Spurs onslaught compounded by woeful Pickford errors

Classic Dyche

Shows how much I know!

Good luck to the lad. And thanks again for the birthday wishes.

But sick of seeing Doucoure and McNeil. He should have at least started one Ndiaye and Lindstrom.

Hopefully Tarkowski is actually fit - and in better form than he was on the first day (and much of last season too where he stood off attackers far too often for my liking).

Don't take unnecessary risks when things are going well but take risks when you are trying to find a way out of a difficult situation.

If Dixon has a poor game then we come away with the same number of points as we would with Holgate but if he has a good game then he may be the solution to our right-back problem.

Good luck, lad!

Sometimes you do have to throw them in to see if they sink or swim.

Good luck lad. COYB.

Will we miss Holgate? Would we miss an illness?

Every week, they make a deliberate error and I copy like it like a numpty!

Gana plays... not Garner.

It's a lose-lose situation playing Dixon, if he's not ready he'll get criticised for that and if he's brilliant he'll get hammered for not doing it sooner.

Fingers crossed for a great game and 3 points.

God it's the hope that kills you.

COYB 🔵

Dyche is Moyes in disguise.

Garner is a deliberate error on the website Match Centre lineup.

I was hoping for Ndiaye to start behind Calvert-Lewin.

Hoping for a good performance and our first point(s) of the season.

Dixon looked impressive in pre-season, but I still don't understand why Dyche brought on Young for Coleman against Roma, it would have been the perfect opportunity to see how Dixon would have coped?

I won't be one of those ready to criticise Dyche for starting Dixon. The fact he has finally realised that Holgate is appalling gives me some belief in him as our manager.

Dixon deserves to start over Holgate. I hope the young lad has no regrets and just goes for it.

Let's hope he does well — it will be a tall order to keep a very mobile Spurs attack at bay.

I'm sure he will do his very best today for Everton.

I think he's boss but also hope Dixon takes his chance. The lad can be our right-back for the next decade and earn a big pay day contract etc.

Come on, Roman kidda!!!!

Either a star is born or it'll be a disaster. I've seen virtually nothing of Dixon, so I have no idea if the kid can handle it or not, but there is joy in my soul at not having to watch Holgate play.

And I hope Dyche gets credit for it.

I havent seen young Dixon play at all, so I am really excited for him. Best of luck to him..

You only make one EPL debut son. Take it all in and enjoy it

Same as last week, an easy Spurs win... 3-0.

Great going forward (in lower leagues) but defensively not as strong, so today will be a mega test. Come on, lad. Defend capably, don't get drawn forward out of position, just do a steady, safe job against Son (ouch!)

I just hope we see more than that in our tactics… maybe the midfield playing as a unit.

I think it is too early for you in a poor defensive unit but Tarkowski will be a big help for you at least, as long as he is fully fit.

Also Messers Doucouré and McNeil need to put in decent performances today or they need to be benched.

Very tough game for Calvert-Lewin, and hats off to Captain Tawkowski who could so easily have taken the weekend off.

I just can't work him out, besides his depressing press conference, he does the opposite to what excuses he comes out with.

Hope the wife doesn't read your messages! 😂

The defending got pretty shambolic last week and that cost us against a Brighton side who are looking pretty assured already. Tarkowski potentially playing with an injury is a worry and Keane was dropping far too deep too early at times, clearly petrified of being done for pace; both will need to be at peak to give young Dixon the solid back-up he will surely need.

McNeil wasn't sharp or athletic enough and I worry his partner's health is still a big concern and mood driver for a player who needs to be buoyant to be effective. COYB!

We all remember the times it seemed like everything was going against us before the match had even started and yet the players produced performances and victories that surprised everyone.

Hopefully today is one of those ‘phoenix from the ashes' occasions and the true start of a surprisingly good season.
UTFT!

We'll all find out at the end of 90 minutes. You never know until you try them. There are very few players you can know, with an amount of certainty, that they are truly ready. Rooney was probably one.

You don't win nothing with kids because it's risky? Tell that to Spain at the moment!

However, maybe we can assume last week was just a bad day at the office and that they can bounce back with a surprise. God knows we haven't seen too many of those.

A big game all around from everyone is necessary to help dispel that bad taste from the Brighton game. COYB

Didn't Alan Hansen say that about Man Utd kids?

Then they won the league.

Same shit, different week.

4-0 predicted — half-way there…

This will end up 4-0.

It's hard enough under this manager's tactics without fucking players gifting them a goal.

We look like the worst team in the league. No pace, no movement, no clue.

We know what's going to happen with the tried and tested lot.

How often does the guy let us down? The guy's kept us in the Premier League for the past 3 years.

Grow up, you child.

How many seasons have we said that now? Too bloody many.

I do sometimes wonder why Everton Football Club has become so anti-football over the last 7 or 8 years.

I long for the entertainment days of Martinez and being distraught at finishing 12th.

We don't even possess a style of play anymore, it's just not even resembling of professional football.

He's a clueless dinosaur.

He signs new players but continually picks tried and tested failures.

It's about the players too, but the manager is extremely uninspiring let's be honest.

I can't think of another side who'd win so few matches in that period of time, who wouldn't sack their manager. We'll wait for another couple of month's damage before we finally pull the trigger.

The problem is the owner, the utter farce of a takeover situation he's put us in with 777 Partners loan and severe lack of resources. We're in yet another relegation fight with a lack of squad depth.

Only positive today is Dixon who has played really well. Hope he continues to start ahead of Calamity Young.

Only you thought we might lose.

We're two games in. We've played the team currently top of the league, are currently playing a very, very good team on their own patch.

The goals were a worldie, and a goalkeeping fuck-up. We're currently down many first-team players, and have a threadbare squad.

The international break can't come at a better time for us. A win against Bournemouth, and a couple of canny loans. The return of Jarrad from injury.

Things will look very different in three weeks.

I hope.

Time for a change: Pochettino or Potter for me.

Rob @ 83, is spot on too.

It's shite — we have had no shots, for fuck's sake!

Bottom already and playing like it.

Spurs started as though they were going to target Dixon all afternoon but they then switched and give the lad his due, Dixon hasn't put a foot wrong and the extra help he has had at times now seem a lot more trusting of him.

The first goal the result of getting men forward, the second was that of a relegation bound team and I haven't noticed much of Doucoure or Gana so anyone think Dyche might break the habit of his lifetime and give Armstrong or one of the new lads a run or will he still be thinking that this is his best side so will stick with it?

I hate the fact that most opposition fans now just laugh at our club. It's disgusting how far behind we are compared to almost every other club.

Forget league positions for a while... we're an absolute gift.

