Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Surely a new manager with half a footballing brain could do that?

If we beat Wolves, then we have all the fellow strugglers to play at Goodison. This is in no way a justification for keeping Dyche but I think the crowd and the Old Lady will do the job again. When the going gets tough, the Old Lady delivers.

Dyche is a very very lucky man to have her in his bed, that's why he is making such an effort to applaud the fans, in a vain attempt to keep us onside. Too late, we are not stupid.

All the bottom 6 are currently getting less than a point per game so it would be strange if 3 of them now managed 30+ points from the remaining 25 games.

We've never been a crowd for singing anthems and flag-waving once the game gets going – we react to the flow and roar them on when they attack – but we're not attacking and the crowd quietens.

He's lost the crowd with his negative football.

We've seen it before under Lampard and Dyche himself, the club is bigger than any one man. It's a real shame that we have to rely on the fans in this way as some sort of 12th man home and away, in fact I would say it's negligent.

A new manager bounce would help enormously.

It amazes me the manager has not cottoned onto that. Sadly the opposition managers have and they realise, if they can keep the crowd quiet, they are neutralising a potent threat.

As you say, meaningless anthems and chat have never been the way to secure the Goodison Park crowd – attacking football does the job far better.

But it's inconceivable that he stays if we were to have a bad performance and result against Wolves, isn't it?

We could be in the Bottom 3 with a game against the form team in the league following, it's inconceivable bordering on negligence for there not to be.

I agree about anthems and flag waving, that's not us. I was thinking more along the lines of turning Goodison into a nasty little bear pit, a cauldron of 38,000 very angry Scousers.

We don't do anthems. Although I like it when Spirit and Mark's favourite (!!!!) Marching down the Goodison Road belts out, especially at away fixtures.

They are uniquely Everton. I hear Villa and other clubs doing renditions of one of the songs that lot originally started. Not the obvious one.

I agree, we are at our best when we are a wall of ferocious noise. The team needs to show up tomorrow night to give us something to make that noise.

Arguably Dyche's best result at Everton was the derby win last season and, though not many will expect a repeat, some may see a Dyche approach as our best shot.

Unless Dyche turns it around sharpish (looking increasingly unlikely) my bet is a new manager in situ around the end of the month, perhaps in time for Man City away which is something of a free hit.

Sorry, that was facetious! 😉

There is absolutely no reason why Dyche should stay as manager. Every game he has is wasted. I'd sack him today.

Could be the perfect time for a new Manager bounce. Free hits, no one is expecting anything anyway. Could be just the thing to create the ferocious noise Danny refers to.

I don't think we should just write any games off, think Forest away at Liverpool, Ipswich away at Spurs. Every game is winnable.

Although, I agree with you, in reality, I don't think we will lose against Wolves and I do think Dyche will be here until the end of the calendar year, regrettably.

We'll see about that… because Dyche will definitely be in charge.

I just wish those who are so readily quitting on 18 points before a ball is kicked would take themselves off for a few weeks of winter sunshine and let the rest of us back the team like only Evertonians can.

The last thing this club needs right now is people whose only contribution is relentless negativity.

Defending does need to be addressed but, at the other end of the pitch, we are woeful in converting any chances that come our way in open play and we rely heavily on scoring from corners.

This is yet another ‘must-win game’ in the run of games coming up but, with Dyche's Jekyll and Hyde tactics and team selection and misfiring players, it's hard to predict which way this one will go. Let's hope it's a positive performance and convincing win.

Paul, no offence but history suggests you are no better at predicting the future than the rest of us. And even if we were to lose all 4 (very plausible), there are still reasons as I've outlined for letting Dyche take the brunt of that rather than a new regime.

Whoever is managing us, the expectations from neutrals in those matches would be very slim pickings for Everton. It's not quite as simple as you're making out.

We won't see that total until some time next year.

But, then, every point is going to be crucial in the final reckoning.

If this were last year (and you know I didn't rate him last year either) then I'd probably say that Dyche was about as likely to get something out of those kinds of fixtures as anyone else. But all signs point to the confidence in the team being broken. I'm not sure Dyche can even summon Dyche-ball out of them now.

I can't think of much that is less motivating than working for someone who you don't rate, and you know is a dead man walking.

Supporting Everton at the moment is like sitting in your front room and a little fire breaks out, now instead of simply putting it out, you just sit there looking at it. It gets bigger and bigger till finally you decide to put it out. But guess what, it's too late, it's engulfed your house.

Bit like Everton and this fucking board. So yes I am fucking negative and angry that no one is doing anything to fix the problem.

Why would he, he probably realises himself that he is a dead man walking, so why even bust a gut?

The players themselves look like they have had enough now from top to bottom.

Do you really need that explaining to you?

We have six games to play in December. That is 18 points to fight for. We all know we are highly unlikely to get all 18, We really don't need smartarses to tell us that, but that doesn't mean we quit on the chances of getting any.

An infinitely achievable 6-8 points could alter the entire landscape. It's abundantly clear that some people don't want that. They would rather see the manager sacked.

This isn't about personal feelings towards the manager. it certainly isn't about foolish attempts to be right. This is the future of our club we are talking about.

If we allow this spirit-draining defeatism in the name of "being right" to take root throughout the club, we will see the perfect example of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The only people who have never had a chance in a football game are those who surrendered before the kick-off.

Not having negative thoughts would be delusional surely.

Yes, the team is crap. Yes, the management at board level has been negligent; and yes I mean negligent from Kenwright onwards. We have been fighting relegation for some time now. General business acumen from Moshiri has been shocking. Lack of transfer activity compared to other clubs.

But, Dyche does have options that his stubbornness won't allow him to try. That's why he needs to go. One-dimensional and lacking in any sort of inspiration.

His narrative around the above is his get-out clause and he uses it to full effect. He is paid handsomely to try and change that narrative not to just repeat it.

I have heard people on here who know a lot more about football than I do coming out with different options all the time. But for what it's worth here's my idea.

