Brilliant Branthwaite at both ends came so close to another Brighton beating

I know you know. Hence mine lol

I must say, we are very difficult to watch for large parts of matches, but the attitude has improved immensely.

It's got to be a mentality thing, we are hard to beat but can't string 2 passes together against 10 men.

The ball has to stick to Beto when he comes on; otherwise, we may as well play Keane up top.

We are too nice to play against in the midfield and forward areas of the park, snide fouls, time-wasting and a lack of general shithousery probably cost us 3 points today. I can't criticise the effort – just the lack of game management.

If we had scored a late equaliser like last week, the mentality would be different, as it feels like 3 points lost today.

Don't get the tactic of sitting back against 10 men when we started the game with a high press. A little composure on the ball would be nice from our team now and then. 😡

Poor game management at the end and a notable lack of confidence.

We really need to pick up a win soon.

The good news is that, bar the derby, I'd say today was possibly our hardest match till we play Arsenal on the last day. Lots of matches we should hope to get points from but draws alone won't be enough.

"We put in a solid performance. We went 1-0 up and then they went down to 10 men. Then we sat back and invited pressure – them scoring at the end is frustrating.

"They are a good team, with 10 men they could keep the ball. We pressed all game, then they went down to 10 men and we stopped pressing – I don't know what happened."

What happened is that they caved in.

9 minutes though — NINE fucking minutes!!! Where did they dig them up from??

Players are tiring also when you have played 90mins, its a good point gained but its a pity we could not quite hold out.

We always seem to get smacked in the mouth one way or another, one day our luck will change.

Remember in the Moyes era? We'd haul off Pienaar or Saha and bring on Hibbert as an extra right-back for 30 minutes?

But oh no — not us! We bring on a 38-year-old defender… good thinking! 👍

Winning 1-0 at Brighton was looking good – even better when we had two good chances to secure the victory – so that very late goal from Brighton was a real kick in the plums.

A lack of composure and someone to put their foot on the ball and calm the team down or a bit of savvy to start spoiling the game might have done the trick. Blaming Dyche when there are players on the field who could have kept the ball away from the opposition and make them work harder getting it should have been the ploy.

The points are still trickling in; another two today would have been a real boost, even though plenty on here thought one was beyond us.

Arsenal 2-1; Gray 92'

Newcastle 1-0; Iwobi 99'

Forest 1-1; Gray 88'

Chelsea 1-1; Simms 89'

Spurs 1-1; Keane 90'

Wolves 1-1; Mina 99'

Palace 3-2; Gana 86'

Spurs 2-2; Branthwaite 94'

Palace 1-1; Onana 84'

I think Harrison puts in a shift but needs an overlapping right-back to allow him to go inside effectively. Godfrey, who played well I think, never did that, so offensively we are stuck playing long diagonal balls, with nothing down the wings.

Dyche fucked up.

Their goal, then, was such a surprise in its ease and simplicity. How our defence just allowed that to happen confuses the hell out of me and, after the whistle, Pickford and Tarkowski were having a right ding-dong, so I assume it was about that.

Disappointing to lose after being so close but were edging closer to safety and yet another rebuilding platform.

Brighton are celebrating like they've won the league — we're gutted! UTFT

You really can't have it both ways, and yet there are so many people on this site who think otherwise.

You do nothing but abuse our players and manager, why are you even here?

Dobbin would have had to be in the matchday squad for that to happen.

We will get some of those points back.

Spirit of the Blues ringing out at Brighton Station as we boarded.

Calvert-Lewin is but a shadow of his pre-injury persona whilst Beto is just about National League level.

And as for this manager's substitute and game management, I've seen better in Rorky's League! At least he will be able to claim Premier League interference when he takes us down!

I'm here because I've been an Everton supporter since the early '60s. I've seen some good times, as Old Teary once said, but I've witnessed the demise of this club over several decades.

If I see shit happening at this club, both on and off the pitch, I call it out. I celebrate when we win. I've celebrated when we survived in the last few years… but I will not celebrate mediocrity or less.

You can be a happy clapper if you like when we throw 2 points away again today but how long will that last? Will you do it in the Championship?

Asking me why I'm here is idiotic in the extreme when we all know, when you're touched by Everton, it never leaves you. Staying in denial of our problems will see Everton in the Championship sooner than you think.

Dyche has shown his limitations time and time again and relying on and playing very limited players like Young is crazy. It only suits Dyche's football philosophy which is way past its sell-by date.

Beto was there to cover the left-back position. The left-back should have been covering Beto.

At least Everton got a point and will be out of the relegation zone and will stay there after the Luton game. I thought the team played well the second half, but poor concentration cost them.

The same people reckon we're on our way down… so much for getting behind the team. The Live Forum is unbelievable.

I thought the manager did well today other than picking Gueye and Young, both of whom are treading water and no longer Premier League quality.

It's also time to bench Calvert-Lewin, not sure he'd even get in most Championship teams. Time for some reality — he is poor.

He's got us far more comfortable than we've been in recent years in 12th position. Wasn't his fault we've had a 10-point deduction.

12th with this squad is a fair achievement because we're basically shit. It's not his doing that we're shit. We were shit for a good while before he came and he's had next to fuck-all to spend.

Hopefully a few points back next week — with the addition of some bonus points thrown in our way when Moyesy rocks up next weekend!

Apart from that, our negative football tells its own story. No pace, no quality on the wings, slow full-backs, no playmaker and a centre-forward who is unlikely to get to 5 for the season.

Yet still we all watch and watch in envy as teams pass us to death... Time for a couple of cold 'uns.

Harrison made a half-arsed attempt to clear prior to their goal which increased the pressure on us. Wins are needed as we're breaking records for all the wrong reasons.

We are basically a very poor side. I'm not sure if the players are poor or the manager. Or a bit of both. We have some ok aydefenders but we can't pass the ball, basic skills are well below par.