A thoroughly depressing start.

He seemed to do quite well last time we took the hit so maybe he simply likes to work under pressure. He's on track to hand us what will effectively be a definite 6-point deduction… or maybe he's going for a straight 9-point deduction?

We have 3 defensive midfielders in the first half with Calvert-Lewin again on his lonesome. No wonder he wants away.

Get it into your heads, Dycheball is not going away while he is at our club.

(I'm trying to be positive really!)

I don't understand what does Doucoure offer? Yes, he scores some vital goals but we struggle with him in the team to play quick football.

Dyche needs to freshen things up. He needs to make changes as early as possible and not 10-15 minutes before the last minute. Only positive is Dixon has been fine.

With proactive substitutions and with little bravery, we can get something from this game. Tottenham are not that great and are suspect defensively. Unless we show intensity and attack proactively, we are heading nowhere.

We're like the 7th cavalry riding to the rescue of under-pressure managers and strikers who haven't scored since pre-history.

They'll miss us when we're gone.

You either can't count or have a very bad memory!

Apart from Pickford's incredible fuck-up, yes, put on somebody with a football brain. Those we have signed still sitting on the bench with hoofball just the only tactic Dyche knows.

These are wide open in the middle of midfield with little pace and a simple pass through their lines leaves them wide open.

Somebody needs to let Dyche know that grass is made to play football on and not in the stratosphere.

Quick passing on the floor beats hoofing it high and wide with the passengers we have. Doucoure… what is he doing on the pitch? Absolutely offers nothing with supposedly clever footballers sitting on the bench.

These are there for the taking with a small adjustment in the midfield. Doesn't Dyche know what a wall pass is? Can't stop that first goal but the second was a monumental fuck-up.  

Jimmy Armfield once told me as a 16-year-old, pass and move 5 yards can create 10 to 15 yards of space.

Dyche has not got a clue about passing and moving, full stop. We don't have great players, but footie is so simple on the grass.

Watching at 11:00 pm here, totally embarrassed to be an Everton lifelong supporter. Think I am done now and won't waste any more Saturdays or Sundays watching this crap.

70 years old

First game ever at Goodison was at the age of 5 years old

Cheerio

The team on the field now is the side that needs to start the next game, except I'd actually start Beto. At least he runs and puts pressure on the backline.

I'd use Calvert-Lewin as a substitute only these days when defences are tiring. He offers nothing up top on his own these days. He doesn't put the shift in to play as a lone striker anymore, due to his injuries.

Maupay may be an interesting move though.

This isn't good enough anymore! I am so flipping angry!

Doucoure was anonymous. Harrison tried hard defensively but offers nothing going forward — his main job. McNeil was up and down… but mainly down.

Very negative performance and I don't know why anyone can't stay onside. That comes from lack of concentration and focus.

What a Shitshow!!!

Played 2, lost 2, scored 0, conceded 7.

Can't say anymore.

Is there a petition somewhere?

We really are in a massive mess. To make things worse, nothing will change… we will be relegated. 😡

However, despite my sarcastic optimism, Michael Keane has never been good enough for the Premier League. Despite Doucouré scoring some incredibly important and spectacular volleys over the last few seasons, he's a poor footballer and I'd rather he or Keane play in defence, never on the same pitch.

It's another long, crappy season of Dyche-ball. But he's the best fit for us in our current 'how to be unsuccessful on and off the pitch' period of football.

Good luck all!

Big stopper needed: at least 6ft-4in and brave enough to step 2 yards off his line to take out small defenders who have free headers.

Nightmare, two goals given away by a keeper stuck to his line and reliant on his hoof kick. It just gets worse. This probably ends up 5 or 6.

Van de Ven runs 55 yards without a challenge to set up the 4th goal. Pity all you travelling supporters. Good luck to all those who spend a fortune watching this shite and wish you all the best.

Enough is enough!!

Pathetic.

No excuse whatsoever to leave the likes of O'Brien, Ndiaye or Lindstrøm on the bench. The current set-up doesn't work. 7 goals shipped in just 2 games and no goals scored — he simply has to change things.

Only positive at this point is that we're only two games into the season.

If we have to progress and witness some good football, Dyche is definitely not the answer. I am not even sure sacking Dyche would be the answer. Our players are slow and painful to watch.

This club just makes you numb.

Hopefully the new boys showed Dyche enough to give them a start next week over the likes of Doucoure and McNeil. Our goal threat is non-existent at the moment, surely he has to try something different?

Nothing in this team. Bournemouth is big gane now as it'll be similar result away at Villa to last season.

He put Ndiaye who can turn a defender on the wing.
Taxi for Dyche.

The same failing midfield selected. Nothing created. No protection of the defence.

Get him out now.

2 games in and we are in massive trouble. I can't see us scoring never mind winning.

Love to hear his excuses later.

It's an unforgiving league, and we simply don't have good enough players to be anywhere other than in the bottom half-dozen this season.

On another thread on where we might finish this season I said if we play football with the new lads and it came off we could finish in the top half and if it didn't come off we would be in serious trouble. Now all I can say is get Branthwaite back and park the bus, they just don't seem to have anything in them.

The third goal there was no challenge for the header and the fourth the Spurs bloke just took off and that was that. Don't see any point in trying to analyze that load of rubbish.

Oh, and can we have our blue shirts back.

Dixon was just about the only starting player to come out with credit today. We looked much more positive when Lindstrøm and Ndiaye came on, and Harrison Armstrong was also bright.

What does that tell us?

We were never getting anything today other than embarrassed. I stick with my prediction that this squad will do well to stay up.

The Club is bankrupt and it's circling the drain.

We need 3 more players (defender, striker and midfielder) and I am sure we should be fine. With an available and fully fit squad, we become a different team.

Hoping we have seen the last of Keane, Holgate and Maupay!

Wait for the excuses from him.

Bottom of league. GD -7. No truly shit teams above us.

The time to act is now but there is no-one in control to act.

What is so troubling to me is that most of us (if not all) can see where we are so poor and yet we persist in the same old bollocks, match-in & match-out.

Roman Dixon has been the only bright light today. Many of the others around him should be ashamed and the manager has to square his shoulders and take full responsibility for the shitshow he orchestrates each week.

I'm going to say it and I've baulked at it for 8 years but bring back Moyes. He'd get these players into some sort of system.

Tactics are so poor by Dyche, leaving a striker isolated, and playing two wingers with no pace, and Harrison can't cross a ball. Dixon is definitely a plus and should keep his place, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dyche brings Young straight back in.

