🎙ToffeeWeb Podcast: “Running on Empty”

We were indeed unlucky against Tottenham. Man City just stepped up in the second half with a Rolls-Royce performance. Wolves was simply a dreadful day at the office. We move on. You don't win them all, you don't dwell on them. I hate penalties and we didn't lose against Fulham over the 90 minutes.

The appeal is yet to come.

We've had a thin squad for years. Scratch the surface and there is not much beyond the 14. Ancelotti, one of the most decorated managers in world football, identified it and came out with his "I'm not a magician" comment. His team faded and everyone points to a 10th position finish, but we were one game away from qualifying for Europe, right up until the last day of the season. We are not a bad team, just a paper-thin squad.

There is a lot to be said for a settled side, but I too have got frustrated with Dyche's very late changes. It often goes into the 80th-plus minutes. If it isn't working, change it, be that formation or players. Try something different.

I don't want to bash Dyche. We've actually played some decent stuff this season. But I dIdn't like the back 5. I acknowledge most formations are fluid throughout the game these days but it instinctively leads me to be concerned about the midfield being exposed. And it was.

We have really missed Doucoure and Gueye. Patterson can come good. Time and patience, just like we had to have with Seamus in the early years. We have a lot of young players now and they are playing in a pressurised position. But not a true position based on what their results and performances deserved had it not been for the points deduction, which shouldn't stand.

The fixtures have been ridiculous. More so the kick-off times. No consideration for supporters. There are 4,000 Evertonians (probably more, that's just the official allocation) travelling to Selhurst Park tomorrow night for an 8 pm kick-off at probably the most logistically difficult London stadium to get to. A lot won't get home until the very early hours of Friday morning.

We are not going there to lose. You don't win them all, but go to win. Play the strongest team and then rest or rotate. The players could get injured against Villa.

On winter breaks, ours is a token effort and as mentioned, we then cram several games into a very congested period in December. I love the traditional Boxing Day fixture, but they've even messed around with that now.

When you consider Germany broke on 21 December 2023 until 12 (one fixture) and 13 January 2024, that's a winter break. Other European countries do similar.