Two up top, Beto and Calvert-Lewin, or even throw Broja in.
Ndiaye just behind at Number 10; Wolves are conceding goals for fun, put them under pressure.

Pack the midfield with, at the moment, Doucoure, Gana and Mangala. Our wide men are shit or out of form, don't keep using them.

Young at left-back, Keane and Branthwaite in defence with Patterson, yes Patterson at right-back. Mykolenko and Tarkowski have lost the plot and should be dropped.

Pickford in goal.

I look forward to someone more football savvy educating me as to what is wrong with the above for tomorrow's match.

It's just a question of timing. Quite possible that we'd see Baines or similar as a caretaker for the Liverpool or Arsenal games before seeing a new man in charge for Chelsea or Man City.

Who would be your pick? I'm hoping for Concecaio though it could be a stretch. Potter seems a sensible choice assuming they want a change in style.

However, it would be better for us as TW readers if some posters stopped trying to read the tea-leaves and presented better arguments as to why they have posted a certain position.

Anybody on the planet can write "We'll lose to xx", "I think we won't win until xx". Heart and mind very rarely meet when it comes to football and that's even truer when it involves Everton.

Most of us realise we haven't got a good team, we all know we don't score often enough, but that doesn't mean that we're destined to fail to win game after game, it just means we'll win fewer games than we'd like and fail to win more often than we'd like.

I agree with Sam, it's unlikely that Everton or anybody else will need more than 40 points to survive this season, and it's more likely that a point a game i.e. 38 points, will be more than enough to keep our heads above water.

Draws therefore, especially in the coming month, are not to be sniffed at, even tomorrow, it wouldn't be a disaster to take a point, but three are obviously what we'd all like to see.

Every point we gain is a point nearer safety; it's not very attractive, it's not at all sexy, but that's where we are at this present time, and we shouldn't forget it.

Mind you I still don't quite understand what you're saying. Those posting (including myself) are looking for improvement – not accepting that we will lose the next 6 matches.

For the next full-time coach, I'd hope there'll be a decent review of what the hell the club is doing first... and a manager appointed to fit the strategy the club has. Based on the last few years of transfer activity, it's impossible to determine what the strategy might be.

Personally, I'd be happy with Moyes as an interim manager with a remit to support assessing the football staff and the next appointment. Maybe with a future role upstairs for him.

Looking around the available managers, I'm not sure we could do much better for an interim choice.

We are out of touch of West Ham, a place above in 14th and aguably out of sight of Bournemouth in 13th.

It's not just the here snd now it's about performances since August. The team has thrown 2 games from realistic match winning positions.

Pickford needed to save us against West Ham & to some extent Brentford who with 10 men managed to find more space on the pitch and still managed to create the best chances. We were also losing at home against Palace after only 10 minutes.

Newcastle, a hail mary goalline clearance by Ndiaye and Gordon's missed penalty. We're even lucky to scrape no score draws.

Consider Wolves, 50% of their games have been against the teams we face this month & they have scored more than twice as many goals.

If not for Pickford nd Beto's 95th minute equaliser against Fulham – even Leicester were better than us – we'd be scraping the bottom in the same way as Southampton.

We are rubbish, fact. It's worse than Lampard.

I'm not negative but I do live in the real world.

Now, this morning, I listened to Van Nistleroy say how he likes his teams to play football, press high as you are more likely to score goals. I know it's all words, but different language.

Broja will be around, but definitely not on the grass at Goodison Park.

Did he say which owner he has a good relationship with – the soon-to-be owner, the soon-to-be outgoing owner, or Burnley's owner?

When asked about transfers, he said he'll have to speak to the new owners when they come in.

He seems confident.

He went on quite a bit about how difficult it's been during his time here, but that's a fair one in terms of the off-the-pitch circus that's been going on.

If things don't change in the New Year, then the new stadium will be the venue of the Championship games.

Goals win games and the squad at the moment is devoid of any real offense which usually means confidence will be affected. This has to be Dyche's last hurrah if they don't win this.

We all know what a shit show it has been, we don't need reminding constantly by this guy at what seems to be every single presser. We have actually lived it for so long.

He knew what the score was when he took the role and has been is being well recompensed.

I would like him to park that and try and change the narrative a little bit on the pitch. That's what we are paying the big bucks for.

Well, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I sure he did a few matches ago, when there was a walk-out towards the end.

I always stay regardless, so I didn't see his post-match interview and couldn't be bothered watching it back.

Keep on fighting, but it doesn't look like we can. To have fight you have got to have belief, and suddenly it looks like it has deserted us.

I sound negative, I know, but it's been another very painful season, and the longer this takeover is taking, the more uncertain I get.

Back to absolute basics for me, but I'm not sure Beto can get hold of the ball, and it looks like Dominic, doesn't want the ball, so although it's very early days for Broja, maybe he can hit the ground running and get the crowd and a few of our offensive players, more interested.

I was of that impression too, Rob.

And as to Saturday the RS were comfortable against Real and City but complacent against Southampton who scored more against them than any other team this season. And Southampton shot themselves in the foot three times.

I was of that impression too Rob.

He criticised us in his press conference last week before the Man Utd debacle, with one of his typically snide comments, questioning whether it was us who managed the club or him, when asked about fans questioning his lack of substitutes and always just replacing like for like, and he actually referred to us fans as “them”.

In fact, in his weekly harping about the club and how he’s really been doing us a favour, he, (just like Koeman before him) only ever refers to us as “Everton” or “this club”, it’s never “we” or “us”.

Although I for one am glad he’s not one of us, and he never will be with his anti-football mentality.

A-B-C-D-E = application, belief, confidence, desire and effort!

Chuck Fight in there also Tony.

If they have any iota of pride, that should stir it into action.

And Hwyl.

Dyche has had a rough deal footballing wise with us for 2 seasons. The thing that impressed me more than anything was his organisation and motivation of the players to stay in the fight regardless.

I just sense that hunger has slipped. We will all see tomorrow night how much motivation the players and manager have left.

The last few games have reminded me of lampards final games where he was trying to do stuff the team aren't capable of.

