tested on only a couple of occasions.

We had several very worthy performances. O’Brien and Keane were solid in defence and on another day might even have made the difference at the other end. Ndiaye entertained us with his dribbling while Dewsbury-Hall was always positive going forward.

So Villa’s unbeaten run in league matches against us is extended to thirteen games. We have failed to score against them in the last five home matches. On a positive note we have taken four points from our opening two home matches. Last season we took no points from those fixtures.

I was a big critic of Michael Keane and used to wince, when I saw his name on the Team sheet.

But, So far this Season, he has been excellent.

So, I will gladly take a dollop of Mustard , on top of my Humble pie.

I’ll probably acquire a taste for it and demand more, after my Criticism, of both Beto and Barry.

Because, right now, I feel the difference between the pair, is like having to extract your own tooth, with either a pliers, or, a pincers!

O’Brien had a decent game and showed good awareness.

Gueye, as good as he is at tackling and hunting down the ball, should be instructed to look up, instead of shooting.

We could and should have won this game, but for some spurned chances.

I thought like the Leeds game, bad in - game management was costly.

Changes should have been made to tired legs and Dibling, is probably nibbling, at the bit!

Still, we are exciting going forward and it feels good to be disappointed, at not being able to dismantle, a very ordinary Villa side.

I don't normally complain about referees, but this fella seemed hellbent on ruining this game by making it all about him. His pedantry repeated broke up our rhythm. I left feeling frustrated and angry.

Villa didnt come to play, but having spent much of the past decade spoiling games all over the country by looking solely to avoid defeat. We can hardly complain about that.

Our intent was positive and some of our football was pleasing, but I think we might have to get ourselves used to frustrating days like this. If Beto isn't scoring. He offers little more than brute strength. Unfortunately we have already seen enough of Barry to know he will never be a footballer either. We need them scoring, or there will be more days of watching good approach play come to nothing.

Here we go again - Barry ‘will never be a footballer’ Perhaps Moyes should let him know ASAP so he can stop wasting his time and train for his accountancy exams or something. If Barry had started the match then he may well have buried the chance that Beto somehow managed to contrive to block with his own standing leg but I guess we’ll never know…

Anyway, now that we actually have some options off the bench for the first time in a long time, I am disappointed that Moyes didn’t change things up when trying to win the game. KDH did not have his best game so why not bring on Alcaraz at 10? He finished last season very strongly there. Why not bring on Dibling - a young player with great potential and already has premier league experience? Why buy these players otherwise?

So if you make a living playing the game you are a footballer ?

Maybe Moyes should get Doucoure back and he can form a new attacking Holy trinity with Beto and Barry

Peter Fancy 4

I Strongly criticised Chermiti and thought that, he was of a very low standard.

He wasn’t doing anything in training, to warrant a start ahead of Beto and Barry and that wasn’t a very high Bar.

He pocketed a nice wage, for doing half nothing.. barring injuries.

He’s now plying his trade at Rangers !

He played yesterday and according to the BBC, he scored less than 3/10!

I am following his progress, or, lack thereof, to see how much we missed out.. as I do with all our released players

Right now, as I type this, (and this is only my opinion mind), I doubt neither Beto nor Barry would start for any side in the Top eight!

Darren 5. Yes if you are a professional footballer you are a footballer by definition. What a strange question… please don’t try and explain with any more bizarre horse metaphors!

Paul 6. I don’t remember mentioning Chermiti (Who despite what you think of him, probably also legally has to give ‘footballer’ as his profession on official documents…) so not sure what you are getting so exorcised about.

This is probably the most optimistic things have felt since the 80s and yet people still feel the need to slag off their own players before they have even bedded in…

Peter

Trust me when I tell you. I will discuss my posts, but I will never feel the need explain them. I think 99.9% of football fans know that there are numerous athletes, workhorses and game spoilers making a very good living in football. If you want to call them all footballers, you are perfectly at liberty to do so.

Peter Fancy.

Where in my post have I referred to YOU, as having mentioned Chermiti ?
I said it was MY opinion, as I’ve expressed numerous times, so, it’s not Me who’s getting exorcised about anything.

