Stamford Bridge massacre hugely damaging to Blues run-in

Tonight, nothing different. I am utterly perplexed. Please, can anyone explain why it should be any different tonight? Doucoure has been dreadful. Young is a makeweight at best. The formation provides nothing.

I sincerely hope that I can eat humble pie at 10 pm but I doubt it. Another borefest beckons until the 80th-minute subs when the game is already lost.

Dyche, please explain in simple words why you are so horribly resistant to any change? Another white shirt and black tie and mac. Or is it the same ones, week-in &week-out?

Now he'll go win it for us! 😏

Some natives on here will be frothing at the mouth….

Hope he's keeping Calvert-Lewin for Forest, and no Gueye?

He can't be worse than Young.

If we're lucky, we draw.

Hard. Chelsea have a really well balanced side with pace and class and a bit of grit too.

We will need to dig in a frustrate Palmer in the centre and their high quality players on the flanks (including their expensive full backs).

COYB

Urgent appeal on our latest points deduction. So, give us the points back and give us a small fine.

Onana rewarded with a start despite missing the last game due to ‘being sore.’

Gomes excellent in our previous match, gets dropped.

Be lucky to get nil tonight. Mark my words.

Sooooo sorry for being a misery guts.

Could be interesting.

Dyche has not changed anything for this game. His tactic are dependent on fine margins.Once a opposition team have practised tactics to suit, that skewers the margins in their favour.

Dyche will change nothing to counter, so it just goes on and on.

Probably will blame the players after the game. will use the excuse of Calvert Lewin's injury.

Have to face Jock a Chelsea Supporter tomorrow .Glad I sent him the Bella Caio Calvert Lewin Everton video.Will be using the same excuse as Dyche.

I was watching 1 Million Years BC – sure I saw him training there…

How this dinosaur is still in a job escapes me?

If you wanted an indication of Pickford's attitude towards Everton, it was on show in that error. They've lost any belief they had.

What a shit show.

Dyche has no clue and neither does our midfield, if you can call it that.

Moshiri is at the game with his 777 buddies. What is that about?

I almost feel sorry for Beto. He is completely out of his depth. Who ever scouted him should be sacked. His touch and decision-making would struggle in the Championship.

We would have been better keeping Simms. I bet Beto goes back to Italy on a free. £30M down the drain.

Awful display and very naive from the manager.

Why not just sit in and try and catch them on the break?

Pathetic.

Gut the entire club from everyone from top to bottom including the tea lady and start again.

It is not only the horrific nature of those stats, it is also the horrific nature of the turgid, witless, pathetic, abysmal, shocking and completely unacceptable performances.

Even Dele Alli is having a mare.

How much does Dyche get paid? Also the inadequates in pink. All to charity.

Absolutely no fuckin' one is defending anything here tonight with Palmer given all the room he needs, scored a hat trick and missed a sitter on the goal line. Mind you, Calamity gifted him his third goal.

Even our goal difference is taking a hammering with 50 more minutes to come. I feel for our fans down there getting embarrassed by these players.

There isn't one single positive. Even Branthwaite has been dreadful.

His game plan has just handed the points on a plate to Chelsea. Totally reckless, downright idiotic but he will blame the players after. Couldn't be anything to do with him. I don't care who picks the team for our next match but it cannot be Dyche. He has to go now.

I feel so sorry for the fans that have gone to the game.

Just fuck off!

If we go into administration, does that mean we can give Beto back?

There seems no one in place to sack the Destroyer of the beautiful game. Pity.

I can't see us winning another game.

Who scouted Beto? The guy is pathetic. £20million for that — worst ever player. He's not alone unfortunately. Dyche out!

What can he possibly bring to the table other than guaranteed relegation achieved with the most appalling choice of tactics and total lack of anything remotely approaching nouse?

I just do not want to hear him utter any more bollocks. Put the tea lady in charge.

On tonight's performance, Pickford yes Pickford, current England goalkeeper, would struggle to keep goal for the Dog & Duck.

Sell the players you can get a decent fee for and start again.

You're Kidding, right? The managers you mentioned would undoubtedly improve this lot noticeably.

I can't comprehend your comments.

Onana is a dreadful player because he's awful but thinks he's good and that's the worst combination.

Great fans. Lovely looking new stadium. Nothing else to be positive about apart from a rapidly disappearing set of memories of good players and winning teams.

We moaned when Moyes had us as the best of the rest but we couldn't win at the big grounds: careful what you wish for as we stare into the abyss.

I can't see us staying up from here.

But people need to get real. We are bankrupt! We can't afford to sack him. It's him and these pathetic players until the end of the season!

I'm not sure we are going to win another game.

You're not the guy last season who said "at least Bill's one of us" are you?

I keep being told he's doing well, performing miracles.

How is he responsible for the run of games in November but not the abysmal performances since?

His tactics and ability to motivate are abysmal. He is bewildered, baffled and beaten.

A Thousand years later, Dyche brought no armor nor any weapons.

Give Baines a go for the last 6 games.

We have the players. We have not got the coach. Any decent player would be shite with goofball tactics.

That was truly dreadful and I seriously fear for us now.

Forest and Luton are licking their lips while we lick our wounds... We need an inspirational leader and we have Moshiri and Dyche. How we galvanise for the next game is crucial.

Why has he changed it tonight when for most of the season we have sat deep? I just don't get it.

Imagine if we play that open against Liverpool, I just don't understand why he set us up like that and even worse, he should have shut up shop after 30 minutes and kept the goal difference instead of the same stuff until the end.

He needs to go and replace him with anyone. Let Coleman run the team until the end of the season.

Truly pathetic from the manager.

Worst Everton team in years… well, maybe a season!

Dyche has to come up with something new for the remaining games. His one up front, Doucoure behind, two holding mids, slow inverted wide men is a complete crock of shit.

But we all know he'll churn out the same shite as before. As we are playing teams around us, it was quite clear from the Burnley game that Dyche just wants to avoid defeat and take a draw if we can't nick something from a set piece.

I suspect he won't be sacked before the end of the season but Dyche should get his P45 on the final whistle at the Emirates.

Dyche will go down in Everton history as the Manager that relegated us after 70 years top-flight football.

People can go on about points deductions but one win (and that was shite) since mid-December is a terrible indictment of his dinosaur, inflexible tactics.

Whoever is last to leave, please turn off the light. This club has the Plague and the undertaker is driving towards the ground.

It'll come down to Luton away and Sheffield Utd at home.

I could understand being beaten by one of the top 3 but being humiliated by a team that has been struggling in this fashion is simply unacceptable.

I don't care if they put the Ladies or Under-18 coach in charge until the end of the season, but Dyche and his staff should be told to stay in London as they will not be welcome on Merseyside.

I feel sorry for our poor supporters who travel away to support the team but their support is cut off by team selection, formations, and lack of being able to read a game by someone whose position as a Premier League manager has just gone down the drain and around the bend.

I don't know who is in charge of the club but hopefully there is someone inside this organization that has the backbone to fire Dyche. What it will cost to fire him will be cheap compared to the damage he is doing to our future. Regardless of point deductions, we have only won 9 out of 32 games, and that is poor for any manager.

I've seen some piss-poor Everton teams in my 63 years but this one is right up there.

I'm seriously thinking administration would be the best bet and press the reset button.

I left the match after 32 minutes to get the Tube back home. Chelsea waltzed past our "midfield" time and time again. We were utter, utter shite.

It's like Dyche picked some random lads walking past the local and just threw them on. Absolutely clueless. Beto lololololololololol. How he draws a wage, I will never know. He makes Nyarko look fully committed.

I just feel sorry for the supporters who again and again waste time, effort and valuable money going to watch this total waste of space! I play 5/6/7 a side on Tuesdays and I swear we'd give this Everton team a go. And I'm not even joking. Wow!

I've said it before but now I absolutely mean it. We need to get relegated and just start all over again. Could it be any worse? Rhetorical question I know but...

Everton FC you have broken my heart... again and again and again. 💔

Yet again today, I'm ashamed and embarrassed to call myself a 51-year-old Everton supporter.

Pickford drop, Coleman drop, Tarkowski drop, Branthwaite drop, Mykolenko drop, Young drop, Onana drop, Garner drop, McNeil drop, Doucouré drop, Beto drop, Dyche drop, Premier League drop, mic drop 🎤 💥

Get shut of Dyche ASAP – he hasn't a feckin clue. We are not his Burnley Mk 2 but he's doing a great job so far.

Get Virginia in and a few of the other U21s – they cannot do any worse than the shower of shite on the pitch.

