Precious goals seal vital win over Bournemouth

COYB

Would have liked to have thought that they'd have been having daily training sessions on getting Calvert-Lewin and Beto working as a pairing too.

Danjuma was clearly a Thelwell signing, wasn't he?

Good dropping Onana. He offers very little.

Hopefully Garner plays through the middle, where he's much more effective. I think we'll win this today. COYB!!!

Not really sure what Young has done to merit continued selection but I guess you could say the same for most of the team!

I'd have been tempted to put Harrison in the middle with Garner and Gana sitting deeper and McNeil and Danjuma occupying the flanks… but let's see how today ends up panning out, eh.

Still take Young off.

Get the third early!

Sort it out, Kenwright.

It's not that tricky. Add more attacking quality. Play players in their positions.

Though that might not be the right side to face Liverpool.

Anyway, a little break now before that sickening feeling.

Nice to see the result matching the performance this week and credit to Dyche and the players. We have a much better squad this season and, as I said after the Luton abomination, I still think we will end up closer to 10th than 20th.

When they did come later in the game, when they got desperate, Pickford showed his class – and what about that clearance by McNeil off the line.

Good performances all around especially Garner who is rapidly establishing himself as a top midfielder.

Harrison also gave them a new dimension and a fully fit Calvert-Lewin was good to see.

Hopefully this will carry over to the RS game.

Well done Blues !!

Said it after Villa and I'll say it again, they must be the starting two. They won back possession time after time today and one of them scored, Onana nearly did also and there was a balance between defence and attack, not to mention control.

Some tough games coming up now. We've got to turn up.

Jordan is an ex-wrestling coach and sex abuse enabler at Ohio State.

Many have been calling for Garner and Onana to be partnered together in midfield and for Gueye to be dropped, and it took a literal injury in warm-ups for the penny to drop. Go figure! (I do think Gueye offers something in certain match-ups, but he shouldn't just be pencilled in each week.)

I think Danjuma's problem is there simply isn't a place for him in the starting XI at the moment. McNeil and Harrison are rightfully preferred on the flanks, and Doucouré does just enough (scoring goals, mainly) to justify his continued inclusion.

Today is why I've said all along we will not be in a relegation battle come April / May.

Of course, we do have a penchant for turning great performances into losses, but there's still way too much quality in this side to not overcome that.

Calvert-Lewin was great, wish he'd have scored. McNeil fantastic. Harrison brilliant. Garner great.

Just a fantastic game.

Couldn't Live Forum today as I'm in Orlando and it proved difficult to watch the game, never mind comment on it. Missed it. Hope it was full of happiness and merriment today – even the most negative surely couldn't find something to bitch about?

UTFT

But my MotM goes to Dwight McNeil. What a shift that lad puts in. He never stopped running all game.

Great stuff!

However, like Luton last week, it was difficult to see what Bournemouth's pattern or system was as they seemed neither to play wide or through midfield and didn't seem too quick on the break.

The better teams seem to get forward and back a lot quicker than most and have options to play through or around midfield. Still, three very valuable points.

Impressive home debut by Harrison, hopefully he can stay injury free.

Once again, we looked poor at set pieces though, again a player peeling off at the back with no-one picking up the runner. Funny enough, we didn't seem to win many 2nd balls, but we did enough.

A bit of breathing room today... good stuff. I can go back to sleep now before it gets light!

No, thought not.

Box to box for 90 minutes. He can pass. He can shoot. He looks to be vocal on the pitch. He wants the ball all the time.

He is so quick over a few yards that he can get so many tackles in. A dog of war with class.

I thought Garner and Harbinson and a resurging McNeil made the difference.

I'm not.

Harbinson full of energy, and a great goal!

It's bit of a mystery I googled Harbinson and he appears to be a plumber from Colwyn Bay – I'm confused tbh.

We had lost the match before a ball had been kicked according to some.

Clean sheet, 3 goals & 3 points. You can't ask for more. Some will still say ”Oh, it's only Bournemouth.”

There’s a decent team in this squad now, we've been slow to start, but it's slowly coming together.

On to to the big red tourist attraction!!

I thought Bournemouth were sloppy all afternoon and we exploited it to perfection. Definitely feeling a bit more positive about our season now.

Garner and Branthwaite again stood out – I'm buzzing we've got two very good young players long term. Onana did well linking play up and wasn't wasteful. Harrison and McNeil, take a bow, great shift and performance from both. Calvert-Lewin worked his socks off and deserved a goal, a bit unlucky not to score.

A much-needed win and 3 points; we can go to Anfield now with a bit of confidence that we can cause them a few problems and get a result.

Hope most of ToffeeWeb can put their angst back in the cupboard and the "Dyche Out" Brigade can come back another week.

Great result. We move on.

Branthwaite made one crunching tackle, great to see him sign a new contract.

Calvert-Lewin looks back to his best, deserved a goal today. A lot more optimism before we head to Anfield.

A lot more football played.

A 2nd chance in a few weeks to watch MotD on a Saturday. Heady days.

Pleased for Dyche because there's been some daft stuff written about him. He deserves a chance and some backing given that he kept us up and the hand he's been dealt.

Same again in a fortnight's time, eh, Blues and be brave and just stand up to the RS, then this season we can really progress and climb that table.

I can't remember either. I don't post a lot and I am real as in pragmatic and realistic.

One of the things that really hacks me off on this site is supporters thinking that Everton should be beating other teams easily. Not sure why as I'm pretty sure that you realise we have been crap for the last 2 years at least.

For what it's worth, my take on things is that we are making a lot of chances and now appear to have a decent enough squad to be able to take some.

I don't fear another relegation scrap this season, and obviously do not consider 1 win in 5 home games particularly good.

There is a damaging sense of entitlement with some fans, because of our "big club” status. We are not a big club, we are not pencilled in to take 3 points off anyone because of our historical status, which I am aware of.

