McNeil brace produces perfect response to a poor first half

Great to see Branthwaite back.

He obviously needed knocking back a peg or two.

I believe that Dyche now knows that, when the takeover is complete, his position will be more precarious than it already is and is hoping experience will help him out.

In the manager's defence, I suppose there aren't that many variations or hats from which to take rabbits but one day we might all be surprised and see Beto start alongside Calvert-Lewin if for no other reason than to see if the opposition play more men back than forward.

In fairness to Dyche, with regards Roman Dixon, iirc, didn't he have one of his thighs heavily strapped in the game against Southampton?

He may well have aggravated what might have been purely a niggle at the time. Again, thinking back on the game he was fairly 'exuberant' on the night?

As you say, the defence is pretty much the same as last year now; the difference being that Young is the only player not carrying the after-effects from an injury or illness, and is Tarkowski still carrying that back 'niggle' he's been struggling with this season thus far?

The positives are what is in front of the defence. Lindstrøm maintains his place, when it was thought that Jack Harrison might have come back in.

My one concern with Lindstrøm, is that he isn't a right-wing-frorward, as Napoli found out. He excelled in the No 8 or No 10 position with two 'holding' midfielders at Frankfurt, and was one of their standout players in Eintracht Frankfurt's European campaign two seasons ago.

All else is as expected, I guess, going on this season thus far.

The Doucouré - Mangala midfield axis may well develop nicely, while Tim Iroegbunam develops his CV engine.

COYB!!!

To be fair, if Mykolenko goes down, I guess Young goes left-back and Garner will go right-back.

If Young goes down, then a straight swap for Garner.

Failing that, again, O'Brien showed he can play right-back, as he did against Southampton for a long period of his time on the pitch, and he acquitted himself pretty well there.

If it also includes hoping they all last 80 minutes or more then I will never understand the guy. Let's now see what unfolds.

Palace have had the ball from the kick-off. Every time we get it, we kick it away to nobody.
Dyche Out!

There seemed little interchange in midfield and most seemed to come from Ndiaye making a run and at times we looked like we missed having a winger to spread their defence.

And then another soft goal, nobody seemed to be marking players or space. In the absence of a midfield general, there has to be more movement and support.

We mix up: ineffective punting with ineffectively moving the ball to our ineffective full-backs. Occasionally we go into an ineffective midfield.

I guess we'll see if something goes our way. It's about all we've got.

But with the sheer speed, creativity and variety of their counters, it's remarkable that we are not at least 3 goals down.

Well done, lads, dizzy heights of 15th!

Takeover, tick.

Branthwaite back, tick.

Well done, Blues.

My MotM: Branthwaite. The defence looked a lot more solid and his distribution was good and he made Tarkowski look a lot better than in previous games. And credit to Young, not my favourite player but he had a good game.

£80M for Branthwaite seems at least 20% short and we need to up his wage and contract now.

Up to 15th.

Sure it wasn't pretty but we got the job done and a much needed 3 points.

Good win and fair play to Dyche for changing things. Hope we can push on a bit now. New owner. BMD. Things looking up.

I like McNeil in the Number 10 role, some complain about his pace, but has a terrific left foot. Can enjoy a glass of red later, onwards and upwards!

First half was dire but we got it done in the end. Onwards and upwards!!

Had we lost, there would be 200 posts already. Oh, I would be one of the most angry, by the way!!

Thanks for making my day, Mr Dyche. UTFT. 3 further points please next week.

Could easily have gone pear-shaped if Palace had got a second and we couldn't have complained as they had most possession etc. But goals count along with strong defence and we got it today at last.

McNeil showing where he belongs because of his lack of pace, although possibly Ndiaye is even better in that Number 10 role. Doucoure is almost impossible to watch these days and a wonder he's starting over Iroegbunam and Garner. Lindstrom has potential but is too weak too often.

Our fullbacks are average at best. Mangala had a decent game and scares me on the ball less than Gueye. We're a solidly low mid-table team, right alongside Palace, unless Calvert-Lewin starts scoring lots of goals.

But it really is all about Branthwaite, isn't it? He's that important to our team. If our entire starting defense could stay healthy, we could make a run here and there. We're just so dangerously thin in the back.

But forget all that. We got 3 points. UTFT!

You forgot to mention how good Young was.

We've some decent players in the likes of Branthwaite, Ndiaye and McNeil. No reason we can't get more points over the next run of games before a challenging December.

Good performances from the new guys, Branthwaite included... Young was professional. I was concerned after the first half, relief after the second.

Dyche dragged himself through that one. Grateful for that.

At half time, I wanted an extra man in midfield, McNeil shifted out to the left, Young at left-back, and would never consider bringing on Harrison.

Together with Branthwaite, they were all excellent.

Dyche made all the right moves at half-time and second period and he rightfully deserves praise.

Wharton looks like a player who will progress onto a bigger stage.

Lindstrom had a day to forget, after taking a kick he looked disinterested and needed to be subbed off at half-time.

We conceded a soft goal and looked dead going in at half-time. We struggle against teams who play 5 at the back.

A quality goal from McNeil changed the game. An unusual right-footed cross from Harrison and a neat finish turned the game on its head.

Mangala looked good all game though if we play like that against better teams we will get a pasting.

McNeil was my MotM.

I really don't care how it comes as we were desperate to get something after an awful start to the season, especially after the trauma of the Bournemouth game.

Make no mistake: Everton are still a poor bunch, just as Alan Stubbs said, ''a ship without a rudder''. However, it's early days still and time to improve with players returning from injury.

Wins will be difficult to come by but, if they can defend well, they can get into a good position until such a time when they can get better finances, in order to get better players.

McNeil will deservedly get MOTM but mine would have been Ashley Young, did he put a foot wrong, not sure but he played plenty of good passes down the right hand side of the field in both halves of the game including one to McNeil for our first goal, he was calm throughout the game, yes he’ll have poor games because of his age, meantime let’s give some him some well earned praise when ho plays well, Malanga and Ndiaye also did well along with Branthwaite and Tarkowski with Harrison doing well when he came on at the start of the second half but best of all was that scoreline at the end of the game!

I've no problem with Young, a good professional but I was worried about a 39-year-old marking Eze!

Branthwaite back in, the lightweight Lindstrom off at halftime, and fresh legs when required near the end.

He's had a lot of stick this season but today he got it right.

I disagree with comments about our full-backs, but do agree Young isn't the answer at right-back. Despite a good game today.

Onwards and upwards from now on, at least we hope so.

Still, a month in, way to go, 4 points is poor… but let's see if we can go on an unbeaten run to make up for the poor start.

Thankfully we stepped it up second half but, to be honest, anything would have been an improvement on the first half.

Dyche needs to have a word with Lindstrom. We were bad enough first half without having a totally disinterested player on the park.

Best player for me was Wharton of Palace.

Today's opponents were just perfect for Branthwaite – he just slotted straight back in and he oozes calmness and confidence.

We need to improve much more but, as many have already said, a win is a win.