Absolute embarrassment – we have no chance in the remaining fixtures so it's bye-bye Premier League.

I am 62 years of age and I've never been so embarrassed with this team. And don't say we are missing 8 points bla bla bla — we won 1 fucking game in 2024, for fuck's sake!!

Also, people will say he's not got much choice with players that he inherited but, if he is still in charge next season, it will be the same shit show with the same shite crap players he would bring in… same old, same old.

He is boring as fuck. Makes Allardyce look like Pep. Get fucking rid. I'd rather have Baines or anyone to take over.

By the way, that 1 win against Burnley was so stuffy as well. I can't believe we are still not in the Bottom 3.

Moshri was there but wants rid ASAP. No leadership off the pitch. We are rudderless and sinking like a stone.

Like I said earlier, I'm not sure we can win another game.

I would love someone to sack him and say "Sue us for your money". In administration, he would be fairly low down the list of creditors. He ought to be at the bottom. That's where he is taking us.

Spot on, I cannot understand how on earth some people rate him.

There are 4 games left where hope remains - Forest, Brentford, Luton and Sheffield Utd, the Liverpool and Arsenal games are another Chelsea in the making. We are in shitsville and it might help to stop the delusion and lose the toxic blame game.

The problem is, that we have to finish the season, and with these deluded players, it can only get worse. I can't see where any improvement can come from?

Luton away is increasingly looking pivotal and I have no confidence whatsoever that we will even draw there.

I've more confidence that we will be in administration by then.

I can't think of one positive from this game, every player was shite, Gomes was the best of a very bad bunch when he came on, and why he didn't start is a mystery.

The only thing I would say, and this is not a defence, is that I can't see Luton getting many more points this season, so the game against them is pivotal for us.

How desperate are we though, when we are pleased there are three worse teams than us? I bet the atmosphere on Sunday will be tense, 90% expecting a defeat I bet.

I really can't see us beating any other team besides Sheffield Utd.

This could well be it... unless a minor miracle happens.

This lot have stopped playing for Dyche like they have for the last few managers. A big clear-out needs doing. We're in a right mess.

I'll give Everton one thing though, they are the best at plumbing even lower depths of incapability – outdoing each one almost on a weekly basis. This club is finished – only other teams losing will keep these losers up now.

Gutless, and bereft of moral fibre, every one of them. Perhaps relegation is the answer, and the reset it needs. I don't care what league Everton are in, still my team.

We have bought Chermiti why? Losing by a hatful and he doesn't come on? No one sells a centre-forward for £27M and is okay without collecting any money for 12 months for a reason. The evidence is plain to see why.

For the first time, I think we are doomed and the cheats in the Premier League will keep piling on the agony.

We all deserve better than this but total respect to the travelling fans on a Monday evening, you all deserve so much more.

But I was very wrong. An awful performance..

All time low

For just a few years under Howie I was animated again. We were brilliant, but once he was gone we were again reduced to comparative mediocrity, guided by our boardroom.

Come the Premier League though we were still considered important enough to be amid the clique of six big clubs who shaped it.

We won the cup in '95 and, er, that's it.

Ever since we have been piloted by self-serving shithouses in control of the boardroom but by now it must be obvious to anyone that we've been damaged beyond repair, for years to come regardless of abysmal results on the pitch.

Ever since Kenwright took over we've been hammered by four goals to nil once every season on average (and we've conceded four goals in way more losses than those) so to me there's a well-embedded acceptance of such shite facts within those at the club and with bloody good reason ever since the oligarch-puppet, ahem, "took over".

Moshiri has reduced us to a major limp from the sluggish, largely boring gait the club had had for 20 years prior to his own boastful "project".

In short, to me tonight was no surprise.

I’m probably on the younger end of the scale of blues being age 30 (although I don’t feel young after tonight 😂) & I don’t know if I can do another 30+ years of this 😂.

Everything has been said, how bad we were, to be honest we were so poor all over the field ‘ til Gomes came on that we looked like we were throwing that game, that’s how bad we played, played is too strong a word, doubt if there is an adjective in the dictionary that describes tonight’s performance.

I dread and fear for the future of Everton Football Club, I really do, and yet most of us having a go now will be at the game on Sunday trying to urge these players to show some honesty and pull their guts out and fight for ninety minutes, then do the same for the rest of the season, you were a disgrace tonight although I doubt you need telling that.

I'll gather my thoughts as I'm still hurting after watching that and having to travel back surrounded by Chelsea supporters.

As usual in recent games we looked better when Gomes came on. Agree with Carragher regarding Onana - and don’t get me started on Beto. Fingers crossed for Gana and DCL for the weekend and hope Branthwaite is OK.

Crazy as it sounds, but if Beto scores that sitter he missed in the first few minutes,it could have been so different. A one goal lead and something to defend, but once one became two it was game over. Chelsea haven't been great this season, FFS they've drawn with Burnley and Sheff.Utd recently and yet we've made them look like Brazil. Asi i say, Dyche needs to get a reaction out of that squad on Sunday, or else I really do fear the worst.

Then he comes out after that shitshow and his first words are to tell us his managerial record, how many games he's been in charge of without a worse defeat like it was some player led aberration that wasn't what he's about. He just continues to confirm everything I think about him.

He's all about him, his press conferences, his stats, his selected achievements, his philosophies (if you can call them that) about football (if you can call it that).

It's absolutely what he's been about. He took a poor team with a half decent defensive record and limited goalscoring ability, and he doubled down on the defence. He turned them into a group of players who have had it coached into them for over a year that they can't compete so don't try to. Just work hard defensively and see if you can get a corner. We have no attacking emphasis - none. No plan when the ball leaves Pickford or Tarkowski's foot. Just work hard and try to win a corner.

Over his tenure he's avoided a big defeat but we've been circling the drain. There is no upward trajectory with that approach - it only goes one way. Tonight has been coming, make no mistake. We offer very little to games and we've been uncompetitive since our little rally in November.

The players can take their fair share of criticism too but I've been seeing them draining of confidence with every game. While I'd absolutely take the money they're on, I can't imagine being locked into a work contract that requires me to continue to work in a regime so dull and uninspiring. Remember these are footballers being coached to not play anything resembling football. Tonight they looked like they'd rather be anywhere else and I can't blame them.

Tonight's quote: "Everyone knows I operate two presses - you press the ball and, if they play through you, then you press back".

Someone tell me that's not just chasing. It's just chasing. That's our game. Chase the opposition around and hope for a corner.

But tonight we apparently had 10 chances to their 14 - which just proves that Dyche's methods work. At least to Dyche. You can't argue with his carefully selected statistics. So don't expect anything to change.

Similarly, I've grown tired of the number of times on here that I've slated Onana as an imposter, regardless of his performances for Belgium and alleged potential. He is nothing but a hyped up fraud.

Aside from Branthwaite, these two are the only players on the books likely to fetch decent money in the transfer market.

For God sake, flog the pair of them ASAP, while there are still clubs foolish enough to bid for them and use the money wisely in order to purchase a couple of decent players from somewhere and rebuild the team. Preferably without Dyche.

In view of our lack of funds, I'd be happy to give Leighton Baines the reins, even if it was in the Championship, as is distinctly possible next term and throw him in at the deep end. Could he possibly do any worse than this current debacle? I doubt it.

Watching Dele Alli tonight on SKY was like looking at a car crash. He is either a mentally scared individual, with issues that should not be paraded publicly on TV, or he's an excellent actor, laughing every inch of the way to the bank at our expense...or a bit of both.

The player whose performances have worried me over the last 10 games or so is James Tarkowski; he he has been completely off the pace, is often flat-footed and cumbersome, and increasingly seems to lack belief that he's going to get the better of his man. The injury to Jarrad Branthwaite means that it's probably going to be Tarkowski and Keane/Godfrey for the next few matches, and that's a huge worry.

A defeat like this often has the effect of galvanising a squad. Dyche needs a big response in the Forest game or things are going to become properly toxic.

With respect, as I stated earlier, I've never been convinced about Pickford from Koeman first signing him. I admit he did manage to win me over in more recent times, but more often than not his temperament would let him down and he would revert to unreliable performances and obvious lack of communication with his defenders. Far too many concentration lapses, for me to ever feel comfortable with him. I'm certainly not jumping on any bandwagon and definitely not judging Jordan Pickford on just recent poor form.

And I mean 100%+ bollocksed. for years - minimum, regardless of players, managers, coaches, scouts, groundsmen, tea-ladies and all.

BMD? The very definition of a white elephant!

This is where we are at.

If we lose come Sunday, I predict relegation. If we win, I think we stay up, despite today's shit-show.

