Stalemate ensured by late Pickford wonder save

Definitely down to the journalists and fans pressure in my opinion.

I think it will be a good game today, they are favs but I'm hoping for a positive result for us.

He may as well use the space for a youth player who although highly unlikely to get on the pitch will get more development from it than Begovic.

Perhaps we are so broke we can't afford the bus fare for the extra player.

Fingers crossed we get at them from the off and take all 3 points.

Not even stubborn Dyche could risk leaving Branthwaite on the bench again, he has to be in the starting 11.

Could have bet your life savings he would bring Doucoure straight back in the team.

Barring a sending off or injury, only three subs you will see will be Beto for Calvert-Lewin, Harrison for Lindstrom ,and Michael Keane for one of the centre-backs; forget Bates or Armstrong getting any game time, if so 4 mins max.

Same old, same old; prove me wrong, Dyche, and pull out a master display today – god knows we are due one.

Up the Toffees.

I'm sick of the 'grass', 'smell' story bullshit.

However, Keane lacks the leadership qualities of Tarkowski and that may have made the difference.

There are plenty of things to moan about that actually matter but this is completely inconsequential – especially since we've already got 2 teenagers on the bench to experience the matchday.

Sadly more away day misery... 2-1 Hammers.

The management of these by Young and Mykolenko will play huge part in determining the outcome of this game.

"Dyche doesn't listen to fans" They say. Yet, when he's confident he can select the centre-back he preferred all last season – is preferred first choice – apparently its down to "fan pressure"!!!

It's not so much the daft comments, it's the idea that those making them think they have an influence on the team selection and it was their idea.

Very funny.

Exactly. Some ‘fans' are just idiots. Zero objectivity.

So it's 2 goalies, 2 youngsters and 5 ‘more likelies'. You could even class O'Brien as an inexperienced (at this level) player. Which youngster is really missing out?

The team is pretty much what I'd pick myself with Keane or Tarkowski and Patterson or Young being where I could have gone another way.

Bonus that Bowen is absent for them. Hopefully we start the season afresh from here.

I cannot understand why Ndiaye is not playing Number 10, with Harrison on the left wing.

We seem to play the long ball over the top when the West Ham defence pushes up or almost makes a mess of trying to play out from the back which usually ends up in Ndiaye making it look better or Lindstrom making it look difficult.

Tarkowski looking a bit of a liability at the back.

The man's a fucking idiot.

Fucking awful.

I suppose we'll get the usual "point away from home is great" but the performance again was not up for much as we didn't create too many scoring chances.

We have nothing on the bench, and that's what might be the difference between us going down and a team like West Ham going down.

That was an absolutely outstanding save by Pickford at the end though. Incredible!

Ndiaye our best outfield player, but Pickford's saves were world class.

Huff and puff. Crossing from Young and Mykolenko was awful.

Beggars can't be choosers

Cut your cloth accordingly

Be thankful for small mercies

Slowly slowly catchee monkey

Can't make a purse out of a sow's ear

Can't polish a turd

Feel free to add.

Lindstrom didn't impress. Ndyiae busy as ever, love him.

Dyche for President!

Taking off Calvert-Lewin was totally ridiculous, he should have put Beto beside him, and taken off Doucoure, who missed a sitter with his poor first touch.

Why play one striker when we had two holding midfielders?

What a send off to Goodison this season is.

Still, a point away from home… but West Ham were there for the taking with a bit more adventure.

Can't really say anything else besides at least we didn't get beat, it was another generally dire afternoon.

'Blockbuster fart in a Wind Tunnel'?

Myko, Doucoure (as expected) Gana all pretty much going through the motions, without producing much at all.

No, surprises from the bench, just same as, same as!

Gingasaurus Bellendi!

Could it be possible that, just for one game, this manager of ours will consider starting with two up front?

Doucoure at number 10 instead of Ndiaye. Then Harrison replaces him!

Dyche makes it almost impossible to support him.

We are atrocious to watch, every game is drab. I can't remember the last time we absolutely bossed a game and gave someone a hiding, it's soul Destroying

And how the hell are they allowed to bring on subs in different positions, not like for like? Corruption I tell thee.

l thought he had a few dodgy moments for him but it's forgivable as he's missed a quarter of the season.

We're in big, big trouble. The only chance we have is that 3 or 4 other teams are even worse than us at picking up points. Southampton and Ipswich look like they'll oblige, we need one more.

No functioning wingers or winger crosses only down that furrow in the middle. That's the last time that I'll watch while he's still here because, while it may keep us up, who wants to see it? Branthwaite was superb and without him, we would have lost.

Which player in their right mind would want to play for him?

I think we've got worse this season – especially from an intensity and attacking perspective.

Last season, I thought Dyche deserved some credit; this season, we've gone backwards instead of forwards with 5 less points against the same opposition despite having some better players. Perhaps injuries (to Branthwaite in particular) played a part but the general team play has been poor.

A point away is always decent but, if we fail to beat Brentford next time out, we will be a little too close to the relegation zone for my liking with a pretty tough run of fixtures in December.

Just reading Shearer said it was an awful game. Our two fullbacks don't go past the halfway line, when did we ever see them overlap our wide men?

Dyche is sticking to his dire defensive formation.

I wonder if our new ownership ever watch any of these games or does someone from the club give them a written report of their view of the game?

One short report could cover it with "The only positive from this game was the 1 point earned by our keeper".

Dele Alli is almost fit – he'll save us!

He starts every match not risking the bird in the bush... it's so obvious.

We never attempted to score after about 60 minutes today and retreated to the 18-yard box to eek the game out.

I would pack the midfield and play Ndiaye in the centre.

I miss Garner in our team.

And can you name the manager?

He's starting with a point and playing to hold it but willing to lose to better sides unless throwing Keane forward at the end magically works.

I withdraw any implied criticism of Calvert-Lewin too, how can any forward play in that system?

Today, we looked especially poor, the team seemed low on energy, especially the midfield. The team needs players coming back from injury to freshen things up. The bench is pathetically weak most games.

Has anyone noticed, he is a remarkable passer of the ball, short or long, and never gives the ball back to the opposition?

