Yeah, it was a season of two halves, Gary

Dyche lost his mojo; Moyes delivered in spades.

That said, I doubt we would have gone down. The Bottom 3 were just too weak and we do still have some players who are good enough for the Premier League.

I'm feeling more positive than I have for a long time. But that's tempered by the fact that, since 2013, every manager we've had (except Don Carlo) was 'definitely taking us down'... only for the next guy to 'save us'. Then that manager was taking us down, only for the next guy to save us. And so on.

Moyes and TFG need to break that cycle and it starts this summer. If the summer isn't positive, then there's a good chance history repeats.

New owners, new stadium, and back to the manager we had before this horrible cycle of constant disappointment. The best chance we've had of breaking away from our new normal.

Ernie, even Dyche vs Big Sam? Dyche vs Fat Waiter?
I think Dyche did one good thing at least. Even Moyes acknowledged that. He's got the defence sorted out and work rate up. There was a clear plan not to be scored against.

But he's failed to get us scoring. He tried in the start of the season but, after he saw chance after chance wasted, he completely lost confidence in our strikers.

Luckily Moyes built on that and worked out how to tweak the formation and properly use Beto. I'd prefer Moyes to stay for a few more seasons. Last time he was around, he built a good spirited team with players like Jagielka, Coleman and Baines. He will get us back on track to be a consistent mid-table team at least. Then we'll work our way up.

Of course he did it by abandoning any form of risk-taking with the ball, which made us very predictable.

The bit that somehow has disappeared with the myth of Dyche's transformation is that we were never that bad defensively before he arrived. We shipped a few during Lampard's final days but, prior to that, our defensive record was pretty good – aided by some pretty handy resources back there assembled at some cost. We just couldn't score enough.

Lampard v Dyche isn't the purist vs the pragmatist. Neither was either.

Like Robert Tressell with his transfer database, it never ceases to amaze me the level of research and detail some go into. Respect.

If I'd have written under this title, it would probably have been the shortest article I've posted on ToffeeWeb.

"We were dreadful in the first half. We improved in the 2nd half".

Many have pointed out that if you take the 2nd half of the season, we would be 6th. I've never bought into that line of thought. The season is 38 games and the league never lies. Over the course of the season, 13th was probably about right. Sadly.

Like many an Everton manager of recent seasons, Dyche operated under difficult circumstances. But this season was rapidly going downhill, and by the end of his tenure, he seemed to have personally lost the will.

A lot praised the club for acting quickly. I thought he should have went sooner, but I guess that decision was wrapped up in the ownership negotiations, keeping in mind TFG only officially took over just before Christmas, so I suppose they couldn't have acted quicker.

Moyes coming back was divisive to start with, but he's won the majority of supporters over and it's all worked for the best so far.

With the right backing, he can now be judged over the course of a full season (hopefully). No cautious approach, no being satisfied with 10th. We should be aiming higher.

Back to my simple head. We need to score more goals and win more games. Football is a simple game isn't it?!!!

Week on week the starting XI was very poor and even when Branthwaite came back it took a while for his form to settle.

Moyes did much better of course - but he also started to struggle with the lack of quality / depth once the honeymoon period was over.

So I agree with Danny that 13th spot was about right in the end - and a brief spell of good form does not leave us on course for a 6th place finish next season.

A few of us at the early season matches thought that Tarkowski was carrying and injury, but yes, Branthwaite was a big loss.

You've also reminded me that Dyche, for some reason, was reluctant to play O'Brien, although if we believe what we read, technically Dyche did give him his first start against Peterborough, because although sacked before the match, he had apparently selected the team.

O'Brien, like his future centre back partner Branthwaite, probably benefited from playing on the continent. I always think it is educational and broadens a players footballing experience.

You need to stop taking those blue pills...

His pub standard performances were the primary reason we were hovering about the bottom places.

I laughed when his injury was treated by some like a death in the family. I laughed even more when their perpetual culprit (keane) was hammered before we even tried life without Tarkowski.

I know there is an awful lot more to defending than last ditch blocks and crunching challenges which get the crowd on their feet and I know there is something REALLY wrong with a defender who has to rely so heavily on them.

