Missed chances cost the Blues

The word ‘drab' perfectly captures the current mood around the old ground. After we failed to score in the first quarter of an hour, the game had 0-0 written all over it. The red card made that even more likely.

I think the mood will change one way or the other in the next month. I'm hoping the team and fans will rise to the challenge of playing some of the bigger clubs. If they don't, we all know the club will be under severe pressure going into the New Year.

From the relative comfort of 12,000 miles away, even the 3 minute 'highlights' on Optus didn't look great.

However, I don't agree with their views on the red card. That was a red card all day long. Anywhere else on the pitch and it's not called into doubt. Whether the player was going for the ball or not, is irrelevant, it was a dangerous challenge, and could have put Pickford out for months.

I read some comments on the post-match threads on Sunday that certain posters said it wasn't a red card and would be upset if it was one of our players was sent off for similar. I disagree, if one of ours puts in a challenge like that, then they deserve be sent off.

And that for me, that was the only worthwhile talking point of the whole match!!

The extent of the ‘highlights' of the match from an Everton perspective were one of the most disappointing I can remember for a long time from an Everton home game against a beatable team.

As Dyche himself allluded to, no devil moments in the box led to no real chances of note.

Do something about it then, Mr Dyche, try something different because no goals in 3 games warrants trying something different, does it not?

That is why you are paid the big bucks as manager.

Before any of the Dychists say that it's the players, they are crap, that may well be the case but there are options to try something different.

That is the most frustrating thing for me about Sean Dyche, his refusal to try something different tactically.

My reasoning is that the ball was played into the danger area and the Brentford player was simply attacking the ball to score a goal, and I don't believe there was any malice intended, whatsoever.

If it had happened in the middle of the pitch, then I might have agreed it was stupid and the player deserved to be sent off, but the only way to score a goal when a cross comes in, is by getting on the front foot and attacking the ball.

It spoiled the game, I knew it would. I knew we would struggle playing against 10 men because we are limited, but what I didn't account for was our lack of intelligence and a complete lack of desire.

I know you don't show much intelligence, preferring to go the match without a coat, when the weather forecast had been predicting all week that it was going to be pissing down, Danny, but the time, money and effort, you and countless other Evertonians go through just to get to Goodison deserves so much better.

Studs up, knee high, reckless. "The ball was there to be won" could be used to excuse virtually every other sending-off in midfield.

I assume it's because it's against a goalie that people view it differently but usually goalies get more protection, not less.

Someone going for the ball like that in the middle of the park is different for so many reasons imo, with the most obvious one being that you are no good to nobody on your back in this area of the pitch.

It doesn’t matter, we all see a different game, but why put the ball in the danger area if your player has got a chance of being sent off for attacking the ball?

His studs were up, but I think once your foot leaves the ground this is usually the case, especially if you’re trying to get there first and Nick the ball away from your opponent, and especially if getting there first, results in a goal.

Pickford was lucky not getting hurt, but I also thought that the Brentford captain was very unlucky, receiving a red card, and until they finally come out and tell us that the game has now become a non contact sport, I will always hold such views.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but that’s simply the way I see it mate.

I’m Tony Abrahams, Rob, but something has gone wrong and I don’t have the skills to fix it mate!

Tony, get Dave to fix it for you! On second thoughts forget that, get your 1-year-old grandson to fix it! 😂😂😂😂

Nigel, I think we do have decent players. Not world beaters or likely to challenge at the top, but the manager could try something different and use them properly.

I tried listening to his post-match interview on the official website. I switched off after a minute. Maybe I was still a bit raw.

We'll keep going, it's all we know. I'll check the weather forecast!!

It would make a cracking television programme watching Dave trying to fix anything, Rob!!!

My own opinion is straight leg, studded foot up, forward momentum with Pickford stationary with boots gripping the ground, potential broken leg? Sorry but red card every time for me.

You can't go for the ball like that wherever you are on the pitch and being in a scoring position doesn't give that right? A tragedy really because we don't have the guile to score against a team that defends well, even with 10 men.

Tony, I think, if that had been Souness or McDermott “back in the day”, or perhaps Jimmy Case on Nulty, we'd be screaming for a red.

I too think the game has gone soft but it was studs up into Pickford's knee. He didn't get the ball. It was a red.

Did the ref ask for a VAR review? I don't think so. It's a downside of VAR that it can pick up on decisions that a typical ref and assistants wouldn't pick up?

You could also argue that, if VAR existed back then, we would've beat Liverpool 3-2 at Maine Road and gone to Wembley. But personally, I prefer football pre-VAR.

You are correct there, I'm a bit awkward at fixing things so, if you've something that isn't broke, send it to me and I'll soon fuck it up for you!

Only joking by the way. 👩‍❤️‍👨👩‍❤️‍👨

No intent in the challenge, 50/50 ball with a goal-scoring opportunity. If that was a red, then Pickford on Van Dijk should definitely have been red. Neither should have been red IMO.

We would have been incandescent if that had been say Calvert-Lewin. (Unlikely I know given his goal proximity record, but you know what I'm saying.)

Christ, even Son on Gomes was rescinded.

Having said all that, at least it helped us hang on for a draw!

And in my honest opinion Pickford should have been sent off against Van Dijk – I still can't believe he got away with that.

There, I've said it! (But I will never say that out loud to a Kopite).