Concede 7 goals in two games, and why start Keane ahead of O'Brien? Worrying times, no wonder Sky are showing the Doncaster game. We badly need a defensive midfielder, Phillips should have been a gamble worth taking.

I'd stick with Dyche. He's shown us he can win 10 games a season with a squad of this calibre at his disposal. It will be grim, and fine margins mean relegation is a very real threat (odds are we'll finish just outside of Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton at present).

The only thing that would change my mind is if he looked like he'd lost the dressing room altogether, which I don't think he has. This is just a case of another long, joyless slog of a season, with nothing positive to play for.

It's embarrassing for us as fans, but it's our lot at present.

The start is always difficult for us, we are adjusting to life after the sale of our good players and the new ones haven't bedded in yet. And this is a tough start — Brighton and Spurs will both get Europe this season.

There are glimmers of hope, Iroegbunam and Dixon could save us a bomb, but we won't really know how we stand for a couple of months yet. And you can't legislate for Pickford doing what he did.

Calm down.

It could get even more disappointing by next Friday if there are no new signings. There could be a big loss with one surprise departure to give us the money to bring new players in, there just has to be two or three new signings.

Only Branthwaite and Garner are really missing, Seamus and Ashley Young have had their day at the top being honest, Nathan Patterson could yet prove to be a decent right-back although Dixon could be pleased with his performance today.

Early days to get really down but Heaven help us if no new signings are added to this squad.

2 games in and we have been out-fought, out-thought, and, to be honest, abysmal. No goals, 7 shipped, weak all over the park. I really don't know where we go from here? Injuries are no excuse in my opinion.

Last week against Brighton, we collapsed so easily, both individually and as a team. Today… same same.

Last season, we survived because of our defence. This season, our defence is unrecognisable.

The writing was on the wall for two seasons now and this could be the nail in the coffin.

We have a team of underachievers, countless players we can't get rid of, and a manager who now seems completely out of his depth.

Good thing about being at the bottom is that the only way is up. (Or is it?)

For sure he will play a different team for the Doncaster game but will he put out this same miserable bunch for the next Premier League game?

I wasn't expecting a win today but I thought at least they would put up a better performance. The whole midfield needs re-shaping right now. I said it last season that it was the poorest in the league — even with 5 across the middle, other teams found it easy to cut through.

Dark days indeed.

Team looked a lot better when Ndiaye and Lindstrøm came on, though I think I would prefer to see McNeil stay out wide and Ndiaye shift to the middle as a second striker.

New boys need a bit of time to gel, Branthwaite and Garner back will be a huge improvement.

We concede 4 but our back four were decent, particularly Mykolenko and Dixon. Our problems are further up the pitch and our game plan stinks.

I don't recall Pickford having such a poor game. He had no chance against the first goal but it might have been 1-0 if he had been at his best.

The answer is No.

Doncaster will be interesting… but, if he doesn't win that!

Some posters were having a go at certain of us for saying we would get battered. I take no joy in saying this was entirely predictable.

The only good to come out of it is Sean Dyche was forced to use Dixon, Ndiaye and Lindstrom and I thought we showed much more attacking threat with them in there.

Positive that he started Dixon who had a decent debut all things considered. Positive that the attacking play showed some future promise with the introductions of Ndiaye and Lindstrom who both have to be starters ahead of Harrison and Doucoure.

Harrison Armstrong also looks an excellent prospect, who has the physicality to succeed and hold his own at such a young age.

Negatives are that Dyche will persevere with Harrison and Doucoure over the new signings. Dixon will also be nowhere near the team once Young is back. Negative that Pickford made a howler. There was no coming back from that 2nd goal.

If Tarkiowski was carrying a knock, I also don't see why he stayed on the pitch once it was obvious we weren't going to get anything out of the game. O'Brien may as well have played most of the 2nd half.

This game showed like last week, why Branthwaite cannot be sold. I think we'll be solid again once he is back, and O'Brien is picked ahead of Keane as the cover.

I really hope Dom is sold this week. I'm starting to really dislike the lad. If he wasn't being greedy, he would have gone to Newcastle, and we'd have got Minteh and a new striker in now.

The flipside is that we'd have had Minteh but Dyche would be picking Harrison ahead of him.

I hope Calvert-Lewin is sold and we buy Gnonto for the pacey wing play we need. Plus a couple of loans in Trippier and Broja, with the loan to Ipswich now off.

We need a couple of players badly before the window shuts, apart from Branthwaite and Garner back. Harrison and Doucoure have to be dropped, Doncaster and Bournemouth are massive games this early.

Worst performance by Pickford I've ever seen. He needs a re-boot and fast.

On the plus side, the new lads all did okay, especially Dixon, who didn't wilt in tough circumstances.

Unfortunately looks like another long season.

Not looked but I suspect we are bottom of the table. In which case… the only way is up!

Wasn't Harrison and McNeil a paint shop in town years ago by the old tunnel entrance?

The best way I describe watching Everton in 2024.

We have won four league games since before Christmas last year, and two of those were against teams that are no longer Premier League incumbents.

As soon as opponents score first the game is over.

We have no style of play other than try to score a set piece and we are the slowest team in the Premier League by some distance.

I see us being ran ragged by an energetic Bournemouth side next Saturday to be honest, and it will come as no real surprise to have an exact copy of last season's start with two home losses on the spin.

He can't be any worse than what we are getting with Dyche.

I don't believe Dom did fail to agree terms with Newcastle.

I think those loveable Geordies are doing to us what Chelsea did to us over Barkley, the advice being to Dom: "Sit tight for a couple of months, we'll knock £15M off the price and split it between us."

Of the 7 goals we have conceded so far, 4 were directly as a result of clear errors by the senior players — particularly Tarkowski, Gueye and Pickford. And in both games, we had great chances to equalise, which might have resulted in totally different outcomes.

Today, Harrison simply had to score from that cross which was put on a platter for him from McNeil.

On the positives, both youngsters impressed me no end:
Roman Dixon had a terrific Premier League debut. He played like an experienced person, and put in some great tackles on Son and Odobert. However, he gave away too many cheap corners, and I believe one of them resulted in the Romero header.

Harrison Armstrong looks a very good footballer. He was superb on the ball in his brief cameo and his teasing cross into the Spurs penalty was one of the few genuine chances that we had all game.

So coming to Dyche. These are still early days, but there are worrying signs — we have yet to score a goal in 180 minutes of football. The defence has been under constant pressure in both games, and I hope Dyche would realise that the only way you can give the defence some breathing space is by trying to keep hold of the ball and try to create some chances.

Next game against Bournemouth is a must win, let's hope we can get some players back to fitness by then.

Any player looking to come to us — it won't be for the fucking coaching!

