Blunt... to all of this

Is his 'absence' the reason Mykolenko has been so poor?

From the luxury of 12,000 miles away, after watching the 3-minute 'highlights', I agree that we should have won a poor game. We stole a point last week and this week we gave away at least 1 point – and possibly 3.

The game itself was typical and they were due a win and sods law it was against us.

Interestingly the away end had been moved to accommodate a fan zone and Francis Benali was speaking prior to kick off and said he fancied a first home win against us and called it right.

Long pissed off journey back for the travelling blues from the homeland.

Hordes of mostly adults in a mass stampede across the station floor, pushing and shoving to get on the train, not good when you have two young grandkids in tow.

I wonder whether were finally seeing the last few weeks of Sean Dyche? I watched from afar on the dodgy stream at home, and come to realise, even the players can't enjoy playing in that system.

I honestly cannot think of another manager who coaches his team to regularly play with 30% possession, you simply hand the initiative to your opponent to dominate play.

Where in the UEFA coaching manual does it say that? Arn't all current managers obliged to have an UEFA coaching qualification.

Mykolenko has stunk the gaff out for weeks now, and should have been dropped weeks ago, for his own good.
As you say, Coleman or Patterson (who the manager has clearly made his mind up about) will never be first choice, but should have been brought in at right back with Young at left back.

Having not trained for seven days, why on earth was a clearly unfit McNeil even considered? He is so stubborn he clearly is losing the backing of the majority of the fans, even the extremely temperate Lyndon Lloyd from ToffeeWeb has seemingly seen enough.

The next five fixtures will probably see us slip into the bottom three in the Premiership, and seven wins in the last 30 games hardly points to nothing but a relegation battle.

This manager would and could see us relegated, simply because he won't change. The Friedkin Group will have a serious decision to make pretty soon.

His starting selections are baffling as are his tactics. His inability to tweak either once we're past the half mark is almost as if he's asking to get beat or stubborn beyond belief. Or both.

This defending the "V" stuff is like we've gone back to Allardyce.

If we go down this season, we will rue the recent games when there were winnable fixtures that we blew due to the negative and cowardly approach this coach has taken.

I am presuming those two clowns are from Hampshire. Knowing the area well, the joke is on them because they have to live in Hampshire.

It's like West Ham fans chanting stuff about council houses at our travelling fans.

No-mark clubs who have little to say but eschewing stale cultural stereotypes.

That Ramsdale was Southampton’s player of the match gave an indication as to why we failed to win. On another day Beto’s header goes in and we are celebrating a late victory. As it was it would have been better if he had headed over rather than hitting the bar. The immediate counterattack caught most of our team out of position but as you say Branthwaite may have had the wherewithal to read the final pass and intercept.

Yesterday was the first time I thought DCL resembled the hotel guest who, having checked out, is waiting in the lobby for a taxi to the airport. He might as well not have been on the pitch. For all his flaws Beto did enough to earn a start next week.

'And yes, you'll have to chase your own headed flick ons'

We know he's not the complete article, never has been, but try and understand his situation. How many strikers would score 15-20 goals in that set up? If I was him, I'd be looking for a way out as well.

Calvert-Lewin's problem is that, because he is not in position or making the correct runs, players do not even bother passing to him. Therefore, to get himself in the game, he must impose himself, which he has never been able to do.

It is down to another player looking up to see what is on. If Calvert-Lewin is the wrong side of the defender or not making the run into a position, the pass is not on.

On top of that, Dyche does not have attacking tactics, so goals come from opportune moments and Calvert-Lewin is not an opportunistic striker. But he will be first-choice striker next game on his defensive effort.

As for Mykolenko, he is more an overlapping full-back than a defender. Dyche does not use overlapping full-backs and Mykolenko's defending has always been a bit ropey.

McNeil should have been rested. Everton have bought so many wingers in, I even think I have forgotten about one. McNeil, like other players selected, has an opportune shot in him. Important in Dyche's book with no definable style or tactics.

Paul, glad you've seen positives in midfield. There is hope then.

Always a good read about your away days; though I don't go away anymore, you paint a good picture. I agree with your comments about the game.

Steve 4, Have you ever heard of Catenaccio? Or maybe watched Germany play football in the 90s?

Whether we like it or not, sitting deep and hitting teams on the break is a recognised tactic.

We have the defenders suited to it, we just don't have the quality in the final 3rd to implement it properly. Like we don't have the playing staff to press high with energy when we know we haven't got the pace at the back or in midfield.

I'm sorry that there was no result for such a long and tiring journey.

I think you made a good point of how Dominic has been playing for quite a while now and other posters have noticed the same point you make. I've been a fan of Dominic since he started playing for the Blues but “the lack of application” you stated has been obvious to me and others.

It might be the way he has to play in no man's land or possibly he has made his mind up to leave and is taking no risks that might injure him. A bit harsh maybe… but he doesn't look like he is giving 100% now.

Play Calvert-Lewin unsupported up front for 70-85 minutes to absolutely no effect. Take him off, bring on Beto and move Keane up front and score goals, hit the bar, or just look dangerous.

As a supporter, I freely acknowledge I know nothing about football team management… but as a Bayesian statistician, I recognise that using accumulating evidence is a better way of forecasting outcomes than not bothering to take any notice of what actually happens repeatedly.

