Anthony Gordon spent most of his time running around like a headless chicken chasing the ball against Manchester United on Sunday.
I think if we are being honest, Gordon has found it difficult since the closure of the transfer window. He was fantastic last year, but now in his second season teams know his game.
Teams have figured him out a little bit, and it is a case of seeing what else he has got in his locker. But this is also why the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin is massive for Frank Lampard and Everton's players.
MICHAEL BALL: Everton players made fatal Goodison Park mistake in Manchester United loss
CHRIS BEESLEY: What Jordan Pickford did against Manchester United could have cost Everton a valuable point
Dominic would have been vital to Frank’s plans for the new season during the summer. In many ways, a lot of Everton's plans would have been worked around Dom. Not just on the pitch, either, recruitment would have centred around him as well.
But unfortunately he picked up an injury before a competitive ball was kicked and we have been forced to wait a long time to see him back. It does feel that if Dom was fit in those first five games of the season then I am 100% certain we would have got more points than we did.
And although we all want him to get back to his best, we, as supporters, must acknowledge that it will take time. These things don’t happen overnight.
But his return should also aid the likes of Gordon, Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray, who will benefit from having a focal point to play off.
Everton have become predictable
I think one of the problems Everton have is that it is now very easy for the opposition to see what we are trying to do.
It is certainly very easy to defend against - especially, like on Sunday, when you play at a slow pace.
But this is where Frank is going to start earning his spots. Personnel are starting to come back and he now has options to choose from.
Frank had his excuses at the start of the season with the injuries etc, and he did really, really well during that time. But this is where questions around selection and tactics will start to be asked.
But in Frank’s defence, the players just didn’t seem up for it on Sunday. They appeared half asleep.
Maybe at half-time, Frank has gone in there and maybe rattled a few cages in the hope of getting his side to wake up. He’s probably spent his whole half-time team talk trying to get his players to be braver.
At the end of the day, he’s given the players he trusts an opportunity to change things around and do what he was asking. But that never worked and changes came.
I can understand people want changes here and there, but sometimes it is just down to personnel having a bad game.
Saturday's game will be another tough test
We have another difficult game coming up in Tottenham away this weekend and my big hope is that the confidence levels in the squad haven't dropped following Sunday's defeat.
We now go into every Premier League game thinking we can get something out of it and that is testament to this team and Frank. Of course we are realistic and we know we are not going to win them all.
Saturday will be another tough test, but there is no reason it isn’t a test we can overcome and come away from the capital with a positive result.
READ MORE
What Everton fans sang at full-time reveals Frank Lampard truth after Manchester United loss
Player ratings as Anthony Gordon and Idrissa Gueye disappointing in Man United defeat
'Error-strewn, erratic' - national media react to Everton defeat to Manchester United
Frank Lampard explains what frustrated him most about Everton's defeat to Manchester United
