Blues steal a draw from the jaws of victory after stalling massive Brighton effort

EFC: "with Amadou Onana missing out on the matchday squad" — as if they've got no fucking idea where he is or why he's missing.

What a club!

Amadou Onana missing out today is a huge blow for Everton as the midfielder has been superb in recent weeks.

Onana has played a key role in his side's upturn in form and his pace and energy will be sorely missed this afternoon.

Let's hope it's not a bad injury if indeed that's the reason he's out.

So they know narthing.

He said: "Amadou, unfortunately, has been playing with a really tight calf and it’s just been too much for him after Wednesday."

He’s a big miss for us IMO, he’s been performing better and better. Hope Gueye is fresh and hungry after missing out of late and has a good game.

Not surprised to see Young starting, if he gets an early booking I want him subbed for Patterson asap! Hope he proves us doubters wrong today and gets a goal and assist…

Brighton can play some good stuff and Everton have to get midfield control which they don't often do.

Gana still doesn't impress me.

Young makes zero sense to me. Never has.

Obviously not expecting much of the ball but that's fine. It's what we do with it when we do have it that matters. That midfield doesn't fill me with confidence in that regard.

COYB

It also appears that we aren't playing the advantage rule in this game as Doucoure should have been allowed to play on not that he scored but there has to be some consistency in the rulings.

I would have been annoyed if that had been our goal disallowed and the quicker the rule goes back to two defenders between you and the goal rather than online then the easier offside decisions should be. Then there was McNeil bring pushed in the back for a penalty which the Ref ignored and then gave them the next two free kicks for exactly the same thing.

Just hope now that Dyche uses his subs well as some of our lads have put a lot into it so far.

89th minute. Pathetic.

And, as usual, another first class display of inconsistent refereeing of the highest order and a flurry of yellow cards for rather petty reasons.

Disappointing to throw away 2 points on a soft goal.

Unlike Sean Dyche.

And the goal was down to Pickford.

But, I've got to say I've been unimpressed with Jack Harrison! He refuses to release the ball quickly enough and his right foot is as useless as McNeil's. Granted, he does his defensive work very well, hopefully he'll improve with fitness.

As for Dyche and his lack of subs, despite this being our 3rd game in 6 days, is simply something we're going to have to accept. It's what he does and he's very unlikely to change now.

A point away at Palace next week sees us into the international break in decent shape.

Ludicrous headline. Brighton’s goal was lucky and not a mistake by us. Having said that a draw was a fair result.

At least we’re nowhere near as unlucky as Wolves.

But at the end of the day we know you can't play with giving up so much possession and then not expect something, it was much like the Merseyside derby, you can only hold out for so long before something goes against you.

I'd have taken a draw before kickoff but Brighton's defence was there to be got at.

I can't see the point in signing Beto if he's not going to be given longer in games against tiring defenders.

A point is a point but I still can't help but feel that if Dyche was a more proactive manager that we could have had that game in the bag there.

Erm….

We need a Mitomo, a creative busy quick footed player with a footballing brain.

We've got a lot of hard graft players right across the team no complaining there, but we still haven't got a classy creative source.

Defensively sound again, missed Onana.

Need another right winger in January who can do exactly what Mitoma does and keep the ball in the other half leading to end product. Be good for the squad to have a very good right-winger who can go down the line and put the ball in.

Or at the minimum play a simple pass inside or to Calvert-Lewin to keep the ball moving for us in the other half. Jack is definitely a good addition, but would be nice to have an alternative for Dyche when need to try something different.

xG!xG!xG!

I'd have taken 1-1 before the game but taking the lead then conceding possession, and a fluke… I'm a bit disappointed tonight UTFT!!

I surprisingly enjoyed the game, and looked back to how Brighton totally dismantled us about 9 months ago, to see that Everton have begun to make slow progress.

We worked very hard but lacked a little bit of quality, and although I'd like to see Everton have more possession and be a lot more expansive, I'm definitely happy to see players working for the shirt, and even happier to see some green shoots developing, with regards us finally becoming a team which fights for each other.

Badly missed Onana today and his composure on the ball.

The team is improving and that's not a bad thing.

It took a wicked deflection to breach our rearguard but arguably Brighton deserved something from the game even though they had very few shots from all their possession.

8 games… can that be right?

But I know it's never going to happen. Dyche is way too cautious and stuck in his ways.

Unlike others, I thought Dyche got it right today. Pinch a goal then smother them. Despite all their ability and possession, Brighton hardly troubled us today. In fact, we had better chances and should have had at least one penalty.

Great performance and a useful point against a top side.

We executed our gameplan reasonably well, but conceding that much possession, barely holding onto the ball for more than 2 seconds, and remaining under defensive pressure virtually the entire second half... it's a grueling watch. Not fun.

Into a Quarterfinal in the League Cup after a 3-nil victory.

With Palace up next. EFC should look at their record against the bottom clubs. Results are against each other so far.

Palace PL 5 W 3 D 2 L 0 = 11
Fulham PL 4 W 3 D 1 L 0 = 10
Wolves PL 5 W 2 D 1 L 2 = 7
Forest PL 4 W 1 D 3 L 0 = 6
Luton PL 5 W 1 D 2 L 2 = 5
Burnley PL 4 W 1 D 1 L 2 = 4
Everton PL 5 W 1 D 1 L 3 = 4
Sheff U PL 5 W 1 D 1 L 3 = 4
B'mouth PL 3 W 1 D 0 L 2 = 3.

Mitoma was getting the better of Young, Harrison did nothing all game so it may have made sense to introduce Patterson and take off Harrison, moving Young up the park.

Beto for Calvert-Lewin once again shows no imagination and does not make the opposition think as they are marking the same style of player, just less mobile.

It was a good performance up to 75 minutes when subs should have been made.

By the time we scored, we could have been 2 or 3 up, we were attacking them well. A stark contrast after our goal.

Then, after their equalizer, we attack again. If it's so much about not losing at all cost, then why did we attack again so late after conceding?

I agree with some of what Dyche is doing and it's delivering what's been needed and is needed currently. However, the ceding possession and parking the bus thing goes too far.

Dyche is a point-per-game average, survive with 38 guy as his default. I wonder to what degree he will ever break that mould, even when we are better placed?

This was actually close to a masterclass but for that deflection. It is ugly but given our situation and that it was DeZerbi this had much to offer.

Closing games down and conserving fitness will drive some fans to being ex-fans but it is absolutely the most sensible approach. If made to work in a fashion that keeps us around midtable so be it.

Thank god Brighton have no dreaded talisman up front.
Dunk will rightly be cursing his misfortune at both ends.
Yet again a weak absent centre midfield rarely supported by a very poor Harrison (whom I really don't rate - wide) and a Frank Lampard McNeil display.

Calvert-Lewin can win everything he wants in the air, Doucoure is mainly nowhere near him. Something Brighton cottoned on to in the 2nd half.

Marking from set plays is still atrocious, leaving the opposite side from the ball with opposition players a plenty and one of ours. Generally the smallest. As when Gueye was marking Dunk and when Garner wasn't.

Thank heavens for Branthwaite. If he had left this summer, we would be bottom three. I can't figure out Ashley Young at right back. Easier to solve quantum physics. Maybe the only excuse is the players have become terrified of Goodison.
The silent fans with huge expectations.

The Goodison roar undoubtedly wakes them and shakes them into something. Terrible. Timid. Talentless. Trash. Never press the replay button on this one.

Not being able to prevent this push results from the centre-forward not being able to lead the line, providing a threat. The centre-forward coming deep as a result of having no joy, exasperates the problem. Dyche's mistake was playing Calvert-Lewin during the week and not resting him for the Saturday fixture.

What was the point of bringing on Beto and Patterson in the 90th minute and allowing Brighton to make 4 tactical substitutions in the second half without reply before the 80th minute?

But getting a point is very welcome.

To get a point against them without Onana and without a substitute midfielder is a decent result.

Dyche is getting more from the players now – look at how players have improved – and he must be allowed to do things his way until better players arrive.

So, up until Dyche came, we've been playing good football? When he goes, it will start again?

Seriously, you mean that? Anyway, what's your answer?
"Football as we knew it" … When???

I can't imagine Keane in his place in the back four. Tarkowski is now on 3, so I hope Dyche is making plans for having to change things at the back.

The squad isn't very strong. We have a difficult to beat starting 11 and not much else.

Be interesting to read what subs he should have made.

My only criticism today is the lack of composure when we did nick the ball off them. For all of their possession, I don't recall Pickford having too much to do.

Some big performances from Calvert-Lewin, Tarkowski and Garner. Always frustrating conceding late on but a draw was probably about right.

We have made progress with a very limited squad.

What a farce!

When we are within European striking distance, maybe I will feel a little guilty but overall I think the Guardiola game is giving way. It will be more about physicality and controlling midfield space than nutmegs and tiki-taka.

And I think the phrase is 'Park the Carlo'.

Year some are grumbling because we’re not playing pretty football!!

Last year Brighton absolutely destroyed us at Goodison and this year they needed a very fortuitous late goal to get a point.

This was not a ‘hanging on’ performance. Brighton created almost nothing. In fact their xG (for those who care) was only 0.5 which is their third lowest ever under De Zerbi.

Dyche has undoubtedly made progress with us. We almost got relegated the last two seasons, I couldn’t care less if it’s ugly at this point.

We know Dyche's style of football and squad we have. We must hold tight. Mid-table come may is fine by me and a semi-final or better is a bonus.