Their 10 men looked like over-running us and by now, that is not remotely surprising me. We are also in way too much financial trouble to fix the problem; the best we can hope to do is survive, at least in the near term.

Relegation? Well we are blessed with 2 truly awful teams who are almost certainly worse than even us. But 3 go, and are we better than Forest, Palace or Luton? It says a great deal that I'm not sure we are.

I think our fate will be decided by the Premier League, both in terms of relegation, with the appeal and the new charge, and frankly, our very existence, with the lack of approval of the new owners.

People are naturally disappointed but we "have" won 31 points.

A lot seem to be forgetting that. We've actually amassed 31 points.

That lack of cutting edge cost us dearly yet again, albeit it took some tremendous goal line cover by Lamptey to deny Doucoure a similar volleyed goal to last season's… fine margins?

Although I also tend to agree with Branthwaite's post-match summing up, as, just like him, I couldn't for the life of me comprehend the total lack of game management by not closing them down after they went down to 10 men?

However, football management doesn't get the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, but I would still question our manager's decision to withdraw Gana, Calvert-Lewin and Doucoure and having them all absent from our line-up at the same time, which could've contributed to the lack of closing down, because you'll get little or none from Beto, Onana and Young?

Which'll consequently bring more pressure on the defence, and that's precisely what happened. Coleman, Kean & Patterson might've helped for that last 10 minutes? But like I said, our manager doesn't get the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and I'd have settled for 1-1 before kick-off, so onwards and upwards and bring on the Hammers.

Dyche is an utter wanker. Beto has a scarier first touch than uncle Jimmy, and Harrison is a poor man's Preki.

Incisive post: learned, articulate, piercing, constructive, intelligent, succinct, considered, sensitive, comprehensive, subtle, thoughtful…

And we even get the hilarious and smart "Uncle Jimmy" joke which I wish I had never read as my sides are still splitting.

If people are happy with what they are seeing on the pitch, then they really are deluded.

Monday night's performance was bad playing an under-strength Palace side, but that first half today was shocking – we couldn't string 2 passes together.

Admittedly we picked up a bit in the 2nd half but let's face it we couldn't have been much worse.

If we do get some points back, great so some on here need to stop saying we've got or we've earned 31 pts.

We haven't – we've got 21 points and that's down to the dickheads who have mismanaged our club in recent years.

Dyche is a 2nd-rate manager and that's why we're getting 2nd-rate performances.

I have just joined and by reading the latest posts first, I thought your opening paragraph was your thoughts!

My thoughts, once again the Premier League take 2 points off us as, by entering the final 15 (25!) minutes on 30 points, we could've gone forward in search of a second and an outside chance of a European spot.

But, by trying to make sure we don't get beat, we have to walk away with the one point we would've settled for before kick-off.

I've the full package buddy.

God almighty, how fucking embarrassing, Dean, was that post? Surely you can do better than that beaut.

And I didn't even mention Ashley Old.

Everyone wondered what he was up to, smashing the kick-off straight into the directors' box, Stanley celebrating like he'd scored the winner, which he clearly had!

As an away performance, today was decent. In fact, in most away games, we have been competitive. Seems to suit us. We battled, stayed in the game, gave away few chances and made a few ourselves. Doucouré was unlucky to see a great strike headed off the line especially. Superb finish by Jarrad.

Easy to blame Dyche (as a lot of people seemingly can't wait to) for the last 10 minutes or so. But the players on the pitch just kept giving it away aimlessly and dropped further and further back.

We don't have a great deal of quality but we should have had the bravery to keep the ball when they were a man down. The sending-off seemed to benefit Brighton more than us. There's a desperation at times across the board. No doubt made worse by our predicament.

The stick Dyche gets though, seems unwarranted to me. He has won 31 points in February, with arguably a poorer squad than in the last few years. Admittedly he's not the most progressive nor the most inventive of coaches, but I honestly can't see how anyone else would do better with this bunch. The previous couple certainly didn't.

Gravel-voiced, dour, destroyer of the Beautiful Game. We are the new Burnley. Unwatchable.

I am with you. It is the acceptance of mediocrity that is killing our club.

Joking aside, I think Dyche is doing an okay job, just kills me to watch what's happening to our club, but we will not go down.

The problem is what follows. I genuinely admire Dyche and he is the right person in this quagmire. But, to be honest, in an ideal world, I would not want him to be our manager. The qualities that make him the right fit now are not the ones that will take us to the next level. Maybe one day sooner than later we might be in a position where the days of survival first are behind us.

Soren, would you care to mention one poster on here who accepts "mediocrity" and perhaps, if I'm not asking too much, you could share with us what you mean by "mediocrity"?

There's that phrase again "acceptance of mediocrity."

Acceptance by who exactly?

If it's by some on here, then I'd love to know what those who don't accept mediocrity are doing differently from those who do?

One of the saddest things of the past 5 years has been the split in the fan base and name-calling as if some of us are bigger or better supporters than others. Nowhere more clearly than on the Live Forum.

I don't believe any of us on here are happy with our predicament. It's breaking my heart on a daily basis. I hate what has happened to our club.

I thought we were merely aspiring to attain mediocrity!

All of them posts thinking getting away with 1 lousy point today was a great achievement when we should have all 3 if it wasn't for bizarre game management by Dyche and his cowardly substitution when we were leading and Brighton were playing with 10 men!!!!

None of that is accepting "mediocrity".

How many forwards in the last 10 years have seen their careers flounder after coming to Goodison and being left isolated with little or no service. The latest was Maupay. Brentford stick a player up front with him and he starts scoring.

I'm absolutely sick to the back teeth watching Everton managers pack the midfield with absolute wasters like Gueye and Garner and even Onana (who lost Dunk at the cross). How many goals and assists do we get from these mouth-breathers?