We won today – probably the best 90 minutes I have seen them play for a very long time. Do I think we can go to Mordor and get 3 points. No I don't.

That's just me being real. But I do see signs of improvement this season

The pressing and fitness levels are a stark contrast from the Gomes and Siggy days of closing players down.

Love Garner in the centre. Very Scholes-esk the way he stands on the ball and moves a couple of feet back or left and right and then plays a pass, makes a 5-yard move, knowing when to do it to get the ball back. Running the game as one of the youngest players on the pitch.

Got to build on this and find more young lower-division players with high-ceiling potential like Garner, Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin. Get these on the bench in January or in the summer.

There's a lot worse things wrong with Everton than Sean Dyche but taking a few of the ToffeeWeb regulars to the Bramley Moore after the game, that stadium is definitely befitting of a distant era and the great days of Sir John Moores.

It looks like Everton turned xG into goals today even if I'm not properly shore how it real works!

Mostly listening to matches these days, heart rate eased up and blood pressure came down a bit after the first half. Glad James Garner got a chance in central midfield. Sounded like he took it, but sounded like a lot of players did well. Be interesting to know what approach Dyche took with them in the week. Arm round the shoulder or a bollocking?

Let's keep it going when we travel to Scandinavia, erm sorry, Anfield.

But the Luton type performances have got to be banished to bad memory and we need to put a home run together. Get the lottery of the derby out the way and let's kick on v West Ham.

Btw - their right back today looked like what we should be asking Patterson to play like. Young should be back up and no more.

Gana shouldn't play again, it's like having half a player wandering around.

I think the difference today is that we got the first goal. If we'd done that against Fulham, Wolves or Luton, we'd have 9 more points.

But, there again, if my auntie had bollocks, she'd be my uncle!

The fans have been calling for Garner and Onana to be reunited in midfield for weeks, but stubborn old snothead has ignored this and played safety first, so the result today proved the fans were right, and Dyche has been wrong.

Every Evertonian wants Dyche to do well, as this means we're all happy, but if he reverts back to type in home games against clubs we should be competing against (and our next match is rightly a free ride for him), then he will be under pressure again.

It's only one home win all season, and losing to Wolves, Fulham and Luton is criminal, considering the expensive and talented squad we have.

"Love looking back to the top of the thread when we get a result to see what garbage some people post. We had lost the match before a ball had been kicked according to some".

I couldn't see one example of this, David. Would you care to point one out to me?

We all needed this result, manager, players and supporters. A massive 3 points and had we beat Luton like we should have done – say no more!

Nothing to get carried away about, Bournemouth are not very good.

Proper player. Uses both feet. Does most things right. Understands his role.

Sign him.

Although we had lost our last 3 home games, we didn't deserve to lose any of them and it was only down to poor finishing that we didn't win them all, you can't blame the manager for that in my opinion. We now look to have more goals from around the pitch, instead of relying on our striker to get them all.

We're still in a dodgy position with some tough games coming up, but there's enough to be positive about.

You might want to check my previous post #47. 😉

I've got several candidates.

Well done, boys. I really, really enjoyed that!

Describing the manager as snothead devalues your argument straightaway.

James Garner was already picked in central midfield for the game, Gueye got injured so Onana came in. I've seen no consensus on here for that particular midfield line-up, only that Garner should play there.

Does Dyche get any credit for playing Harrison at right wing? Or was that down to the fans as well?

Posters who constantly gripe may want to give their heads a wobble too.

For the RS game, I'd revert to 3-4-3 like the Villa game, except in place of Keane I'd play Mykolenko (yes I know controversial), Patterson and McNeil as wingbacks, Onana & Garner in the middle. and Danjuma, Calvert-Lewin and Harrison.

I realise there's as much chance of this being the line-up as me winning the lottery, but against the RS I think we'd be better on the front foot as well as target Trent, who is defensively suspect.

At least we've got a couple of weeks not worrying about football.

We've been playing attacking football most weeks (20+ shots!), have deserved more from the home games, and he gets called a snothead? The mind boggles.

The guy has earned patience and respect, if nothing else. I enjoyed today and will keep enjoying it. My only beef is that we didn't score more.

From the dark days of the last 2 years, we are now having 5.5 shots on target a game and an average of goal a game – even after 0 in the first 3. We are creating the chances to score – we now just have to take them. The last two seasons we were not even creating the chances.

Another interesting stat. Luton have 4 points. For the same fixtures last year Southampton would have gained 11. Think it is 2 from 19 for relegation – although at least 9 of the 19 can be excluded!

Relaxed Saturday night for a change!

Wow!

Dyche has had 28 matches, won 9, drawn 7, lost 12. Walker had 35 matches, won 6, 11 drawn, 18 lost. Not sure your statement stands up to scrutiny.

Some on here have an agenda: it's pure and simple. They'd like to hound Dyche out like they hounded Sam out and other unfashionable managers that they think aren't good enough for our club.

It's a sad indictment as most of our fans are terrific. And as we know, they kept the team up under Frank.

But there's others that just love misery. Love it. Can't do without it. They've decided on Dyche and that's it – nothing will change their minds.

He kept up a crap team last season and (with Thelwell) has balanced the squad this season. He's got them making chances and now we just need to consistently take those chances and we'll be okay.

Let's hope the sensible Evertonians prevail and we can enjoy many more days like today.

Fingers crossed eh?! Up the blues!!

Also, would have had Danjuma on for McNeil to also ease him in given he’s only just come back from injury.

Dyche seems to love really late subs. No need 3-0 up at home with half an hour to go. First sub was on 78 minutes!

New team showing green shoots with 2 steps forward and 1 back but we seem to be on the right track. Square pegs in square holes with 2 to 3 options off the bench.

Feeling positive.

Allardyce needed hounding out from the moment the arrogant twat and his massive ego walked in.

Young was the weak link throughout.

