Desperate Blues undone again by late Wolves smash and grab

Please get 3 points.

Wolves beat us to demoralise our spirits during the last 2 relegation scraps. We need to start winning games like this at Goodison.

No Keane and Maupay and the new Portuguese kid on the bench. That's something as a start.

On 60 minutes, Mykolenko and Chermiti in and Dobbin and Onana out. Garner in the 10 position, Young as a right winger, Danjuma in his natural left wing and finally a tall centre-forward where we need. Those are just about all my expectaciones for today.

Pleased to see Danjuma and Dobbin start – we at least have plenty of pace and mobility up front.

Let's hope Dyche is rewarded for the brave selection.

Today we will win.

We are favourites so they must be bad; where's the goals going to come from again??

Apologies for being so downbeat but it's hard not to be, with the injuries and all.

Figures crossed that the new line-up can gel and get a goal or two.

They bear no resemblance these days to the classy side that Espirito Santos assembled around players like Rui Patricio, Wily Boly, Conor Coady, Matt Doherty, Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Adama Traore and Raul Jiminez.

They're not short of talent mind you, but you can see why they have also struggled.

I am quietly confident of a result today simply because of the above two changes.

I have Danjuma in my fantasy team – hat-trick please.

https://streams.footybite.com/game/everton-wolverhampton-wanderers-live-stream-1178781

I'd like Dyche to be a little more adventurous in the second half and bring Cannon on for Gana but he'll again fall into the trap of Maupay for his work rate rather than somebody who might be more likely to score.

While it hasn't looked bad so far, I'd like to see a little more width to stretch their defence and Cannon on might allow Danjuma to play as a winger or wider on one side again to stretch Wolves' defence.

Bring Cannon on for Dobbin after 60 minutes.

Let's hope Beto doesn't change his mind before signing on Monday!

Why Monday, medical tomorrow, get him signed tomorrow.
I can see Fulham nicking him under our noses! Hope I'm wrong!

I thought we played well and deserved to get something.

Mediocre Wolves soaked up the pretty football, then stepped it up. A dreadful goal to concede as usual.

No doubt we will now spend £30M on a chap who wasn't even involved in the professional game 5 years ago. Averages ten goals a season in Serie A. What does that average out at here, 6? Just imagine. And take a look at his all round game, he's terrible.

But yes, if we can make it happen for thirty big ones, why wouldn't we?

I can't live with this misery anymore. It's the hope that gets you.

Can't argue with the application or the intent on the pitch either.

Its just not happening... And that's the quality in the final third. Including deliveries into the box.

Okay, there were some positives, we had our share of chances, and lots of crosses but their goalie bosses his 6-yard box whereas ours, great shot-stopper though he is, doesn't.

I can guarantee you that goal would not have happened had Sa been in our goal.

Perhaps Pickford should have come for the cross or Tarkowski challenged for it in the air but it should be basic defending.

Don't really feel like saying much more, three games, no points, no goals.

Has there been a worse period in Everton's history?

We can talk about fine margins, but this team cannot score a goal at this level.

Alternatively when Sheffield United start their traditional “we hate Wednesday” chant we can reply with “we hate Saturdays” (courtesy Man City fans c 1998)

The commentator I listened to said it was the first time in Everton's history that they have lost the first 3 games without scoring a single goal. The records keep on coming don't they.

Sheffield Utd next. Let's hope.

Two very poor teams who will both be around the bottom come the end of the season.

Positives:- Branthwaite was good; Chermiti looks like he might have something.

Negatives:- Young; Dobbin; Patterson particularly weak
The rest were just poor.

Not sure what to think. On the balance, I think we've looked more promising than we did at the start of last season, but it doesn't count for much if you don't put any points on the board.

After Doncaster, we can focus on the league. Hopefully Harrison, McNeil, Coleman, and Calvert-Lewin are back soon they can make a difference.

It was Fulham all over. Enough chances to score but didn't.

Danjuma played well until he got moved out wide. Get the feeling if a striker came in and he played in a front two he'd be a player.

Ashley Young's crossing was dire.

Dobbin worked hard but isn't the answer.

Midfield is an issue. Plenty of graft but unless on a counter they slow the game to a standstill.

Garner on the wing doesn't work. At all. He doesn't have a clue what to do.

Chermiti as expected is nowhere near ready yet and will need time.

It was a Championship team performance. Dyche has them motivated and chances come out of sheer graft but bar Danjuma there is no quality or tactics. Dom, Harisson, McNeil, Iwobi and hopefully Beto give us options but the team needs a balance and quickly.

You outplay the opponent, the opposing keeper stands on his head, you concede a single smash and grab, and lose.

The effort was there today. We created multiple chances. We played well.

We were definably unlucky.

When Lady Shit Luck streams her poo your way, you have to look at the performance and ask yourself will that performance, over time, garner enough points to survive / succeed.

In this case, yes. Yes it will.

Be frustrated. Moan. It's a shit start.

But over the first three games I still don't see a relegation team. I really don't.

Branthwaite was fantastic. We need to keep him and start him every single game.

Danjuma, Chermiti and Dobbin all looked good. Keep those boys up front and we'll start seeing actual goals.

We shouldn't be worried about relegation though because as Bill says "One very famous football club said to me two or three days ago 'whenever we have a problem we say 'What would the Everton board do because they always get it right?'

Oh I do know what to say: a few weeks ago before the season started, I asked on this site will we stay up, and a few responded "Sure, there are a few worse teams in this league, Everton will finish about 13th." Bloody Hell, I want some of that belief!

Wide open in the middle time and time again.

The midfielders just don't have any speed to match any team in the Premier League and woeful Wolves last week just found it so easy this week.

Garner is awful and Doucouré, despite some heroics last season, just cannot get to quicker opponents when defending.

Everton's right-hand side defensively is a mess and the left since McNeil got hurt isn't much better.

The new lads did quite well but it will take time to get used to the Dyche system (whatever that is).

All the bells are ringing right now. Three games, no goals, no points and we haven't played the better teams yet. What a shambles!!

Alas, I see no Joe Royle on the horizon...

We need better options at full-back and someone in the midfield with some creativity and ability to pass. Gana, Onana and Doucouré offer us nothing as a 3 as they are too similar.

And then yes… someone up top who knows that the game is about putting a ball between white posts!!!

Next week will be massive to see if there is hope or whether we may end up pushing the record for the worst Premier League team ever!

I feel good about midfield wide positions with Harrison and McNeil to get back to fitness, and a fit (& firing!) Calvert-Lewin is huge, but our problems run deep.

Chermiti played well for his first match at 19. Few more games under his belt and McNeil's return he will be a handful.

My daughter-in-law is a Wolves fan. My new Grandson was proudly wearing his Everton kit to watch the Lionesses last week.

4 months old and a lifetime of disappointment ahead. and years of apologies from me and from his Dad. Choose Wolves, son.

If you don't take your chances you'll get punished and, surprise surprise, we got punished again. We'll always give chances to teams and they are much more clinical than we are as has been proven already.

I don't think any manager will make any difference, we simply have a poor squad, lack of quality, and eventually that will get you relegated

Not that surprising when you have Gana and Doucouré, it's a brutal position when you're in your mid-30s, and the young lad is the laziest of the lot.

Their goal should never have happened for a number of reasons, but look at the angle of the ball, how is that not cut out at source? Lack of energy.

You just can't keep robbing 'Peter to pay Paul every year, not recruiting, and letting everyone good go. Dyche was saying last season that we were really short. From that thin squad, he's now lost McNeil, Iwobi, Mina, Davies, Holgate, Coleman Calvert-Lewin, and not brought anyone in other than Danjuma ready now.

Always disappointed when we lose, but you could this result coming.

Six goals against already.




!

Christ knows how blues aged under 35 find the energy to follow the club. I mean, why would you? The best they've had is losing an FA Cup Final and finishing 4th with negative goal difference.

Our two current full-backs are poor. Sadly a player coming to the end of his career and Mykolenko are no better. I certainly think if we can manage a few goals against Doncaster, it could kick-start the season. We need our injured back as soon as possible. Any money for a midfielder?