I'd think, after today's performance, the general reaction would be something along the lines of, "Win? Win? Jamie, do you really believe or can you even fathom this side actually winning again under this manager after today and the last 14 or so games?"

That is a very valid question. And one I shudder to contemplate.

But...

I have watched the last two seasons this fanbase literally, by force of will, pull this team over the finish line to avoid relegation. I have seen rabid fans making unholy noise demanding the players to win and see this great club survive the axe of relegation. You can not explain it as it isn't logical and makes no real sense, in that a game is being played by the players and how do the fans have any effect on what occurs on the pitch?

But I've seen it with my own eyes.

Unthinkably, you fine people in Liverpool and scattered around England are called to the same miraculous feat three years running.

You can, indeed, lift this team over the line. You've done it before, and you're going to need to do it again. Get behind that team and this coach - contrary to logic, reason, and passion possibly - and will them over the line. The noise inside Goodison should be heard in the farthest reaches of the world this Sunday. Make the last two years seem child's play. Line the streets prior to the game, pass a dog above heads down the row of people, light your Blue flares, scream support from your lungs until you think they might bleed.

I said on a previous thread that Dyche had to do whatever was necessary to see this team crawl over the finish line.

Unfortunately, the way things appear, Dyche won't get that job done.

The task falls to all of you. You can do this, you've done it before. Prepare for your war of survival, execute your passion, and see this team over the line.

I sincerely mean this. It's not hyperbole. Three years running, and this one being by far the deadliest if failure befalls, you have to show up and will this team to victory. The players will respond, but they need you to kick them in the ass in the most passionate and positive way.

Let them know failure is not an option. And it begins on Sunday. I truly believe how the fans respond to this loss today will see the survival or demise of Everton, and I know the fans will do exactly what they've done the last two seasons in the end - save the club through pure force of will.

And if you roll yours eyes at this post and think to yourself, "Dumbass American, ya, ok, that's just cute, isn't it?" Ask yourself this question: what happens if we go down this season?

I'll tell you what happens. Bankruptcy and a fast track to League One or League Two.

So whine and moan about today. Get it the fuck out of your system. Then stop the whining and bitching it's not going to do this Club any good, go to war, and fucking get this team over the line. Goodison, in its final days, has to be a hell-pit, and you need to be the match that starts the fire.

Branthwaite went off with what appeared to be a calf strain which usually requires at least a fortnight’s recovery. Let’s hope it’s less. He has been key to the improvement in our defensive play this season although he has recently struggled against top class forwards in Isak and Palmer. So it’s a welcome back for Michael Keane who will at least add something of a goal threat albeit at both ends of the pitch.

Patterson went off with a hamstring injury after forty five minutes on the pitch. I suspect we may not see him in our team again. Seamus went off with a groin strain. If he isn’t fit for Sunday we are back to Godfrey or Young at right back. There are no other options.

Calvert-Lewin has a tight hamstring. It was not worth risking him tonight but let’s hope he’s ready for the Forest game. Without him we have no control in the opposition half.

Hopefully Danjuma will be ready to make a contribution in attack and score his first goal since September.

All of the above serves to emphasise the paucity of options for the manager, any manager.

Certainly the team has played more effectively when they have adopted a ‘we must not lose to these’ mentality. That’s the least we should expect on Sunday.

Based on the results since December, you would have to say he is a very lucky manager to have no ownership in place to decide on his future - by any assessment he would have been sacked based our results. He has also benefited from the poor quality of the promoted clubs this season.

A horrible performance and a kick in the teeth to our supporters who travelled. His credibility is now on the edge with supporters and he MUST make changes to the team and the tactics for the weekend (injury permitting).

Again, it will be for the supporters to lift this team up if we are going to survive. The squad don't deserve it, but they need the Goodison roar.

Well, I know of a regular on here who believes that Dyche has "nothing" to do with results Ernie. That's right: "nothing".

He's on this thread and puts all the blame on the players. Not once does he criticise Dyche.

Down the years there have been some terrible defeats, but I don’t think any have been in the manner we saw last night. That was our biggest league defeat for nineteen years, which I think must have been Arsenal away 7-0, but I don’t think anyone who was at Arsenal that night could give a monkeys arse. We’d finished fourth and couldn’t get any higher, in fact it was more a celebration in the away end than anything else. We’d qualified for the final qualifying round of the CL, which would be our one and only time in the CL, and which at the moment could be our only ever one, as another seems a million years away.

That last night though, was a shambles. We had a non existent midfield, a non existent forward line, a non existent defence and a goalkeeper who had completely lost his bearings, though to be fair to Pickford, I don’t blame him. Yes, he could have maybe done better with one or two of their goals, and I don’t mean the pass to Palmer for his hat trick goal, that was just a total cock up on his behalf. A bit ironic really that goal, when you consider he was trying to find Onana with his pass, yet the pass he done playing for England against Belgium he had no problem finding Onana. Just a pity he forgot Onana was an opponent that night!!

Can Dyche rally the troops for Sunday? Well, he’s got no choice, he simply has too. Another performance like last night could end in the same result, but probably not the same score line. We simply have to score the first goal because at the moment heads just drop when we fall behind. Disappointing to hear Branthwaite will probably miss out, and Patterson as well. So what was our strongest part of the team, the defence, is slowly being ripped apart. As John says @ 144, Gana Gueye was badly missed in the middle of the park, in his defensive midfield role, and we certainly need him back for Sunday. I would also give McNeil a rest, and put Danjuma in his place, with James Garner on the other wing. Onana is just playing the season out now, waiting for his move, but the way he’s been playing it does make you wonder who would buy him? Doucoure has completely gone off the boil, but as it stands, both Onana and Doucoure will both be in the team on Sunday.

So we mope around for a few days, and sulk, but come Sunday the fans will be up for the battle again. Just hope the players are as well!

I have come on here now, and read that great Blues who never miss a match, are portraying it as even worse. Where do we go from here ? Well there are two possibilities, somehow we scrape through and survive the remaining games. Or we do the unthinkable and go down !

After what I witnessed first half we don't deserve to remain. However the Fans don't deserve the second option either 'blind faith' into what seems a hopeless cause. I have usually defended Dyche but last night may be the final straw.

What a shame that a supporter has to write an article like this and there is no doubt that the feeling among Everton supporters are aware of what you are saying and they will rally around and stick together to try and force Everton over the line again.

Instead we get a manager that tries to blame the players on the tactics they must have prepared in training during the week, standing by while Chelsea were walking through his defense as if they had 2 players sent off, and scratching his head in what he should do.

Pickford has saved us too many points by himself over the last couple of seasons but that should not shelter him from some of the criticism today, but there is no excuse from the 10 playing in front of him that to give any of them above 5 out of 10 is more like an individual moment rather than a team performance.

Living away from the UK I pay to watch the premier league so I don't miss an Everton game, but still watch other premier league games.

And to be honest I cant remember watching another premier game that 1 team performed as bad as Everton did today, this was one of the worst performances from any premier league team I have seen up to today.

The sad thing about today is I don't think some of the players care as they know there is no,one to replace them, or they know the manager will not replace them, and that is the tip of the precipice we are on, one more poor performance and we tip over the edge, improve the performance and there is a chance we miss the edge and continue to progress by a safer route. the problem we have now is neither the manager or the players seem aware of where the edge is and the future looks bleak.

I haven't heard you so emotional for a long while and you told me earlier that the away fans - many of them - have turned against Dyche. That often spells the end. I no longer have any faith in him and when we stay up he has to go in the summer and early.

You get home at 2-45AM and write that epic heartfelt post. The three baldies and that miserable team will have a good kip as they have the day off work tomorrow. The majority of the 3000 will get a few hours sleep and go to work to pay for the next away. That makes me so fucking angry. Imagine the repercussions for a postman, factory worker, or social worker if they do their equivalent of a shameful 0-6 defeat.

Oh, but don't worry Rob, Dyche said "we've got to pay that support back". I suspect he does not mean money. And don't worry Rob he also said "we get on with business" and "we know that we want the story to be different".

I'm sure you feel better already mate.

Deepest thanks to you and the rest of the 3000. You deserve so much better and you don't deserve the three baldies, gravel gloryhole's mouth bollocks, and the turds on the pitch (Gomes excepted).

Waking up for work at 4 am to a 6-0 embarrassment.

I feel so sorry for the travelling fans. Especially the ones working early who had little sleep.

Fuck off, Everton. Them bastards will have us all sectioned.

Utmost respect for those who follow from the States and around the globe.

As Rob said, equally from the heart, that was difficult to digest on the way home.

