Dyche risks undermining his own argument regarding Ndiaye

But I happen to like McNeil in that position. He's one of the top players in the Premier League at creating chances, in a team that creates damn few of them -- in fact, Dwight is credited with 8 Big Chances Created, exactly half Everton's total -- and that is a #10's biggest responsibility. I would suggest that his defensive deficiencies in that area are because he's new to marking a zone rather than a man, because, out on the flank, he is a tigerish defender. As is Ndiaye.

As James Flynn pointed out on the other thread -- and with all due respect to Pete Mills and his Blades sons-in-law -- Ndiaye at Sheffield United is listed on Transfermarkt as playing much more often at centre-forward or second striker than attacking midfielder (#10) and producing significantly more goals and assists from those more advanced positions.

I believe Dyche is probably playing Ndiaye wide simply because of our absolute absence of pace in the side and our need for speed out there. Personally, I'd love to see him go to an old-fashioned 4-4-2 with Ndiaye playing just off Calvert-Lewin or Beto -- he could do a lot with those knockdowns.

But as long as Dyche sticks with 4-2-3-1, I slightly prefer McNeil to Ndiaye in that central role.

I'd like Dyche to make proactive moves aimed at getting Ndiaye consistently involved and I think having some fluidity that allows for McNeil and Ndiaye to rotate during the 90 minutes would help.

We're probably getting hung up on the strict notion of a "No 10" here when we're (well I am, anyway) probably thinking more along the lines of whoever plays off the centre-forward as you describe at the end there.

But if the conversation is about a more traditional, playmaking No 10 (which Dyche contends no longer exists in the Premier League) then I think Ndiaye has what it takes.

Let's see what happens against Brentford. Hopefully it'll be an open game for us going forward.

If we're playing with three behind the striker with two behind them protecting the back four, there is no reason they can't rotate.

Be unpredictable and not so rigid.

The issue we have with Dyche right now is that, without a contract extension in sight, and new owners coming in who will either replace him before January or in the new season, he's only managing for himself and his reputation, and not the team anymore.

You can see it from the change in tone of his press conferences and his attitude this season.

Every single tactical approach, whether it's Ndiaye at No 10 or out wide, or which striker is best etc, is all about his short-term motivations to secure his reputation and next job.

Our club's situation has created this difficult situation, where we can't really make any changes until the ownership changes, so as fans we are stuck with sharing logical tactical ideas that Dyche has no intention of looking into.

We will just have to be patient until the new owners come in and hope he hasn't dragged the club into a difficult situation before then.

Predictable and rigid.

Loyalty is a good trait in the context of life but, in football, agility and scope to adapt and change is always needed throughout the 96 minutes of play.

Based on the few goals scored this seasom, Ndiaye is easily the most natural and agile skilful player in the team who can finish well and create chances.

But I think Sean Dyche is loath to change and won't gamble even for half a game as he's sticking to tried and trusted with the hope of bringing Calvert-Lewin into play. On his day, with the right service and forward support, Calvert-Lewin is brilliant. But how often does this happen in a season? Carlo days…

For me Jesper Lindstrøm is also more suited to a central attacking role as well: quick feet and an eye for a pass. But Calvert-Lewin is not getting good service from the wings this season.

It would be a good reference to see the stats on corners and crosses from both wings and how many have actually found an Everton player in the box, how many have been converted to a goal, and how many have been ineffective.

There I believe lies an issue and Everton have generally been sussed this season in their attacking and transitional play.

Definitely today is a 6-pointer, as is the Wolves game.

Let's turn the form book, beat Brentford, and Everton get a much-needed victory. Hopefully a very positive and much-needed win and the takeover by TFG edges closer to completion. That would be a nice Christmas present for Evertonians.

He is excellent at nicking the ball from an opponent or, (occasionally), receiving a pass to feet, and retaining the ball. But far too often he has nobody with whom he can play a one-two, so his ability to twist, turn and accelerate is wasted.

Just because he hasn't played in that position for Burnley, doesn't mean he can't play in it for us.

They are all feeling confident and looking forward to the match. I, on the other hand, was just hoping that Dyche would for once just try something a little different and set us up to win the match.