There must be a reason why the Champions League teams (and Spurs) that have replaced keepers have not made a move for Pickford.

Unfortunately, as a true long suffering fan dating back to the early 70s, the narrative for this type of result is now becoming more likely with the obvious lack of recruitment in the pivotal areas required.

I can see the green shoots of recovery, but am afraid that both time and financial constraints along with the prolonged media hatred of us, intertwined with dubious refereeing and farcical VAR decisions, will put paid to us this time around. I really hope I'm wrong.

Pickford

Patterson
Tarkowski
Branthwaite
Mykolenko

Dobbin
Garner
Doucouré
Danjuma

Cannon
Maupay

Hold on. Forget that

Now I'm ashamed and embarrassed to be an Evertonian. My heart bleeds for my sons and grandchildren who buy kits and continue to believe in the charade.

Fuck Everton, joke.

Three games gone, no goals scored, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where the main problem lies.

We also need our injured players back, and sad to say but we need Seamus back; Patterson can't defend, and Mykolenko has to come in for Young, who was poor last week and again today.

Dyche has to forget about Garner on the wing, should have been using Gray before he's sold.

I was impressed with Branthwaite today, he showed he's here to stay.

Stats from today, like Fulham:15 shots to 2.

Let's see if we can flip that next week by winning at Sheffield United for a third successive trip. I'm not holding my breath as they will probably be on the back of two home defeats if Man City win there tomorrow, and we know who usually ends a club's shite run, don't we?

After the disallowed goal, a point was worth saving. Fresh legs at the back and a defensive shape was needed. He did have enough players on the bench for that.

Dyche went gung ho and the point was lost. A bit better than the Fulham game, but caught out in a similar fashion.

Really was a sickener.

Lose next week we're gone.

Chermiti is for the future. Young is from the past, didn't take long to find that out. The only surprise this season will be if we stay up.

Another miserable weekend to be a Toffee. Seems like there's no end in sight to this nightmare, on and off the pitch.

Only Ashley Young had a bad game with his constant atrocious crosses and corners straight into their keeper's hands. The rest of his corners didn't even clear the first man. A really poor showing from him.

It was clearly Pickford's fault for their goal as he should've come out and at least punched the ball. Tarkowski was also poorly positioned.

It's early days – a marathon, not a sprint – and I think we will be fine if we can get the Beto transfer over the line and get our injured players back. I also hope we can add another centre-back on loan as we don't want to be relying on Keane or Godfrey as back-up.

Midfield and defence, when given opportunities like Patterson and Tarkowski have missed in successive home games, need to start chipping in when given the chance.

Onana, Garner, Gueye and Doucoure need to start scoring or at least creating, they're doing neither at the moment.

Pickford,
Garner, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
Onana, Gueye, Doucoure
Danjuma, Beto, Young.

For Doncaster:

Virginia
Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Young
Maupay, Gomes, Onyango, Dobbin
Chermiti, Cannon.

Unfortunately we have players we dare not lose through injury in a cup match. So we must play the squad players. If that team cannot beat Doncaster – well, there's no words.

I know this is negative thinking and I hate it but we must put the Premier League games first and foremost. It needs to be like this until we sort ourselves out and find our feet once again in the Premier League – if we can.

For Sheffield Utd:

Pickford
Patterson Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko
Danjuma Garner Doucouré Young
Beto Dobbin.

In all fairness, the list of strikers you've mentioned, apart from Calvert-Lewin are poor to say the least.

I don't see a problem with a striker with two wingers, and McNeil has been a huge loss. Sadly, we don't have a playmaker or a scoring midfielder.

I thought we played about as well as possible with the personnel available (Branthwaite was excellent). But there's the rub – those players, mostly playing about as well as they can, are not good enough.

They possibly could be with the addition of 3 or 4 top class players but, unfortunately, that isn't going to happen.

Gana was caught 3 times in the first 11 minutes and Onana brings nothing.

I'd have Garner and Doucouré in the middle.

Bring Mykolenko back, Danjuma on the left, Dobbin on the right with Chermiti and Cannon up top.

As for the boardroom, what was rotten in Denmark has finally decomposed.

Branthwaite should now be one of the first names on the team sheet.

We need a proper striker. But we also need more energy in midfield. Onana appears to have given up the ghost completely. If there is still any clubs willing to come up with £40 or 50 million for him, I'd sell and use the cash to freshen up the midfield as a priority.

Hopefully, once Harrison and McNeil are back, it will give us a better more energetic looking side. So let's wait until the window closes and we have some idea where we actually stand.

I thought the team played well, except Ashley Young who had a stinker. I am sure Dyche will replace him with Mykolenko soon.

The huge positive for me was Branthwaite. We have a real footballing centre-back in our hands. Most of the play from the back came through him and you could see the other players trusted him instantly.

What we absolutely need is a Gueye replacement in the starting XI – Carsley Mk 2, if you will, or a Gareth Barry Jr.

Assuming that the Beto deal is done, that should cover our attacking options. I hope Thelwell and Dyche go all out to find that ‘as-yet-undiscovered' talented defensive midfielder – a Palinha, a Paqueta, a Chiek Doucoure – someone who will provide shape and resilience to the midfield. If we do that, then I see us comfortably finishing mid-table.

The big ‘X-Factor' for us is Dele Alli. If he can get fully fit, and get his hunger for the game back, we will actually be a potent attacking force.

However, first things first. Dyche needs to somehow energise and motivate the team to forget about the Fulham and Wolves results and focus on playing with the same attacking intent for our next fixture, and find a way to bring out a goal or two as well as a result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc6Jrs6gPfA

Onana is nothing more than an uninterested nuisance.

Overall play was okay – although 2 very poor teams.
Branthwaite was excellent.
Danjuma did okay.
Chermiti looked like he will be decent.

But Dobbin is so very very poor – Semedo had him in his pocket all day.
Midfield harries and chases well but creates nothing.
And Young was awful.

The problem is that the players aren't good enough: Young, a decent winger in his prime, now aged 38, seems our best bet at right or left back and has been terrible.

I still don't know who or why we bought Patterson when we were between managers. He couldn't get a game at Rangers yet we signed him for a lot of money.

Gana at his best was a tackling machine and now he's too slow to even do that. Another poor signing,

Ideally, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Harrison, and Coleman get fit ASAP and stay fit the whole season along with Tarkowski and Pickford. If that doesn't happen or we don't find some new players, then it's not going to be pretty.

Still we play with Gana Gueye in midfield. Seriously, he does not have an inch of offensive qualities, he more or less can only play backwards. That makes our midfield crippled.

Still we shout that we need a striker, yes we need a striker, but the main problem is in the midfield. It is not productive enough. The engine in the team does not work properly. I have a problem seeing Harry Kane scoring if he was in this Everton team.

And cross passes into the penalty box, they always hit the target... I am joking.

We've blown two very winnable home games.

To be fair, mate, Semedo is a very experienced Portuguese international defender. Lewis Dobbin is a very green 20-year-old who is still yet to get to grips with the Premier League, almost zero experience at this level.

With the injuries we have to McNeil and Iwobi, not to mention Gray on his way, Dobbin has been thrown in at the deep end.

His attitude is right and he's a quick learner, bought a few good fouls today from his opponent, just a shame that the player 18 years his senior couldn't put a decent ball into the box.

Would it have been better to have played Young with Mykolenko behind him? Maybe… but I'm more concerned about the right side with Garner wasted out there, naturally drifting inside and leaving Patterson far too exposed.

Everton 1 - 3 Fulham
Aston Villa 2 - 1 Everton
Everton 1 - 2 Wolves

ie... Null Points

Just saying!

I'll take away the positives of Branthwaite and Chermiti.

Positives are in both home games we have created chances.

We simply need goals and clean sheets. I hoped we would not lose; sadly hope didn't get the memo.

Set up for 0-0 every away game because every point and goal conceded will soon tot up.

Please, Bill, read the script. Step down and appoint someone who can implement positive change.

Doucouré runs his heart out for the club, but he ain't a Number 10. He has not got the talent to be a number 10.

