Tentative, disjointed, scrappy and costly… but Everton win through

I believe we will be on the front foot with a 3-4-3 which is a much more progressive system.

Where that will work in the prem with the players we have got I don’t know but let’s take one game at a time.

Not sure I agree it is a decent lineup. Four of the back five are calamity Jane's. Any one of them could score an own goal, concede a silly red or pen, or all three. Or maybe all four do all three. If Mason was still here instead of Branthwaite it would be a perfect nightmare back five.

Interesting that Armstrong is in and Doucs out.

Plus Broja and Lindstrøm might just be making up numbers, as they were both reported as injured earlier.

There are 2 recognised full backs. Three recognised Central Defenders. Two defensive mids. Two midfielders and one forward.

Oh but now they're showing picturs of Dyche as if he was still here....

He's Gone. He's Dead To Me!!!

If we are guessing, then Peterborough boss must be as well.

Important thing is how high up the pitch the wing backs play. Hopefully they push right up.

Armstrong and Ndiaye should enjoy a bit of freedom too with plenty of cover behind them.

Lovely change from the Condescending Bull Shit From Dyche.

Then the line up with three centre backs and two full backs, and two of the eight of an allowed nine on the bench being goalkeepers with our number one number one nowhere to be found.

We started pushing the ball around better than has been seen even allowing for the opposition without finding that telling final ball and until Armstrong's ball well put away by Beto the best chance had fallen to Peterboro'.

Brian Clough, whilst reflecting on England's exit from Euro 2000.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes."

I would think it'll take a few training sessions to start forgetting Dyche's methods.

The interim guys used some bench warmers and it showed.

I thought Paterson and Armstrong did well but we only looked lively when Ndiaye was on the ball.

Still too may poor passes in the final third

Good that Armstrong, Patterson and O’Brian got a run out but we need to sign a couple of players this month.

Send Broja back, loan someone else from Chelsea for one.

10 days until Villa.

So, onto the topic that will focus attention.

But is bloody Moyes again know, and we have to play Liverpool twice!

He'll make some mistakes but he's an all action type who can bring a bit of energy.

It's a trade off that we haven't previously been willing to accept. We'll see what happens next.

Overall, a positive day but a worrying one too.

The squad is constantly picking up injury after injury, the loss of Broja now as any kind of option means we can't afford to release Beto on loan also, which I believe was planned.

The talk in BBC commentary of Moyes coming in was very worrying. That would not create the ‘feel-good factor’ that we need.

I hope I'm wrong but I think Broja is done here now.

Such a shame really.

Two players and a positive manager could really turn this team around and even make Goodison, a very happy place again, before she finally closes her doors for good.

But will we get them? Is the biggest question right now!

And he's a Kenwright acolyte (I've recently met him and criticised Kenwright to his face, to which he told me "Do you not think Moshiri is the sole problem?!!") who will no doubt cite that he "gets" Everton, and all that to me means that he should never get past the paper-sift of applicants, if he's so minded.

While it wasn’t an exciting game, I was pleased that we tried to play joined up football, passing the ball 5-8 metres to each other, playing triangles, being patient.

It was unfortunate that when the final ball was played it often went to Beto who was awful, the ball just bounced off him. He took his goal well enough, although he looked offside to me (I haven’t seen any replays of it).

Armstrong has promise, although he played it rather safe. Patterson attacked aggressively but showed defensive flaws. Virginia looks very competent. Mangala looked more comfortable with the new style of play. O’Brien was steady.

Quite a few players were tired and getting cramp by the 80th minute; I guess there is a lot more work involved when you pass the ball progressively up the pitch and run into space, rather than stand and watch the ball go over your head.

352 is back (3 central defenders, FFS!).

Moyes might return.

More injuries.

Keep Armstrong in and play Patterson right midfield in a 451 and I would feel a bit better. Make 2 or 3 good signings and I would feel a bit better still.

But we won COYB!

I can't remember a side taking to the pitch only hours after the manager had been sacked, so from that perspective it was a credit to the players that they managed to navigate what could have been a tricky tie, although Peterborough didn't provide a great test for Everton on the night.

Hoping Broja is just a bit of a wuss and the leg immobilisation was just precautionary.

The arm doesn't count with offside does it?

Praying the next manager will be a step forwards and not a nostalgia-driven relapse.

Nice postgame comments from Seamus, who went from preparing to start the game to suddenly running it. He was very complimentary of Armstrong and O'Brien in particular.

Agreed Mike and I thought the two of them looked cool on the touchline together.

Armstrong and O'Brien both looked good.