Get back to basics, 5 in the middle, win the midfield and go from there. The 2 in the middle are overrun every game, we aren't creating chances and are conceding.

Well, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I'm sure he did a few matches ago, when there was a walk-out towards the end.

Danny, I watched it yesterday and I was fecking livid. He actually said it three times: never criticised them ever; they are beyond criticism.

Well, quite frankly Mr Hard-Boiled Egg, that's one filthy stinky porkie.

He has most definitely had pops at fans and atmosphere.

A horrible watch that included the now classic "The other managers before me had to deal with the situation too." He got 'grass' in as well.

Dyche also said defensively we've been strong until Sunday? Even the dog scratched his head at that one!

I responded directly to a post which said we would lose all six of our matches in December and have our goal difference pushed deeper into a minus. I can see similar comments on other threads.

I know you probably agree with the sentiment and it's not a bet that would make you rich down at the bookies, but for me, it may as well have been posted by Homer Simpson: "Can't win. Don't try".

It was only about 20 matches ago (and still fresh in my memory) when the Goodison crowd had the old place shaking to its foundations as our no-hopers ran all over their "champions elect". Nobody is going to tell me that we can't rattle the fuck out of them again on Saturday.

For me, there's something really unsavoury about listening to Evertonians quitting on their team in an attempt to look clever by tipping the bookies favourites. They want other people to do their supporting for them while all they can do is sit at their laptops, snipe and drip spirit-sapping negativity.

If we are to stand any chance of getting out of this shit, it needs to be an almighty collective effort with the fans playing full their part – yet again. There is no room for quitters on this ship!

I watched it a second time for my sins to confirm what I thought. He clings to things. Kept going on about a good opening 30 minutes and individual errors and the troubles existed long before he got the job.

Us fans have played our part tenfold, it's time for these players to give us something back.

The negativity is formed because of 12 goals in open play from 32 games, 1 lousy home league win all season, and 7 wins in this calendar year. Now please tell me how you can take any positives from them disgraceful stats? Because I'm at a loss to take anything from that.

We all know it can turn around in an instant in football, but those predicting 6 losses in the next 6 are merely stating an opinion of what they've seen this season, ie, dreadful performance after dreadful performance.

The man's race is run and he's got nothing left in the tank. Time for change before it really is too late.

I expect, however, we will be set up to sit back and counter, conceding possession, allowing opposition to get a foothold. Crowd anxious, players nervous, strategy perilous.

Hope to God I'm wrong.

The stadium will be full again. And the allocation will be taken another 5 times before New Year.

We won't take zero points from these games, though it's more likely than taking a good total. That's not quitting – that's a realistic expectation based on watching the side.

We need to create and take some chances for a change. COYB (please).

What do you expect him to say?? Seriously?

What has he said that's wrong?

We did start well. We did get amongst them. And we did concede some awful goals. Really crap goals

How can Dyche legislate for horrendous individual errors?

Have a think before posting.

Lindstrøm, McNeil and Young have all been ghastly on dead balls -- too deep, too low, too close to the keeper -- and I'm hoping that they've each taken about a hundred free kicks in the past couple of days.

It's crucial that we don't lose and that will be music to Dyche's usually deaf ears. However, we should not be thinking like that but it is nigh-on impossible to be optimistic about the current shit-show that Dyche presides over. He should have been despatched weeks ago.

He can not just repeat the same tiring old set-up and tactics tomorrow. There has to be some change for the better. We need 3 in midfield. We need support for our striker. We need to jettison the repeated non-performers. We desperately need some form of refresh.

Far too much weight is being placed upon the potential inclusion of Broja. He is unproven. He has been out for a considerable time. He may, in due course, be a welcome addition but he isn't going to be the cure-all for our goalscoring malaise.

I will be shutting myself away to watch tomorrow. I will sit and suffer in silence. I do hope that those of you who are at Goodison under the lights can find some genuine enthusiasm from somewhere... ideally the performance on the pitch and help lift the roof. You deserve a decent night but I fear a quiet, anxious, nervous and subdued Old Lady and I fear another night of woeful tedium.

Dyche: you know you are a dead man walking. For goodness sake, be positive, not reckless. Set up to win the game, not to not lose, and then lose. A win tomorrow, a win on Saturday would change the whole narrative and give us some proper Christmas cheer.

I will, though, be checking my lottery numbers midway through the first half in the hope of a miracle on 34th Gwladys Street.

“The errors I've made are tactical, picking the right team to see if you can find a different way".

Funny that, as Mr Rathbone tells us that Dyche has no "impact" on results.

Well, show us this new Dyche, Mr Dyche, and do not pick the team that Lyndon has almost certainly correctly predicted.

A long day tomorrow. Early start as I have to get the dog out, take her out and then get her on the tube to Euston and then onto the train before dropping her off at my sister's.

I'll be heading into town before heading to Goodison.

They owe us one and if they show up, we'll be right behind them. The predicted line-up looks, well predictable.

You are absolutely correct that he has made snide comments about the fans, and now he is trying to backtrack on those comments.

Just to remind him after many fans walked out of the Brighton game when we were 3 down he said "Here, you go very quickly from hero to zero."

He also said that, at the end of last season, he heard people say ( I guess by 'people' he means fans) that people were talking about Europe; I speak to a lot of Blues at the game and out and about and nobody mentioned Europe. Today he said "Because where we finished last season, many expected the same again, but I knew it was going to be difficult".

He is so much like the other waster we had, Sam Allardyce, he never got what Evertonians were about and neither does this clown.

We have won 1 game at home this season having played many of the clubs who finished in the bottom half of the league last season. Was it really too much to expect a half-decent start to the season than 1 home win and no goals in 4 consecutive games?

Every time you hear Dyche in his press conference, he takes a sly dig at the players, stating we don't have this we don't have that, and he hasn't got a chequebook to solve it..

Frankly, if I'm a player hearing that I can't improve my game, the manager thinks I'm shite, then I'm telling him to fuck himself.