But now it's about the matches in front of us.

Weakest attack in the league, midfield that's been AWOL all season, and now our defence has joined in the shambles.

Dyche would be gone at any other club but no-one's in charge and we can't afford that. Whoever came in would still have this shocking squad with no pace, creativity or much talent. We need to somehow raise our game for Forest.

Gueye doesn't protect the defence and offers absolutely nothing going forward. He has been a dreadful signing.

I am sure the fans will give it a great go in our final games. Albeit nervously and with a touch the familiar and contempt.

In all our history, has their ever been such a gulf between the instincts of the fanbase and what they are witnessing in the behaviours on the pitch?

I have actually started to think the unthinkable. That the only practical way to reconnect is be relegated.

As Michael suggested, everything pointed to a low-block being the expected way to handle Chelsea. That would've been difficult to watch and enjoy, but preferable to a tactically naive mauling.

I just can't fathom what the manager was thinking.

Btw, Jamie's post gave me a bit of a semi-on. Love it!

Utter shambles. I endured the full 97 minutes or whatever it was in the forlorn hope of seeing something, anything, to lift my spirits. Should have turned off at half time like my poor brainwashed (by me) sons.

There's not a lot I can contribute from here sadly, but good luck to all who attend on Sunday. I shall be with you in spirit, streaming on Sky, and will feel every ounce of emotion along with you good people.

Aside from the actual football it might be nice if at least some form of clarity could be given over the tumultuous events off the pitch. That could actually help the on field mindset. They really must be wondering to what end and who (besides the fans) they are playing for right now.

It's embarrassing to have him there. To hear him say in his gravelly growl that we must change the story when he never changes anything.

I didn't want him and was a tad embarrassed when he got the job but I could see - pace Burnley - that there was some sort of inner logic there. I accepted it. Was actually feeling pretty decent after the first few weeks. I resigned myself to the idea that he was the best for the job in the present circumstances. Said so on here many times. But dear Sheedy he has made it nigh on possible to defend him.

In fact many on here cannot or will not defend him but we are forced by that slug me me me didn't put a penny in turd Kenwright (RIP), I hate Everton Moshiri and I was only a front anyway, the divine Penelope Pitstop Denise, and every other fucking incompetent finance expert to accept that Dyche is going nowhere.

Every last one of those incompetent greedy sleazy shithouses has brought our club to this. That we don't have the resolve, money, or leadership to sack this fucking terrible manager with his gratuitous meaningless stream of hackneyed shite that dribbles out of his mouth and the two inept useless curry-happy bald turds who love nothing more than a dad bop to 'nerver gonna give you up'.

Useless. Feckless. Clueless. Listless. Gormless. What are these fucking three wise slapheads doing at The Old Lady?

I've struggled with and for them for a year and more but this camel's back got broken by the final straw tonight.

They cannot go before the end of the season. I realise that. We are Sheedy help us in their hapless hands. This is what we are. This is what we have become. We can't even bin the longish-term manager with the worst record in the history of us. We have no option, no gumption, no leadership, no spark, not even a fart of anything to be optimistic about from the three shrivelled slap-heads and the 'leadership team'.

We have the 3000 and the 39000 and everyone else in England and each continent. God bless them.

We will stay up. But the three golf balls have to go in early summer.

So sorry to rant and dirge for so long. Second bottle of white, misery, and watching 'highlights' too many times. But it's how I feel. I can no longer accept the right man at this time train of thought.

Free the 3,000!

COYB!

Everton forever!

RIP Derek Underwood

However, this squad is completely devoid of quality so we can only rely on effort and motivation. For that reason, Gueye was a huge miss today and we need him fit for every remaining game this season.

Gomes has the games in his legs now and can at least pass and retain possession. He has to play as well.

We need 2 wins from Notts Forest, Brentford, Luton and Sheffield. Can we get them?

Before last night I had no doubt, but now I am panicking. That looked like a defeated set of players to me.

Better out than in as the saying goes.

A poignant moment last night, which I will repeat was looking to my left and seeing a kid stood on his seat urging the team on.

He could only have been about 6 and we were 5-0 down at that point.

Unfortunately it was Dycheball which Chelsea had been preparing for all week and we're set up for.On the day they found that Everton attempted a very ineffective high press giving them acres of space, which mean't there was no resistencr at all to the their tactic plan. It was like being on the training ground for Chelsea and with the inevitable Everton player errors a disaster, which Dyche continued to play out.

Dycheball is very dependent on fine margins, Dyche opened up the flood gates combining it with a poorly executed high press with no pace to get back. The space between the Everton midfield and defensive line was ridiculous.This was exasperated by the Everton tendency to defend deep when under pressure.Bringing on the deep playing Keane was never going to help.

The low block didn't exist, though Dyche set it up only to cancel it with different tactics.Duncan#160

Unfortunately it was Dycheball which Chelsea had been preparing for all week and we're set up for.On the day they found that Everton attempted a very ineffective high press giving them acres of space, which mean't there was no resistencr at all to the their tactic plan. It was like being on the training ground for Chelsea and with the inevitable Everton player errors a disaster, which Dyche continued to play out.

Dycheball is very dependent on fine margins, Dyche opened up the flood gates combining it with a poorly executed high press with no pace to get back. The space between the Everton midfield and defensive line was ridiculous.This was exasperated by the Everton tendency to defend deep when under pressure.Bringing on the deep playing Keane was never going to help.

The low block didn't exist, though Dyche set it up only to cancel it with different tactics.

Blaming Beto and Onana isn't right. None of the players were given proper instructions from the Manager, only confusing counter productive tactics..6-0 is the right score

Seriously, Danny, what are your thoughts on Dyche? Rob told me earlier that many of the 3000 were turning against him.

Hope at least that the pre-match boozer was a good time. Many there?

But realistically it will be the same combination this weekend in what is looking like the biggest game of the season and Everton football club badly needs the fans to get behind the team.

If we can beat Forest we will be 4 points ahead of them and maybe 5 points ahead of Luton if they lose. Even that could be enough if they continue to struggle.

It's all getting very nervous and tight but my hope is that last night's massacre at least elicits some sort of reaction from Dyche and the players. We play Forest, Brentford, Sheffield United at home and then Luton away. If we can't manage to get 6 or more points from those games then we probably deserve to go down.

We have been awful but so have Luton, Forest and Sheffield who only have 2 wins between them in their last collective 15 games.

I didn't like the appointment, but was willing to give him a chance and without the points deductions, he would have being doing okay.

But the tactics are hurting us. Missing out the midfield, isolated strikers and over reliance on the back four. No wonder they are walking wounded and now it looks like that could be the last we've seen of Branthwaite.

The pubs were fine, more so the second one we found, which was close to the ground, where we sat with some Evertonians and randomly, a dad and lad who were Porto supporters.

I'm off to sleep but maybe 10 minutes of Howard's Way in bed with earphones in to make me smile — and I'd better not watch the twice-taken free kick because that will wake her up!

I was surrounded by kopites as a kid and even stood on the piss laden Kop wishing then to lose until I found another Evertonian on my estate and was able to be my true self on the Gwladys Street terrace.

It seems so long ago… oh Everton, where have you gone?

Dyche is the manager so Dyche takes the stick but, if he “keeps this squad up again” after the season we have had, then he deserves to be awarded the manager of the season, imo.

Seriously, I've been saying for way too long now that the club needs to be sold to proper professional people, so hopefully this is why the very inept Moshiri was at Stamford Bridge last night.

What's the point of living, if it is just to exist? What's the point of Everton, in our current unambitious state? Be careful what you wish for, they said – and the self-centered bastard rubbed his hands and continued to give us every single penny he could find.

Close your eyes and imagine Dyche in charge next season. With little transfer activity over the summer, he would get nothing out of this lot next season.

We have to try someone with new ideas. He's a dinosaur of a coach and this lot are not trying for him. He's lost control of what he wants to achieve. He's had it tough, I accept that fully, but he has to go.

- "Without the points deductions we'd be doing ok".

No we wouldn't. We would have won one game in 15, with that coming from a deflection off our striker in a horribly inept performance at home to Burnley. We'd be doing dreadfully.

In fact, you could argue that the little run of form that has given us a chance had plenty to do with the reaction to the points deductions, but that can't really be demonstrated one way or the other.

Add that myth to other such statements as:

- "He's pragmatic" (he's actually the complete opposite, he refuses to change anything based on the realities we are all seeing); and

- "He tells it like it is" (he doesn't, he rambles and talks in cliches).