I don't gamble but a friend of mine who does has just told me to put money on Moyes making a return — could this happen?

Jay @ 150, fearing a thumping and reasoning why is a pretty normal thing to do. Predicting a 4-0 defeat and gloating at 2-0 that you are going to be proven right is not. Well, not for most supporters.

I suspect that among those of us utterly dejected, there will be a few feeling contentedly smug.

Only if Moyes brings Pienaar, Cahill, Arteta, Yakubu, Saha, Fellaini and Baines with him.

He may find it a bit different working with today's crop of shite.

You won't win many games in 2024 with 1970s hoofball!!!

Gnonto would love to come to Everton and we would sign him if we had the finances to do the deal. He'd be at Everton right now if Friedkin hadn't have done a U-turn on buying the club.

Kevin #158

It wouldn't surprise me if your theory on Dom is right. It would be typical of the shit housery you get from players in the game these days.

Even if it's £20M,. I just want Dom gone now so we can put some down payments on some new players.

I think Dyche should have a bit more in the bank after single-handedly keeping us up for two seasons in the direst of circumstances, than that everyone is calling for his head during Game 2 of the third season.

It's a bloody miracle we are where we are, after the mismanagement of this club.

Things are bad enough without you starting the
annual call for Moyes's return. He is just an older
dinosaur than Dyche.

One caller asked why are we so behind in terms of players coming to play for Everton. I know of one lad in the lower leagues who would not touch us with a barge pole. He speaks for other players as well.

They see Everton unsettled, no leadership, and that puts fans under pressure of course, which gets through to the players. They don't want that.

There are other factors as well. Which I can't go into detail. I don't think there is a manager who can help us. Fuckin doing me head in.

I may be wrong but was the last time Dyche led a team to victory, when his team were behind in a game, against Everton when Richarlison scored twice? The night he said Everton didn't know how to win?

No change there then, Sean.

He may do well again in a side where he can be a tap-in merchant like when we had Sigurdsson, Digne, James Rodriguez supplying the bullets.

But his time at Everton does look stale and at an end and probably best for both parties now a fresh start.

He knows all he needs to know about Young and he was always going to start against Brighton.

What did Dixon learn? Nothing, cos he didn't get on!

Fast-forward 2 weeks and Dyche realises because of his incompetence he has to start no minutes Dixon at right-back, away at Spurs!

Sean Dyche is extremely blinkered in his team selection, McNeil,and Doucoure, have both been poor in the 4 preseason games and the last 2 league games, but it will be next week before he eventually drops them.

He hasn't got a great pack of cards to deal with, but he is far too slow to react, again; this is evident every week with his substitutions.

I know I am clutching at straws at mentioning Moyes but honestly, I am tearing my hair with Dyches's negative tactics and selection.

Surely something has to change before it's too late?

Can anyone see where the next goal is coming from?

What other factors are they? If there are other factors, why haven't the media picked them up, if they are serious factors of course.

Tittle-tattle involving unproven allegations that can't be substantiated or revealed are worse than gloating about Everton getting stuffed without scoring.

7 shipped in, a pisspoor squad, it's rinse and repeat from previous seasons. Feel sorry for those that trekked to London to watch that garbage.

3 poor goals given away by Pickford and just not enough pressure on Bissouma.

We went into the season under-cooked, and it looks like a long season with Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton.

I going to give myself time to think before I write up. I'll do that tomorrow.

To those travelling back to Merseyside and elsewhere, safe travels.

Tarkowski has been every team's worst nightmare. A centre-half and skipper who is defending like a novice. We have conceded seven goals and he's been shocking for five of them. I don't for one minute buy this (he's injured) nonsense.

Fitness had nothing to do with his attempted Cruyff turn last week. It had nothing to do with him turning his back and running toward Pickford last week and it had nothing to do with him doing it again this week.

When he was mullered in the air for that third goal, it was because the Spurs player showed more desire to get to the ball than him... It's not as if he hadnt had the warnings. Twice Spurs got in early while he snoozed.

People can hammer, Dyche, Treswell, Holgate and Young till they are blue in the face, but none of them have given goals away.

When Tarkowski failed to get off the deck for that third goal, the first reaction I saw was "Keane is a wanker".

It doesnt matter if you think Young is a cunt, or Holgate is a gobshite. It doesnt even matter if you hate Dyche and Thewell. They are not the ones costing us goals.

If we don't start addressing the real problem instead of hammering away at people who aren't even playing, how on earth can we hope to solve it?

No team can survive when the rock upon which it's built keeps crumbling in the face of a mild breeze.

I heard — I turned over and listened rather than watch the screen — his name mentioned twice in the first half and hardly ever in the second, though I wasn't counting. We have to hope that the rot we seem to be does not infect the new lads.

There are top-dollar "seasoned professionals" on that pitch who look like they could not give a shit and couldn't even give us the respect of going through the motions.

One reason I turned over is that it's hard for me nowadays to look at Dyche and the other two hard-boiled eggs on the side. I accept that we have Dyche and he ain't going nowhere until the club is sold, but the "realisitic" arguments that Dyche is the "realistic" fella for the job are fast fading.

Even the "it's still August" train of thought seems shallow after two performances of heartbreaking shiteness of the lowest shiteness degree.

But I'm still sticking to hope and that things will pick up and that Dyche, after all, is the basement genius who will have us in 16th OR 17th place in May.

I certainly did not come on gloating at 2-0 down and I am as disappointed as anyone about the result.

But with team selection and approach being so predictable, you kind of know the result is well predictable.

Coleman and Young — squad players at best and should not be playing more than a dozen Premier League games between them.

Patterson — too injury prone. Dixon — good start.

Mykolenko — slow start to the season but I trust him to get back to his best. His weakness is his inability to provide much in offence.

Tarkowski — carrying an injury obviously. Needs time out to get over it, which he will.

Branthwaite — god I hope he stays. However, knowing Everton, if someone offers £70M he will go. No doubt this will be 30 minutes before the deadline and we won't have time to bring players in. Everton that.

Keane — needs to go for his sake.

Holgate — why is he still here?

O'Brien — who knows… but he must start against Doncaster.

Sell, loan out, release, chase away Holgate, and Keane. Inverness might take Holgate and Duncan Ferguson can sort him out. Bring in a left-back who can play centre-back, or vice versa.

I absolutely was not referring to you.

You only voiced concerns we all had and are always balanced in your posts.

Surely there has to be consequences for that. Until there is, they will feel like they can phone in their performances, like now.

I am betting we sell Calvert-Lewin and bring no one in. Everton that...