I watched Beto come on as sub. He never won one aerial duel and his ball retention is awful, it just comes straight back. For all his faults, you can see why Calvert-Lewin starts most games.

Both teams were pretty ordinary, and having spent £150M recently, West Ham fans will be well pissed off.

Pickford saved us a point. Lindstrøm should have been swapped at half-time, his final pass was dreadful.

Also, the derby last season – but that was a one-off under Dyche.

"If we had played a better team, we would have been soundly beaten."

It says it all really.

I always say he's the wise one!!

Dyche – Liverpool home last season.

This team is much better than this cretin deserves and it won't change. I have already written this shit off till next season.

A joke coaching team, who ruin any creativity in players. Acceptance of this shit is the biggest problem at Everton.

Contrary to a select few posters on here, he doesn't deserve another contract if he keeps us up because the turgid dogshite football he serves up every week is mind-numbing and we deserve so much more!

Bournemouth last season. What a goal by Harrison.

I honestly believe this is the best this manager has to offer. To relentlessly play one attacker up front irks me. Ndiaye should play behind Calvert-Lewin and Beto.

A more competent manager would play two attackers. Dyche's selection today from a mid-field standpoint wasn't too shabby. I personally would have started Garner instead of Doucoure.

In fact, I would have started 3 centre-backs: Keane, Branthwaite and O'Brien; 4 midfielders; Beto and Calvert-Lewin up front with Ndiaye playing behind those two. It wouldn't surprise me if we scored plenty of goals.

But we're set up to not to make the opposition score.

Dyche please go. No, just go. Leave. Get the hell out. You're so bad at managing, I have started to watch the games from my bed now… drifting in and out of sleep through sheer boredom.

Like I said last week, when we win, I feel bittersweet. Sweet for the victory but bitter because we have him as our manager for another fucking week.

Unless… he actually changes his style and brand of football. Rant over.

Of course we would sooner have 3 points and exciting stuff instead, but we are really a scratched-together side of loans and "who's not good enough to have been sold" players. Exceptions being Pickford and Branthwaite.

Our forwards are powder puffs in front of goal, it's a great surprise when they actually do score one.

Last season at home:

Chelsea
Newcastle
Liverpool

But I definitely feel we have gone backwards this season. Dyche's approach is always attritional and pragmatic, but this season seems even worse.

There were occasional flashes of intensity and excitement. Now it's just sporting Mogadon.

Robert Tressell hit the nail on the head pre-match: that looks a 4-3-3 to me. You would think so with the personnel; nope – same set-up as usual.

Darren Ambrose said Ndiaye looks Everton's best player, he said Lindstrom looks Everton's most dangerous player. He was right on both counts.

Unfortunately, for about 70 minutes, Lindstrom spent tracking back and almost playing like a wing-back. Ndiaye gets the ball in his own half, beats three men but it doesn't lead to anything because he picks it up so deep.

These players are not McNeil and Harrison, someone needs to tell Sean Dyche.

In the first half, you see Doucoure and one of our holding players further ahead of both widemen. What is the point? How are we going to score or create chances? How is Dominic going to get service?

To compound things, he brings on Harrison as a Number 10… What the fuck??

Ndiaye and Lindstrøm are Number 10s being asked to play like wing-backs. Not a wonder most of our fans think that they and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are shit.

We escape with a point because they are without Fullkrug and Kudus and because we have one of the best keepers in the Premier League.

The December fixtures could leave us right in the mire.

Today's opposition was the type of game we should have gone all out for 3 points before December hits us hard.

The writing then was pretty much on the wall – we were not going to score today. So, I am grateful to Jordan Pickford for his performance for saving us a point, and to the gods of fate that I couldn't watch the game.

Mykolenko was better but that is only until he gets fast pressure against him. Young played well but, like many in the squad, he isn't the future.

In a Premier League squad that you'd accept now for next season, who would get in?

Pickford, Branthwaite, Tarkowski(?), Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin, McNeil(?)

Patterson and Mykolenko in a non-Dyche side? Maybe, because we haven't seen how they can play.

This worries me, we are no better than a botched-up relegation squad that one day we hope to see compete in the Premier League.

Growth now really has to be organic from within the club and incoming young players with the odd higher value buy – and no Marquee signings which are what got us here.

Why would anybody become an Evertonian now? This Dycheball is the end.

Swansea 0-2 Everton. About 2012 and I think it was… Martinez.

I don't get to go very often. Next visit is the Brentford game. Absolutely no chance of our manager turning out a team that will send me away satisfied from that game unless Dyche is sacked before then.

If new owners do take over by January, then they will need him to finish the season in the Premier League, then let him go, He's just going through the motions at the present time by picking points up here and there and keeping his reputation intact.

An excellent point that I believe too.

Our midfield and forwards are tasked with defense first priority which means, when we break forward, not enough bodies are there and so there is no one to pass to.

This also knackers the players so, for the last 10 or 15 minutes, some players are totally out of gas.

West Ham have one of the worst defensive records and we hardly laid a glove on them in the final third.

I'm told he has bridges to climb yet before the takeover is complete – and workable. So careful does it!

They were awful today too, as any decent team at home would have slaughtered us; they deserve better as one of the Legacy Clubs.

It has to end but it can only come with the end of Sky and Premier League dominance. I fully support the rules for sustainability, they are superb. VAR… no, that must end in its present form.

I'm astounded how some of our fans swallow the shite Dyche serves up. It's embarrassing watching this cowardly shithouse football that this gobshite inflicts on us.

We have a bunch of injuries at the moment. Are you truly that bent out of shape because some youngster who has a literally 0.0% chance of seeing the pitch isn't picking splinters out of his butt instead of Begovic?

But timing is against us as it's not going to happen until the ownership is sorted.

A point away from home is good.

Most Blues seem to agree that the performance was poor.

Dyche will have been thrilled with it.

I'm not worried about relegation. Bad as we are at the moment, I can't see the likes of Southampton and Ipswich surviving. No, it's more pragmatic. We need a massive overhaul of the squad, especially as so many contracts expire in June.