I predicted (on this site) that we would win our last three games. even though there was a couple of tough fixtures in there. Not because I think keane is top class, but because I knew we would be playing without the handicap of playing with the wooden I-love-an-Alamo Tarks . We won them all and there was hardly a last ditch tackle in sight.

Look at how the goals were conceded even when Keane wasnt playing....X marks the spot

Despite weaknesses Tarkowksi and Branthwaite have been our best CB partnership for some years - and one of the few true partnerships we have in the usual First XI.

To say he’s the primary reason we were in relegation trouble is to ignore a good number of other very serious issues at the club.

Although you do have a point about his reliance on last ditch challenges.

He goes off his feet too much when he doesn't need to and causes himself problems (examples being the Macallister challenge and the pen given away against Bournemouth in the cup).

I was really impressed with Jake O Brien on Sunday and think long term we should be looking at him and Jarrad being our CBs.

We put him back on, and, although I don't know the detail, I suspect it was a reoccurrence in the next match against Southampton.

Right now, Tarkowski, brings leadership to the team. We don't have many of them and the importance of that should not be underestimated. Those two young centre backs have benefited being mentored by him in my opinion.

It was a bit like Phil Neville. He wasn't the greatest, but his presence and leadership was an influence on the team.

He is a very good defender, nothing more, nothing less.

O'Brien looks like he's got plenty more to show us. Every now and then he carries the ball and looks a real player. He's got a missile of a shot on him too – based on the one time he tried it. As he grows in confidence, I suspect we might see something pretty special.

We have the current England keeper and I think Mykolenko is improving game on game and no doubt Baines has had a lot to do with that. Gana despite his age is still one of the best defensive midfield players in the country.

I also think Beto is improving his hold up play and he certainly has had Liverpool's and Necastle's centre-backs in a lot of trouble at times.

Ndiaye is a special talent and will be even better next season; and with Alcaraz in the Number 10 role, that's a pretty decent first-team nucleus.

He could become an Everton legend. A thoroughly good guy.

I don't know why some players get so much stick over others, he really isn't that bad just like Iwobi isn't.

As I said in my Newcastle report, he's added a bit more to his game and is getting forward more. I wouldn't go Player of the Season, but I get what you're saying. He would definitely get that trophy that no player wants: Most Improved Player, because it means you weren't too good before. But seriously, he deserves credit.

I'm undecided on Player of the Season. It's between Ndiaye and Gana for me. Closely followed by Pickford. He can have Goalkeeper of the Season.

Young player? Has to be between Branthwaite and O'Brien, with Jarrad probably just edging it.

There will be Manager's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season. The latter is the one you want. I've had a few by the way!!

It would be interesting if the club did a Supporters' Player of the Season. Maybe Michael can set up a voting poll on here?

Mykolenko has become a very good player and athlete and has made left back a position where we need decent back-up only. He gets passed now and again but who doesn't against good wingers? He normally forces the players outside and Everton's magnificent defence can manage.

Watch the support that Ndiaye provides too. He is some player. I'm sorry to see Young go, tbh, he is a good player.

I'm sorry for Harrison whose defensive support was key in this respect. He is maybe a wingback but unfortunately doesn't have the skill to make things happen up front.

For me, he has been a player that we should respect and give some praise to for his efforts. My guess is that Moyes loves him but is ruthless enough to know he isn't the one we need.

Well, my mama told me there'll be days like this. There are more coming…

Under Dyche, the full-backs barely got past the halfway line. The shape has been modified to allow them to get forward more, especially Mykolenko on the left. Ndiaye tends to come inside and, with his close control and skill, occupies opposition players, leaving acres of space for Mykolenko to push into.

It's what has impressed me most about Moyes's return. The little tweaks and tactical adjustments that are a sign of experience.

Try to understand what it is you are watching. When Tarkowski plays, he calls the tune, barks the orders. it is he who is screaming to the midfield and wide players to drop back. When he plays we play with a back 9-10 not a back 4.

THAT is why we have a poor goals scored column and an impressive goals against one.