Regardless of how good bad or indifferent these players are, you are the one responsible for getting the best out of the hand you are dealt and we have given Dyche 14 players of his choice in almost 2 years here plus his boys McNeil, Tarkowski and Keane were already here.

And honestly even if we did have a bottomless pit of cash, I wouldn't trust him to bring me my dinner let alone quality attacking players.

There – that's the kiss of death but I might just get a haircut.

Funny enough I think we will put up a better fight on Saturday, not down to Dyche, but yet again the fans will drag a performance out of the players for the derby.

Dyche can pick whatever team he wants, that's what he's there for, the issue is whether we get a result with the team he chooses, it's not like he's got a million options to play with anyway. But I'd like to see Patterson at right-back – even though it's a risk as he's prone to mistakes – and Mangala in centre midfield.

Signs of humility in the press conference, it might be too late to make a difference for him but it's better than nothing.

COYB. Positive vibes!

But I have a feeling that we'll do enough to earn 3 points and keep our heads above water, regardless of tonight's games.

He mentioned being progressive for the first 30 minutes.

Well, you can say that for every game – we were certainly progessive against Villa – but then the opposition get a foothold and we begin to countdown to the inevitable.

Dyche has definitely had a rough deal footballing-wise, Rob, and when I listen to people say Ancelotti knew how to get the best out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, I just think about how he was injured for a couple of years, and how badly we have regressed offensively to a point now where he doesn't even look interested.

Confidence helps, and I don't think there's much confidence at Everton, both on and off the pitch, but they say a week is a long time in football, so I'm getting my positive head back on now!

Apparently he's been carrying an injury since July, that's not good and it's shown this season it really has.

Last season he was near faultless but his whole demeanor this season, the sluggishness, the reckless decisions diving in for crazy tackles in our own box, something doesn't seem right there.

Why was Jake O'Brien signed?

If he's not ready this season he's hardly going to be ready next season either is he with practically zero football behind him.

Keane and Branthwaite might then be needed for tomorrow night, I don't know, just feels like something is not right.

Dyche almost admitting he has made a few tactical errors then proceeds to play the same side, with the same game plan (?) I can never understand Doucoure's inclusion, he provides nothing.

I am in complete agreement on that sentiment - as a player how would you react? it was the same with Moyes and his knife to a gun fight analogy - a team with the likes of Coleman, Baines, Lescott, Jagielka, Cahill, Pienaar, Graveson, Carsley, Fellaini, Yakubu etc. It was nonsensical to state it and was just a declaration of 'look how good I am doing with the shitty tools I have got' - great for morale I am sure!

I'm seriously concerned now, where we will be at the end of the month.

I'd put McNeil on left to help Myko.

Patterson or Coleman at right back.

If Dyche wants to keep Doucoure in team (and I don't) I would play him right of midfield, one of our problem positions. We get his energy there. He will help the right back and when attacking he can cut in and support DCL or Beto. It will give our attacking play something different while making our midfield more compact when defending.

Pickford
Coleman or Patterson, Tarks, Branthwaite, Myko
Doucoure. Gueye, Mangala, McNeil
Ndiaye, DCL or Beto

Get close to each other in possession, and let the wingbacks move into the advanced spaces, and when we don’t have the ball close the space and be very difficult to play against?

And I doubt anyone is 'confident' about the December fixtures. But the degree of negativity from some makes you wonder why they bother. We've won against the odds before, and we will do so again.

I don't think Colin needs to 'wind his neck in' at all. He's entitled to be frustrated with the relentless doom. I just hope the defeatists on here change on matchday and offer proper vocal support. We need it. Again.

Move him back to the left and bring Lindstrom into the No 10 role. That's his best position. Or put Ndiaye there and get him closer to Calvert-Lewin and the opposition penalty area. Harrison wide right. Mangala in for the hapless Doucoure.

Cue Elvis; You'll be doing alright with you Christmas of white,
But I'll have a Blue Blue Christmas.
Thank you very much.

When will we hear the news...'Dyche has left the building'

3-2 for the good guys

COYB! We're still in this.

It's time to focus on them for the next few days. Feck knows what I'll do Saturday as I'm under strict instructions from my sister to attend a family Birthday meal!!

People who claim we will lose six out of six are not giving an opinion. They are making a prediction Trying to look into the future. You do understand the difference don't you ? You cannot give an opinion on something that hasnt happened yet.

It may have escaped your notice but we havent just turned into a really bad team. we have been shite for years and if you feel you have done enough then thats up to you. There will be hundreds of thousands of Evertonians who will support their team every match. With or without you.

We`re all sick of this seemingly endless shite, but there is a very clear difference between feeling battered and throwing the towel in. Until you realise what that difference is. It`s you who needs to wind your neck in

He has become very bitter sounding in his press conferences.

This Wolves one was particularly awkward.

He protests too much that he has never questioned the fans here. Conversely, he says directly, with irritation, that the challenge at Everton Football Club is to win every game.

In fairness to him, there are too many fans that turn on the players and management when things aren't going well. I would rather see empty seats than hear a load of screaming bell ends abusing the manager because our average players are playing average.

The new stadium won't make large swathes of the crowd any less toxic.

Me personally I would start Keane alongside Branthwaite, Patterson and Harrison on the right side and possibly drop Mykolenko and put Young there, seems to play better at left back, would certainly start Mangola over Doucoure and put Ndiaye more central to Dom, a chance to rotate the team with another game coming up early Saturday.

Will Dyche be brave enough to make the changes, or will he stick with his usual 11, my guess is he will stick with his 11 go to players.

I want Gana to be concentrating on his defensive duties tomorrow not seemingly taking on most of the responsibility for defence splitting passes or speculative attempts from outside the box.

I’d start Mangala over Doucoure.

Not as much bothered about the result as the performance tomorrow. A great performance should bring the full 3 points with it anyway.

Every single fan who pays money that for some is a major chunk of their money in these tough times has the right to express their feelings about Dyche/the football/the team in any way that he or she chooses.

It's up to them if they choose to moan, groan, boo, shout, leave, or not go in the first place. If a manager is unpopular he needs to know that. And that can be a learning experience that can lead to good.