A new manager coming in around January will then have a few months to properly decide who he wants to keep and who to let go. It'll make the planning for next summer easier. We may also see if some of the current players can offer more under a new set-up.

Until then, just got to get to TOD – TakeOver Day. These next few weeks are going to pass slow….

Normally I hate them but this season I'm sick of club football already.

If Everton was a poison, then we'd have long since ceased to exist.

Watching us is toxic, let's be honest; we play the game that's supposed to be about entertainment, to simply bore people to tears.

Two wins by the end of November, I can't remember the last time that Everton Football Club had only two wins by the end of November.

That's somehow now acceptable at this club.

I assume you are referring to post 81 from Liam who was relating the 3 consecutive victories in April 2024.

As far as I'm aware, our final match at Goodison will be against Southampton and the final game of the season will be at Newcastle.

Both teams of a very low quality with Everton slightly better than West Ham — although we were much the luckier team and only that tremendous save from Pickford kept us in the game because we never looked like scoring.

Young gets some stick on here but at least he looks like a footballer while Mylolenko is getting worse with every passing game. Branthwaite needs a few more games before he gets back to his best, his rustiness showed today, especially in the second half.

I'm happy with another point but these putrid performances are hard to watch and we have Ndiaye to thank for showing us how football should be played.

I get that it's nigh on impossible to keep on churning League titles every year and the only real challenger is the baldy Koeman across the park.

As I say, nothing we can do, it's simply Everton that after decades of shite ownership just hitting the bottom of the barrel, still ownerless and somehow we've suffered Sam Allardyce, Rafa Benitez and Sean Dyche at this club in 7 years.

Thanks so much to the since departed Bill Kenwright and that Iranian buffoon.

Don't know how many wins by November but that was a god awful start to a season. Admittedly the hang over of going out of two European competitions in quick succession no doubt contributed.

Not sugar-coating this season's start but we've probably had more shit starts than not in the last 20-odd years. Being an Everton fan isn't too dissimilar to purgatory.

I remember that season, turbulent start.

I do think we won more than two matches mind you.

I recall a win at Bolton, yes, and Simon Davies scoring a winner at Birmingham in October. I think we won our first home game in early November so we had more wins definitely yes, maybe a draw or two, I don't know.

While he keeps us out of the Bottom 3, I'll continue to hold my nose and suspect the new owners may be of the same opinion.

I can understand the frustration of match-going fans but I'm bemused by some of the name-calling and personal insults thrown his way on here. He's a limited manager, he doesn't have the chops to get his teams playing better football and that's about it; Burnley were the same.

I hate to compare us to Burnley, but we appointed him and knew what we were getting. We've fallen a long way as a club.

Whatever happens, I'd be surprised if he was here next season. In the meantime, I just hope we can grind out enough results to see us through. Today is one more point towards avoiding relegation. Best I can say.

There's something fundamentally wrong when the bulk of the squad specialise in not being able to complete simple passes... and that's if they can actually see if the pass is on in the first place.

The quality of crosses from both flanks in open play is criminal. l'm worried that we will be Bottom 3 at the end of December.

Mike Walker's final season produced only 1 victory up until the derby game which was played in late November, big Joe got us three wins on the bounce, so even that particular season saw Everton with 3 victories by the end of November.

As Denis mentions @104, it's become a habit to only have 3 or 4 victories on the board by the end of November, very few seasons in the past three decades have resulted in Everton having what might be described as a storming start to the season, regardless of personnel or management teams.

2005-06 produced 4 victories by the end of November, Bolton and Birmingham away and Middlesbrough and Newcastle at home.

My eyes still hurt.

I have to say, Dyche did a terrific job keeping us up the last couple of seasons, but he's absolutely crap this season – so defensive, no drive. Today and last week, we should have got 6 points but his tactics and formation are so ancient.

We can give out about Calvert-Lewin, what service does he get from the wings, and support? When Beto came on, he didn't win one header, but how could he leave Doucoure on, and sub Dom?

Sadly we have no one to sack him.

The team was actually good enough to win that game, but it is an uphill and skin-of-the-teeth struggle following the way that Dyche wants them to play… and his substitutions actually make it even more difficult.

Pickford had a great game, my MotM. West Ham had few chances; at least they tested our keeper with them (and tested him well).

Thank you, England's Number 1.

Any information relating to the return of Joy, will be greatly rewarded by those connected to and those who spend their time following Everton.

No, we don't play Liverpool last game of the season. The fixtures have been out since June, we play Southampton at home, then Newcastle away, last game.

My sincerest thanks.

The idea of them sending us down while picking up the title at the last Goodison game would finish me off. It's going to be bad enough Man City and Arsenal handing them the title but it is what it is – fuck 'em.

Does lying in bed listening dozing off for the odd minute with yer back facing the laptop screen count, Liam?

Go to Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and yeah you can say, before the game, a point would be good. West Ham are poor. Their fans were booing them because they are so poor. Will he be sacked before Dyche??? More than likely!!

Ndiaye needs to get central, he can go both ways, can create something out of nothing and limited on the wing.

Tarkowski looks like he's running through 3 foot of mud lately and is showing his years. Bring in O'Brien!!!

Pickford easily MotM. I think Garner is missed more than most thought. Mangala, Garner, Doucouré is probably our best 3 if we play this system.

I can't see the ginger wizard ever shifting from his belief that not losing is as good as never winning!! He has no ambition, no balls to try and win, in case we lose, he doesn't care if we finish 4th from bottom by a goal difference of 1, he'd take that right now!!

I know he's here all season and not getting sacked, but he's absolutely infuriating, his style, his attitude, his tactics, his moaning... Do something different, Dyche!!!!

Where did you read that, out of interest?

It's relatively easy to check that. You could type in 'Everton fixtures 2024-2025' on Google (and that would be a lot less letters than that daft post) or go to https://www.evertonfc.com/matches

I've provided the link for next time. Make sure to bookmark it and make sure that you are getting the fixtures for the mens' not the ladies' team.

We did manage to make what looks like a well-balanced West Ham team look pretty awful though. Lopetegui is doing a really awful job there. Probably neck and neck between him and Glasner as to who will get the sack first.