He's just too old to be consistently good. He will be occasionally exposed, but he has played key roles in some of our best performances. I so wish those who queue up to hammer him before a ball is kicked would have the decency to come out and congratulate him when he has played well.

Dave A

I guess if somebody gets two goals of that quality, he is entitled to be MotM. but I'm made up that you mentioned that for the second week running, Young was a contender.

Praise when it's due.

Young deserves credit. Dixon's time will come and let's hope he shows the professionalism that Young displays.

Let's be honest we will do well to finish 12th this season with the lack of investment in the squad over the last 5 years. Let's hope new ownership can make a difference.

The good news is, given the ever-increasing disparity in financial firepower, 30 points to stay up is more likely than the 40 it used to be.

Booing the team you support off at half-fime does fuck-all to encourage them to try harder in the second half. Evertonians are getting a bad name with supporters of lots of other clubs.
The booing has to stop.

At least on here it's generally only other Evertonians who see the monumental moanfest but when it's done at Goodison for the world to see it makes us look so bad.

Crystal Palace, and similar teams, supporters start every season expecting to win fuck-all but they sing and chant home and away.

Booing our team, our club, is shite!

I'm one of those who cringe when I see Young's name on the sheet, but credit where credit is due – he was excellent again, as he was against Leicester. But that is a position that has to be reviewed in January because we can't keep relying on a 39-year-old.

Terrible 1st half today but what a transformation in the 2nd so credit to Dyche for that, bringing Lindstrøm off and replacing him with Harrison who I thought was excellent.

Big shout out to Mangala who had a very good game also. Great to see Jarrad back; after a bit of a shaky start, he grew into the game and we are a different side with him around.

My MotM, McNeil, looked a different player when moved into the middle and 2 great goals. I'm not getting carried away but on the 2nd half alone a well-deserved win.

Tough game next week, but aren't they all? No reason why we can't beat them.

Great day to cap a fine week, only disappointment: Brentford done me in for a few quid but, hey ho, don't mind as long as we won.

Two true on both counts, the booing has to stop and the number of posts says a lot!

The result was vital!

Watching the highlights, what a strike from McNeil. Very underrated in my opinion.

4 points in 2. We're off the mark.

I'd love to have heard what Sean Dyche said to them at half-time!

As soon as we inject urgency and tempo to our play, even if the quality isn't always there, we look better, create more and cause problems.

He didn't change personnel but got a different tune out of the same players second half, so the manager deserves some credit.

I've not been impressed with Harrison this season but he made an impact. McNeil is loving his new role and with him and Ndiaye. We have players who can do something unexpected.

Next time out and the pressure may come off the players a bit and we may see a full 90-minute performance.

Positive substitution at half-time made a big difference. As Branthwaite did from the start.

Yes, it is quiet on here tonight! You'd think they'd at least have the decency to come on and praise the positives.

Talking of damp squibs, I didn't enjoy the golf at all, sodden under foot, and generally a course more suited to bog-snorkelling, than golf. I was playing with good mates, otherwise I would have jacked it in.

I will watch MotD, and assess it, although they only show the good bits, so not easy to deduce much at all. At least we have some more points on the board and not holding all the other teams up.

As a manager, he had a very good halftime and second half. Lindstrom was out of sorts, to say the least. It was a wise decision to bring on Harrison, who contributed a lot up front but also doubled up at right-back, allowing Ashley Young to move inside to form a back 5 when we were defending.

I was anxious about the substitutions later in the game. Once again, the opposition brought on fresh legs. Dyche had fewer options, but he made good decisions around the 80-minute mark.

I don't know whether he simply didn't dare take off Ndiaye, who looked very tired in the last 10 minutes after an excellent game, but when the ball came to him he galloped away with it. I wonder whether Iliman is just one of those guys who always looks knackered? We all know one.

It was a joy to see Jarrad back. He was struggling in the 2nd half, he had taken a few knocks, but when the game came his way, he just shrugged them off. Had he tumbled into the Park End in that superb last-minute challenge, I suspect he would have been engulfed in a gigantic embrace.

Credit to Jordan Pickford in that 2nd half, he commanded his penalty area, let's hope he has seen the light.

3 very welcome points.

McNeil divides opinion in the Brewer family – I rather like his style, my son dislikes him with a passion – so I was happy today! In fact, my son conceded that he had an excellent game.

However, we are in complete agreement that Branthwaite and Ndiaye are two players of the highest quality and that they were probably the difference between an Everton win and a loss today.

The Branthwaite - Tarkovsky combination looks like one of those pairings that brings out even more from a pair of excellent players than they would otherwise exhibit alone – rather like "Bainaar" – I'm sure there are many examples.

To me, the biggest problem is Calvert-Lewin. He's a strong lad with a leap like a salmon, but his instinctive understanding of football is seriously deficient.

Whether it's one-on-one situations in which a striker should never fail to score, being the wrong side of a defender, failing to elude offside innumerable times, or just failing to react to a developing situation, he is just not up to Premier League centre-forward play.

However, we know from his time under Ancelotti that he can be very effective if operating in the right environment. I would strongly suggest that the club gets a coach specifically for him who studies what Dom did under Ancelotti and recreates that situation.

Calvert-Lewin has many deficiencies, and the club should seek to find how to avoid those, and if they can we might see the player who scores 21 in 39 games a couple of years ago.

McNeil showing quality in the hole behind the striker. We got at them second half.

The first half was pretty poor.

So good to see Branthwaite back.

Let's hope we have turned the corner and things will get better.

Why is that, I just don't get it.
Does calling someone make you feel better, is that it.

It gets depressing reading moaning posts, even if and when we win.

Happy to get the first win in September, no wins by October always worries me , was it the Mike Walker getting sacked season when it took until October to win our first game, think it was against West Ham 1-0 under Big Joe?

Well done to the team and well done to Dyche. Most people felt we just needed Branthwaite back to shore up the defence, we’ve not struggled scoring. Having him seems to have had that effect and can now look forward to MOTD in this evening.

Badly needed 3 points which will do wonders to every one’s confidence. Unbeaten in two now(!), hopefully three next Saturday.

(Also swapped Lindstrom for McNeal in my fantasy team yesterday so quite happy with that too…!)

Anyone know why Lindstrom was bad today? Read he has some domestic issue at home.

Booing the team you support off at half-time does fuck-all to encourage them to try harder in the second half.

What a strange thing to claim when you have the almost perfect demonstration this afternoon of the direct effect that booing can have on (a) the manager's normal reluctance to make early changes, and (b) the complete mood change of the team in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Surely all the causational evidence is there to show that booing the players had them trying one helluva lot harder after the break.

Well done to the booers – you turned a loss into a win!

I think it was despite the booing.

We need to stop doing it IMO.

They've been booed plenty of times and it's made no difference, so for me it was coincidental.

We'll have to agree to disagree Michael.

I hope Pickford sees the light, Peter, because it makes a massive difference when the keeper starts coming and catching a few crosses. If Dyche said that the half-time team-talk was about everyone doing their own job instead of waiting for others to provide the spark, then it looks like our keeper responded very well?