You can have the best manager and coaches in the world with the most innovative tactics around - but if you have players who cannot put them into effect properly out on the pitch, you have no chance. Same as if you have players who cannot put the ball in the net, despite having lots of opportunities as a team over the season.

That is why Dyche is having the same problems Lampard, Benitez and every other manager since Martinez has had. Managers are not magicians - it's all about the quality of players you can put out.

Until we rebuild this squad with some genuine quality, then we will continue to have results like last night and results similar to it that previous managers have had. The table over the last few years doesn't lie.

It really does say something when you think we are basically relying on Luton, Burnley and Sheff Utd to lose their remaining games to save us, rather than thinking about how we will save ourselves. Bad times.

There were glimpses of effort with crosses for Beto, and attempts on goal, but Chelsea ran the midfield, and ploughed through every challenge, where Everton were second to the ball on most occasions. Several nutmegs on Everton players, and Palmer embarrassed our midfield players, with some slick play. He was MOM.

I can only see reset and repeat in our remaining fixtures, and Dyche intransigence by persisting with the same formation and players may cost us our Premier League status.

Maybe I should have phrased it differently.

We would be on 35 points with games to play, mostly against those around us.

Not where we want to be, but it would be 35 plus those we will pick up that would have seen us comfortable.

I don't like what I'm watching. I don't think most around me do. I didn't like watching the "Dogs of War".

They upset me last night.

Dyche can ramble on all he wants, I thought Martinez could talk shite but this guy knocks him into a cocked hat. We are woeful.

Going for Dyche typifies what the club have become.

Nothing but the mediocre.

Going for Dyche typifies what the club have become.

Nothing but the mediocre.

Going for Dyche typifies what the club have become.

Nothing but the mediocre.

Blackadder:
Ah. Would this brilliant plan involve us climbing out of our trenches and walking very slowly towards the enemy?

Captain Darling:
How could you possibly know that, Blackadder? It's classified information!

Blackadder:
It's the same plan that we used last time and the seventeen times before that.

Melchett:
Exactly! And that is what is so brilliant about it! It will catch the watchful Hun totally off guard! Doing precisely what we've done eighteen times before is exactly the last thing they'll expect us to do this time!
-----------------------------------
I would imagine there was a similar discussion in the dressing room before kick off last night.

We need a new direction of coach, Palace and Bournemouth don't seem top struggle to find them.

This isn't dogs of war. We don't grind anything out. We barely compete. We just chase and chase - the 'two presses' that, according to Dyche, everyone knows he plays.

It's defence v attack. That's all we are. We're just the defence.

The characters within the Dogs of War wouldn't have stood for that. They wanted to land a glove.

Neil Critchley, the Blackpool Manager.

It might not sit well with many, but he worked his way up the Liverpool academy system under Klopp and stood in on a few occasions to manage the first team.

He done a good job at Blackpool first time around and deputised under Gerrard at Villa.

Okay his QPR gig didn't work out, but he is from Crewe and is probably more comfortable in the North West and now back at Blackpool.

He seems to have a good reputation as a coach.

Just a thought. I stand by for the flak!!

POST 1

I'm going to set up a Critch Support Group.

We will meet weekly and all watch an exciting game of football on a big screen.

Remember what they were Blackpool fans?

Critchley is slowly sucking the life out of our fan base so that even wins are boring.

POST 2

Blackpool FC (edited)

1-0 loss away at Stevenage

1-0 loss away at Burton

1-0 loss away at Bolton

1-0 loss away at Cheltenham

1-0 loss away at orient

1-0 loss away at wigan

1-0 loss away at Derby

And about the same shit performances in them all.

Even worse away at Lincoln. Wycombe and Port Vale.

Critchley is mad, does the same things over and over again but gets the same result.

I won't disagree with you Ernie other than I didn't enjoy watching the "Dogs or War".

More effective in midfield. This current team has an absent or bypassed midfield and depends on it's defence.

That doesn't win games and challenges the inevitable laws of average.

I think we are in agreement, just phrasing it different.

For once, Dyche made early substitutions, well early for him, changing three at half time. Jack Harrison done sweet FA though, and he will definitely return to Leeds this summer. I’m still prepared to give Patterson time. The lads young and could be a very good defender in years to come. Shows how poor our midfield was when Gomes was our best player and should definitely start on Sunday. He’s the only one who can find a team mate in the same coloured shirt. That’s not a slight on Jordan Pickford by the way!

Watched the other subs warming up during the second half, and that must have been hugely frustrating for them. Lewis Warrington, Danjuma and Chermiti must have spent a good half hour down in that corner by us, doing their little shuttle runs and stretches, knowing full well Dyche wouldn’t use them. Chermiti almost made it onto the pitch, but sadly had to retreat back to the bench when Patterson was injured, chasing back in the lead up to goal number six, and replaced by our final permitted sub, Ben Godfrey.

The only good thing about last night? Well a pint before the game in the stadium was half price, so £3.95 a pint. Definitely didn’t taste like Singha though.

I heard Carragher saying about Onana and like me he cant see what he brings to the team, yet many on here think he is a special player, I really wish that what was the case because we badly need some quality for Sunday. I thought Gomes had a decent second half and looked to get us on the front foot, but we lack so much quality in our front 3, no pace very little movement there were few options for Gomes.

The question now is what reaction we get on Sunday which has now turned into a defining moment of the season. I hope Gueye and DCL can start, although he has done nothing much since joining it may be worth playing Danjuma at least he has pace. Sadly looks like Branthwaite will miss the game thats a huge miss if he cant make it. I doubt Forest will be as easy to play against as Burnley were so we will need the players to be on it from minute 1. Finally those Everton fans who filled out the away end yet again, you are the only thing that this club can be proud of at this time.

A shame it comes to that. We are all Evertonians.

Boss post.

No messing around and said it exactly how it is.

That's the thing which has baffled me, we are used to seeing 2 low blocks of 4 and Doucoure running around with a single striker all season. Not pretty but it got us 35 points with a limited squad.

Then last night it was like the wacky races. Players getting thrown under the bus left right and centre.

Onana looked like he wanted to win the game single handedly last night. He was charging around rather than holding position. McNeil bombing around and midfielders running off the ball leaving massive gaps.

Couple that with individual mistakes and we got a pasting.

Their first was decent, Palmer is a quality footballer.

The 2nd should have been delt with before the cross.

Pickford at fault for the 3rd

4th was a good bit of skill by Jackson.

5th was accidental by Doucoure but never the less a pen.

6th is why Patterson isn't ready for the prem.

Imagine if Moshiri would have had the foresight to sell the liver buildings to one of his other companies in 2022 for 100m we would be on 35 points now and be seen as a well run club!

Forrest will fancy their chances after that display last night. It's going to be a very nervy game on Sunday.

Their Bar should have been selling Blue None !

Also heard last night that both us and Forest are to get 50% of the points deduction back, so one for us and two for Forest. Quite how people know this I don’t know, seeing as our appeal only went in yesterday. It’s amazing though, how the corrupt premier league can suddenly fast track our appeal, and come up with a decision within the next two weeks, but cannot “Fast Track “ any of Man City’s 115 charges!

Depressing times! 😢😢

As for hearing about 50% of the points coming back - I'll say with great confidence that person is full of shit. They don't know.

Everyone at the club needs to take a very hard look at themselves, dust themselves down, and work their backsides off. The manager needs to assess who is not prepared to do that, and axe them. Some inspiration is needed from somewhere.

All we can do is offer our absolute support, once again.

We got beat 1-0, offered little throughout the match and going home on the bus it was like sitting in a 60 seat funeral car, not a word.

What Sunday’s atmosphere will be like is anyone’s guess, I’d like to think the team selected will come out and try to make some amends for last night, if they do they will get a very positive response like they always get when they show some spirit and fight.

Will they, come on show us what you are made of: Men or very weak mice.

There will be no managerial change, six games to go, it will be down to four after close of business on Wednesday week, who's coming in with that window available to them, do you want fireman Sam back in the building?

Let's see it through to the end of the season and take it from there.

If there is to be a reset, let it happen in the summer.

You could stack the mitigating circumstances for him going, but several managers before him never had the chances he has had. In fairness his choices have been limited regards the players he has at his disposal, but the unsurmountable facts are he persisted with a failed system and failed players.

It's hard to look ahead at the moment but the ɓulk of the current squad will not be at Everton next year, that's probably a good thing for everyone as this is huge to get over.

Right now Dyche needs to change it dramatically, change personal and style with ALL the players at his disposal. It may not be enough, but he needs to put this right.

Furthermore, this is not the time to condemn the players, how hard is that to write, but we need to inspire the team, no matter what happens during games.