I'd like to see Patterson involved next game to see if he can make that right-back slot his own and start to begin a partnership with Lindstrøm, who didn't have a good game but has a lot more ability than Harrison.

Granted, Villa trod the same path – and even got relegated – but their owner got out much earlier and with debts a fraction of those surrounding our beloved Everton.

But what we must try to do is not to lumber Dyche with the blame for all the sins known to man. In truth, he is a lower-grade manager on a higher-grade salary who is doing his best to save our club from the fate that befell our Midland rivals. It may well prove to be beyond him but constantly calling for his instant dismissal will neither spur on his players to improve results, nor see form change radically by his dismissal.

Like most on here, I have been patient for nearly half a century… so waiting for the takeover will seem but a trice. We just have to believe that, before long, we shall be watching a team worthy of the Everton name and motto.

There is always the Off Switch (like the one Dyche and the hard-boiled eggs press every game) or a brick, but that may render your tele a trifle unwatchable for decent stuff. :-)

I think Barry R 98 possibly gave up watching games, fixture lists, and anything else related to the current Everton set up a long time ago.

He's just an agitator on here, see his pathetic Graeme Sharp posts.

You clearly didn't reference my reply to Fred at #101 which cleared up a misunderstanding of post #81. So strange.

Jeff Armstrong 123

You sound so wounded hope you get well soon.

Oh btw we don’t play Liverpool last game of the season

No probs I'm here to help

Quite simply, we don't have enough top-quality players. All teams struggle without their top players, as evidenced by the recent results of Manchester City without Rodri and Arsenal without Ødegaard. Those clubs have incredible squads with far better players than any Dyche has available.

As regards tactics, there were more than a few occasions today in open play when we had half our team in and around the opposition penalty area. That we can't make anything of those opportunities is not because of negative tactics. It is a consequence of not having enough quality.

The obvious risk of throwing players up the field is we are then prone to getting caught out by a counter-attack – such as the one from which West Ham created their first chance of the game 2 minutes before half-time.

For the people calling for Dyche's dismissal, I wonder what you think a new man could do differently with this squad to produce better results and performances.

I thought the same. We played “okay” but... We're toothless.
And I personally think that's down to the attitude we're sent out with.

We should've battered them today – we were miles better than them. But we have no winners' instinct. We're a team of decent players managed by a one-trick, masterclass myth shithouse who belongs in the '80s.

Dyche Out. Now!

Interesting that he didn't tell us where he read it. I did read the follow-up feigned post Mr Rathbone and it does nothing at all to deter from the reasons for my helpful hints for you. Did you bookmark the link?

The gist of those in favour seemed to be that his delivery of a couple of Euro finals at Roma would translate to the same at Everton. But to my mind the not very successful experiment with Ancelotti shows that sort of thinking to be completely flawed.

As you say, we lack quality – and a new manager can't conjure that up from nothing, as Ancelotti himself pointed out with his parting comment about not being a magician.

That's not to say Dyche couldn't do better. The set-up lacks any sort of sparkle or imagination and there's no real pattern of play to the attack.

But as I often bore people with, add the likes of Digne, Richarlison, Gordon, Sigurdsson and even disappointments like Iwobi to this first XI and I think we would start to look a lot, lot better.

The '80s were pretty good, mate. We won things and the Stone Roses were recording their first album towards the end of it and Mick Head was only just beginning.

Yours is an interesting perspective, as always.

Thanks.

And don't say The Strands, Fable for me.

Pity Head is a Red.

I couldn't agree more with them sentiments, this so called football we are being served is soul destroying.

I'm counting the days down until this negative twat is sacked, I've never despised an Everton manager more in my life, and I include Benitez in that.

Just fuck off and put us out of this purgatory.

XI Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Digne, Mangala, Gana, Sigurdsson, Gordon, Ndiaye, Richarlison.

Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Mykolenko, O'Brien, Lindstrom, McNeil, Iwobi, Beto, Calvert-Lewin

Don't think it was anything to do with Dyche's tactics. We got forward regularly but had no threat. We missed McNeil's shooting from promising positions big style today.

We've had some great combinations on the flanks over the years: Steven and Stevens, Baines and Pienaar, Digne and Richarlison, and even Digne and Bernard had their moments, but this current Everton team are like strangers.

There's hardly anything off the cuff, it's slow predictable shite. Besides Ndiaye, there's no one who gets you off your seat. We are awful to watch and easy to nullify. I'm worried about us this season.

Out of those two HMS Fable by a mile (I remember seeing Shack at the old Dominion on Tottenham Court Road just after it came out with Noel Gallagher in wild enthusiasm at a table in front of me).

But the best? Pacific Street, Waterpistol, MWOTS, and the two Red Elastic albums in no particular order.

Yes, on the way back on the coach. One of the less arduous of the long trips with every prospect of being home in time for Match of the Day! Pickford's saves will be worth seeing again. Little else to keep the nation awake!

Only injury or otherwise brings about change, if you can call it that. There is no sign of trying something different, or introducing some new blood – usually accompanied by 'the lack of experience excuse'. Now how do they get experience if they are never given the chance?

I feel really bad, but I actually don't like the fella. Can they do something about his vocal chords?

There is not an ounce of humility or self-awareness in his public self. There is a lot of denial though.

It is inadequate self-serving bullies who always spread the muck and blame around and hardly ever admit or accept responsibility, shortcomings, mistakes, bad judgment and choices, or failure.

Who swallows this football? Name one person on this site who does?

We all hate it, so you tell us how you are not swallowing it and I, for one, will be with you.

It's an after-match presser, he's gonna say exactly what we all expect him to say, it's formulaic nonsense, which to be fair, Dyche excels at.

I have often said that, if things go awry, which is pretty much every week, he never admits that it just may be him who got it wrong. That translates to a mixture of ignorance and arrogance. So no matter what happens that will still continue as long as he does!

SOS/Mayday for Mr Friedkin!

We need a mutiny by the players and lock those hard-boiled eggs in Finch Farm. Where are you, Seamus? Keep those gobshites away from the first team.

