Pickford plays hero again as Everton earn another valuable point

I remain convinced he is one of the best shot-stoppers on the planet.

Obviously the true stat would be penalties faced.

Jordan's stats are amazing in a team struggling at the bottom, year-in & year-out. I hope we tie him down to a long contract, he's kept us in the Premier League.

The team has a handful of quality players who could be the spine of a fantastic team if better quality players can be brought in.

Harrison, whilst he's done a job for us, just is not good enough. His final effort was terrible when we overloaded City's defence. He had to do better.

Trophies and a better league position would be a bonus, and I don't think that we are far off that ambition with new ownership.

Just a shame that we can't get more potent attacking talent to match Ndiaye.

Michael Kenrick: “Another top draw thanks to Pickford's penalty save”

Didn't Ndiaye play and score that goal that also helped us to get that draw?

Not to mention Malanga, Tarkowski, Gueye and Branthwaite. I don't begrudge Pickford being in line for MotM but he helped the team gain a point — he didn't do it on his own!

Absolutely spot on but I think the sentiment is that, had the penalty gone in (I'm one of the few people that thought it was soft: Savinho was already on his way down), then it'd have been another hard luck story

There's so much more about this team now and Dyche deserves huge credit. We do need to reinforce in attacking areas – particularly right wing where Harrison is next to useless.

If we could give Dyche some proper reinforcements to help, I think we'd see a difference.

It would be interesting to hear your view of why you don't think it was a penalty, mate?

Fair enough, and you were honest enough to admit you were one of the few who thought it was a soft penalty.

I've got to be honest myself, I don't rate Mylolenko so there is a bit, or more, of bias in my thinking that it was a very rash tackle considering where it took place and he kicks him right on the knee as he follows through.

I don't think there was any need for VAR.

Nothing wrong with this, especially in the modern game, but I personally thought he slipped before he got tackled because he's overstretching, and this is why I'm not always sure what is and isn't a penalty nowadays because a lot of today's decisions, especially when they've been rerun a few times, can be so subjective.

You couldn't argue with the decision but it's something that I feel that a different VAR might sometimes interpret differently.

Not taking the piss mate but I think, after watching it three or four times, that the only thing getting stretched is your imagination!

On second thoughts, I was taking the piss, sorry about that.

Last season, he was a lockdown defender, pretty much unbeatable off the dribble.

This season year he's been visibly slower, which shouldn't happen at 25, and much easier to beat. And he's been caught egregiously out of position on a couple of game-losing goals.

Harrison was always going to look at his feet, control the ball and then check inside. Must be the easiest player to defend against in the top flight.

I went back and looked at the incident a couple of times and he defo played for the penalty, looking for it I think is the term I'd use. But, as football is now a contactless sport, Hooper, who was as biased a ref I have seen all year, was always going to give it.

There was always only one outcome, play acting winger, full back who was being laced all day, and a ref eager to please the home team. Yep, job done, Mr Hooper, go back to Seasame Street, you Muppet.

Hooper's blatant bias was clearly one of the most embarrassingly obvious I have seen for some time. Brandishing yellow cards each time a City player faked yet another tumble.

As for the penalty, if you look, the player had lost his footing. His foot sinks into the turf causing him to slip, then when already halfway down, in comes a hapless Mykolenko waving a leg that doesn't connect by his movement, in fact it is clearly the other way around.

Pause that. Reverse the situation to the City box and there is not a chance in the world we get a penalty.

With the lies of Webb supporting the disgusting Calvert-Lewin hack-down which was not given, but absurdly presented as Calvert-Lewin's fault, still ringing untruly in my ears, there was never a doubt it would be given.

Harrison was always going to control it, and then come onto his favoured left foot. I'm not sure what the other two would have done with it though.

I think we've got a problem as our very few better players don't trust the likes of Mykolenko, Doucoure, Harrison and are reluctant to pass to them. Ndiaye especially doesn't trust Mykolenko or Doucoure, and sometimes tries to do too much on his own.

Yes, that “Twenty yards earlier” makes a big difference to what might have been!

One quick look at Dyche and you just know that he loves oatcakes.