Tarkowski was born to defend his box and his leadership has helped drag us over the line more than once, but we are looking to play at a different level now. One which requires a different type of leadership. There is no longer room for the Jack Harrison`s.

Robert

I think your post is exceptionally "silly". Our off field disasters have been very well documented and are considered a given by most blues - They don't need you to remind them. We are talking about events ON the field and Tarks has been responsible for more goals conceded this season than any other player.

We have just won three games on the bounce and despite some tough opposition, we have won them all impressively. We have been creating chances and have been getting noticeably more men forward. Nobody at the back is screaming to all the troops to "fall back" every time we lose the ball All this and barely a last ditch tackle in sight....When was the last time that happened ?

Everyone on here has, and is entitled to, an opinion so telling fellow Evertonian posters, who you refer to as the TW bandwagon to "try and understand what it is you're watching" or that their post is "exceptionally silly" well it makes you come across as a bit of an arse to be honest.

No offence.

Take a leaf out of Danny O'Neill's book who often disagrees with other posters without resorting to putting them down.

This is great stuff, but to me it is relegation fighting stuff. We needed it and we might need it again, however, as you suggest, Tarkowski is the solution to a problem he is part of.

We don't need to look too far back to appreciate the art of defending and I will include the keepers in that equation.

The three wins have been nothing to do with Tarkowski not being there. It is the tactics. Someone gets injured, someone else steps in and plays the way the manager / coach wants. That's simple to me. Maybe I'm just simple.

Only on Sunday did we see Jordan called upon to make a number of match saving saves, one at point blank as well as some great blocks and clearances and tackles from our centre backs on the day.

Jagielka and Distin both had great powers of recovery.

As a centre back, it often depends on how much protection you get from the midfield. When you're under the cosh for periods, which happens in football matches, you have to go back to basics and defend at all costs with your instinct. Protect the goal.

Sometimes it's not pretty, but you prioritise and do what you need to do.

How can you communicate on these 3 in that magnificent period they were together? The problem is though that you can never see the likes again because the game doesn't allow that level of skill to be shown.

That mentality suited players like Alcaraz and Ndiaye although it baffles me as to why Dyche could not get more from our attack minded players.

One hopes Moyes will now look to dominate games more and not just win them towards the end. He's infinitely better qualified for the role than Dyche, Lampard or Beneathus were.

What defines skill?

For me it is a combination of different attributes.

Ability, skill, passion, a desire to win and aggression. Earn the right to play football.

I think of Peter Reid. If he was against you, you'd think he was a proper gob shite. I often thought some of his teammates did, because he had all of those attributes I mentioned. He could rally the troops, wind up the opposition, get stuck in, but then play football. An all rounder.

Sheedy relied more on his ability. He didn't often like to mess his hair up, but was sublime.

Bracewell was a second close in terms of ability, but he wasn't shy of putting a foot in.

In terms of today's side, Ndiaye is brilliant. He must have super glue on his boots, but if that comes unstuck, he's like a hornet pestering the opposition to get the ball back.

For me, skill is the ability to be comfortably slow. No pace, no athleticism, no physical presence required. Just the ability to see and get what is happening.

Use your footballing brain and play the game at your pace.

I apologise for boring everyone, but Sheedy used to slow the game down and almost play in slow motion because he could see the pitch in front of him.

My dear wife, as well as calling Everton the second woman in my life, used to accuse me of wishing I'd married Kevin Sheedy when she was really angry with me over Everton.

I do believe there is a TW bandwagon concerning Tarkowski. Just as I think there is one concerning Calvert-Lewin. I believe Tarkowski gets away with murder and a certain group of people defend him against criticsm no matter what – I think Danny O'Neill is one of them.

I believe the stick Calvert-Lewin takes on here borders on the ridiculous and, like the Tarkowski defenders, it's always the same group of people. He only has to touch the ball in the opposition half to have them screaming "sitter!"

I often see him get tremendous applause at the game and come home to see him get hammered by the same few people who hammer him every week. I guess that's life. Some people want their views to be well received and validated and by attacking Calvert-Lewin, or defending Tarkowski on here, you can almost guarantee it. You disagree? Fine, but you need to be a bit balanced in your criticism.