A lot of people don't post after a win because they are happy and there is no need to comment. It's only when we are dissatisfied that we need to make our feelings clear.

Great performance and I'm so happy tonight!

"Feeling positive" sorry to hear that mate and get well soon. I get the odd turn like that somedays, but a lie down in a darkened room usually helps.

'xG' my arse, we just got a 'uW' - Unexpected(?) Win - what a nice surprise to wake up to.

Just like Ancelotti stumbled on to 'The Wall of 4', Dyche...or rather Gueye stumbled for him... has arrived at a 'Midfield of 4-ish'. It worked until he changed it - so no playing Mr Tinkerman.

For the derby; take our Brighton - Brentford - Villa - Schlieffen Plan (there were two; we don't need the Offensive version) we go with what worked and what we seem to have the hang of – a defensive first strategy, followed by strategic counterattacks.

As always with derbies though, something will no doubt crop up.

Where you at Goodison today? The logo will only be fixed if blue. They have loads of blue paint according to John Daley. Bill got a bargain. May have gone off though.

It's the modern Everton way.

I stopped posting here disgusted at fans damning Martinez with faint praise after turning Man Utd over at Old Trafford. People had taken against a relegated Wigan manager getting the gig from the get-go and were just waiting for the opportunity to stick the knife in — and didn't they just!

But it's happened to every manager since with only Carlo getting a relatively easy ride because we're suckers for a stellar name. But he realised the score and got out before the fans turned.

In that respect, fans are joint owners of the EFC downfall.

We now have a team/setup capable of creating a fair few chances. Though our fixtures have not been super challenging.

Can we keep doing the same away to RS and West Ham? Tough matches but I think we've as good as chance there as we've had in a few years.

Scoring the first goal is always important. Under Sean Dyche's management, we have yet to lose a game in which we have scored the first goal. Scoring it early, as we did today, makes the game so much easier. It lifts the pressure on the team, encourages the home support, and creates an environment in which players relish possession rather than fear it.

Today, we saw the team play with a freedom we have not seen at Goodison for the last 12 months. In the final half-hour, they actually looked as though they were enjoying their football. Hooray!

We should have got similar results against Wolves and Fulham but, as I posted earlier in the week, we have been needing Calvert-Lewin, McNeil and Harrison to get fit because, besides Doucouré, they are some of the few players who know how to convert chances – and what a goal from Harrison today. Jimmy Garner is looking better in every game and contributing goals.

I believe we have quality all over the pitch now except for the full-back positions.
Imo, Sean Dyche has done a better job than most people give him credit for. He has moulded and balanced a squad of misfits into an entertaining and attack-minded side and the players seem to take to him too.

There will be tougher times ahead but, if we get behind this man and the players, I can see a more positive future for the club.

The team was set up well today. We were on the front foot from the start, although we were allowed to be. The two wide men were impressive; McNeil was MotM, Harrison had a great debut, what a goal! Garner was not very far behind and is looking, with Branthwaite, to be our most important player for the rest of the season. I also thought that Calvert-Lewin had a very good all-round game and he has lifted my hopes as much as anyone today.

We should have a higher points tally to go into the next six or so matches that are far more tricky on paper than what is behind us. The next two are very tricky; the four after will be a challenge, Burnley at home could be either Luton or today, I think it will be today. Brighton (H), Palace (A), and the desperately lucky Man-Utd (H) are all winnable matches.

We should take stock of where we are at the end of November. We will be in a better place to judge then. We will not go down. There are more than three worse teams than us. There will be more Lutons and there will be more Bournemouths, and we will stay up. And that will also be because we do have some very good players when set up in the right away and allowed to play in their best positions

UTFT

See 19: lost at home to Luton and some players hold their place. (Like we can swap a whole team after a defeat!)

See 21 & 22: lose this Dyche is gone tomorrow. Dyche is lucky to still be here. (A good attitude to have!)

I get we all get things wrong, but some people are almost willing Dyche to fail because they never wanted him in the first place.

This result has been coming. We've been unlucky to not have a couple more like today. Performances have been steadily improving, even if results have lagged behind.

We could have been 6 today, is that negative? We played some decent stuff, not "hoofball", but people's preconceptions of Dyche overide the evidence that he's got us playing better.

We are not going to win every match!!!

Me, on the other hand, I'm quietly pleased and hopeful (see 108). I also agree with the rest of your post, David. Glad you had a good day!

I agree with your assessment at post 108 Common sense and balanced. The run of games after Burnley is tough.

I think we may shock in a couple of the tougher-looking games as it may suit us to soak up some pressure from teams coming at us, and hitting them in the break – if we are positive and not like the Arsenal game.

It's been coming for a while. Just a shame we didn't get 3 points last week too.

We've beaten Bournemouth at home and lost to Wolves, Fulham, Arsenal and Luton. I don't know how anyone say "See, I told you there were no problems!"

The big difference for me today was the better attacking quality on display. We had a midfield two who are good enough to contribute in both directions. We had actual wide players on both flanks.

As a result, we didn't just have the ball in their half sometimes, which is what we've done in 3 of the 4 home games... we created good openings. That wasn't a coincidence, or some reversal of previous bad fortune. It was a change – play attackers, attack with more quality. Not exactly shocking!

I don't believe this team should go down. Defence has never been our biggest problem. And there's enough quality in the squad to create and score goals.

But we haven't been set up that way. Today was just a small step in the right direction.

And yes, we had a couple of 3-0 wins under Lampard.

Similarly, Branthwaite has brought stability at the back. Confidence is visibly spreading through the team. Had we taken our early chances against Luton, the outcome could well have been similar to today's.

I'm not getting carried away, but the signs are good. Regardless of the opposition, a win's a win. There are no pushovers in the Premier League.

Great to see some real quality from Garner and Harrison with their goals, it's what we've badly missed.