The formation is negative. It doesn't allow us to get sufficient numbers in advance when we attack.

Team selections are ridiculous. Young as a right winger when we need to beat Palace??

A central-defender at right-back and two fit right-backs on the bench.

No win in 9. How many goals from open play in that time?

The way results and performances are, we'll still be in a relegation battle even if we get 10 points back,

We are sleepwalking towards a season in the Championship where no doubt we'll play away at Rotherham with one up front, hitting it 40 yards, playing for set pieces.

The Everton I love is better than this mind-numbing, Stone Age, "little old underdog" tactic shite.

Anything?

Slowly getting old without any fookin joy.

"What have I done?"

I'm not a player so can do very little. What an odd question.

If you're not one of those and you believe it's just those that have the power to actually do, or should have done something, in not accepting mediocrity, then the question shouldn't be asked of you and I take it back.

If you believe, however, that we the supporters have accepted mediocrity, my question stands.

Your post, as ever, is the long line of doom and gloom observations that you repeat again and again. And, as usual, you come up with distortions or plain errors to try and make your points stick.

For example, it has not "happened every season since Moyes" and we would not be in a relegation scrap if we got 10 points back.

Brian's was not an "odd" question. That's simply you ducking, weaving, and swerving. It's an entirely reasonable question to ask someone who never does anything else other than criticise.

The usual frailties but certainly, with better finishers, it was a game they should have won.

The defense came out strong again although most teams are much better at bringing the ball out from the final third.

The big lads are saving our bacon these days and, after a couple of late point-saving goals of our own, we concede one that cost us 2 points.

Still, the signs are there that we are no pushovers and, if they maintain the solidarity, then we have every chance of getting a couple of places up the ladder in the final analysis.

In my book, when you have no problem with the ultra-defensive, zombie football we're being served and our setup remains the same, no matter if we are at home or away, and when you think 1 point from a game like the one today is a great achievement – this is the acceptance of mediocrity.

Even Palace fans were asking for more, for crying out loud!

That is how I think and of course you, Brian, and many others on here can see the games in different ways, which I have absolutely no problem with at all.

Ian Edwards, I do admire your attitude. You get lots of abuse, and as you know, Ian, I have piled it on. But you take it all and never get personal.

But Ian, please answer this: How can I demonstrate my non-acceptance of mediocrity? What does that mean! Should I go to bed tonight without my Everton pyjamas on? It's milder, I guess but... Seriously!! What does non-acceptance mean???

If watching and posting make anyone that miserable, I'd advise them to abstain from watching.

Do you think the supporters of the 12-14 clubs in the Premier League without a hope in hell of winning anything, year-in & year-out, moan constantly? Yeh Crystal Palace fans recently had a go but generally they accept where they'll finish in the league but go, week-in & week-out, and rather annoyingly sing nonstop for 99 odd minutes, as do other clubs supporters of a similar ilk.

Yes, our football is shit lately but me moaning constantly won't change it; it'll just make me miserable and make even more people keen to avoid me. 😁

We went into defensive mode and just hoped to get over the line. We really should have got a second and finished the game off.

I can't think of anyone on here who has "no problem with the ultra defensive, zombie football we're being served" and, in fact, there are many on here who perk up when they see something other than the "zombie" stuff – as I did in the second half today before our goal – more than twice.

Well summed up, PH.

We don't have players of the calibre of Man City or Arsenal, or even Spurs etc, but we can do better.

My feelings are vague but so is being "fed up".

And if we were winning more often and scoring a few more goals, then most of us would be pretty happy. Direct football, in of itself, is not the issue, I don't believe, as much as our current inability to put away (and sometimes create) chances.

The reality is that, any time we've attempted to play possession football, it's gone pretty badly, with the exception perhaps of Martinez's first season and a brief spell under Silva.

This current squad has been assembled with pragmatism rather than beauty in mind and it would take a bit of time and money to shift that. But maybe once we are (hopefully) ensconced again in mid-table mediocrity, and with new owners and a new stadium, that could be the time to make a change?

Personally, my hope is that, if we survive this season and more PSR charges, we may see a return of the confident and relatively free-scoring Everton witnessed before Xmas.

I have a dream that, with a fair wind and some more pace and quality in areas, Dyche might evolve into a British Diego Simeone, able to bring football that is pragmatic at base but also effective and watchable. Maybe that's crazy but there's been the odd glimpse of something better.

Certainly if he keeps us up (despite the deduction), I think he will have earned one more season to see if he can evolve things and bring in one or two more options up front to try and add some potency to what is looking like a defensively sound team currently.

He's not going to get great chances in this team but he's chasing and throwing himself at everything that is being launched aimlessly up the pitch. And incredibly he keeps on doing it even when there's no-one near him.

I think Calvert-Lewin will be missing again after hurting his back today unless he responds to treatment but, although trying hard, it looks like his goalscoring touch has deserted him.

Having said that, nobody else is setting us on fire up front.

Perhaps the warning signs were there early on in the season when we lost the first three games (2 at home) without finding the net. Sadly, the new guys have not stepped up to the plate.

(I seem to remember something about a 'red shoe' but for obvious reasons we'll skip that bit.)

Back on topic: Godfrey misjudged the ball, Dunk attacked the ball, Onana didn't... and he's well big enough to take on Dunk shoulder to shoulder.

Never a red card.

2 points lost.

I'm still... just... on Team Dyche — for now.

These are the breaks when you're near the bottom.

I think that's what a lot of people are clinging onto. I am happy to keep Dyche and would love him to morph into a Simeone type nasty bastard of a manager.

A couple of Arteta, Terry Curren, Kevin Campbell type signings in the summer may just lift the spirits enough to start building around our young core of players.

I can't see us keeping Harrison unless he agrees a big pay cut as he signed a long £95k-a-week deal at Leeds Utd.