We all know the weakness of the sqaud, we all know the mess Dyche is dealing with around the club, but he's got to get results, he's got to get them motivated — they look devoid of ideas, motivation and confidence.

Tuesday in the Cup and next weekend need to be big turnarounds or he's going to find it hard to turn around.

And when we talk about turning it round, what's his ceiling? 16th, 15th, possible 12th?? We shouldn't be fine with that!
We shouldn't be fine with the football we are being served!

The clock's ticking now, Sean!!

When I watch our team, I don't expect anything. I just see the same players doing the same things; our impotent front three taking one step forward and three steps back, our full backs unable to overlap, no centre-midfielder with the ability to spot a pass, no flair to speak of; just the same insipid rubbish.

We, the fans, now have the tortuous wait for Mr Moshiri to find a buyer, then for the Premier League (who aren't our greatest fans anyway) to approve and, before we know it, it's March and we're still struggling.

I will always applaud Dyche for ensuring our defence defied most of the best of the Premier League last season, thanks in no small part to the excellent Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Tarkowski and Pickford. But these results and performances suggest that even those wells are turning dry.

We will win a few, of course we will, and survive but only a new owner and a thorough 'recycling' of players and coaches will ensure we enter the new stadium with fresh hope and renewed passion for our beloved football club.

As said, you could give Dyche Arsenal's squad and you'd still get risk averse football and scared tactics, much in the same way Moyes oversaw Manchester United.

Now, I'm sensing that nobody gets short shrift and we just lurch from one game to the next. Dyche out! Moshiri out! What have we become?

Momentum is crucial in football and there is now serious pressure on Bournemouth at home with a tough trip to Villa to follow.

Last season, we had one of the best records against teams in the bottom 8 and that's what kept us safe. Looks like we'll need to repeat that.

Thought you were pulling our chain at first, Shane.

My information is based on trust. I also don't engage in tittle tattle.

I also take no pleasure in Everton getting stuffed. But you are entitled to your opinion. This I respect.

Just come back after watching the Villa v Arsenal game,.Yes there was a paint shop in Dale Street by the Mersey Tunnel,

I can't remember the name though but the service in there was very slow, so it could have been Harrison and McNeil!

Thanks for the courtesy of replying, I'm sure you have to keep your sources to yourself. I also wasn't accusing you directly of gloating about Everton losing.

However, if your source is correct, it's a great shame that they can't put whatever the information is, into the public domain. I'm sure that as the season progresses and if Everton don't pick up points, many things will surface, some accurate some not.

Apparently the bookies have longer odds for Everton to win 3 points before the pair of stranded Astronauts return to earth, and they're not expected to return until February 2025. Well, we have to laugh else we'd cry.

No , I was young and naive I got sent there to ask for a long weight (wait) which I got after being there all day!

We keep selling our best players, some just want to leave others are tapped up by teams above us, you can't keep doing that and hope to do well.

We have had more managers than hot dinners with no success. The manager can't do it without quality players, that's the bottom line.

That's been the common theme for years now, if your players are moderate, you are going to get moderate results.

We have an isolated Calvert-Lewin with no midfield runners getting up in support. McNeil and Harrison are wide midfielders expected to cover our full-backs. Is it any wonder we haven't scored?

The football is shit. Everything to do with the club is shit. I see no hope.

He walks in, sits down, unscrews his bottle of water, quick gulp, pulls on top in a few places, looks round, thinks of endless curries and glory-holes, and spouts shite.

How can a manager ever get away with saying that he can't start Ndiaye, Lindstrom or O'Brien because they lack Premier League experience? How can they have any “experience” if they don't start, you thick tit?

And you played Dixon!!!!! Dyche is beyond belief. He's not very clever, is he or, more softly, he needs to think a little more before he opens his crumbs-filled gob.

I don't think that I can cling to the “realism” line for much longer.

Brent (35): “muffins”? Is that carry-on humour?

Sean O'Hanlon (58): there is nothing worse than pathetic “basking” in what you think are smart “told yer so's” and enjoying “a cheap holiday in other people's misery”. Who exactly are your “Pickford worshippers”?

Barry Rathbone (97): no, you're completely wrong, the Spurs manager was under no “pressure” at all. Quite the reverse, in fact.

"How can they have any “experience” if they don't start you thick tit? And you played Dixon!!!!! Dyche is beyond belief."

He doesn't help himself, does he, Paul? I'm also one who has argued that we need to persevere with Dyche, as he's a manager who at least saved us from relegation. I now wonder, though. The usual problem, however, is "if not Dyche, then who?"

It's the first time in the club's history that it's lost its first 2 league games by a margin of three or more goals.

"Gnoto would love to come to Everton"?

You may have been right back then, but it would have been for the extra money, not the football and right now, I don't think he would want to move.

Unless they are desperate and have zero interest from other clubs, good footballers are not going to come to Everton to be coached by Sean Dyche - he just isn't going to attract the type of players we need ( even if we had the cash ) to buy them.

People say to me you have some great players and when I ask them to name them, they say the big centre-half lad Branthwaite, Calvert Lewin and that's it.

In reality we have one "great" player and it's not fucking Calvert-Lewin and like any bottom-of-the-table club we have loads of "on their day" type players — no fucking good most the time!

Could any Evertonain really complain if Branthwaite tried to force a move? The club is on its knees and the fans continue to support the team through thick and thin, but more and more are just sick of the constant shite we have to watch and how far we have fallen.

It really does my head in, and I live in Ireland, so god knows what it's like for all you in Merseyside.

I've been on a healthy diet of late. I fell off the wagon on the way back. Big Mac meal! Sometimes you need a bit of comfort.

Also, he plays the "the old boys" cos they "are quality" and "have been there and done it". Problem is, that was 15 years ago and now they are all pulling a car behind them, they are that slow.

Also, the "hair shirt" mentality at Everton is the only "ethos" the club has anymore — woe is me — infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me! … Bullshit!!

Youth is the solution to this; whilst inexperienced, they don't give a shit what anyone else thinks or what obstacles are placed in their path, they are treated with disdain and smashed out the way. The wonderful exuberance of youth.

We just have a load of older "has beens" who are too precious. I'd happily ditch the lot and play the U21s with the lads from the 1st team squad who are under 25 or 26.

Or alternatively, we could bring in Ted Lasso, Coach Beard, Coach Nathe and Roy Kent. New, shiny stadium or not, this standard of unprofessionalism is staying firmly put at "little old Everton" unless Youth and a Bielsa type ethos is forced upon it.

Football has changed radically — everything Everton is still in the 1970s. Quite how this has been allowed to happen after the mid-80s success is the biggest balls-up in English football history.

