Dreadful deficiencies destroy Dyche's dogged defenders

We shouldn't be going to bang average sides like the Mancs sitting in for a nil-nil but that's what we're likley to do and come away with a 2-nil defeat making them look good in the process.

Very sad… but most likley true.

It's an old Allardyce trick of keeping the "best" players for the winnable games.

It's like Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries.

That'd shake things up a bit!

At least she had a pair of tits! :-)

After all, what would we do with three right-backs on the bench?

Why?

Maybe they will get more space to run into. No gungho, Sean, please.

I would never start Beto and Doucoure together. Two players now in the team who struggle to control or hold a ball. Cause of the Bournemourh collapse!

Bournemouth and Chelsea the gungho games.

A tactical genius! 👍

We couldn't beat an egg.

So I won't go in on today's selection specifically.

Except to say that I don't agree with Dyche's approach to football generally.

Regardless of outcome, there has to be a setup that doesn't include Doucoure and Mykolenko. I don't fault their character or effort, but they're both levels below the Premier League.

Dyche? Disaster.

Dyche was always going to select Doucoure. But Dyche taking the game to the opposition away is a danger, because he does not provide for cover in midfield. Manalga provides cover.

Attack for Dyche is Beto in front of goal and Doucoure running into the penalty area to shoot.

Doucoure. He has not made a meaningful contribution since returning from injury ages and ages ago. Can anyone explain just why he is selected? (Other than the obvious suggestion that Mr Dyche and Mrs Doucoure are very very close friends…)

Another penalty conceded, or perhaps and own goal?

He's never been a favourite player of mine, but in all fairness he has been okay overall. However, at 39 ,there is no way he should be our regular right back!

Oh and Man Utd score... that's that then.

We have got to go 4-4-2 second half. Can't see it though…

Commentator claimed we had been more likely to score. I wouldn't go that far.

Poor errors in defence but Man Utd have also sliced us open. A bit of quality making the difference.

Miracles accepted.

How many times are we going to miss these chances? Do we practice nothing at Finch Farm, especially putting away our easier chances?

I was just thinking that Ndiaye was giving their right flank what for and then we seemed to stop feeding him and either team could be 2 or 3 up or even 3-3.

McNeil had the ball out near the touchline and I thought "Play it to our man just in front and move for the return!"

But, thanks to Optus's usual poor service, they were picking the ball out at our end and, from the corner replay, I wondered how many men we had between the near post and the edge of the 6-yard box when Branthwaite diverted it into the net. Then shortly after he pissed any chance of going to Man Utd with an atrocious delay to give them a second goal.

Our trouble is that we don't seem to know how to use the space when attacking either outnumbering or having as many as defenders. A few times it just needed the ball pushed into the space in front of one of our players and he was through but none of them seemed to see it.

I was thinking we don't deserve to be 2 down but both goals have been because of our poor play not because of anything they did.

Be honest: we're not getting back in this and it looks like we are in for another goalless afternoon.

How hard is it supporting this club? They suck the life out of us.

She said to me just now "Sean Dyche hasn't evolved with the game has he, now it's Everton who just can't score"

Now 3-nil down and still no reaction from our bench.

This manager and his coaches and Thelwell suck the fucking life out of me.

This was all inevitable once we went 1 down to, let's face it, a very average Man Utd side.

Calling for his head is futile, he's not getting sacked even if we lose the next two — and we probably will.

Sad sad times indeed for us.

We can't take free kicks and both centre-backs have been dispossessed for 2 goals and there is the totally predictable one-for-one forward swap.

Groundhog Day again and again…

But can we get a triple change from the Board?

Watched and listened to most of the other Premier League games this weekend and Newcastle, Arsenal, Brentford all scored goals “straight off the training ground”. What does that useless prat and his coaching team do all day at Finch Farm? Absolutely clueless.

Roll on the takeover and the removal of Dyche. How anyone can stick up for him is beyond me. 2 wins in 12 games this season, 1 in every 6 games, and we had the easiest run of fixtures on paper than anyone else did to start the season.

Really poor and unnecessary mistakes by supposedly professional footballers.

Simply, I've had enough of the Dyche drivel.

The man must now be dead in the water (and I was advocating removing him a long time ago when we couldn't even scrape a miserly point). Please, will someone set him adrift. The Toffeelady? Anyone???

And yet some just blame the manager? How are unenforced errors and personal fuck-ups the manager's fault?

Everton are literally unwatchable. School of Science is dead, the teams battling relegation in the '90s had bad players but managed to win with grit and determination. This lot are mediocre players with no plan or direction and don't seem to care either way. The new owners have a huge job to turn it around.

How have we become so bad 🙈

Knowing this club, I'm not holding my breath.

Players and their continual inept performances must also share the blame for these weekly shit-shows

I know a Burnley season ticket holder who used to teach my daughter horse riding, and she was delighted when Dyche left Burnley; although she was appreciative of the European moments.

She reckoned he was kept on too long after the takeover at Burnley.

As for Everton, it just seems an exercise in futility supporting the team at the moment, if it's not Dyche picking favourites over form, it's the players letting him down by not converting chances or not being able to make a pass, or losing concentration when out of possession; or a lack of tactical substitutes or a general lack of application from the dugout or the players...

The injuries at the start of the season didn't help, the sickness around Week 5 didn't help, the seemingly continual re-injury of players hasn't helped, and the lack of tactical acumen and the seemingly lack of player improvement on the training pitch certainly hasn't helped.

I think Dyche is the common denominator, but the players have to take responsibility for some of their performances too. Dyche can't be held accountable for some of the piss-poor play we see from them.

However, there just seems to be a general malaise on the playing field, which is surely coming from the inability to get the takeover resolved! Everything just seems to be in Limbo again! Dyche doesn't know if he'll be here or not, the players don't know if Dyche will be here or not and it shows on the field.

Thelwell too, is apparently in the dark about his future, so maybe the footballing side and management are playing a 'holding pattern' till, or if, TFG's attempted takeover takes place before the end of December?