There's a long way to go, 7 points from 8 games is still pants, but it's a nicer weekend when Everton win. Big big test for Dyche coming up soon vs the ‘victims of VAR' – I hope he uses his head when writing the teamsheet.

I hope not, it's just what I think. It is also a recipe for losing the game if we invite them up the pitch.

Under Sam, we had how many games with zero shots on target? And even off target, we'd muster 4 or 5 at best. Now that was boring.

I might just be paraphrasing sentences like

"I've never been worried about being relegated this year"
"We can see how much better the team is"
"The corner has been turned"
"It's been coming for a while"

Personally, I've absolutely been worried (and still am) about relegation. We're a team that has lost 4 of our first 5 home games!

And it hasn't been coming. We've been shit. We haven't looked like a team capable of scoring the goals needed. We've looked like a team capable of having some of the ball against teams that don't want it, and having a few shots taken by players who simply don't score anything near enough.

As for turning the corner, I'll wait to see if there's any kind of plan in future games. This game was the first time I've seen it this season, and parts of it seemed to be stumbled upon accidentally.

And why do I even care? Because we are accepting mediocrity. In fact, we accept worse than that. I don't know how deservedly losing to a poor Luton could be accepted as demonstration that results will come.

Agree with most of what you write Ernie: I do not think that we have turned a corner, we've popped our head around the wall. We have played some decent stuff in a couple of games, but today, I agree, was on a scale that we had not seen this season so far, Ernie.

We can only get something across the park, I think, if Dyche sticks to the same line-up and set-up that we saw today.

It's a long season, and his selections have been puzzling and damaging since he arrived, eg, persevering with Keane until he had no choice but to drop him; refusing to play Garner in centre-midfield, for too long; sticking with over-the-hill Young while leaving Patterson without much needed Premier League match time which could be detrimental to his development.

No-one would be happier than me to see Dyche as a success here but, on his track record, I can't believe so many are hailing him as the new messiah, with us hovering above the relegation places with 7 points from 8, mostly winnable games, with most of the top clubs to play twice.

If he'd leave his nose alone, I might find it easier to take to him (a win at our old ground would go a long way to forgiving him too).

I've long been in the pro-Dyche camp, but he deserves valid criticism for some of his decisions: playing Keane, persisting with Gana, playing Garner out wide when it wasn't necessary, using subs too late or ineffectively. Fortunately, he seems to come around eventually.

Whether we end up in another relegation scrap is anyone's guess, especially if we get any key injuries, but our top 11 are certainly a solidly mid-table team. And more than anything, we're far better than we were the last 2 years and far more exciting to watch, so I'll take that any day.

I was teetering on the edge with Dyche. Five home losses on the trot would have been unacceptable in my book but he has lived to fight another day.

Calvert-Lewin is back but perhaps the most hopeful sign for me was Harrison. We have been crying out for someone who can play on our right wing for a number of seasons. Deulofeu was the last one I can remember. Harrison fits the bill and gives the team balance and symmetry – two things I place a high value on.

A word about Patterson. I like this lad – he is fearless and likes to get forward. He and Mykolenko are the future.

We have a lot of young players in the squad now. Who knows they might just click and as Dyche suggested might surprise a lot of people including us.

Up the Blues!!!

We have a lot of young players in the squad now. Who knows they might just click and as Dyche suggested might surprise a lot of people including us.

Fingers crossed that you're right, we need something good to happen at our club, it's been so long.

Kenwright Out!

For what it's worth, Liverpool away might actually be a game for Idrissa and Doucouré. Maybe.

I'm not sure what his plan will be. We're not going to have much of the ball and will rely on being defensively accountable and maybe getting something on the break.

Or maybe we go and take it to them? Press them, harry them. Have the ball in dangerous positions and ask questions of them.

And this is where I take issue with Dyche. There are different but valid approaches that we may not agree with personally. I could live with him playing a style or taking an approach that I don't agree with. But I can't live with him playing no discernable style, which is what happened prior to yesterday.

He might learn, but I've got no confidence in him. I think he'd rather sound knowledgeable and claim he was right all along. I was about to write that I haven't seen his comments after the match... but instead, at this point of my post, I thought I'd go and read them instead.

Wow. Just wow. He thinks nothing changed and that we just got paid back for all the previous bad luck. xG, for fuck's sake! He's still got the nerve or the ignorance to talk about xG.

If that interview is genuine, then we absolutely haven't turned a corner. He thinks what went before was good enough... and will repeat it.

I'm with you and think Patterson will be top drawer once he gets a run in the team.

Ben King amen to your post. Let's unite behind the manager, Thelwall and the team. We are building a better squad without doubt.

Or have we finally bought players for positions where they are required and would it all become undone with a few injuries, especially central defence?

As has been said by others, not quite rounded a corner yet but we are seeing more than one player trying to get into a scoring position.

I'm hoping Dyche has now turned the corner and realises, like with Keane, we play more fluid without Gueye. We have some good players in the squad now and Calvert-Lewin and McNeil back fully fit make such a difference.

I'm just loving Doucouré in this team, defenders don't like him running at them, do they!

Mick (142), I agree with you that Dyche has made some baffling selections, but I hope now that he's stumbled upon his best formation and line-up. I will pull my hair out if he reverts to playing Gana, Onana and Doucouré in midfield.

Whether Dyche is a success will largely be down to perception. Is success:-

A. Not being relegated?
B. Becoming a solid mid-table team?
C. Challenging for a European spot?
D. Winning trophies?

For me, taking into account that we are possibly the worst-run football club in the Premier League, my answer would be A.

Anything better would be remarkable.

We've spent the best part of 30 years going into derby matches spending more time thinking about them than we have thought about ourselves. The evidence would suggest that approach does not work. We won yesterday. Let's stick as closely as we can to a winning team.

On Doucouré? I have to say he completely mystifies me. Sometimes he powers through games, he looks a natural athlete, shows lovely deft touches and has shown more than once that he can really strike a ball, but other times he goes all headless chicken. His passing goes to pot and he looks for all the world as if he has never played the game before.