The future is blue,

Nice easy opponents who went quietly meant we are still in the hat.

The barmaids lovely though!

Old habits die hard.

On Broja, he looks 20lbs overweight and that really isn't helping and could be a factor in him getting injured.

Can't wait for the season to be over.

I couldn't make it to the game and too late to give my ticket to anyone so watched it on TV and was still worried and nervous that Peterborough, from League One, were going to take us to a replay!

One player has me a bag of nerves throughout the game, particularly when he is defending… maybe it's just me?

Anyway, we have ten days before we play again so we can relax ‘til we hear who the new manager is — I bleedin hope he hasn't been here before!

But the positives are we're through and he's gone!

Onwards and upwards!!!

Come on, dad, get with it!
No replays in the 3rd Round and we play again in six days!
Lay off the whacky.

It was not the best of games, but it certainly was a lot better than the shite we have had to put up with.

I thought O'Brien was excellent, and seeing we only had Beto and Broja, I could not see how else we could set up for the game, Baines and Coleman barely 3 hours with the team did well.

The biggest two pluses: we are in the hat for the 4th round and Dyche has finally gone.

Get the new manager in and a couple of players through the door and we should be alright, Garner and Iroegbunam close to a return a big plus.

Happy Days.

That's such a shame Mark (70) - Kirklands for nostalgia's sake Ed (R). Thanks for the field report. I'll cross the road next time. Glad you saw a win and had time with your lad Mark.

He will understand how to structure the Academy to create development paths for young players to the first team squad. Also, he has operated in a DoF structure where data drives recruitment.

Most importantly, I really like the way he sets up the Brentford first team to play. Defensively well-organised, their midfield are comfortable in possession but transition play with pace to their effective forwards. Brentford also show great imagination attention to detail in their set-pieces.

Unfortunately, it will be very difficult to get him unless we buy out his contract (expires 2027) and pay Brentford a lot of compensation. Difficult, but not impossible as they are not the wealthiest club.

Does you think that Moyes's inflated ego will allow him to accept a 6-month deal to the end of the season? No chance – we would be stuck with offering the Master of Mediocrity a 2-year deal minimum. Hideous to even think about.

Goals for us have been a rarity of late, but thankfully Beto's persistence paid off. Feel for Broja, just when it looked like his injuries were being overcome, he has sustained what looks to be a quite serious knock.

Many saying send him back, not sure if we can do that under the terms of his loan contract (?). Harrison does need sending back though, offers nothing, like Doucoure.

Roll on the Premier League and back to business. At least some attempt to give some players a run-out.

The lad has only ever made one appearance for Posh, and with the game finely balanced til the last minute, why on earth would any manager bring on some untested defender just out of sentimentality?

Ashley Young even posted a one-word Tweet: "Gutted". Fuck off, you're a professional, you won a football match, get over it..

Ferguson did the right thing.

I was happy to see Moyes leave when he did. I didn't think he could take us further. Sadly, we've regressed to the point where he is now a good, stable candidate to take over right now. Can't see a six month contract, though.

I’m glad we got through and get another home game against a fourth league team, Peterborough didn’t attack very often but when they did they had a couple of good chances with that player who makes me nervous leaving loads of space for both chances.

Last night was chalk and cheese to Dyche. I posted previously that Dyche never encouraged the players barked orders etc. Last night both Baines and Seamus encouraged the players. If they were out of position they didn't scream at them they just pointed it out.

Two parts stuck out in particular.

Micheal Keane won the ball and did a little run right by us. Seamus was encouraging him shouting "well done Keano".

Then Armstrong got caught out of position at one point. Baines just explained to him what he done wrong and how to fix it. No shouting, just advice.

Last night was not a great game, but the team picked and the tactics had all been set up by Dyche. They had little influence over what they could change just a few minor tweaks apparently. The change in touchline instructions was the big takeaway for me.

There were more attempts to create passing movements in midfield but few offered the penetrative attacks we need to score goals. Patterson was a better outlet for the long diagonal balls from Keane than Harrison has been.

Armstrong looks like a player with the football intelligence and physique to prosper in the future. Ndiaye worked tirelessly but too often ended up dribbling across the front of the opposing defence.

The home crowd was subdued throughout the game. The second goal was the signal for fans in the Park End to vacate their seats. It’s the first time I have seen a clinching goal from the home team celebrated with a mass exodus.

Our players did enough to get through but nobody within the club but nobody can be under any illusions about the strength of the

current squad.

Felt a bit for Seamus and Baines on the touchline. They looked a bit out of their depth, but at least it was only Peterborough.