I have never been so annoyed at our toothless impassionate and embarrassing team. Dyche Out –please, Mr Moshiri and Mr Friedkin, please!!

To leave Branthwaite off for the last two games is cringing, and to leave Calvert-Lewin isolated upfront, and then a straight swap for Beto instead of Doucoure is cringing and formation ice age.

Branthwaite back today was colossal — another Dyche mistake.

I have respect for someone who publicly takes on that responsibility, even if we played shite and lost heavily.

It's a left-right combination that all defensive pairings need. A clean sheet, Pickford brilliant too.

Did we pick up a valuable point away from home? Yes.

Why are we not happy? Come on — it's not that bad,for fuck's sake! We are not title challengers… yet!!!!!

Also, we need a left-back, right-back and centre-forward asap… Lindstrom is shite as well and I prefer Jimmy Garner.

We are so used to complete shite that we think some of our players are good lol… Pickford, Branthwaite, Mangala and Ndiaye are worth keeping. Maybe Gana too for his energy. That's it!!!…

But we have survived some of the darkest days in our history: we stayed up by a Doucoure goal then a couple more subsequent seasons when it looked like our chips were well and truly down!! Leicester won on that final day and we were in the bottom 3 with half an hour left of the season until the goal!!

The ginger shithouse is just that, but he is still our best shot at survival before a truly new dawn. We always knew what this season was going to be; we are shit. It's a shame the last season at Goodison Park had to be this way but at least we are still in the bloody Premier League.

Dyche boils my blood, like the rest of us, but I would in fact still shake the fella's hand, buy him a drink, and tell him how truly thankful I am, should I ever meet him.

Never, ever, ever forget how bad it was under Frank and Rafa: I'm sure it was 8 games at one point without a shot on target under Frank. We were 100% in free fall and going down; many on here were convinced. Moshiri and Co put us in this mess, not Sean.

We are very much in debt to Sean Dyche…, pains me to say — but it's true.

Mykolenko is up there with the worst players I've ever seen at Everton. I said it the first time I saw him, I think it was at Norwich. It was like when Ali Dia signed for Southampton as George Weah's cousin!

We'd been seriously shafted… Mykolenko is stealing a living and is an absolute liability.

But it was 2 points given away by a conservative manager who can't see a gift horse in his face.

We should've, could've won that but this ultra defensive coward is costing us points.

Facts and stats, facts and stats, facts and stats. Psychology. I've spoken at length about [something he hasn't spoken about]. Mentioning phrases and then claiming it's a term he coined, like it adds significance to his comments.

Devil! Devil! Devil! We've got to find the devil.

Is it really that hard to avoid appointing weirdos?

Calvert-Lewin completely isolated… did you watch the game???

In this sense, we are in a false position and ought to be higher than we find ourselves today. That sequence is drawing to an end and I feel that for many there is deep fear of what December might bring.

These thoughts for me made today's draw in a game we could easily have won (that one BBC pundit called the most boring game that he had seen in as long as he can remember) much more worrying, disappointing, frustrating, and, quite frankly, fecking maddening.

It's easy to say 'good point', 'an away draw in the Premier League is more than decent' etc. But this was not just one game. It was one game in a sequence that we spotted the day the fixtures came out where it was felt that we could pick up valuable wins as a safety-net to get us through the hard December that is now two games over the near horizon.

I absolutely understand 'why are we not happy'. Your post for some, Nigel, might actually seem rather short-termist and an exercise in avoidance and missing the larger, wider, longer point.

The three hard-boiled eggs in this proper fuller context offer very little or nothing in the way of reassurance or something that might help us to feel more confident and brighter.

Today was bad. Very bad.

We're not scoring goals, the ineffective Doucouré should have been hooked at half-time for Beto to play alongside Calvert-Lewin. What doesn't the manager see?

Our crossing when we do get into wide areas is terrible, and we sometimes give the ball away under no pressure at all, just simple short passes to nowhere!

And what is is with the kick-offs? Straight back to Pickford to punt away possession? Drives me crazy!!!

If you're going to kick it long, why pass it half-way back down the pitch first?

There is no attempt to try to win the game at all, home or away. I bet Calvert-Lewin can't wait for the season to end so either he or Dyche leave. It must be so soul-destroying chasing your own flick-ons week after week with no support or service at all.

The only positive was the result.

Doucoure gives exactly what you would expect from him. He doesn't let anyone down – he's just exactly the player we expect to see when he is named.

Playing Doucoure in an advanced role is, for me, the single biggest sin that Dyche commits. It's basically saying to the team "Don't worry about playing football, just chase it".

But – and it is a big but – I think we could, and probably would, have lost that game in the last 2 or 3 seasons.

One defeat in 8 [I think] Premier League matches is not a bad return, even if some of them might be regarded as 'easy' games.

The irreducible minimum for this season, is being in the Premier League when we transition to the new ground. We are probably going to achieve that.

Next season: new owners, new ground, new manager, new players... but until then, we just have to grit our teeth and be grateful for small mercies.

You can look at it as winning the xG against Southampton and winning the possession against West Ham. Or you can look at it as 1 point from a possible 6 against some pretty torrid opposition.

What is undisputed is that we have 10 points after 11 and I don't think anyone would argue that is a false position in terms of performances. If anything, it may be a bit generous given the level of our opposition.

It looks possible that we can achieve the absolute very minimum standard of performance.

But that's bad isn't it? That would represent a really terrible season, surely?

Our current points rate has us on track for 34 or 35. But factor in the opponents and it could be 30... that might keep us up. That indicates we're already 'relying on other results'. i,e three teams need to be dreadful for us to stay up.

Ever reducing standards. That's what Dyche will give you.

Difference is Messi does his stuff 70 yards further up the pitch.

We, the supporters, can't keep being subject to this style of football. We'll make it over the line, but it isn't nice to watch.

Come on, Mr Dyche, if you're staying until the end of the season, give it a go and be ambitious.

A bit of a break now, although there never is with Everton. I hope to catch up with some of you and family at Brentford and/or Wolves. The latter is a night in the Adelphi or my sister's, so I'll be able to hang around after the match.