I try to be respectful to everybody I address, but once somebody shows me a lack of respect, or calls my post "silly", as Robert did, I think he forfeits the right to expect it back – it's funny how you noticed me respond in kind, but choose to overlook his initial attack.

I find Danny's post claiming our three wins have nothing to do with Tarkowski's absence a tad well... Dannyish. On one hand, he wants to claim Tarkowski's organisational and leadership skills are magnificent and help us keep the shape. Then on the other, he wants to claim that those "organisational" and "leadership" skills have nothing to do with us winning because we are not defending in excessive numbers. You can't have it both ways.

And you can't always blame a manager's tactics. Few games go as planned. Your oponent doesn't always do what you want him to do. Tactics and shape often have to be altered in the first few minutes and in games where 50,000 people are screaming, a strong personality like Tarkowski barking orders will have a far greater effect on team mates than a manager in the dug out who can't barely be heard.

I don't accept Pickford had a greater influence than Keane or O'Brien on Sunday. Yes, he made some decent saves, but I didn't see him make one single save that I wouldn't expect any professional keeper to make.

I'm happy for people to make out that the desperate defending when Tarkowski plays and the controlled wins without him are mere co-incidence, just as long as I personally, can stand by my observation.

I take your criticism about my rhetoric on board, Brian... but balance it out please, don't just focus on the iniquities of those who have a different opinion to you.

Tarkowski was a fixture in the team that underwent that transition, whilst Beto provided the goals that Calvert-Lewin hadn't.

They don't have a right to expect a respectful post back but that is what intelligent civilised people do. I've had to stop responding to some on here because I'm not good and it's the only way to keep the board civil which it must be.

I love Calvert-Lewin and will miss him if he goes but surely Moyes isn't that daft? I won't respond to the criticism of him that seems to feed on itself, life is too short. Tarkowski is great but not so much that we are as good or better without him now. Has Keane shown that he isn't that bad really? I think we'll benefit from keeping them all in this difficult time.

I will say, hopefully as an assistance to Colin, that he used very few words in his post that I would have used and in a manner which I try really hard to avoid now. This is a place where aggression should have no place but differences of opinion can be expected.

Danny sets a good standard in how we should interact with each other and yet I have sat out a good afternoon with Danny where we had many different views and yet great discussion.

Instead of apologising and excusing his poor form by pointing to everything else including Branthwaite's absence and the imaginary injury (which didnt cost him a minutes playing time). Why not just say it like it really was? He was garbage.

Try revisiting those games... his errors. Poor choices and lack of judgement were killing the team. No team can play with any degree of confidence when their centre-back and captain is performing so badly. Yet all you can do is join the ranks of those making intelligence-insulting excuses for him.

And you have the cheek to call somebody else`s post silly?

No one on here is silly, you and I included. We just express our views even when we don't always agree.

I don't make excuses for Tarkowski, or any player for that matter. You mustn't read everything I write. I don't blame you, because I often ramble.

I'll call out my report after the Bournemouth FA Cup match, when he had a shocker and couldn't do anything right. He stunk Goodison out that day.

If a player does well, I call it. If he doesn't, I call it.

He is a leader on the pitch. We've won enough games with him and grabbed a point against Liverpool this season with him. I'm sure you celebrated that as much as I did.

The good run has been down to tactics by the manager. Keane has played really well in the last few games and I've been one of his biggest critics over the years and seasons.

I'm not sure why we're debating winning a few matches over one player, who probably won't be playing for us in a season or two. We had a really good run in to the end of the season, with or without Tarkowski.

Pickford has made crucial saves for us over the past seasons. Sunday included when his double, culminating in a point blank range save, kept the points safe.

"Danny-ish". I'll take that as a compliment mate. I'd like to meet you at a match, Colin, if we get the chance. You'd probably find we'd get on like a blue house on fire.

On a thread laced with hypocrisy, you still manage to land the Rachel Reeves award for self-awareness.

Link

Paradoxical based on some of the earlier comments about “his pub standard performances.”

How can these two polar opposite views be squared?