YOUR responses have been counted; tributes logged, quips noted, and sarcastic comments tallied.

Now all that remains is for us to introduce your main men of the decade for the pub debates to begin.

Drum roll please . . . here’s your Everton Team of the Noughties.

GOALKEEPER – Nigel Martyn

ONLY two men made a credible claim for the goalkeeper’s jersey over the decade; current incumbent Tim Howard, and the man Everton signed at the second time of asking – Nigel Martyn. The Blues infamously first tried to buy Martyn in 1996, but the move was allegedly scuppered by then chairman Peter Johnson’s absence, with director Clifford Finch insisting that he was too busy to meet the player at Goodison Park, and instead asking him to turn up at Park Foods in Birkenhead.

Martyn himself subsequently confirmed that Finch kept him waiting for an hour, and later provided driving directions to Leeds after learning that the Yorkshire club had matched Everton’s offer!

Fortunately, things went more smoothly in 2003 when the Cornishman joined to provide competition for Richard Wright.

He soon went on to find a place in the side, saving Everton from relegation that season, and later going for more than eight hours of Premiership games without conceding.

Martyn helped the Blues to their fourth place finish in 2005, and shone consistently until a stress fracture of his ankle forced his retirement at 39.

He was unanimously judged the best Everton goalkeeper since Neville Southall – some compliment!

“Martyn just pips Howard to this as the team weren’t as strong whilst he was there and he was an outstanding player for the team at the time,” commented Dave Parry of Liverpool.

RIGHT-BACK – Phil Neville

HIS medal collection includes Premier League winner, European Cup winner, and FA Cup ribbons, and of course the small matter of 59 England caps, but there were still a few underwhelmed fans when David Moyes signed Neville from Manchester United for £3.5m in 2005.

It was an inauspicious start for the former ‘Fergie Fledgling’, as the Blues failed to build upon their Champions League group stage qualification and even plummeted out of the Uefa Cup.

But Neville’s experience and leadership qualities soon came to the fore, and he went on to become a favourite of Moyes and eventually the Goodison faithful.

Neville has already made 175 appearances for the Blues, is going strong at 33, and will always be fondly recalled for scoring an ice-cool penalty against his former club in the 2009 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Neville won your vote with a landslide 64%, Tony Hibbert came second with 17%, while Steve Watson registered 8%.

“While neither Hibbo nor Neville offer much up front, they’re both great tacklers and make life difficult for wingers, Neville pips this (pun intended) due to his influence on the rest of the team.” Charles, Maghull.

LEFT BACK – Leighton Baines

LEIGHTON BAINES was a clear winner here. The Kirkby-born left-footer took his time to settle following a £6m move from Wigan Athletic in 2007, but has gone on to become a mainstay of the side and a vital part of Everton’s attacking play.

Every inch the modern full-back, Baines has pace to burn, a sweet free kick, and a priceless crossing ability which has made him David Moyes’ assist king.

David Unsworth got a respectable 24% of the vote, with the once promising Michael Ball getting 23%.

“Such a threat down the left and from deadball situations too. Ask Tim Cahill how good he is! Mad to think he couldn’t even get in the side when he first came, because Bainsey will be remembered as a classy player - and a down to earth local lad to boot.” David Smith, Gateacre

CENTRE-BACKS – David Weir & Phil Jagielka

WITH 307 appearances between them, David Weir and Phil Jagielka have each become familiar faces to Evertonians over the decade, personifying ultra-reliable centre -half play, and helping to keep plenty of clean-sheets.

Weir still pushes his 40-year-old body through the rigours of international football, testament to his fastidious approach to fitness and conditioning that made him a near ever-present on Merseyside.

Jagielka, too, looks capable of a long and glowing career in royal blue, having long since made his name one of the first on David Moyes’ team-sheets, and forced his way into international reckoning despite the partnership of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.

Perhaps surprisingly, Jagielka won the much larger share of the vote with almost 60%, and Weir got 30%. Alan Stubbs was a familiar and reassuring fixture at Goodison but only polled 17%, with Joleon Lescott finding forgiveness from enough Toffees to get 15.9%.

“David Weir and Phil Jagielka! Dave Watson is too old to be considered for the last 10 years and as Richard Gough wasn’t with us long enough, then my choices have been made on that basis. Stubbs was also a fantastic servant.” Alex Duffin, Liverpool

RIGHT MIDFIELD – Steven Pienaar

HIS Everton future remains shrouded in almost as much doubt as whether he should be classed as a right or left sided player in this poll, but Steven Pienaar came up trumps down the right nevertheless.