Let's hope the real Abdoulaye stands up at Anfield, because a good day for him generally means a good day for the rest of us.

However, we must be the luckiest team in the league. Listening to the pundits. Bournemouth didn't play well; they said the same when we beat Villa and Brentford. Let's hope this theme continues in a fortnight. UTFT

“And it hasn't been coming. We've been shit. We haven't looked like a team capable of scoring the goals needed.”

I'm sorry (don't mean to pick on you again) but that's not just true. We've been creating a ton of chances and I read yesterday that no team has had more shots at home than us. And not just long shots. In the Fulham and Wolves matches their keepers got MotM. Yes, our finishing has been below the standard required but that happens sometimes.

If you create lots of chances, you will eventually score some goals. This has absolutely been coming. Let's hope it continues.

It's true that we've had one of the easier fixture runs and the one match where we created next to nothing was against Arsenal. The challenge will be whether we can create so many chances against better teams.

People surely can see that this is light and day from how we played under Allardyce. We've had 133 shots this season! That's a huge amount and second in the league to Tottenham. Under Allardyce, we were pretty much rock bottom for shots and chances created.

I think people are perhaps putting too much stock in the stereotype of Dyche as a dull, old-fashioned manager who presides over tight, unimaginative teams that play boring matches. Though he certainly likes direct football, we've been pressing high up the pitch and getting into opponents' boxes a lot this season so far.

Lots of chances created, but again a lot squandered. We just aren't good at goal-scoring — that's a weakness; it isn't luck.

I am still massively concerned over corners. We've had this issue since Doncaster, and it is still a shit show. The refusal to bring players out means the opposition have all the time in the world to put in a better cross or a shot on goal. That's going to cost defeats, it is just basics surely?

Again, we coughed up good chances (à la Luton) to deep free kicks to Solanke and Billing. This manager learns nothing.

Their manager will get sacked over the international break, and Dyche would and should have been sacked if he had lost yesterday.

He got the team right yesterday with some injury luck, but I still don't think Young deserves to be playing. He's been average at best.

3 points, but a lot of work ahead after the damage of Wolves, Fulham, and Luton.

They just need to be very careful with him and choose his games. I'd be careful playing him away at Anfield. The more intense games are increasing the risk of injury.

That is what I saw yesterday and again watching Motd. You did not mention Harrison who was very effective.

I would want Calvert-Lewin to do well, but I unlike others was not impressed. I don't think he is the threat or contributing effectively to build-up play as he should be; I think Beto is better.

Slightly unlucky against Wolves and Fulham. We had some half-decent chances. We didn't create much against Luton. We had a good 10 minutes where McNeil had a great effort wide and Gueye had a great chance that he threatened the corner flag with. We hit the target 5 times... not bad, but we were playing one of the worst teams there's ever been in this league.

Those teams will concede possession and territory. We got shots away. We didn't create anything of great note. The moral xG victory means absolutely nothing.

Yesterday, we actually created decent chances. That's what happens when you get the ball to the right players in the right positions.

No-one will ever convince me that our xG against Luton means it was a good performance. It was terrible.

Enjoyed yesterday's game and we could have had a shedful, need to get our goal difference looking more positive, but a more balanced team and performance; still leaving subs too late, is my only real criticism.

Great to meet all the lads again: Mike Gaynes from US, Andy Crooks from Belfast, Peter Moore from Worcester, and the all local TW Members at Bramley Moore after.

Good win but we are still wasteful and could have had 6. Great performance though.

All the stats show that we are creating chances. As do the matches if you watch them again.

It’s not about one or two or even three matches. Over 8 matches we have the second most shots in the league. To say we’re not creating chances is just not accurate I’m afraid.

Just a thought...

I suppose, strictly speaking, the definition of 'scorable' does include unlikely attempts.

I can't believe anyone thinks it was just bad luck that we were apparently dominating games ('complete' performances Dyche called them yesterday) without being able to score.

The stats don't matter. The results and the performance matter. Any team that we put out against Luton could rack up 60% possession and a load of off target shots. Actually breaking them down takes a bit more guile. We couldn't break Luton down.

Having now watched it, some observations.

We pressed the ball well and turned the game into possession, which led to goals. We were on the front foot. Positive play.

As many of us having been calling for weeks, play Garner central. He is more effective there. Don't waste him out wide.

Similarly, get Doucoure higher up the pitch. He will score goals.

Onana was fortunate due to the unfortunate injury to Gueye. But he got the rocket up his arse he needed and responded. Now find consistency young man. You have potential in your locker.

Great pressing. We can point to defensive mistakes from Bournemouth, but for the second, that was great pressure on the keeper and defender to force the mistake, that led to the chance for Harrison to convert. I think it was Tarkowski.

What was noticeable was how early we took our chances. First time without thinking about it. That delay can often be the fine difference between a goal and giving the defender (says a defender) the chance to recover.

We know where we are going next. The short trip to the cursed native American burial ground.

Play with the same energy and out gegenpress the alleged gegenpressers. They won't like it and Robertson will get sent off. We can get something. Just go with belief, intent and go for it. Don't be afraid of them.

My sister works for them but won't get me a ticket in the Liverpool sections anymore. I don't think she trusts me. Despite having spent more time at Anfield Derbies in amongst the cousins, she told me it's not the 80s or 90s any more. I've been to Anfield and Goodison Derbies with blue and red mates over the years with no problems. I guess it's changed.

She has contacts at Goodison, so let's see. I believe they have reduced the allocation to around 2,400. In a 54,000 capacity stadium. Honestly.

I'll keep the language clean and not comment.

Gobshites. Every single one of them.

I was sat amongst family and friends yesterday. It was my middle brother's wedding. The first thing I said to him was that next time he decides to get married, check the fixture list.