Which if you read around, it seems that A-Cap and Kenneth King along with Leadenhall are trying to move the goalposts about the deal to resolve the formerly 777 Partnera debt (Circa £200M).

Which until that is resolved, then the Premier League have their hands tied regards agreeing to their part of assessing the Owners and Directors Test.

As I said above, it just seems an exercise in futility in supporting Everton, as it causes more blood pressure issues than resolving anything...

Today isn't helping either:4-0 with a decent 20-25 minutes and then the usual capitulation once the first went in.

Live in hope! COYB

The players either aren't good enough or are being told to play in this way. Moshiri has destroyed this club!

Anyway, whatever, I can't see Dyche being here when Friedkin takes the reigns. We're going to be in the relegation zone by Christmas, probably a good few points off safety, it's shit or bust time.

The manager and players are all a bunch of losers not fit to be anywhere near the club. How has it got this bad?

Yet, he's got the safest job in the game, not a prayer he's not getting sacked… I'll be massively shocked if it happens – as well as delighted.

Thelwell has got a lot to answer for as well, he's bought some absolute shite: Beto and Lindstrøm to name two, yet he seems to get an easy ride.

Disgraceful performance… but another in a long line.

Even the commentators here in Oz said that's awful.

But we just had a generous run of fixtures and took nowhere near what was required. And I blame a lack of ambition for that and put it at the manager's door.

What today did show us is how fragile confidence is in the team. One goal and we were finished. That's been a feature under Dyche. It's part of his job isn't it? He's supposed to get the best out of players... we're not seeing anything close to their best.

This time last season, we went on a winless streak til April.

TW headline.

Where do ya reckon?

I don't know who comes in. I don't know – I don't care.

But the fact is, if Dyche is still here Wednesday night, the place will become horrible very very quickly — and in a game we absolutely definitely need to win; that's the last thing we can afford.

It needs to be done.

You know when a manager has reached his expiration date, and this is clear as crystal now with Sean Dyche.

Shake his hand, wish him well, and move on.

Branthwaite has his worst game in an Everton shirt and the rest fall to pieces rather than helping out.

I know Tarkowski was on the pitch as his name was on the team sheet and he got subbed off but, other than that, he did nothing and it's time he made way.

Doucoure was his usual not-too-good self and Lindstrøm just doesn't look up to it. I've got my doubts about McNeil and, on that display, I'd prefer Beto up front over Calvert-Lewin.

How can we be so wasteful up front and so poor at the back? A new manager, that would just be a start, but we need somebody who tries to put the faults right on the training ground as we still seem to be making the same poor mistakes up front.

The defense finally capitulated after some clean sheets and quite honestly the squad is a shambles with Dyche the head shambler.

We know what has to be done but how long do we have to wait.

He as stood by his favorite selections and strategies but he has failed.

This was a debacle that cannot be overlooked by the board.

However, I cannot see who else can do anything with this poor bunch at the moment.

Not that it means much now but those ranting against his tactics might acknowledge he tried something different today. He gave Beto a start, which many here have been clamouring for, and McNeil was obviously under instructions to stay close to him so he wasn't isolated.

Once they scored, we showed no real appetite to get back into the game and it was a foregone conclusion. It's not just Dyche, this team is going nowhere at the moment and we need new players everywhere.

Gonna be a grim month following Everton and hoping the takeover is completed.

He won't be gone before Wednesday but he might be gone come Saturday afternoon if we get embarrassed in the derby.

Surely, surely whoever is in charge of the club can see that we've gone backwards and that he is incapable of changing anything?

We were indebted to Pickford against Brentford and West Ham and Gordon missed a penalty for Newcastle against us.

We've been up against opposition that you shouldn't be surprised if playing defensively yields clean sheets.

Today and this month is a different ball game. Playing defensively will not reap any rewards.

Not only can Beto not jump, he seems to lack brain-to-feet coordination and any spatial awareness. A bit like Jack Harrison.

I think it's cruel and unfair to do the same as what we did to Marco Silva. Why sack him after a derby twatting?

Why not try and get the club bouncing before next Saturday?

It's obvious that he will be sacked within the next month so why wait, do it now.

McNeil really summed it up. They didn't believe they could win today and that is down to Dyche. His team selection was negative, strange and cowardly.

Our best chance of survival, in my view, lies in him and his mates being gone today. I honestly thought we would nick a win today; now, I think it was never an option.

Without the points deduction we were mid-table last season. Dyche spent money in the summer and had some loan signings. All have been let-downs. Even Ndiaye has disappeared after 2 decent games. We have gone well into reverse.

The club has been a basketcase ever since Moshiri sacked Martinez after he had one bad season (still better than most since) when he got 72 points and 2 semis.

I haven't posted for a while as the football and results were just predictable and depressing. Even typing this feels awful.

Someone needs to ring Friedkin tonight and seek permission to sack Dychesaurus. If he stays, it's fate we get relegated in our last season at Goodison Park.

We are so lucky the teams below us are not picking points up; something has to change and we cannot sit on our hands waiting for the new owner approval.

If Moshiri has said he will turn loans into shares, if there is a delay in the ownership, then he can sack the manager. Surely the Friedkin group could have a word with Moshiri to action the sacking, even if they cover the £3M payoff.

We are in deep deep trouble with this manager in charge.

Your last sentence sums us up. What frightens me is who would want to manage us?

This is the start of six straight defeats if there isn't a change in management.

Nobody plays defensively anymore, it's gone out of fashion, but Dyche still thinks you can win football matches playing that style.

He's never committed to the style he had at Burnley with two strikers, so he hasn't even replicated his style, he's actually regressed himself as a manager if that's humanely possible.

I wouldn't even call what we play alehouse football, that was Pulis at Stoke, but at least it was productive for him.

We just are a nonentity, it's nondescript dross.

I think Carsley would be a positive gamble as a managerial appointment, but how would any new boss feel presented with:

“Here are a set of personalities utterly lacking in confidence and largely the same team of injury-prone players who have only just avoided relegation for the last few seasons. Can you take hold of them and try and help compete with the top five teams, based on current form, in the country over the next few weeks?"

