What happens when dogs no longer like the dog food?

I think the risk of changing yet another manager is too great, why?

Because the squad developed over the Moshiri era is really, really, really, really, really, really poor.

The likelihood of someone getting a better tune out of them appears zero to me and in fairness to those taking the field they're still trying.

Would that be the case with a new broom?

Not a gamble worth taking in my opinion.

As Dyche can't seem to pick players for their right position, nor pick a formation that's not out to just lose, we won't know if they'll produce the right tune.

That view was a little short-sighted but well intentioned. That view has changed and now is much more in line with the analogy The Esk uses in his piece. Since I proffered that suggestion on a new contract I have watched quite closely how Dyche operates and I don't very much like what I am seeing. Not just the style of play and effort from certain players but the way he disregards playing certain players in favour of those he favours irrespective of form etc. The end result, if we leave things till next summer, it may possibly mean the Championship next season at BMD. Nobody wants take to risk that do they?

A very useful and thought provoking article from you Paul and for once I have to agree with your warning about doing nothing and trust that the Powers That Be are listening too.

There are 4 huge fundamental reasons to sack him:

Poor results
Dreadful football
His deteriorating decision-making
Inconsistency around injuries and fitness

The question I'd love to have seen discussed in this article is who next?

No doubt Friedkin will want a new man in the seat to go with the new stadium, rebuilding of the squad, etc. Would that man join now? Would he be right? Do we bring someone in for 6 months? Who? What if they demand a 2-year contract? What if they realise or already know that it's a poor squad with little goal threat or pace and don't come?

Lots of good managers will be thinking about the Everton job next summer, and naming their inflated price.

It's a different job today. Whoever's in charge needs to think carefully here. Who is close enough to the players to make a good decision?

If they sacked Dyche tomorrow, I wouldn't criticise that decision, but I'd be concerned about who comes next.

I fear the 'sack him, bring in anyone, no, not him, he's shit' posts on here. I don't envy the decision-makers, if there are any.

I didn't hear the managers of Forest, Fulham, Bournemouth or Brentford being so negative before a ball was kicked. It's all dire Dyche knows, he's doing my head in.

We would be on at least 18 points with a more adventurous manager. Get rid of him before he does any more damage.

We go over the same ground ad finitum, you won't get good football, whatever that is, if you keep selling your best players.

Take Branthwaite, for example: one of the more successful clubs will come in for him and you can bet your bottom dollar he will want to go. I'm not sure how we get around that situation but it's one of the root causes why we are stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League.

We sack one manager, the next might last a couple of seasons, in comes another one, and so on, and so on, but the quality of the players stays very much the same; how's that going to work?

I'm sorry Barry#1, I don't buy the idea we have one of the poorest squads in the league. I'm not saying we have quality throughout, but we have England's best keeper, a £70-80m CB, centre-mids that are shoo-ins for their country teams, one of the most skilful and exciting forwards in Ndiaye, even the likes of Patterson and Seamus are internationals. Apart from a couple of stand-outs, I challenge anyone to reel off all the players of teams like Brighton, Fulham & Bournemouth. What I'm saying is we don't have to accept they're all shit and Dyche is getting the best out of them.

I saw three interviews during preseason where Dyche stated his aim was to 'do better than last season'. All normal, laudable stuff, especially with a better squad.

He only started prattling on about the aim of 'staying in the division' once we were struggling.

We're in the situation we're in partly because the club management have sacked first, thought later. If it does happen, I hope it's done the right way round this time.

Don't make the same mistake as the Democrats in waiting too long to make the change.

However, with a full pre-season, the weaknesses in his approach become even more telling as the season goes on.

His obstinacy in that he is always right and other people don't understand the problems he inherited and, worst of al,l blaming the players or the officials when results go against us.

His insistence on giving every opponent possession of the ball and sitting back inviting pressure.

His questionable team selection often showing favouritism to the players who he likes.

If we don't act soon, the players' confidence will be in the bin again and that presents a different challenge and timescale for any new manager.

As for solutions, the safe bet would be David Moyes on a short-term contract and then someone of the ilk of Hoeness, Frank or Corboran.

However, if we sack Dyche, we will need a replacement. That replacement will ask these questions and make these observations:

1. What is the expectation? Top 10, Top 8, Top 6, Top 4? Higher?

2. Over what period?

3. You want this to be accompanied by entertaining football? Is that more important than staying up?

4. What is my transfer kitty in January? I want £30M minimum to get us to break even for the season. That would deliver a right-back and cover at left-back. If you want more potent attackers, I need about £70M...