Playing good football previous to Dyche? I must have missed those seasons.

Young played well, only really got done once in 80 minutes which is exactly as many times as Patterson in 10 minutes. Mitoma is one of the best wide players in the Premier League.

Branthwaite had Ferguson in his pocket. He was too physical for him.

Harrison did very little other than working hard but was wasteful in possession and didn't close well enough for the goal.

All-in-all, we continue to be competitive.

Sit behind the ball and let the mediocre opposition have all the play was a masterclass in tactical cowardice from a Neanderthal Manager who needs a sharp reminder that he's not managing Burnley.

If he bends over for Brighton like that how is it going to be against Man Utd next home game.

Have we as a club reached such depths that we are shit scared of Brighton at home? Or is Dyche just a knob?

On a positive note, and without tempting fate, I can't see the bottom 3 getting more than 20 - 25 points.

Even with a points deduction … 40 could be enough.

However, I don't think we'll get any deduction.

Remember the old adage, the best form of defence is attack?

Fluke goals happen when you pack your own penalty box, its a law of averages thing.. but to sit back and let them dictate against an average side at home? On the balance of play we were lucky to get a point.

I have said it before.. front foot football..let them worry about you.. too much respect at home..

And Sean Dyche may very well not be the man to take us to the stars but he'll sure as hell put us on an upward trajectory at the very least.

If Onana played, maybe we would have had more composure in midfield and retained possession better, and relieved pressure; we'll never know. Probably would've been the same result regardless.

I would like to see a midfielder signed in January, it's an area of the squad we need to be stronger.

I wonder if some of the comments would have been made of we won 1-0.

I don't particularly like the fact we can't seem to hold on to the ball for any length of time but I'm happy to be patient and hope we end up further up the table with about £3 million a place – if we improve by 6 or 7 places, it could be worth £20M more into the kitty.

It only seems like a couple of weeks ago that people were saying it's about points not performances. Now we're getting the points, it's switched around. Funny that.

It's been a good week in my book.

Possession in and of itself is a pretty meaningless statistic. The fact is they were doing nothing with their possession because we were so well organised. It took a massive fluke for them to score and Pickford barely made a save.

If this was a match where they were peppering our goal, you'd have a point but it really wasn't. Even when ceding possession, we were probably creating the better chances and had more shots.

Dyche's record when ahead at Everton is pretty strong, so clearly it's a tactic that has worked okay till today.

Seems pretty clear we were ‘unlucky' to get a point. We had more shots, more shots on goal, and every xG model I've seen has us winning. They needed a massive slice of luck to equalise.

When you play rope-a-dope and absorb the punishment, you have to come off the ropes now and again and attack. I thought we stayed on the ropes too much, far too much, and it seemed inevitable that a goal would come for Brighton.

I thought Young had a good game and there was no doubting the effort from most of the players but it was too much a one-way street with us retreating and making it a freeway for Brighton.

A draw was welcome and I thought Brighton deserved all three so not the end of the world, just playing at home we need to be more aggressive going forward.

Draws like this will mean 6 or so wins from here will be enough. Another pleasant surprise on the road next time out would make all the difference, considering the fixtures we have coming up.

I 100% agree.

How about criticising the players for not retaining the ball? And give Brighton some credit for being a very good team.

One thing I would criticise Dyche for is taking Calvert-Lewin off just as we were about to take a corner. I couldn't make any sense of that.

I thought you'd huffed off this forum? What, or who enticed you back?

Good to see you haven't changed…

Sometimes I am nervous when we concede so much possession but I felt pretty calm today as Brighton created practically nothing all game.

Also can't believe some idiots are blaming Pickford for the goal.

Today was 2 points lost. We simply let them have the ball and hung on and hung on. I wish Dyche would sometimes just go for the jugular.

We are stagnating when actually there seems to be a lot of positivity amongst the players. He needs to let them off the lead sometimes.

Have to disagree. Sure Brighton had tons of possession but they created very little.

One free-kick well saved by Jordan and a lucky deflection.

I haven't seen the shots on target stat but there won't be much in it.

Draw was a fair result.

After watching the match, yes there was obviously some downsides like lacking a creative spark, the lack of subs to mix it up etc... but fuck me – we drew against a very well organised, and upwardly mobile team.

Just 2 months ago and going back 2 years easy (bar us randomly twatting them end of last season), they would have easily tonked us under the Fat Spanish Gobshite, and also Fat Frank.

The team to a man put a right shift in, and should be applauded for their efforts. Yes, we lacked in some key areas, and yes, giving an away team (at home) that kind of possession is criminal on paper, although I'd say they took it rather than it was given. I think the whole team did very, very well today, as did the supporters.

And let's not forget that the deflection was absolutely wicked and without that I think we'd've got the 1-0 win, +the referee again was absolutely shite + we didn't have (statistically) our best midfielder playing today.

And given we've not got a large quality squad, and we've recently played a shit load of games, which we've won a few of, we still put a very organised shift in, and applied maximum effort throughout the game today until the 94th minute. What more can we reasonably ask for at this time? I think we should actually be happy for once, considering the shite we've all had thrown at us in recent years.

Green shoots, people, green shoots!

As Paul Tran [91] said, a good week, in fact a very good week... for Everton of old!

Pickford has been very good for a few years now, the consistency is there.

However, he was partly at fault when the ball goes in the centre of the goal, regardless of what you think the idiots say.

I think the team was a bit knackered. Brighton had the week off while we played midweek. They also were able to bring in five good subs.

There were no midfielders on our bench which is where we needed fresh legs and no one in any position who has proven to be decent yet. If we could have brought on decent subs for 3 midfielders on the hour mark, I think we could have hung up

Great post.

.... but we did give them too much ball, + the subs, or lack of them, do my head in.

Pickford clearly at fault for the goal. That ball was in the air a long time and he never adjusted his feet or position and then it went over his head. He badly misjudged the flight and his position.

Andy @97.

I sacked off the forum for a few weeks after that unpoliced toxic day when regular posters were abused without being stopped.

I was tempted to compose a longer post but I settled for…

Bollocks.

It was a jammy deflection earned, not least of all by Brighton's ridiculous possession stat.

Time to move on. Enjoy the week.

It's not good for the blood pressure, especially in the 2nd half, but in the end a fluke equaliser got Brighton a point, which they earned, and they could perhaps have taken all 3.

But it's been a good week, and a good point for Everton.

A lot has been said about Ashley Young but I thought he had a decent game. The problem with both Young and Patterson is they are playing narrow to Dyche's game plan, this is leaving wide areas unmarked and invites their wide men to cut in and try and draw a foul or a penalty.

Mykolenko on the other hand comes in, but seems to know when to push out wide. Mykolenko has been playing out of his skin these past few games and hardly anything gets past him these days.

Defensively we look solid but, if you look at a lot of games this season at home, we have been done time and again with defending narrow and giving the opposition way too much space out wide, allowing them to cut in, with our players scared to put a tackle in once they dribble inside the penalty area bye line. The tactics are making our right-backs look poor, but they are only playing to the style they have been told to play, whether that is Young or Patterson.

On the whole, I thought we played okay today, three games in a week, with some tired legs, could have been addressed much earlier with fresh legs, but apart from a fluke, we more than held our own.

One thing we need to get smarter at is like all the top teams do, if there is a dubious decision, possible penalty, they either get one of their players to go down injured, or kick the ball out of play, to stop play; we on the other hand continue to play on.

Tarkowski is the only time I have seen us do something to stop play. Not rocket science, as soon as a possible penalty, hoof the ball into the stand to give the ref those couple of seconds thinking time. If we keep knocking the ball about, the ref will continue to keep up with play.

Completely agree about Mykolenko. Definitely the most improved player in the squad.

Maybe it helps having a manager who encourages you to play to your strengths.

Pickford was rooted to the spot. Peter Schmeichal has blamed Pickford. Schmeichal knows what he's talking about and is correct.

Bollocks.

We are averaging almost 15 shots a game with 5 per game on target. I would rather that than 80% possession and no shots on goal.

We are now 3 points better than the same fixtures last season. That makes us the 4th most improved team in terms of points. It also, assuming the same results as last year for the rest of the season, puts us 15th and 7 points clear of relegation.

And a thought – Seamus back at the end of November. Straight back into the team? If Harrison is not delivering what we expected (and he will 27 by then – so will he ever?) then Patterson at right-midfield and Seamus at right-back?

We didn't do enough to win the game. Dyche will always be happy to defend a one-nil lead.

My moan is Young – up against the likes of Mitoma, he is a liability… he's not fucking Maldini so the 'experience' explanation doesn't cut it for me.

80% vs 20% possession stats at home is a fucking awful stat at home, although I appreciate it is the game we play.

I left the house at 7:30 am this morning and will hopefully get home by 10 pm to catch the highlights. I think I am near Milton Keynes right now and have to get across London once I hit Euston.

Sleep tight blues. I will be doing so with the dogs tonight.

Great to be in the homeland and in The Brick. I'll upload.

Free Brian Murray!

Gutted when that equaliser went in. But we didn't lose.

Not simply worse or off form, but nothing like the same player. It will take a big improvement.

If you think that was acceptable goalkeeping, then I worry for you.

It took a jammy deflection to get their equaliser, a deflection that Pickford had no chance of getting. We were, honestly, quite comfortable throughout the game, despite their possession, and so it definitely does feel like 2 points lost.