Pickford – Yes, Top 8 keeper.

Young (Out of Contract next June) – 39, decent but shouldn't be first choice.

Tarkowski – Seems to have gone backwards this season, maybe being an Ironman all last season, and carrying a back injury for the early part (and still maybe?) has made him a liability in truth.

Branthwaite (Saleable Asset) – Maybe his head has been turned? Maybe the hernia and soft tissue injuries are causing him problems? Nowhere near the heady heights of last season (maybe a blessing in disguise for us?)

Mykolenko – Never looked fit in the pre-season games, and has never looked comfortable or fit this season, maybe also playing with Keane early season affected his confidence.

Gana Gueye (Out of Contract next June) – Still a decent back-up player for us, but shouldn't be starting.

Doucouré (Out of Contract next June) – Sadly past his best and, other than hustle and bustle, contributes little to the team now.

Ndiaye – Flatters to deceive as MK is fond to say, would blossom in a different system I feel, but this system and being stuck on the left doesn't help. Would be best at the tip of a midfield 3 I think?

Lindstrøm (On Loan) – Everton just persisting with the failed experiment performed at Napoli last season. Little wonder that the results are the same. Maybe Ndiaye left wing, Lindstrøm aa No 8 or 10, and Harrison right wing might be a way forward till January, and it is vital we get a right wing forward with pace! We can stand pat till the end of the season elsewhere in my opinion. Well, right-back and left-back too...

McNeil – He will play 2 games at 7.5-8/10 then 4 or 6 games completely anonymous or worse as a liability...

Beto – Willing, hard worker, technically lacking, and totally unsuited to this system of play.

Other than that;

Patterson – Too untried to tell, especially after being 'withdrawn' for not playing narrow as instructed!

Coleman (Out of contract next June) – take a bow as an excellent servant, but past it, and his hamstrings seem to have gone.

Dixon (U21s) – Too untried to tell, hot and cold – see Spurs and Southampton in the League Cup.

Keane (Out of contract next June) – Played well this season, let down by the others around him and made a scapegoat when he wasn't at fault.

O'Brien – Too untried to tell, probably not bought for this season but next. Yet, why in the name of Hades hasn't he come in as a replacement for Branthwaite or Tarkowski with their injuries this season?

Iroegbunam – He has played well, but requires more cardio-vascular training and more minutes. Shame he got injured when he was in fine form. [Noe the decline in the form of Everton since his injury.]

Mangala (On Loan) – After a couple of dodgy performances, he has really blossomed with Gana Gueye. Why he is a pine-rider, well ask Dyche about that one?

Garner – Had a very tempestuous season being asked to play three positions and carrying a back complaint which became a full blown injury. The back complaint was apparently picked up on the 'second!' Gaffer's day!? Been missed, I'm not sure what he'd add though?

Chermiti and Broja (On Loan) - Both injured before the season started, who knows? Chermiti looked good pre-season; Broja… will we ever see the 'real' Armand Broja?

Calvert-Lewin (Out of contract next June) – He's been a decent servant, and integral to Benitz, Lampard and Dyche's tactics. Wants off, and who can blame him, by being played as an ariel ball winner, after 18 months under the Ancelotti's and Big Dunc and ask to score goals, not field Pickford long balls.

Harrison (Loan) - Mercurial, sometimes blows hard and delivers nothing, other times is everywhere, and makes one or two key moments, i.e. interceptions, blocks, an assist or sneaks a goal.

Everyone else is an U21/23 hopeful.

So in truth we probably have;

Pickford, Branthwaite (Asset), Managla (Loan), DCL (OOC) and NDiaye as competent EPL players.

Then on the cusp or unknown;

Patterson, O'Brien, Keane (OOC), Tim O, James Garner. Chermiti, Broja (Loan) and Lindstrøm (Loan).

Pitiful really isn't it, Moshiri has tried but didn't have a clue, but really, fack you very much Bill. A very much controlled decline and self-enrichment plan...

Sorry if this is all crap, I'm seriously getting depressed about this now.

But we know the season this Neanderthal was sacked, they were gone, with just 4 wins in 8 months.

Anyway. The nucleus of a good team is creativity in midfield but that's not in Dyche's hoofball tactics. That's why James Garner was on the bench.

What is this love with Dyche and Doucoure? He puts the hard yards in, no guile, his is shite. Has he gone yet?

Carsley wants the England U21s again, that's why Coventry didn't consider him.

We exist on prayers now because it doesn't matter who manages this outfit – without better players, the much declared prophesy of having the best ground in the Championship is becoming a real possibility.

Better players please… someone, anyone!!

Our 2 centre-backs lost 50-50s –which doesn't normally happen – and after that, it was game over.

We need to beat those around us or we are in massive trouble. Lindstrom put a brilliant ball in at 0-0 when, if Beto had attacked near post it was a goal. Beto reacts but doesn't anticipate.

Every game Gueye tries a 40-yarder knowing he succeeds once every few years. McNeil likewise tries a few worldies that come off a few times a year.

Lindstrøm loves the powerful waist-high volley at the goalie's midriff… then we have our strikers. Inevitably they get the ball on the edge of the box get closed down and immediately panic and miss the goal with a snap shot.

None of these repeated events are likely to lead to a goal. Aside from corners, we don't create any clear-cut high-percentage shots at all. But we can bang on “We ‘ad 10 shots on goal so on anova day 9 go in and the narrative changed d'int it?”

No, it doesn't with these low-quality efforts.

It's no use to keep putting all the blame on the manager, it's pretty poor when players who are very very well paid, can't, well — play!

We were crap when Dyche took over, the club have bought £90M worth of players since but they have also sold £165M worth of our best players because we are strapped for cash.

The players (apart from 3 or 4) are just not very good, that's the bottom line.

Plus you get time to work out what you can have in January transfer window.

But this should have been announced two weeks ago, the only delay on this deal is certifying the Friedkins as fit and proper. I can only think the Premier League are dicking us around on purpose after last year.