Win games, drag them through it, do enough guys because we are all they have.

" it's the players who are the problem, not whoever the manager is. We have a squad who is basically not good enough at the top level mainly and this is the major issue. It doesn't matter who the manager is - if your players are not good enough, you will get results like last night."

Shhh!! The torches have been lit and pitchforks sharpened the managerial sacrifice MUST begin.

Coleman, Gueye, DCL, Onana, Doucoure, Gomes all variously cited as "the answer" in times past yet all have had a go and made what kind of difference?

But yeh, it's the manager.

The Film was ' Voyage of the Damned ', although Insurance had nothing to do with that ship, I believe many have incidents/accidents for that very reason !

Further to my comments, I still can't believe that while Moshiri, has almost 'walked away' that so much money (from whatever source) despite been wasted on Managers/Players/Wages etc, has been pumped in to the creation of BMD.

Then to oversee a drop into the Championship, or a fall from grace, how that can be ignored or written off. Maybe there is a new Investor, but they are cutting it fine and leaving it far too late.

Honestly, I've been going to Everton games, and Woking games (and a few West Ham with an old Hammer ate) since the late 80's and I can't remember a worse performance than last night from any of the above - I certainly have never seen my team lose 6-0.

We were pitiful when Chelsea had the ball, giving the best player in the league right now in Cole Palmer (what a talent by the way) so much time and space to do whatever he wanted it was unreal. Our midfield was wide open, and our defending was static - players literally standing still doing nothing. Our tackling was pathetic, and players like Doucoure were notably dreadful in every department (he wasn't the only one but he stood out for me).

That game probably won't relegate us unless it comes down to goal difference, and as the bloke next to me said as he left on 65 minutes, this could turn out to be a wake up call for the players - I said he was clutching at straws if that's our only hope.

I believe we'll lose to Luton in a couple of weeks based on that last night. Fail to beat Forest in Sunday, coupled with losing to Luton, and I reckon we go down. Abject, shocking, pathetic. Take your pick.

Oh, and the trains were a nightmare, it took me 3 hours to get to the ground and I only live in Hertfordshire!

You inadvertently make the point about the manager having effectively zilche in the way of options. He's picked them all in one form or another and what difference has it made? - zippety doo dah

I realise people have to vent but we've tried every shade of manager and got worse whereas the players remain the same or have been swapped out for similar.

There must come a time when people have to deal in reality

Because we desperately need him to play against Forest. We need a midfield 3 of Gueye, Garner and Gomes. That is our solid base with a bit of passing ability in there.

Onana should be nowhere near the team. He is useless.

I watched, briefly from my armchair, and when Beto missed the open goal from 3 yards. Well I was here we go again. Chavs go up the other end and Cold Palmer walks through the defense to score. I switched channels

I have never felt so much dread when I watch the Blues as I do these days. It used to be a highlight of my week. Going home and getting out to the game was great, the noise we can make is amazing, sadly not now.

I see the next four games are all live on SKY, those bastards want to see us go down and want to watch us suffer, as they point their thumbs down.

Yes, sad times indeed. I feel the same as you.

Count your blessings. I wish I had your grey hair, mine has nearly all gone, and I'm not blaming Everton for that… now Kenwright? Maybe!

We have more or less the same players for the last few years, mainly because they're on big contracts which no one else will match; that's why we are where we are.

Dyche's tactics and formation are not working, we create very little with a striker on his own upfront and playing so defensive.

Luton, Forest and Burnley are below us in the table, and they're squads are no better than ours, but they have managers with more positivity.

It isn't entirely about tactics and the manager. The players are afraid and massively lack the confidence to play.

They're timid in possession and weak in the tackle. That's not the manager's fault in my view. He can only do so much – the players need to sort themselves out.

I also agree, the manager can be unimaginative and slow to react – his hands are also tied by the options he has, and he appears stubborn. As all managers are.

I get your point but he has to take the bulk of the blame as the rest have and Lampard did with almost the same players. Do players become shite overnight or is it coached out of them?

These are professional players being paid thousands of pounds per week and they don't perform on the day when it matters. If it's not Dyche's fault, why stick to the same shit formation?

He seems to trust those letting the fans down rather than bringing in a few youngsters with something to prove… Why?

The way we are at the minute, we are staring relegation in the face. I can't see us winning any of the last 6 games – we'll be lucky if we get draws.

The teams ready to face us will be raring to go, especially Luton and Sheffield Utd who, although they need the points like we do, will come out fighting — and we won't retaliate.

It was one of those days/nights, I suppose, but if we put that on one side, we still can't score goals. How are we going to win games if we can't put the ball in the net.

It's very hard to have any confidence that we can beat anyone.

Perhaps they have had enough xG… I know I have.

He's tried none of them. He occasionally shuffles the deck chairs a bit.

So far we've identified that the issue is the players not knowing what to do, and the players lacking confidence.

That's his job. He's supposed to lift the players (remember when people talked about 'man management'). He's supposed to organise the players in such a way that they can do a serviceable job, even with their limitations.

I don't necessarily expect a win at Chelsea. I do expect us to occasionally perform reasonably. This isn't knee jerk - it's over 12 months of mostly torrid football and it's 4 months of some of the worst form in our history.

He just have some kind of job to do?

For what it's worth, the cost of our squad is about mid table. This is under performance.

There are levels of professional footballer and my contention is only 3 or 4 at this club are prem therefore what can any manager do ?

The football was decent until we blew up against Wolves, (after a very grueling December, for such a small squad) and we simply haven’t recovered, from this imo.

I believe the players are badly lacking confidence, and I think what James M, noticed last night, about the players being very timid in possession, has began to grow since the home game against Manchester City.

I do believe the players know their job though Ernie, and I think last night proved that we are a better team, when we sit deep, and try to frustrate the opposition, rather than trying to press.

It’s obviously all about opinions, but other than for a season under Martinez, and about a quarter of the season under Silva, plus about eight games under Ancelotti, it’s mostly been like this at Everton, for a very, very, very, long time.

The club is rotten to its nepotistic core, and until there’s changes at the very top, it doesn’t matter who the Everton manager is. The club is only going one way, and I’m certain we would have already been playing in the championship, only for the job Dyche did when he was appointed last season.

Is he the answer? Not playing the football we are currently playing, but that’s why it would be interesting to hear the thoughts of others, and how they could get more out of such a disjointed squad?

Everton have played many depressing games this season, more than any other but what happened yesterday defies logic.

Dyche, as we have all said has little to play with especially on the offensive side but the defense has been reasonably sound for the most part, so what went wrong.

Time to regroup (if that's possible) because now things become critical with time running out.

You are correct in asking people to deal in reality, and the reality is, if it wasn't for the excuse of the points deduction, supporters would still be asking for him to he fired.

His record this season so far after 32 games he has only won 9. with 8 draws equivalent of 35pts. Yes so with the points reduction it makes it look worse, but it does not change his actual 32game performance.

I admit I thought he was the the best manager who would be able to save us from relegation, but after last nights disgraceful performance I belief he is the worst manager to try to save us from relegation.

The players have a lot to answer for, as it was them on the pitch, but to play at times as it was the first time they had met each other was not at all what is expected from Professional Footballers, and the only excuse that we can reluctantly except was that the tactics that the manager had worked on during the week did not work.

This brings us on the reality of the whole mess created since Moshiri became owner, with minor problems not being rectified, turning into major problems that appear no one can either address or solve.

As J.Moores once said our supporters are the best and deserve the best, but these days there seems no one at the club that has the slightest idea or interest in the backbone of the club and that is it,s knowledgeable faithful supporters who face the reality of the mess in front of them, and have to deal with it on a daily basis.

The reality facing Everton is, if the performance of the manager is not bringing positive results it has to change, it is no different to anything in life, if you have a minor problem and ignore it, it becomes a major problem and Everton are in a Major problem that to be solved must have the correct people to do it. You cant hope that S.Dyche can solve it, if it is proven that he cant.

I believe Thelwell should also have questions asked of him, recruitment has been more or less abysmal. We don't have many matches let to rectify and halt any further slide, let's hope something is implemented to change that. Otherwise the unthinkable will happen.

Chelsea FC owned the two hotels that were sold so the money went direct to the club.

The Liver buildings are owned by Corestate Capital of Luxembourg and Moshiri himself. Not the same situation.

We're like an over-the-hill punch-drunk boxer whose chin has gone.

He's either going to be like Mr Micawber and hope something turns up or he can look in the mirror say, "this isn't working" and change it.

My preferred option has been for the 4 months 352 with McNeil & Patterson as the WBs, and DCL & Beto or even Chermitti up top.