Ashley Young has just given Captain Coleman a lot of credit for the half-time talk on that nasty internet website called “X” although Dwight McNeil has got to take the most credit with those tremendously taken two goals.

Or was it skipper for the day (and a lot of other days) — Tarkowski?

Let's hope this kickstarts our season now.

Maybe it worked today, it at least gave them something to think about as they walked down that tunnel.

I only wish he had been on the pitch in the closing stages of the Bournemouth match. He might have kept his head while all around him were losing the plot.

Ohhhh that's what turned it around?

Here's me thinking the stunning strike from McNeil right at the start of the half was what lifted the whole stadium and the team.

Must remember that. It's not goals that change games its confidence-boosting boos.

Think Mike Walker got sacked in early November, he was in charge for the victory against West Ham, lasted one or 2 more games.

Then Joe Royle entered the frame, won his first match vs Liverpool with help from Duncan Ferguson, if my memory is good.

Those booing our own! Really? Achieves what? Let's move on together! Enjoy!!

As good as the tactics were, I think Ancelotti struck on the genius idea of playing Calvert-Lewin in a much better team than we currently have.

He did a similarly inspired thing with ex Stoke City and Newcastle flop Joselu last season for Real Madrid. Instead of surrounding him with a bunch of low-cost misfits, he played Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo either side and the guy scored 10 in 34 league games and 5 in 11 in the Champions League.

If only Dyche would cotton on to these things...

What I don't understand is why did the new ownership bounce not kick in until the second half?

Or was it them booing?

I'm not a fan of Harrison but he changed the game and a shout-out also to Young. He was good at Leicester last week and excellent again today.

I thought that, once again, Dyche waited too long to freshen up the side, but we managed to hang on for the 3 points, so well done to all.

That said, I do get Michael's point and if I understand him correctly it's not the booing that motivates but what you do with the booing in the dressing room at half-time.

So, hat's off to Dyche if he did what I think he did and used the booing to his advantage to press home points to his players about how much better they needed to be to get something out of the game second half and make sure that that half-time short burst of booing did not turn into a sustained crescendo after the final whistle.

That's what a fella with some nous would have done in my opinion.

And, as MK said, it worked!

So, Dave (C), of course McNeil's strikes won us the game but that team was very different from the first kicks of the second half (and that new-found spirit won us the game) and that would have been down to what Dyche said and how the players reacted and also, I think, to a few hundred boo-folk.

It's also nice to be able to say well done to the manager, Ashley Young (in the event, Dyche was right to pick him and not, thank Sheeds, Jimmy Garner who is not a right-back), and McNeil (who has not been that great this season but showed us what he can do in the space behind Calvert-Lewin), and to say welcome back to Jarrad Branthwaite, who looked like he had not missed a game.

Not only did we stay up, we won the FA Cup as well!

Real hope for next year: 2025 FA Cup Winners! 😊

The booing really is pathetic, but I suppose if it makes those booing feel much better, then fair enough.

What makes me laugh about those sad people who boo on the half-time whistle, is that when the team appears for the second half, they are then clapping and cheering the team back onto the pitch.

Lindstrøm showed some nice moments but Palace play with decent intensity and he looks like he is struggling with that side of this league. Let's hope he can get up the speed of the league.

I've been pretty critical of Harrison but he's had a few big games this season and he was very good again when we came on.

Some very winnable games over the next few weeks. We'll win a few and settle in lower mid-table before things get a bit tougher.

Or should we just pretend the naked Emperor has a lovely new suit on?

"You pays your money" — as the old saying goes.

Clap excitedly about the forthcoming hit the bar competition at half-time?

The boos where from 20,000 frustrated fans entitled to air their frustrations.

Not a pretty first half but we improved from it. The biggest problem I have is that we still can't keep possession when having a lead, too much giving the ball away.

Thankfully, Palace were not good enough to capitalize on that and punish us.

Two great goals, three much-needed points, and a valuable 90 minutes for Branthwaite.

If we beat the Barcodes, we're right in business. tbh, the next six fixtures look like fertile ground.

I noticed Pickford subsequently screaming at his teammates, screaming at a ball boy. Screaming at anyone, to avoid any accusations brewing at him, for ĺack of bravery and concentration.

His 'Jordan Dracula' impersonations are once more costing us games. But not today thank God!

Doucoure is not the answer, especially with superìor talent languishing on the bench. I'm not a Harrison fan but I give credit when it's due. To be fair, he helped change the course of the game.

At the risk of offending a lot of people and possibly getting banned, scousers have a well earned reputation of being the biggest moaners on the planet, and TW is living proof on a regular basis.
As is Goodison – booing the team off is nothing – Ashley Young was booed on a few weeks ago, for fuck's sake! What kind of "supporter" does that?

I watched the Liverpool match after ours with some red family and they couldn't stop moaning about how shite they were even after they'd won and gone top of the league!

It's the age-old paradox – some people are only happy when they're complaining. Scousers will always top the league in that regard, blue or red.

Young had a good game (again)? Harrison as an impact sub? McNeil scoring blinders? Doesn't fit the narrative. We're shite and the manager is a fucking idiot!

I couldn't watch the game as I was at work so read the Live Forum and saw a few posters absolutely slating Pickford for not catching the cross that led to the Palace goal.

I just watched the highlights and that lofted ball was between 20 and 30 feet high as it passed over the “shit bag” Pickford who nonetheless should have caught it according to the Live Forum (bar Jamie Crowley and a few others).

Seriously, does Pickford have a rocket jet pack? No human could have got near that ball.

The only way Pickford could have come out for the cross was if he was wearing stilts.

Stilts while jumping on a trampoline.

I agree, booing never helps, and I never during a game.

I disagree with this "only 48 comments" nonsense. I reckon you are doing a big disservice to many. There is inherently less to say when you win and, after the shite that Dyche has served up, I suspect the vast majority are pleased today without jumping up and down.

''I am happy we won'' — There you go... Pretty boring. I would like to think you would know we feel this way tooday without having to bloody well say.

Maybe I'm just talking shite and indeed I am fickle, like you suggest many of us are. Just saying.

Correct that Pickford had no chance of catching the cross – it was well too high and looping. The key point is he didn't seem to know that.

As it orbited left to right across his visual horizon (like a space station, it was that high) its trajectory was obviously well out of reach very early on.

Yet he advanced off out of his line 4 or 5 paces, then: sin of sins; he back peddled. He was indecisive!!

His options were:

1) Stay
or
2) Go, Go, Go!

Commit all the way and attack the ball at the point of contact with the intended target's head... and the dark arts side of me doesn't mind if there's a bit of opposition earhole in that contact along with the ball.

But he chose a 3rd non-option of doing a partial hokey-cokey but sadly neglecting the 'put your whole self in' bit.

Notwithstanding the fact that Doucouré gave a Gomes / Lukaku-esque exhibition of the "He might be a big lad, but there are just some players who shouldn't be let anywhere near their own box" type of player.