Gomes and Holgate off the wage bill should free up enough to at least pay a couple of free signings.

I know it may sound daft but I think Calvert-Lewin is wasting too much energy chasing around for an hour. The little half-yard to beat a defender has gone missing from his game. I wouldn't mind starting Beto and let him run himself into the ground for an hour before bringing Calvert-Lewin on.

I also think Dyche needs to rethink Patterson's role. I want him playing right-midfield or even centre-midfield in the U21s to see if he can offer something there as he is currently 4th choice behind 2 old guys and a middle-weight boxer.

The apologists for Calvert-Lewin are very loyal but really, would he get in Luton's team...?

I think Calvert-Lewin has qualities but, save a flukey spell under Carlo when he scuffed in a lot of tap-ins, he's never been a good finisher.

He's a hard-working hold-the-ball-up type player but a poor finisher – kind of like Alen Boksic of Juve in the '90s or even Graeme Sharp from about 1987 onwards. But his heading — previously well above average — has been off the boil for a long time. Not just scoring but even knock-downs.

Yes, he hasn't had many views of goal but when they come you need to make them count if you're a striker like him who can't dribble, can't shoot from distance at all, and can't strike cleanly from close range.

And aside from scoring his knock-downs, second balls haven't been good enough either. He needs to pull his finger out.

I've had a few discussions re Calvert-Lewin, and I totally agree with you, he played well with no crowds!

I think that Beto creates more problems than he does and is the battering ram we need. Just imagine the pelters Beto would get if he hadn't scored when he had played 20 games from the start?

I am talking especially about our form this season; we aren't definitely better than those teams. At most, we are slightly more effective. Our best performers are defenders.

This (and I mean the last couple of seasons) is the worst footballing side I've ever seen put out for Everton.

'School of Science' or 'nothing but the best is good enough'? You're having a larff…

Everyone deals with the appalling standard of football we serve up in different ways. Personally I prefer to be honest, even blunt. I understand others prefer to rely on hope and optimism, even in the face of the evidence in front of our eyes.

The reason we comment on here is 1) that we cannot easily let Everton go, however down (or up) we feel; and 2) it's a forum whereby people express their own opinions about the team and club, and some of those are critical and pessimistic and even if you demur, you can't possibly argue they are not grounded in the basis of some compelling evidence.

Good point. I was in the Park End when Bakayoko got his first goal after what seemed like an eternity but was less than 20 games in a dour defensive side (sound familiar?) and the immediate reaction from the people around me was “about fucking time!”

You are wasting your time mate. Brian (and several others since) summed it up last week.

I didn't think we sat back, in fact I know we didn't. The game changed when we went 1-up. Brighton had to push more men up – that's generally what happens in a game of footy.

By pushing up, they left chances for us to counter and wrap the game up. Doucoure might have scored. Beto had three chances which would have been deemed as sitters by some had they fallen to our other target man, and Harrison had a decent chance near the end win it.

Better finishing might have won it. Better defending might have won it. Better game management might have won it… and my auntie might have been...

Dyche must be useless. That's twice he has taken Everton down to Brighton to face a formidable home team and he's only come back with 4 points.

Interesting, you kinda sound like a Dyche acolyte. Me, I'm just a 'horses for courses' chap.

I agree on Dyche. There's a difference between pragmatism and bloody-mindedness. When Dyche had the luxury of a talented player in Cornet he used him to great effect. Much better than Moyes has.

But for 99% of his managerial career, he's been forced to be an alchemist. Assuming we survive, he deserves more time.

Good Analogy there, they have been driving a lot of us Cocoonuts for too long!

As to yesterday's game, which I watched from start to finish without being there (IPTV Stream), I have mixed emotions. When I saw the team sheet, which was crying out for change from Monday, be almost the same, I feared the worst.

I was pleasantly surprised that we got to half-time on level terms, with a mixture of wasted chances (Brighton) and a couple of good saves from Pickford, I felt we needed changes as they are sussing us out, and it would only be a matter of time.

There was little change apart from Onana for Gana, and later (Bambi On Ice) Beto for Calvert-Lewin, and surprisingly near the end, Jarrad scored that absolute cracker.

When they went down to 10 men, I truly felt that all the ducks were lining up, and we would possibly add to our advantage.

The game and slender advantage were crying out for a positive attacking change, Harrison and McNeil were not even offering a 'widow's mite' — not a lot new there. I know McNeil has off-field problems, so why play him then?

Oh, no Dobbin (?) so the plan seemed to be sit back and let Brighton try and score against our superior numbers, and lo and behold, they did.

Now is that bad management from Dyche, a failure of our (limited) players to do the simple things against inferior numbers, or a combination of both – or just bad luck again?

I feel like Dyche is the best man for the current job in our meagre circumstance, the result of total mismanagement for too long, but his team selections, tactics and substitutions are driving me to feel otherwise!

Football is a funny game though and, based on chances created in the game, I'd say we could and should have won that game.

Dyche's tactics are not nice but, whilst his defence is doing a great (often lucky) job, it's the attack that's letting him down.

Beto has zero composure in front of goal, he has missed big chances away at Fulham and again today. For all his minutes coming on as sub, he has only one goal.

Calvert-Lewin has himself only 3 goals but is a much better player. For Dyche to start Beto, he has to take his chances as his overall game is not as good as Dom's!

The owner has left the building, the board is just focusing on the stadium completion, and the takeover is stalled.

To propose that we upend the club with 12 games left by sacking the manager is mind-boggling.

What can we supporters do about it? We can raise it in conversation, on websites like this, and hope that somehow the general feeling will drift back to the club, I doubt direct contact would do anything other than a standard, "Thank you for your correspondence" and get filed in the roundish wicker thing that's emptied each day.

