More injury concerns for Sean Dyche

Must admit I thought he was going to be back.

Didn't say too much about Patterson considering he played 3 times for the U21s?

I'm beginning to really dislike Dyche… two-faced. Tarkowski plays with an injury. Branthwaite returned on the back of half a game. There are other examples.

So why not just say "I don't rate him and don't want to pick him"? Dyche is being disingenuous again.

We have a genuine right-back who must be fit enough to play most of the game, if not all. However, Young will start.

Sooner Dyche is gone, the better.

He said O'Brien is training very well, there's 3 centre-backs ahead of him, and the Premier League is very demanding physically and mentally, and he's young?

So that tells me, even though he had a great season in France, he's not in his plans? I reckon he was a Thelwell signing?

The right-back position is cursed. along with everything else!

Coleman, Ndiaye and O'Brien on the bench?

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Then, it's usually weeks before they are deemed fit to play again.

There seems to be a convenient excuse for continuing to keep Keane and Young happy.

In the '70s and '80s, players never suffered the injuries current players get. Takeaways, alcohol and fags didn't do footballers any harm years ago. Maybe we should go back to that!

Yesterday, I was watching a clip that included Mick Bernard around 1974, he was struggling on that regime even then!

The game has changed drastically in terms of physical demands. We are at the bottom in terms of recruiting new players and must go outside the usual stepping stones to the Premier League.

But hey, we are already invested in distrusting the man who kept us in the mix, have a go at him.

He only then revealed both he and Tim are out injured. Like it was irrelevant news.

Patterson may as well be sold in January, Dyche is not going to play him. He's about 9th choice for right-back.

He said Patterson is off it, yet he's played 3 U21 games, and Branthwaite is a bit behind Seamus?

When questioned further if Jarrad was available for Saturday, he said he trained for the last two days with no ill effects, so does he want to play Keane or what???

Denis, maybe not at Premier League level? It is difficult to imagine Dixon making the three spectacular tackles that Garner made against the Skunks.

I think it's probably safe to interpret "Patterson is not quite there yet" as meaning "Patterson is not quite there yet". In fact, it's very plausible indeed given that he's been injured more often than not since turning up from Rangers (yet somehow isn't "weak as piss" or a "faker" as Calvert-Lewin was when he was injured).

Joe # 17, I think you've made the most important point on the thread which is it's a long time since we've been able to field a fit First XI. This is particularly because it highlights a problem we've had for about 25 years – the Second XI is pretty crap. This has a massive negative impact on our results.

At the moment, it looks like it'll be:

Pickford, Coleman, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Keane, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil, Harrison and Calvert-Lewin.

Not sure O'Brien is an obvious starter – except possibly ahead of Tarkowski who has been poor.

Ipswich will probably line up like this – in a similar 4-2-3-1:

Muric, Johnson, Davis, Greaves, O'Shea, Morsy, Phillips, Hutchison, Clarke, Burns, Delap.

Not a lot to choose between the two sides in terms of quality. Davis, Hutchison, Clarke and Delap are all good footballers.

Why wait until an hour and a quarter before kick-off – why don't we just tell Ipswich now what our first XI will be, who'll be on the bench, and what our formation and tactics will be, as well as the timing of substitutions?

Garner did his level best against Newcastle with Gordon and Joelinton running at him. He still looked like a midfielder out of position.

Dixon was the our best defender against Spurs. His reward for making the senior defenders look crap was to be immediately dropped.

Regardless, Young will play at right-back.

As fans, we are desperate for the club to be honest and transparent in everything they say and do. But by doing that, the enemy would know too much.

Results are what matters. If Dyche keeps us well above the dropzone until the takeover, then I couldn't care less what he says to the media.

Dyche went on to say that he will make a call in the next 24 hours.

Dyche is arrogant, he said in his interview that he will not play players just because Everton brought them in. He said on O'Brien, he is where Branthwaite was before being sent out on loan, and on Patterson, that's over.