As to the rest:

Re. Dyche and the new ownership; To misquote the late Robbie Coltrane... “Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully."

With a virtually unheard of proactive half-time substitution no less! — Who knew?

Ndiaye and McNeil continue to impress in their respective (new) positions.

Branthwaite seemed a bit rusty and was unlucky not to get a penalty.

VAR can spot a toenail offside from 50 yards away yet when one of the biggest men on the pitch grabs one of the other biggest men on the pitch and wrestles him to the ground, they suddenly go into full 'white stick and Labrador' mode.

Tarkowski seems a bit 'better' now, could that be a combination of recovery from a knock and not having to keep half an eye on Kean… who can tell?

3 pts in the bag and we shoot up the league, what's not to like?

Barcodes up next, a bigger but not insurmountable challenge.

"Trailing behind due to Pickford failing to challenge for, or connect with, a routine earlier high cross. It left a sour atmosphere in the crowd .... I noticed Pickford subsequently screaming at his teammates, screaming at a ball boy. Screaming anyone, to avoid any accusations brewing at him, for ĺack of bravery and concentration. His 'Jordan Dracula' impersonations are once more costing us games. But not today thank God!"

With due respect, Phil, that is the biggest load of steaming shite I've read on here in a long while.

You might not like Pickford, I don't know, but here's the thing, Phil, there is no need at all to talk shite about a ball that was about three times his height over his head but he, you say, failed "to challenge for, or connect with, a routine earlier high cross".

Jesus wept. Words fail. You sound like a Pickford-hating knobhead, Phil, but I for one am sure that you are not.

I think you will agree with me, Phil, that Cole Palmer is a fucking tosser, scoring four but having another disallowed, fucking Wyhtenshawe dickhead. Right, Phil?

I love the "I noticed". That wraps up the case nicely, Phil folks. Phil "noticed".

As you say quite rightly Phil, we must indeed "thank God" that, with such a knob who cannot double or triple his height in a leap, that we somehow managed to win. Phew.

Ashley Young didn't get horribly exposed or forced into a rash action today but he is still a reduced (and further reducing) force and other players will need to be used more often to bolster his effectiveness long-term.

I do think there has been progress this season but hope the manager doesn't imagine his personal perspective can now be doubled down on just because he has up-to-date proof we can win with his stalwarts.

On the subject of booing, it has to be a personal choice if you want to show the players and coaches you are not satisfied… but I'm one of those who really doubt it can ever actually achieve anything.

I don't think booing them off at half-time and then calling out encouragement when they re-emerge is unreconciliable but I think booing goes beyond pointless and becomes stupidly damaging when it is directed at individual players (of our own team — playing pantomime with the opposition is fine).

It's a team game and players are rarely solely responsible when things go wrong, plus they know who is actually giving it their all and who is coasting. Supporters should leave the personal criticism to be internally meted out and stick to trying to be a positive influence.

I truly believe it is a part of the 'Everton curse'. Why do so many seemingly good players come here and flop? Why do our youngsters flatter to deceive? Why have we been a striker career graveyard since Yakubu? Lukaku aside obviously and only because he was too good for us, still not good enough for some on here I recall though.

There may be clubs with bigger crowds but few who are as loud and passionate as the Everton faithful. It is our secret weapon but it is also part of our downfall. Players have been afraid to make mistakes for such a long time.

We are not quite the Valencia of the Premier League but they are a classic example of this, fiery passionate fanbase who literally wave handkerchiefs within 3 games of a new manager if results aren't to their liking, whistling for heads to roll within weeks.

It seems to have crept in more in the last 6-7 years or so, Schneiderlin being subbed on to boos was picked up by the press at the time, almost in disbelief that our fans would do that. He came out and talked about it, or his missus did, can't quite remember.

Calvert-Lewin getting booed off for fracturing his cheekbone remains an incident that still sticks in my throat a year later. 39-year-old grandad Ashley Young getting dog's abuse the other week for having the audacity to sign a new contract that the club chose to offer him at the twilight of his career.

Michael, if you believe this wins us games and in your position of influence on here are advocating booing our own, then I am disappointed.

It does not win us games, it perpetuates our misery and makes players even more fearful of getting it wrong, playing further within themselves.

The new owners need to find a way to connect with the fans, hire a progressive manager and stick by him and hopefully a developing vision. We need to find a way to harness the passion, galvanise the club and use the crowd energy to build up the players, not knock them down.

We must not perpetuate negativity and I believe on here we can make a difference to change this culture. Love and connectivity wins... maaaaan. Peace.

Of course I'm loathe to criticise a player who won us the match yesterday but I thought our grip on the game improved when we started playing through Ndiaye more, whose passing completion was around 90% compared to McNeil at around 70%.

It's an interesting conundrum, getting McNeil involved in the game and into good positions without running too much of our possession around him centrally where he (so far this season) seems to lose the ball more than is ideal.

I must confess to thinking and watching and agreeing with Phil Lewis that Pickford was at fault with that goal, starting to go for the ball then going back and not covering the front of the goal when the Palace player squeezed it in. I wasn't surprised; he does the same most games.

He didn't need stilts – just jump when the ball is coming down, like Henderson did for Palace a few minutes late,r rushing across his goal line and out to the back of his goal punching the ball away.

Pickford screaming and shouting at Doucoure then later on at the ball boys and anyone else who was bothered to listen to him, nobody in fact most of the time. I think the crowd gave an ironic cheer when he came out and caught a centre in the second half.

A lot of fans around me were giving him stick for this constant ranting and raving throughout the game, I don't think he knows he is behaving like this, to be honest, but it doesn't do his team mates any favours, that's for sure.

Phil, deepest apologies, if I'm wrong.

But to think that it helps or influences the players is a bit deluded. The players may not even notice with all the rest of the noise going on around them. The only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch.

Dyche made an early (by his standards) substitution and obviously motivated the players at half-time, that's what changed things. The booing is irrelevant to that.

He put a different spin on it. It's not outrageous. The booing helped Dyche in his half-time roasting and might well have influenced him to make an important early sub.

In other words, Steve, if he heard it and reacted… well, no bad thing, well done, gaffer, you earned your salary this week.

Your point number 2 about Jordan perhaps going to collect it at the intended point of impact when ball comes down was my take on it.

In the old days, Pat Jennings or Nev Southall would have probably come for it and caught it one-handed, Bruce Grobelaar would have dropped it at the feet of the opposing player who would roll it in. If Jordan had gone for it, missed it and a goal followed, most of the media and most on here including me would have been blaming Jordan for not staying on his line.

Life of a goalie.

Just another general thought, I don't know the answer: Going back to the old days of football when the game was undoubtedly different and back to a time when goalkeepers were all deemed slightly mad, were goalkeepers injured more in matches, perhaps because of the way they played, therefore missing more games?

Having even a not fully fit Jarrad Branthwaite back makes me feel more at ease, but every time a cross is floated anywhere near Pickford, it's always heart in mouth.