I would not boo. That's my choice. But anyone who does has earned the right to do so. What satisfaction do they get from the money they splash out these days?

I have nothing but admiration for the 36,000 at home and the 3,000 away. Without them we are nothing. They love this club more than anyone in the dressing room and boardroom. If the 3000 turn on the gaffer it is because the gaffer deserves it.

Legitimate protest is absolutely crucial in certain dire circumstances. Without it, there is always the risk that nothing happens because the powers-that-be historically prefer to maintain the status quo (and I don't mean that shitty shabby bunch of hippies with their two chords and shite songs!).

The only way out of our currents situation is to fight our way out. That is down to the players and us. If I am correct any “fighters” we have must be in the starting line up.

The players that I reckon have got some “fight” in them are Doucoure, Beto, Pickford, Young, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Gueye, Mangala, Ndiaye, Patterson. Some unpopular choices there I know but most of them would start if it was up to me.

Pickford,
Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
Young, Gueye, Doucoure, Mangala,
Beto, Ndiaye.

It’s 4 4 2 for me for this one.

Patterson or Coleman at right back, Young at left back (whoever thought an out -of-position Young would be the lesser evil?) and Mangala into midfield alongside Gueye.

Surely he has to do that?

We should have enough to win a night game against a wolves. But it will take a motivated effort and that's where my concern comes in. I fear another limp effort by players who can't summon the cajones to risk losing the ball by trying something instinctive to break a team down. Write off the Utd game - but that Brentford performance looms large.

We are probably 10 points worse off than we should have been with better game management and control.

Hope we batter them.

The Teams below Everton, are also in poor form, but Everton must get 3 points tonight, by any means.

I hope the squad give their all and I hope and pray that Everton, turn the tide tonight.

UTFTs!

I personally don't boo and always stay until the end, no matter what.

Hopefully the team, whoever lines up, gives us a performance and result to avoid that happening tonight.

That sums it up. Different supporters have different ways of expressing their frustration and this season, in particular, it has mainly been frustration given what has been served up.

There is no other way of putting it, we've sat there bored.

I always leave my criticism of the manage and club to post match. But on match day, I turn into the eternal optimist.

Hopefully change is not too far away.

Ring bells. Light bonfires. Dyche himself finally admitted that Christine.

Hope your health is on the up and up.

Paul, border collies are so obedient. Like Spaniels with their balls (the rubber ones they run to fetch and bring back!!!).

Having Rhodesian Ridgebacks, they still have a bit of the wild dog in them and are selective in their hearing. If I can't see you, I can't hear you type of thing!!!

I just keep walking, knowing they'll come back.

Anyway, I don't do team predictions, but I do hope young Dixon features in some way tonight.

Safe travels. Your RR sounds like a big dog. Just made for the tube, train, bus!

I've always found that reading a book alone at a bar or having a dog with you anywhere increases the chance of conversation.

Ein Jagdhund - a Rhodesian Ridgeback by Karl Friedrich Schulz c.1834

Google image it Danny O.

I looked that painting up. Thank you.

My boy was 3ft tall head height and weighed 52kg (105lbs). Big lad.

The girl is a bit slighter. I agree, she will get made a total fuss off on the train and at my sister's today.

Back on track, I hope Calvert-Lewin sparks today. He's either been playing with a lack of interest or lack of confidence, although I do have sympathy with him having Pickford's ball constantly pumped up to him.

That said, he has had chances.

The fact that 9 player contracts and the Manager's contract finish at the end of the season was going to have a bearing on this season right from the start.

The Summer transfer window also has a bearing with the failure to sell Calvert-Lewin. Bringing in players who seem now to be out of the picture and a preference for underperforming players that the manager knows and an unwillingness to develop and utilise the full squad.

Dyche is bound to be having behind the scenes problems with some players. Which isn't a good thing at Finch Farm. He also seems to have lost his favourites as well, since they are also included in a loss of form amongst key players.

In the past two games, Dyche has favoured his team of scorers approach which has yielded nothing, but exposed poor support play and poor defending including poor tracking back. This is a change from Dycheball, which he will be back to against Wolves.

The complexity of the takeover – or financial reconstruction as I prefer to call it – which could still break down, hovers. Moshiri will not be a help.

I am sure that the Premier League will not want to jeopardise investment in the Premier League, so a Chelsea approach may arise. Everton will not be relegated, but Dyche needs to play his part or he will be gone by January.

Maybe a bit of compensation is the way out. A relegation dogfight manager is a short-stay career as Dyche has probably concluded.

There is not doubt that Everton and Evertonians have suffered abuse for years, with no end in sight this season.

Attending matches these days is not cheap for the majority of fans, and while support for our beloved team is core, they are not going to turn up loyally, and be subjected to negativity on the field of play without response.

While Dyche, or any Manager for that matter isn't actually playing, he has to 'carry the can' for team selections, tactics subs etc. When all said and done the situation at Everton has been brewing progressively like a Volcano, and unless something by the way of success intervenes, an eruption is an inevitability.

Last night's results have seen us sit precariously above the relegation trapdoor position, and that is before a ball has been kicked at GP. A win tonight is virtually imperative, as we can't, and shouldn't depend on other team's failures or successes affect our own. We must do it on our own merits.

If Beto doesn't start tonight it says a lot about Dyche and how hapless and clueless he is. Not because Beto is necessarily the right choice but because it makes his decision to start him on Sunday irrational, other than it being a kick in the pants for an underperforming Calvert-Lewin.

Perhaps there is truth in the rumours. Whether it is Beto or Calvert-Lewin, the issue is the total lack of support for the striker and the tactics employed by the duffer in charge.

Pickford, Coleman, O'Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Harrison, Mangala, Gueye, McNeil, Ndiaye, Beto.

Not my team but the one I reckon Dyche will pick for a "night on the grass" – sorry, Danny.

Alternatively, he either sees his contract out for a further seven months, or signs for an English club in January. So either way, him sitting on the bench won't bother him in the slightest.

Me, I'd start Beto, and let's hope Broja is on the bench.

