I was surprised that Roman Dixon got his chance against Tottenham Hotspur but pleased - this was a decision I was hoping Sean Dyche would make and I think it paid off. There were few positives to take away from the game, but the teenager’s performance was certainly one of them.
I understood the concern people had about throwing him in at the deep end. At 19 and having not played a single minute of senior football, this was always going to be a huge step up. But for all those who were worried that a tough performance could destroy his confidence and set back his development, I believe the opposite is true.
As a youngster in that situation, you have nothing to lose. Heung-Min Son is one of the best in the world in that attacking role he often adopts on the left - though did not until the final stages on Saturday. Kyle Walker, who has won everything, can have a bad game against a player with the quality of Son. So for me, it is a no-lose situation.
I remember playing in Everton’s reserves as a teenager and coming up against Karel Poborsky just after he had moved to Manchester United following his success at Euro 96. It was not as daunting as it perhaps should have been. I saw it as an opportunity - if you struggle, well, no-one expected you to be able to manage a player of such talent but you still learn valuable lessons. If you do well, you earn immense confidence and it can kickstart your senior career.
I was just 17 when I made my full Everton debut and while I may have been thrown in at the deep end, I actually thought it came six months later than it should have done. Sometimes it is the best thing for a player. So I was pleased when the team news dropped on Saturday and I thought Dixon could take pride from his performance. He held his own, won his battles with Wilson Odobert and did well.
The fact he impressed did expose issues in this Everton side, though. Introducing young players into the first team can bring an injection of energy to the dressing room. They are enthusiastic and have no fear. They should also cause those around them to raise standards - this did not happen at Spurs.
This was a match in which a player with limited experience was under the microscope but where it was some of the most experienced players on the pitch that were left with questions to answer. Too often Dixon was left isolated and exposed in his defensive duties. Elsewhere on the pitch there were problems too. For the opening goal Dejan Kulusevski was given too much time and freedom in the Everton box. The challenges that tried to halt him were too weak and somehow, despite 10 Blues players being in the box, he was able to find Yves Bissouma in space on the edge of it.
Jordan Pickford made three brilliant saves before that opening goal but his mistake was costly - just like Idrissa Gueye’s last week. In both cases, they led to Everton being 2-0 down and with all sense of hope of a fightback gone.
From a wider perspective, Spurs were not made to work for their win. We know they are a talented side who were playing Everton when they were vulnerable. But even if the squad was suffering an injury crisis, I still hoped Everton would try and make it tough for the home side - that they would make this game an ugly one and try and quieten the home crowd. That did not happen.
The lack of players stepping up in the big moments has made me worry, it is a sign that players are lacking confidence and perhaps thinking too much about their own games at a time when, because of injuries and the threadbare nature of the squad, the resolve of those senior players is more important than ever.
All of a sudden this is a big week and Everton need to improve. Hopefully they can use these two home matches as an opportunity to build their way into the season.
Sven was a wonderful person and I will always be grateful for the chances he gave me
I would just like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Sven-Goren Eriksson following his sad passing. Sven was a top coach who showed belief in myself as a youngster - I made my England debut against Spain in his first England squad. I will always be very grateful for that opportunity.
I also had the fortune to get to know him as a full-time manager a couple more times in my career, at Manchester City and Leicester City. He was a wonderful person with a positive attitude to help all his players to be the best they could. He’ll be sorely missed by myself and the football world.