Like I said, unprofessional, and even a little pretentious. It's not simply good enough to "just avoid relegation" — where's the bloody dignity in that?

Does that mean: Pickford, Young/Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mylolenko, Gana, Garner, McNeil, Harrison, Do[I can't write it down], DCL?

We got a bit of a positive in Dixon. He'll be better for that experience.

Bournemouth at home is the sort of fixture that will actually matter in the end.

I feel for our travelling support though. Everton had no intention of getting anything out of that game. The fans deserve better than that.

But Gnonto wanted to come to Everton last month when Everton were back in talks with Leeds.

I highly doubt a player would change their mind off the back of two bad results, and he'd prefer to stay in the Championship, which has already damaged his international career.

The only thing that is stopping that move is the £10M down payment Leeds have requested.

I honestly believe he thinks he knows what he's doing, when in fact he's as clueless as fuck when it comes to modern day football. Fuck knows what we're gonna do because carry on like this and we're toast.

A few on here yesterday got fed to the wolves for predicting the scoreline. I saw both sides of the positive and the reality from yesterday and some were ready to be lynched for daring to say what they thought was coming; anyway enough about that.

I would like to ask every Evertonian on here one question:

When a centre-forward is feeding off scraps, no support, and isolated for 70 mins, what is the logic in replacing him with a like-for-like swap? It just does not make any sense.

Why not try and mix it up, leave the first striker on, get the second striker on earlier to try and give the defence something to think about, instead of the defence not having to do anything different.

I await your answers because I am totally baffled with the like-for-like change.

I said the same thing last week about Calvert-Lewin. The service is atrocious.

But look at what he's got to contend with tactics-wise, wingers who can't beat a man or cross a ball, midfielders who have got no positivity whatsoever… no wonder he's isolated.

Why have we signed the players we have to leave them out? They'll get us results, I'm sure of it. But this moron will pick the same mugs next week and probably bring his fuckin' mate Young back in.

Unfortunately for us, he's going nowhere because, as sad as it is, he's got the safest job in the game.

Our old-school manager doesn't like change, hence why he continually plays so-called established Premier League players who have had their day.

Why would you want to come to Everton just to sit on the bench, looks like you're not guaranteed a start unless you're over 30.

Look at O'Brien, international and played for a good French team who would take Everton to the cleaners… so far, he cant get 1 minute.

Won 4 matches since December 2023.

I think we'd be in League Two by now if that was the case.

We won our last 5 home games in April and May, beating Forest, Liverpool, Brentford, Sheffield United and Burnley, so come on let's not distort the facts.

He acts like he's wanting the sack, we've seen it so many times over the last decade. We all know the ending, it's just can we limp over the line again and get to a new era as a Premier League club, or will the lack of leadership and inertia condemn us to relegation?

Who's this player in the lower leagues who wouldn't touch us?

What a complete load of utter shite.

Any player playing in the Championship, Leagues One or League Two would die to play in the Premier League and that I really do know for sure.

What a crass statement.

Brighton have spent £140M this summer on young players with pace and skill. These clubs and others are operating at a level in the market we can only dream about.

All that said, we should be better than we were today. I struggled to identify the weakest area of the team; defence, midfield or attack. There were weaknesses in every area of the pitch — including in goal.

It says a lot that Michael Keane was one of our better players. He and Dixon held their game together amid the chaos around them.

Before the game, I ventured an opinion that, on the evidence of his form over the last 3½ years, Pickford can be rated our second-best keeper in the last 60 years… Then he does that!

The Tim - Gana combination in midfield is just not working. As a duo, they offer insufficient going forward and are wide open to direct runs through the middle. The return of Garner might address the latter problem and in turn help the back line.

Ndiaye and Lindstrøm will offer something different in attack; pace plus an inclination to carry the ball towards the opponents' goal.

I expect our attacking play to improve in the coming weeks as the new arrivals settle in. Cut out the mistakes, return to operating as a compact unit and we will start to pick up points as we did last season.

It is too early to write off Dyche or indeed our season. As I have said last week, nothing is decided in August.

I too get the vibe that Dyche is almost asking to be sacked, perhaps he thought that there would have been a change of ownership by now and that he would already have been out of Goodison with a handsome pay-off? Pure conjecture on my part.

It's not a good situation for the club to find itself in, a manager whose contract runs out next June and a lot of his players also with their contracts running down at the same point.

However, two debacles in a row without even one goal is a red flag that must be heeded right now.

Some signings were made but he hasn't started them, instead going with the usual suspects, but enough is enough and it's time to change the picture.

I see Broja went to Ipswich but we have a useless attack force at present so why no move to improve that area?

It's no good blaming injuries after every defeat. Some of the injured players are not good enough anyway.

Gana was a backward step after he flopped at PSG and so is Harrison. Doucoure should have been let go when he was disgruntled the season before last as he has done little since.

I have always said you cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear and it seems Dyche is trying to do that with some players.

Thanks for replying. And understanding.

The first 10 games had the club on 10 points. but somehow it felt quite different to what we're witnessing so far this season. Things can change for the better and quite quickly too, but they'll have to because the likely contenders for the bottom places are surely more competent than those from last season?

Close to a dozen points from our next 8 league fixtures and Dyche will survive; anything significantly less than that, and he'll be treading on thin ice.

The thing is, notwithstanding our general poor play, Pickford's two howlers (first one speaks for itself and the second was being rooted to his line when the corner came in 4 yards out) killed us. Without those, Spurs would have come under pressure. Compounded by Harrison missing from 3 yards when it was only 1-0.

Positives? Ndiaye and Lindstrøm made a difference and, after a difficult first 10 minutes, young Dixon stuck to his task and actually came out of the game with much credit.

Contrary to many on here (who presumably didn't go the game) Calvert-Lewin worked really hard with no support and can't be criticised by me.

Turning thoughts to our manager, sadly he just doesn't have what it takes. There was a low-cost option in the summer in Lee Carsley who I'm convinced will be a success for someone one day. Regrettably, our club is gripped by inertia and so we were and still are unable to make game-changing strategic decisions.

No matter how low I feel, and I am pretty low, I'll never predict relegation and can't understand those who do.

Negative defensive hoofball gets you nowhere. We even do it straight from the kick-off. Back to Pickford to hoof to nobody.

Straight swap Calvert-Lewin for Beto at 2 down? Why?

Lindstrøm looks like he can pick a pass but did anybody see him gesturing to his teammates where to run when he came on? You could see his frustration. He must play the No 10 role now if the system isn't going to change.

Why oh why can't we pass a ball 5 yards and forward? If you keep giving it away pumping it down the line to nobody every time, how are you going to score?

