Not what we wanted, but not the end

We don't make things easy for ourselves.

Brighton on Monday, I will settle for the result in the corresponding fixture last season.

Dyche has his critics among more than a few of the fans. I too was puzzled last night as to why he resisted introducing fresh legs for the last twenty minutes. Yet a return of one point per game since he took over is considerably better than our form over the previous sixteen months. The fact he is having to work with players not all of them of his choosing, suggests to me that some of the criticism is overdone and premature.

Defensively the team often looks like an accident waiting to happen. I have lost count of how many goals we have conceded this season after losing or gifting possession in midfield. Examples include Iwobi v Man Utd in October, Gana v Brighton, Gana at Arsenal, Doucouré at Forest Iwobi at Chelsea and Gray v Fulham. I would hope more time spent with players on the training ground would not only reduce the mistakes but also help mitigate the consequences.

We now face two really tough games. In both of them defensive discipline in all parts of the field will be important. In that regard treasuring possession will be a key element. Quite possibly a draw at Brighton would lift us out of the bottom three. It is not a game we need to chase.

Well done Danny.

Did he add much to the midfield balance and shape?

Both of us felt that Onana on for Gana would have offered us more energy for the last 20 at least in the middle and also with Gana being on a yellow there was a risk he could get a second one as he was covering for everyone.

Also, can't believe Dyche didn't put Gray on for Iwobi or even Doucoure for the last 20 as well as Leicester were there for the taking. Big Dom upfront was keeping them well occupied and Gray's pace running at them could have caused havoc.

Apart from that, just wish we'd had that level of intensity and performance weeks ago as we wouldn't be in the mire like we are now if we had! Oh and agree on Keane - still got to think that Mina is a better option and if he breaks down then put Keane on

In possession he was always head up and looking for the forward pass and didn’t give away possession too much as far as I could see. He seemed secure in possession and wasn’t treating the ball like a hot potato like some of our lads do. As a result the midfield seemed a little more settled than with Onana in the same formation.

He tired towards the end of the game but the stamina will come the more he plays. I think Steve’s 7/10 rating is fair, it’s early days yet, we need to see more but a promising start.

If you bump into Martin (Mason) do me a favour Danny buy him whatever he wants and me or Tony will fix you up next time you are in Liverpool, thanks in advance.

The encouraging thing is that Garner looks comfortable on the football.

But players like him need runners in front of them.

Options, to play forward to.

Garner is a good good player and young, so can develop. Local lad as well.

Agree with you totally on Keane. Many of us have criticised his lack of concentration and speed for years and he has been responsible for some howlers.

I do think however that we harp on the mistakes rather than the good things we do and for me to come away from the King Power with that performance makes me more confident we can beat the drop.

I would have dragged Iwobi off at half time for Gray ( who is the only real goalscorer after DCL) but just shows what I know as he bangs the equaliser in.

I get the impression that Dyche knows the squad is poor but is doing his best to build confidence and use a group of players who will adhere to his plan and give him 90 minutes.

It will be interesting to see who he picks for Brighton and how he approaches that game tactically.

I have spoken to Martin. I didn't get to meet him at the last one, but I am sure we we will

See you at the next one Dave. Although Brighton is next!

Our next game is Monday night again also!

Great piece and you and the rest of the guys who never miss an away game have our gratitude. You could clearly hear our fans throughout the whole game. I look you was asking why no subs, but after the match I thought who would I have brought on and more importantly who do I take off. Garner demonstrated what a good player he is, after the first half I would have subbed Iwobi but he redeemed himself in the 2nd half, Doucoure put in a shift and a lot of what Gana does goes unnoticed. So yes I felt we did need fresh legs, but can you imagine the stick Dyche would have got if he had made subs and we had lost.

One of the many criticisms I had of Lampard this time last year was the constant changing of personnel. No one could get in a rhythm or form partnerships with teammates. We improved when he made more consistent selections.

Dyche, boring and frustrating though it is, is showing faith in a core group. As you say, that might well be to boost the confidence of a fragile bunch and help them get in that rhythm.

Bringing in a player in Mina's situation now (injured all season and leaving next month) seems daft to me - even if he possibly is the best CB of a bad bunch when fully fit.

The fact is that there isn't some combination of players or formation or whatever that will have us rocketing up the table. With the crap hand Dyche was given when he took over, it always looked as though we'd do well if we still had a chance of the final day.

I certainly haven't given up hope yet. We might only need 4 or 5 more points. Stranger things have happened.

Those phoney’s across the park, try and give our exasperated supporters stick for booing, and this has also been reflected at times with similar suggestions coming from the sycophantic media, but anyone who is prepared to tell the whole truth, would say that Everton have possibly got the best away support in The whole of England?

I’d have taken a point before the game, and I’d have bit your hands off for a point when Leicester got their penalty, especially after how well we played during that first half. If Leicester would have scored it’s possible we would have capitulated, and they would now be four points ahead of us, instead a solitary point.