I'd hope that somebody on the coaching staff might suggest we try something different or have an alternative playing style, a mixture of both that might make it more difficult for the opposition. Do we have the players good enough for something more technical? It doesn't look like we will find out anytime soon and certainly not from our junior ranks.

Some have asked what was the manager supposed to do when his players all decided to stop pressing and sit back in our own half? Well, what is the point of him standing on the sideline in the laughably named "technical area", just getting on the telly?

Still, shortly we will be given some points back on appeal but then find we get more taken off us for the second offence — and before somebody says that this would be a second penalty for the same offence, then maybe it is for not correcting the matter in the next season, which should be easily defended based on the timing of submission of the accounts.

Nil satis nisi apathy.

Retaining the ball and finding more than a couple of passes in Brighton's half was a rarity. The midfield struggled on the ball because of the general lack of movement from those who don't have the ball. Harrison and McNeil are gifted ‘ball players' but with the lack mobility, this is rendered largely redundant.

Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Godfrey, and Mykolenko are very good and carried the team yesterday. Branthwite bringing the ball out of defence has the potential to be another attacking (regular) option.

Some people will agree and some won't… Calvert-Lewin hinders our play and encouraged Brighton to (rightfully) ignore our attack, concentrating on their own play. The timing of Calvert-Lewin's leap to meet long balls is great but that's it. The effort to hassle defenders wasn't there. Possibly because he's not able to anticipate even the most obvious chances but at the back, Brighton were safe as houses in possession.

Beto was a different proposition. He's as clumsy as hell but his effort makes Dom look like he doesn't care. Beto tries – and if you try, things will happen. We've got the foundations in defence. If we can give the opposition more to think about up top, it's a ‘game changer'.

And finally, our away support is immense. Simply brilliant.

The net spend on the squad in the last 2 seasons is –£59M due to the financial problems. We are 18th in terms of net transfer spend over the last 5 seasons. That has consequences which have been played out on the pitch for the last 3 seasons.

For those claiming many Everton fans are accepting of mediocrity, don't care or are apathetic about the team's performances – try watching the team with at least some linkage to reality in your mind.

The reality is we have been terribly run as a club by Moshiri with much money spent on average players and quickly changing managers with no continuity of style.

The reality is that we have a thin squad of players with some of our best attacking players sold over the last two seasons.

The reality is that we were nearly relegated for the last 2 seasons.

The reality is we have a 10-point deduction that is not the responsibility of the current manager or players.

The reality is that we're the only team not to get a penalty in the Premier League and have been on receiving end of more than a few dubious decisions.

That is the reality of Everton right now and obviously places limitations upon what we can achieve. That is why a decent amount of fans would take 17th if you offered it to them now. But it doesn't mean we're happy with it. It doesn't mean we don't want new owners to run this club properly and an improved squad of players to get us up the table.

I don't think it's at all helpful or fair to turn on other fans for ‘accepting mediocrity'; we all want better things but let's not kid ourselves about where we're currently at.

5th minute of injury time and Tarkowski leaves Dunk to Godfrey. He's their main heading goal threat and they're desperate with 10 men. It's not rocket science to get him or Branthwaite on their main threat, is it. Or even bring Keane on to finish the job.

I should warn you, however, that such shocking and vile abuse of Dominic Calvert-Lewin will not be tolerated by some in this parish. Just saying…

I agree with all of your points, but do not forget that Moshiri, whilst injecting millions into the club, allowed Kenwright and his lackeys to actually run it.

Of course Matt's point of view @ (165), would align with yours as you don't rate Dominic which is fair enough but to rate Beto a better and more active proposition than Calvert-Lewin is going a bit far in my opinion.

I hold my hands up: Beto really isn't all that good. It was a clear case of confirmation bias in full flow.

We needed stability after two seasons of relegation battles and Dyche has made us the 3rd or 4th best defensive team in the Premier League. He's found a formula that makes us hard to beat. Yes, I accept that.

I hope that one day we can find the midfielders who can complement that defence and add attacking menace but, at the moment, we have what we have: 2 battlers who can't pass and a thoroughbred who is playing within himself. Plus one winger who works hard but can't pass and one who is off his game at the moment.

Yesterday “could have” been another 5-1. I was there last season and we played similar but Brighton went kamikaze after our early goal and let us counter-attack at will. Yesterday, we didn't score early and Brighton played their own game.

The general feeling after the game was that a point was fair enough but we were gutted we hadn't hung on. Brighton celebrated like they'd won something (they never have) and we looked at the floor and muttered about 9 minutes.

For me, we need a winger with an end product to replace Harrison. We need at least one midfielder who can collect the ball from defence, turn and find a blue shirt (a quarterback) and give Patterson an extended run at right back to work his way in that formidable defence.

I get the feeling that “accepting mediocrity” actually means “agreeing with the downright negativity of certain regular posters on here”. Or would they rather we stopped turning up at games?

I don't ”accept mediocrity” but I do see what's necessary and what in reality is achievable with this squad and I am not qualified enough to challenge Sean Dyche on that.

I will also continue to turn up for as many games as I can get a ticket for to support the team we have and try to encourage them to keep fighting relegation. UTFT!

Onana was a worthy replacement for Gana, who was slightly below par. McNeil and Harrison managed to get forward more from their defensive duties and Branthwaite's finish was first class. They looked comfortable.

Gilmour getting a harsh red card affected their organisation and a lapse in concentration resulted in a equaliser. Brighton had a header between two defenders in the first half which Pickford saved, this time, it was beyond them.

A point will count in the end. Everton are not mediocre or going to be relegated on that display, I am sure.

We face relegation again. It could happen at Goodison on the final game of the season. If the derby match is moved because of Liverpool's fixture congestion, imagine the nightmare scenario of them sending us down on our own soil and being crowned Premier League champions in the process? It is a distinct possibility. In my humble opinion, Sean Dyche's current tactics will not prevent such a horrific occurrence.