You're gonna challenge the concept of 'The Headline'? You want to see a full match description instead of pinning it on what is arguably one of the more important moments of the match?

And not an everyday occurrence either. Pickford has saved eight penalties in as many years. Don't you think that might warrant a mention perhaps – especially as it preserves the draw that had been hard won at that point?

Yes, it was a fine goal by Ndiaye (get his name right, for fuck's sake!) but it would have meant next to nothing if Pickford had not saved that penalty.

And at that point in the game, it was all down to Pickford. With a sly and sneaky contribution from Coleman that would have required a paragraph and a half to summarize.

Show some blooming gratitude that we give you the headlines straight and not like that maddening clickbait shite that seems all the vogue on the NewsNow feed.

Merry Christmas!

Dave, a penalty save is much less common than a goal being scored.

The headline almost writes itself mate.

Bit unfair on the Grinch...

However, I stand by the point, which is that nobody has ever seen Calvert-Lewin rip a really great shot like we've seen from even non-strikers like Keane and McNeil and Townsend.

The top corner is alien territory to Dom. Even the kind of side-netting outside-of-the-foot drive like Ndiaye pulled off yesterday is totally beyond his abilities. Hell, Gana's swerving shot off the underside of the crossbar a few weeks ago is something Dom could never even dream of trying.

As I said on the other thread, Dom can do lots of fine things on a football pitch. Taking a powerful shot is not one of them.

You posted "but he has never in his career scored a great goal."

I still disagree.

And you now reduce things to 'taking a powerful shot'! That's a wiggle. Powerful headers, apparently, are not 'great goals'.

I find it very perplexing (and unlike you) that you actually have a pop at people for responding to tell you erm you're wrong. And you simply push to one side all the examples and links others have given you to show you how wrong you are. And remember what me and others have said about the 'occasion'?

And why insult good people by claiming they are in a 'meltdown' or losing their shit? That, too, is bollocks, Mike. Your original mistake hardly merits any definition of 'meltdown' that I am familiar with.

Dave Abrahams, this goes out to you, I'm sure you're a nice fella, but could you name me one goalkeeper out there who would be half as good as Jordan Pickford?

I've got news for you, there isn't a single one – the lad has made a couple of mistakes in all his time here but they are few and far between.

I've seen the 2 overrated goalies of Liverpool and Man City make far more mistakes than England's No 1 – it's because he plays for us he doesn't get any credit.

I'm dreading the day he goes because where we would be without him? God himself only knows.

Did you hear the away end yesterday, everyone to a man sang his name.

What is a "lockdown defender pretty much unbeatable on the dribble"?

Is that an Americanism because, in all my years of going the game, I've never heard a statement like that before.

I wish it could Christmas everyday…. Seriously, I couldn't think of anything fuckin worse!!

You seem to forget that Dave doesn't rate Pickford, hence his upset at the headline, you need to think of these things when writing the headline please.

“Fantastic Ndiaye goal supplements penalty save by Everton's goalkeeper “

At post #38 you can see a fine example of "losing their shit"... over one word: "goal" instead of "strike".

Clearly and obviously my point was that Dom cannot shoot a football. He has scored great goals, all but one with his head. The Arsenal bike was the only great goal I've ever seen him score with his foot.

If you've got another nominee, shoot me a link. I didn't see one in the 50.

However, you are still posting shit on this one and trying to back out what you posted. Lol and all the best!

But clearly not 'too heavily' that we could not spot a wrong statement about Calvert-Lewin. But, in your words, we were and therefore could not understand the superior subtlety of your more erudite post.

The problem might be that, probably like me, we have not had a drink today – and yep, the post is wrong.

Can you? What's the best shot you've ever seen him hit? If anybody can show me even one example that remotely looks like Keane against Chelsea or McNeil against Palace or even Ndiaye yesterday, I'll happily eat my words.

In the meantime I'll have lunch to ward off starvation.

A collapse unheard of from Pep or one of his teams can't be anything else. Wait and see, if come the judgement day, and Man City are fed to the pigs, then that's the reason they have stopped and maybe dropped.

For the record, Calvert-Lewin impresses me on account of his drive and excellent heading ability but for many, many years now Goodison Park has been the last Premier League club ever – amid strong competition every now and then from absolute no-hoper clubs – for any aspirational striker to thrive in joining us.