There are no positives to take from avoidable home defeats. We can't score and we can't keep clean sheets. Our only hope is that new arrivals and returning players see a massive upturn in performances, because we've been awful in the first three.

I said with the lack of attacking midfielders and forwards we would be bottom by Christmas, I never thought we would be bottom in August.

I know it's early days but days turn into weeks… before we know it, it will be Christmas, and we will be looking for salvation in January's transfer window.

Some of the players we have brought in are just not good enough or the usual excuse, they are not ready or inexperienced. Don't fucking buy them then!

We have scraped our way out of relegation the past few seasons, we won't have the luck again this one.

Onana, Gueye, Young, Chermiti and Patterson to name a few, either not good enough, not ready, or past it – even Harrison has a bad injury and he's not played!

Dyche is an army fitness instructor, not a top football coach. Tactically he's bang average. To top that, we have two fucking idiots controlling the whole sorry mess.

Six-pointer again against Sheffield United next week. Doncaster first, maybe a turning point either way.

Sensible team selection. Just not our day. Wolves did play Man Utd off the park 2 weeks ago and created a lot of chances at Brighton.

Decent performance blues. All is not lost. COYB.

Who would you replace Dyche with taking into account the window will be shut so the players will be the same?

If we'd signed Beto or anyone of average quality who can convert a chance or two, we'd have 6 points now out of 9.

Best team against Fulham, best team again today, just no one to convert chances. In either game, we would have gone one up with a half-decent striker and sat on it.

Get a striker in and things will change, we'll start winning by the odd goal instead of losing. It's not blinking rocket science, it's football, you need a goalscorer.

So shame on the board, recruitment or whoever is responsible nowadays for making the team fit for purpose, does anyone know? Whoever it is, shame on them.

Doucouré runs his heart out for the club, but he ain't a Number 10. He has not got the talent to be a Number 10.

It's not as if we're playing really badly or the problem we do have is down to him or likely to be rectified by getting someone else, like Potter or whoever, in. We're just not taking our chances either because the players are low in confidence or they're just shit players.

We have Doncaster in the cup next and they're bottom of League Two so I would hope we'll finally score a goal (or more) and go from there.

We also need to nick a win against Sheffield United and stay above them and the other promoted clubs, as a worst case scenario, and go from there.

Positives: Branthwaite – looks class; Dobbin looked raw, but didn't stop trying. That's about it.

Negatives: Young's dead balls – didn't he notice the big fella in yellow who he hit them to every time; Danjuma through the middle didn't work; Gana Guaeye was dreadful, particularly in the first half.

Another game we should have won, if we took our chances – Tarkowski and Doucouré the main culprits this time. We need to sort it out soon before it is too late.

Aston Villa changed Gerrard last year early. Look at them now. The nonsense is sticking with this dinosaur. Even if he plays Beto and Calvert-Lewin, with two real wingers, that football died in 1980s.

You say “we're not playing badly”. We are bottom of the Premier League with no points and no goals. Dyche teams average just on a goal a game. He can't solve our fundamental issue. Like asking a plumber to change the fuse box.

Both keepers barely had saves to make.

Pickford with an absolute howler for their goal. Why didn't he even try to punch the cross? It wasn't even headed in, it looked like it came off his shoulder and went in.

Pickford made a great save, it's what he is good at, but he gave Wolves a great chance when he misread that the ball coming back to him, it was well within his reach. He came, went back, then came again before the Wolves forward placed it wide. It's a pity he didn't come and challenge the Wolves forward who scored the goal, it's a real fault of his and happens every game.

The central midfield is letting Everton down as much as a missing goalscoring striker; none of them get hold of the game and create anything and only Doucoure looks like scoring.

We are not down yet but, unless some recruits are signed by next week, we will definitely be one of the favourites to go down – this squad is not good enough.

Really hard to stomach, and hard not to panic too.

Obviously there's an issue with scoring goals and then issues with quality across all areas of the pitch.

It looks like the Beto deal is happening and that will make a difference. Harrison and McNeil will make a big difference too when they are fit.

But possibly the thing we're really missing is the experience of both Coleman and Mina who really excelled at the end of last season. Both are organisers and leaders and we miss that. I don't see those qualities coming through from anyone else in the First XI unfortunately.

Personally, though, I think this is different to the situation with Lampard – and there's no immediate need to shit our pants and talk about sacking Dyche. But seriously we need a bit of luck coming our way.

Virginia
Patterson Godfrey Branthwaite Mykolenko
Garner Onana Doucoure
Danjuma Beto or Chermiti Dobbin

"Both keepers barely had saves to make".

I think it helps, when you come on here to say something, that you actually get your facts right. Sa was by far Man of the Match today. He made seven saves, one of them verged on world class (Jordan also made a save that verged on world class).

He scored 40 points in the Fantasy Premier League bonus system which is the highest for any keeper who has played so far this weekend. Not bad for someone who "barely had saves to make".

You'd drop Tarkowski for Godfrey? Really?

And I'm not at all sure I've seen Virginia play as consistently well as Pickford (that's not saying Pickford doesn't have an error in him but...).

Plenty of hope, graft, but no end product for some of the decent approach play, as many have said, almost a replay of the Fulham game in some aspects.

Collectively if the players carry on with the same desire, the elusive first victory will happen and I believe Everton will beat Doncaster and Sheffield United this week. Yes, that's x2 away victories, back to back.

It's not just Maupay who can't finish, but so far in the Fulham and this game great chances have been wasted by defenders, midfielders and the forwards.

Judge the League position, after 7 games.

Get some of Everton's injured players back plus hopefully a couple of new players, Everton will find a level of form, enough to stay up.

No, feeling sorry for themselves, the players must fight their way out of this early rut, but good signs from Branthwaite,, who looks very assured, positional sense, reads the game and looks like he will be a leader, hopefully for Everton.

Dobbin, shows loads of honest desire and endeavour, and the new lad Chermiti, looks like he has the heart for the challenges coming up this week.

Hopefully some new players are brought in before the Blades game.

Viva Santo Domingo!

I'd go even further and say that the Sa save was very definitely world class. It was an extraordinary bit of goalkeeping.

Pickford, in fairness, also made an excellent save – although quite what he was playing at with the Fabio Silva chance and the cross from which Kalajdzic scored is beyond me.

True, Dyche teams don't average many goals and nearly all our wins (under Dyche) last season were 1-nil. But, if we had scored when on top against Fulham and also today against Wolves, I think we would have won both those games 1-nil.

What “chances” are you talking about? Doucouré's offside? Tarkowski's balloon? Danjuma's offside?

How unusual it come against Everton.
Strange, that.

Remember the season we took until October to register our first win of the season? 1-0 against WHU I recall. Well we probably didn't make anything like the number of chances that we've made in the last two home games back then.

We will be fine once the likes of McNeil and Calvert-Lewin return plus Beto is signing tomorrow, Jack Harrison will make a difference too.

I came out of Goodison today not particularly despondent but thinking in other seasons we'd be on 6 points after two decent home performances.

Chins up, let's see where we are after 10 games… with 28 still to play!

It didn't work out today but that is not a desperate move since he could have taken the point. We will drop some points from new approaches but these players look interested and will break through.

I've read every post on this thread and there is a distinct split in opinions, I tend to agree with your take on today's match. It's my opinion that what both teams may have lacked in skill, was made up with effort.

I understand that we can sit next to each other and see a different game, but I feel that a neutral would have enjoyed the game and a 1-0 victory for either side would have been a decent result to them.

Obviously it doesn't have the same effect on the followers of both teams, I felt as disappointed as any Everton fan, but I believe that at sometime or other we will play worse and win. I also believe that even then there will be criticism. You can't please everyone if you're a professional footballer.

You missed the best chance of the lot. Doucouré having his attempt miraculously tipped over the bar.

We had enough play for me to believe that we could easily have had the lead and I think it would have been a different story come the final whistle.

I can see Dyche gone by December – normal Everton reaction!

Who knew??