I really feel for you loyal supporters who get up at stupid o'clock, travel hundreds of miles, to support a set-up not worthy of such commitment.

It is not as if it was just a one-off either; it is sadly becoming the norm under this Neanderthal manager. I do hope the takeover, which seems to have dragged on infinitum, gets sorted sooner rather than later.

Now whether TFG will stick with Dyche but provide funds for a limited foray into the January Window, or start afresh, one can only speculate.

Will they be happy just to stagger over the line, but still in the Premier League, or wield the axe early and try for as high a position as possible. If it is the latter, who do they go for?

But for now, all I can say is: Calvert-Lewin is looking like he's on strike. Yes, he doesn't get any good service, but he doesn't even try nowadays... that has changed and his body language is negative and impacts those around him.

Yes, Beto is not a world beater – but give me an energetic tryer all day long instead of someone who has given up or prefers a different job.

No contract extension for me – sorry, Dom, your communication is clear. I've rarely seen such crap from a team in Blue – and that's saying something after the last 30+ years.

Keep the reports coming, Paul, at least your stories are well worth the read and a few smiles. Thanks!

We will have enough to stay up… although I was having to talki my lad and nephew down from the relegation cliff edge on Saturday.

The next match is more important now. You can't change what's happened. We will win matches, draw matches and lose matches. It might be stating the obvious, but that's football.

Hopefully the Calvert-Lewin situation will be discussed?
Saturday wasn't his fault but he didn't show anything that helped.

In my opinion, a player who is running down his contract shouldn't be playing. He's not invested in our future and he's not showing any commitment whatsoever.

It's not Everton's job to showcase his (cough) talents to his future club.

We're all desperate to see Beto get the goals his attitude deserves, but my goodness he was almost under the crossbar when he headed that ball. If it wasn't the sitter of the season, it has to be up there.

The defending from the ensuing counter-attack was unforgivable. It would appear some are pointing at individuals for blame, but collectively, I thought we were a complete shambles. That ball was moved the length of the pitch and we didn't have a single player doing his job.

I was foolish enough to watch it back. How on this earth have we contrived to lose both this and the Bournemouth game?

Hand-wringing frustration.

I could not agree more.

Dyche simply wouldn't understand the meaning or the motive behind such a move, particularly with 30% possession, it's totally alien to him.

So how do you explain that we had 16 shots with 5 on target – their keeper making 5 saves – while they had 2 shots on target, 1 for their goal and 1 saved by Pickford. Sorry to repeat that again, folks!

We hit the crossbar and the upright and had one ruled out by a millimetre. Anyone would think that we didn't attempt to score, reading the usual moaning posts if we lose a game.

They had the ball for 70% of the time but did bugger all with it.

I reckon about 60% of their possession was fannying around in their own penalty area until giving the ball away.

Their other 10% was split equally between the cross in the first half that Pickford palmed away, and the break in the lead up to the goal.

I think Raymond is right that we had more than enough chances to win that game and got caught by a sucker punch, though this does happen with startling regularity with Dyche.

As such, it is just one of the reasons why I want him gone now. Such defeats as these on a regular basis just point to a lack of discipline and organisation throughout the team.

"I think the good news is there are worse teams than us in the Premier League, including Southampton."

Really!!! They are so shit, they have beaten us home and away already.

The guy next to me said if Tarkowki had Young's touch of last week, it would have been a goal.

The team can do better than this – and would if they weren't sent out with an inferiority complex.

Do you really think that Southampton are better than us? Really!!! We lost twice against Luton last season and they finished way below us at the end.

A competent manager would get a tune out of them along with some discipline, confidence and tactics.

Oh and not leaving the best player at the club on the bench.

Tarkowski did hit it with his right foot, it was travelling at some pace when it met with Beto's head, and that's probably the reason it hit the bar, rather than going in.

There is little or no sign from Dyche that his tactics are going to change and that we are actually going out to attack and win games. So next game and the games after that will all be the same.

It's a recognised game plan to surrender possession and hit teams on the break with speedy wingers and overlapping full-backs getting balls into the box. Apart from having no wingers with pace or overlapping full-backs, does this look like Everton to you?

The actuality is we surrender possession and then sit back and let the opposition come at us, eventually giving away a silly goal. This may work if we have one of the top defences in the Premier League, but what does Dyche do? Leaves his best defender on the bench!

I know we lack quality in the squad but Dyche seems incapable of changing the tactics to meet the needs on the pitch, and this is killing us.

Games are dribbling away and we can't afford to drop unnecessary points, we are fast approaching the point of no return to get the points we need to stay up.

The conclusion is inevitable. Dyche must go and go now.
I did think he would at least see his contract out, but I‘ve changed my mind; he has to go immediately to give a new manager some time to change things around.

If I could see any sign that he is capable of changing his approach and ideas, I wouldn't be saying this but unfortunately I can't, and he has now run out of time.

Dyche Out!

Ndiaye will get a few I hope, McNeil pops up now and again and Doucoure gets the odd one, but you have to point the finger at CL, I like the lad but its just not happening.
He's not getting many chances but when he does he's fluffing them.
I think Dyche keeps picking him hoping once he's scored he might go on a run and get a few more.