My only gripe (so far), is why on earth didn't Dyche make any substitutions a lot earlier than he did? One or two of our players were almost on their knees; a couple of changes and we could have seen the game out.

Spot on about subs, Rob. Harrison was begging to be subbed.

Bollocks.

“he never adjusted his feet or position”

So, that's what you would have done, eh?

Yeah. Right.

Fortune favours the brave apparently and standing off after being skinned earlier isn't the bravest thing I've seen on a footy pitch. Little wonder the footballing gods punished him with a deflected own-goal.

Stuff like that registers with players, they compensate to cover weakness, and it impacts their own game. I imagine Harrison thought "Thanks for the support, soft lad".

Pointless having experience if people are running past you for fun.

I too felt Pickford looked a bit flat-footed trying to get off the ground for the deflected goal. But I wouldn't call it a goalkeeper error as such – more a case of being unable to pull off a great save (from a ball which suddenly comes at him with a weird trajectory).

I'm not even back in Central London, but my Originals banner has been loud and proud and attracting attention on the train surrounded by Brighton supporters.

1878 The Originals.

I haven't said I was abused and I haven't taken up a minority position. Many people agree Pickford was at fault – including fans, pundits and a Goalkeeping legend.

But let's ignore them and all agree Paul Ferry is right for once. Which makes a change.

Get a photo or two.

At pace the ball ricocheted off Young's knee and loops over him, no keeper would have the reaction time to accommodate that freak occurrence.

Oh, and many people disagree that Pickford was at fault but let's ignore them and go with the negative narrative.

You always duck and dodge, Ian, so here's a question for you: name and quote two pundits who say that Pickford was at fault for that goal. It's not worth asking, to be honest, but at least it lets us all know how you operate.

Free the Edwards One!

Bollocks.

On another note, isn't Dyche getting a lack of appreciation in that he produced better chances with 20% possession?

I think Harrison looks a different player from his Leeds days because of the job he his currently being asked to do, mate, so I think Brian's description @111, makes a lot of sense, imo.

Someone said today that they could see a bit of a comparison with Joe Royle's Dogs of War, and I thought that was a fair assessment, although I think we lack a bit of creative craft out wide.

I really appreciated our work rate today, Dale, because when you get a team running hard doing the dirty work, I really think it helps to develop team spirit, but sometimes I think we try and defend a lead a little bit too much, especially when the players can now create chances.

Ian, you're not a Pickford fan, but the deflection left him in no man's land, he hadn't a hope of saving it.

I rate Pickford and though I agree that he could have positioned himself differently, the things he does really well far outnumber the errors.

Hopefully very soon the squad will realise that they have license to risk shooting from outside the box. Most teams that do it seem to get a worthwhile return.

I agree with you re the Dogs of War comparison. I recall being told that John Ebrell had to change his natural game in order to fit the playing style Joe Royle wanted and I think both Harrison and McNeil are being asked to change theirs.

On Radio Merseyside's post-match programme, Barry Horne was making a similar point and praised Harrison for the job he did in protecting the right flank.

He did what he was supposed to do, and prevented a cross from Mitoma, the fact it deflected as it did, and eluded Pickford too (he probably thought it was going over for a corner) is just one of those unfortunate things that happen and almost unpredictable.

What did annoy me was that we played a very risky home game plan, allowing them the lion's share for most of the game and countering which, up to and just after half-time, worked but needed a different approach for the last half-hour.

Why does Dyche leave subs far too late? I appreciate that Brighton have some decent players, so give them something different to think about, not carry on almost 'backs to the wall' hoping the one-goal advantage would see us through.

I am never comfortable in any game with only a one-goal lead, especially like today when we scored early doors. Well done, Mykolenko, you are developing into a decent left-back/wing-back.

What was Beto going to achieve in the little time he had to seal the 3 points? We did have a few chances, although slim, to put the game to bed, but again wayward shooting never produces goals.

Away to Palace next, another game that won't be easy, but we seem to be playing better away than at home!

Proper team structure, lots of hard work, and a team that is better than the sum of its parts.

We could just do with Kanchelskis and Limpar – although Harrison and Danjuma may yet make a telling contribution (just as Mykolenko has improved beyond all recognition this season).

When you watch the slow motion, it's like he is in a time warp – a few inches taller and he would have saved that… or maybe he wouldn't have!

And blaming Pickford is ludicrous. He was leaning forward to react to a low cross and no keeper on earth could have prevented that diabolical looping deflection from going in. Bollocks indeed, Ian.

Sam #92, I'm with you. I love stats myself, but IMO possession percentage is the most ridiculously overrated stat in the game.

Even if, for whatever logic you could come up with to lay Pickford at fault, I am scratching my head on that one. What I would say is have a look at the free kick Brighton got earlier, it takes a deflection and Pickford makes one hell of a save, to push it over for a corner.

Look at the Anfield derby, Pickford pulls off one hell of a save late on, to push the shot over the bar, left helpless on the late second counter-attack.

Pickford has pulled out some unbelievable saves this season, seems more commanding now with Branthwaite and Tarkowski in front of him. Even if he was at fault – which in my opinion he was not – he has kept us in a lot of games this season.

No way am I putting Pickford at fault for that goal.

He couldn't tell me what it was that had been tweaked, but I've just seen a cracking little interview between Dyche and Andy Gray, with Dyche saying he had a really interesting conversation with Dele Alli, not so long ago on the training ground.

Alli had picked up what the manager had meant when he was talking about playing direct football, and explained to Dyche that he thinks the players might have been misreading him.

After listening to that interview, I thought the tweaks might have had something to do with the conversation I had heard earlier today. It was also nice to hear Dyche explain that Alli was in a very good place and, because he had similar conversations with Pochetino, he was aware of what the manager meant when he talks about being direct.

If we could acquire or develop better ball players and retainers in midfield, I think we would become a really decent side with the more proactive approach that people are calling for.

We missed Onana. Garner and Harrison need to improve. I hope they are able to.

As Onana was limping before he was replaced on Wednesday, it was no surprise he had not recovered in time for today. He was missed. Dyche is short of options on the bench. There were none for any of the midfield positions today.

He might have brought Beto on for Calvert-Lewin earlier but Beto has yet to convince he can be relied upon. He might have brought Patterson on earlier for Young or Harrison although I am not sure how that would have altered the dynamics of the game. Quite simply we lacked control in midfield.

To Sean Dyche's carping critics – just remember where we were a year ago under the hapless Frank Lampard. In the week before the World Cup break, we lost two league games to relegated Leicester and mighty Bournemouth as well as being knocked out of the League Cup.

This season, we have taken 4 points from teams who qualified for Europe, and we have progressed to the last eight of the League Cup. We are in a much better state than we were last November.

As to Subs; apart from Danjuma, which is a tad Hail Mary-ish, look at the bench, who ya gonna call - Ghostbusters?

Young's knee apart, it was 2 second's away from being lauded as yet another Dyche Master Class.

Fine margins indeed.

Last season we would've - in fact we Did lose it and badly too.

This season they got a jammy, if probably deserved draw...You don't often get what you deserve, but you usually deserve what you get.

Any team gets a deflected goal is by definition Lucky...and the reverse applies.

Truth is cracks are being papered over and Dyche is getting pretty much the best out of what is still a woeful squad of 12 and some odds and sods.

I don't think it's short memories, Dave, but more that they want more from an Everton team than they are currently witnessing, except that vision of Everton died years ago.

I can just about accept 20% possession at Goodison to Brighton, which incidentally means that we had the ball for 18 minutes, that's 9 minutes in each half. What absolutely horrifies me is what we did with the ball when we had it for that short period of time. The answer is we gave it a fuckin way – our pass completion was 62%. Dear God… and there are a lot on here who thought we did well.

Don't forget, since Brighton stuffed us out of sight last season, they have sold Mac Allister, Caicedo, Colwill, Trossard and March is out injured, so hardly a like-for-like comparison.

Brighton's goal wasn't Pickford's fault or Young's – it was Harrison's who failed to close down Mitoma (the best player on the pitch by a country mile), because he was absolutely on his knees as Dyche, the master tactician, had failed to sub him.

I give up.

Dyche has got them playing with more confidence without a doubt, and I will gladly take where we are now over last season. Dyche has to take a lot of credit for that.

We are creating chances when we attack, we do look far better closing down the opposition and pressing them back… but even now, we are still way too close to relegation candidates than anyone of us would like.

As a team we have to play to our strengths, stronger defence? Branthwaite has made that position his, resulting in fewer gaffs, but Ashley Young got laced a few times yesterday, and at 38 in the Premier League, you just haven't got the reactions or the explosive turn of pace to cope with some wingers.

McNeil and Harrison blow hot and cold, but generally the defence has been pretty good except for lapses and mistakes.

I would contend that giving up possession against the top four can make sense, but not others; only Bournemouth, Burnley and Sheffield Utd have conceded more goals. They are prone to leaking goals, yet after we scored we dropped back and would try to hit them on the break. I feel we need to do more to put games out of reach rather than the KITAP1. They can't score goals from their penalty area.

1. Despite having only 20% possession, we managed more shots and more shots on target than they did.

2. We would have won but for an unlucky deflection.

3. Much better than last year when we were battered 1-4.

4. Despite tired legs from Wednesday, the players competed well.

5. No injuries or red cards.

6. Only just over a quarter of the season and already we are effectively seven points clear of the drop zone.

Young (who had an excellent game) recovered pretty well, the deflection was not his fault, and to blame Pickford for not saving it is, well, let's say “harsh”.