Then my stream failed and never came back, the best part of another miserable day.

Dyche is not helping himself picking players who are having bad spells but there is definitely not much to choose from. O'Brien at left back couldn't possibly play worse than Mykolenko, Lindstrøm has shown no sign of improving, and his free kicks get worse each time he takes one.

We know Beto isn't the answer but trying him instead of Calvert-Lewin didn't make the team any worse, the way Dominic has been playing. Tarkowski could have been rested, mind you we haven't played for two weeks.

Sixteen players turned out today so there wasn't much left to be fit to play, have the players given up on Dyche? Are they good enough? Will they be better for another manager? Will the board give Dyche and his assistants the boot before Christmas?

When will this bleedin misery end for us fans?— Surely the last 30 years has been enough. I bet you those bastards are winning today!

Man Utd have now beaten Everton 42 times in the Premier League, the highest tally of any side against one opponent in the competition.

Those getting moist over Moyes return, your boy had a big part in that.

When we go up in games, teams find a way to come back against us. When we go down a goal, it's emag revo. Game Over.

Dyche's brand of football: Yuck. And Fuck.

Forget Moyes, for those calling him out. He had a dream team to work with at Old Trafford until we beat him and them in his last game in charge.

Our history says former players win us things. But those former players came from a winning mentality. Our past players who could manage us have won nothing to build from.

We are a club whose fan base hold on to the past of the '80s and successful years prior with adoration.

Another thing that bothers me a lot is the acquisition of young players, who for some reason never fulfill their potential here, but move on and find their success. Most of which never really played for us. Just sat on the bench.

When we buy seasoned players, they are injured and of no use to us for many games or years. This is a different team than last season but Dyche still picks yesteryear's players.

It feels like a home drumming by Liverpool is the answer to our misery for Dyche's removal. Dyche has surpassed all other failing managers before him and still has his job. How the fuck does that happen?

My rambling is over. Group hug.

Individual mistakes and a lack of cutting edge are not a good combination in this league. I'd rather us sit deep and pack the midfield, we are far too easy to play against.

Today was a free hit; Wednesday is a different story, we can't get beat.

I can't argue that the manager is ultimately responsible but the players really need to look at themselves.

I don't even want to think about next weekend, whether he's there or not.

What could possibly go right?

We couldn't beat 10-man Brentford. We've not scored in three consecutive games. The only way we win Wednesday is that Wolves forfeit.

I'll even stick my neck out, if Dyche is still with us when the FA Cup begins, we'll probably get a lower to non-league side, at home, set up as though we're playing Man City, and ultimately lose the game.

That's how much confidence I have in that mother sucker. Dyche out. Should've happened before the season started.

You knew it was going to be a loss having Doucoure in and 2 goalies on the bench.

The man is a fucking dinosaur clown.

Get Out Now, Dyche!!!

Hate it break it to you, mate, but it's 4 games without a goal – not 3, lol.

You saved my day; “He's actually regressed himself as a manager if that's humanely possible.”

A little laugh, cheered me up. Bring on Wednesday, because it'll be closer to the supposed takeover. COYB

I'd be expecting an Italian manager or someone who's been managing in Italy. That rules out Dithering Dave and Graham 'my beard is perfectly manicured and do you like my knitwear?' Potter.

Dyche gets criticised for being unimaginative but people here want to go backwards to Moyes?!? Really? Or they recommend Potter because Brighton passed it around nicely, didn't they? For fuck's sake!

I still expect Dyche to be here until the takeover is confirmed. Might be wrong, dunno, just hope Friedkin is not as clueless at picking managers as our current owner. Or some on ToffeeWeb. And we'll still need a shedload of new players, whoever the next patsy is in the dugout.

Things are worse than I thought. Dyche thinks wearing a tracksuit will automatically win us games. Especially when we can't score a goal, in 4 games in a row now.

Thanks for the correction, Jim.

Most on ToffeeWeb could probably run the club better than the absolute circus it is.

I don't want Moyes but he's a million times the manager that Cro-Magnon Dyche is.

Going back to Moyes is not what I want, and we won't, I don't think, but keeping Dyche and then proceeding to question going backwards to Moyes, who actually made most of his players better, or questioning Graham Potter, instantly tells me you are arse talking.

Dyche is one of the most pragmatic boring managers the Premier League has ever witnessed, he's up with Tony Pulis.

He's a myth because the media love him, a bit like Big Sam, they are scared to question him properly.

The game against Wolves is a huge 6-point game. I just hope playing under the lights in the Old Lady works in our favour.

It's a results business, and there's little prospect of us staying out of the relegation zone over Christmas if we fail to beat Wolves.

Looking at the relegation wall chart, we're already toast (that is, we don't have enough winnable home games to get to 10 wins). Fail to win midweek and we'll need some pleasant surprises in terms of results to avoid the drop.

Someone please send him on gardening leave at least! He'll take us down.

Surely that's down to the player and the player alone. No amount of tactics can account for errors.

You're confusing your dislike of Dyche with a rational idea of what is needed to take the club forward. It's convenient to blame everything on the manager but the fact is we've been shit for a number of years, unless you've not noticed, and during that time we've had a number of different managers.

Thinking a Moyes or a Potter would somehow solve the shit-fest that is Everton FC is wishful thinking at best. The club needs new players and an executive management team serious about implementing a different ethos from top-to-bottom at the club to have any chance of us recovering our former status.

Potter succeeded at Brighton partly because he had a functioning structure around him, do you think we have that at Everton? Moyes merely represents the past, he also served up some unwatchable crap while he was manager. Neither are the answer in my view.

My point about Dyche is that, while the ownership of the club is up for grabs, he may continue to escape the sack temporarily. As you seem extremely confident that you'd be able to run the club better than the current owner, I'm surprised you haven't clocked that basic principle.

When you have a clueless man in charge of the team, anything is possible. Players have no confidence and really look confused at times! Look how Iwobi turned out after leaving us!!!