Everton, Rooney aside, destroy their strikers – but to his advantage, he buggered off to world-wide glory.

Answers on a postcard please, folks, for the name of the shyster bastard who reduced us to where we've been for decades, and still remain?

I think I know what Mike is getting at but it's a tad harsh on Dom as he's a classic No 9. His main asset is getting on the end of crosses and leaping like the proverbial salmon. He's not a Brazilian Ronaldo who's going to jink past 3 or 4 players and smash it into the top corner.

Calvert Lewin, when given decent service from the wings, is one of the best 6-yard-box finishers in the league. Unfortunately, our play the last few seasons has been safety first and he's had to battle against 2-3 defenders on his own, with little to no service.

Watch his 50 league goals below and see how many excellent headers he scores from decent crosses. As for shots, there are also a couple of excellent finishes. He's just a lot better heading than shooting.

He's been a great asset for us and would undoubtedly have scored more goals if we had more attacking intent. The Ancelotti period is there for all to see with the service he was getting.

If we don't change our style of play I'd wish him all the best elsewhere, somewhere the tactics play to his strengths. If Dyche is being let go, I'd hope Dom stays.

The future is Broja (if we activate the £30 million buy clause), and Chermiti.

With no replacement, we would be relying on Broja who has a poor injury record (and not a great scoring one) and Chermti who is injured.

Barcodes have been eying him for a while and, if Isak goes to Arsenal, I can see Dom ending up there. Then again, he loves fashion, so Italy may prove too good to turn down.

As for Beto, anyone willing to pay most of what we owe will get him. Loved to have seen him succeed but he just doesn't look up to Premier League standard.

I hope our future isn't around a loanee yet to play more than 20 minutes or a 20-year-old with barely a couple dozen appearances to his name.

In his younger years, Dom sometimes had trouble getting on the end of crosses because he was reactive and would wait to see where the ball was going before making his move.

I believe -- with no evidence other than my eyes -- that Carlo coached him on being proactive, on totally committing to making runs to either post even before the cross was made, leaving defenders trailing behind him.

Carlo has managed some of the world's best strikers and played against others, and I remember reading a quote many years ago that I cannot now recall who from -- maybe Gerd Mueller or Just Fontaine -- to the effect that "a true striker is willing to make a hundred runs to score one goal."

I think it's highly likely Carlo taught Dom that principle or something similar, because I saw Dom do it.

That is, he consistently performs better than any other defender. Wow!

Have a look at the Dominic goal scored against Swansea, I think the last goal in a 3-0 win at Swansea not sure who provided the pass, anyway see what you think of Dominic's goal.

But with just 15 goals in 17 games, if that trend continues, then we might be in for yet another nervous end to the season unless things are changed.

Considering we scored 4 against Wolves in our total of 15 goals, it just highlights how inept we are in scoring goals.

He hit a purple patch under Ancelotti but so did Everton for about the first six or seven games of the lockdown season when we suddenly started playing in a style befitting of the School of Science.

It didn't last and, after losing Rodriguez to injury, and then the realisation that he no longer had the hunger or the drive to play on a consistent basis, it wasn't long before Carlo had us playing in a very pragmatic nature.

My favourite Calvert-Lewin goal of that season was the header at home to Liverpool. I remember reading after that game how the people on the Liverpool bench were saying that, as soon as Digne stood up the cross, the noise from the Everton bench had already started.

I've just looked at our results and we have failed to score in nine Premier League games so far this season, Brian. More than half.

I can't think of another national league to have so few nationals in charge of their teams. St George's Park was supposed to help develop English players and English coaches… seems that has drastically failed.

Why is it that we no longer produce top managers and coaches, yet still produce top players? We have had some of the world's top managers work in the Premier League yet we haven't had any young English coach benefit from having these top coaches.

When the Premier League, started there were 16 British managers… so what's happened? I wonder is it many clubs are foreign-owned… is that a reason?

If you're good enough you will get a chance, ask Cole Palmer, who hasn't looked back since he left Guardiola!

Seriously, though, who was put in charge of young British coaches, at St George's Park?