We played very well. We got the early goal, then restricted Brighton to very few chances. Idyllic viewing? No. Gutsy, determined, organised? Absolutely.

The last few weeks have seen Everton play the most consistent, disciplined football they have shown for a few years. Things are improving.

That was a hard-fought point.

I'm just home. We played well and got done by an unfortunate deflection. The boys done well.

We will be fine and are heading to Wembley to beat them if they make it.

Loads of people thought Young was poor, but regardless of whether he should be in the team, a lot of good judges also thought he had a really good game today.

Football is often about opinions, and mine is that I was just very glad to be back at Goodison Park today!

We all know, I think, that they are a good team. They certainly looked it, and their passing was excellent and good to watch; but not today! The fact that we only had 20% possession was worrying but, on the other hand, we were very good in defending our lead.

I thought Young did fairly well today, but he wasn't helped much by Harrison being off the boil. I agree with those who thought Harrison was off the boil today. I 'm hoping that, after a few more matches, he will be up to speed, as I think he's a good player.

As it turned out, it was a good point for us. We nearly snatched the winner near the end. I also thought we had two decent shouts for a penalty... surprisingly not given!

I don't think Brighton will stay in their league position for long, and we are improving so let's carry on doing what we're doing.

A draw was probably a fair result and I can't really complain about the performance. Just really frustrating the way Dyche refuses to make subs when fresh legs are so obviously needed.

I don't rate Danjuma but swapping him for Harrison would surely have made sense. Doucoure is probably our fittest player but couldn't Beto, Chermiti or Dobbin have offered more in the last 10 minutes?

It looks like Young moved his arm towards the ball, so if it hadn't gone in, knowing how crazy VAR is, there might have been a penalty given.

I still feel like I'd rather invest time into the Patterson - Harrison partnership. I still don't know what the upside is with Young. I can see benefit with Patterson given his age. And I don't think his current level or 'experienced head' favours Young.

First half, I thought we were good. Or at least good at doing what we were trying to do.

Second half, Brighton's relentless passing and possession took its toll. I know we're low on options but that's when you've got to think a bit outside of the square.

Maybe Danjuma and bring McNeil inside or Doucoure drops deeper? Patterson for Young for a bit of energy? Chermiti or Beto to do some of the chasing?

We again sat on our hands just a few days after most of these played the majority of a cup game.

Overall, a draw is decent considering the respective sides and their general trajectory. But it's another missed opportunity at home. We can't afford to miss many more given what we served up in the first few fixtures. For all the talk of corners being turned, our points total still has us in the relegation fight... and it's not like the fixtures are getting easier.

Since when has it been acceptable for Everton to accept they were second-best in a contest at Goodison Park against a team that are good but hardly unbeatable? It's one thing to lose to Wolves, Luton and Fulham because we failed to score a goal; it's quite another to surrender three possible points because we were more concerned about defending than adding to our goal tally.

People might argue that a point on the board is worth more than the two points dropped, but I can't accept that stance. We are Everton, we shouldn't be pleased that we took a point from this game, and it was only an unfortunate breach of our defence that resulted in us drawing. Because, in truth, if we offer any team the initiative, it will inevitably result in Everton dropping points.

How are we going to fare against the Manchester clubs? How are we going to approach the Goodison derby, the encounters with Spurs and Newcastle? Are we really such a bad side that we can't give any of those teams a game? Will Chelsea be too much of a test? That's six games of a 19-game campaign — are we supposed to accept that we can't hope to win those matches and will have to defend deep and often in order to gain anything from those fixtures?

I disliked Moyes a lot, but Dyche is making us worse to watch than Moyes ever did. It's not entertainment and it makes us look like the small club, that many seem to think we are. I'm totally pissed off with yesterday's game and I can't understand why so many fellow Blues seem to think it's an acceptable state of affairs.

1) We had a game plan in the first half - maintain our shape and counter-attack with purpose through DCL and Doucs. That disapppeared in the second half as we simply sat deep and aimed poorly directed clearances upfield.

2) Young had an excellent game and Dyche made the right decision to select him over young Patterson in terms of positional play.

3) As pressure increased, Dyche made zero efforts to change the momentum of the game tactically or through substitutions. I have supported (and support him) but his game management was poor today.

4) Harrison would benefit from a spell on the bench.

5) Onana’s ability to link the back four and attack was badly missed today.

6) I agree with Ian Edwards - Pickford WAS at fault for the goal. The ball looped high and Pickford didn’t adjust his body shapes or move his feet. Schmeichel called it and he was spot on.

I do wonder a little bit about the narrative on this page in a couple of areas. 4 points from 6 is good, however we played really poorly after half-time and the manager did not earn his money in the second half. 17% possession at home is pathetic and shows that we ceded all initiative to the opposition. If Brighton were playing to anything like the level of last season we would have been comprehensively beaten. Pointing this out isn’t moaning, it is stating an opinion on a performance that was sub-par despite the effort.

Secondly, Ian comes on here to give his view in the game and the goal.The best a few of you can come up with is “bollocks”. Then he is accused of running away, not answering a direct question and holding minority views. I can’t see a sensible direct question that Ian was asked.

I have disagreed with Ian a lot on here, but this is weak stuff. He has a right to post what he wants on here without the pack piling in on him.

I'm sorry but this is not acceptable. It implies that Dyche would have been happy with a point ahead of kick off. This was Brighton's record in their last four games before us: LDLD. This was also on paper, with the exception of Fulham, are 'easiest' home game until February 17.

I know that there are some - if not many - who will call this realistic, pragmatic, and tailored to our present situation. In a nutshell, smart-thinking. Steady the ship and all that. But this was a game that I - and maybe others - had high hopes that we could win.

I found the banks of four ultimately depressing as Brighton, invited by us, got their late goal. There was something inevitable about it. They deserved it. Dyche deserved it too.

He and us had a shocking second half. He was more than happy to sit deep and concede possession. Subs become almost obligatory with such an approach. Harrison was on his last legs around the hour mark. Go back to their goal, it was down first and foremost to Harrison.

But Dyche just stood there in his dodgy mac with his fingers tightly crossed doing nothing until his bizarre 90th minute subs, hooking our best striker off before a corner was taken.

Maybe there is something cultish about having this gravel-voiced stubborn fella in charge who vacuums in his boxers? He might be what we want/need right now given the off-the-pitch rollercoaster ride that we are on. (Word today is that the FA have given their blessing to 777.) I do get that,

Safety-first is not always the worst road to take. But today was a little too much for me and just as some on here will declare that performance to be one of Dyche's strengths I saw his limitations, never more apparent than in his post-match victory lap/relief lap/complacent presser.

It is bewildering to me that we only played with a front foot after Brighton equalised. But that is Dyche, I don't care, quite frankly, if we scored five at their gaff with a somewhat similar set-up. We didn't score five today. We didn't win today. Dyche has always been a grafter, no bad thing. His speciality is in and around the bottom three with one contrariwise season. That is not where we want to be in the years ahead.

So, maybe this hard-nose fella is the right fit right now? But this what he is, his defining principles, his CV and record. He will do for now, I suppose. I am trying to get on board with his gritty side. I want to find him endearing.

But ........

I usually find myself agreeing with you two – less so Paul Ferry – but tonight I do. Had I not seen the possession stats I wouldn't have guessed they had that much possession because they did nothing with it.

I did feel on the hour we needed fresh legs as they, after a week off, used five subs and frankly have better players than us… but the issue was in midfield and we had no fit midfielders on our bench to bring on.

Danjuma was terrible v Burnley, Beto has been compared to Niasse… then we have the defender Patterson who can't defend. I personally thought it was a pretty even-Steven contest but they had more ammo than us.

It's easy to talk about being the home team etc but one of their subs on loan from Barce was hailed as the new Iniesta 18 months ago while we could only offer up Michael Keane.

I'm not happy with where we are but I think Sean is doing more with a weaker squad than his two immediate predecessors

I can help there Steve: (136): "Name and quote two pundits who say that Pickford was at fault for that goal".

And, by the way, Steve, people coming on to give a contrary opinion in droves because it's what they believe is not "the pack piling in". As you say, there is a right to post and I also agree about "bollocks", but Edwards does not always help himself – eg, read the tone of some of him on here.

This style of football will get us nowhere. Brighton might be a decent team with the ball but they are vulnerable defensively but we just let them have the ball; it happens against most teams and it is absolutely boring to watch.

I don't care what anyone thinks but I can not get behind this type of football. I will never accept this manager is good enough for Everton. I completely agree with Paul Ferry @174.

Or "gained" because, to be honest, newspaper people, I really got it wrong today, but I'm too fecking stubborn to say so because I never say so coz I'm Kettering Dychey. Right Woany? Yes boss. Stoney? Yes boss, Curry? Yes boss.

It's not what I want and he's not the type of coach that I think serves us at the moment.

I suppose I was thankful for small mercies in the first half. We played to a plan. Everyone looked aligned to that plan. That represents progress from the much-lauded (by Dyche, and some on here) brainless selections and tactics in the early few home games. People defend it on the basis of xG. I just assume they don't understand the game.

But in the first half yesterday, we played to a style befitting of the selections we made (and in some cases had to make). I can acknowledge that.

By the way, it's really grinding on me reading how great Dyche has done in managing Calvert-Lewin back to fitness. He came in, questioned whether he was really injured, played him, lost him to injury for most of the remainder of the season. Then he proclaimed himself the guru... and started talking about Dom's personal life, including his mattress.