Now I'm thinking fuck it 433 gana Garner Onana or Gomes, with Dobbin DCL Danjuma, to gives us pace, energy and goal threat.

Obviously none of this is going to and we'll stroll into relegation.

The alternative view on tactics is these players are simply not good enough to make them work against better opposition.

And if most of the other teams are better than our mob, what can any manager do?

Every time we get a player that seems to have top ability we sell them.
This season we are without Richarlison, Gordon, Gray and Iwobi who used to get hammered on here but is staring for Fulham!
If we could have kept hold of those players I don't think we would be biting our nails today.

Ok, we didnt have much of a choice in those cases but you cant be a selling club and hope to be any good for very long.
God knows what sort of a squad we will start with next season, thats provided we stop in this division.

You can still get 9/2 we go down, the bookies still have faith that we will stay up and I think we will scrape enough points together also.

From a football point of view, I don't understand how he can pick Godfrey for many games yet, when a centre-back gets injured, he prefers a player who has not played in months.

Even if we don't agree, it's okay as long as the reason behind ways to play and a plan can be seen. I just have no idea what we are trying to do anymore; if it is keep it tight and nick one from a set-piece, do we really need to pay anyone a high wage for such limited information?

Dark times with no light at the end of the tunnel. The obvious conclusion to years of neglect.

Did Chelsea sell their 2 hotels to their owner Todd Boehley for £80M to satisfy PSR?

So if we sold an asset owned by the club to Moshiri would that satisfy PSR? Not that we have much to sell but regardless it's a pretty murky world.

Last night's match was a team worth £1B playing against a team stripped of most assets, worth a fraction of that, and we wonder why we got beaten so convincingly.

If we get rolled over against Forest I feel he has to go, Moshiri should do it, if we face points deduction for paying him off, I would rather take that hit, than risk going down, a new manager bounce might be needed and for me short term, I would bring Lee Carsley in with baines his right hand man, someone to steady the ship for the remaining games.

Like I say win v Forest a totally different scenario, defeat and for me he has to go.

Dyche only has 1 plan and if it does not work has no alternative, and that is a major reason on his late or lack of substitutions to change a game, by trying to bring on players who are not used to any other system in a different position.

None of our players would be near a place in any of the elite teams. Even Branthwaite who has enjoyed some excellent games, and is the main reason our defence has improved this season, has been mugged by top class players in recent weeks. When Southgate chose not to put him on the pitch during the recent international break, I wondered why. Perhaps he spotted the weaknesses in the lad’s play when faced with a top drawer opponent.

Most fans of all clubs pin the blame for problems on one man, usually the manager. Hence the revolving door swings round ever faster at clubs which lack a structure, a carefully assembled squad to play to a clearly designed system and back room support services including data analysis and usage which should inform every aspect of running a football team from recruitment to putting the ball in the net.

Until we can start putting those elements in place our downward spiral will continue no matter who the manager might be.

Virginia
Pattison
Keane (Captain)
Branthwaite
Godfrey
Dobbin
Gomes
Harrison
Danjuma
Chermitti
Calvert-Lewin

The players last night were a total disgrace to the Royal Blue Shirt,so change it up and start fast for once and take the game to Forest,be brave and go for goals and at least fucking try to put smiles on the faithful's faces as we need a boost and three points after last night's train wreck of a game!

I completely disagree with "it's not the manager's fault". He picks the players week in week out. He never gives any of the youngsters any game time whatsoever.

I have said many times the premier league is for young athletes who can run and run. It's for young attacking players with pace.

Dyche is a Brontosaurus.

Keane and Godfrey in defence. What system? 4-2-4? Gomes and Harrison in midfield.

Lord give me strength.

I think Dyche could have tried playing 3-5-2 with Mykolenko, Tarkowski and Branthwaite at the back. Wing backs Paterson and McNeil.

Play 2 holding 6s with Gomes just ahead and Calvert-Lewin and Danjuma as 2 strikers. Scoring goals has been a big problem so why has he not gone with having 2 strikers?

Forest and Luton have goals in them! He needs to try something different!!

It's the players who are going to have to decide that they want to change things and try to win a few games but they haven't got the bottle to give it a go.

It's going to be a scary few weeks starting against a Forest team with a bit of pace.

We do have a very promising dutch striker in Martin Sherif, but the chances of Dyche playing a 17 year old is not going to happen anytime soon.

The idea of throwing in the kids is appealing to fans – the idea of youthful exuberance running the legs off seasoned pros is a corker. But it does make you wonder why relegation threatened clubs never do it.

I suppose one problem is it's a 'shit or bust' idea – the gamble of "losing" dropped first teamers in the hope kids perform miracles for the rest of the season does seem a bit off the wall…

If you don't try, you don't know, and it's not like a full squad of U21s are going to play – get 2 or 3 of the more experienced lads in.

Quite right, anything is possible, but the bible tells us a house divided cannot stand and that's what would happen if half the first team were hooked.

How about Shit or Bust??

I'm aware that a lot of people would claim he was just making excuses but I'm just a supporter who only attends Goodison Park these days and the worry of what is happening behind the scenes at my football club is giving me both sleepless nights and headaches.

The Everton team would have been well away from danger but for the mismanagement, nepotism and neglect from above and if I'm hearing stories about how murky things are behind the scenes, then I'm sure the players are hearing a lot more.

On the bench yesterday along with Chermitti, neither got a sniff. Both seem better options than what started last night.

What could go wrong?

I'd like to see Lewis Warrington given an opportunity.

Players at Goodison next week need to take a long look in the mirror and put a fucking mighty shift in.

Just beat Forest. Yesterday's done, move on.

Sure the teams at the top are under pressure each game but they are chasing glory not the dreaded relegation. Plus you also have all the shit with points deducted etc which is none of their doing. That said, they won't be as stressed as us fans.

I think they are trying their best but their best isn't very good.

Even if the players can distance themselves from the ownership issue, I cannot believe the 2 x points deductions have not had an impact.

I also agree with several posters that the defensive rocks Tarkowski and Branthwaite are starting to look fatigued. Tarkowski's performances have dropped in recent weeks while too much has been asked of Branthwaite in just his first season (had he been at another club, he would probably have been given a breather or two).

However, he has been a delight to watch and I hope we see a few more performances before, as seems likely, he forms part of the summer sale.

Mykolenko battles and that alone would be a loss, but the lack of footballing quality in the full back positions has hurt us. We can't play any football with Godfrey and Mykolenko in those positions as we have for most of the season.

We've got Godfrey and Braithwaite with great pace in a back 3 with Tarkowski.

Pick 3 from the midfielders. One has to be Gueye in an outright defensive role - incredibly he was our most advanced midfielder for half of this season.

Play someone else off DCL. Try Dobbin there, Chermiti, do we have a creative young player we could try? Or someone with pace in the youth team who could be a Michael Branch or a Danny Cadamarteri? At a push it could be Harrison - that's where his best performances came and it never got tried again. Or of course Danjuma. Could even give Gomes that advanced role. Tell Dom we want him in the box for key moments.

We can't just keep shuffling the same few players and keeping exactly the same failing system. Bringing Harrison in for Young won't be the answer, just as bringing in Young for Harrison wasn't the answer.

It doesn't have to be that, but it does have to be something. The players need a fresh approach. I always remember Joe Royle coming in and suddenly playing players to their strengths. The players looked like they'd suddenly remembered what it was that got them to this level in football.

I don't see Dyche doing any of that. I think he still believes that a couple of draws keeps us up and he's sticking to it.

Or playing like holidays are around the corner when they have an important game coming up next. Maybe I'm giving way too much credit, I don't know.

The biggest squad of first-team players out of the Bottom 5 has the best chance when everyone is diving in, in the final few fixtures.

Still lots to play for. Thinking about this with a planning head to block out the emotional voice.

Time to grit our teeth and light the Blue flares.

We have done it twice now (escape relegation with a huge boost from us, the fans); what have most of them (the players and the manager) given in return to acknowledge or reward that loyalty?

It's very much a one-way street from my perspective, and it worries me!

What do you see in Patterson that I don't? I see a player that can't defend, has poor positioning and decision-making. Going forward, I have seen him put one good cross in against Sheffield Utd with the rest being of very poor quality.

Young, Coleman and Godfrey are better than him, I know that isn't saying much but that is the case.

Dropping Mykolenko who is close to my player of the season for McNeil? McNeil can't defend and would be a total liability there.

Forest play with 2 wingers, I want 2 proper full-backs in their defensive positions, I don't want players getting caught upfield exposing the backline like the other night.