Keep going blues. Right now, we are all they have.

Wear your poppies today.

How can he keep stubbornly persisting with a formula that doesn't generally work?

Robert # 130, that debate was with me, and my disagreement with your description of Mourinho's Roma tenure as a “failure“ was in no way an endorsement of the idea that he should be Everton‘s manager. On the contrary, I think it's a totally stupid idea.

DK and PF, I don't know why you bother watching the post-match interview if you are expecting a mea culpa for anything. When have you ever heard any football manager anywhere, anytime, in any league, stand in front of a camera and say "I screwed up, it was all my fault"?

It is not in a manager‘s DNA to do public self-flagellation.

The phrases used were 'This is one is on me', 'I accept the responsibility', 'I made a mistake.'

I have heard countless gaffers in my lifetime say such things. Countless. Stop reading me for what I do not say and put words in my mouth that I did not say! It's not like you.

Where does your laced hyperbole come from?

I may be deluded but Lindstrøm is showing signs of being a decent player and arrives in the box in goal-scoring positions. He needs a goal to get more confidence.

There was a great break in the first half but Gana delayed to pass to Doucouré enough to lose the one-on-one chance with the keeper.

Calvert-Lewin has a thankless task in this set-up but, when we had the chance to get crosses in, they were crap. He needs the type of cross Gordon put on Isak's head last week!

Everything has changed (not for the better) but onfield stuff has, excluding Martinez's first 6 months, ended up the same.

Take the handbrake off, for fuck's sake!

I can't be doing with the highly paid presenters doing no better than we could do. When he's on, Ian Wright being the only one who makes sense. It also means I escape another display by Mohamed Salah that we can only dream of.

If you get the chance, check out Sunderland's second goal yesterday. There absolutely is goalscoring talent in the Championship and Leagues One and Two. There always has been (Jamie Vardy).

I look at the Everton starting line-up which Dyche plays (every game). Only Ndiaye would be capable of that Sunderland goal.

My concern at the moment is that I don't believe Wolves and Crystal Palace will stay where they are. They will improve, so for me, we need to start seeing Leicester slipping up badly, and today's opponents West Ham, who for the most part were terrible.

I think we will have just enough but I expected so much more from this season. A big unexpected win in December will be very welcome, cue the Shite.

Spot on, if that chance had fallen to Ndiaye early doors, he would have had the confidence to hit that first time, it's the Premier League.

I think I heard Oliver Glasner say exactly that last week.

Not so sure about Palace. They've looked rank this season.

First point: Dithery Dyche tried to give this game to West Ham. I say this because he has no freakin clue as to when to use subs and how many to use.

The game went in West Ham's favour when dithery Dyche failed to make subs in response to the West Ham subs. The guy is not learning from his mistakes and so, for the first time, I am saying I think he needs to go.

Second point: Thank you, Jordan Pickford for your lightning reaction saves.

Third point. What a pleasure to watch Ndaiye playing in Everton colours.

Is he planning on drawing all our remaining games, with the odd win, so we stay up on 30-something points? He's a brave man if that's the case.

My only hope for this season is to avoid relegation and to see the back of this man once and for all. Ideally, he will be sacked in December, once TFG takes over, and be replaced by a competent manager who lives in this century.

My candidates (off the top of my head) would be:

Frank
O'Neil
Iraola
Brighton manager
Silva
Ancelotti (Davide)
Mancini
Or, ABD – Anyone But Dyche.

There are loads of forward-looking, progressive managers out there, you just have to find and convince them.

I am satisfied with a point away.

In Sean's world, it's definitely a result. Unfortunately there's some horrible logic to his thinking.

I'm not sure they would need much convincing considering the mega bucks Dyche is on.

Everton have a bright future… if we can survive the Dyche tenure.

Exactly what I've been banging on about for months. There's great coaches out there who'd get a decent tune out of this squad. And they'd take this job in a heartbeat because, regardless of what others think, we are still a big club.

New owners looming, and a brand new cathedral on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey, what's not to like?

Didn't know you were following that "names" thread tho'. There's a few one can't be sure about though (other than from in post terminology).

I'm bewildered by the stick Calvert-Lewin gets. He did a brilliant turn to set up Doucourie, who fluffed his lines. He put in a very decent cross which the new boy headed with his shoulder, and one of his last contributions to the game was to hold off four defenders and still keep possession. Gets stick for missing chances, but he hasn't had a sniff of a chance for about a month.

Pickford made me eat my words. Always happy for that to happen

Calvert-Lewin is a good header of the ball and has a great leap on him, but I just don't see the desire in his game anymore. Also, with him not wanting to sign a new contract, it's obvious he wants away, so why are we playing a man who clearly is looking elsewhere?

I thought Gana and Mangala did a decent job yesterday, and Dyche had the chance to play Ndaiye in the No 10 role. Maybe, had he done that, it would have meant Ndaiye would have had that earlier chance rather than Doucoure, and he would probably have scored, but Dyche doesn't have an expansive thought in his head.

Surprised there hasn't been much said about Tarkowski and him passing blind to Bowen. I am sure if it had been Keane there would have been post after post about it.

Tarkowski is a liability; I'm not saying Keane is the answer but, on current form, Tarkowski should have been left out. At least Keane has goals in him.

Calvert-Lewin should be sold in January so at least we can get money for him. Like you said, he just seems to be going through the motions.

I worry Tarkowski is gone. I would love to be wrong, but he is 32 next week. He has had a bruising career. All those big hits will take their toll sooner or later. Your game only has to drop by a tiny percentage for it to show.

Looks to me as if he is playing on muscle memory and instinct. Keane isn't the answer either. O'Brien must be wondering if coming here was a good career move…

He seems to have lost pace. He keeps hacking players down with late tackles. There's no pace down our right-hand side with him and Young who has also gone.

I think Keane offers more than Tarkowski at present. O'Brien looked a long way from Premier League standard to me in his one appearance.

As for Dom's heading ability, if we could cross the ball from the wings, that would be a help, but considering our full-backs don't support our wingers, this doesn't help in his tactics.

