Don’t panic!

Have to agree with most of what you say and, although it might be a struggle this season, I can't for the life of me see another relegation battle.

Although I can't get to the games any more, I do watch them all on a stream and there are marked differences from the last two seasons.

I just hope Dyche plays a full-strength team on Wednesday

I agree with you there is no need to panic——-yet, depends on what we do in the transfer window in the next few days, if we are left with the squad we have now then “ Permission to panic Sir” as Corporal Jones often said.

I agree with most of your ratings Dave,a game we could have won although a draw was more likely and a mistake was always going to win this match unfortunately we made it but as you say that mistake was entirely avoidable.

Branthwaite was a huge positive. Might well be our best defender at the moment.

However, the games against Fulham and Wolves were winnable games, and we have let those points slip away, the Wolves game with a late goal, and we have had problems with games in the past losing games conceding late goals.

Therefore, we are all ready on the back foot, playing catch up on points, and this in turn will put pressure on players for results. Let’s hope our fortunes pick up quickly.

I would give Doucouré a "10" for effort. The lad gave his all.
Garner is so wasted out on the right, and when he'd moved inside towards the end, he immediately came into his own.
Once Harrison is fit and McNeil returns, we will be much more dangerous.

I think Forest were adrift last season after six or so games and they recovered. We will certainly not go down.

I provided some analysis of results of Everton home matches in the last 3 years, on another thread. What it showed is that 2 out of 3 games haven't been winnable for Everton at Goodison.

Whilst we may have hoped to have beaten either or both of Wolves and Fulham, the statistics don't back it up, in fact both those clubs have won in 3 consecutive seasons at Goodison.

That's not at all to say that it is acceptable to fail to win against those teams, but unless we have a bigger threat on an opponents goal we will always struggle to earn the 3 points against any team.

Or my heart says, “I can't take the stress anymore, so give up”.

On the way to the ground each match-day, I see many who appear to be older than I am.

I think I said in the Harlech that, "Dog owners have their pets chipped enabling them to know where they are at any time. It would appear that when I was born, the doctor must have put a chip in me, which compels me to go to Goodison Park whenever Everton are playing at home."

If you are visiting the Harlech again I'll make every effort to be there, if only for a few minutes.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say you're getting a bit carried away.

Garner is and never will be anywhere near Bracewell's level. Yes, he's out of position at the minute, but to me he's too slight, and just another of our midfield players who doesn't contribute, especially goal wise.

As for Branthwaite being a £100 million player in a couple of seasons, yes, he played well, but that statement is way over the top.

As for your criticism of Pickford, I'm afraid we'd be a Championship side only for him.

Oh and Dave, I'm panicking – in fact, I'm shitting myself cos this is desperate.

It's good there are at least some bright glints amongst the gloom and reasons for optimism dependent on hopefully Beto incoming and the injured key players returning.

With regard Pickford he makes some stupendous saves that are match winners, but he does need to be more decisive in taking the initiative in situations like Saturday.

I think most Premier League level goalies would have attacked that looped cross and punched it away. Sometimes though they just fall into that no man's land area that causes uncertainty. Still he should have punched it.

A first look at Chermiti. His first game better than I had expected, a bit stronger, looked physically robust and not a wilting bean pole. Also not afraid to put himself about. We need to see more because his job is to score goals or create something, but looks well scouted, very promising and looking forward to see how he develops.

Agree Branthwaite was Man of the Match, touch of class about him and it stood out.

We must have just missed you at the Harlech pub, me and Steve V were there around 12:30 and remained there until just before 2 when Bill G arrived, but with no other familiar faces around, we went on to the old supporters club, to meet Jim in there.

If you thought Michael Keane was slow, it was nothing compared to the speed of those behind the bar at the old supporters club, price of beer had gone up twice, due to the long wait (okay, slight exaggeration).

Anyway hopefully will get to see you on your next visit to the Harlech and the Old Lady.

Thanks again for a great read.

It is definitely not the time to panic.

Lose to Fulham and Wolves in games we should have won, knowing Everton, we'll go and beat Chelsea, Arsenal and snatch a late winner at Anfield. It's a long and unpredictable season with a lot of points to play for.

I seem to recall Arsenal having a dreadful start in one of Arteta's earlier seasons. Horrendous goal difference after the early fixtures and there being talk of him being sacked.

I've never been a fan of league tables being published too early and don't look at them until it's relevant. Like your title suggests, not the time to panic.

All games can be won, all games can be lost. I know what you mean about Jordan. I don't want to slate him as he practically kept us up for two seasons. Commanding his area has never, and never will be his strong point. He is a very good shot-stopper.

Beat Sheffield United, Arsenal. We have to, it's on my birthday, which I share with Neville Southall. Then Brentford and Luton to follow. Give it a month and the Everton world on the field of play will feel very different.

Glad to hear your fellow travelling Blue ended up okay.

I noticed a stag party from Virginia had made the trip! I am staggered by our long-distance fans' devotion to our team.

There must be some great stories of how you all have come to support our team.

Win, lose or draw, we will always support the club; it's just so hard at the minute to find any form of positivity.

If Dele Alli's story taught us anything, it taught us how important confidence is to player performance and how fragile is the human ego.

Great to see fellow Cumbrian young Branthwaite have a solid game. I'm optimistic. (ish).

However, I can't be as optimistic as I look around a team with plenty of effort and organisation but without a goalscorer throughout the team.

It used to be the case that our defenders and midfield used to chip in with a few goals but, even if we signed Harry Kane, he alone couldn't score enough to carry us through.