Dyche is not good enough for us, his football is dire, but his subs and game management are even worse. He is so arrogant, he thinks he can cane our players, and he's probably playing Keane to give him a new contract.

Dyche helped to keep us up but we helped him back with £5M a year and his bonuses to keep us up. I remember when he first came in, he said at this level you will be found out. He was found out.

I still can't understand why he can't make the right subs at the right time, which should be the most basic job criterion for an alleged Premier League manager.

We're away to Ipswich. Play the in-form and fittest and bring in the recovering players gradually. There's a long way to go this season.

The game is incredibly quick nowadays, and the pitches are even quicker, which means the players are much more athletic, and a lot more of their workload is done at a very high intense level these days.

Having a bigger squad is so important nowadays and I was only talking to someone today about how important I thought using your subs should be in the modern game.

You should logically be able go and get a few 60-minute men, into a modern day football team, and although the science has improved massively, I still think a lot of managers haven't quite grasped how important this can be.

Dyche won't change, Dyche can't change, is what the people say, but I'd love to hear our manager’s views on this considering the strength of his squad!

I'm obviously not the manager but wonder how bad our back up players must be (in the eyes of the manager) to not make the team when the main players are unavailable.

Same goes for O'Brien. If he was really brought in as 4th choice centre-back, why not just sign a senior pro on a free and save £17M? An outlay of that size for someone not even 2nd string?

Anyway, Young has done okay in the last couple of games tbf but would be nice to see Dixon given more minutes, even if not starting.

What's more, we then defend the team saying that the Premier League is a tough league.

To be honest 75% of the game now is walking with gentle jogs so why do we get these injuries and no other team?

This is coupled with the fact that Dyche (amongst others) fails to give youth a chance so, when we need them, they are not ready (or injured) and so we have central midfielders playing right-back, an aged right-back playing left-back, and a striker that seems to be on strike!

Can't wait for the next owners, maybe they can sort this mess out!

The thirst for information is incredible and must help keep a lot of people going until the matchday arrives. When I watched a little video of Branthwaite the day before the Palace game (it's just took me 45 seconds to remember the only league game we have won this season), it was clear he was behind a lot of the squad when it came to running at speed, and I was very surprised he played that day.

It shouldn't make me laugh reading how much Dyche gets on some people's nerves. It reminds me of how I felt when “Disappointing Walter” was in charge of our club.

But it shows me that people still care, and that's the most important thing and a lot better than my current apathy.

Hopefully he can choose the right combination of 'fit players' to get a result!

Seems quite a sensible move too considering both Branthwaite and Keane will probably leave the club next summer.

In fact, it's a fairly sensible strategy generally, to improve the overall quality and depth in the squad through buying these low cost younger players whom we can develop over time.

I don't think Ipswich need to work in MI5 to suss out what our tactics will be and when subs will be brought on. It's Sean Dyche.

If we are losing two centre halves in the summer, like you predict, then it makes even more sense to give him game time now… or am I missing something?

Like it took a while for Baines. And like Mitoma, Adingra, Enciso, Caicedo etc took a while at Brighton etc.

O'Brien has only played one season at a decent standard etc.

And Doucouré.

Jimmy is not injured. Jimmy Garner will never play in midfield under Dyche’s philosophy of football.

"Dyche is arrogant, he said in his interview that he will not play players just because Everton brought them in."

How on earth does that make Dyche "arrogant"? Every Premier League manager would say exactly the same about his club/players. Arrogant twats.

It even seems that Dyche buys into it for reasons only he knows, with a tough schedule of matches coming up.

Patterson has never been the same since the slap on the back of the head. We can blame Dyche for that.

I cannot get out of my head that Dyche's attitude has changed since his statement regarding a new contract to manage Everton at the new stadium.

If I was being asked about my team and players before matchday, I wouldn't be forthcoming with any injury updates or any truth in general.