I have to grudgingly admit that Moyes would be a sensible caretaker. His football philosophy is only a tad more progressive than Sean Dyche's but he would be a safe pair of hands in our current predicament. Just don't give him a 3 year contract.

Ultimately I think TFG made the right decision to move Dyche on, he was out of ideas unfortunately, now they need to get the next decision right.

COYB.

Honestly don't know what to say if that's true. Joke of an appointment if that happens.

From what I saw, apart from 2 personnel changes, the same individuals and a team picked by our former manager.

The formation was a bit different and we were trying to play football a bit more than what we've been used to.

I found it ironic that we finally get to see O'Brien, picked by Dyche, on the day he got relieved of his duties. I'm not getting carried away, but he looks good.

Armstrong. Tenacious but good football brain. Lovely through ball to Beto for the first goal. Again, I'm encouraged, but he's 17, so we'll need to be patient with him.

Mykolenko must have had nose bleeds. That seeming force field that had been stopping him venturing over the half way line had been switched off and at one point he was furthest forward, in the opposition penalty box, bearing down their keeper's neck. It wasn't the only time. I thought Patterson looked like he had a point to prove and was very aggressive. I didn't see the logic in bring him off to put Ashley Young on to get turned inside out by their pace winger.

The rest of the team were okay. Some still suffering from the now gone Dyche days, but they'll get there.

A final word for Broja. How unlucky can a player be?

I thought we used the width well and with Tarkowski and. Pickford off the pitch, we were less inclined to batter it forward in hope. If we did go long, it was more surgical out to wide players.

Not that I want Pickford off the pitch too much.

Ndiaye as always worked his socks off. He's a player who just loves playing football.

Well, Villa on Wednesday. I'm stopping over for this one. £42 in the Adelphi. 1923 at a 1923 prices.

The important thing after a strange day, was to get the result and get into the next round. We did.

Now for two massive games to get some much needed points.

Happy and safe travelling blues.

Would be happy with Moyes who I would see as an upgrade on Dyche. He would be a safe pair of hands which given our position we desperately need, anyone else will be a very big gamble which could easily end in tears.

Thought we did ok against lower league opponents, who aren’t in decent form either - many a banana skin has happened in the past!

Bright sparks for me: Armstrong (deservedly MOTM for his general passing and setting up the goal), Paterson, O’Brien, Ndiaye and Virginia also looked ok with the limited work he had to do.

Onwards and, hopefully, upwards. COYB!!

First; I am so, so pleased to see Dyche removed from our Club. Everything in life is connected in abstract theory, and that is the case with Everton in practical terms.

Second; Sean Dyche was a 'man for one season'. Survival was achieved. Thank goodness he has gone. His legacy is twofold; By 'dumbing down' the expectation levels he generated a crap style, ruined the entertainment value for thousands of supporters, and in the process, stagnated the careers of several high-quality footballers in - or approaching their prime. What he has done with Calvert-Lewin, Patterson, and the big Irish lad, whose name escapes me because I never really saw him play, was scandalous.
The decision to dismiss him was not one that TFG would have wanted to address, and they waited as long as they reasonably could. Then they were pretty decisive. No hypocritical thankyou media-driven bullshit - just a straightforward goodbye. That speaks volumes.

The Club's Premier League survival is paramount. Reducing the risks associated with the most important strategy for the short term, and that is what Moyes represents, big-time. The likelihood is our survival chances have increased significantly. Is it a glamourous trendy appointment? No. Is it a long-tern committment? Not necessarily. However, it might prove to be long-term if things were to work out very well, but TFG will not allow Moyes to become a millstone like Dyche and things should improve.

I never warmed to Moyes, in the past, but that was largely due to the overbearing influence of the manipulative Kenwright. Moyes joined Everton as a young manager with aspirations. I respect that, and similarly can appreciate him falling under the spell of Ferguson at Manure. It is not reasonable to vilify him for this. Now he is more experienced and his social status is well established. He won't want to tarnish that. He will be motivated, and have a lot to gain by performing as well as he can. This is excellent and effective management by TFG. I am grateful for that, and I believe in this context Moyes will produce the goods, he will be well rewarded, and that suits everyone involved.

A side note: It won't sit well with the Premier League who, in fairness to Dyche, tried and nearly succeeded in getting us demoted. I will never forget the unfair financial interpretations of the Sigurdsson scenario and the 'Act of War' that we were penalized for, to say nothing of the incredible referring bias such as the season without a penalty award for example. I just hope that such loaded bias does not reoccur to negatively impact the rest of the season.

In a nutshell you're okay with Moyes?