What he actually did was screw up Dom's recovery, and then have one season end and the other begin some months later. I can't give him full credit for inventing the post-season break. But he's claiming it and people are swallowing it.

Now he's playing him practically every minute despite actually having some attacking options who could share the load.

We're averaging a point a game. After a very generous wasted run of home games.

I still don't get the fandom. The closest I can come is looking at Tyson Fury, who proclaims himself a fighting man who will take on anyone... despite a long list of evidence to the contrary.

Dyche seems to have convinced people he's a real straight shooter. And that he is getting the best out of the team. Neither are true – he bullshits his way through press conferences and for whatever reason, there are people who can't see it.

But don't worry anyone at all because Kieran Kinsella has reminded us that "Sean is doing more with a weaker squad than his two immediate predecessors".

Phew, thank goodness, it's clear to me now, bright as sunshine, thanks KK, stupid me, that was, after all is said and done, a point "gained". The Dyche approach today was absolutely immaterial, because he is doing more than his immediate predecessors.

Today was a capitulation, but not as bad a capitulation as Frank and him. Goodness, we're so blessed.

What worried me most was what he thought he was doing by taking up the position he did rather than doing what has been done to us so often, doubling up on Mitoma, surely it has happened in accruing all that experience?

And somebody criticized Patterson for all the mistakes he made during the 4 minutes extra time he was on the pitch… really???

And I find it difficult to accept that this is the best we can expect to play "with this squad"; it's the acceptance again of mediocrity — if you don't try, then you won't know.

But we scored by getting players forward and how many did we have in and around their penalty area when we did score? — something which we then almost gave up on thereafter.

I suppose it can be said that we are at least moving in the right direction but I'm not confident that there will be any dramatic improvement that will move us into the top positions.

Somebody earlier said that the money we gain for each higher position could see us £20 million better off this season which would then mean we only have £400M to find, or £296M if P&S is all that matters.

The reason that they had 80% possession is they have a better technical players than us. They spent £101M on incoming players this year because they could having brought in £195M in player sales. I don’t think De Zerbi would do any good with our players. Unfortunately we had had to sell two of our best footballers last year.

Dyche on the other hand has managed to draw the best out of them. The team is playing with a fighting spirit which is, in my opinion, above all other things, is what is required if we are going to retain our premier league status this season.

Having said that I think he had couple of options to change things up in the second half:-

Perhaps as someone suggested above he could have brought on Patterson for Harrison.

Or maybe he could have subbed Harrison by bringing McNeill over to our right and bringing Danjuma on into his best position which is wide left.

As far as Young is concerned I thought he played quite well today. I have watched Mitoma on quite a few occasions and he creates a problem for most teams. He has that devastating turn of pace over the first 5 yards down the outside that the majority defenders just can’t cope with.

Tony # 149 - I am very glad you posted that snippet about Dyche and Dele Ali. If Dyche can get that football brain fit and back on the pitch playing for us we will be a very different proposition.

Last but not least, I am enjoying not having that “hiding behind the sofa” feeling before every game regardless of the opposition and venue. I am giving Dyche the credit for that.

We're crap. We play crap football. I don't know whether that is even up for discussion.

But people tell me Dyche is working with what he has... and that it's the results that matter.

Well, we have 11 points. We've had 6 home games. 4 of those home games were against bottom 6 or 7 rivals.

I don't get which bit is the good bit? It seems like Dyche has convinced our supporters that the losses were brilliant but unlucky and that the points were down to his brilliance.

We might be crap? And not even really having a go?

The football gods are telling us to not get ahead of ourselves.

I think it's a case of "walk before you can run". We've been a crisis club for a long time now. The most important thing to do is regain solidity and confidence and to hang onto a manager for more than 12 months. We're doing that.

Next season, with some solid foundations in place, we will have something to build on.

Look at how hard Chelsea are finding it with a huge squad of talented players and a talented manager. Unfortunately these things take time.

I agree with all that you have written, which virtually mirrors my feelings at the moment. I too have been behind Dyche and still am because of the total mess we are in. I wrote (by email to the Premier League) recently, about the 'leaked' and possible impending punishment for Everton, and what was the source while the investigation was still going on.

I also strongly emphasised, that whatever Financial Mess the Club was in re: Profitability and Sustainability Rules, had and has nothing whatsoever to do with the fans. Rather the incompetency at the executive level by a board of Muppets! Yet any punishment that may be handed down, if it resulted in relegation, would only penalise the fans, not the guilty!

I know I digressed a bit there, but decisions made by the manager, regarding team selection, tactics (backs to the wall at home), late substitutions etc, equally affects the fans. I think the majority of us would have sussed that, after surviving the first half yesterday, risking the same for the second was folly and a reshuffle (subs) should have happened early into the second period.

Sitting back does not always mean you're giving up or not trying to score goals.

We really struggled to score goals when we had more possession under Lampard and our best tool for scoring is the counter-attack.

The players that we have are better out of possession than with it. Dyche is setting us up accordingly and, as a result, I believe we will (hopefully) end this season 14th-15th rather than 17th-18th.

Our form is pretty decent this last month or so with 4 wins, a draw and only one loss. There's some tough fixtures coming up but we look much harder to beat.

Continually giving the ball away in that second half was pathetic. Awful to watch.

How would you have set the team up to be on the front foot playing attacking football?

We all want to see us playing better stuff. With our current squad, I am not sure that's possible.

It's obviously gutting to concede a late jammy goal, not to mention a couple of strong penalty shouts (McNeil especially) that were dismissed.

We all know what a shambles this club is, so I'll try to enjoy the few positives (there are some if you look hard enough), rather than concentrate on everything being shit... but if that's your thing, fair enough!

I merely said that I believed Pickford was at fault for the goal. That is my opinion. It is also the opinion of others on here earlier in the chat and on the forum and also the view of the greatest keeper that played in the Premier League. I suggest he knows more about goalkeeping than you do.

You say "Edwards doesn't help himself". By that, you mean having an opinion that you don't agree with. I'll let others decide an appropriate word for that.

You mentioned earlier in the chat about abuse and linked me with the "headlock". It was only a few short weeks ago that a Kopite called you a few names and you threw your dummy out the pram like a toddler who had their Haribo taken away and cried all over the site. Incidentally, I suoported you that day. But it would seem Paul "Haribo" Ferry has a very short memory.

I remember the crowd getting up after a couple of feisty tackles and I said to the people around me that this would probably get the players playing on the front foot, and this was the last thing we needed to do after the way we had been sitting deep, without getting caused any real problems by Brighton.

Lo and behold, it happened twice, and when Calvert-Lewin slid in and missed the ball by inches, 6 yards from the byline, inside the Brighton box, four or five passes and about 10 seconds later, I thought Mykolenko did brilliantly to defend a one on one, against Lamptey, after outstanding intricate football from Brighton.

If we continue to play like this all season, then Dyche had better get results, but his football is no worse than Carlo Ancelotti's, even though the Italian had a lot more craft in his squad.

Most of us have a view that Everton should always play good football, or at least try to play good football, but my view is that way too many people have sucked the life out of what was once the real Everton, and because our club has been built on pragmatism, then hopefully this incredibly important detail is returning to our once great club.

It might be boring to some, and horrible to others, but it's a massive foundation, and foundation is something Everton Football Club have been operating without for years.

I realise we don't have the players to play out from the back, but maybe bowling it out to McNeil or Harrison now and again would keep possession and maybe start an attack. There was a least one occasion yesterday where Gueye had acres in front of him and a simple throwout from Pickford would have made a lot more sense than his massive kick in the air that landed… at the feet of Lewis Dunk.

Hoofball creates nothing more than the opposition constantly coming back at you.

The one big difference though is that if you are going to play direct with two forwards on the pitch, then the ball might not always come back so quickly?

There have been many good posts on this thread, with polar opposite views, which has made for some very good debate, imo.

Surprised people keep talking about Patterson. He can't learn on the job by making mistakes, it will cost us points. We need points to stay up, don't we? If he can't defend, he won't start. That's about the size of it. Coleman goes straight back in at right back when he's fit.

Have to say some of the snarky comments between individual posters on here are a bit silly - as are the snarky comments about the manager. Maybe a few posters might think about upping their own game's, or having a spell on the bench.

If we'd half of the current pragmatism seven years ago, we wouldn't be where we are now.

This is our medicine for the last seven years. If it gives us the foundation we desperately need, I'm happy to take it.

And it's nice to be debating style of play, rather than the 'we're definitely going down. Fact' nonsense of just six weeks ago. That's progress in itself.

The talk about style can wait for a year or two as far as I am concerned, I will take mid table finishes with an emphasis on keeping things tight at the back until then.

Once we have come through our financial hell and are housed at BMD, we can then start to apply more creativity to the set up. To expect that to happen given our current financial issues is unrealistic.

Nonetheless, Ian Edwards is completely correct Pickford was caught flat footed although I'm not sure JP could have tipped it over even if on his toes. He's not a tall goalie relatively speaking.

He has brought Harrison and Young to the club quite obviously his signings, Harrison has absolutely no quality in the final third, yes works hard but as a professional in any sport that should be a given. He has played Young at both right and left back and its obvious Dyche doesn't rate Patterson and for his own good Patterson would be better finding another club, because if the manager prefers a 38 year old soon to be replaced by our 36 year old captain then the writing is on the wall for Patterson. Seems the £28m signing of Beto and Chermetti were Thelwell signings and seems to spend £28m on a reserve striker seems unbelievable given how little we had to spend.