Yes, the squad is threadbare, but it is insane to believe that continually playing a tactical formation that produces so few goals will bring us anything other than ultimate failure.

Put Calvert-Lewin in most other Premier League teams and he would score goals. I firmly believe that. Pele would struggle in this Everton set-up.

Sadly Harrison, for all his endeavour and occasional trickery, is lacking the ability to read a game or pick a simple pass. McNeil drifts in and out of games. We cannot afford to employ both of these players in the same team. It doesn't work.

For me, the return of Gomes can't come soon enough. He is possibly the only player in the squad with the quality and vision to unlock defences and deliver the killer pass.

I believe we can get more out of the meagre resources at our disposal, but it means being more adventurous, pressing with precision, and abandoning these continual containment plus route one tactics, where Calvert-Lewin's main provider is Jordan Pickford.

Einstein was credited with saying that insanity is repeating the same excercise and expecting a different result. Take note, Mr Dyche.

The other is the second PSR charge. Even if we get a few points back, the second charge, along with Nottingham Forest also being charged, means we'll likely be in the Bottom 3.

If we can't win games, we're done — and that's in our own hands.

I fully anticipate a shoe'ing from some people re my Calvert-Lewin comments. But… I think he's just not good enough. Effort, ability. Probably more too.

As just someone who watches football and loves the game, my observation is that the team don't know how to help the attacking players get more end product or be more dangerous in the final third if they are not shooting at goal.

What I mean is, it may not be possible to feed the striker to shoot or head at goal in an optimal position from every pass or punt. So why not have an instant Plan B where the strikers are found in a place where they can affect the game in the final third and at least have a very good chance of retaining possession to build on?

My only gripe in the game are the punts that go direct to the opposition keeper so many times. Is it possible for Pickford to not always try to put Dom through directly on goal, or the centre-backs not to hit it for Dom to try to win his own flick-on and score?

The direct punt leading to a run on goal hasn't happened consistently this season so why not have Dom run towards a few yards to the side of the penalty box, with a slightly more diagonal ball that curls away a bit from the penalty box?

Whether he wins the flick or not, at least the keeper has to decide whether to kick for a throw, which is kind of like end product, or find a pass if it's outside the box which may result in an interception.

This might be a bit like American football where you gain a first down outside the touchdown zone. Just get a direct ball to an area where possession can be won outside the box where the keeper can't handle it, because a lot of the long balls roll to the other keeper to dictate play.

Reduce that by 10 times a game where the other keeper just simply picks up the ball at the edge of his box might make it much more effective for the punt, and a lot more entertaining to see how the keeper manages getting chased down outside his box.

Beto, definitely not got a touch like Messi. But he does has an attribute where he can roll a player, like Lukaku, and face goal. Again, no need to always play him in directly on goal, just play him into space where he can have the ball facing the defence.

There was a moment down the left where he skinned the defender and got taken out, the defender a yellow card plus a free kick. Great end product. These little things help towards scoring a goal in the future.

Defensively, very sound. Not going to complain about the Dunk goal as he's one of the best in the league at out-jumping players and scoring headers. A bit like complaining someone was not stopping Harry Kane.

I still don't agree why from a winning position (yesterday) and with the clock running down, does Dyche not have any attacking options on the bench, and the 'come and catch us' attitude, when we could have at least got the ball in their half, and made it difficult, for ten men to encroach into our half?

Having said that, I didn't honestly think we would get much before the game kicked off, after that team was announced, but to blow a slender lead against 10 men to me was criminal!

Personally, the way the defence had performed up until then, I can understand that… but I would have been much happier if he'd brought on Keane rather than Young.

Anyway, as I've said many times, Sean Dyche knows infinitely more about managing this team than I do and is paid to make those decisions. If we'd held on, he'd be doing a YouTube about a Masterclass, but our defence blinked and we got punished.

Another little point from me. People keep urging Dyche to make changes. The last two games he's made changes and we've conceded shortly after. I think Dyche trusts his first 11 to be fit enough not to need changes after 60 minutes and, given that we don't have quality on the bench, I can sort of understand that.

The exception for me is Young, who should be subbed off after 2 minutes!

That Artificial Intelligence you use has got you confused again, son.

"Dyche acolyte"? HaHaHa. I uttered one sentence in his defence.

You should get yourself over to the thread dedicated to Dyche. Some of the most respected and knowledgeable posters on this website are posting an awful lot more than me in his defence.

Get on there and tell them you think they are all acolytes.

Who knows. one of them may even be interested in your shrewd football observations.

Beto is probably better than he looks at the moment. It's a big change going from Serie A to the frantically paced Premier League. Players barely have a moment on the ball before they are bundled over in our league.

The way we are set up is a nightmare for our strikers. We just don't get enough players forward.

It was actually Onana that was picking up Dunk when the free kick was being prepared. As soon as it came across, Onana left Dunk who came from behind Godfrey. Fault clearly with Onana.

I agree with an earlier comment that Calvert-Lewin would score goals in most Premier League teams. Our set up is totally lacking attacking football. When you see Pickford constantly kicking balls up to Calvert-Lewin, who has to go after his own flick-ons.

Our full-backs don't support our wingers, Dom is constantly running all over the field, instead of staying around the box, and that's the way Dyche wants him to play.

We're lacking a playmaker in midfield, hopefully Gomes is near a return, because our midfield is no threat going forward, and Calvert-Lewin is getting no support whatsoever in our formation, and doesn't deserve all the criticism he gets.

I'm not afraid to give an opinion. It's my opinion and whether it is right or wrong is not important. It's my view. You have little to say other than sniping from the sidelines in a boring, condescending trail of dribble.

As for next week. I would play a front three of Chermiti, Calvert-Lewin and Beto with a midfield of Onana, Harrison and Garner.

