It’s another shocking performance – well, actually, it’s far from shocking. We were the second best team from the 20th minute onwards and deserved nothing from the game.
The usual suspects were back it again, being as gut-wrenching to watch as they have been this season as a whole. Gylfi Sigurdsson was exceptionally useless, Idrissa Gueye was once again caught out of position far too many times and his passing was beyond lackadaisical, Leighton Baines was absent and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was isolated.
Ronald Koeman is still showing that he is completely clueless in both the arts of coaching any semblance of footballing ability to a group of established internationals, and that he is for some reason incapable of making a change when things aren’t going well.
Now we need to find out whether this board has any ideas of progression. Koeman needs to be sacked before the weekend is up, and Unsworth placed in charge. Whether that be temporary or permanent is dependent on results, of course.
Jordan Pickford - 8
Pickford gave us a point at the death today, a sentence repeated far too often, with a tremendous save from Izzy Brown.
His passing was much improved and was in control of his box against the threat of Glenn Murray
Mason Holgate - 7
Holgate looked excellent defensively and even tried his hand at some attacking escapades late on. A much improved all around performance.
Phil Jagielka - 6
The captain looked solid enough on his return but could not prevent a scrappy goal from Knockaert.
He seemed to cope well in the air, but that’s no improvement on Williams, who is equally strong in those duels.
Michael Keane - 7
Keane seemed much more like his old self today with some very assured defending and key tackles. He was much more positive in his passing and seemed to be more confident when looking forward rather than just turning and giving it to Pickford.
Leighton Baines - 2
Absent.
Seriously, I can’t actually remember him being on the ball or making a tackle once in either half.
It’s time to stop persisting with him.
Idrissa Gana Gueye - 2
Gueye needs a lengthy spell out of the team, quickly.
He has been awful for months and nothing has been done, as Koeman resorts to the same useless system with both him and Schneiderlin occupying the same role and neither doing it well.
Morgan Schneiderlin - 4
Schneiderlin was at fault for Brighton’s goal. There’s no getting past that, unfortunately, even if his game beyond that wasn’t actually that bad.
His passing was better and he seemed more willing to get stuck in.
Willing to get stuck in, that is, until the only time it mattered.
Gylfi Sigurdsson - 2
I give up, quite frankly.
Sigurdsson isn’t a very good footballer for Everton, and showed no signs of being a better footballer for Everton today.
Wayne Rooney - 7
One of Rooney’s better performances since rejoining from United in the summer. He held the ball up much better than any of his attacking cohorts today and seemed much more active in finding space.
Took his penalty well.
Nikola Vlašić - 8
Vlašić is a livewire, which therefore makes it quite surprising to see him playing actually, as Koeman doesn’t half hate players with any form of creativity or pace.
However he was the only positive part about our attacking designs in the first 45, and didn’t slow down in the second half.
He is determined and willing to fight for everything, so that gives him at least 5 points in Everton fans’ eyes, not discounting mine.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 5
Not Dom’s best outing today, as he struggled to get involved at all in the first half.
However he grew into the game and after we went down, was a key part of our attack in the last few minutes.
Subs-
Oumar Niasse – 5
Very energetic as usual and put some pressure on the Brighton defence. Couldn’t carve any clear goalscoring opportunities for himself however.
Kevin Mirallas – 6
Very desperate to have to call on Kev, aren’t you Koeman? Honestly though he looked very sharp. Something to consider for Unsworth when he comes in midweek.