And then he named our table the "Liverpool" table. We were all Evertonians. Really?! I thought I'd educated him better than that and he's a season ticket holder. I told him that too.

Anyway, all of our table spent the entirety of the match watching footage on phones, listening or following the BBC live updates, pretending to listen to the speeches. Even the best man broke mid-speech to declare 2-0!

On to Mordor we go.

As an aside, I was in Birmingham early this morning. Very sad. Seeing the amount of homeless people around New Street was stark. I would argue worse than anything I've seen in London. There was a young lad who looked in a terrible state. I don't give money, but I gave him the coffee and bacon roll I had just bought.

From my seat, Calvert-Lewin was absolutely brilliant yesterday, an almost perfect display of centre-forward play; he was my Man of the Match. He gave the Bournemouth centre-backs an absolutely torrid time, was always an outlet whether the ball was played left, right or straight to him. Garner, who was also brilliant, must have thought it was his birthday, always having an outball.

Beto, when he came on, was slow and lumbering, one of the guys said that he was reminded of Rondon and I wouldn't disagree based on yesterdays cameo.

I still don't get Onana, for someone so tall, he is an appalling header of the ball. The reason he makes so many tackles is that his control is dreadful, something akin to Lukaku on a bad day and he hardly ever seems to be facing to right way.

Good to get a few goals at Goodison and a decent performance but Bournemouth certainly contributed to their own downfall and the next three games will provide far sterner tests.

I hope we can keep Branthwaite, Garner and Calvert-Lewin. In them we have a great spine that we can build around.

If you insist on focusing on Luton then it’s worth saying that they play deep and are not easy to break down. The 5 shots we managed on target against them is the most they have conceded.

If your first touch is bad, your second is a tackle!

That last paragraph, very sad. An incredible contrast to the worries of missing a game of football.

But those homeless, it's all their own fault, right? There is "help" available. Like perhaps renting hundreds of hotels all around the country, and giving direct assistance to access benefits and housing. Or maybe not.

Meanwhile, in they flood.

I know all new coaches want to adopt the Guardiola system but for some teams, us included, we don't have the personnel to play that way. Yes, sometimes when the opposition retreat to the half-way line, it's absolutely right to play out from the back, but they lost 1 goal trying to do that and should and could have lost a couple more.

I said on Lyndon's thread I thought Doucoure, Garner and Branthwaite were our best players. The win was massive as failing to win yesterday would have put us on a real downer while waiting to play our neighbours. Also, thankfully all the clubs around us lost or drew, so a real win-win.

Calvert-Lewin gives us presence.

Calvert-Lewin had a good game and led the line well, deserved a goal for his performance. McNeil was tremendous in an all round display. Tarkowski and Branthwaite were very good.

Doucoure scored, should have had at least another one, maybe two but ran his plums off day and deserved the ovation he got when he went off.

Harrison had a good game, will get better, knows what he is supposed to do but I don't think he is completely match fit. Garner, couldn't ask for anything more, with his energy, guile, passing and the bonus of a goal, just edged McNeil out as my MotM.

Ian (156) echoes my doubts about the slack and open defending from corners and set pieces, why didn't they learn from that? It was a better display but I still couldn't relax until that third goal went in.

On to the next game, I hope Gana Gueye plays in this game – he will definitely be needed. Onana was involved in the game more than usual, had a decent game but is still not getting into the game anywhere near the way he should be, and he made as many mistakes as the good plays he made.

That was what was preventing safer possession in attack. We can now begin to fashion attacks that only give up something we can cover on the counter. Garner’s crafty play looks to be a solid complement to the wingers we have.

The posture of the players yesterday tells me they don’t buy their present position in the table. Branthwaite giving it the collar treatment in the pregame selection photos, Garner’s boyish celebration and Doucoure’s approach to the crowd suggests to me that the players believe in this project and expect to prove themselves this season.

I will again state that regardless of whether journos, historians or fans can process it, this team has a spirited core of players who are turning it around, now.

If it matters, it's also not true that we had more shots on target against Luton than anyone else has.

Wolves and Fulham... we created chances and were terrible in front of goal. Maupay and Gueye had most of our 'efforts' in the first game – that's not exactly bad luck either. It's completely predictable.

Anyway, it wasn't me going on about total shots, shots on target. I'll leave that to our manager. My point is that we haven't played well. We haven't had a cutting edge. We've had players in the wrong position and defensive options favoured over players with more quality. That's exactly why we don't score many.

We found something yesterday. Actual midfielders, actual wingers. And our manager (and others) claim it was just more of the same with a bit of good fortune. It wasn't. If we believe that then we're destined to repeat the first few games.

Bournemouth's early error came to a pressing Garner who immediately carries it forward and places a shot. Over the last few weeks, that would fall to Gueye who would turn back. It's not a game of chance. It's the right players in the right positions who have a chance of making something out of big moments in games.

All games have tight margins. It's football and we're not a great side – it's going to be tight.

Dominic's performances in the last 4 games have been very good. He gives us so many options in attack and his pressing from the front yesterday was important.

Dave A, Onana was better yesterday but does he have consistent quality performances in him?

Who had more shots on target than us against Luton? Maybe I missed it.

You’re right of course that having more players who can shoot well helps us but there’s no doubt we’ve had many opportunities where the player in question could and should have done better. Gueye may not be a prolific scorer by any stretch but he should be hitting the target from 15 yards out under little pressure, any PL footballer should. Doucoure, DCL, Beto, Danjuma and Garner have all missed decent chances this season.

There is a difference between good results and good performances. Generally speaking if you create more chances than an opponent I would describe that as somewhere on the spectrum of good performance. That has happened in all our matches this season bar Arsenal and Villa first time round. Yesterday was probably our best performance but we also did very well against Brentford with Garner out wide.