If they’re not with you, any information can be used against you.

Two fingers up and all around. Besides, most people find non-fiction far more entertaining.

Whoever crosses the white line with 3,000 Evertonians behind them, as well as those watching or listening in, gets our support.

A ball hasn't been kicked yet.

If you're around for Fulham home; I'm travelling up. It would be nice to meet up if convenient.

He's not picking players as first choice if he thinks he has a player who can do a better job sat on the bench that would be silly.

He knows obviously that his future depends on winning games and is not going to cut off his nose to spite his face.

Wow! I might dig my old boots out!

“I don't think Ipswich need to work in MI5 to suss out what our tactics will be and when subs will be brought on. It's Sean Dyche.”

So what is the starting XI against Ipswich? And the subs bench? And our tactics? And the timing of substitutions?

If I may, we gave up 4 goals. Maybe Dixon wasn't directly responsible though, I did not see that match.

I may (hopefully) be proved wrong but I would disagree that £17M is a modest sum for a player not able to even come on as sub. Especially for us, a club making continual losses and deducted points for essentially not having a pot to piss in.

Branthwaite from memory only had one season in the Dutch league before almost effortlessly playing in the Premier League. For £17M, I'd expect a player who could at least provide back-up and be ahead in the pecking order of other players who are injured.

For O'Brien to not be played whilst both Tarkowski and Branthwaite are played (risked) when injured beggars belief. Also, how is he supposed to adjust to the Premier League whilst sitting on the bench?

Re playing time, he's not just had a season in the French league, he also played in the Belgian league the season before (30 games) and for Swindon in League Two the season before that. For Lyon, he played 27 times last season and scored 4 goals. But not good enough to shift an injured Tarkowski or Keane? Sorry, doesn't make sense for me.

I wonder if the sale had anything to do with Teixtor when he was favourite to buy us? Seemed too much of a coincidence that we buy a player from a troubled club owned by our (at the time) prospective new owner.

Anyway. Time will tell. 3 points all that matters Saturday, whoever takes the field.

That's all.

The dynamics of these games, both winnable by Everton, will raise the Qs and As, about what's gonna happen pre takeover.

Sean Dyche will know these games count in the longer term, and will add to his credibility if Everton get two good results.

Beating Ipswich will be a fine achievement all considered with the injury list.

As soon as some look like coming back others sustain injuries.

Doesn't matter who they are playing next the bad luck always hit's team like Everton.

The ''money clubs'' RS, City and the likes have the strength in depth to still be competitive but we have to rely on the ''old brigade'' once again.

Ipswich will be tough, never mind Fulham.

As Robert says some of the comments on this thread are bizarre.

I am surprised Ironman is out injured. Maybe just a little rusty perhaps, because of the international break. 🤓

Unbelievable given the brilliant work he’s done for the club.

Hey ho, some short memories. Some fans want to go back to the hire and fire instability that Moshiri brought. Good luck with that

And I think it shows. A couple of the great tackles you mention were required because he was caught out of position.

That said, I will promptly contradict myself and tell you that I consider him very possibly our right back of the future. He's a fine young player with a skill set that could make him very good at the position if he can gain some experience there. And I'm not sure I see a long-term role for him in the center of midfield.

What a pathetic and childish response to an entirely reasonable question. One of a number that could have been reasonably asked about your at times inarticulate post.

Can you elaborate on those Dyche quotes or provide a source?

I'm not trying to be contrary and suggest you made them up but honestly asking as the info you presented is quite alarming if true.

Assuming Branthwaite is out:

Pickford, Young, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Ndiaye, Harrison, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Gueye, Lindstrom, Virginia, Beto, O'Brien, Dixon, Armstrong, Coleman, Begovic

Hump the ball up to Calvert-Lewin at every opportunity.

Bring on Doucoure, Gueye and Coleman with about 20 minutes to go. Beto with about 10 minutes to go.