Sam @94. totally agree, I think we have better players to play in that central role and, until he scored, I thought McNeil and Doucouré were letting the team down massively. But, when McNeil can do what he did, it's hard to leave him out.

The old days formations, often with a defender covering the front and back post, positioned on the line, rarely happen these days at Everton.

The concern is repeat soft goals and what is being done at Finch Farm to prevent this? Soft goals conceded hurt and catch up with any team over a season.

Hopefully for the Skunks, this can be prevented. Also hopefully keep Gordon in check and their other cheating play-actors from diving. The Skunks must be close to the top of the League for penalties gained by diving.

Not seen who's assigned yet, but hopefully not Oliver.

Maybe I'm just talking shite and indeed I am fickle, like you suggest many of us are. Just saying.

Simon, the proof is in the numbers. It's quite obvious that people make more of an effort to post negatively than positively. Just something I've always found strange.

Mike Walker was manager when we beat West Ham 1-0.

Joe Royle didn't come in until November and in his 1st game we famously beat Liverpool 2-0.

As for people booing at half-time, where I was, I didn't hear no one booing, just a few disgruntled moans and groans.

But as others have said, I wouldn't have blamed anyone because the 1st half was terrible.

I could be wrong, but I've never seen anyone on here admit to booing Everton despite it happening pretty frequently.

Personally, I've never booed anyone who has anything to do with Everton. I'm not even one to slate them too heavily on here, bar the occasional "what the fuck are they doing?" comments on the Live Forum.

I also want to jump in on the Pickford bashing on here; we love a whipping boy and, if Young wasn't so firmly sitting in the hotseat right now, it would be our Jordan.

He is rightly and deservedly England No 1 by a country mile; he has shown his quality and consistency for club and country, he deserves more credit than he gets.

He is not in his best form right now, he needs us to get behind him. The comments on the forum lately have been horrific, he was called a "shithouse" by several on there yesterday, wasn't even his fault. Several laughingly moaning about McNeil and calling for him to be hooked at half-time.

Both players have their limitations but, over the last three seasons, name me two players who have stepped up more than McNeil and Pickford (with the exception of Branthwaite last season perhaps) in times when we needed a goal or moment of brilliance?

Not enough for some and their goldfish memories.

There are still 5 teams without a win this season – the three promoted clubs and "crisis clubs" Wolves and Palace.

We're now in a marginally less dismal group containing Brentford, Bournemouth and (given the money they have spent) another "crisis club" in West Ham.

Each of these "crisis clubs" will now be under pressure from fans to sack their managers – with Lopetegui and Glasner under the most pressure.

Fulham and Forest have both got off to excellent starts under their Portuguese managers. Shame it didn't work out for Silva with us. I expect these two clubs will both tail off and better resourced clubs will replace them in the Top 8 or Top 10 over the course of the season. But they should be okay.

We're not out of the woods yet by any stretch after a shocking start but nor are we doomed. Despite a shocking start, we are probably still on track for a 12th to 14th place finish.

Imo, Pickford, usually plays on the back foot when crosses are getting pumped into the Everton box, but he stopped doing this in the second half and started claiming a few dangerous crosses, and the difference this makes to the whole team is immense.

I think he might have been blaming Lindstrøm for not being strong enough after Palace scored, but it did look like he was blaming everyone but himself. He's got to start looking at himself because he hasn't been playing on the front foot enough and he was also very hesitant for another deep cross during the first half when he was lucky because his indecision could have got him hurt.

I had a conversation with my son a while back and he pointed out that Jordan doesn't play like that for England.

With Everton, there seems to be some kind of magnetic field keeping him in the 6-yard box.

He does make some outstanding saves, that have often left me breathless. And I mean breathless. On occasions, I swear I didn't breathe for 30 seconds!!

I posted on the Live Forum in the first half that Dyche should swap Ndiaye and McNeil; they rotate positions anyway as Dwight scored one from the centre and one from the left. Both were superb finishes and he had a great game second half.

The central attacking midfield role requires agility, speed, ability to turn in tight spaces and link up play. I just think Ndiaye performs the role more naturally. He starred in that position for Sheffield United before securing his move to Marseilles.

That first half yesterday was pitiful and but for some last-ditch defending and poor finishing, we would have been dead and buried at half-time.

Maybe the booing did galvanise the team... maybe it didn't, who knows? But take away the emotional aspect of football and you don't have a game.

Both have different strengths and weaknesses (I enjoyed the Zoolander observation, Sam) in attack and defence. I think and hope Lindstrøm can be similarly influential as the season progresses but he needs time to acclimatise and toughen up a bit.

Key to this is a settled midfield base, which is possibly starting to emerge, and good full-backs (which may need to wait until January) – although Mykolenko should improve once he's properly fit and back to his old reliable (though not brilliant) self.

If we keep our nerve and stick with the manager, we will be a Premier League club when we move to the new stadum. The current manager's contract expires in the summer and a decision can be made at that time as to what direction we wish to go in.

Booing moderate players whose confidence looked shot did nothing to turn things around at half-time yesterday.

Not surprisingly, Branthwaite was a bit off the pace early doors and looked shattered by full-time. Hopefully another week's full training will set him up for next week. We need to sort out this indecision when defending which is completely opposite from last season.

Dyche did well bringing Lindstrøm off at half-time. We were more or less playing with 10 men in the first half, his contribution and attitude was zero.

Regards booing at the game. You pay your money and, if you want the players to know how you feel, why not? It does not in any way shape or form make you any less of an Evertonian. We've been doing it forever, so why question it nowadays?

If the players can be harangued by Pickford for 90 plus minutes, I doubt booing them at half-time would bother them.

Can anyone please, please tell me why Doucoure appears in every match, if fit? Is it because he is one of the highest earners? It certainly isn't for his footballing contribution.

Oh, I almost forgot: he scored 'that goal' that kept us in the Premier League nearly 18 months ago… but has done absolutely zilch since!

There was definitely a mentality swing with Everton suddenly believing the game was there for the taking and Palace thinking, "Oh dear… here we go again."

Lindstrøm was awful so Harrison's inclusion after half-time was justified. Gueye and Garner added fresh impetus and at last Dyche realised that McNeil usually runs on empty after about 70 minutes.

It is important to remember that this victory was over a winless and poor Palace side, so we've not turned the corner yet.

However, it's not unique to Everton. Most sets of fans do it at some point. It's just the frequency over the past few years that makes it more noticeable. Most fanbases haven't had to deal with what we have.

It actually is a ridiculous noise for an adult to make. Try it now. I just did and my wife appeared and asked who or what I was booing?

I just had to explain that my tea was cold.

Fans showing their displeasure at half-time and full-time has gone on for years at Goodison Park, and probably every other ground in the country.

At Goodison, I prefer to mutter darkly to the person who sits next to me.

If big Nev was coming towards me, I'd have enough got out of the way! I'm sure he told his own and opposition players.

Robert, don't forget the FA Cup.

I'm on my way home for different reasons. Family stuff. But I'll take my Speke-born uncle to see his old house and take my Chelsea-supporting cousin, who grew up in Battersea, to see the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

We get behind them when necessary; otherwise, they get both barrels – keeps them on their toes.