The little South African came to Goodison at a low ebb after a disappointing spell at Borussia Dortmund where his star had been on the wane. But David Moyes gave him the rehab treatment that only a bit of faith and regular football can provide, and ‘Peanuts’ never looked back.

Starring for his country on home soil in last summer’s World cup, he became an indispensable part of Everton’s midfield engine, the 28-year-old is a fans’ favourite without doubt and polled 40%.

Eyebrows will raise at Landon Donovan’s poll after just three-months at Goodison (36.9%), and Leon Osman perhaps suffered from his versatility, registering 20%.

“Not strictly a right midfielder, but best of the options here with Pienaar more a left-mid. Osman is very underrated. Donovan was only here for a few months but was very good – probably the only proper right midfielder in the last seven years.” Gareth Davis, Bury

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – Lee Carsley and Mikel Arteta

The Noughties produced a few cult heroes but maybe none as enduring as Super Lee Carsley. A journeyman until he arrived at Goodison in 2002, Carlsey at first enjoyed mixed fortunes before eventually providing one half of the ‘gruesome twosome’ axis, along with Thomas Gravesen, which helped the Blues to fourth place. Carsley memorably scored the winner in the 200th Merseyside derby in December 2004, and was renowned for his tough tackling and effective distribution which often went unsung by the pundits.

His partner in the middle is a different style of player. Once dubbed a modern day Alex Young by Everton owner Bill Kenwright, Mikel Arteta is better known as the Best little Spaniard most Evertonians know.

The Basque born midfielder may not be able to win a Spain cap, but he has long ago won a firm place in Blue hearts thanks to his elegant right foot and razor-sharp brain. Gravesen polled 35%, and Marouane Fellaini got 11%.

“Hard choice this one. I believe Fellaini could go on to become a world class player for Everton but not enough to get in before Mikel and Super Lee. Tommy Gravo was close due to his form before going to Real Madrid but for consistency and commitment I went for Arteta and Carsley. Even though Arteta has had a terrible season so far.” Alex, Liverpool

LEFT MIDFIELD – Kevin Kilbane

HIS nickname may have been thanks to more than a tinge of good-natured fun, but Kevin ‘Zinedine’ Kilbane was still a traditional style left winger who carved a niche for himself in David Moyes’ early Everton teams.

The Republic of Ireland winger joined at the start of the 2003–04 season, signing in for under £1m, where he was reunited with David Moyes who he played under at Preston North End.

The Goodison Park fans appreciated his commitment, and in turn helped re-invigorate Kilbane as a player. He displayed impressive versatility which saw him fill in right across the midfield, at left back or even as a support striker!

Nick Barmby was a controversial name on the list, and duly polled just 3%, while Leon Osman again came close with 20%.

“Kevin Kilbane just shades Mark Pembridge, but Steven Pienaar would be the ideal and obvious choice on the left of midfield.” Albie Charles, Gloucester.

STRIKERS – Duncan Ferguson and Tim Cahill.

CENTRE forwards are more often than not fondest in the hearts of the Goodison faithful.

And while this decade’s occupants of the striking berths, and the one before, still toil under the shadows of Graeme Sharp, Andy Gray and Bob Latchford, there were men who managed to establish themselves as legends in their own right.

It is probably no surprise that Wayne Rooney didn’t make the cut despite his prodigious talents, still getting 39.7%, and maybe less of a shock that Joe Max Moore and James Beattie only managed 1% each.

Instead, there was an easy winner; the Blue Kangaroo Tim Cahill ran away with a remarkable 80% of the votes for one striking berth, considering he is strictly a midfielder. It is testament to the Aussie (183 appearances, 54 goals) that his second-fiddle partner in the team is Duncan Ferguson.

The former idol of the Gwladys Street got 51% of the vote for the other striking slot, based on his second spell as a Toffee, which saw him welcomed with open arms back at his spiritual home, even if it only yielded 24 goals during an injury-hit six season spell before retirement in 2006.

“Tim Cahill without a shadow of a doubt. He personifies Everton FC. Has the Aussie trait of being ultra competitive! Wish more players were like him. Imagine having decent crosses from the wings for the likes of Ferguson and Cahill’s aerial abilities.” Mark Delahay