The previous one that sticks in my mind was also from a Wolves keeper (Patricio) and also at the Street End but we won that game. Little Bernard came on as a sub if memory serves and turned the tide in our favour.

Branthwaite looked quite assured at the back today but both full-backs were found wanting. Good game of football, apart from the result.

I have a lot of time for Darren Griffiths but he shouted “Yes!” When he thought we'd scored. Told us a Wolves player was off for a 2nd yellow and said “These have offered nothing” meaning Wolves.

I said to my lad that every single time he says that, we lose. About 5 minutes later, Wolves score.

Tarkowski is massively overrated. Slow and tanker-like, 10% less than Keane though.

Your Doucoure chance was indeed a good chance and a good save. But two real chances all game isn't really “playing well” now, is it!

And it might just show up further the weakness of Godfrey (although a decent performance would prove little against that opposition).

The thing is... if we can't pick up points when we play alright then we're no chance when we don't.

This is real trouble.

Who was Man of the Match?

How many saves did Sa make?

Owned by a moron.
Run by a fantasist.
Until the above changes, we will continue the slide to oblivion.

There is no hope with this ownership.

I've never argued that we 'played well'. This entire exchange we've been having started with me stating that we are not playing 'really badly' and I don't think we are.

But, obviously we're not playing well enough to get points and that needs to change sooner rather than later. Still early days though.

Yes, watching the match objectively (as I am increasingly prone to do) it was an entertaining enough game. There was some good skill, effort and mistakes by both teams.

But, putting on my subjective, Evertonian head, I am deeply concerned at our overall lack of quality, and the absence of leadership on the pitch.

The days of David Moyes when we were difficult to beat and where we would only lose 4 or 5 at home all season is a thing of the past. Such a shame we won't be leaving Goodison on a high. Brittle as a toothbrush.

Other than hoping somehow, something 'clicks', I can't see a way to change this trajectory, it is becoming ingrained. If we take nothing from the Blades, this could get ugly. Right now, I'd settle for a point.

We're quoted on spending money we don't have on forwards that sound as if they're no better than what we have presently. Better spending money on a loan deal on a proven scorer that'll get us out of this shit.

We've been lucky the last two seasons – this might be the one too far.

We were the best side in overall play again, but lacking a finisher once more. We will stop in the Premier League comfortably when we can put out our best players.

I knew they would get a goal late on, I don't know how many times that's happened over the last few seasons, it seems a lot; I was just waiting for it to happen again.

I think we are cursed it just seems that we get a kick in the goolies at every turn. It will change, I'm sure of that, we just need some luck on the injury front.

Name any proven Premier League goal-scorer that you think would be available to loan and wouldn't have a whole host of suitors?

We've obviously tried that and failed and decided to put all our eggs in the Beto basket.

Meanwhile, some people choose to not give Dyche an inch and want him gone. Now I have been critical of Dyche in terms of his selections, game management etc. But he did alter his thinking and make changes today for the better, most seem to agree (before the match at any rate). Bringing in Branthwaite was the right thing to do; starting Dobbin was something different; bringing on Chermiti at that time in the match was something different.

Dyche is not to blame for Tarkowski's horrible mistake. We could count the ToffeeWebbers who think that he should not start in defence on the fingers of one hand.

Yes, there are other issues to mull over and more potential changes to consider: Young should be dropped or taken off set-pieces or subbed around 70 minutes; Patterson needs intensive one-on-one surgery for all aspects of his game; Gana is a shadow of his former self but I'm not sure that we have anyone at this time who can step into his boots; Garner, however, is not a wide player and he might be useful for either the Patterson or Gana dilemmas.

We did some good things on that pitch today (and some poor things). But we saw that Dyche is starting to show that he can think differently and we also know that there are players due to return or – Beto, I hope – boost the ranks who can make a difference for the better.

Now is not the time to dwell in doom and gloom. There might come a time for that but it is not now.

I can only say that we will have injured players coming back within the next few weeks and months, including any new signings, that should have a bearing on any improvement. But we have played some opponents on our level, ie, Villa, Fulham and Wolves, if we would have had all players available, we might have some points in the bag by now.

Until such time as we have a full squad to choose from, we can only play our fixtures with the players that we have available, obviously with team selection and tactics taken into account.

I stand corrected, from my seat in the park end, I thought Doucouré put the ball over the bar, I didn't see the save at the time which was obviously top class as was his handling all game.

I just don't remember us having many clear-cut chances. I may have to watch MotD in the morning.

Yes, there's lots of things we might have done better but we have also been very unlucky.

Very small margins. With just a tiny bit more rub we'd be on 6 points. Though obviously you can only blame luck for so long.

Add Beto, McNeil, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin and Iwobi into that performance today and I suspect we win by 2 goals or more.

There are issues of course but there have been positives in the performance. Though of course it's results that matter. Dyche needs to start finding them.

Three players in by Thursday. The board have woken up!

The table doesn't look pretty! Let's give the guy half a chance with some new players.

Our work rate is better and a bit more quality we should be on 4 points! Get behind the players and let Dyche do his job. We are not relegated!

Worried? Yes, but today gave me hope. Now, Mr Chairman, pull ya finger out and get some players in ASAP!!

A bumpy road ahead but I remain positive! Things will get better!!!

About a minute after Tarkowski lashed the ball into the side netting at the Park End just before half-time, I asked the lads behind me “What was it disallowed for?”

Answer: “Erm, because the ball didn't go into the goal.”

The main problem we have is a lack of goalscoring ability throughout the team, whether it be full-backs, centre-backs. midfield players or forwards.

Now that can be compensated for if you have creative players but we don't have that either. Our passing and movement is good till we get to the penalty area then the lack of quality shows.

Dyche's tactics are also to play very narrow and throw balls into the box but, if you can't get accurate crossing and keep giving the ball to the opposition keeper, that doesn't work either.

I don't know what Demarai Gray has done to piss Dyche off but today was a game ready-made for him. I don't know when McNeill will be back but I can't see us doing much until he is. Average full-backs and static midfield players do not make for a lot of chances.

Forwards can't feed off crumbs so we need to tell Onana, Gana and Garner, if they can't get in the box and hurt the other team, then they risk losing their place. It's all well and good having a solid defensive midfielder but we do not need three of them.

Encouraged by Chermiti's cameo too. This time last season, we weren't creating anything.

Get him out ASAP so a manager who isn't scared to pick actual footballers can get started.

I expect more from Onana; yes, he's young and yes, he's still settling in to the Premier League, but for a player that everyone is marking down as a Champions League player, I just can't see it.

He's been up against fairly average midfields in Fulham and Wolves and I desperately want to see him grab the midfield by the neck and boss it. I'm not expecting a Peter Reid or Paul Pogba total control and 8/10 every game, but a 5-10 minute burst here and there.

When we get McNeil, Harrison and/or hopefully another wide player, I'd like to see Garner or even Dele Alli in place of Onana, or even Onana replacing Gana as the sitter, but he certainly isn't the box-to-box player he was touted as.

He's a KITAP1 manager, when the balls and technique means very few games aren't won by scoring more than one… Yesterday's man alongside Rafa and Sam.

Young, Gueye and Patterson where truly awful. Gueye lost position 20 times according to WhoScored!

Man of the Match for me was Branthwaite. Their keeper made one very good save, and then caught every dog shot cross that came in from our 38-year-old right-footed left-back.

Catching a cross does not count as a save. Sa made seven saves (not one of them from Young). He was light years ahead of any other player on that pitch in terms of PFL points, light years. But don't let actual events get in the way of what you choose to say!

And your other post @160 was equally articulate and perceptive.

To which ‘actual footballers' do you refer?

Maupay for whom nobody has a good word?
Iwobi, injured?
McNeil, injured?
Calvert-Lewin, injured?
Coleman, injured?

Now we're stuck with him because his agent pretended that Man Utd, Spurs and Chelsea wanted him. Not in a million years would they sign him but his agent used his stalking horses to negotiate an improved and lengthened contract.

He's a negative, but so many think he's a positive and our saviour. He sums up the dysfunction that Everton has become.

