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”.

If it's bland - you spice it up, salt, Colemans, vinegar, pepper or even more exotic spices from the Orient (no not the pub in Speke or even Leyton) black truffles, saffron, real vanilla, which is the opposite of its accepted name if used correctly.

If your budget is meagre, good old HP or Lea and Perrins.

Even though It's not what you cook it's how you cook it, all we get is Dyches spam, spam, spam, spam, spam.

Oi Garcon, Ou est notre sauce HP?

Robert, to your point about expectation. The immediate one is to climb the table and preserve top flight status.

Then we reset and be more ambition for a club of our stature.

I'm sure some of our US counterparts will vouch for me. But you can't beat a bit of A1 sauce on or alongside a good steak!!

There's only one thing that matters this season and that's staying up

NO! I hate this.

The Esk points out quite rightly that football should be entertainment. We have had this perception that the be all and end all is staying in the EPL, but at what cost? It's probably unpopular to say I'd rather have fun nights at the top of the championship than the tragedy of what Dyche has given us in the EPL (and yes I know there's no guarantee of competing the the Championship either).

And Imo Dyche is likely to take us closer than most to dragging us down anyway - so let's change now.

I was pleased that Paul mention Thelwell as well. I think anyone who has links to the old regime should be moved on and a complete reset is needed.

Can't see anything happening until TFG are fully inboard but how lovely it would be to get a nice surprise.

However, if you look at a first and second XI player for player you can start to see the issue - especially when the First XI is hit by injuries.

Then if you look at things like wages, net spend etc since the end of 2020/21 when Moshiri turned off the tap, you can see the huge advantage they have.

And if you want something remotely independent to back this up - take a look at Transfermarkt who view us as 16th compared to West Ham in 9th.

We are basically a bottom half quality team that should be finishing about 14th to 17th based on players. We have a few decent players, yes, and we have a few with potential - but so do all of the clubs in the bottom half.

The general feeling from fans of all ages is that we are watching some of the worst football many of us have ever seen. Yes I have seen some awful Everton teams but they at least tried to play he game the right way. I did have high hopes when 777 were eventually discarded and Friedkin came back into the frame, but seeing how they have carried on with Roma that optimism is being slightly eroded. The question most ask when anyone suggests getting rid of the manager is who will take over, but as fans all we can express is our opinion but the new owners will make that choice. Personally Thomas Frank or Graham Potter why, because both play front foot football and set there teams up to play in a way that is a joy to watch. I think Potter like Pochettino was treated badly at Chelsea, seems they had very little input into the purchase of players and not given time to mould the team into how they wanted to play. Also with both Frank and Potter when being interviewed they speak in a language most fans can understand not the gibberish Dyche comes out with.

So does that mean West Ham are a “seven places better than us” team? Maybe it does but I don't think so.

If however that is the case, then it could be argued Dyche is doing all that can be expected of any manager with our squad. But there again, that is not what I think.

Clearly our current football and performances are dismal at best, and our current manager and his support staff show no interest in changing their current tactics and game management. Rather than sack them at this stage, I would prefer an induced change as a result of a mass supporter protest.

In over 70 years of watching our team, I have seen some dreadful performances, but I cannot remember when our team was set up as it is now. Let the opposition have the ball, the boot up the park to a lone centre-forward and, when this fails, make a late change in the game to try and force a goal. It is of course pathetic, terrible to watch, unfair on the players, and currently totally unsuccessful.

A full Goodison Park famously makes it an intimidating place for visiting teams but, when we sit back and let them play, we simply lose any home advantage.

So why cannot we start demanding that we at least try to win games from the onset, drop the boot up the park game, play Ndiaye as a Number 10, at least give young Patterson 20 minutes if we need to chase a game, give others on the bench some sensible game time and generally play on the front foot – particularly at home.

A more positive style will enthuse the crowd and will surely make us more difficult to defeat. Then hopefully Dyche and his support staff can leave with some dignity at the end of the season.

But, for the moment, we should be shouting for a change in style and some understanding that the current plan is not working. There are many years of experience on the terraces; surely we cannot all be wrong.

Robert#16, I don't know who our squad can compare favourably against, that's a bit of a fruitless exercise. I just think that under different direction and a different plan I honestly think we have some (emphasis on the some) decent players that could be performing at a higher level.

I'm in two minds with Dyche.

Sometimes in football, it is often a case of 'be careful what you wish for'. West Ham are a case in point. Their fans got sick of the boring KITAP1 approach under Moyes and went for Lopetegui.