We are without doubt the most boring side to watch in the Premier League, and that's coming from an Evertonian — what the neutral must think, I don't know.

No wonder people want us relegated. I don't enjoy watching us play at all now. It's like a chore or duty you just have to perform.

If only the shitbag big gits on the pitch had as much passion… truth is they fuckin' do not!

Until about 12 years ago, I was suffering with repeated kidney stone problems until a Urologist recommended that each night I should have a glass of water with a smallish piece of fresh lemon in it on the bedside table. Take a decent sip of the water just as I go to bed and, whenever I stirred during the night to do the same. I was somewhat, ermm, sceptical but decided to do so. Result — no kidney stones ever since. I hope this helps.

Now, back to the Spurs game today.

I think Dixon did well enough to keep his place in the starting line-up for the next game.

When the new guys were brought on as substitutes they all made a positive difference to the team.

So, we have positives from the negative of the loss.

Don't you realise he's "awful"… "worst centre-forward we've ever had"… "Should be scoring hat-tricks every game" etc, etc.

And McNeil's cameo in the middle was a major fail. He turns so slowly And what was with him running the ball back to the centre-line when we were on the break? Very strange.

In the short time Lindstrøm was on the pitch, he looked like he should be the attacking fulcrum in the middle.

No forward contributions from either full-back so nothing new there. Did they even cross the halfway line? I did like how Dixon stuck to his task though. Very encouraging.

For Dyche to play him in the "No 10" role is just plain nuts.

My statement is from a reliable, trusted source. It is not a load of utter shite, nor a crass statement.

You are right with players in the lower leagues who would die to play for Everton. Can't argue with that. Take care.

I remember trudging away from Goodison in the rain last season after West Ham's late winner and to be honest the optimism was draining from me.

Frankly, I really didn't expect that yesterday. I was clinging to the belief that we had enough about us to win against the odds. It will be a while before I feel that again.

We will never recover as a club while we operate as a feeder club for the Mancunian dross.

"Pickford has kept us in the Premier League"! What crap!

How about the average of 12 points a season he gives away with his ridiculous errors? If he is the only player that has kept us in the Premier League, then we deserve to be in the Championship.

Child signing off. What's your category, Old Fool?

Iroegbunam is a tall chap, has some nice touches, but physically not strong enough.

We need 3 in midfield, and 3 upfront; leaving Calvert-Lewin isolated and playing Harrison and McNeil as wingers is a disaster.

Doucoure and Harrison should have been dropped after the Brighton game, both taken off yesterday. Doucoure isn't skilful enough as a No 10; Lindstrøm and Ndiaye gave us a better balance and a more offensive unit when they came on.

Hopefully Garner is back this week, and maybe Dyche will see 4-3-3 is the only option.

I just read where Dyche is thinking of sending Dixon on loan, unbelievable! He should be kept at full-back and forget about Young.

It can't be worse than that. The only direction from here is up, right? Right?

The official Premier League stats show the following for Pickford errors leading to a goal:

2023-24 1
2022-23 2
2021-22 1

Dixon should be given the right-back spot next game and Lindstrøm, Ndiaye and Beto should start.

Michael Keane made the best forward pass of any Everton player in the first half. A centre half mind you!

I've been a fan of Doucoure, but he needs dropping as well as Harrison, McNeill and Calvert-Lewin.

Dycheball won't see us through this season, he will have to try and get them playing football.

Secondly, our passing is neo-Sunday league. There was an instance early in the game when McNeil intercepted a Spurs pass, he had the ball on his favoured and only foot; no prizes for guessing which one. Calvert-Lewin made a run forward and McNeil under-hit a 15-yard pass and the move broke down.

Thirdly, what are the tactics? From what I can see, it's a hoof to Calvert-Lewin to win the header and knock it down to who?? There's usually not a player within 20 yards of him. Where are the midfielders busting a gut to get into the box? Is this a tactic for the midfielders to be wholly defensive?

A lot of people rightly criticising Harrison but gave McNeil a pass in what was a turgid negative display. I'd like to see McNeil benched and Harrison played on the left, with Lindstrøm on the right.

But either way, it looks like a long, long season

- we have not won a league game in August since 2021 (ironically an away win at Brighton).

- we have yet to win away in the league in calendar year 2024 played 10 away, drawn 4 and lost 6. Albeit, bizarrely we won 4 away games on the bounce between October and December 2023.

Respect to the travelling thousands who cross the country for little joy.

And in case anyone needs reminding, we only picked up 1 point from our opening 5 games last season so not all hope lost just yet. Just a depressing start to the campaign.

Is there any evidence that the team is showing signs of improvement? No.

Is the team well organised? No.

Has any player improved under his guidance? No.

Based on his post-match comments, does he watch the same game as the majority of the fans? No.

If he wants to save his job, he needs to get rid of his two assistants, change his tactics, and start to show some imagination.

Brighton and Spurs have better squads and better teams, it pains to type, but the table doesn't lie over a season. We are not 7 nil over 180 mins worse though I believe. What a crap start, but it's only 2 games in.

It will be good to see the lads play on the front foot and start making and taking chances against Bournemouth, but it won't be easy of course. COYB.

I always try and sit on the fence and see it from both sides.

The one thing that is holding our football club together is the fan base, but not everyone will agree on certain outcomes. Some will be very optimistic and there is nothing wrong with that; same as others might be on the side of caution and think: "Same personnel, what are they going to do when they cross the whitewash?"

We can sing our bollocks off, turn into Mel Gibson from Braveheart, leading our loyal Evertonians on a crusade, but it will not make an ounce of difference once they get onto that pitch.

Fans are right to feel worried; worried that last season it took a few games before Dyche dropped Keane and finally brought Branthwaite in. Those fans on the side of caution can see it repeating itself — Keane starting with O'Brien getting splinters in his arse, sat on the bench.

Seeing Dixon getting a chance, only to know the Bournemouth game will see a recall for Young… Oh yes, Dixon may get the call in the Carabao Cup, but nailed on Young will come straight back into the team next Saturday.

These on the side of caution can see Keane, Young, Doucoure, McNeil all nailed-on starters, even though 3 are out of form and the other too slow. These are the ones who say we are going to get beaten, or are worried.

It's not doom or gloom merchants, it's supporters who really fear the same line-ups and same tactics, that is their point of view. The positive fans who never expect Everton losing, can call them passionate, you can admire the loyalty of belief, but sometimes you need to put reality into your way of thinking.

Now there is nothing wrong with passion and belief, same as nothing wrong with a fan having a bad feeling. Going forward, some fans should join me sitting on the fence and looking at both sides, rather than having a go at other posters' views.