“Dave, the players have got to give us something to cheer, there wasn't much to cheer but we came alive nearly every time Ndiaye was on the ball.”

And that was true, so when McNeil scored that very good goal, we then got behind the team and roared them on. But we went quiet again when we started retreating behind the ball. It works both ways and those last few minutes were, once again, long nervous ones.

Tony (108), when Pickford rushed out for that cross just before half time, he just flapped at the ball, didn't look like he knew what he was doing, and he could have been hurt; it looked to me he even took his eyes off the ball.

Steve (106), whatever you think of Pickford, he has been glued to his line ever since he came here and that is one consistent mistake he continues to make time after time after time when he plays for Everton.

I wasn't at the game and only saw brief highlights but, from what I have read on here, it seems he did start in the second half.

He couldn't be expected to come for that cross that led to Palace's goal because the Everton player lost the ball unexpectedly on the edge of the area, and then everybody in defence had to readjust their positions by which time the damage had been done.

I don't know of any keeper who could deal with that cross, but obviously some think that Pickford should have done.

It was a most welcome result, but there's still much to be done, as once again the opposition had too many opportunities yesterday. But I suppose we were due for some good fortune, given what we've had go against us in the opening period of the season.

As for booing, it's probably the ones who constantly berate certain players, you know the ones, they no doubt boo the team as well and start other people off.

Thank god and McNeil for the win, things were getting desparate.

I can think of two games in “recent” history when I booed. The last time was Norwich away under Benitez when I was one of 3,000 booing the manager, not the team.

The time before that was the 7-0 walkover we took at Arsenal in the last game when we had already qualified for Europe. That time, I booed the whole team for lack of effort.

I was at the 6-0 at Chelsea last season but didn't boo. That was tactics, not lack of effort but, in fairness to Dyche, it was a freak result in a tight spell.

"Look out! He's behind you, Duke! … too fuckin late."

Watching on telly last week I saw Jordan drinking from a tin in the tunnel pre-match – I hope he doesn't consume energy drinks, I suspect they would not be ideal for him!

On your point about the ironic cheer when he caught a cross in the second half; I sit towards the Park End, as you know, and I thought the cheer was genuine, and seemed to encourage our goalie to be more decisive for the rest of the game.

They were as well… but come second half McNeil banged in a couple of beauts.. we were second to everything in the first half but the second half was chalk and cheese... confidence or tactics?

Those who try generally come unstuck. Especially from corners or free kicks from the side of the penalty area.

Today's corner is all about pace and percentage. Balls are whipped into an area where the slightest touch or ricochet can end up in the back of the net. Any goalie attacking the ball leaves himself wide open to both the intended and the unintended deflection.

He is also likely to bump into the now obligatory "Blocker". A man who has spent hours in training, practising the best way to ensure. the keeper cant get to the ball.

The old fashioned idea of a goalie "clearing the lot out" doesnt carry either. there are generally 8-9 hairy arsed athletes inside the six yard box all determined the other guys isn't getting it.

The days of seeing the likes of Pat Jennings stroll off his line and catch with one hand are gone forever.

Pickford takes a ridiculous amount of stick from people who have never played in goal in their lives, but he's not alone. They all do from their own fans mainly for the very same reason - Him probably more than most because he has to face more than most.

People watch MoTD and see other goalies coming out to catch, but that only happens when the delivery is poorly executed or is floaty and they can negotiate their way through or around the traffic

Regarding McNeil having a great left foot, making him limited. There's very few players who have two good feet, and I'm not comparing him to my favourite Everton player Kevin Sheedy, but his right foot was just for standing on. I will say Doucoure has two left feet.

We were very poor first half, and I can understand the fans booing the team at halftime; what I detest is fans booing individual players.

In general play, though, I don't get the goalies fisting shots when they have plenty of time to catch it.

I presume it's supposed to be the safest option but it doesn't appear so when they sometimes paw it out to the opposition in the box.

My thinking is that Dyche can see the superior pace that Ndiaye has gives him a bit more than McNeil down the flank, but Ndiaye has the ability to draw opposition defences to him which could leave spaces for the wide guys.

Rather than swapping them 2, how about giving Lindstrom a go in the middle, Ndiaye right and McNeil left? We are getting goals so it's hard to change something that yields goals, if not too many results (yet); there's always room for improvement.

However, I think if you look at the top sides, they usually have a 3 or 4 man front line that are fluid in their positions and interchangeable throughout Matches.

It's definitely something we could aspire to get to with these 3 and it's a positive that they are linking up well after not many matches together.

Seamus Coleman!

Seemingly Seamus gave the team a talking to in the dressing room at half time. Reading between the lines it included a right bollocking, which I know he's done before.

He had no right to come for the cross, but he could have closed the space down quicker once the ball was headed back in, and he never learned because he did the same thing again a few minutes later.

Was the goal our keeper's fault? Not for me, but if he was blaming Lindstrøm, I don't think he had to come out of his goal and carry on the way he did, but we all see things differently.

The reason he gets on my nerves is because he's taking free kicks on the half-way line and I'm certain that one day he's going to come unstuck if Dyche doesn't get braver with his keeper.

I don't believe any goalkeeper is rooted to his line like Pickford is.. Henderson yesterday ran across his line and punched the ball clear while he was in the bunch of players at the back post.

Pickford had the time at Villa a couple of weeks ago to do the same from a floated centre but hesitated and Villa scored. Keane was at fault as well but Pickford only had to deal with Keane and the Villa forward who scored.

Dave, you don't have to have played in goal to recognise when a ‘keeper has made a mistake, especially where Pickford is concerned. My bottle goes every time Everton concede a corner because he is a liability.

Peter (130), if Pickford learned from the crowd's cheers, then he will do well to carry on coming off his line more often; it's only taken him about 6 years to learn that lesson.

Pickford annoys me too with his antics, but I think choosing to stay on your line is a style of goalkeeping rather than a mistake.

You two will remember the RS keeper who came for everything. Evertonians dubbed him the clown - secretly I thought he was brilliant.

I havent and wont exonerate Tarkowski for the goals we have conceded from crosses this season. I was raging when he was overpowered by a slighter man at Spurs and even more angry when he misjudged the flight of the ball at Leicester and ran under it. Our woeful defending has been a collective thing. We havent been stopping the crosses and we have not been winning the areal battles. I'd be far more in agreement with your criticism Pickford if defenders were doing their part.

For me a defensive unit has to trust each other. Ours doesnt at the moment. I only lay 1/5th of the blame for that on Pickford.

Brian 137

I dont think its a one off. I remember hearing Seamus often did a lot of the HT talks under Lampard. Even Carlo was happy to let him tell a few home truths when they needed telling

People express their emotions in different ways and I fully get that for some, a hearty boo is the order of the day, just like chucking cushions off the Top Balcony in days gone by.

As for the game itself, a very welcome win for the lads and Dyche deserves credit for whatever he said at half-time and for his opportune substitution. He did well today; not so previously.