We did the same thing over 10 years ago. Roberto Martinez was a breath of fresh air for that first season when we were genuinely entertaining and mostly giving teams a game with an attacking approach. At the time though, many fellow Blues wanted more pragmatism because we were shipping goals and throwing away leads. That still remains one of the best periods of being an Evertonian for me in this trophyless barren period.

Unfortunately, Martinez's transfers in subsequent seasons were substandard and he and we suffered as a result. Only briefly under Silva and for a few months up to Christmas under Ancelotti have we seemed like we were onto something.

My concern with getting rid of Dyche is who replaces him? The football is turgid but who is to say another manager would get a better tune out of this group of players? Other than Branthwaite, Pickford and Ndiaye, what other quality players have we got?

I genuinely believe Guardiola or Klopp would struggle to get us in the top half. We don't have the players to play possession football and have very little pace. This has been the case for years: we are consistently one of the slowest Premier League teams.

People suggest Graham Potter but he was a disaster at Chelsea with a lot better players than we have. I like Thomas Frank but could he handle 40,000 fans on his back when things aren't going well? He is a good fit for Brentford but I'm not convinced he could manage a club with our history and expectations.

Every season there is a manager who does well for a while and is the current flavour of the month. It is Nuno Espirito Sano at the moment.

I still think the biggest factor in a team's success is their wage bill. Managers have good runs and bad ones and most of them end up getting the sack.

That's the conundrum right there, will Dyche change? I doubt it, he'll carry on doing it his way regardless, and any new manager is a gamble, no matter what the circumstances surrounding the club may happen to be.

I'm torn between giving Dyche more time and a chance for him and his team, to put some expected and perhaps some unexpected points on the board in the remaining part of the season, or should the club grasp the nettle and appoint a new boss, who may or may not improve things.

We all know what our likely destination is going to be (safe in the Premier League, but not by much), but we are all fairly confused as to how to get there, i.e. are there more scenic routes available to our likely destination or would taking a more scenic route mean that we completely miss out on our destination?

Apparently all the algorithms used by bookies and the like, pointed to Everton ending the season in 16th place, and apparently nothing has changed on that front since the first game of the season.

Both Dyche and or a new manager should be able to meet that prediction, but nothing's certain in life or football.

This therefore make every game slightly more likely that the previous that teams will perform better against us(relative to how the might have performed previously).

I know we all have opinions, but I am yet to see any evidence from anyone that Dyche can evolve and head in the right direction.

So please, for those who think Dyche should stay until at least the end of the season what is the evidence that it reduces the risk of us being relegated over appointing someone like Graham Potter (not my choice but a name that has been mentioned)?

Our eyes tell us far more than computers and simulations and the majority can see the turgid cringeworthy football that is being dished up right now.

1. Is Dyche going to give us a good brand of football?

Probably not, No. It'll get better with a fully fit first XI as we've seen and better still with some better players. But not especially sophisticated.

2. Could we be playing better now?

Yes. It's been a poor start to the season. Injuries have a big part to play… but still. Style and results are not great. Dyche is accountable for that.

3. Where do non-Everton fans expect us to finish?

It looks like the bookies and Transfermarkt have us around the 16th mark. That tallies with my assessment that our players are not very good– about 14th to 17th in quality. Obviously some debate on this. Some seem to see us about 9th in quality or thereabouts – although I struggle a bit with why.

4. Will we be relegated if we keep Dyche?

Based on performance over the last 2 seasons, probably not, No. It'll be close because we're not very good. But against considerable odds, we finished 12th last season – above Frank's Brentford – and things should improve now that Branthwaite is fit (with hopefully contributions to come from Lindstrom and Broja).

5. Will we be relegated if we switch manager?

Possibly. Depends who it is. Potter as one obvious candidate could well take us down. Could also be a hard ask of someone new to the Premier League.

6. Will we kick on to another level under a new manager?

This season? Probably not under someone like Moyes or Frank but it may come together better as a spectacle. Results and performances still likely to be very patchy though (without investment in January). Under say Sarri ,the football would become more possession-based but possibly without great penetration. At least in the short term…

7. Would someone come on a short-term deal?

Probably not, No. Most would want a 3-year deal. Who fancies Moyes on a 3-year deal? Anyone on a short-term deal would insist on a survival bonus. That would instantly lead to gut wrenching safety -irst football as we saw Allardyce deliver on similar terms.