Whether it's gradually replacing ageing players or buying and introducing new players, squads have to be constantly refreshed just to compete.

We have totally failed in these basics for years but everyone knows this. I've played for Sunday morning teams that were better run.

We're going downhill rapidly and if the morons in charge think it's hard now, what do they think it's going to be like in the relegation end of the Championship?

All I have to say to Kenwright and his mates is – get out of my club! I detest your years of mismanagement and your ineptitude! Go now and we'll have some chance to save us from a fall we may never recover from.

I don't think Pickford is great but without him we would have been relegated season before last.

For the quality and expectation that is modern Everton, the lad is better than we deserve.

I also blame Pickford for picking Keane, playing Garner on the wing, playing Gana, telling Patterson his defensive game is good enough, not subbing Young, the club debt, buying fairly elderly players at fairly inflated prices on fairly long contracts, for letting the narcissist stay on as chairman, and much else besides.

We might actually score a goal if Dyche drops dysfunctional
Pickford.

Gana was caught so many times it was shocking,
Dobbin is not at Premier League level,
Young and his dead ball delivery was utterly dreadful,
Pickford made a great save but didn't command anything,
Tarkowski lost his man for the goal,
Braithwaite looked way better than Keane, etc etc..

For me, we should have won, created 5 or 6 clear chances but contrived somehow not to score..

Dyche did as much as he could have done with team selection, I can't blame him for this one, perhaps with the exception of a missing Gray?

What now? Another week to bring in fresh blood, Calvert-Lewin, McNeil, Mykolenko and Harrison would make a significant improvement…

Woke up feeling like I have got a hangover, not a drop was touched.

Iwobi should have played in the middle, he's dreadful on the left and always has been. Garner is a defensive midfielder who can play right-back, he's not a right-winger. Danjuma has been on the bench. Simms, the only centre-forward at the club, was sold and Maupay selected up front instead. Doucoure is playing as a 'Number 10'.

The selections are utterly dreadful and have been in all 3 games. We've had a back 4, 3 defensive midfielders, Doucouré (what is he, ‘box-to-box'?) and then one creative player, Iwobi, out of position.

The manager's job is to get the best out of what he's got and he's a million miles away from that. He's got us playing with at least one hand tied behind our backs. If he picks another unbelievably negative line-up against Doncaster, then we'll get beaten there as well.

You could call it smash and grab, but I call it clinical, something we can only dream of at the moment.

Some more positive signs, but someone needs to make something happen – and fast, the lack of quality is mind-boggling.

Ironically, the club training video this week only showed one player practicing shooting: Pickford. Seriously.

Mike Price.

People don't focus on Pickford's errors much because they are fewer than anyone else's in the team and his upside is far greater than anyone else in the team. Since Richarlison left he's easily been our best player by a country mile.

Is he perfect? No, he is a human being so mistakes are made but he's one bright spot in this squad.

With all that needs addressing, managing, and putting right at our club, Pickford is way down the pecking order, he might not even be on it.

Us!!!

That patched up side was missing DCL, McNeil, Iwobi, and Jack Harrison.

We've also got Chermiti who already looks like he can make a contribution from the bench, and we look like we've finally brought in a striker (touch wood) who looks capable of replacing, or pushing DCL in Beto.

That's a lot of attacking talent to come back.

There's also talk of Sulemana or even Che Adams still coming in. One of those in addition to Beto would be an excellent window all things considered, and I don't it would be too late to salvage a comfortable, albeit, lower half finish.

Judge after 7 games with rationale and reason. And then it's a fair call and it is what it is.

Everybody hurts but in crisis let's stick together and keep our powder dry. Beat Doncaster and Sheffield United and the air we breathe will be different, this season will start.

Pure bad luck finishing, lack of confidence to take the killer shot. Get our stalwart McNeil playing again ASAP, spirit, skill, and fight. Doucouré plays better with McNeil, more natural.

UTFTs! Viva Santo Domingo!

Good post. There's lots of ways to spin stats. I seem to recall the last time we won the cup was after “the worst ever start” in terms of 10 or 11 games without a win. Moyes had at the time the worst ever points total.

The year Dunc was sold, I think it was about November when Michael Ball with a penalty scored our first home goal of the season.

I remember one year Sheffield Utd under Dave Bassett had about 6 points by Christmas then went on a cracking run after which he held Christmas parties in August.

Or more recently, before the mid-season Saudi takeover, Newcastle were “relegated” but bounced back and finished above us as well as others.

Conversely in 1994 when we survived v Wimbledon on the last day we were top with nine points after 3 games at the start of that season.

Worry and concern are understandable but panic or accepting relegation at this point is madness.

The club has been paddling with one broken paddle in Shit Creek for sadly decades. But this statistically poor start to the season doesn't write off this season after 3 games. Let's give some time and rationale to see what happens in the next month.

I'm convinced this season will not be as bad as the last two seasons, if... a few players and at least a striker who knows the 6-yard box and the goals posts, and the target areas, in the box and kill zone.

But the strikers need a quality supply line of balls fed in at the right pace, angle, and scope for mop-up, if not converted. Reactions, anticipation and resilience to never accept defeat until the last whistle. But it's a team effort, and collectively imho, this is an area where Everton still look feeble.

All for one and one for all and one-in all-in needs to be the fighting spirit at this stage of the season.

UTFTs!

Maybe we are both mad, mate, but I also don't think this season will be as bad as the last two.

I think Harrison is an excellent signing. McNeil proved himself once Dyche left but more importantly the effort, the energy of the team is much better than under Frank, Rafa or Carlo's last 6 months.

Obviously we've got problems and we are where we are because of the owner and chairman. But despite everything, I've seen enough good things to feel positive.

Keith,

Way back on the posts. I know you know Branthwaite's dad and even while the media were slimming stories he wanted out you said that was incorrect. Well, I'm glad you seem to be right.

Two years ago I thought he did okay a la Shane Duffy back in the day but I felt a bit nervy any time the ball came near him. Different story today. He seemed calm and composed unlike Keane, Holgate etc. He didn't do anything flashy but he did his job well.

I hope Sean sticks by him. Maybe he can do more and be our new Stones or Baresi but right now I'm more than happy with him being a sensible, calm, dependable defender. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Our full backs are awful. Coleman is no longer the best right-back in the country of only a few years ago, so Dyche cannot change it, even if he wanted to.

Our midfield is garbage. Gueye has been dreadful since he returned and I am still struggling to see what Onana brings to that side.

We are also presuming the players missing will instantly improve us. I also think it is going to turn quite nasty if we lose at Sheffield Utd. Let's hope we win comfortably at Doncaster and the confidence slowly returns.

1) Bring in Branthwaite, Danjuma and Dobbin.
2) Drop Keane
3) Do not play Maupay
4) Get more effort and commitment.

Dyche did all of those things, but once again we lost due to poor defensive play for which Tarkowski, Pickford and Patterson are collectively responsible.

This team is missing Iwobi, McNeil, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin and Coleman. Beto and/or Adam will be added, while I still think we need a centre-half and full-back. Let's see what things look like when they are all in contention.

One thing Dyche must do next week is move Garner into central midfield and drop either Gana or Onana. I don't care which one.

In the last 9 games that Iwobi has missed, we have lost all 9.

As a goalkeeper, you've got to be coming out battering everything in front of you when it's in the 6-yard box but he's been rooted to the spot.

Until we start putting the ball in the net, then yesterday and Fulham have and will become the norm.

If Beto signs then he simply has to start at Sheffield United next week, none of this "he's not fit blah blah blah".

Then there's the "We'll be better when we get McNeil and Harrison back". Firstly, Harrison has never played for us and we don't know what is wrong with McNeil and it will probably be near Christmas before we see either and who knows how Gray has upset Dyche. And if all three were available, would you play more than one at the same time and if so which two and is Danjuma in that boat as well?

While some may be welcome problems, I assume if Beto signs and, hope above hope, Calvert-Lewin recovers fitness which of those two and Chermitti won't like being on the bench – unless of course one of them is the emergency reserve keeper's reserve.