How Dyche doesn't think Ndiaye is a No 10, and playing Doucoure in that position, is also mind-boggling; he would have scored the sitter Doucoure squandered.

Silly me, should have known he was not going to ditch his tried and tested plan to produce the most turgid, defensive -minded football in the Premier League and keep us all on the edge of our seats in suspense until the final relegation places are settled. Good entertainment that!

This manager is a busted flush. Totally bereft of ideas. It has been said many times on here that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome is a sign of madness. The problem is I'm not sure if it's his or mine.

We surely cannot keep this man on after the international break. Get rid of him now, and let's at least try and get a manager who's trying to win games before the hole we are in gets too deep.

I get managers need to put a positive spin on things to motivate and keep up confidence, but you can't really say we've had a positive run lately.

If we had only lost 1 in 8 with the opposition like we have in December, then you could spin it positively. The standard of teams we've been playing, it was imperative we pick up more points than we have!

Our most creative, skillful attacking player, Ndiaye, played half the match as a left-back!!!! Yes, it's good he works hard but this is not the best tactical use of our strongest threat… is it? I feel some are daydreaming about how bad this season could get!

I believe the sqaud is more than capable of getting clear of the drop; what I don't go for is "this is the best that these players can perform, and no other manager could do better".

It's utter nonsense!!

I agree, though there is nothing anyone can do about it until TFG take the reins. I think we will be okay despite Dyche, not because of him.

What we do need to do as fans though is turn Goodison into a bear pit for our home games.

The football is awful, we're going to have to bear it at least until the new owner is in place, and they might wait until the end of the season to save on cash (and wait for a replacement to be available?). No point in turning on the manager, if that's what some are going to do on matchday, until there is somebody at the top who gives a shit.

It's terrible to watch though and not what Goodison Park deserves in the final season here.

Something up in my opinion.

Now is the time to rid ourselves of this dreadful manager. If we go down, we go down fighting together.

The takeover is going along fine. Probably mid-December before it's done.

Our squad is not great but it's not as bad as it is made to look. I hate Dyche for being stubborn. I understand we have injuries and some players are coming through which need to be managed wisely.

But his formations and tactics are not getting the best from offensive players and neither the defenders are doing a stellar job.

He is not able to inspire his players and lacks tactics that can help us keep a good defensive shape but improve us offensively. This season, Dyche has regressed and that is very disappointing.

He is making it very obvious that he is incapable of playing a good balanced style and taking a club forward. I just hope that we avoid relegation.

Surely we will win our last ever home derby at Goodison Park – or is that too much to ask?

Paul @198,

Hope you are right, but I read it would be mid-November!

We play a lone striker who the defence have kept quiet for two-thirds of the game and every time our manager has taken the striker off and put another lone striker in attack. What does he think will happen?

We saw, on a couple of rare occasions, he pushed Keane up in desperation alongside Beto, and right away their defence panicked with a different system up top.

As long as we continue doing like-for-like swaps, we will continue to get the same result; nothing has changed, the opponents do not need to reorganise their defence, they carry on doing what they did.

Every home game, you see the opposition bring on two or three subs; you know what's coming. they up their game with fresh legs, while our manager does nothing, until changing one striker for another.

Everyone could see Doucoure was shot midway through the second half. Young played the entire game, not even a thought of giving them both a rest earlier in the second half. Get fresh legs on, stick Patterson and Harrison on, put Harrison on the left, move Ndiaye to a No 10 role.

2-nil up at Bournemouth with Iroegbunam and Coleman running in treacle at the end but still left them both on.

Then you have another game he passes a big piece of paper to a player: Harrison, move to left-back; 2 minutes later, McNeil, you go to left-back; 5 minutes later, sub comes on; McNeil, you move upfield.

Einstein was spot on: Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting different results.

I just cannot figure out what he is trying to do, his tactics and subs are shocking, changing nothing in the system.

Two defensive midfielders and a defensive midfielder in the No 10 position. A blind man can see the problems.

We have to get rid now. Ipswich are beating Spurs, just saying.

This is the best time to do it, and gives the new manager time to work with the players.

Dyche simply has to go as he doesn't have a clue how to set up a winning team. He's all about damage limitation.

Saying that, it was anyway.

The 'bit of devil' stuff was bollocks. They looked like strangers going forwards, all hoping someone else would do something. We'll have to get more players into the box before any 'devil' is needed.

'Every Premier League game is hard'? They are when you shove one hand behind your back.

He had done a good job. His decision-making and tactical acumen are being severely exposed this season.

Mangala and Gana are defensive midfielders who don't really have much creativity. Expected?

Of course, 2 defensive midfielders and one forward with no overlapping full-backs. That's what we call the Blues. Branthwaite on one leg would have been an improvement, he's some player.

We must not sack Dyche now because he gets a completely free pass with the obscene payment for failure.

Was keeping Everton up not success? No, he kept us in the relegation zone, boring the fans to death in the process. We have stayed up despite Dyche; for me, we are a lower mid-table squad with a League One or Two manager.

They all look as if they know they can't or won't create anything.

Let's hope they do the same for us.

A draw is just what he played for and against the worst team we've played this season. Unbelievable.

They could also bring back De Rossi, the guy you mentioned.

Fear permeates this team and is instilled from the management. You'll never get players playing with a bit of freedom under Dyche.

He's another one I'd be more than happy to take.

I'm no manager but I know this lad is a playmaker and should be playing in the No 10 role, witness his performance against Bournemouth earlier this season, albeit him and McNeil did interchange.

That type of performance has been missing since because Dyche prefers his love child Dwight there, and while he's produced a couple of decent performances, has reverted to type quickly enough.

Hopefully a new manager will come in shortly and rectify this by moving Ndiaye to the No 10 role where his talent belongs.

I feel you could ask the archangel Gabriel to take charge and people would be up in arms about him. You will never please a lot of people on here.

Football is a sport, not a matter of life or death.

Prior to the turn of this century, we could hold our own against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, if not through an entire season, at least in individual encounters. We may not have beaten those sides as often as we would like, but we did give all of them a game on many occasions.

