There are many good posts on this thread and it basically boils down to looking at is up for the challenge of the next level and who is - abilitywise - not.
IMO a lot of our problems seem to derive from the fact that our opponents have just found out "the Everton gameplan". It is simple and while it worked effective. The teams have started to play to our weaknesses and this is what we're paying for at the moment. Here are a few examples to my theory:
Goalkeeper - Howard
In goal it is a well know fact that Howard is an ace shotstopper, but other parts of his play particular his handling of crosses is not that good. Also our blocking is very good especially when Cars was around. The opposition is not doing that much shooting from distance - the exception are the players who always shoot Lampard, Gerrard, Fabregas etc. - they attempt to cross the ball, leaving our defense and Howard unsure of what to do.
Right Back - Hibbert, Neville
Both IMO limited players who have done as much as they can with their talent. They both fight to the final whistle, and while that is great it will not win you matches. The opposition knows that at the first sign of trouble both players will panic and hoof the ball forward. So they simply put a lot of pressure on our right side. This is not the case on our left side, where the opposition is more likely to not push-up.
Right midfield - Arteta
Like many have pointed out Arteta has been found out. When he first came many had forgotten about the player who played very well for Rangers and he was a breath of fresh air. Despite this he has never had the same impact as Gravesen did in his final half season during his first spell. Arteta is a player who IMO needs players around him to play well before he starts to play well. Of the games I have seen this season, I have been frustrated at the lack of fight, creativity and drive that he shows. It seems that his main goal is to force his way into the Spanish national team, and he believes that the way to do it is by trying to do everything himself - which never works. He will only ever dominate in games against Stoke, WBA, Sunderland, Fulham etc. never against a top-six side.
Central midfield - Ossie
Ossie is a great little character, but IMO not a starter for a team trying to go the final mile to the promised land. I'm not saying sell him, he is a great player to throw into the game later on, and will like Arteta be very influencial against lesser opposition. The problem is not his stature and size - but the fact that he moves very slowly with the ball. His control is good, but he lacks pace and on the counter he's not good enough. The opposition has found this out and are playing fast around him, leaving him trailing behind.
These are just four positions on the pitch, but never the less effective ways of killing our game. I'm tempted to throw Arteta into a deep central midfield role alongside Castillo. Let him get the ball and pass it around - play to his strenghts. Put Fellaini on the right side of midfield - on directly as a winger - let him use his strenght, good control, passing and directness. Put Jags out on the right back slot, he has a better passing game than Neville and Hibbert.
With Cahill back I would still persist with the only-one-man-up-front approach, but have three players constanstly supporting him. Until January this would give us the following line-up:
Howard/Nash
Jags - Yobo - Lescott - Baines
------Castillo - Arteta --------
---Fellaini - Cahill - Piennar---
----------Yakubu------------
In January I would listen to offers for Howard, Arteta, Hibbert, Neville and even Lescott.
Put bids in for Hennessy and Knightly from Wolves, a ball-playing right back(could be that Jacobsen makes it though), Defour of Standard Liege.