That's the question I'd be asking, because my own view is that, if you want to be the best, get the best people available for the job.

Well done has to now progress to wins to get us clear of the drop zone. Some of the others around and below us are starting to get decent results and we need some 3-pointers.

Three staunch defensive performances earned 3 points where I thought none would be coming. In fact, we could have or should have pinched it in two games, but the football is pretty dire going forward, which is why I was pleased Seamus had a good game.

As Martin points out, we need to convert these draws into wins, hold them for an hour, change it and attack, score, defend. Simple game is footy...

So, I suspect those three wins have guaranteed Dyche seeing out his contract… but he has to build on such draws and get more points on the board.

I would start Broja next game and I also thought Lindstrøm had another good cameo. Harrison tries hard but is just not good enough. With a front 3 of Ndiaye, Broja and Lindstrom (and maybe McNeil in for Doucoucre), I think we might start scoring some goals!

Do we practice breakaway attacks? After watching Broja, Harrison, Gueye and Doucoure - 4 against 2, I doubt it.

Forest are going to be hard nut to crack on Sunday. COYBs.

I remember reading the matchday thread of the Bournemouth game whilst I was on holiday; it was jubilation that seemed to be connected to both the score line and also the football we appeared to be playing that day.

The jubilation went to despair very quickly and people who had been giving Dyche a little bit of praise suddenly wanted him out the club that same night.

With Branthwaite returning, even though he's nowhere near his best just yet, the team looks a lot more confident defensively. Now this base is being achieved once again, then it's imperative that Dyche moves on to making us a lot more fluent offensively.

One thing that is really underestimated imo is pressure. When was the last time we watched an Everton team playing without pressure?

Since Ancelotti departed and Benitez arrived, I think the one consistent has been that the Everton team has been playing under enormous pressure, and just as it was beginning to lift last season, they hit us with a 10-point deduction.

My wish for now is another good wide player. A player who can get us up the pitch quickly and help us turn defence into attack with speed and quality, and because I'm not greedy, I'd settle for this right now, especially if it helps us win the FA Cup.

I can't believe they haven't looked at playing Doucoure out wide because his biggest attribute is running in straight lines and his second biggest attribute is his physical presence.

He can't pass water at times but, his strength and energy are made for playing out wide in this team – especially when I watch Lindstrøm struggling out wide because he doesn't possess these attributes.

I watch Doucoure struggling to make the right pass and this is something that I'm sure might just be Lindstrøm's biggest strength.

Mike, that's just not true mate.

The three promoted teams have picked up, over the last two games, one point in total between them, and that was Southampton who are miles behind.

I'm not advocating it at all as a strategy in any way but, if we carry on with one point a game, we will finish about 8 points above the relegation zone.

We will be fine, the Bottom 3 are complete rubbish and we have them all to play at home. If we beat Forest tomorrow, we will be at least 5 points above the relegation zone after the December of death.

If I could be arsed, I'd remember more but, to be honest, Mike G, it's a bit of a silly statement.

Not silly enough to cause all this arsiness though…

Peace to all men – including Yankee doodles….(but not that lot, even lickle baby ones!)

Adam, I don't agree with your assessment of Calvert-Lewin's lack of skill. I watch him closely at games and he is an excellent footballer – just not a good finisher.

As you have provided zero evidence for your statement. If you want to see your evidence of Calvert-Lewin's skills, all you have to do is bury your blind prejudice, open your eyes and look.

All I need to say about some of the comments on player ability here is that they include criticism of Pickford, that is, they have no basis or credibility whatsoever.

Calvert-Lewin has mitigating circumstances too in that he is forced to play as a target man in a very poor side; he is far better than a target man and this very poor side can't get the ball to him.

Shame on some of you.

Brian is quoting Mike G. Brian refutes it.

Hope you are well?

I can't honestly believe you're advocating playing Doucoure out wide. I usually enjoy reading your posts but I'd have to totally disagree with you on this one.

Doucoure is one clumsy footballer, he used to pop up with the odd goal now and again but now he's not even doing that. To be fair, he's not the only one.

But playing Doucoure out wide would be criminal. The sooner we move him and his over-inflated wages on, the better.