Part of it may well be that we are simply not used to creating so many chances! For the last 2-3 seasons we’ve created very little, so perhaps it’s no surprise that our finishing has been so poor! But eventually we were bound to start converting some opportunities. Regression to the mean. That’s what happened yesterday and hopefully it will continue. Though I think it’s extremely unlikely we will get as many openings away to Liverpool and West Ham.

“Does Onana have consistent quality performances in him”?

Well, Steve, he's played in about 45 games for Everton and I haven't seen him play two good games on the run.

It seems he as if he can't even get out of bed to get to training on time!

If Onana manages 2 good performances on the run, I will be pleased as the next one is the derby!

For me, it is Jimmy Garner plus one (who?) in central midfield. For Mr Dyche to solve thankfully.

"Bournemouth's early error came to a pressing Garner who immediately carries it forward and places a shot. Over the last few weeks that would fall to Gueye who would turn back."

Such an important point. It's these little moments that decide the path of a game and ultimately that of the season. We must play footballers who are comfortable on both sides of the ball whenever possible; otherwise, we invite disaster.

A big shout out and thanks again to Tony Abrahams for helping to get us old farts to Bramley Moore pub, really appreciate the lift.

Nice to put a face to Mike and Andy, everyone there at the Bramley Moore, who I have met previously, Steve, Derek, John Snr, the two Peters, Dave, and Bill before the game.

Next time you are over, Mike, give me a shout, and if you cannot get a ticket after travelling from The States, you can use my season ticket for the game.

Once again, a great day, such a shame we cannot add a photo on here of us all at the Bramley Moore.

Just admit we are getting better!!!! By 'better' I mean under Dyche our performance has improved compared to the team he took over.

It's still not enough, and I wasn't proclaiming all our problems are solved at all.
Turning a corner means we're heading in the right direction, and if you look at our performances on the whole this season, we are miles from when he took over.

Don't you remember when we were going 1-2 games without a shot on target? Struggling to even create anything ? Playing with Maupay firing blanks up front?

Dyche can set up the team, he has set them out to create more… they are! If we are not taking them chances, then that's the players' responsibility, Dyche can't put the ball in the net himself.

We've had McNeil injured, Harrison injured, Calvert-Lewin injured. That's the reason I believe we've had a slow start, they are coming back to full fitness and hopefully, we will reap the benefits.

I'm a bit late to this, but can confirm that Mike and I were watching MOTD at 11:30 pm last night. Mike was tired, I was nursing a Rioja!

I think he has enjoyed his trip (he flies home on Monday morning), but I can say with absolute certainty that he has loved the company of each of the many Evertonians he has met.

Give Mike my best for a safe trip home. I hope he got to Greggs: I remember him saying last time how much he enjoyed it there. This is making me homesick!

I'm glad you had a great time on your birthday, it was great seeing everybody again especially with the happy atmosphere after Everton's win and in your case Wigan's rugby league victory to put them in the final, see you soon I hope.

Doucoure's effort, energy and commitment is tops in this Everton side, love him.
BUT HE AIN'T A FUCKING NUMBER 10.

I believe a lot hinges on the re-negotiation of his strange contract, and Levy is a hard-nosed negotiator, bearing in mind too we have had him nearly 2 years and he has played a matter of minutes and been loaned out in Turkey, with the Club paying most of his wages (?)

Personally I believe, a fit Dele Ali, playing regularly could transform us ! Let's HOPE, an all too familiar word with us as Everton Fans !

I don't believe that we've been unlucky. We take plenty of shots... but we've largely played teams who park themselves on their 18 yard line - we're going to be having shots from somewhere. That's not any kind of victory in itself.

There are green shoots. We played two wingers on Saturday. We played two midfielders who can contribute at both ends. But if we truly believe those selections weren't the key factor and that it was just the stats finally reverting to the norm then we've got huge trouble ahead. The reversion to the norm will be us reverting to our customary nil points, which has been far more consistent than our number of shots. Concerningly, Dyche has pretty much said that in his interview. He believes we've had many complete performances and that the shot stats finally averaged out and became goals.

Let's aim for...and try to exceed...the more traditional 40pts.

But then Luton beat us. Burnley beat Luton. And Sheffield Utd's only point came against... you guessed it.

Right now, we're absolutely in that company. Which is why I just can't understand so many posts praising Dyche for turning the corner, or should I say 'changing our story'.

Adjusting for the strength of fixtures played we would be very close to being the worst team in the league.

Football doesn't work like that. Never has and never will, as it takes no account of form, injuries, player availability, home/away, etc. I'm seeing a slowly improving team, as are most other posters. That doesn't mean we're out of the woods at all and I'm not hearing anyone else say that either. But we appear to be moving in the right direction, frustratingly slowly I agree.

Here's a stat for you. Three goals at home for the first time in a year? Or should that be adjusted to just one goal for the strength of the team we played?

Selection: The fact Dyche took this long to make those changes, when it was clear to everyone. He was also forced into the changes (probably the players making the decisions for him (joking)). See Brainthwaite selection also, should have been in at the start even seeing him in training.

Young is a cover, he's 38 and should be used as cover, and will no doubt be great experience for the dressing room but not a starter.

Doucouré: Dyche absolutely loves him, and fair play he's scored 8 goals for him but what I see is wild and rash and often gives balls away in attacking phases leaving us open. He doesn't have to be used every game, being shoehorned in can be a hindrance.

Dobbin: Did really well in pre-season, he would be a useful sub coming on for McNeil, worries me if he can't get on 3-up at home when will he?

Danjuma: unused, looks like a falling out?

Positives: Harrison looks like he was born to play for us, absolutely changes the dynamic of this side, loved watching him on Saturday, and what else is there to be said – they were fantastic – and great to see Calvert-Lewin back to form.

3-1 up at Brentford and Danjuma got 13 minutes (Calvert-Lewin on after 63) and 3 of the other 6 sat on the bench.

3-0 up to Bournemouth and Patterson gets 12 minutes (as the week before), Beto 7 minutes and Chermiti once additional minutes had started.