Yesterday we were playing our third game in 6 days, and many had played virtually every minute of those games, and as the game was going on you could see our players dropping off the pace, but did Dyche do anything to change it of course he didnt. He only makes subs when we concede and true to form he made 2 subs with 5 minutes to go of normal time after Brighton equalised. Again tactically we were caught having no width when defending free kicks, again yesterday Dunk found acres of space on the flank of our defence and could count himself unlucky the goal was ruled offside. I don't know how many times Dyche and his coaches need to see opposing teams finding acres of space on our flanks at free kicks before he does something about it.

Brighton sold their 2 best players before the season started and have a few injuries to key players but Di Zerbi didnt decide some of my stars are injured so I will be a bit cautious with apart from Mitoma and Ferguson and Dunk at the back he has a largely average set of footballers but they are well coached and dominated possession but as he said they didnt put enough efforts on goal. He didnt go on about how much possession they had or say they were the only team trying to win the game, instead he was telling his team what he expects to do better.

I listened to Barry Horne on the way home from the game and I agree when he said Everton nullifying a lot of Brighton attacks was down to the very disciplined display from Gana and Garner. I thought Mykolenko was our best player and for me he is one of the best left backs in the league, again Branthwaite and Tarkowski were very good. So I ask given you have got good defenders why don't you trust them and play a little more adventurous in future.
Finally I am sure they do practice attacking moves at Finch Farm, but can someone tell me why we are incapable of keeping hold of the ball in the opposition half of the pitch.

I didn't like the fact Pickford kicked everything long but it was a tactic to bypass their midfield.

I was frustrated we didn't have a go at Milner, the throw was on to Harrison a lot of the time.

When we did pick up possession our play was sloppy in giving it back too soon. We had half chances and with a bit more composure we score a couple on the counter.

The feeling after the game was one of frustration at dropping late points but was far better than the same fixture last year when I was fuming and wanted Frank sacked for a pathetic home performance with more or less the same players.

Hopefully January will see us pick up a couple of decent midfield signings. A right footed McNeil type, a right back and someone to add more quality and goals.

What results? What foundation? How have people been convinced that our results are good? If they were good we wouldn't be down near the bottom of the table.

We've got 11 points from 11 games. If any of the teams at the bottom even remotely get their act together then we'll be in a relegation fight right to the end.

The bottom 8 looks like it's fairly set and are in for a tough season. We've played 5 out of the other 7 already. 4 of those 5 were at home for 1 win and 3 losses.

If this is what it looks like when we're apparently getting results, what will happen when we don't?

Football, as a sport, falls into two categories, an entertainments business and a results business. For now, for us anyway, our aim falls into the second category, that of a results business. Forget the entertainment, if you want entertainment then go and watch Man City plundering goals left, right and centre as they destroy everyone. Don’t forget, a few years back, they were in a far worse situation than us. Playing not only in a run down stadium, but playing in the third tier of English football. They also had successful neighbours to contend with, and let’s be honest, who could have foreseen what would happen to them when they were playing the likes of Stockport County, Port Vale and Macclesfield etc? They slowly crawled their way back to the top division, then struck lucky with Manchester being awarded the Commonwealth Games in 2002, meaning they got a brand new stadium for next to nothing. As a result, they got new owners, and the rest is history. None of this is what any of us want to face, so the only way to prevent it, is results like yesterday.

If, as sounds likely, 777 takeover, then hopefully it will mean a brand new start, with a new board, and business people who know what they’re doing. A lot on here have their doubts about 777, but if the premier league, FA and Financial Conduct Authority have all given their approval, then maybe they are not as bad as some seem to make out. Nobody knows what the future holds, but we have to ensure that our immediate future is as a premier league club before moving into a new stadium. Mid table this season will do nicely, and who knows, we may have a trip to Wembley on the horizon. 🤞🤞🤞

Interesting stat which doesn't get enough traction is that in his whole managerial career with Burnley and Everton, Dyche has only won TWO league games in which his team has had more possession than the opposition.

I said to the people around me that the longer it’s going on, then the more chance there was going to be of it being disallowed, but I genuinely never took any real satisfaction when the goal was chalked-off.

If the game isn’t rigged, how can decisions like Newcastle’s goal, actually happen? Ask for the audio footage Mikel, let’s hear how they reached the conclusion that it was a goal, without commenting on the strength of the weed, they must have been smoking.

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/arsenal-u18s-match-brighton-postponed-bournemouth-95-miles/blta48c1eac933264c9

You and I have been coming on here for many years, and I, as I suspect like many of us do, pay particular attention to the posts of certain individuals. You are one of them.

I have noticed that you have been really down in the dumps lately as I was at the beginning of the season. I have to agree that our football is crap at the moment - I am just trying to look for the good and enjoying not feeling the sadness the day after a defeat.

Our day will come - hang in there.

I talked about foundations, Ernie, but i hadn’t linked it to our results, (even though they are improving) but more about the way the players are beginning to graft for the shirt once again. But when you live or watch things from a parallel universe, maybe this isn’t something new, and our players have been showing a bit of backbone for years?

Rob (208) The voice of realism. I think the club is taking small steps in the right direction. Today’s Sunday Times (Paul Joyce) carries a story that 777 have been approved by the FA. If true, that’s one hurdle cleared

He is usually a rabbit in the headlights waiting for the game to change before making a decision, always too late.

It's a shame, I'd have liked us really slow the game down with substitutions and have different options, the players were shattered in the last half hour. Brighton had us pegged in our own half.

Saying that though we were well drilled and I thought everyone had a good game, particularly Harrison and Mykolenko did everything asked of them.

2 points dropped for me when in that position at home.

Is it not clear to everyone that this is not a team that does well with more possession? Just go and watch the last six months under Lampard and see how you like it.

Ian have you taken your tablets mate. Refund the fans for 20% possession, Bizarre statement

We have times where we simply boot it away. We don't want it whatsoever.

I can't understand not wanting the ball. It's the most obvious way to not have a team pen you in your own half.

Agree with many that Harrison isn't up to much. But he's a right midfielder in a team that doesn't have one. He does a bit for shape. And of course stops Dyche deploying Garner out there.

I'm not seeing much by way of hope. Feels like a downward spiral to me. And I struggle to see the current management breaking that spiral.

We may well stay up by virtue of the bottom three breaking records.

Yes, we've picked up some points in the last few games but it's hard to see it continuing. Performances aren't getting better in my opinion.

Anyway, onto the next one.

Seeing as though some people seem to have an obsession with possession, here are some other possessions stats from our previous four encounters against Brighton:

in the previous 2 home games against them, Everton had 49% and 50% posesssion respectively but conceded 7 goals and lost both games gaining zero points. In the previous 2 away games against them, Everton had 34% and 22% possession respectively, scored 7 goals, and gained 6 points.

Conclusion, the way to successfully get points against Brighton is not to go toe to toe on possession but to sit back and soak it up. But for a freak deflection, it would have successfully worked again yesterday.

Same with Patterson. There might be a player there if he can be coached to defend more effectively. We are going to need a new right back sooner rather than later, that position is his for the taking eventually,

I accept some of the negativity about Dyche, but we are where we are after a string of calamitous appointments, and we need to stay up this season. In that sense, we appear to be much more on track than previously.

On reflection I wouldn’t change anything different to what I posted and we all see things different from the same game.

I would have took Dominic off a bit/ lot sooner than Dyche did, he had ran the legs off himself as that loan front runner and replaced him with Dobbin, Beto is not ready for premier league football yet, and Dobbin’s pace might have been productive against the tiring and slow Dunk, then again up front on his own maybe not.

Much has been said about their lucky/ unfortunate goal, but not ours?

I followed Dunks run for his disallowed goal and said to the fella next to me this will go to VA fuckin’ R, he looked at me questionable and the fella behind me asked me if I was sure, I told them yes but Inwasn’t sure of the outcome and I still haven’t seen how close to offside Dunk was but a Rednose last night at the party I was in told me Tarkowski had played him onside, mind you this Red wouldn’t give Everton any credit if you tortured him!

The problem with the proposed alternatives is that they are not fully specified. Return to the armchair and settle down. Dyche has it under control and planned out for more than one half at a time, unlike his unarticulate critics.

But we still created more opportunities than them (just about).

Possession is really not the issue.

As for the game well in our situation, and has been the last 2 seasons, it’s all about results. Sod possession, passes, stats etc, goals win games however they come
It’s not pretty tippy tappy Man City footy but I’d sooner get points on the board the way we’re playing rather than nowt playing possession based footy
One worrying thing the last few games is giving people space, unmarked, from set pieces. Luton and yesterday for example
Play the same next week at Palace and come away with 3 points and happy days!

I watched highlights back and Dunk was barely, barely offside.

The kind of offside that borders ridiculous and VAR haters detest the review of.

If that call went against us we'd have felt aggrieved. I thought we were lucky to have the call judged offside.

I hate that VAR but sometimes it’s not bad!!

But you are right

I find it ridiculous that we have gone so many rounds without var, but they bring it back in for the semi final and final.

I am also in with the realists. We don't have good footballers. The midfield is especially bereft. They way we play is dogs of war if not hounds of war. For us to try and play Man City style possession football would be suicide. We don't have the players. Not sure even Brighton have the players. And Frank well and truly proved we don't.