Listening to Dyche's comments - and witnessing the set-up for the beginning of the United game at least - I expect something to change tonight in terms of line-up and/or tactics with more accent on positivity. Dyche has acknowledged we need to score more goals to win games, he can't then select the same team or employ the same tactics surely?

An early goal to rouse the Old Lady is very much in order.

Danny, I hope your dog enjoys the long journey and gets plenty of attention.

Young for Myko

I'm off to ZZZZZZ now, way too late, dry white, my FPL woes, and a Monet biography are to blame. I will wake up at 10AM/4PM knowing that we will win.

It's funny, all over the world, as one Evertonian heads upstairs to bed another one wakes up!

He's done exactly that for quite some time! Minor tweaks but fundamentally the same approach.

He talks about changing the story, and how he's trying to find a way to be more effective in attack, when we can see what he's actually trying to do. He's been pretty good at it as well, given the defensive record last year.

But here we are now with a team that hasn't focused on attack, taken risks, or committed forward with confidence in years. Defenders defend. Midfielders defend. The attacker... well he's got a defensive job to do.

I'm not sure it matters what he does now. We might win, we might not. But it won't be because Dyche suddenly taught the players how to attack, which is what he would have you believe he's trying to do.

It’s a massive game and whilst Tarkowski had a mare last game, I’d be amazed if he’s dropped - albeit I don’t think he’s fully fit. Coleman depends on fitness. He’s not played for a long time and Young wasn’t one of the poor ones. Unless he drops Mylolenko. Could bring on Patterson for Myko and put Young LB. Coleman probably won’t have the legs for 90 mins.

Mangala for Doucoure a no brainer and I hope if he makes just one change it’s this one.

Upfront - neither DCL nor Beto are pulling up trees so agnostic. Lindstroms been poor but from an attacking perspective Harrison’s not a step up.

He won’t do it but I’d prefer a 433 with Ndjiaye, McNeil and one of DCL/Beto up to. Geuye, Mangala and Doucoure in the middle.

It’s going to be super tense and the mos timportant thing is for the players to be 100% focused and put a shift in. No hiding for this one.

So you would put Ndiaye as an out-and-out striker alongside Beto, would you? Interesting.

The point I'm making is that if a player deserves to be replaced, then just leaving him out for one game and not giving his replacement a proper chance is what makes no sense.

Danny, your girl could be useful on the train – mates of mine were turfed off their train back from Bristol on Saturday due to Plymouth fans fighting amongst themselves! You'd be safe with her!!

As for the football, we simply have to win for the points and to get some confidence for “them”.

I'd play Dixon – we need energy. Broja to come on if needed, and O'Brien to replace Tarkowski. Lindstrom on the bench with Mangala to strengthen midfield.

Radical? We need energy, desire and enthusiasm – same old crap is not good enough.

My doctor, whom I've been with for 20+ years said, "This is all so sudden, Noleen. What are you doing to yourself?"

My mouth, as usual, was quicker than my brain and I said, "I support Everton Football Club."

He looked at me with one raised eyebrow and asked, "You mean, the Premier League club?"

I said "Yes". He burst out laughing. Yes, burst out laughing.

He said, "You'd be better off supporting one of ours." (We're South African.)

I said, "Doctor, don't you know that love knows no limits?"

This is my story. I love this club, but darn! My health is suffering.

Dyche denied it but obviously local journalists had heard something to the contrary. I know managers having rows with players is common place at every club, but you don't often hear of a manager in a fight with a player.

You have a constant theme that everything is Dyche's fault, he carries the can, but your analysis is simplistic to say the least. The current players are mostly sub Premier Legue standard, but still have a responsibility to play for 90 minutes, I didn't see that on Sunday. I also saw glaring individual errors from our defenders. Of course, you mention little about that and continue to focus on Dyche.

By the way, why not share your formation that keeps Doucoure and Mykolenko out of the team? I'd be interested to see it. Keep banging your drum, Ernie.

Beto started for the first time in a while on Sunday and, given the alternatives, on balance, he should start again tonight; whatever about his lack of ability – there is no questioning his desire to play. He deserves a run of games.

Hopefully, Broja can make a contribution in the final quarter of the game.

I can't see the manager making any changes in the heart of the defence unless there are players ruled out through injury.

In my opinion, if we lose tonight, Dyche won't make it to the transfer window in January and he will be replaced by either Moyes or Potter as they are the less risky managerial choices when you are in the Bottom 3 and the sole objective is to avoid the drop.

"This is the most work I've done in all my years of management, without a shadow of a doubt."

I'd honestly love to know what that work is because we can't see it on the pitch. I'm not saying he's sitting on his arse munching pasties all day, but when the players look completely bereft of ideas when they step on the pitch, they're either not listening to whatever he's saying or are sharing a brain cell between themselves. My guess is the first option.

The biggest change for me is we no longer have the energy to fight for this team as supporters. I know it's too early in the season but, if a call went out now for a pre-match rally with blue flares, flags etc to greet the team bus and drive them on, like we've had in the last few seasons, I don't think we'd be willing to do it over again.

It's been such a chore this season. Coming on the back of the last 4/5 years, any joy in going the game has been thoroughly destroyed. Horrible football, toxic atmospheres, and sheer boredom at times have had a culminative effect.

I simply don't want to go anymore. In 47 years going to the match, I don't think I've ever felt like this about Everton.

For months, I have been imploring him to change he set-up, put players in their best positions, play to our strengths, hide our weaknesses, provide Dominic with proper service, be more progressive, importance in the power of substitutions, yada yada yada.

All to no avail. Dyche is arguably the most limited manager we have had. He is a one-trick pony and, in fairness to him, his trick was more effective than the last 2 before him. He tried belatedly and wrecklessly to be more progressive on Sunday, yet against Brentford he sat on his hands all second half. Dyche has shown he is inept and incapable.

I now don't want progressive or positive. This game is critical. Wolves are a decent side but will give you a goal every game. A clean sheet will guarantee us a win. We are in shit street and, so far in his tenure, this is when Sean Dyche has been at his best.