Well you were brought in to improve things and you haven't. You've brought players here who you wanted, bu you never change fuck-all. I honestly can't believe any Everton fan wants this prick in charge a second longer.

I absolutely despise him with a passion and can't wait til he is chased —him and his shit coaching team who have us playing shithouse football.

Our fans deserve so much better. I don't mind losing but, for fuck's sake, 7 wins a year… just resign, you odious prick.

If this delay is attributable to the Premier League comics it's truly a scandal!

We need to takeover to happen in the next 2 weeks so the new ownership can hit the ground running in the transfer window, and make whatever changes necessary to keep us in the Premier League. If that's even possible at this stage.

The takeover has to be completed with utmost haste. I've no idea exactly what the hold-up is (does anyone beside the actual protagonists?) but I am very fearful that there may be somebody getting cold feet. With the evident 'clout' that TFG supposedly have, surely they have the means and motive to expedite the deal.

I just worry, with the way the dice has rolled over the past few years, that this might just go tits up. We would not recover from that.

Besides the stadium, the entire Everton package appears to offer a very unappealing proposition just now. The team has somehow got to change that and offer a faint glimmer of hope sometime very soon.

Changing the subject – I am tired of hearing this comment..."Pat Nevin, commentating on 5 Live, had us holding our own until their first goal went in..." or variations of that theme.

Christ's sake, Wayne Rooney's Plymouth were "holding their own" before conceding 6 the other night. I know what people are trying to say but talk about stating the fucking obvious.

I'm bloody livid tonight. Something has to happen.

We've a poor team but Lindstrøm is a big disappointment for me, he seems far too lightweight for the Premier League. I thought Beto did as well as Calvert-Lewin would have.

I'm weondering if lack of runners and players making themselves available is down to the defensive positioning the team is coached in and terrified of varying from (even though it isn't working)?

Bagging a free parking space was invariably the highlight of the afternoon.

On we go against Wolves which does seem like a must-win even though there are other shockingly poor teams around.

I'm normally the optimist but now I am more than a tad worried. I think Dyche has lost the fans and the fans are not backing the team in the same way. So the team are just not there in any way, shape or form.

It really is time for a change… but I suspect it won't happen.

In another article, I wrote that I believed that someone in the FA had an agenda against Everton, and the delay for new ownership is a legal move to slow down the new ownership.

Dyche has lost the players and is losing the fans, as his reluctance to change his system and tactics is beyond him as he only knows one way to play, and it is becoming easier for opposition managers to set their teams up.

If a change in manager is going to happen, it has to be done as soon as possible to avoid what is starting to become a relegation possibility.

It is no longer dwelling on what Dyche achieved last season; we have to look at the future and presently the future looks bleak.

I will hold my hand up and admit that I thought that Dyche would be the manager to do better this season but, even with signing some new players, the standard and intensity of play has diminished drastically and something has to change quickly.

You're quite correct, we were holding our own at 0-0, until the inevitable first goal goes in. From then on, we just don't seem to be able to change the game.

We hardly ever equalise, or turn it around to a winning situation. 0-0 to 1-0 usually ends up at 4-0 against Top 10 sides, the first goal is crucial.

I'm not having this "he can't be sacked" bollocks!! He can't be kept is the real truth!

We could be in serious trouble come January… then what? What players are you going to attract? If any?

It's going to be a long month.

Since the introduction of the Premier League, we have regressed to what? I don't know. A whole generation of fans only know the shit Everton.

I don't know the answer to our mess. But I sense that our future lies with our home supporters. Oust this man out by making noise. Like we did to Sam, Benitez and others before, when the standards had truly disintegrated.

Get out, Sean. Pack your bags and leave.

The Guardian ran a story which referred to this date and some discussion took place on here following Moshiri's announcement that he would convert debt to equity if the deal was not completed by the cut-off date of 11 January.

All seems a bit worrying to me because, by that date, it may be too late to hope for anything but a miracle!

Failure to sack Lampard after that game nearly cost us dearly. We should be prepared to act swiftly on Wednesday night.

The finest of margins separate wins from draws. A couple of wins from the preceding fixtures and we'd be in a comfortable position. But we didn't get the wins, we are where we are, and results dictate that Dyche must go if he fails to get the win midweek.

Enough is enough and he needs to be jettisoned, and soon. But please, as others have asked, who is there at the club who is in the position to do the deed?

Saying "Listen... get him to fuck!! We are not interested in buying a Championship club."

Why is he still there? Surely they have to be consulting with the club on any major issues and decisions being taken during the takeover process?

So why can't they say... "Him out... him in... we know it will have a price financially but that price is worth paying to stay in the Premier League, stay above the main relegation scrap, and we will be able to attract some players in January"?

If TFG are confident of Moshiri and this club making the right decisions,then we may not be getting the owners we think.

Act now!!!

Make of that what you will but, if they score first, it will be truly draining.

Starting Beto at Old Trafford instead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a worrying decision by Dyche; if he wanted to give Dominic a kick up the ass, he should have done it weeks ago, prior to the so-called easier fixture list, not now when we're facing a tough run of games.

When a manager starts tinkering with his team, it means he doesn't have a clue how to fix the issues his team have, particularly when he only gives opportunities to players such as Patterson when the game has already been lost.

Dyche may survive until Christmas, he may even survive until the end of the season, but the more important thing is: Will Everton survive?

If nobody is in place to make a change or if nobody at the club wants to make a change, then they'd better start planning for the Championship and how to escape from that division.

As it stands, I can't see how we could even give those teams in the Championship a game, so it would be best for the club if we at least tried to stay in the top-flight.

Most of us know we aren't good enough, but we can't allow the players to show a lack of pride in the shirt they wear, and I just get the feeling that is what's happening before our very eyes.

Wolves on Wednesday is the biggest fixture we've faced so far this season, and its importance to the club is far greater than any upcoming derby game. We have to win on Wednesday, by hook or by crook, because if we don't, that would be 2 wins from 14 and that's definitely relegation form.