First, only 8 on the bench but where is the "giving them experience"?

One of our most prolific goal scorers of the last 40 years based on goals per minutes on the pitch is Apostolos Vellios! Yeah, 3 goals in 2 starts and 15 appearances off the bench when he ran like a maniac against a tiring defence.

Not the most skilful of players but in the 85th minute with loads of energy he was another Victor Anichebe who bullied everyone at the end of the match.

Clearly I will never get you to admit that there might be indicators of a good performance other than the result (which seems a tad reductive to me but nevermind) so perhaps instead you'll agree to a gentleman's wager?

I say we will end the season closer to 40 points or over (barring catastrophic injury with this small squad) whilst you say we'll end closer to 33 points. Agreed?

Whilst I wouldn't say we've turned the corner, I think there's things to be positive about. We're certainly creating opportunities more frequently though it's at the other end that I'm more worried. The clean sheet on Saturday was a real bonus but we continue to look susceptible to set pieces and fast counters.

Our worst performance of the season was probably away to Villa in the league so how we perform at Liverpool and West Ham will be a good marker for whether we have pushed on and developed.

You say football doesn't work like that.

Really? The best teams don't win more than the worst teams? Football works exactly like that. Every single season in every single league. Forever and ever, amen.

Prior to that I don't believe we were playing well. We had shots, we had xG, we didn't really look like scoring enough with the personnel in the positions they were. And we were one of the worst teams in the league.

The key now is what Dyche does next. I'm not betting against Everton but I think Dyche will be Dyche. He's always been Dyche, despite his protestations. Defensive midfielders, tucked in wingers, stay at home full backs. With Dom fit I think Dyche can get to 40, without him I think 33 might even be a stretch.

As for Liverpool I'm dreading it already. Will we be as meek away to them as we were at home to Arsenal?

Certainly we’ll have to be more clinical than we have been as I don’t see us keeping a clean sheet.

Liverpool have a great working attitude, they never stop. I hope Gana is fit he never stops either and we will need his non stop pressing at least for an hour then bring on his replacement, he should be fit enough to have a good go for the remainder of the game.

You brought it up, you tell me what it is then? You seem to have Everton and Dyche written off regardless of any counter arguments and logic.

Of course the best teams win over the course of a season, but on a game-by-game basis anything can happen.

Yes, I do think that Van Dijk and the RS as a whole team are more vulnerable than they have been for a while. I actually feel strangely optimistic. We have some decent options finally and, for the first time in ages, we have a playing squad that is suited to the manager and vice versa.

Confidence is still a massive issue which is why I think we always struggle once we go behind. Years of underperformance and disappointed fans takes its toll and is not easily turned around.

I expect Gana will be back in once fit, though it did really seem that Garner and Onana complimented each other so I hope we'll see that again at home.

Yes, that first goal does make a difference but, even after that goal, the defence seemed open to the sort of attack and goals scored by Luton. We could have scored a few more after the second goal and it was only after the third goal that was able to relax but that might just be me worrying too much.

I live in hope that Onana will become the player some fans think he is or will become but, until he really gets hold of a game and puts his stamp on it, I will remain sceptical about him. The derby would be the big game where he could make his mark.

Yes, you can get strange results in one off games, but over the course of the season we're highly likely to do better against the lesser teams than the better teams.

Even the Derby isn't really a "form book goes out of the window" game. It usually goes by the form book.

Yes I've written Dyche off. I don't think he's up to the job. Results have been dreadful.

You don't think the constant churn of managerial appointments has contributed to the mess we're in?

I don't expect Dyche to suddenly have Everton playing like Barcelona but I have enough faith that he'll keep us up this season. I'm seeing a pragmatic rationale behind his decision-making that 'fits the bill' regarding our current predicament.

I hope we don't get into a position where we have to make another managerial appointment. It won't help anyone. Continuity is what we need.

And yes the constant churn of managers has definitely contributed. But that didn't mean the last guy didn't get moved on... a manager who coincidentally saved us from relegation and then underperformed the following season. Though he did have more points after 8 games from a tougher fixture list.

I don't get the positivity. Or even just acceptance. We've blown through half of our decent home fixtures already, and we've managed a grand total of 3 points from them. Regardless of xG, it's relegation form.

Go through the fixture list and tell me where we'll next go into a match as favourite to pick up 3 points... you might be scrolling for a while. Personally I think it's probably Palace in February.

I'm happy to acknowledge that I just don't see what others seem to see and leave it there.

With something like the 5th worst squad in the Premier League, we won't be strong favourites to win many games. That doesn't change if we sack and replace Dyche.

However, with Dyche, I am confident that we will pick up wins (and draws) where we aren't favourites. That is what will lead us to overperform somewhat and finish about 13th (my subjective expectation).

For a team that had the worst squad in the Premier League last season and invested less than Luton this summer, I'm afraid that is probably as much as you can realistically hope for.

If you can't accept it, I hope you can find upwards of £150M to spend on some new players...

You have to take into account the first few games we didn't have a centre-forward worthy of the shirt. Not Dyche's fault.

Now that we have rectified that, our eyes should see the improvement in the team, and results should follow.

I would hope and anticipate we will get at least 33 points from the remaining 30 games which I wouldn't have remotely suggested after the first 3 games.

You're both entitled to your predictions.

I do take issue with anyone feeling too positive after 7 points from 8 games that needed to yield much, much more. This start has been disastrous (surely that's not too subjective?).

And I don't think our squad is that bad. It just needs someone who can get the best out of it. That's not what I've seen so far this season.

Although it's a crude assessment, Transfermarkt values our squad at E350m. Villa are valued at E630m. That is a huge gulf - it would be like adding, say, Tierney, Livramento, McTominay, Ward-Prowse, Pulisic, Gnonto and a few others to our squad over summer.

You're kidding yourself and blaming Dyche.