In the first half, the plan worked, we managed to break up play at times then break. In the second half, it didn't because we were knackered, presumably feeling the effect of nearly all this team playing on Wednesday. Harrison especially was out on his feet. But there is nothing on the subs bench to refresh, especially in midfield. God help us if we lose any of our current XI to the African Nations Cup. Sad to say, this is probably just about as well as we can do. We are still a club in crisis.

I thought Pickford could have saved that but my guess is, 8 times out of 10, a goalie would not. He certainly does not deserve pillory, he is one of our better players. Young, who I don't rate, did as well as he can. The rest of the defence is looking quite solid. Which is just as well

Of all our squad, Mykolenko is playing under the most pressure. It cannot be easy getting through every day dreading a call, text or email that might be news of a friend or relative being killed by a Putin bomb or missile.

My take from the match is, once again, the appalling standard of refereeing and the muppets doing VAR. Branthwaite was booked for the slightest brush against a player who went down like he'd been torched by a flamethrower. Yet DCL gets blatantly wrestled to the ground in the penalty area and nothing given, with no VAR intervention. Time has long passed when PGMOL should have been put out to tender and referees recruited globally, like the Saudis are doing, with VAR run independently if used at all.

Overall, I'm satisfied rather than happy with a point and it does extend our unbeaten record. Hope we put on a show at the Palace next week!

Why do you think that whoever has more possession should therefore win the the football match? Football doesn’t work that way, otherwise Martinez’ Everton would have been champions!

Possession does not always equal chances. It didn’t yesterday for Brighton so I’m not really sure what you’re talking about.

That said, it does look strained when people state with certainty that you could expect a Brighton goal given the statistics cited. This is done emphatically while ignoring the shots on goal. It probably sounds good but carries no weight or persuasion. No one is changing their mind about the game when such claims are made.

Possession, number of passes mean absolutely nothing.

Goals are the only thing that matter.

Harrison was at fault for their goal because he was turned twice by their winger? So where was the full-back who should have been on that winger?

Well, Young had lost the winger earlier and Harrison chased back for him and then Young decided he'd leave it to Harrison and deliberately changed course to avoid getting involved.

Had he helped Harrison then, it may have been unlikely that there would have been any cross or deflection. Young had done well until then but bottled it and got too far away from Harrison and the player he, Young, should have been marking.

If we have possession, the opponent can't score.

Likewise, you can make a case that Jordan Pickford could have made a better attempt to prevent the goal, but expecting robotic level repetition of reaction is unrealistic.

I'm hopeful the overall aim isn't 20% possession as it does seem like hoping the opposition sleep-walk into ‘hardly bothering' mode. Drawing is better than losing but winning is literally three times as good.

"If we have possession the opponent can't score."

Ian #209: "Interesting stat which doesn't get enough traction is that in his whole managerial career with Burnley and Everton, Dyche has only won two league games in which his team has had more possession than the opposition."

Hmmm?

Teams that probe and try to build attacks deserve to win games as opposed to teams that sit deep at home and try to defend what they have.

What has our fan base become accepting such negative tactics at home against a team in poor form in mid-table? Shame on those that accept it.

We need to possess the ball to prevent opponent scoring opportunities. Splendid! And how do you propose we do that without a Number 10 in a way that doesn't sacrifice our defensive shape in transition?

Let me simulate Ian:- “That's what Dyche is paid to figure out.”

At last, someone with a bit of common sense.

Nail on head, mate.

I'd rather see us play on the counter with the players we currently have. Any decent manager who wants to keep us in the Premier League would do the same.

I'm with Ian #257 on this one: 1-0 up and Dyche hangs on for dear life as if we are playing Man City or Liverpool. Our non-firing front line doesn't help either. Good job our defenders know where the net is.

“If we have possession the opponent can't score.”

What? Do you mean if we have 100% possession?! That doesn't happen often!

A little reminder that we had about 20% possession too when we beat Brighton 5-1 (probably our best result last season).

“If we have possession the teams can't score.”

Well, we did; Bournemouth did.

Sorry, Ian, that's absolutely nonsense. How many times have we seen teams getting hammered possession wise but then winning games?

As I said, and repeat, possession, passes etc mean nothing, only goals.

Every team should play to their strengths against a particular opposition. Based on your premise, we should have been hammered yesterday. We weren't, we made the better chances and should have won.

And not just yesterday but repeatedly, whether we win, draw or lose, the inability to pass correctly and the lack of movement is still very apparent.

However… if we were a Sky darling team, we would have had two penalties there. One when McNeil was barged over, the other when Sharp – sorry, Dom – was dragged round by the shoulder.

We maybe didn't command the game but our game plan almost won it. More effective when we did have the ball as the shots stats testify.

I really think, if we had been Liverpool, Man Utd, Spurs, City or Arsenal we would've had a pen there yesterday. It's rigged!

That may be your opinion. But it's nothing more than that. There is no god-given right to win a football game because you have more possession. That's what makes the game so watchable. Different styles and tactics being implemented.

“What has our fan base become, accepting such negative tactics at home against a team in poor form in mid-table. Shame on those that accept it.”

Maybe you've been in a coma these last few years but we're a long way away from the '80s teams. I'll take negative tactics with better results rather than passing our way into the Championship and administration thanks. But each to their own, I guess.

Your two comments that I've quoted in #256 are mutually inconsistent. Which one should carry more weight for Mr Dyche?

"No answer" came the stern reply.

By your accounts, possession is everything.

A player who had possession and passes in abundance, played at the highest level, England international Ray Wilkins. I don't think he made a pass more than 10 feet, I don't think he ever made a forward pass in his career.

But there he was lauded as a great international. Stats mean nothing – only results.

Dyche employed the same tactics against Brighton a few short months ago and we fucking mullered them.

Brighton have some skilled players, but they're beginning to get found out. They like to play out from the back, but they are not always that good at it. Dyche exposed this by allowing them to do it at their place and repeatedly ambushing them.

Unlike the last encounter when were smothered them and punished them, our press was slow and uncoordinated. When we did win the ball, our passing was woeful and we gave it straight back. These tactics are being slaughtered from all sides because they were badly executed yesterday, but they are the same tactics which were hailed by all and sundry at the Amex when the players were on it.

Brighton deserved nothing yesterday. Playing the ball around in front of the opposition may do your possession stats a power of good, but they wouldn't have scored if they played all night if it wasn't for a huge slice of poxy luck.

Some of the battles that go on in any other games by any other teams, fouls not given, let alone cards. Everton, absolutely, for some reason, get treated very differently by all officials in every single game I have ever seen.

Scandalous, diabolical and disgusting that someone with authority at Everton doesn't highlight and continue to highlight this at every opportunity. Until this is addressed, we will forever be drowning in mediocrity. Only my humble opinion of course.

Even when for once we had a favourable decision, the referee from then on gave more against us at every chance. Opposing players actually scream, roll around, basically cheat throughout because they can – why is this allowed? Remember Niasse, proven at the time he got taken out, still either the only one, or one of two to be carded for faking.

Our team and manager seems to be hated by officials, commentators and pundits. I'm praying that soon this will be addressed because even Forest look amazing compared to us, simply because they're allowed to compete, tackle hard, and give as good as they get. Commentators, pundits and officials seem to like them and their manager.

Throughout the thread, you go on and on and and on about possession. Your posts @209 and 220 are utterly meaningless. You seek attention; unfortunately some respected posters are indulging you, and when you are called out to offer analysis, you just repeat the same vacant, unsubstantiated twaddle.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, again and again and again. But when someone calls it out for the dull nonsense it is, you call foul, flaunt your victimhood and run to the moderators.

Here's something you might want to have a go at. Put up an article backing up your concerns, with analysis. Explain the relevance of your posts. Explain why 80% should be refunded? (You won't because even you know that post was cretinous.)

People on this site aren't piling into you, you are not the lone voice of sanity, you are a single-issue zealot who would try the patience of Job.

Our average possession stats over the season is 40.6% - that ranks us 17th in the ranking which remarkably is just about where we are sat in the table.

Here are the possession stats for the Top 10:

Man City - 63.3%

Spurs - 61.6%

Arsenal - 60.5%

Liverpool - 57%

Villa - 52%

Newcastle - 53.1%

Brighton - 61.5%

Man Utd - 53.5%.

Brentford 48.3%

Palace - 41.5%.

Possession %s broadly decline in direct relation to league position.

Our lack of possession in games has put us exactly where we deserve to be - in the bottom 5 again. Yet someone normally sensible posters are somehow trying to paint it is as success - Perspiration trumps possession?

Our possession stats of 20% yesterday were an absolute disgrace and the only reason we came out of the game with anything was because Brighton are off form and haven’t won a league game for over 5 weeks.

Again, I am supporting Dyche as he has not had a pot to piss since he took over. But, Ian Edwards has a point on this one despite everyone trying to pile in on him (again).

We did surrender the initiative when we surrendered possession, unfortunately. So I suggest we stop deluding ourselves.

Danjuma for Harrison? Did you see Danjuma v Burnley? Beto as a second striker? How would that have helped the midfield battle? We didn't have options on the bench to do the job needed.

It's easy to say “we should have done a, b, c” when you know the outcome was unsatisfactory but who's to say subbing in square pegs (and sub-par pegs) into round holes would have made things better?

And on the possession front, have you ever watched Gueye, Doucoure etc play? Any evidence they have the ability to crisply pass the ball quickly and accurately over varying distances?