I'm great, Mark, just back from Malta and packing to see the rest of winter out in Malaysia. I'm dry again after a really bad fall off the wagon for 3 months after a year dry.

To see a week in Malta out on an all-in package with a couple of heavy drinkers was a success. New Year's Eve at Kaoh's (Thai) place will be a real test.

>I've put on 5 kg of humble pie since September!

I love the booze but it doesn't like me and the suffering just doesn't seem worth it anymore, especially after going a good few months without touching a drop, because it was after I did this that I really began to feel the benefits.

It's different in the sunshine though, so enjoy Malaysia, and try and learn to just have a few, mate. Although this is something I've just never been able to learn myself so I'm better keeping my mouth shut and saying nothing!!

Don't forget there's still a ticket waiting for you to see Goodison before it closes its doors for ever, Martin, and if it's in the spring, I might even have a little drink with you and mad Mark!!

Thanks for the encouragement on the booze too. I'd always been a bit of a drinker but got into a pretty bad state working away on my own in places like Kazakhstan and Kurdistan and then wasn't ready for retirement and got even worse.

I'm feeling marvellous now and as always looking forward to Malaysia for the UK bad months. My wonderful missus is Malaysian and we have a condo in Kuching, Sarawak, I love it and if the Blues can just improve bit by bit now, I'll be ecstatic.

Best Wishes everybody, good times are coming.

Martin, I'll drive you to Goodison Park when you're back from Malaysia – just let me know when and in the meantime, enjoy!

Tone, I used to flirt with madness it's true. But then they took out a restraining order…

Apology accepted, Martin.

The idea that somebody who has reached Premier League standard is unable to hit a screamer into the top corner is a little for the birds (12-year-old girls can do it today), but Calvert-Lewin is all about the coaching manual. He gets over the ball, keeps it low, and tries to "work the keeper". They invariably save it. He does not release the kind of uninhibited strike Mike is talking about. One that will either fly into the top corner, or ends up in the stands

If a ball drops to Calvert-Lewin from the sky near the edge of the box, he will want to get it under control and recycle it. That's his game. The way he has been coached. He will not try his luck by unleashing the full-blooded thunderbolt.

Shearer put more of these shots over the Gallowgate roof than in the back of the net, but he always bought a ticket and will forever be remembered by Skunks for spectacularly winning the lottery on more than one occasion.

Most Premier League players can do a lot more than we see them do on Saturday avy's. There is a definite difference between "can't" and "won't dare try".

Enjoy Malaysia, Martin, and especially getting away from the worst of the English weather mate. I don't mind the cold but the dark and the damp can be really depressing, although now we have passed the shortest day, things definitely begin to feel better in my own head!

At home, I have the help and advice of my fishwife harpie, sorry, lovely wife, who never fails to suggest that sexy time is not on the menu when I've had one too many…

Mind, it's funny how it's not on the menu when I'm stone cold sober either, so might as well… Hic!

Cheers and UTFT

I'll be happy with 5 kg, Mark! 😃

Are you aware of attitudes towards fishwives in 16th and 17th Century London, especially in and around Billingsgate Market?

(Did I hear somewhere that Billingsgate is being closed down for good?)

He is a clumsy footballer but I'm certain he would be a lot harder to play against than Jack Harrison for any wide midfielder or full-back. Until we get better, it's just something that I can't believe hasn't been considered.

Were they loud and frowny with a Presbyterian attitude to having a drink and watching football?

Wasn't Molly Malone a fishwife, by the way?

What a brave kid Sinaed was, and how those American celebrities turned on her when she ripped up the picture of Pope John Paul II (who was without doubt my favourite Pope – the man who was born in Poland) on Saturday Night Live.

The public backlash was just as bad, with the gutsy girl from Ireland castigated for essentially speaking the truth.

The truth is out there but the clever politicians and the conmen are incredibly adept at hiding it from the people!

I'm excited going to Goodison today, I don't know why because I've had such a downer on my football club…. But Everton touched me over 50 years ago, and have always been a big part of me, ever since.

Maybe it's because I'm taking my daughter, who has always been a little Toffee (unlike her twin brother, who had to be persuaded) so hopefully she brings us some luck!