Has Mr Dyche been offered this year the same £3.5M bonus as last? Hope springs eternal.

Those are considerably better attacking options than we had last season and I think once a few of those players are settled and fit (most should be in the next couple of weeks) then we will start scoring more of these chances we are creating.

We have an xG of 5.21 so should really have at least 5 goals already were it not for a combination of woeful finishing and superb goalkeeping.

My worries now revolve more around the defense (including defensive midfield). Branthwaite was good yesterday but Tarkowski was not and I think we possibly have one of the weakest back fours in the league. But we were never going to be able to fix all the holes this summer.

Hopefully Patterson may improve and perhaps Mykolenko should get another shot. Would be nice if we could manage to sell Godfrey or Keane but lord knows who would take them. £50M worth of centre-back there apparently.

The squad is bang average and some fans expect success. No! Reality is Dyche will go by January and who next? Simply running out of options.

Every manager is presented with the same problems. How is a young and hungry manager expected to do at this club? The battle between reality of the squad and expectations in the stands. I am as guility of this, terrified of relegation. Personally I don't think we would return for years if this happened.

Sadly, the club has been very lucky to remain a Premier League club for so long. No plan, no direction, only utter bang average at best. Currently, we must accept staying up is success. These players and the manager are doing their best.

Still I believe, things will improve! See you all in church.

If we aren't going to score at one end, then we have to stop the stupid unforced errors and players switching off that put us under pressure at the other.

I'd put Mykolenko back in. We shouldn't be relying on a 38 year old and Mykolenko is a better defender. Whilst Young should offer more going forwards, he doesn't and his set-piece delivery has been abysmal.

We've also got to get some width in the side and move Garner central. Whilst Dyche has been unlucky with injuries to his wide men, his refusal to put Gray in the squad doesn't help him. Yes, Gray is inconsistent but he does possess lighting speed and can run at people and stretch a game when needed.

Coleman, Harrison, McNeil, Iwobi and Calvert-Lewin all to return and hopefully the emergence of Beto as a focal point for attack. I think we will be okay this season, let's pray that someone other than Sheffield Utd and Luton are worse than us. Branthwaite is going to be a bright spark this year.

It really does feel like we are cursed doesn't it? When we fold we really fold, when we play quite well, it just doesn't seem to want to go in. The VAR almost never goes our way. More false dawns than you can shake a stick at. Everyone seems to want us to implode too. I know that sounds like a childish moan but we just never seem to catch a break!

The players are fit, though there is a defensive lack of pace and predictability going forward, exasperated by poor, mostly non-existent final-third interplay, the latter being a perennial problem. Someone needs to get a grip on crosses that make goalkeepers look better than they are. Confidence will suffer and ineptness in training could rise. This is a real big danger for Dyche.

Dyche has not got the mix right in this team and is getting caught out tactically the same way every game. A one-dimensional team in the Premier League is cannon fodder, such is the level of adaptability – something that Dyche refuses to entertain every game.

It is time to get to the heart of the problem, rather than continue the same hoping for the best. Everton cannot afford to sack Dyche so it is going to be a painful process of turning this around. A few lucky undeserved results are needed.

I totally agree on Garner. Wasted out on the right. When he drifted in near the end, he immediately looked a class act.
He could slot those crucial balls through the gaps that the others don't see.

Doucoure's effort was fantastic but Onana and Gana faded badly. Young was knackered on the hour. It was a makeshift line-up that stuttered its way along creating chances in a random way. Wolves kept their shape and picked us off.

Defensively we were undone on our left again and the coup de grace was in the gap between the statue, formerly known as Tarkowski (who seems to escape criticism) and the hapless rookie right back.

Patterson is terrible. His only attribute is reasonable pace and fight. Positionally he is lost, he can't cross and he is caught upfield too often.

Their right back Semanya was immense.

I am not one of the gloom merchants. We will improve and climb the table. We need a bit of luck and one or two returnees to turn the tide.

Dyche is far from blameless, but today he did what many were calling for and, although it was shambolic, we did make chances.

However, if he can't see that Garner in central midfield will make us tick, then he is blind or stupid.

With a xG of just under five expected goals, it's clear the team are functioning well enough to create the chances, we just don't have anyone who can finish even one of them.

We have Beto coming in and Calvert-Lewin will be back after the international break. Then at least one chance per game will start getting converted.

So for me, it's doubling down on putting the hard miles in, work through this rocky period and pick up points starting next week.

At the moment, any criticism has to be levelled at the delay in getting a striker in. With the xG as it is, it's quite reasonable to say that failure has cost us 6 points.

The worst enemy now is a self-defeating slagging off the players and manager that damages confidence. Get behind the team with a proper goalscorer up top, Beto or Calvert-Lewin, almost guaranteed for the rest of the season we will improve to mid-table and may even get a good cup run going.

COYBLUES and UTF TOFFEES! The season begins now.

Villa got shut of miserable arse early last season and are now reaping the benefit. Emery was working with the same players and turned it around efficiently.

Get rid of this dinosaur now before it's too late. Sneering at the press in his presser saying crisis – don't make me laugh.
Go in any of the pubs near the ground last night and ask anyone if it's a crisis, and the answer will be an unequivocally 100%.

We could have played all night and not scored, and here's another thing, why is Young on every set piece? Everyone of them went down the keeper's throat.

A bad bad side with an equally shocking manager, who lets face it, no other Premier League team would have touched with a barge pole. Keep him at our peril because, mark my word, he will relegate us.

For some reason, we have a theory that we are dangerous when we win a corner and we have the same routine with every one. Someone – yesterday it was Young – whacks the ball in and we scramble to win the header. It's boring to watch, and ineffective. Surely it's time to introduce a little variety.

Very disappointing given the effort that had been put in up to that point but I think we will come good.

Special mention for Doucouré – he is playing his heart out for us.

Yes, he is inconsistent, but has been amongst our most effective players in the last few seasons. For the life of me, I can't understand why he hasn't been played in the first few games.

Points are going to be hard to come by this season so home matches against the likes of Fulham and Wolves are where we need to focus our effort.

And whilst I am on the subject, it is unfathomable that we should waste so much time on what looks like an unsuccessful pursuit of Gnoto. Is he really a upgrade on Gray?

To be honest it reeks to me of replacing the enigmatic Deulofeu with dull and hapless Bolasie.

Everton take note. We kicked it out of play in a good situation for a Wolves player who wasn't badly injured!

Let the ref make the decision to stop the game! How much do you want to win the game? We need to be more ruthless.

Iwobi couldn't have played anywhere he's injured, and likely to be for a few weeks.

By and large, most of this squad have been here for the past 2 relegation battles and the last thing we needed was to start with 3 losses and no goals. Their confidence must have taken a hit despite the fact that they could and should have won both home games.

Apart from Harrison, I don't see any player we have brought in is going to increase our goal-scoring ability. I think since Lukaku left we have struggled to get anybody into double figures, and I think only Calvert-Lewin once and Richarlison have managed that. Then when you add in that our midfield and defenders hardly ever score, it's no wonder when good chances come along these players don't convert.

Wolves' winning goal was started when Young under no pressure gave the ball to Wolves in the centre circle then to compound his fault he failed to stop the cross coming in. Tarkowski lost his man and, had we had the Wolves keeper in our goal, he would have come and collected that cross where Pickford made no attempt to compete for the cross.

As someone once said, the harder you work the luckier you get. UTT.

Spot on. I raised this many years ago with Seamus in those halcyon days when players attended open forum events with fans. There had been an incident at Arsenal when Arteta went down injured and Baines put the ball out of play. It was a quarter final cup tie which Arsenal were leading.

Seamus replied that they wouldn't be doing that in the future. He was true to his word but without him on the pitch yesterday we returned to our naive old ways. We are too soft.

I can't blame Dyce but I thought we would be harder to beat. I don't think Pep or Klopp could do anything with these. I'm resigned to going down.

The only thing benefitting this is the new stadium,which will open a year later, and hope we get up first time. This is the lowest I've been 62 years supporting them. UTFT

We'll be fighting that fight for some time I reckon. Only solace I can take is that with our injured players playing and possibly this Beto fella, we might actually put the small round thing in the big square thing from time to time.