Whether he refers to himself as a footballer by trade is not an issue.
What is the issue, for me, is that he wasn’t doing anything like that for us, while being paid handsomely.

He was sold at a loss and I think we done well, only to take a hit of a couple of million.

These threads are for people to offer their opinion and views and that is what I’m offering up for debate.
Some people take their own opinions as conclusive and even have the temerity to proffer their opinion on a Posters Mental status.

As I mentioned on another thread. Walk into any Betting Shop and you will find plenty of Opinions on the floor, or in the Bin!

I think everyone missed the real issue. Playing a team that haven't scored a goal this season was a great opportunity to play 3 at the back and stuff the midfield with players. On the strikers, well, it's what we've got at the moment so we need to get on with it and try to find a way they can contribute more.

Paul 9

Of course everyone should be free to express their opinions and have sensible discussion. The issue I have is with statements such as ‘Barry will never be a footballer’ as this a. Factually incorrect and b. Unfair to a young lad who has yet to show what they can do.
I think you are confused as to the difference between someone stating an opinion and someone stating something as fact which is demonstrably wrong.
Your post about Chermiti has zero relevance to my issue with what was said about Barry but I am very pleased for you that you seem so happy it is going so badly for him: 3 out of 10 on the BBC exclamation point!

Peter Fancy

«  I think you are confused as to the difference between someone stating an opinion and someone stating something as fact which is demonstrably wrong « 

Why am I getting the impression, that I am being Gaslighted ?

Where in any of my Posts, have I stated that.. » Barry will never be a footballer « ? your paraphrase !!

I never said that.

He IS a footballer, but, in my opinion ( and only my opinion), he’s not a very good one at the moment.. for us.

now that is not to say that he won’t come good, whereby, I will eat some more humble pie, Just like I did for Michael Keane.

In post 6 above regarding Chermiti, I stated the following :

« He played yesterday and according to the BBC, he scored less than 3/10! »

Now, how can you deduce from that statement, that I am happy ?

This Certainly seems like gaslighting to me and an embarrassing attempt to twist the Narrative.

I will admit though, that I AM happy, that Chermiti is no longer

Getting paid by us for Old Rope!

Honestly, some Folk would start an argument in a Life Boat!

Paul (6) In your final sentence you say "Right now, as I type this, (and this is only my opinion mind), I doubt neither Beto nor Barry would start for any side in the Top eight! "

It may have escaped your notice, but both have started for Everton who are currently 6th in the EPL.

Pleasing to see Everton play good attacking football.
Its a new era for Everton and success wont happen ovr night and will come with hardwork, patience a diligence in the transfer window.

End product is the issue and I'm hoping Veto can find his balance, timing and composure on a consistent basis.

He can score. He's proved ge isn't but not consistently.

Moves sees his movement and positiong.

Hopefully Moyes can get Beto on song..
I like Merlin,for hisc2st game, he looks like he can play.

Who starts at our original ground in midfield will be interesting.

But I'm hopeful Everton can get their scoring act together and put the RS, in check.

Apologies my poxy phone spells on its own!🤣🤣🤣

Hugh Jenkins 13

Bless your astuteness !
You are absolutely spot on and how Happy I am to be called out on that. and therefore offer my sincere apologies.
I have to pinch myself, when I look at the table and can’t help but feel that, something Big is happening at our Club.
It’s not going to be a quick fix, but, we are in an upward trajectory.
So, what’s good for you, is good for me and all Evertonians.
COYB!

I am disappointed with what I've seen of Barry in his limited appearances thus far. Hopefully he can improve as he becomes more acclimatised to the demands of the Premier League.

Re Beto I honestly feel that there is definitely a footballer there. He does not appear to be the most skillful of players but he has shown that he is capable of scoring crucial goals if provided with more effective support.

We cannot change things a great deal until the next window in January, and then only if finance is available, but we can get fully behind the pair of them in an attempt to increase their self confidence and hopefully their respective goals tally.

As Michael Keane has demonstrated with his excellent performances so far this season, regaining self confidence can improve a player's contribution significantly.