I am one of the so-called ‘damaged' ones who wants Dyche out and I still do but, at the same time, I will also be the first to say I was wrong if and when he turns this fully around.

A long way to go but, if he stays, then I hope he does because, first and foremost, I am an Evertonian who wants the best for Everton – and in pursuit of that, nobody personally is sacrosanct.

As Al Davis said ‘Just win, baby'.

UTFT

I do not want to place demands on how people post. However, when the posts are ad hominem attacks or not so clever comedy routines, expect some payback when results happen to go against your preferred outcomes.

And by that I am referring to how outcomes affect Dyche's future more than whether Everton drops points.

All banter, but we had a good relationship with him. He would always do his wobbly thing in front of the Gwladys Street as we chanted "You're a clown!!!

And I'll always be greatful for him letting Kevin Ratcliffe's daisy cutter squirm under his body in front of the Kop.

As soon as you accept we love Everton but not as much as we like moaning, life starts making sense.

From the majority of posts, I was expecting to see us thoroughly outplayed in the 1st half. On the contrary, I thought we matched Crystal Palace for chances created, just that we weren't very effective in the final third.

Secondly, I thought Lindstrom was playing well until he got stamped on by an opposition player, and he seemed to lose his speed. It was the right decision to substitute him, but luckily yesterday, Harrison had a really effective game, unlike last time against Leicester City when he was really poor.

Player Ratings:

Calvert-Lewin, as usual put in huge effort, but he was really poor in getting to the end of crosses or anticipating where the ball was going to come. He is not at the level of Ollie Watkins, for example, presently.

McNeil is a terrific footballer, and I find it strange that some very respected posters seem to consider him as a problem. 3 goals and an assist in 6 games is excellent.

Ndiaye, such a pleasure to see a player of his trickery playing in a Blue shirt. He will only get better as the season goes on. I know this is a sad comment to make, but I hope he gives us at least 2 good seasons before moving on.

Lindstrøm had a few decent touches, but today was not his day. You can see the quality that he has, and hopefully, he comes good, like Ndiaye.

Harrison; I have never understood the criticism that he gets on TW – “He loses the ball too frequently” goes the cry, but that is because he tries to do something with it rather than get rid of it, like most of our midfielders seem to want to do (Doucoure and Gueye, I am looking at you guys).

Mangala was, for me, my MotM. He was terrific, snapping into tackles and winning the ball in crucial areas. He is probably the most important player we signed this summer. He, more than Tim Iroegbunam, will fill Onana's shoes this season.

Doucouré; surprisingly, he was quite decent with the ball, but I would really prefer Gana over Doucouré to partner Mangala in the midfield.

Young; I agree with most posters' assessments that he had a terrific game, but wouldn't want him playing, week-in & week-out.

Mykolenko; he got forward more than he usually does and sent in some decent crosses. More of that, please.

Tarkowski made some crucial blocks, none more important than the one which seemed to be heading into the top corner. He seems to have overcome his early-season brain-farts.

Branthwaite; well, what can you say other than hope that he stays fit for most of the season.

Pickford; he seemed very shaky in the 1st half, but something changed in the 2nd half and he appeared more calm and assured.

I think we can look forward to the rest of the season and expect to be competitive in most games. It is just a shame that the squad is so thin. We just don't have any game changers off the bench – which should change once Broja and Chermiti get fit.

We won't ever agree regarding Pickford. The 6-yard area is the goalkeeper's main area there is no reason to stay glued to the line when the ball is crossing that area, he stays there even when the ball is at ground level.

For example, Bournemouth's first goal recently even before the ball reached Mylolenko who also should have cleared the ball but maybe was waiting for Pickford to come and collect it.

He makes many errors that don't resulting goals against us, so unfortunately I will just have to hope for the best when he plays!

I believe that all players try to improve their games but, in goalkeepers, it is more on their physical size that may limit some of their game. Pickford, like any other player, has his faults, but his positives far outweigh them and these have helped the team keep points with outstanding unbelievable saves that kept the points that kept us in the Premier League.

Every player is different and can not be compared to previous players in the same position, as some are just natural in the position they play, whereas others show promise and improve with coaching and playing experience.

I've moved to the other end of the pitch now, mate. I read somebody above say one v ones should never be missed but, having watched the highlights of all the Premier League matches so far this weekend, I've counted nine and Man Utd vs Spurs hasn't even kicked off yet.

An Ipswich player through on his own, probably shot a bit too early and Martinez got studs to the ball to divert it for a corner.

Sorry, I'm basing my criticism of Pickford on previous games and yesterday's game, he ran to towards that ball as it was in the air then retreated back to his line; there was nothing stopping him from carrying on towards the ball and punching it away.

As for the pro and cons of his game, I'd like to see the difference between the times he's saved us and the times he has cost us; I doubt there is a big difference. A very good shot-stopper, which he is, doesn't make him a very good goalkeeper.

Why can't Pickford do that kind of stuff?

Pat Jennings never ever let a goal in for Everton all the time he was with us either!

Btw, anyone else wanna strangle this Sky commentator?

He does my head in!

As does that dirty little fucker Fernandes.

By 400's of a second!

Quick, us Scousers, Brian!

It took me that long to put down my Moet!

Moët in Birkenhead? Who are you trying to kid!

You need to look at a map, Dave. 😉

Blaming him for the Palace goal, laugh? I nearly wet myself.

Get this, have a look at Doucoure getting outjumped easily and then repeating the act about 6 or 7 minutes earlier.

No but it's all Pickford's fault, isn't it, because he never caught a ball that came down with snow on it.

I'd love someone to name me a keeper who we could get that would be better than Pickford? The fact is, there isn't one.

You lot who criticise Pickford for anything from the weather to Liverpool winning need to realise, be careful what you wish for.

Free kicks can also be heart-in-the-mouth time!

I am really hoping that a fit Broja can challenge Calvert-Lewin to lead the line – when you think about it Calvert-Lewin has never had any pressure on him for his position when fit.

This really has to change, forget Beto more money down the drain, Chermiti hasn't really had a run so who knows.

I hope poster 56 now understands that it isn't Calvert-Lewin's "instinctive understanding of the game which is seriously deficient". Especially as he was not one of the 14.

We may have only clocked Doucoure's one v one, but they happen in every game... every week.

I recently saw a stat that only 1 in every 5 one v ones gets converted. It was bollocks of course. The conversion rate is nowhere near that high.

"Should never miss"????? Let's scrap professional football then. They`re all frauds.

I blame those bastard keepers. Who told them it was fair to get their angles right and make the strikers earn their corn?

Again it goes to show how some just want to slate our own players. Blinkered!

You mean you've escaped from there? Made up for you mate. I knew your luck would change

Sorry to disagree as I know you attend both home and away games where as I living in Canada just get it on TV although I did manage to get home for the Forest, Liverpool and Brentford games.

I watched it over again and slowed it down: this started from a free kick that was deflected for a corner, the player who took the corner passed it back into the area, not into the goalmouth.