34 shots, not one goal.

Opposition has had 4 shots on target, and guess what: two defeats.

The team has no quality in the top half. No one to score or create good chances.

Everyone needs to take responsibility for how low we have fallen. We are 20 years behind on finding technical players. We are fixated on buying a big physical forward and a big physical midfielder with zero ability.

This was an easy start to the season and, when our injured players return, it will be in time for us to cross swords with the big boys. God help us...

This manager is a one-dimensional one-trick pony, not a forward-thinking tactician. Two more defeats and he's toast imo.

It could have gone either way. It went to the team with more quality.

Patterson was focused on the man behind him. Had he left him free and doubled up on Tarkowski's man he'd have been utterly slaughtered.

Tarkowski lost his man, and dinosaur arms was behind his line not even trying to catch in his 6-yard box.

Not good, but not as bad as you are making it out to be Gary.

Chermiti looks good he holds up the ball and use his body well. I can see why he's being purchased. I also think Onana not only made some good interceptions, but spread the ball well and some creative pass attempts.

I think Patterson needs to be more careful with his passes. His passes to the wrong side of the player almost caused break and also his final delivery has to be better. We need McNeil back to the side.

It's BHBOTN (balls hitting back of the net) that count.

Meaningless stats bandied about mean jack shit when you're bottom with nil points and a minus goal difference.

For the goal yesterday, his feet were actually behind the goal line and, leaning backwards, he was off balance and unprepared to come for the cross or deal with the header. Very poor.

Villa was abysmal but the other two games have been close so rumoured additions do have the potential to turn such losses into draws and wins.

It's tough but we knew it would be.

Maybe a touch of bloody minded grit is required from us all to take it on the chin and rise above those sniping at us because, if the club has anything, it is defiance.

At Waterloo, the undefeated French Imperial Guard thundered up the hill to finish off the allied army. The Duke of Wellington waited then called "Now, Maitland, now is your time". And the hidden lines of General Maitland's Guards rose from the long grass to meet the startled French and blast them back down the hill.

We are awaiting our Maitland moment, it will come. We must have patience.

The club is in a dire financial situation by all accounts and yet they are spending so much on a new venue. Will it be the best stadium in the Championship?

The writing is on the wall for all to see and it just seems we are in quicksand.

I know many are now calling for heads to roll, especially Dyche, but honestly does anyone think that Guardiola, Klopp or Ten Haag can do anything at this club without a massive influx of cash investments.

That's the bottom line and in the interim they are stuck with what they have and have to pray that some of the new blood will soon settle in and help get them get out of this awful mess.

Couldn't agree more. I thought it was just me. Bores me to tears.

It's okay if not totally acceptable losing to those teams which are going for Europe, but to continue to suffer losses to pretty ordinary teams is soul-destroying and confidence-sapping for everybody connected to the club.

We can only hope that when the squad is free of injuries to the better players, we might be able to start picking up points. Meanwhile, we are all praying for our first goal, point and win of the season. It is still early days, but the pressure from the outside will continue to build and the mental fragility of our squad will be on display for all to see.

Only saw the second half but saw some positives tbh. Danjuma, Chermiti and Branthwaite to name 3. Doucouré also looked engaged.

I thought Pickford should've claimed the cross for the goal but then the save he made earlier is what he's best at. Patterson and Young were poor – bring back Mykolenko and McNeil and we'll be better.

And I thought Dyche didn't give youth a chance? Dobbin, Cannon, Branthwaite and Chermiti all given a run out! And he left Keane out of the starting 11. Quite a few shafts of light for me in an otherwise disappointing defeat.

What formation did the Duke of Wellington use? 4-4-2, three at the back or 5-3-2?

I know it was successful but I think it would be out of date now, especially with some of the soldiers (?) we have now and a goalkeeper who can't command his own little area.

In hindsight, it is easy to say Pickford should have collected the cross, I will not dispute that; he could have. He came off his line last week and handed Villa, in my opinion, a very harsh and soft penalty.

There is every chance he could have come for it yesterday, got in the way of Tarkowski, and caught in no man's land with everyone screaming at Pickford for the howler. He had a split-second to decide whether to stick or twist; he put his trust in his centre-half and edged back to his goal line.

Not for one minute am I excluding Pickford from the blame, but there were others involved who could and should have dealt with it better.

On to my second point and this involves the youngsters, on which it seems we are divided 50/50. You have those, me included, who have been calling for some of the youngsters to be given a chance, have been pulling their hair out saying they cannot possibly be any worse and will learn from any mistakes but will only get better.

I have been calling for over a season for the likes of Mills, Warrington, Branthwaite and Cannon to be given a chance. We saw first hand yesterday how well Branthwaite and to an extent Dobbin played. Until you give them a fair crack, you will never know.

However, with similar posters suggesting at least trying some, they have been shot down with experts saying Dyche sees them in training. Too young, need to go out on-loan, and even been ridiculed for the outrageous suggestion of giving some of the youngsters a go.

We have no goals in three games, the window is about to slam shut in less than a week, and we are flapping at getting Beto or Adams over the line, in this three week of panic. Surely it could not have done any harm to give Tom Cannon 20 minutes minimum each game to at least see if he can solve the problem of putting the ball in the net.

Cannon is a more natural finisher, whereas Dobbin is a more wing type attacker, cutting in.

I am not saying for one minute Cannon is the answer, but he would certainly have put a couple of those chances we missed away. Now if Dyche has any sense, before letting him go to Preston on loan, he should at the very least give him two-thirds match time in the cup game at Doncaster on Wednesday.

I have every confidence Cannon will get goals. I would prefer we kept hold of him, but fully expect him to go out on loan again.

Sooner or later, though, we need to start having a bit more belief in the youngsters, and give them a chance. And before someone jumps in saying "Yeah, look at Under-21s – been hammered twice!"

Well, maybe the fact that some of their youngsters are rotting on our first team bench, and the likes of Mills, Tyrer, Warrington, and Welch loaned out, we are down to the bare bones for the U21 team. They are missing Tyrer, Welch, Warrington, Mills, Cannon, Dobbin, Onyango and Branthwaite, who are either out on loan, or making up numbers on the subs bench.

All I am calling for is a bit more belief in the youngsters. If we are for a third season in a row sticking with the same formula of getting players in, some mediocre at best, then why not try something different and give one or two youngsters a go?

I would be more than happy to see Branthwaite remain in that defence for the remainder of the season; he will make the odd mistake, but he will learn from them.

I would love to know how you round 1.34 to 2 goals and not the 1 goal I made a point about in my post?

Some acting like we battered Wolves, and it simply isn't true.

Here are also the ages of the players in yesterday's team under 23 got on the pitch:

Branthwaite: 21
Patterson: 21
Onana: 22
Garner: 22
Dobbin: 20
Chermiti: 19
Cannon: 20

I think Pickford is being called for the Wolves goal because not defending his 6-yard area is a constant and justifiable complaint made about Jordan, he is rooted to his line in every game when he should be alive to the danger that is coming in.

I think the outstanding save he made has been mentioned a few times on this thread, I know I did. But you can't allow that but not mention his poor reaction to the goal conceded.

Pickford is well known for not challenging high balls, and prefers to root himself on the line. It is a feature of his game throughout his chequered career.

A good save does not justify a terrible error. His basic mistakes costs us at least 12 points a season.

Young aimless ball,
Gana goes chasing after the ball and leaving his slot,
Young out of position,
Tarkowski nowhere near the ball,
Onana offering nothing,
Pickford not challenging for a header from 4 yards out.

Rank errors from countless players – again!!!

This is the third season we have started without proper forward cover. Hopefully if we sign Beto, Adams or both to add to Chermiti and get Calvert-Lewin fit then we will have gone some way to finally addressing this shortcoming in our squad.

Once this is done, we need to look at the midfield. Weak, slow and totally lacking creativity. This needs a serious revamp.