4-4-1-1 for me on Sunday.

We can't play wingers because we pretty much don't have them. We can't really pick two full-backs who can both defend and start play as we don't have them.

What we do have is pace in the centre-back position and a few centrre-midfielders who can't really play in a two-man midfield.

As for Patterson, I don't know if we can really say what we see. He's had some good games and some bad. I think both McNeil and Patterson could offer more going in both directions than the other options (I'd gladly have Coleman there too – though that's not an 'every game' solution nowadays).

As for Mykolenko, I don't intend to criticise what he does. One-on-one defending he's great at. He scraps, he fights and doesn't get beaten easily. Great attributes in a team that does nothing but defend. But at some point, you need your full-backs to play a pass. Let's not mince words – he shits himself.

I'm not going to claim he's accountable for Pickford's screw-up on Monday but it was pretty textbook for us. Mykolenko gets the ball 10 yards inside their half and he's got McNeil down the line and Onana inside free. We've got 5 or 6 in their half... and it ends up back with Pickford. That's repeated many times each game. Maybe he fits into a 3-man defence – but he's a very one-dimensional full-back and I wouldn't be putting him anywhere near a wing-back position.

I'd like to see us attempt some kind of attacking play. Not crazy – I'm actually suggesting a pretty defensive team with a back 5 and Gueye as a holding midfielder. But I think it gives us more prospect of using the ball and getting numbers forward when appropriate.

Ultimately it's just an idea. Something different. Which puts me one idea ahead of our manager who has offered nothing different in months despite some of the worst form in our history.

Could it be worse?

I know I wouldn't like to be manager of this very limited squad both in quantity and quality, I know that, whatever team is picked, there are not enough options for the five substitutions and, with the eleven who are eventually picked to start the game, it won't be good enough unless they all play with spirit, fight and the will to win the game.

I hope the team and subs have that message pumped into them on Sunday, backed by a crowd who will support those players if they see they are having a go… they didn't on Monday night.

We, the fans, are the only consistent people Everton have going for them. If we don't get behind them, they are truly fucked.

I'd probably go with Godfrey because of his pace and also because it looks like one game a week is more than enough for Coleman. I'd stick with Mykolenko as the other full-back, even though I agree with Ernie's assessment of him.

I'd play Tarkowski and pray that Branthwaite is available but these two need protecting because they both look a little bit tired.

I'd play Doucoure on the right, Garner, Gueye and McNeil in a little midfield triangle with Danjuma on the left and pray that Calvert-Lewin is fit to lead the line.

Let the defenders do what they have been doing all season and just defend, and let the others get on with winning the battle in front of them.

It seems like an eternity since we played and beat Forest at the City Ground. We were by far the superior team on the day, unfortunately, we have regressed since then, confidence is now at an all-time low.

After reading all the comments since Monday night, I think the supporters, with notable exceptions, are just exhausted at this stage and in need of a rest... 3 years fighting relegation has sapped the life out of us.

The only answer I can think of is that the honour of the club really means so much to us that we have to put all the other stuff to one side for now and live to fight another day.

Singing —————————-

We shall not, We shall not,b We shall not be moved.

By any bleedin' one.

Fans have become accepting of negative tactics.

We deserve all we get.

We all know we are less than average but this group have amassed 35 points with games remaining.

I want to see dour negative football for the rest of the season if it means survival. We've all seen what happened when we tried to go for it the other night.

But if you think playing 4-5-1 is negative with the players available and the position we currently find ourselves in, then show us your team please, mate.

At this point, it's clear to see the squad aren't displaying the fight as a team to make a go of it. If you want it, you want it and Leeds are at least trying.

This squad appears to have lost the desire. A team is made up of individuals who will play and fight for each other. Where is that spirit?

Dyche needs to try something more attacking. Try a 4-3-3. Cermiti on the left, Beto and DCL. Liverpool do alright with Diaz, Nunez and Salah. We've got enough DMs to cover: Gueye, Garner, Gomes, Onana..

A 4-3-3 by default is a more attacking line up and means you stay higher up the pitch with 3 attackers and not our lone striker situation every game. Danjuma and Harrison would be more effective in this type of role than they are in a 4-5-1. I’d drop Doucoure even and play Gomes, Garner and Gueye as the MF 3 personally. Our full backs don’t bomb on as it is so we are hardly leaving ourselves exposed in this type of formation.

Sadly Dyche is safety first with his selections and it’s backfiring

The players are internationals in lots of cases and decent potential - put them in another team and they would perform much better. I don’t buy into this they are all crap and can’t play nonsense - they are playing crap yes but they all have talent otherwise they wouldn’t be at the level they are. A decent manager would get the best out of them and have them playing better. Guardiola, Klopp, De Zerbi would all get these boys playing more effectively. Alonso in his first season as a manager has demonstrated the ability to get teams and players playing better. Can’t buy into no other manager on the planet could get a tune out of our players

Especially in this situation. Selling our best players, no money to buy, not recruiting well, unsettled ownership and points deductions are unprecedented times for us and the club.

Dyche is being paid a fortune to keep us up. He is almost there, a couple more wins should be enough.

Do you think we can attack our way out of trouble? A team that can't score and hasn't scored many for 3 seasons can all of a sudden turn into Liverpool.

The 3 attacking players you mention for the shite cost a fair bit more than our strikers. It's a pretty unfair comparison.

All season our attackers have missed lots and lots of chances. This puts more pressure on the defence.

Chelsea are mid table and thrashed us helped by our gung ho approach. I hope Dyche has learned a lesson and gets back to basics.

Dour it may well be but with 35 points banked I don't see any other way of playing.

If we are safe by the time we play arsenal we could play 433 and see if they can beat the 6 Chelsea put past us the other night.

You could put up an argument that Ancelloti, is as good as any of the managers Andrew mentioned, but even Carlo, got his best results by playing very negatively whilst he was in charge of Everton.

I have just read what Michael Ball, has written in the echo, and I think he calls it right with his assessment of Sean Dyche, and just hope we see a different approach on Sunday afternoon.

Ok, the other 2 are very difficult games granted but the reds will have to fight to get anything out of us at Goodison.

If we were in better form you would have to fancy us to stay up.
We are really struggling on all fronts though especially scoring goals, if you don't score you don't win anything.

Its difficult to muster much confidence because of that fact.

I read Michael Balls piece in the Echo and agree with a lot of what he says, he rightly questions about how can you go away to Portugal for a break and come back worse than you went. He also questions was there more to the Patterson incident which Dyche tried to make a joke of. I know its always trotted out about a manager losing the dressing room when things are going badly, but since the Portugal trip it doesnt look like there was much team bonding taking place. Michael Ball also said Dyches comments after the game virtually threw the players under the bus, he reckons that wouldn't have gone down well with the players.

Michael Ball also questions Dyche on his selections and tactics, quite rightly saying if you select practically the same starting 11 after a poor run of results what makes you think it will improve matters.

Dyche should have made changes weeks ago when Dobbin and Danjuma were fit. The lack of pace in our front 3 is the most worrying and I think we have got the slowest front 3 of all the clubs in the Premiership with possibly the exception of Sheffield.

McNeil, Onana, and Harrison could cover that in their weekly not monthly wage.

There’s a picture I treasure of Ray Wilson in the garden of his perfectly ordinary home getting a lawn mower started with his wife and kids looking on, smiling. I remember Derek Temple less than ten years after the final turning up on my mate’s door in Thornton trying to sell double glazing.

There never are golden ages: that’s just romantic hindsight made more pungent in bad times. Never because there is always something or someone going on to the contrary.

Ray Wilson and Derek Temple would have felt for the 3,000 and identified with them. Rob Halligan told me that only two Everton players went to the fans after the final whistle on Monday: Mylolenko was one, I’ve forgotten who the other one was.

Pick any three players who disgraced us on Monday night – Gomes excepting – and they could more or less club together to get that £150,000. The three golf balls on the sidelines could cough up the £150,000, not least because they shoulder most of the blame.

It’s often invidious to pick one of them out because the toughest competition at our club right now is to be the shittiest player or coach. Sorry, but Onana represents to me all that is wrong at the moment: he doesn’t seem to care or to put in the required effort and energy, he was all smiles on the touchline in one shot in the second half, he’s paid a salary way in excess of his ability, and did we see him doing his usual dance in front of the fans after the final whistle?

Dyche said in his post-match presser that they would pay back the fans. He wasn’t talking money, he meant on the pitch. We need a different story, he said. We move on.

I don’t think that any of the Stamford Bridge 3,000 should be holding their breath.

What have we become?