The performance gave me hope but I was in bed an hour after the game, unlike our fanatical supporters who still had to travel home from Leicester, and wouldn’t have got to bed until a similar time to Danny.

Life has changed for me, but I’m slowly getting my life back, and one day soon I hope to start traveling with the fastest moving light infantry, this country has got to offer, once again!!

Well, firstly, thanks, Danny! … and all those supporters who went to King Power.

Wanted the win but main positive was the way we kept at them all the way to the end of the game and could have won.

If Pickford had dived either way on the penalty, the ponsy Maddison spot kick would have still gone in. So, good on ya Jordan. Well taken penalty by Calvert-Lewin and beautifully taken goal by Iwobi.

Their keeper played an outstanding game. I think this performance can give us a glimmer oh hope!

You supporters remind me of a family I knew in Sparrow Hall (Fazakerley) many years ago.

Mrs Connor run the local newsagent and I went in there one morning at 6 am to pick my newspaper up before heading to Stanlow oil refinery. She and her son had been to watch Everton Reserves play down at Ipswich the night before and she'd only been back an hour or so. The main reason they went to watch the reserves was because Peter Reid and physco Pat were making the long-awaited return from injury. They very rarely missed a game anywhere.

Our supporters have and always will be the backbone of this club and you all deserve club medals.

Bob #27, I was only trying to learn ‘Along the road to Gundagai’ on guitar last night.

How ironic that I read your post just now. How's things over East and can you drop in at Wagga Wagga and ask Philip Lowe to stop putting the interest rates up?

I admire the likes of you Brent, Neil and Rob going to these away games and hoping against hope. At this point, the positivity of our away fans is probably our greatest strength. So keep at it and ignore posts from miserable old gits like me.

I am no bigger an Evertonian than any other. I'm the emotional optimistic fool.

The person to my left about to have a break down that I put an arm around. The person to my right screaming "shite Everton". The wise supporter behind me telling me everything will be okay. Stay calm. The young supporters who somehow keep going. So many emotions.

Obviously I am stereotyping various types. But it doesn't matter. We are all Evertonians. Every single one of us. And we all want the same thing.

I get told off most weeks by dedicated supporters who love Everton just as much as I do. That includes close family.

I won't ignore you Kieran. Or anyone else. I respect every Everton supporter's view on Everton. It is my club and has been since I was born. But it is our club. All of ours.

We are all there on Monday. In person, in spirit. Near and far. Wherever supporters are watching from, we are there.

They are not taking me down without a fight.

Monday is a local game for me so I'm not “boasting” about going but looking forward to it immensely - they serve Harvey's Sussex Bitter at the ground - yay!

Everybody's favourite grumpy get, Martin, will be with me so I'll make sure you meet him this time. I've got his ticket here and he's front row so them lads with the black flag won't be able to spoil his view this time.

That and the win should cheer him up and maybe even Martin will realise we're NOT going down! UTFT!

Actually, we're watching our grandson play footee here in Sydney on Sunday morning and then staying in Wagga Wagga on Sunday night, leaving the 10-hour drive to Adelaide on Monday.

Great pub opposite the hotel – The Farmers Home. I think Philip Lowe stuck this one in yesterday before he gets removed from office!

In regards to Pickfords penalty save, he had a crib sheet on his water bottle which gave clues as to where to go. Maddison was 60% middle of the goal
Link

Not me though. Must have been when they knocked me over and were standing on me. UTFT

See you Monday.

UTFT

Unfortunately, Danny, I am very much concerned that it is just Brighton and Man City hiding in the bushes.

Another great piece, enjoying the series, you are starting to rival Michael Portillo.

But I can't for one minute go to Brighton on Monday thinking for one minute we will be beaten 3 - 0 as I believe some on here have suggested.

And we can get something against Man City.

Anything is possible.

Speak for yourself and your opinions Paul. I will for mine.

Happy to be challenged. Happy to debate.

Pack it in? Never ever.

Coleman was a bad loss but we have a chance of getting a result and for me a draw would be a good result. I can't even think about a loss.

Like you, Danny, I will never give in. Been to so many away games as well as the home games while I lived in various parts of England. Rotterdam then back to Wembley was my Swan song before moving to Oz.

Paul, I can understand, as it has been a difficult few years. We all know we need a clear-out, starting with the board. Just did this with a company I chair. Every director replaced. Massive difference, from total failure to success over 2 years. With football it cannot be any different. Really bad for at least 2 years. Clear out the board. This doesn't have to include the investors (usually).

But stick with us. We still have hope!!

I believe we will survive by the skin of our necks this season. Then, Mosh will take on board some additional investors and the board will be sacked. Maybe a separate business will be Everton in the Community but completely 'separate'.

Leeds have chances of points against West Ham and Spurs. We have to go into those two last games above them (and hopefully one of Leicester and Forest too).

On paper we have the better last two games, but we've fallen so far, I don't think many are expecting us to do it.

I woke this morning (very early) and there's a break of about 10 seconds before the Everton knot tightens in the stomach.

Keep going – and we all do in our own way.

Ten seconds? Luxury!