My $1.25
Once again extremely dissapointing. No clean sheet yet this season and we are still playing to the level of our competition with too many defensive breakdowns. Bolton controlled the game for 70 minutes. Now maybe going up by a goal so early on the road put us in a shell. This is a Bolton squad that may not be quite in the relegation zone come May but certainly looking bottom half. The type of squad the Big 4 dispatch of routinely, even on the road.
I may be wrong on this but I thought I saw we started Jags at right back and Nev's in the middle????
As for the new look. Certainly Baines, all by himself, has changed the complexion of this team and is a real presence on the left side. I have not been too keen on Arteta being our seemingly only option on set pieces so having Baines hover around those is a nice addition.
Graveson seems to be the prodigal son come home. His corner for the winner was only exceeded by Lescotts ability to actualy get a head on it despite being surrounded by white shirts.
Yaks, jury is still out but hey, it's only been one game. Still, no doubt we needed someone and Yaks more than anybody else I've seen in a blue jersey should draw attention away from Johnson and that's a good thing. All those big defenders we've seen marking AJ will more likely be marking Yaks now. Maybe even more importantly we can now surive an injury to Johnson and still score goals.
Pienaar seems like a slightly different Osman and is more about depth on the bench than really changing our teams make up.
Jags, again probably a younger version of what we already have but an excellent addition who can play a little further up the pitch than Carsley can. Why he isn't starting in that second holding mid spot every game is beyond me (even though we all know it is more about finding a spot for Capt Nev).
So, new look? yeah and a very exciting one, but exciting because of 'potential' thus far. Otherwise we seem to be the same 'ol Everton that is destined to playing a tighly contested match week in and week out regardless of the competition. Arsenal away is almost no different than Birmingham at home.