Edward

I wish mate. It would have been a bit different to staying in the same job for most of my working life

Andrew

Good post Andrew. We are in a struggle. We cannot change personnel. I know you are not accepting mediocrity, just the reality of now. I like that you are holding out for a brighter future. 17th isn't great, but it gives us the chance to fight another day.

My view is it would be as well to clear up all the financial mess now and focus on establishing a Championship winning side fit and ready to storm into the new stadium as we return to our rightful place in the Premier League having won something.

Having said that, I can't see this manager and his crap side ever winning anything!

He is a lot pacier than McNeil who is probably the slowest player in the Premier League!

"We know a song about that, don't we, Billy?"
"Yes, Johnny."

This manager and his crap team, which you support but hold in contempt, have earned enough points to make us safe already.

Bookmakers, who I suggest know a hell of a lot more about it than you, have three teams at much shorter odds to go down. So why do you post such unsubstantiated bollocks?

Why don't you go to your local bookies and fill your boots? Then, as well as being able to gloat that you were right, you'll be quids in.

I suppose you get something from posting that stuff, so fair play to you. I think you are wrong but, even if I shared your belief, I wouldn't be proudly posting it on here.

There is some decent analysis on this site about Dyche's shortcomings. Not from you, though.

I think Beto has to concentrate on his Centre Forward role. He needs to score.McNeill has defensive duties and in defensive set up, his supporting Full back is not able to get up in support. Both McNeill and Harrison could improve on crossing, but they have been told to shot. I remember one perfect cross from the right wing in the second half , but alas the anticipatory play was lacking to get on the end of it.

Yesterday was an opportunity to do it, we were 1-0 and they were down to 10, they shouldn't have got within 20 yards of our box, but there we were hanging on by the fingertips.

Yes he's only young, but I witnessed a 17 year old Cesc Fabregas boss the midfield on his debut, I think they beat us 4-0. OK he was in an exceptional team but how about a 19 year old Billy Kenny who performed the same feat in the derby; so the young guns can do it.

I'm not saying we deserved to win but it was so frustrating to have the win snatched from us deep into injury time. So here we are just about go into March, still waiting for our first win. It's enjoyable this Evertonian lark innit?

Also like Christine pointed out, how the hell was Beto out wide marking their player who turned him twice and the delivered the cross for the goal.

We only have ourselves to blame, not the fans but the Manager and players, you simply do not invite 10 men to keep coming at you, as they say the best form of defence is attack, sadly we just sat back and gave them
The opportunity to come at us.

Why, then do some TWs see it as a crime to comment honestly on the shit we are now in? Generation upon generation gave Bill Kenwright the benefit of the doubt regarding his guidance of the Club whilst inadequate directors were tolerated year after year.

Will the same optimists see 6th in the Championship worthy of celebration? You bet they will, because the 'loyals' who let us get to this all-time low will just move the goalposts yet again (downwards) and call us realists disloyal!

Can you imagine if this was happening to the other lot across the park...

They would have run Kenwright out of town years ago, that's the difference between us and them, we bought into the bullshit and lies they do not, AKA Hicks and Gillette.

They demand success, we accept mediocrity.

I certainly agree that the mismanagement by Kenwright (which got extremely acute when paired with Moshiri) is the root cause of our predicament. And I completely agree we should be complaining about that. I think am realistic that the only way out of this is (a) big money and / or (b) a brilliantly executed player development strategy.

Because I don't expect anyone will invest big in Everton, the player development stuff interests me and gives me some hope. Ultimately I want to see great football, trophies and European adventures. That is the point.

I'm not sure what you really mean by your sense of realism.

Certainly the idea that anything can be solved with a "decent manager" is unrealistic – and possibly even part of the problem.

While we've waited our turn for a decent manager, other clubs have innovated in player development and recruitment – and lo and behold they suddenly find competent successful managers as a result.

We have the final Day Wimbledon wild celebrations, to a little later the last Day Coventry survival, a cup to celebrate followed by more wild celebrations on beating Palace to stay up, to a Doucoure stunner to keep us us the following year, now although points deducted have certainly impacted this season, we find ourselves yet again way off the pace, we have gone from Kendall out leaflets, to accepting and praying we get enough points to survive.

The way I am feeling at the moment, I would take relegation on an Astrix default, just to get away from this corrupt league for a season or so, a league where you at least know you have a fighting chance of competing, no VAR or corrupt officials, a chance to play other clubs that you know you at least have a 50/50 chance of winning, a chance to play different teams, now anyone call call me whatever they like, but surviving will be Groundhog Day next season, the Premier league will see to that and by March next season, the usual suspects will be so far distant from any other sides it will be a three horse race for the title again.

Everton meanwhile will have had the likes of Onana and Branthwaite snapped up by clubs that are already so far ahead, they will just keep getting stronger.

So yes I’ve said it, I have had a belly full of the last few seasons, where we are blatantly being cheated week after week, going into the Championship might be the reset button we need, a step back to move forward, I never thought I would ever feel that way, but right now I want away from the Premier league.

We all know who has destroyed our great football club, through selfish not letting go, he did what was best for him, and not what was best for the fans, the football club, he got his man that would allow him to remain as Chairman.

Thank you Mr Kenwright, you have destroyed our football club.

Likewise, we haven't heard from Barry Hesketh lately. He's always scouring the news for breaking stories and has a sensible head on his shoulders.

I know some folks come and go from the site for whatever reason (Jay Wood BRZ, Steve Ferns, Ken Buckley) but I hope Barry and Bernie are well!

I believe too, we are all entitled to an opinion on TW, even if that opinion clashes with most others, and your own. We are all a big family, and they fall out too, from time to time.

However I do have Steve Ferns' Number and do contact him occasionally when we have a TW Get Together. In Steve's case, and I don't think he will mind my saying so, he got a little fed up of the jibes against his well informed and lengthy posts. I think he posts on Twitter or some other media platform these days.