OMG I look forward to the day this guy never again walks out in an Everton jumper. Good chance one of his actions will give another goal away this week.

Nigel, hilarious that mate — how can Dyche bring on Doucoure if you have also got him starting the game???

In fairness to Dyche, and I'm not a huge Dyche fan, I wouldn't expect him to just throw someone into the team just because we have bought them. I don't think that actually makes him arrogant. They would need to earn their spurs in training etc.

The problem I have with O'Brien is, I thought having played a full and productive season with Lyon in Ligue 1, a league I would hold at least comparable with the Eredivisie (Branthwaite comparison in mind), he would be someone we could take a reasonable punt with pretty much from the off.

I think it's alarming that he can't compete with an out-of-form and injured Tarkowski and I don't think £17M is insignificant.

Are Thelwell and Dyche on the same page? It's a point I have raised in another thread. Or has O'Brien simply let himself down since he has been here? Dyche says no, so on that basis I don't get it at all.

In the case of Dixon, I would have expected him to have had more minutes than he has done. Dyche is arrogant? No. Too cautious? Yes.

Wasn't that hilarious though, was it?

As for comparisons with Branthwaite's development, they are way off the mark. Branthwaite looked like he would be an excellent player since he was playing (briefly) in the first team at 17.

O'Brien is a later developer with only fourth-tier experience at Swindon at age 20, 2nd tier experience in Belgium age 21 before his breakout season in Lyon age 22. His trajectory is more like that of, say, Reece Welch – by coincidence also playing 2nd tier football in Belgium at age 21 after a loan in the fourth tier with Forest Green.

So not hugely surprising if O'Brien is a bit raw. But, as per earlier comment, he could be an important signing for the next 5 to 10 years if we get his development right.

O'Brien is one for the future providing we develop him right and introduce him when appropriate.

Branthwaite is ready now. He is the real deal in my opinion. I just hope we hold on to him.

In terms of transfer fees, yes, they are inflated now. I think we paid around £3M for John Stones and sold him for about £50M.

I think the neighbours got it right, as much as that pains me to say it. I think their best one was buying Coutino for £6M and selling him to Barcelona for around £100M.

The important thing is players come and go, but when you sell, you reinvest in the team and replace.

Quite right – we can't choose the team but some are 48 hours before the game starts.

It will always be a pleasure to meet up with you, Danny, is the Fulham game a 3:00 pm or 5:30 pm kick-off? Then we'll see which places you'll be in before and after the game.

Why do you think he has been a regular on the treatment table? Is he fighting to get fit to be selected by Dyche?

Nathan was injured shortly after he arrived when Frank Lampard was manager. He had so little first-team football under his belt at Rangers. It is therefore not a total surprise he has found it difficult to adjust to the greater physical demands of a Premier League club's first-team training and playing regime.

I think we took a punt on him after his appearances for Scotland for whom he showed promise as an attacking full-back. As we know, international football can be misleading in terms of a player's readiness for playing regular games at club level.

A similar player Calvin Ramsay was bought by the RS from Aberdeen a few months after we bought Patterson. He's now onto his third loan in the third tier with Wigan. He was cheaper than Patterson (£4m versus £12.5m) but he's nowhere near the RS first team.

Patterson is now 23 but has played such little football. He'd have benefited from a loan too but has been injured so much. Hopefully he breaks through but his career is in the balance now.

I guess the question is: Will he play before Dele this season?

I look forward to it.

Hopefully Dyche doesn't make the same mistake tomorrow though because it's bad enough watching one Doucoure, never mind two.

Indeed again.

Maybe it's just me and getting a bit forgetful in old age but I can't recall Carey or Catterick having injuries dictating their teams unless someone had a broken leg.

Then they'd just play them on the wing standing on the half-way line…

He did get caught out moving upfield but we need him in aggressive support on the right side. I think he will get better with his positioning.