I fear if we sit back and use the usual hoofball to Calvert-Lewin, as has been this season's pattern, we will be in for a difficult game. Surely that much is all too obvious.

Is it because those three are just too far behind the striker??
We have to find a way to play closer to Calvert-Lewin. If he's not the clinical striker we hoped for, then at least feed off his hold-up play and nod-ons.

We're not scoring any goals, we're precariously close to the drop zone, yet our most talented creative player can't get a chance inside? What? What a thing to say! He could have just said, I prefer McNeill in that role but Ndiaye's chance may come.

With every passing week Dyche's limitations as a manager become a little more obvious. I'm not here to call for his head, beating Brentford is far more important for me. But if we lose, statements such as the one about Ndiaye will be thrown back at him. One definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. Sean take note.

Lior (4) I disagree with your assessment that Dyche is managing for himself. He deserves respect for his work over the last two seasons but he doesn't have the skills to introduce a more proactive style of play. I think he's a man under pressure and resorting to what he knows best, which oftentimes people do in challenging circumstances.

Fan pressure may have changed things if he was being kept on but everyone, including Dyche, knows he's on his way in a few months.

And I'm not so sure he deserves a massive amount of respect for the job he's done here as a mere 27 points would have been enough for survival last season and surely any decent manager could muster that with the squad we had.

It's a shame too because, between September and December last season, I actually thought he might surprise me and turn out to be a decent or even good manager for us. But the last 11 months have been dreadful barring those 6 days in April.

We just need to get through this season and start over in the summer.

Next step will be calling the fans out as disruptive, unhelpful and thick – causing the indignant to get around his car. Best keep schtum, accept only results matter, and suck it up.

This season, he's consistently making comments about the limits of the squad, the lack of Premier League experience, lack of "true" fitness, players not ready, working hard on certain deficiencies, Beto this, Ndiaye that, that he can only play his long ball style because of extreme squad and player deficiencies. The squad can have no confidence from his press conferences hearing how limited they are seen by him and his coaching team.

I rarely hear other managers protect themselves so much, unless they are looking for the sack and a payout. The best at that is Mourinho, but Dyche has been digging at this squad all season to save his reputation and show how amazing he is.

Granted he did a difficult job last season under the circumstances, but those circumstances do not give him the excuse for not getting a win in 4 months and competing against 3 of the worst teams in the relegation zone.

Many managers could have done better. I realise very few would have taken on that challenge, but he had no great job options before us, and he won't have many more after us, even with the British Media love-in for him.

Ndiaye is a good carrier of the ball, can he split a defence with a pass or cross with quality after 10 games in? I don't know. He is exciting to watch but is he creating and scoring?

We had Doucoure playing No 10 for 18 months and it worked to a degree.

The problem with the system is, whoever plays No 10 has to play well or the team doesn't function. Why even play a No 10? Why not pack the midfield and create width with McNeil and Ndiaye to get crosses in?

The article does ice the cake a bit with the Ndiaye plaudits imo.

Brilliant assessment of the conman, who somehow has ended up our manager.

I'm not defending him, but I've read this idea in other threads that Dyche thinks it's all about him and, as you say, he's managing for himself and not the team.

Not really sure how managing for yourself works to be honest. If Dyche is looking to save his reputation then surely he needs to string a few wins together? The outcome of that will be more points for Everton and presumably everyone's a winner.

The idea that he's throwing players under the bus, or criticising the squad for his own ends has no basis in facts and just reflects the frustration we all have with Everton's current predicament. It's one of the many 'conspiracy theories' you read in this forum.

I've seen enough not to expect much better from this version of Everton under Dyche, we know he's not here for the long term but he is a professional with a job to do. I don't believe for a moment that includes 'managing for himself'.

McNeill pops a few in, Ndiaye seems a likely lad, Doucoure one every blue moon, Calvert - Lewin has forgot where the goal is, who else?

Yet its all Dyche's fault, we don't score enough, its no wonder its a struggle.

Thats up to now, I happen to think we will win today even though our midfielders hardly ever score.

If the two or three that are out injured return we will have a few more options.

Mike G, Dwight McNeil is ‘tigerish'? Enthusiastic and committed but far too physically limited (slow as feck) to be likened to the king of the cats!

Up the Toffee tabbies!