The reason we have a £70 Masset sitting on our balance sheet is due to Dyche. Has Garner also improved, may we also add?

We could probably say that Tarkowski, apart from his slow start to the season, has been pretty dependable.

The rest, well…

Whenever we concede, he's never in camera shot. An absolute pile of doodoo. There is no pace in the team. No goals, no creativity.

Calvert-Lewin needs support, he has since Dyche came; he has no supply, no one running beyond. He's fighting a losing battle.

He's never been clinical but he's being asked to put away the one chance he gets every game, after slogging all match. Haaland wouldn't score in this team playing this way!
These players must be demoralised, asked to play like donkeys.

Call it unprofessional if you want but these are young players who probably have never been brought up to play hoof ball, it's probably alien to them.

It's like going back to the 70s or 80s and asking Southall to play out from the back — you would get laughed at.

Well, Dyche is getting laughed at by every other team and manager in the Premier Leauge now; it's easy to defend against, it's ne-dimensional, its predictable and it's not working.

I can't think of an exception beyond Richarlison.

And right on queue, Brentfords corner led to Diaz running the length of the pitch leaving a fire blaze trail behind him and twatting it into the top corner. So Everton.

Oh Dead One… what have you done?

Yesterday I knew we would get battered. But I stayed positive. Even in my messaging. It didnt work

Whatever magic powder Dyche sprinkled on to the side to extract gold from base metal has now worn off. Forget the regular duffer Keane. The following have all failed to perform consistently for way way too long:-

Calvert-Lewin
Doucoure
McNeil
Gueye
Garner (i know he is injured)

Add in players who just are not good enough but play when available:-

Harrison
Young

And players who aren't good enough and hardly play:-

Patterson
Holgate
Maupay
Beto

and the picture is clear. It is bleak.

Yesterday a stalwart decided to have one of his worst games for the club:- Pickford.

As an ex reasonably good in my day 'keeper I would firmly state only the first was not his fault. It was the midfield's. Goal 3 was his mistake in staying on his line.

Two reasons:

1) Tarkowski is clearly unfit. Therefore anything in the 6-yard box needed Pickford to take charge due to his mate's weakness.

2) That corner was there to be had by Pickford. A punch. Why he is rooted to his line is baffling.

Goal 4 went through him and in near post. Huge sin. Beaten front post. Yes, he was coming out — like an amateur… Goal 2, yup.

Tarkowski clearly is not right. He backs off attackers giving them a good 6 to 8 yards as they run from inside our half to the edge of the box. Brighton scored from this failing.

All-in-all, we have major personnel problems. Was the Patterson affair the straw that broke the players' backs?

I believe Dyche and Thelwell are juxtaposed. Thelwell's signings have been terrible on the whole. When we needed, clearly needed at least two natural goalscorers, players with pace, right- and left-backs, his solutions have been lower league standard.

Dyche is clearly holding his tongue in public, as seen in pre-match conferences etc. regarding the new additions, save for saying "not good enough", "unfit". A damning indictment. Dyche is not getting any juice out of this over squeezed lemon.

How arsed those over-paid primadonnas want to try, is the only thing that might — and I stress the word 'might' — keep us from going down. I wish I could be more positive and less realistic.

Virginia in goal; Dixon, O'Brien, Tarkowski, and Mykolenko in defence; Lindstrøm right-wing, Iroegbunam, Harrison, and Armstrong in midfield, with Harrison switched to left midfield;
Beto as striker with Ndiaye just behind him.

Then you have guys on the bench that can come on if needed.

I wrote last week after the 3-0 reversal at home against Brighton that Sean Dyche picks his favourites.  I am pleased (not ecstatic) that there were changes, albeit forced.  Dixon at right-back made a good start and let's hope we have seen the last of Young. 

Iroegbunam did well.   Let's hope Everton do not bring another 33-year-old to the club in the form of Trippier.  We need young and quick players, not old and slow.  We are not a fast team and we are getting ripped for this weakness in the last two games. 

I'd like to see O'Brien for Keane to bring in new energy and a set piece threat, Ndiaye for Doucouré and Lindstrøm for Gueye.  It would be great to have both Garner and Branthwaite available for the next game. 

I like Calvert-Lewin but it seems like the reality is that he is not going to sign a new contract and we need to sell him quick in the final week of the transfer window to get any value. 

I'd also like us to get fees for Holgate, Maupay, Doucouré, Patterson and Keane as well and get in some promising young and energetic players. 

Here's for wishful thinking if we could sell Calvert-Lewin and Beto and get a Richarlison return on loan or staggered payment. Richarlison can play as a striker and winger and give us the mobility we need in the Dyche system. 

Broja is touted as a possibility as well but is that a risk considering that there are reported medical issues at Ipswich? 

I don't think we need another full-back since McNeil keeps running backwards even when we get the ball deep in the opposition half. Using McNeil as a left-wingback in a new system when Mykolenko is unavailable might be another solution. 

Let's hope next team is more adventurous: Pickford, Mykolenko, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Dixon, Iroegbunam, Doucouré; Ndiaye, Lindstrøm, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin or Beto. 

The first was not disallowing the third goal. Tarkowski had no chance of getting to the ball because Romero had both of his hands planted firmly on the top of his head. No VAR. Same old same old.

The second was not at least booking Pedro for his elbow in the face of Keane. Dirty swine. If that was an Everton player, he would have been sent off.

Too much to ask? Too demanding? It probably is when low-earners are pressured into performing to their maximum for 40-plus hours a week, and high-earners are offered a myriad of excuses for failing to perform.

If the players and manager want to be supported, then they should demonstrate the minimum requested; they could at least look as if they do care, don't become shrinking violets at the first hint of a setback, and stop blaming everything on somebody else.

None of the staff or players deserve to be abused, that isn't on, but they are performing for the public, and it is for that reason that all of them, should realise that they aren't beyond criticism.

Ipswich have bought well since promotion. We are no better than Leicester and Southampton. Possibly worse.

We've circled the drain for too long and this season we get swilled.

Nuff said. Too many excuses being bandied about for can't be bothered, overpaid players and managers.

Good stuff, Frank.

But the age old homily "casting pearls before swine" applies to the more frothing. Circumstance and fact mean fuck all to those screaming hate at Euston, Goodison, here or elsewhere.

What a mess.

Equally, I think Doucoure and McNeill generally ok but they've been poor for half a season now.

The young right back only played because all others injured and until he admittedly (and understandably tired) second half - he's far better than a poor Ashley Young has been for again ages.

I can understand not playing all of them but not to play any of them, unless nobody else can literally play as they're all injured, is frustrating when we're crap.