1) Who sacks him?

Thelwell? Never. My guess is that he will be on his way as well as Dyche once the Spitfire lands.

Chong? I can't see it myself. An interim CEO who may be holding the reins ‘officially' but whose only actual remit is delivering the new stadium on schedule.

2) Who replaces him?

No decent coach in their right mind would fancy this shit show and who could blame them?

Also, who negotiates with our incoming saviour? Thelwell? Chong? I refer you back to Question 1.

One final point: If you ever needed something to sum up this current team, just have a look at our Captain's ‘challenge' which led to the fourth goal today… Now there's a man for a battle.

Generally, we start most games pretty well ('pretty well' is relative to what we've had to witness in the last 3 years!).

I'm embarrassed at what we've become. We are a laughing stock in the North and an irrelevance in the South. I wish I didn't care, but I'm hurting. I'm supposed to be on a six-day dry run. That ended at full-time.

I think it's unlikely that Dyche would be fired till the new owners are in place but a loss against Wolves might force the situation.

If the rumours of a Concecaio, Terzic, Sarri and Potter is true that's encouraging. I'd be excited to see what Concecaio could do if we were able to persuade him.

Our Captain's Cryuff turn shit-bag attempt for their fourth surely can't be blamed on Dyche.

If Keane had played like Branthwaite today, every other post would be slaughtering him, though as it is, he has been barely mentioned.

Big game on Wednesday; I think the only change I would make is Mangala in for Lindstrøm. Pack the midfield and make the opposition work for it.

We're at home to Wolves – the opposition should be making us work for it.

That is how far we have sunk.

I haven't watched the video of Dyche's interview so does anyone know what this means?

Was he rapping?

I agree but that's where we are as a club. Back to basics if that's even possible and cut out the individual mistakes, play a % game and see what gives.

True we can't blame Dyche for Branthwaite's errors. But we can blame him for setting out his stall to get 0-0 against mediocre or rubbish teams we've already played.

Luckily, they played out the final 20 minutes as a training exercise. Humiliating.

Mistakes happen in football, the team that makes the least mistakes tends to win.

We need to cut out the mistakes and start being hard to beat. I couldn't understand why we were so open in the game compared to our previous matches, especially at home to lesser teams.

1 lone striker. 65 minutes gone, 4-0 down. Now we substitute. Do we play with 2 strikers? No. It's like he saying to the fans indirectly "I'm playing your players but the result is the same."

I'm tired of watching an excellent club being the joke of the Premier League. Last week, we opened up the same way, encouraging performance to start, but only flattered to deceive.

I once watched us play, with the notion if we played well enough, we could get a positive result. Under this idiot, that passion has all but gone. To be happy with a defeat so as to remove our manager is sacrilegious, but how much are we to endure before we cut him loose?

It was Everton U18s' fourth goal in the dying minutes of the game to secure a point having come from 4 - 0 down against West Ham.

Braiden knows how to score and Dom does not.

It wouldn't be so bad if we had seen some green shoots of recovery during this season, and we all had something to cling onto. A side lacking in goals and beginning to show the deficiencies in the back-line, which in truth have been there all season, isn't going to be solved easily, either by Dyche or by somebody else.

I believe we're at the point where Sean Dyche is less likely to turn things around than a new face and new voices out on the training pitch might be able to.

On another note, those calling for his head – and I'm one of them – are pissing in the wind; not a prayer he's getting sacked.

We're stuck with the clown, and I could be wrong here – didn't TGF say they'll keep him til the end of the season?

All well and good but expect to be playing our first season at the new stadium in the Championship.

"World Aids Day" and red is the colour.

We have offices there but not sure we own the Liver Building though, Gerry.

Come the New Year, you can see this squad being rock bottom on 11 points.

It lacks quality, and now lacks fight. It's hard to see who is going to lift the performances.

We have had more managers than hot dinners with feck all change in our status. Another patsy will not miraculously make our players more skilled – which the lack of, is the real problem.

Luckily, there are 5 more teams in the Premier League that are just as crap as us.

Only left my door open for a few minutes and someone took my Take That Greatest Hits CD – where my season ticket was hid.

A day later, someone pushed my season ticket back through the letterbox…The Take That CD, however, is still missing. :-)

Changing the narrative
I've talked about this endlessly
That's the hardest thing for a manager
I've been in this league a long time
It's been a problem since before I arrived

Same old story.

It's horrifying to think that he probably won't be sacked. It should have happened last season when we were also appalling for a long stretch. Obviously there are some poor teams in this league, hence we are 15th... but that really could change in the next month.

If we really want to change 'the story', then we need to move on the guy who is telling it. His exit can't come soon enough.

At the moment, we are the worst side in the Premier League.

At least the sides below manage to score goals; I think there's only 1 other side in the Premier League that's scored the same amount as us.

A disgraceful stat and all down to one man – Dyche. I honestly think he'd be delighted with drawing every game 0-0.

I don't know how we get out of this with this manager in charge because we don't look like weve got a goal in us – let alone a win.

It's hard to believe he will be around much longer and he will probably do well back in the Championship.

Everton have had a lot of managers, it's true, but so have Chelsea who have done so much better over the last 10 years.

The difference is money. When you can splash it out, you can attract the best players but Everton's financial problems leave them for the most part getting the dregs left available.

I also think Everton's scouting is sub-par.

Hopefully, the New Year will see the kind of improvement all around that we all want.

How Dyche can emerge with any credit from that shit show is beyond me.

The lighting puzzled me, I'm glad to see it was for a worthy purpose.

To still dither on the touchline at 4-nil and wait until 67 minutes before finally making changes is beyond madness.

For all Martinez faults towards the later end of his management, he never once threw a player under the bus and it was always 'we' or 'us' when he talked about Everton.

Dyche has blamed everyone bar himself, the players, "It's been like this before I came" … well, you have been here 2 years and fixed nothing.

When we win, it is all down to him; lose and it's everyone else's fault.