A Palace player won the ball from an Everton player, he passed it back to the corner taker who had moved up-field, his cross was to a player outside the marked goal area and, to me, Pickford realized he would not get there and backed up to guard his post.

My question would be, who was supposed to be marking the player who scored?

But, just for once, I have to disagree completely with regards your opinion of Pickford. Never, since he signed for us, have I ever considered Pickford a liability.

As I have repeated many times, football is a game of opinions. But, without our top-level keeper, I suspect we would be playing at least one level above our current status.

No, you are wrong: I don't go to Everton's away games, just the home games. But no matter where you watch the games, I have to concede you are correct and on this occasion. I doubt if Pickford had carried on going for the ball, he would have reached it in time to intercept it, so your view is the correct one.

Annika (@175),

Well, we will just have to have different opinions on Pickford's value to Everton and, while he might have helped Everton to stay up, I think it is a bit of a stretch to say without him we could have been playing in the Championship.

We dropped many points because of inability to guard his 6-yard area, along with other mistakes during our fights with the drop, and I'm not the only one who gets nervous when Everton concede corners because he is a definite liability at them.

Goals again, and like the Leicester game got a bit better at the end on the previous game, and in this game a bit better again. Well done the manager.

More goals from open play already means something has changed since last season. If this continues, hopefully a nice comfortable season lies ahead.

Also, credit due for the planning from Thelwell/Dyche that must have been set in place when selling Onana for a packet, and bringing in Mangala as a replacement, plus Ndiaye for the left to move McNeil in the centre, and probably Lindstrom to challenge/help Harrison. Three first team positions arguably improved from one sale.

Plenty of signs of improvement this season for me.

Only the goalie, and one player from each team allowed in the penalty area as a corner kick is taken.

Fully agree with the sentiment of that. I guess the corner might then be directed to just outside the penalty area!

Cue holding and shoving. I know what's coming next!

Thank you but regardless you are one of the supporters whose reports I look forward to reading.

In addition, within the first 20 - 25 minutes, it seems Lindstrom put 3 or 4 top quality deliveries into the box which really should have resulted in a number of goals. The player isn't a work-horse (and needs to up that side to help the team) but I think he's quality and it's a shame some seem quite keen to just recognise his faults.

Many years of pouching aerially launched balls (or manfully attempting to!) has taught me that early recognition of trajectory and speed is not always easy.

I'm not a goalie but I suspect you have 2 reasonable choices; one is to always ‘just go for it', and the other is leave it alone unless it is obviously accessible. The reward for the first option is that, when you get it right, you will be that stereotypical imperious looking goalie confidently claiming the ball we all admire, but the risk is that at times you will end up horribly out of place or flat on your face.

Such is the level of protection for goalies you may well get awarded an undeserved free kick when you get it horribly wrong and flail about for the ball.

If you are of the second type you will be continually berated for being incompetent or a coward for not magnificently nullifying the opposition's crosses but you'll probably be better placed to block the shots that result from those crosses reaching an attacker. It's a swings and roundabouts situation for me.

Classing football as an ‘entertainment industry' is ridiculous. It is a sporting contest which is very different from something just intended to entertain.

When plays, operas, etc, involve dealing with (mainly) uncontrolled weather conditions, an ‘opposition' doing their best to destroy your contribution, and high pressure situations which can literally affect the blood pressure of the fans for days, weeks, months, years even, then I will accept that equivalence which would mean football teams have total satisfaction for the fans as their primary driver.

Two excellent goals and a solid CB pairing again. Let's keep it up with a result against the Barcodes.

No thank you, I enjoy your posts as well, and I think you do very well, at your age, to get up at all times of the night to watch our team. Keep at it, best wishes and good health.

Calvert-Lewin is the one who goes out to the left back position to try to stop the cross. He is absolutely nowhere near Guehi. It was Tarkowski (again) who swung a weak boot which allowed the Palace player the space to score.

He gets away with murder, that fella. Others always take the blame for him.

We'd be playing Championship football were it not for his efforts.

And I don't think it's misplaced.

He is poor on crosses.

No mention was ever made of Wharton grabbing Branthwaite around the waist and dragging him down to the ground from a corner.

When are referees going to get the backbone to start calling a foul a foul no matter where it is committed on the field, including the blocking of the keeper from a corner???

For the love of me I cannot remember who posted in the last week about exactly this and the "elimination" of the foul for obstruction. If you impeded a player intentionally, such as Wharton on Branthwaite, it is or was a foul.

Has obstruction been removed as an offense? It used to be an indirect free kick, I can't remember any team being awarded that for quite a while.

It's foul play.

Overall I thought the ref was poor for both sides. Ndiaye was clearly targeted and Eze should have been booked for diving. To be a little fair, I felt Calvert-Lewin got away with a few too.

It was Rick Tarleton who was having a go at why obstruction is no longer an offence. I remember we got an indirect free kick in the penalty area for one of those offences when Ray Clemence committed a foul (?) in the replayed FA Cup semi-final after Clive Thomas robbed us of the win in the 2-2 game. The score was 0-0 when Clemence gave away the foul in the penalty area.

It could be argued that we would be further up the table were it not for his weaknesses.

Too erratic for me.

Should have got Aaron Ramsdale in when he became available. I also rate Virginia better than Pickford.

Just my opinion.

Big Nev set a standard I'm still judging other keepers by.

You've just reminded me of Carragher wrestling Lescott (I think) to the ground, which was a stonewall penalty in the closing minutes.

Ignored by the official.

An indirect free kick is awarded if a player:

plays in a dangerous manner
impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made
is guilty of dissent, using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s) or other verbal offences
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it
initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed (including from a free kick or goal kick) to the goalkeeper with the head, chest, knee etc. to circumvent the Law, whether or not the goalkeeper touches the ball with the hands; the goalkeeper is penalised if responsible for initiating the deliberate trick
commits any other offence, not mentioned in the Laws, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player

An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, commits any of the following offences:

controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six seconds before releasing it
touches the ball with the hand/arm after releasing it and before it has touched another player
touches the ball with the hand/arm, unless the goalkeeper has clearly kicked or attempted to kick the ball to release it into play, after:
it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with the hand(s) when:

the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air

A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hand(s).

PLAYING IN A DANGEROUS MANNER

Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that it is not dangerous to an opponent.

IMPEDING THE PROGRESS OF AN OPPONENT WITHOUT CONTACT

Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.

All players have a right to their position on the field of play; being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an opponent.

A player may shield the ball by taking a position between an opponent and the ball if the ball is within playing distance and the opponent is not held off with the arms or body. If the ball is within playing distance, the player may be fairly charged by an opponent.

IFAB 2024/25

I screamed for a penalty when Brainthwaith, was “pulled” to the ground, but there has been no mention of this in the news, although I’ve seen reports that Palace, should have had a penalty, because Dermot Gallagher, said so.

I could take it serious if Howard Webb, was speaking but, football is mostly all about controversy now, and even then, the people who are creating the sensationalism, are very rarely consistent with their views,imo.