There is no doubting he is an excellent shot stopper, but seems to lack confidence in coming to collect a ball in mid air. Whoever the footballing coach is, should be seeing that weakness and working Pickford harder at coming and collecting the ball in mid air.

That should be one of the first lessons of a goalkeeper, to come out and catch a ball, or at least punch it away from danger.

Yes, it's true that Pickford and the defence were not responsible for the defeat but they were for the goal.

You make a very valid point about the midfield, it offers little and needs a good coat of looking at. I wouldn't blame Doucouré yesterday, I thought he ran and fought the whole game. Yes, he has his faults, lack of control and poor passing, but he is the only central midfielder who is capable of scoring a goal.

There are a few positions that need strengthening beside the essential strikers that have been on the waiting list for a long time.

We were awful against Villa but there are signs for hope. Once we have McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, Beto, Chermiti, Harrison and Danjuma fully integrated, we'll be fine.

Keep the faith, people!

Branthwaite was head and shoulders above everyone in every game I ever saw him play for the U23s when he was only 17. He would have been the best centre-back, best midfielder or best full-back (where he sometimes played).

He played a few games in the first team and you could see the class, did a loan at Blackburn where he was patchy, and then was gradually introduced to the side at PSV on loan and excelled in some games – including a few in the Champions League.

None of the other youngsters we have are remotely in his league in my view – except possibly Jenson Metcalfe.

We'll see this season whether Stan Mills and Lewis Warrington are anywhere close to deserving a chance in the first-team squad but right now they're both miles off. No recognition from England youth at any level - and only 1 appearance at Championship level between them. They were both good but not amazing in the U23s / U21s with lots of players of that standard in most academies.

Dobbin and Cannon are a bit different so I can see the call for their involvement – and I was glad to see Dobbin in particular in the absence of Gray. I thought that was a brave move by Dyche and Dobbin did okay.

Like you say, Cannon was probably worth a much earlier run out, as a sub for Dobbin with Danjuma moving out wide. But in fairness, Chermiti looks the better player so you can see why we went for him instead.

We're already seeing with the likes of Garner, Patterson and Onana just how hard it is for them in the Premier League despite the obvious talent. So we can't just blood these youngsters on the basis that "they can't be worse" because they very definitely can be worse – especially on boring basics like positioning, closing down passing lanes and decision making etc – all the things which often go unnoticed but make a huge difference.

I'm contrasting this with the 'KITAN1 dinosaur manager who has sent out a team that's created a pile of chances in two out of three games.

The team desperately needs a focal point up front who knows where the goal is. I'm not blaming Dyche for the club's seven-year reluctance to buy players who can score. We need to put that right this week.

Steve B - I would love to know how you round 1.34 to 2 goals.

I think Steve uses the Everton Accountancy team. Their motto is: Pick a number, any number, if the first doesn't look right!

I plead not guilty, m'lud!

In the 1957-58 season, Lincoln City had to win their last 6 games to avoid relegation, and they did exactly what was required, finishing 1 point away from the drop.

The following season, Everton lost their first 6 games, scoring 4 goals and conceding 20, there were 22 clubs in the First Division at that time, and Everton finished in 16th position and 7 points clear of relegation. I was serving in the army in Cyprus at the time and didn't see any of the Everton games.

I can't get my head around xG goals or whatever it is. Means toss all at the end of the day doesn't it. Or does it?

We could have an xG of 200 and it wouldn't count a carrott when there is no one on the pitch capable of scoring.

If you don't have someone capable of scoring double figures, you're bang in trouble.

Worries me to hell!

To believe they don't matter is basically a rejection of observed history. It's early so I could be a bit off the mark but damn, please use different slagging techniques. You don't want to get Stuart Sharp involved here.

Being specific yesterday, the world class save was from a cross he could not come for. The disallowed goal was more moot but it was whipped in low and fast and I don't blame him for not coming.

But the goal was a clear-cut error. Of course the wide player should not have been given all the time he wanted to set up the cross. But it was a high inswinger from out wide and ample time for a good commanding goalie to at least punch it clear if not catch it.

Note from the replay, he was not rooted to the line. His position was 2-3 yards from his line but he then back-pedalled, ending up behind the goal line and so no chance from any kind of flick, given the forward was only 4-5 yards out.

I honestly don't know what his problem is. Surely it can be coached out of him. Is anyone even trying?

The lows and lows of being an Everton fan.

He definitely wins us some points, but as yesterday he costs us a right few also.
He always has a mistake in him, bad judgement on tol many occasions.
I have watched that goal over and over and there is no doubt that our keeper should have seen it coming and cleared all in front if him.
I personally think he is way over rated.
Let's hope he reads this and plays a blinder against our next opponents who without doubt will fancy it against us.
Tough times for Evertonians.

Those muskets were dodgy at the best of times. Then again if Maupay and co surged forward with weapons that don’t aim properly maybe they’d hit the target as their own aim is off

Saying that, if we have no points in October there will be none to deduct!

Dyche, you're a genius.

If you thought we would suddenly become free flowing, goal scoring, hard as nails, tough to beat and grow a back bone over night you can't have known how bad we were the last couple of years !!

Our problems are deeper rooted.
Creativity has been our problem since anchelotti left.
Dyche seems to be getting the same players lampard had creating more chances without Gray, without Mcneil, without Iwobi on Saturday.

Adding Mcneil, Harrison, Beto, DCL
Iwobi & maybe Adams/Gnoto and CB will improve us, but we are still in for a long season.

I belive we will be more than safe when we get these players back & new faces, Dyche isn't panicking Lampard style. I just hope we get a win or 2 in our next 2 games to relive the pressure off him as another change of manger won't help stability wise, financially or mentally for fans or players.

And Kim 254, I’m struggling with the concept of a winning xG. It is an expectation of future outcomes. Ex ante ex post and all that.

Help you?

The reason I go weird on this is that the banter is outside a window of acceptability for me. Joking about a mathematical statistic is like Don Quixote and windmills. I simply start in on the fallacy of the joke at that point.

If one were to take the approach of asking why we constantly get told we have a high xG but no actual G then we are getting somewhere. I will continue below with the rest.

That is the crux and you can go two ways with that. If you have a positive (G-xG) then you have something in your setup or squad that is over performing relative to other comparable team experiences. Negative (G-xG) and something is holding you back from converting those opportunities.

We know we have a problem with quality of forwards that explains the negative stat. That we are generating opportunities that statistically are associated very strongly with actual goals is a plus. That plus what we’ve seen with our eyes is enough to get behind the team with faith now for the xG lovers.

We can now debate the Venn diagram of Happy Clappers and xG lovers.

I'd say its the perfect word to describe my point about people believing that a striker will turn us into some free-flowing Everton side of the '80s.

Delusional: Holding false beliefs or judgements about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary.

The evidence is there for all to see. We will improve in my opinion under Dyche, we will be safe, but it's going to be a slog and it's not going to be pretty.

The squad's so thin as we know that these couple of injuries we've got have ruined the start, that's not Dyche's fault and I'd argue most managers would struggle with the players he's had to choose from.

If we are still Bottom 3 after we've played a few games with Calvert-Lewin, McNeil, Iwobi, Coleman, Harrison, Beto and any other signings, I'd change my opinion as the evidence would be there to see.

And if we aren't playing Gray because we want to sell him then we shouldn't play anyone as we'll need to sell them all if we get relegated so we can avoid bankruptcy.

I'm still not convinced, though to be honest, I'm not too convinced about Gana either, but somebody might still give us cash money for Onana... as long as they don't want to foist McTominay or Maguire on us as part of the deal.

Very few players ever have the impact when returning to the club they left and Gana to be honest wasn't that impressive first time around.

The other ''midfielders'' have been off and on for quite some time but Iwobi works tirelessly and arguably will be missing for a while.

If we cannot compete effectively in midfield then winning games will be a problem as it has proved so far this season despite the offensive woes.

We need the new blood in the team and the quicker the better even if the win column takes longer to show better numbers.

I sometimes get the impression that someone will make a
run, nothing comes of it and they become less interested to try again. But if we can offload him especially now he's injured it could prove beneficial to the squad.