Onana, Garner and Gueye are all too defensive-minded and don't look capable of scoring.

The only player currently in the squad who looks capable of a goal is Doucoure and he is only a 1 in three player.

Maybe if we get McNeil back and Danjuma comes to life alongside Beto, things will improve… but I still wonder where we are going to get 40-plus points from.

Sorry to add such a negative vibe to a positive thread but that is how they have made me feel at the moment.

Our form is very consistent over the past couple of years. We lose a lot and rarely score. Maybe some of those not currently playing can make a difference but I've found that the reputation of those not playing at any given point tends to increase with their absence.

Sheffield Utd will give a clearer idea. They are one of two clubs even I am assuming we finish above. We cannot afford to lose, it's a 6-pointer already. The other, Luton, is also in the next month. Things will be clearer by then, hopefully not in a bad way. We need a minimum 4 points from those games.

Assuming we are all correct about the Bottom 2, I'm still struggling to find the 3rd candidate. It's all very well saying Bournemouth but they gave us 2 drubbings at their place last season and our epic final home game was not easy.

Burnley might be a better bet, maybe this year's promoted teams are an especially poor crop. Wolves and even Fulham were two others in my head but losing at home to both suggests otherwise.

I'm more in fingers crossed, behind-the-sofa mode and I even fear Wednesday's game as a potential pratfall against the worst team in the whole Football League. I agree with others, we can't afford to just play the kids and cast-offs, we need to feel the ball in the back of the net and the experience of winning a game.

Patterson, Branthwaite, Garner, Onana, Dobbin and Chermiti give us something to build on as each can occupy a place in the squad for many years.

Obviously McNeil too who we are really missing. They will all have their ups and downs but, if they keep working hard, hopefully they will be worth the patience.

As with the Fulham result, Saturday was hard to take but as you say the signs are encouraging and better than last season.

We really need to start putting points on the board soon though, losing is a bad habit easily attained and drains confidence. Hopefully, Beto and Chermiti will bring much needed goals and take the pressure off Calvert-Lewin so he returns fully fit and raring to go.

I think having a half decent striker will help the other players too as it gives them an outlet and focal point up front.

I think your ratings are pretty accurate. A bit concerned about Pickford, he needs some serious competition in reserve to bring out his best form. It's not an immediate issue yet but will be soon imo.

Hopefully not as hurtful as those two trips to Bournemouth last season.

Turn it around blues. Believe.

Because we do.

1) I've watched the goal several times and still stand by my opinion that Pickford was definitely culpable. He's actually behind the line when the ball leaves the Wolves player's shoulder. Pickford has been very good for 2 years but always suspect to anything airborne.

2)

There were other mistakes on the run-up to the goal, but I agree with Joe about Pickford standing behind the line (Tarkowski must also take his fair shame of the blame).

Pickford definitely has my backing. He's a credit to the club and he has saved us far more points than he has cost us.

Sa was superb yesterday – seven saves, one was world class – and was comfortably, like Leno, MotM (not Branthwaite).

I've seen enough to think that things will turn out fine. I wasn't there in 1958-59, John Mac, but I was in Autumn 1994, and although so many things are different now, I'd take 15th-ish and the FA Cup!

Leno was outstanding as was the Wolves keeper.

The results will come.

I just wish that we do not feel the need to say this after three games on August Bank Holiday!

Someone on the Beto thread thinks we will sign him and then loan him out. Seems a bit daft to me, considering the amount of time we've spent chasing a proper striker. Still, I suppose these people know best!

On the post, that I mentioned Everton's poor start to the 1958-59 season.

I also posted that in the previous season, 1957-58, Lincoln City needed to win their final six games to avoid relegation from the Second Division, and that was exactly what they did, and they were saved by a point. So worrying about relegation after three defeats is a bit pessimistic.

Ajay has gone missing. When the fixtures came out he was all for 7 points by now and I pointed out that last season we lost these three games, although last season we did score in each game.

I think looking at our overall play, we will be okay. But please don't hold me to that come May.

Dave, you up for the West Ham game? Boys and I have decided that is one to go to. Be good to meet after what… 50+ years!

Fortunately our target bar is so low (avoid relegation) we still have plenty of time but we'd better get a move on.

But I'm just not sure about doing that in the 90th minute of your first game in a new league, and getting a straight yellow card for your efforts.

I fear the negative consequences over time in the shape of unwanted suspensions – or worse with our new species of card-happy refs – may have a more damaging long-term impact.

Just saying!

I won't panic. We are not even in September yet.

You mean precisely what happened to Fellaini?

But I agree with Dave's article - I still think we will be okay, especially if we get Beto in. We are due some luck with injuries - we need Calvert-Lewin to get back to fitness ASAP, and also McNeil & Harrison to start playing. When everyone is fit, I would like to see (4-4-2):

Calvert-Lewin Danjuma
McNeil Onana Garner Harrison
Mykolenko Branthwaite Tarkowski Patterson
Pickford

Subs: Virginia, Young, Keane, Gana, Doucoure, Iwobi, Dobbin, Chermiti, Beto

I think you pretty much nailed the player assessment apart from Gana who I think is hampered at the moment by having to do two jobs – Onana being completely anonymous. I just don't get him.

If he spent half as much time playing football as he does patting the badge and trying to encourage the crowd, we would have a player, but he is not what we need right now. If someone offered us £40M, I would bite their hands off. Drop him and play Garner in there.

I remember us thrashing Villa 4-0 at Goodison in 2015. Last week I think we were as crap as they were back then, and they got relegated that season...

Won't happen to us!