Next Saturday is our last ever Goodison Merseyside derby, the fans will do everything they can, the players will be up for it, and if we pull another result out of the bag, it will all be down to the manager, in his own words.

He put Patterson and O'Brien on, does anyone think either of those two will get a start on Wednesday? Tarkowski has been poor all season, yet Keane who, to be fair, had been playing well, gets dropped.

It's a must-win game on Wednesday, a few simple tweaks: bring Keane back in for Tarkowski, give Patterson a run out at right back, drop Doucoure for Mangola… I would even consider dropping Mykolenko and switching Young to left-back.

Sure we could tweak a couple more but my gut feeling is he will start with the same 11 again, or just change Beto for Dom with the other 10 unchanged.

Take That! :-)

It's a pity Dyche doesn't have a UB40 CD !

But not that desperate; he left me a fiver donation and said "You poor bastard, have a drink on me."

Most sources tracking the takeover still predict it being approved by the middle of December, although there are no guarantees that this is what the Premier League are or will work to…

But put that aside — the 11 January date relates to shareholder loans, not TFG's takeover:

Any Shareholder loan that was entered into before 22 November 2024 and which is replaced with other forms of financing (e.g. by way of conversion to equity or repayment) within 50 days (i.e. by 11 January 2025) will not be required to be submitted as an APT or assessed for FMV.

Any Shareholder loan that was entered into after 14 December 2021 but before 22 November 2024 and remaining in effect on 11 January 2025 must be submitted as an APT.

He's one of the worst footballers I've ever seen; so how a defensive manager can't see how bad he is, is beyond comprehension.

Thank goodness for that. The deal was announced publicly on 23rd September, 10 weeks ago tomorrow.

Ratcliffe's deal to purchase 25% of Man Utd took 9 weeks.

Surely we shouldn't have to wait much longer.

I think Mangala in for Lindstrøm on Wednesday night and pack the midfield is an excellent suggestion.

Moshiri issued a statement as to how Everton would respond to the new Premier League rules under his watch if the takeover hasn't been completed by 11 January.

Why?

I think we're going to have to wait a bit longer…

But in committing to convert his loans to the club into shares before the deadline, even if the TFG deal hasn't come to a successful conclusion by January 11, the club would be shielded from incurring such a cost burden.

The expectation from sources close to the deal is that it may well be a moot point, with Moshiri having committed to make that move some time ago, and confidence remaining high that regulatory approval will arrive within the initial timeframe that the potential new US owners had been working towards.

The 'some time ago' line in the final paragraph is possibly open to interpretation, was it days before the Guardian's report or possibly weeks or months?

But then I got to wondering whether those at Finch Farm think it's called "Can We Score A Goal This Month?"

Just asking.

I certainly had been taken in by The Guardian article.

All spin perhaps...

Doesn't happen often at our age... just enjoy being "pleasured".

I've advocated for all sorts of formation changes purely to find a way to get him off the pitch.

His part in the third goal also seems to be being overlooked. He put Tarkowski in a terrible position when there were forward passes that only required a reasonable level of football ability. Just turn and play the pass...

Instead, he plays a hospital pass back. It's standard Mykolenko kind of stuff.

"Instead he plays a hospital pass back"

I was about to say the same thing. He is so scared of losing the ball, it's his first instinct. There was actually no one on him.

With the 2nd goal, Young and Branwaite should be able to handle 1 Man Utd player – simple training ground stuff – but instead, he puts a tiny bit of pressure on them and wins the ball, both trying to pass it backwards.

Pickford shouldn't have passed it to Young in the first place. The Man Utd player probably knew this and hedged his bets.

And if Tarkowski hasn't got the energy or speed to stop Rashford getting that ball for the 3rd – everyone knew Rashford was going to get a pass – or at the very least get in Rashford's face and make him work for it. But instead, Tarkowski just gave up and looked exhausted.

BTW - who is the gentleman with the spectacles that Mr Dyche keeps speaking to under his hand? I find it funny when this chap doesn't speak under his hand to respond.

I find this covering of the mouth by Dyche to speak to the man next to him as very strange as every manager in the Premier League knows how he plays and what his options are.

The only thing that might surprise them is if he used one of the two keepers on the bench as an outfield player, possibly a striker, as we don't seem to have one of them.

Oh, and I notice this covering of the mouth has now spread to some of the players… who must be talking a better game than they are playing.

I wrote an article a month back re the forthcoming fixtures, replacing Dyche with an interim manager till next season.

Since then all we got was the backing of the board and a single point. Worse still, if it's possible to play worse then we have done so.

We are running out of time, if we get beat by Wolves and the other lot, it won't be cushions raining down from the stands, it will be the bloody seats!

Someone has to make a decision… the longer it's left, the less chance of surviving a relegation fight..

Corestate Capital currently owns 35% of the building while Mr Moshiri owns 49.9%. It is understood that the other 15.1% is owned by a group of international investors.

The New York Times reported a few weeks ago (I can't remember if I posted about it or not) that TFG hired Nolan Partners, one of the top sports executive headhunters in football, to find a new CEO for Everton. They have in the recent past found various executives for Chelsea, Newcastle, Southampton, Inter, Monaco, US Soccer and the MLS clubs in Vancouver and Houston.

One name reportedly popping up on Nolan's target list is Dane Murphy, former CEO at Forest when they won promotion to the Premier League. He's now working as a consultant to the American company that owns AC Milan. The Friedkins know him well. And I actually saw him on TV once, on the Men in Blazers show (Yank Evertonians will know). He looks about 17 but came off as a very bright guy.

Just food for speculation.

PS... I found the interview clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29z_R6Uk3Bc

That would be typical Everton.

(regardless I saw him in my 15 year old lads after school table tennis team last week).

I digress... So he's obviously not a fit for our beloved blues. Next? 😶

The only reason I can see why TFG haven't sacked Dyche is because the deal isn't going smoothly.

I'm here all week, folks!!!

Hoping it’s just the general malaise causing this uncharacteristic pessimism.