Conclusion:

Personally, I think that our best approach is to properly motivate Dyche and give a bit of a transfer kitty to buy 2 or 3 players we so obviously need in January. That obviously depends on us having any money. Not a given.

Dyche then gets a fighting chance to keep us up and play better football.

If he fails with the football, he's replaced in Summer by someone who inherits a better squad. Someone like McKenna of Ipswich who needs a bigger club as his next step – and we fit the bill.

Some will say he's been found out but his argument might be that the current Everton job would have found any manager out after a couple of seasons, especially because the squad has been getting downgraded for many years now.

We all want better, I don't think I can keep tolerating going to Goodison to watch our current scared and negative football, and even the arguments are becoming boring because it's hard to determine who is correct.

Is Dyche a coward? Or is Dyche being as sensible as possible with a squad bereft of pace and craft? Just hurry up and get here please, The Friedkins!

There is no real evidence Dyche staying reduces the risk of relegation – just as no evidence exists for a new man improving matters.

My view is the squad is Bottom 5 material and incapable of playing front foot, attractive or whatever the current vernacular is for smile-inducing footy… But they are trying. Others think the squad is more than capable of quality stuff and with it a rise up the table.

It is a gamble and one of the issues is a new guy might upset the fragile balance with new ideas and, all of a sudden, "trying" gives way to "hiding". Some players get miffed as the Moyes boys did when briefing against Martinez and, if that happens, we really are dog meat.

It was truly laudable; however, there is no guarantee there will be a repeat this season, and that is with no points deductions. All the signs to date support this, and his team selections, game plan (?) ill-timed use and choice of subs fortify that even more.

We are between a quarter and a third of the season and it looks like an uphill struggle already, with a demanding December on the horizon too.

Now, do the club place faith in another miracle or risk getting a replacement, who may, or may not instigate that much needed revival? It is a difficult decision either way, but I feel we can't continue as it is.

For over 30 years, we have been on supermarket own brand stuff. We upgraded to Marks & Spencer's own for a season under big Joe, and a couple under Moyes. We got a bit giddy on Pedigree Chum under Roberto for a season. That's it for 30 years.

We have now become sick of the current dog food and want a change but PSR will prevent us from having the Pedigree Chum for a few more seasons. A nice new kennel awaits us all but the dog food will remain the same until finances comply with PSR.

We bring in a new boss with the same or very probably less ingredients due to contract situations to make the dog food better and people buy the Cool Aid 'Sky Super Dog Food' to find out it was very similar to the old dog food, tolerate it for 18 months, then want a change from the Sky Super Terrible Dog Food.

1. We need someone capable to buy the dog food company.
2. Change the old machinery from top to bottom.
3. Find an innovative chef to search out lesser ingredients to make a fantastic dog food.

If we jump to Step 3, this will only cause the same issues as the previous years.

Top breeders recommend it!

Look at it from his perspective. He does a remarkable job, as most people seem to accept, steering us away from relegation in consecutive seasons. Everything is set up for a 2024 transfer window under new ownership but a delay means it doesn't happen and we're feeding on scraps again. Then, when the takeover does appear to be happening, there's no contact from the Friedkins. Just at the point that Dyche feels he might finally get the chance to manage something other than a basket case club - it looks like he's out of the running to lead us into a new stadium with a decent transfer kitty to spend.

Not ideal when our situation is so precarious.

As everyone recognises, relegation is a possibility.

But the thing that will really move the dial on whether we're relegated is not a manager, it is something like this:

£35m on, say, Santiago Castro, the Argentine striker at Bologna.

£20m on, say, Samuel Chukwueze, the AC Milan winger.

£25m, on, say Antoni Milambo, the Feyenoord midfielder.

£26m on, say, Amar Dedic - the Salzburg RB.

£15m on, say, Bradley Locko - the young French LB.

Other players are available too, of course.

The point is that other teams playing good football and rising up the table are generally spending this sort of money in order to do it.

If not under Dyche, we'll have to do it under whoever is next.

I was one of the people who didn't believe David Moyes ever really got us punching above our weight (other than that incredible season when Everton held out for 4th) because our position was usually relative to our wage bill. But when people say Dyche should be doing better because our wage bill should have us coming in around 11th, I often shake my head when I think about the disgraceful football club he came into.

I can't have it both ways; if it was okay for Moyes, then why not Dyche? But when I read your posts on how far we have fallen behind even the likes of Bournemouth, Fulham, and West Ham with regard to our spending over the last few seasons, then it makes for depressing reading and makes me even more aware (and I've been aware for quite a while) that Everton Football Club could not have carried on and survived for much longer in the top league.