Brighton's star striker Ferguson was replaced, Branthwaite had him in his pocket. They created very little, possession doesn't guarantee you goals. The deflection was the only way they were going to score yesterday.

We definitely need a midfielder in January; with Onana out, we had no midfielder on the bench.

When posters have a go at me, it's only because I'm right and they don't like it.

As for post 256 Brent. There are so many posts aimed at me and I can't see them all as I don't live on ToffeeWeb. The post you question was consistent. Dyche has only won 2 games when he has had more possession. That's why his teams are in the lower reaches of the Premier League. If he showed more ambition, he might win a few more. Not sure why this simple point is confusing you.

Steve above sums it up superbly. If a team is on the front foot and attacks, it will score more goals than one that sits deep and lets the opposition play.

It was Brighton. Not Liverpool, nor Man City, nor Arsenal. Brighton... without a win in 5 and midtable. Dyche was frightened of them. His tactics allowed them to come at us, resulting in a loss of two points.

This is Everton.

Exactly, Ian. Folks here have a go at you because you're right and they dislike you for it.

It definitely has nothing to do with your relentless negativity -- or your relentless condescension towards those who aren't as negative as you are. Or your sniveling about being attacked.

I can't understand it at all.

Dyche's tactics yesterday became a lot tougher with Onana missing, we lacked pace in midfield, and it put us on the back foot.

Good to see you back on the thread, and some of the language used against you is completely wrong, and shouldn't be allowed. We are all entitled to our views without being abused.

Can you show me where anyone has said there is no correlation between possession and success? I highly doubt anyone has.

Obviously the very top teams with the best players can keep possession and do well. We are not one of those teams. Nor were Leicester when they won the league.

The point is that possession does not suit every team and does not win matches by itself. We are clearly not a team well-stocked to pass the ball around currently.

Our worst result this season:

Losing at home to Luton we had 68% of possession.

Losing at home to Wolves we had 49% of possession.

Losing at home to Fulham we had 41% of possession.

Scraping past Doncaster we had 59% of possession.

Drawing to Sheffield Utd we had 55% of possession.

I'm not saying I wouldn't enjoy Everton being able to play better football and win at some point in the future but we are not there yet!

Whatever people think of Young, he's 38 and not up to scratch, hence the cards he picks up. Also, due to him being picked, we played a lot deeper, as Dyche obviously had the derby debacle in mind.

We have a 35-year-old coming back to hopefully take over from Young (surely a misnomer), while a young international player gets no experience in the Premier League. I'd prefer Patterson making mistakes and learning, than a has-been repeating his with no future ahead to learn by them.

Young should not be playing for Everton FC, it's a mockery that a man who was too old for a mediocre Aston Villa is deemed good enough for us – utter embarrassment.

They are both the result of having more skillful players than the opposition. When you have more good players, you win more games in the long run. When you have more good players, you control the ball more. They both happen at the same time for exactly the same reason. More skillful players.

The teams at the bottom of the standings have less possession for the same reason they are at the bottom of the standings. Less talent.

Ian, the only positive posts I have seen from you have been in support of your beloved Sam Allardyce. Check out the comments your hero made about Roy Hodgson.

Anyway, Ian, instead of sniping from the sidelines, put up an article supporting, with facts, your dislike of Dyche. I challenge you to do so. You won't because being a sniper is easier.

Check back and see the moronic posts from Graham Mockford just repetitively slagging him with 'bollocks' 'bollocks' 'bollocks' – very childish.

And while I'm never one to back Ian, on this occasion, he is correct.

Our players are not technically good enough for that type of game. As it was, we created the most chances and were unlucky not to win.

Pace!

You see negativity. I see points where we are going wrong to try and improve. That is what Dyche should be doing in the dressing room after each game.

I think some people would prefer me to lie and say 20% possession and sitting on a lead is super tactics. It's not. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum still means something to me.

Had Dyche moved the team forward and attacked Brighton, I think we could have won.

That was two points dropped yesterday. Solely down to negative, cowardly tactics.

Brighton murdered us at the Old Lady last season. They could have ran up a cricket score. Next time we played them, Dyche looked for an alternative way to skin the cat.

To understand the difference between surrendering possession and surrendering the initiative, look no further than this fixture. Dyche's Everton against Roberto's Brighton. In the two games, we have averaged 21.5% possession yet the aggregate Score is 6-2.

It's 10 years since we had a manager who sent his team out to boss the game. Our possession stats (if they mean anything), even under Champions League winners, have been poor.

Instead of berating Dyche for "disgraceful" possession stats, why can't we make the obvious observation?

Despite having lesser talented players, Dyche has the Brighton coach's number. Roberto must be on his knees in thanks for the poxy goal which gave his team an undeserved point. I would be very surprised if he ever gets another one against him.

In your self-proclaimed 15 years on this site, the only times I have seen you be anything but negative and pessimistic towards the team on the pitch and the managers (excepting Fat Sam), insulting towards the fan base (post #257) and head-pattingly condescending towards other posters (posts #282 and #231) is when you're complaining about other posters not treating you with warmth and affection.

And in all those years, I've yet to see merit in any of your opinions. But that's not negativity, I'm just seeing points going wrong that could be improved after each post.

We drew with Brighton who got an equaliser with a deflection. They created no chances whatsoever, despite all their possession and, in my opinion, he picked the best 11 at his disposal yesterday.

I can't fault Dyche, he doesn't deserve your total negativity.

I also think that, if we would have tried to attack more, we might have possibly also played into their hands by helping to open up the pitch for Brighton.

I understand that a better quality team with more talented players will retain possession better, create more chances, and place higher up the table. It is self-evident.

But that is not the point being made. We can play a counter-attacking game with less possession very well with 30-40% possession as we did away to Villa and West Ham. But to cede 87% possession at home to a midfield of Lallana, Gilmour and Milner (not Busquets, Iniesta and Xavi!) is pathetic.

That is either due to Dyche's gameplan or the players not carrying out his gameplan. I think the former as he came out for post-match interviews and expressed himself delighted by a point gained.

A bit more ambition in our play, Sean, please, otherwise we will finish in the table in a position where our ceding possession merits.

Anyway, I am boring myself now so on to the next game!

A very popular, cheap and nasty (not unlike the comment) kid's sweet (candy) over here that has the most annoying TV adverts ever.

Ian is capable of sharp analyses with equally sharp delivery. I don't know if Darren would care for the comparison but TW does need that kind of voice and not just for entertainment. If I may speculate – hey man, it's TW – Ian could take his winnings on the wind-up, answer those questions from the respected posters directly, and further the discussion.

What Ian tends to do is enjoy the wind-up too much and lets the overall discussion down by doing some iterative Ian show moves.

I've had some non-negative interactions with Ian that carried considerable weight. Why is a mystery but I'm sure it has something to do with me ultimately desiring consonance in our community. Yes, I did write that out. Go figure.

Is it really that crazy to sit back and try to soak up pressure having played that many games in a such a short space of time?

Seems to me it's rather intelligent way of approaching the game?

I dunno.

I just give what I believe is an honest opinion. I am a "glass half-full" type of person and tend to use ToffeeWeb to get things off my chest. Some posters don't take kindly to it and I get the impression they get upset if I don't respond. I mainly only post at weekends as I work full-time. It's not deliberate if a reply is not provided.

This past weekend, many posters got a bit uptight and I couldn't keep track of them all. All I said was that having more possession was more likely to get us more goals than sitting back and letting the opposition attack (and score flukey goals). That to me is not controversial.

Another point I made which got a few fans moist was saying Pickford was at fault for the goal. Again, in my opinion, not controversial.

I did try to offer an olive branch to one poster who seems to despise me but the offer was ignored. I tried.

I do get the general impression that some people just don't like me and are ready to pounce on whatever I say.

However, we are all Blues and want what is best.

Thanks for your post on possession and league position, appreciate you putting the info together.

I'd argue that, Man Utd and Brighton aside, league position is mainly gained from the following two aspects:

1. Wage bill

2. Money spent on transfers

I don't have time to collate the information now, will see if I can after work.

I'd like to see us play more expansive football, but I don't think we have the technical players required at this current time.

I’m not going to get into the evaluation of what is genuine. This isn’t really my call how you get on with others. I do hope you have taken what I said in a good way because my intentions are good here. I think everyone would prefer if you and I for example could exchange views with the historical snark attached without the friction becoming the show.

I will say that if you can’t keep up with mass responses take a look at your choice of voice in your posts. If you don’t have time for that you are being a bit careless. You can do the show thing without it derailing the thread. You do the spotlight well. Just learn how to land the plane when it gets weird when you chose that flight path. You do have some responsibility even though I admit you’ve probably taken excessive heat at times.

One last thing: it is a long season ahead so get yer fucking shinpads on mate!

Pickford – €28.5M
Mykolenko – €23.5M
Branthwaite – €1.1M
Tarkowski – Free
Young – Free
McNeil – €17M
Harrison – Loan
Gueye – €4M
Garner – €10M
Doucoure – €22M
Calvert-Lewin – €1.8M

Total: €107.9M, about £93M. Miles off most teams in the top half.

Brighton's cost about the same, but they've had a long-term plan and style!

We all have our views and opinions.

Palace at the weekend.

https://footballgeekz.com/takes-the-blame-ian-wright-criticizes-everton-stars-performance-in-draw-against-brighton/?fbclid=IwAR3kdDrzSOk9_rR97pHiV9cc0itX2wi9f1pxGot4ASe4UiqMzC7fkA_E_ZM