Fast forward to today and we're struggling to give any team a game, regardless of the abilities or stature of the opponents.

The club has adopted an inferiority complex from as far back as Mike Walker's time, which has continued and gotten worse, through to today, with only Joe Royle and perhaps a younger and naive David Moyes having any idea about what this club should be about. Roberto Martinez also chimed well with the club in his earlier days, but unfortunately he lost his way.

Certain managers have been criticised due to being unable to break the glass ceiling or get their team to perform in a consistent competitive manner; others have been criticised for having their teams play some really poor football and / or occupying a position in the table far too near to the relegation zone for many fans' comfort.

Whilst the success of the other lot does make life difficult for any Everton manager, it's not the main reason that Evertonians are critical of the manager in the Everton hot-seat at any given time.

There are many mitigations for some of the failures of many of the managers, and many of them were outside of any particular manager's control, but if a manager can't get his players to play relatively good football and / or he can't get the results required, then his job will always be under threat.

Evertonians are no different to supporters of Manchester United; like their fans, we crave success; if we can't have success then we crave a side able to play the game in the right manner. That doesn't mean we will throw our dummy out of the pram at the first sign of trouble, but watching Everton has become more of a laborious chore than a fun-filled experience, for too many supporters – that can't be right, can it?

I suspect that the only thing keeping Everton's attendances as high as they are, is the prospect of leaving Goodison and moving to the new ground. I do hope that the football improves somewhere along the way, because we can't keep going through seasons with no hope or belief that we can actually be capable of winning football matches.

Really? Maybe you should first ascertain why they're not bothered and is it anything to do with De Zerbi.

Teams and coaches can sometimes get in a negative feedback death spiral. So sacking the coach may be not too much of a gamble if it will break that spiral.

New Manager spiral breaking and/or bounce apart; appointing a new guy is the real gamble.

Our trouble is, apart from our 'joined up football' onfield vacuum, we have an off-field power vacuum, we have the football equivalent of Joe Biden in charge and nowt much will happen – can happen – until January... if then.

No, Fred. Attendances have been this high for years on end. They stay this way because of the loyalty, hope, and faith of Evertonians.

With such a long season-ticket waiting list, I still think that the starting capacity at the Dock should have been over 60,000: 60,001 would have been fine and the place would be full in the event that more season tickets were released.

A guy is driving down the road when a dog runs out, the driver does a miraculous swerve to avoid the dog and in doing so hits a waste bin and destroys his car.

Just then, Gabriel appears and says "That was a very good deed you did there, I will grant you one wish."

The guy quickly replies "Can you fix my car to how it was before my accident?"

The angel looks at the car and says "There is too much damage, can you pick another wish?"

The guy then says "Can you fix it for Dyche to play exciting football, lead us into the Champions League, mixing youth with a flare of experience, with Calvert-Lewin, bagging the golden boot???"

The angel thinks for a minute… then says "Let's have a look at your car again."

Absolutely correct, I have said exactly this on another thread, Dyche says that Premier League No 10s are defunct, they now have to create and defend, pick up their defensive duties.

As a wide midfielder (not a winger), he has to defend and attack, covering his full-back at the same time. He will ruin his talent.

His impact is greatest in the final third of the pitch, something Dyche has bemoaned of the team, whilst sticking his best creative player out wide and giving him defensive duties... absurd?

No, it's worse, he will coach out the individuality that makes him very good. It's why Dyche is nott the manager to get the best from the team going forward.

I am so confident that we won't get beaten or even draw next Saturday, I decided to put big money on it!

I can't find a Bookie who will accept the bet, any ideas? :-)

We were playing Number 10s long before we called it that or realised it. Kevin Sheedy was great there the last time we won the league.

Derek. Don't bet on football. Certainly not Everton!! Hopefully see at the Brentford match or if not Wolves. As it's an evening kick-off, I'll be stopping over, so will be around afterwards for anyone hanging on for a catch up.

“We have the football equivalent of Joe Biden in charge and nowt much will happen - can happen - until January”

In the interests of not starting a transatlantic / antipodean TW war, I have decided not to respond to that other than to say we need someone who will help to Make Everton Great Again.

Danny, I will let you know if I am going to Brentford or Wolves. Take care buddy!

A bit like when Eriksen often played there for Spurs under Pochettino.

The key to making this work is fast attacking full-backs going on the outside to create the width and passing options. This is our biggest problem.

The whole point of having a workmanlike and largely talent-free midfield like Gueye, Mangala and Doucoure is to release dynamic full-backs to support a front three. Without that there's just not enough movement / width to mount attacks.

We are crying out for attacking full-backs to make the formation work and unlock us as an attacking threat.

We need to buy.

Don't forget Gabriel has actually done a short stint.

Nothing angelic about our one though…

We are being dragged towards the Bottom 3 again with teams around us picking up points, which makes our home game against Brentford important, for the team and the manager.

I seem to remember Mykolenko also played further forward last season but again, Dyche is in defensive mode.

If we are still 3 points clear of the relegation zone at the end of December, then he'll be given the rest of the season. That's a big 'if'!

Ndiaye and Lindstrom both moved inside a lot on Saturday creating the space for the full-backs to run into. Mykolenko got in a couple of times in the first half and even Young tried a couple of crosses but no overlaps.

The quality is pretty dire from both flanks.

If we aren’t going to buy anyone in January, I would quite happily convert Garner to right-back as he has a lot more quality.

Garner might also be an option but again only out of desperation.

Mykolenko is out of sorts this season and needs proper competition.

Hopefully we buy in January.

Survival is the name of the game and, whilst Young has done a decent job recently, he's done for after this season. Patterson and Coleman are not viable options either.

Gana and Mangala have steadied the ship in midfield but neither have either the vision or a killer pass in them to open up defences.

We have some decent players so two quality players could go a long way to moving us up the table to safety.

Could it be that the full-backs are told not to overlap but stay back? We play such a narrow game in the final quarter, so negative.

If so, that would be disappointing as it doesn't half make it difficult to create chances.

We need a proper left-back.