The heart and soul has been ripped out of our club over many, many, soul-destroying years and, once again, I find that I'm repeating myself because the incredible passion and loyalty of the Evertonians (and especially our younger fans) must be one of the most underestimated, under-rated things in football.

(Our neighbours get loads of credit but I doubt many of them would have stood the test of time and carried on walking on if they would have had to put up with just 25% of the shite our incredible fans have had to put up with.)

Perhaps it's an old one, but has to be worth a look.

Anyway, I hope my comments aren't taken as being steadfastly pro-Dyche. What I am is steadfastly pro-Everton.

And you're right, this has to be done in proper order. First the new owners with a solid January transfer budget, and then -- if the new owners consider it necessary -- a new manager.

Plan properly and stick to the plan!

The whole thing was a very long winded way of saying "I want Dyche sacked now because the football and results are shite".

Tony, I never bought the "success" under Moyes. Okay, I'll give him credit for stabilising us and taking us to a cup final. Yes, we qualified for the Champions League, but I think that was down to Liverpool going on a poor run and I believe we qualified with the lowest points – 54? – that first Martinez season, had it been any other, we'd have easily qualified on 70+ points.

As you say, gradual decline over decades, right back to 1987 and how the club was being run.

The longer it went on, I started resenting the playing down of expectation by Moyes and our former Chairman. That's where the 'plucky Everton' and 'punching above our weight' tags came from. They belittled a club of our stature, and were talking to the wrong supporters.

Let's forget the "knife to a gunfight" comment for a moment but, when he landed the Old Trafford gig, he said that Manchester United aspire to be like Manchester City. Well, that went down well!!

Duncan, come off the fence!!! I like that, cut to the chase. The football has been dire to watch.

Christine, don't tell my Rhodesian Ridgeback you're getting a cat. The only time she barks is when she sees a cat.

I was talking to a friend and Brentford supporter last night. I told him I was travelling up for the match, so we had a gentleman's bet. It's only for a drink. That should be on him.

I agree on many of your points, except on Thelwell. I believe we should keep him for continuity as I feel he has done enough to warrant a new contract.

We need to survive this season first, ideally a manager with pedigree who will have only survival expectations this season with the promise of a few players in January. Then rebuild in the summer after 6 months of seeing what this lot are about.

That is not how it has turned out. We have played most of the season to date without Branthwaite, a huge loss given he is our best outfield player.

Along the way we have lost Chermiti, Garner and Iroegbunam to long-term injuries. Broja has yet to play a game.

Of the other new signings, only Ndiaye really hit the ground running. Mangala has looked the part over the past month while Lindstrøm is still acclimatising to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

In other words, while the squad looks stronger on paper, it has actually been weaker on the pitch and indeed on the bench.

With only half a season left on his contract, he knows he will either get a payoff now or still get paid to the end of the season, irrespective of quality of performance or results. What incentive, other than professional pride, has he got to change anything?

He is a dead man walking. The players will know this too, and many of them are in a similar position contract-wise. Who is going to motivate these players when the man who should be doing it is just going through the paces until his contract expires or he is paid up in full?

The Friedkins will have to sack him once they take over; otherwise, we will run out of games in which any new manager can have an influence, irrespective of who he is.

There should have been a clause in Dyche's contract that said improve our final position each year and, for every two places we improve year on year, you will be given another year's extension to your contract.

At this moment in time, he has no incentive to succeed, in fact it is the exact opposite.

But that is not, and never will be, the case. If we assume other clubs have strengthened (which obviously is their intention) to the same degree, we are in exactly the same place. I would say that, due to the paucity of our finances, we are, relative to other clubs, weaker than last season, despite having what many perceive as a "stronger" squad.

Factor in how shallow the squad is, and injuries sustained, and as John R says above, we are actually weaker.

This is going to be a fraught-filled season.

You often have to spend and spend well just to stand still in the competitive environment of the Premier League.

When Martinez took the handbrake off the Moyes team, we only went up 1 league place. And that was accompanied by the arrival of Lukaku, Deulofeu, Barry, McCarthy and the promotion of exceptional talents in Stones and Barkley.

Hopefully we recruit further in January…

I honestly believe that, if Dyche was in charge of Man City, they would be in dire straits.

Given the statistics, Dyche is simply garbage. This team is imo a good team that simply needs to be managed adequately.

Pulling the plug on his tenure, to me is worth the risk, simply because we can't do any worse. Surely we can't.