Rashford comes across to attempt to win the ball but misses it, leaving Mykolenko with an easy pass to Tarkowski, who totally shit out, letting Diallo take it off him and a clear run on goal.

There's a golden rule in football… always play the ball the way you are facing. Granted, not always, but in this instance Mykolenko played the right pass. If Tarkowski had put his foot through the ball and cleared it down the line, the fourth goal does not happen.

I know we have a limited squad (not entirely Dyche's fault) and a couple of injuries, but to keep picking, more or less, the same under-performing ones leaves little excuse. Young at 39 should not be first choice RB, but in fairness has been okay-ish. Myko has been pretty awful for a while so why not try O'Brien there ?

Doucoure, enough said, offers nothing while Mangala sits on the bench for the most part. Beto has the heart of a lion but is just not cut out for the Premiership. All the mention of Broja having played a large part in 2 U21 matches. Where was he ?

Maybe, clutching at straws but trying something different keeps players on their toes, and may just provide a different result. At least it would have been tried, as opposed to same old, same old !

Tarkowski was off balance and should have made the challenge that would have either resulted in the situation being over, or a yellow card.

But that was very typical Mykolenko. The default is to go backwards, and the execution is generally poor. Not his fault - he's just a very limited player at this level. That we paid 18M for.

I watched players last week turn him down as an option, even when he was the obvious option.

These players are coached to be negative – so none of them are going to go to the ball – it's a default mechanism now to back off.

Dyche is the issue, very obviously. We are going down if he stays until the New Year… end of.

His brief recent tenure with the senior England team showed he was not scared of replacing longstanding “stars” with youngsters with success – something Dyche stubbornly refuses to do.

How's this for radical? Up front have McNeil & Harrison either side of Ndaiye. It can't be any worse than it is now.

Howard Kendall was gash until he got in some decent players; he was on the verge of the sack before the Miracle of Oxford and the players took in his football style.

I would have no qualms about Carsley; he played with his heart on his sleeve and these next great things in the junior teams may get a chance before they are 30 the way this clown manages.

Played for us and seems a nice bloke. Err... get him signed now!

But in hindsight, both were saddled by a downward spiral and lack of operating as a professional club.

Then we had the Moyes years. The second coming of the nearly men.

We have been mismanaged, some buying into the plucky Everton tag, and lack of expectation.

Anyway, let's get these next two fixtures out of the way this week. You never know. Anything can happen in football.

My dog is making the 500 mile round trip with me on Wednesday. Don't worry, she's not going the match or playing, I'm dropping her off at my sisters as I can't leave her overnight!!

I had an eye operation on Friday, I was zonked all day Saturday but got up late on to get a drink and take some pain relief and I just caught the back end of the Southampton game on MotD and they were playing in a way you could only dream of at Everton, with young players showing the way. They are bottom and it frightens me where Everton could finish up.

I was in hospital in 1968 when Southport drew Everton at home in the FA Cup, my hometown team featuring a lot of ex-Everton youth and reserve players vs my adopted team. Dyche could get it to be a regular league fixture.

From what I've read and what my son, the more knowledgable and informed one, told me, Carsley would rather go back to and remain in the England U21s. He's quoted as saying that and had no interest in the top job.

We need a change of direction, in the dugout and across the club.

Carsley has no qualifications whatsoever to manage us and if he hadn’t been a former player no one would have given him a thought.

TFG will surely have a new manager lined up and thankfully it won’t be Carsley or Moyes.

Pep was a reserve coach when he took over Barcelona first team.

"How's this for radical? Up front have McNeil & Harrison either side of Ndiaye. It can't be any worse than it is now".

Iain, that is a radical idea (for Dyche). But, as you say, it couldn't be any worse. I love Ndiaye and feel he's having to do too much on his own; he's beating players and creating chances for others – who waste the chances.

I just wonder how it would be if even half-decent balls were delivered to Ndiaye in an advanced position; he has the ability to receive and control a poor pass to him, and it would be worth seeing whether this ability and his ability to beat a man (the last man in this case) could produce the end product we ache for.

Another straw I'm clutching at.

I would literally take anyone over Dyche now.

Because there isn't time to let someone weigh up and motivate the players who, from what I hear, Dyche lost months ago.

See, I was in the opposite corner to the Blues at the ground. It's very hard to pretend to be enjoying yourself while watching this shite.

What I did notice is a team not playing for the manager and actively trying to get him sacked. A lot of avoiding tackles, not going to the ball, missed passes, and a seeming lack of concentration. To me, that looks like the team saying "We can't keep playing this shite."

I hope I'm right and it's not just incompetence. I don't think I'll ever go to the away end again. On the bright side, I met a fellow Blue and his son in the pub before the match and had a great discussion about the Blues.

It will only take a manager to tell Calvert-Lewin to stay in the 18-yard box and he'll score. If it was good enough for Ancelotti, it's surely good enough for Dyche?

Chris Wood is 32 and not the most mobile of forwards but Santo plays him to his strengths, he stays in the box, the result being 9 goals in 13 games.

It's not difficult to see especially when 35,000+ can spot it from Sandhills.

But people still keep asking for ex-players and Evertonians to get the manager's job! Baines, Carsley etc… the game has moved on and, if we want a new start, we need TFG to clear out all the hangers-on and hire people who are actually good at their jobs.

Stubbornness, Iain, complete stubbornness.

Against Man Ud, Dyche again changed with two up front: Beto and Doucoure. Again, it was to have more shooting boots available. Mykolenko got forward as well. But again there was no support player and additiona safety at the back was abandoned with two at the back.

Dyche does not employ forward tactics. His idea of attack is to push a team of goalscorers forward and hope that one of them connects with the ball and scores.

Dycheball is defend in numbers and spoilt play, but once the team tries to play offensively, Dyche's frailties regarding defensive play are exposed, whether it be the defensive line depth, tracking back, zonal marking or positioning.

To some extent, the team of scorers with inverted wingers and no overlapping is an attempt at a low block. But woefully pass completion in the final third, loss of possession, and long pass giveaways from deep midfield and backs make a mockery of it.