Play the players you believe in, ignore the fans, stick to what you know and try to get in the players heads how important this game is. We need to battle, fight and show desire for every ball.

Win and history will be kind to Sean Dyche as we could find ourselves outside the relegation places by the time he is dismissed. Lose and he will be in danger of damaging last season's wonder and place him on a par with Lampard.

Make this your last hurrah.

Long story short – we (wife, my son, my dog and I) stayed in a pub overnight in Stokesley, police advised the car had turned up in Newcastle. So – bus from Stokesley to Middlesbrough, coach from Middlesbrough to Newcastle, Taxi to retrieve the car which was not driveable despite assurances from the bizzies up there, so then the train From Newcastle via York to Euston and eventually Tonbridge, Kent.

The dog, bless him was so well behaved on the long York - Euston leg but, when we got to Euston, he was so pleased and just opened his bladder and relieved himself as soon as he was on the station platform, creating an increasing eddy of travellers around the offending and expanding lake. I had to supress the laughter!

So, dogs and trains – whenever I hear the two words used in the same sentence, I cannot help but recall this event. Very abridged version above.

Good luck with your travel, Danny

And I'm going to stick my neck out and predict 4-0 tonight.

Get him in the dressing room before the game!

Only Arsenal have shut Wolves out this season. Hopefully our fans can push us on to victory. COYB.

I watch the games quietly upstairs on my own. Gone are the days when my wife would come to check on me when she heard strange noises. The cat no longer hides in the garage until she knows the result and it's safe to come out.

When I do return downstairs, the usual comment is "I suppose they didn't win again? I managed to break my IKEA chair when the 3rd goal went in at Brighton back along. The only time I get out of it now is to go for a pee.

When your story regarding your pooch relieving his hitherto well kept bladder, I immediately conjured up the scenario that he had just listened to one of Dyche's Pressers, where he has been gargling diarrhea again! :-)

Pickford
O'Brien - Tarkowski - Branthwaite
Patterson - Gana - Mangala - Harrison
McNeil - Ndiaye
Calvert-Lewin

3-4-2-1

Patterson and Harrison as defensive wing-backs. O'Brien and Branthwaite give good height at the back and at (hopefully) improved set pieces. McNeil and Ndiaye to be closer to Calvert-Lewin for knock downs and support.

That's Dycheball for you. Unsuccessful and very dull.

I also hope that Dyche is not clapping an empty Everton stadium at the end of the game tonight.

Defend well, be creative in midfield and let's press Wolves and win with a Broja hat-trick. We can dream!

I watched Wolves against Bournemouth – they are terrible at the back. They wouldn't know how to handle a combination of Beto and Ndiaye…

I've been uhming and ahing about renewing my season ticket for the new stadium. 99% I will, but mostly because I go with family more than anything else. And the hope that, with the takeover, there may be brighter days ahead.

It's not even the defeats that have done me in, it's the attritional chipping away at the stone, the constant knocks, the drudgery, the apathy etc.

I hope to God we win tonight and you break another IKEA chair!

I like that proposed team and formation, but hold little belief that such a daringly positive suggestion would ever be considered by Dyche!

I just read that Everton have scored only 12 Premier League goals from open play during this calendar year, although we have registered 26 in total from 31 matches.

Our home league record during 2024, reads won 6, drawn 6, lost 3, scored 16, conceded 14, points won 24. Therefore the home form isn't as dire as it sometimes feels, although the lack of goals is apparent and five of those six victories were achieved in April going into May.

Having read on another website that, if tonight's game was the final game of the season, we'd all be up for it and giving the team maximum support, that's undoubtedly true; however, it's so difficult to get behind the current team, and it takes such effort to get enthused about them.

Let's hope for a victory tonight, despite the huge issues that this Everton side has.

We all know Doucoure is not a great passer, his first touch is dodgy and he has affected Gueye's game.

Yet Dyche dropped Mangala, who had done well with Gueye in the two away games they played together (and take a look at the build up to our goal v Fulham – simple but effective midfield play).

This one decision has lowered our chances in the last two games, Doucoure has been poor but I bet Dyche will persist with him.

We could have a strong midfield, which is essential, but Dyche stands in the way.

He must go.

Rennie, you want to see her when someone runs towards her with a a football. Only one winner. I'd start her.

Liam, I hope you're getting well.

Positive news about the takeover circulating. Sounds like it could be next week.

One step at a time. Let's get tonight done.

And if Tarkowski is carrying an injury and Branthwaite coming back from a disrupted couple of months, why hasn't Dyche played Keane or O'Brien in Tarkowski's place?

Having to cover for a weakened Tarkowski must be playing on Branthwaite's mind.

I'm sorry but it's my belief that this current crop of players lack the 100% commitment that a winning side has. What we see, week-in and week-out, is a mixed bag; some turn up while some don't, followed the next week by the roles reversed when the opposite happens.

Also, I'm afraid I've seen too many players whose final finish is dreadful, whether it be a shot on goal or a simple pass.

Given our run of fixtures between now and January, and the fact that we don't really win many games, even against the lower echelon sides, I can't stress how big tonight is.

If we fail to win tonight, it's 2 wins in 14, that will soon likely stretch to 2 wins in 18.

Coupled with last seasons 14 game winless streak, I can't see how any manager – no matter what their name is – would survive such a record.

Groaning at a misplaced pass is fine by my book. Shouting actual abuse at the manager is not going to motivate him.

When has castigating someone you have paid for providing a service ever got you better service? It might get you the bare minimum but it won't get you maximum effort.

You can delude yourselves if you wish, but we have a lot of screaming bellend fans that bring the atmosphere down too often.

Score first, in dreamland… even go 2:0 up and we might huff and puff to 3 points.

Concede a goal first and that's when we really see what this bunch are all about; if heads go down and we lose, then it's a big Dyche Out from me, and we might be in big big trouble, regardless of the takeover.

We cannot and should not lose at home to another relegation team sitting below us in the table, it's that simple.