6. What is my transfer kitty for summer 2025? I want minimum £100M net spend to catch up a little bit with the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth, Forest, Palace etc... After all Calvert-Lewin, Gueye, Coleman, Doucoure, Keane etc are all leaving...

7. What top-class youngsters are coming through the academy who are First XI ready (ie, players like Mainoo or Lewis)? Do we have outstanding regular England internationals in the U16 to U18 group?

8. What is the pipeline for top class players beyond the immediate outlay of transfer kitty, ie, scouting, youth development, loans, affiliate clubs… eg, South America etc?

I'd be delighted if potential managers get positive responses to these sorts of questions. If not, then it's very likely the replacement will be Moyes or Potter and I'm not really sure they're what you're hoping for.

No problem.

You're not alone in thinking we have a better squad than I see, the root of the Dyche debate centres upon this difference of opinion.

Be great if you are right but I just don't see it.

However, I blew my top several times from my seat at the back of the Top Balcony in frustration at his woeful game management and, with no improvement this season, I have only marginally calmed down (at my wife's insistence).

I don't like naming specific players on here but I was nonplussed that the 39-year-old Young was given another contract and Harrison loaned for another year. The latter, after 37 starts by now, has only reinforced my view that he is one of the worst players I ever seen in a blue shirt to play regularly.

The new signings this season – surely all at the behest of Thelwell – at least give us hope and we have more than enough decent players to comfortably stay up, however, the big question remains: can any action be taken to sack Dyche before the takeover is completed?

We have got to the point that we dread visiting Goodison and I feel resentment that – after 63 years in my case – the final season at our great old home should finish with this purveyor of dreadful football in charge.

"A failure to recommend, a failure to force change now would (in my opinion) be a clear indictment against Thelwell and any others associated with football operations."

Really?

Well, in my opinion, the perception that Thelwell or anyone else in the football department has the kind of power to "force" this change is simply bizarre. (Who else would there be? The club secretary? The video analyst? James Vaughn?) Owners, team presidents, boards of directors sack managers.

And in this case, even our owner can't do it. Moshiri can't unilaterally sack Dyche and bring in a new manager on a big-money contract (which would certainly be required), even assuming he could find anybody willing to take a call from a lame duck owner who will be gone in weeks. That would blow a hole in the ownership transaction.

So Friedkin would have to be involved. Let's assume for a moment that Friedkin wants a new manager. Can TFG do the interviews and sign somebody? Of course not. You have to actually own the team to do that.

So the only way to pull this off with the immediacy the Esk demands would be to have Friedkin direct Moshiri to sack Dyche and interview the candidates of Friedkin's choosing. Maybe the TFG folks would be behind a two-way mirror, filming Moshiri's interviews and smoking cigarettes like Rosa Klebb.

But seriously, what top manager will sign a contract with a Moshiri marionette? And I'm unfamiliar with British business law, but isn't it possible that such a sham transaction might, just might, be a little bit illegal?

"The point is we have to act, and act now – we can’t afford to wait until the Friedkin takeover is completed..."

I'd be very interested to know exactly how the Esk would make that happen if he were Moshiri.

Realistically, it won't happen. It cannot. The Friedkins almost certainly have already made their decision on who will manage this club, and they will execute that decision when -- and only when -- they actually own us.

And, November panic notwithstanding, we're just going to have to wait and see.

We have nobody at the club who will make that decision as Moshiri has, to all intents and purpose, left the building.

If there was someone in a position to sack Dyche, who would take the "poisoned chalice" considering the Friedkins probably have already made a decision on who will be in place when and after they come in. Where would that leave Dyche's replacement?

There are legitimate points in your article, however, realistically, Dyche will be here until the Friedkins come in, whenever that may be.

An alternative may have been, 'Dychehund Makes Another Dog's Breakfast' of team selections, tactics, subs etc.

No worries Sean, there's always Crufts… in the Ugly Mutts Category!

Can't he sack him???

(Other dog food brands are available)

What we think should happen, or how successful clubs or businesses operate, is very different to the realities of Moshiri's Everton.

My hope is that Friedkin has already interviewed our next manager and done an “if” deal - “if our purchase of Everton is completed you will be the manager on these terms.”

Actually, I would be both surprised and a bit concerned if this was not the case. “Fail to prepare - prepare to fail”.

In the meantime I am in the camp with those who feel we are stuck with Dyche until the sale is completed. I take heart from the fact that it is likely to happen soon.

As for the playing squad, I also think it is better than many of us think.

I have been watching the game a long time though and I reckon I can spot a footballer when I see one.

I think the addition of Ndiaye, Lindstrom, and Mangala this season has significantly improved our potential to play the “Everton way”.