Also he and his wife had a new addition to the family, probably about 3 years ago. Jeez where has that time gone ? So didn't have as much time to spare, on top of his work as a Solicitor, but to the best of my knowledge he is fine.

There was another regular poster who lived and worked in Brazil, and spoke Portuguese like Jay as a second language, a good distance from Jay Wood, but his name escapes me at this moment in time. He did move back to the UK, but again he has disappeared from TW. Glad you brought that up Kieran. Take care mate.

I believe too, we are all entitled to an opinion on TW, even if that opinion clashes with most others, and your own. We are all a big family, and they fall out too, from time to time.

However I do have Steve Ferns' Number and do contact him occasionally when we have a TW Get Together. In Steve's case, and I don't think he will mind my saying so, he got a little fed up of the jibes against his well informed and lengthy posts. I think he posts on Twitter or some other media platform these days.

Also he and his wife had a new addition to the family, probably about 3 years ago. Jeez where has that time gone ? So didn't have as much time to spare, on top of his work as a Solicitor, but to the best of my knowledge he is fine.

There was another regular poster who lived and worked in Brazil, and spoke Portuguese like Jay as a second language, a good distance from Jay Wood, but his name escapes me at this moment in time. He did move back to the UK, but again he has disappeared from TW. Glad you brought that up Kieran. Take care mate.

The other Brazilian resident I’m assuming was Fran? Can’t remember his last name. Poor old Steve Ferns got a lot of stick over his support for Silva on account of his prior Estoril connection and Steve’s Dad. Personally, while I disagreed with Steve about Silva I thought he was a smart guy who made intelligible points. I just happened to disagree with him. He also as a lawyer was a useful expert who we could do with now with the points deduction saga. I hope him his wife and the little one are doing well as are you my old tayside mucker!

Ah, Eureka Moment, or Silver Haired Surfer's Brainfart - Fran Mitchell ?

I think you may be over estimating the Bookies ability. They will set a book on, in this case, relegation according to each team's position and their likely future results and then round the book to, usually, 120%

That is, it will cost you 120 in total to back each team to win 100, if you understand rounding up and down, and then change odds according to what they are holding on each team and to attract more money on the less backed teams to spread the risk.

108% is regarded as brave and anything less as foolish. They say Leicester winning the League was an aberration but I doubt the Bookies lost much but they then used it for advertising purposes to attract more business.

As they say, they may be in the gambling business but they are there to make a profit, not gamble.

They may not be everyones cup of tea, and we all lock horns, but they were always strong in their beliefs, respected and gave their view.

Which we always do even if we disagree from time to time and see the club and match different.

You bet they will, because the 'loyals' who let us get to this all-time low.

Derek, if by "loyals" you mean some TW'ers or supporters could you explain how either, or both, mentioned have "let" us get to this all time low?

Jay Wood did get back to ToffeeWeb after three or four fans asked, on here, how he was keeping, he said he was okay but had other things to keep his mind occupied rather than Everton, or words to that effect.

I had to congratulate my red supporting Brother in Law yesterday after he watched the League Cup Final from his hospital bed after major heart surgery yesterday with more to come!

Derek. We are all loyal. No one is disloyal.

We just have different views.

I hope your brother-in-law gets over his illness and his future problems and Liverpool's win will help and give him a small boost.

Life is definitely not always “a bowl of cherries” but if your spirit stays compact you are always in with a chance.

See you soon Danny I hope, best wishes.

The fans raged against the board and effectively got them removed. We howled at Benitez and we almost virtually drove Anthony Gordon away for underperforming. What is it we're doing that is preventing any improvement?

Is coming on here saying we were happy with a point ant Brighton or we were shite against Palace but at least we got a point, affecting in any way the trajectory of this club? Are people suggesting we boycott games??

Danny, hope to be able to steal an extra hour before the West Ham game to meet up for a lemonade.

Thanks Dave. Appreciated.

Mark, see you at the next one! You can shout at me then!

I haven't heard or seen Bernie (Quinn) for some months now, I know he wasn't in the best of health but hope if he sees this he will drop a post to let us know he is well.

Come on, Bernie!

A friend who clerked for Barney Eastwood once told me that you don't win money from the bookmaker, you win your friends' money from him. Which pretty much endorses your comments.

Also, I have had a jaw infection following a tooth extraction 3 weeks ago. The pain has been cartoon-like in its intensity!! My wife has indicated that I have been even more unbearable, grumpy and mean. I may well have carried this onto these pages so, if I have been unreasonably rude to anyone on here, I do apologize.

Final trip to the dentist today (add £409 to the pain!!) so the old, mellow, tolerant Blue will be back!!

I hope you don't mind me being personal…

You are retired now, Andy, make sure you are getting all your benefits mate, you might be entitled for help with your dentistry payments. Not trying to be funny but the onus is always on you knowing what you are entitled to, the NHS won't tell you.

I know what you mean as I went to the dentist this morning and half the work was replacing two fillings that they had put there just a couple of months ago which had dropped out, $560.

My last 4 games have been draws so I'll do the team a favour and miss this one! UTFT

Most understand only big money will change things but it is beyond fan control so the decision is walk away or endure in a phlegmatic way to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

I choose the latter because I deal in reality… but not everyone does.

I'll never accept mediocrity.

I can accept reality.

But I will always have belief.

There is no charge for this advice, I hope it helps you!!

I think with Dyche it's a case of horses for courses.

Until the owner pisses off, it aint getting any better.

Don't cry over spilt milk. We're never getting those points back and with the return of at least four, we look a hell of a lot better when viewing the table, in 15th.

These fuckers have it out for us. I take your point, but never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Brent, your on! But I'm not going the fucking Arkles for it!! UTFT!