Everton (a)
West Ham (a)
Ipswich (h)
Leicester (a)

If they don't get results from these, they're in just as much trouble, if not more. (Their following two games are Man Utd and Tottenham.)

This isn't going to be a picnic for us. I imagine a really hard fought, nervy (aka crap) game of football. I just hope whatever happens we can get 3 points. A draw I imagine would be a good result for Wolves – being an away game. Cunha's a terrific player – Tarkowski and Branthwaite had better be on better form.

Whatever we get tonight, that's very likely it this side of Christmas.

Sounds reasonable; throw Beto's unpredictability and nuisance factor in there and Wolves will certainly be confused. Against the leakiest defence in the league, it could well work.

It would also be nice to see the players shouting and encouraging each other and even give a quiet bollocking if needed, easy for me to do and ask for this to happen but we’ve done it often in the past because we know, well some of us do, it’s easy to cheer a winning team, harder to cheer a losing one yet thousands of us young and old have been doing that for bleedin’ donkeys years and filling the home ground and away ends with so very little reward except the fact we have avoided fuckin’ relegation once again.

Do you best tonight lads, please, and make some noise, Jesus no not Dychey’s noise, but a proper Scouse noise and Mark Murphey’s if he’s there!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zndw1GBLfPg

It will be a long term project, but Everton will pull themselves away from these past few years of dark clouds, we may have to weather the storm in December, it will not be a quick fix, but we will slowly start to get our identity back as a football club, keep the faith.

You my friend, are a breath of fresh air

I’d have a left footer on the left wing and a right footer on the right wing, with instructions to get some decent bloody crosses in for our service starved strikers. This might mean our full backs overlapping and offering something in offence, so I’d give Patterson a try.

On current form, poor old Doucoure wouldn’t even be in my squad, never mind the starting 11. Armstrong looked bright and like he could actually pass the ball early in the season, why not give him a runout whilst we are so shite?

Anyhow, we’re going to thrash Wolves tonight and then stun the country by beating the RS on Saturday, 6 points in 4 days to turn everything on its head.

They’re coming to take me away…

For starters I would drop Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Lindstrom and Doucoure.

I would start with Pickford in goal, Patterson and Harrison on the right, O,Brien and Branthwaite in the middle, Young and McNeil on the left side, Guaye and Mangola in midfield, with Ndiaye tucked behind the striker, would probs start with Dom tonight, get him to stay in the middle instead of out wide, and hope that with better attacking options both sides of the pitch, better crosses would come in for Dom.

Cut out the hoof football and try and get the overlaps on both sides of the wings, easy tweaks, but will the gaffer be brave enough to try a plan b.

I'd love to see a player get pissed off with Dyche and his tactics and give him a mouthful during a game. He's always barking out like a seal with a sore throat, wouldn't it be great if someone like Seamus just turned round and told him and his other spud-u-like mates to f-off. It won't happen of course, but if it happens tonight I'll be gutted I didn't go.

We have to get back to focusing on set pieces.
Anything less than 3 points tonight and Dyche has to go tomorrow

If they fail against this Wolves team then what can we expect from hereon in. It doesn't seem to matter who starts although I would make a few changes because all the others have had their chances over and over to produce something.

Many of us know the squad is poor and only Pickford has been the most consistent.

They need a couple of early goals ( and a miracle) to boost the confidence before they allow Wolves to get a foothold.

No way they would fire any manager 2 days before the last ever derby at Goodison. No chance.

My money is on a draw at best. We stay above Wolves, out of the relegation places and move on to getting twatted by the RS at the weekend.

I used to love being an Evertonian.

2017/18 Wayne Rooney 10
2018/19 Gylfi Sigurdsson/Richarlison 13
2019/20 Richarlison/Dominic Calvert-Lewin 13
2020/21 Dominic Calvert-Lewin 16
2021/22 Richarlison 10
2022/23 Dwight McNeil 7
2023/24 Dominic Calvert-Lewin/Abdoulaye Doucoure 7

P.s, will pop over to the Harlech castle pub, before the game, see if any of the other regulars are there.

He won't even think about a win over an inferior (some would say) opponent unless it comes from some sort of fluke.

And Andrew @168 Dyche has to go at the earliest opportunity for that reason. I have to agree with you no employed class manager is going to be interested in taking the job mid season with the state we are in. Hence why Moyes is being touted to take us though to the end of the season.

If that happens he has enough about him to break the absolute rut we are in with Dino and do a better job in the limited time available to him. He would then hope that it will lead to a contract extension or something at the end.

HAH - just spotted this, Davey lah! nice one!

Sadly not - I cant get to many home matches let alone mid weeks. I lack Dannys stamina and his bank balance but if I could, I would.

No, I'll be at the Arsenal away though, sat with the wools, by eck as like!

OOP t'fuckin toffehs.

ps - No "e" in Murphy, Dave, I'm not posh.

What a pitiful state of affairs this club has been for years.

I'll make my way to the Harlech and see some of you there

Mark, see you at Arsenal and will talk before then mate.

If so it hasn't worked so far this season (or before as far as I'm aware).

The only thing I can see his "nose" working for seems to be smelling out a good salary for NOT moving us up the table!

Wins 2 (18th)
Goals conceded 21 (12th)
Goals scored 10 (20th)
Expected goals scored 15.59 (19th)
Expected points 13.49 (16th)

Oh yeh?

James#173

Not wishing to be the harbinger of doom

But then you go on to be exactly that mate.

You don't have to say anything y'know.

Some thoughts are best not shared ;-)

Don’t be trying to take that title off our lovely genuine number one Woolie.

Those with L postcodes with higher numbers are full wools, half wools or pseudo wools. Probably.

Only those will one digit L postcodes are definitely not wools. Maybe.

Keeping us up is not enough, the football is dire to watch, the results shocking, the stats back it up.

The players look like they do not believe in what they are doing,

The good players will suffer and get dragged down by it.

Not a negative statement from me - I would regard Dyche going as positive, but I have no idea who'd come in

COYBs 2 -1 tonight - though if we concede first I am very worried !!