No new manager bounce after Watkins goal

COYB!

What I hope may change is some of the patterns of play, allowing a bit more width, getting the full backs forward more frequently. Lets see.

Perhaps Dyche picked the team????

That "rumour" re Tom Canno is on X apparently formerly known as twitter.
On evertonnewsfeed...all one word.
There is a thumbnail picture of Tom applauding, open that and that is it.

Have to say I'm disappointed with the team selected.

Any hope and optimism has gone out the window.

How many wins do we need to stay up? 8??

Disappointing team selection but no surprise really. The attitude and use of the ball will be the big thing.

Uninspiring; let's see what unfolds. Hope the players are all up for it!!

Let's hope he's given them some attacking freedom or it's a total waste of time changing the manager.

I just hope the usual culprits start to play!

Anyway, great news our new signing will be Tom Cannon – the guy we just let go! You couldn't make it up.

It's the team that Dyche would have picked; it's got to play differently or this will turn toxic very quickly.

I'm hoping to see a good game.

I suspect if he sees the same dross from Duocoure, he will bring on Lindstrom and maybe move Ndiaye to the Number 10.

Let's see if he does anything before the 70th minute though.

That's rubbish, Izzy.

I think Mykolenko is having a poor time but the alternative is the 40-year-old Young out of position.

The alternative to Harrison is Lindstrom. Hardly inspiring. This is what we have. It's what we do with it that matters.

Leon Osman said on the BBC that we could well lose the next three games, and he's right. For me, the turnaround needs to start on 1 February at home to Leicester. Any points gained between now and then are a bonus.

(Just kidding, but yeah – if fortune favors the bold, then our league position is no surprise!)

Then I think we have a good month with the Manager having a lot more to look at and choose accordingly.

This team may yet surprise with the "bounce" in the meantime?

There is a case for playing 3 at the back to improve our width but Mykolenko isn't the best going forward and young doesn't have the legs he used to.

A Reaction from the players would be nice, I'd demand it if I was one of the senior players. Let's show Dyche we are decent footballers capable of stringing passes together. Intriguing to see if it goes long as much as usual.

But I must admit the selection has lowered the mood a bit. It's hard to see how the intent can change that much when we still have the same slow paced full backs.

Anyway. Goodison under the lights with a new(ish) manager in place. COYB!

Uninspiring and borderline stupidity to expect different results with the same team that got Dyche the tin tack

We are going to need a big effort and a big slice of luck to get anything out of tonight's game; let's just hope the Villains are off the pace tonight.

Ndiaye is not a winger so push him behind Dom and drop Doucoure, who has stunk the gaff out for a while now.

Do something different to try to change the outcome.

The more things change, eh.

He offers nothing.

All our errors come from him.

All he does is pass it back.

Get him off.

Get rid of him.

More crosses than we've seen in a long time and we've had chances. We've conceded a few chances too, though.

The player limitations just don't go away though. That first head of steam dissipated with a poor infield pass from Mykolenko and two cheap concessions of possession by Harrison – all 3 leading to shots and corners. Then we had Young's brainfart.

Some positives. Hopefully we do see some changes too.

And Mykolenko has shown he can cross a ball now that we have players in there to cross to but Harrison has done little other than hog the right touchline. We have seen Calvert-Lewin have a couple of chances but the ball just wouldn't drop right at the most important moment.

Encouraging.

Not much of a new manager bounce as yet – do Everton players do that? Fingers crossed for us pulling off a win for a change.

It's times like this you want the next match ASAP to see who's in and who's out and how the game plays out…

Absolute rubbish, and an embarrassment to the team and all the fans.

Onana — obvious Red Card. Clear Penalty on Either Mykolenko or Calvert-Lewin. Referee so poor.

Villa are a good side and we didn't get the rub for any luck. Moyes must be going even greyer looking at this lot. The work required in this window is massive.

I love the guy and have been behind him all the way but that was terrible tonight.

Calvert-Lewin should've scored at least twice but TBH we should've had two penalties for the one incident. If that'd happened to one of the big 6/7, you'd never hear the last of it.

Anyway, Rome wasn't built in a day. The big question is whether we're a Rome that's under construction or one that's in terminal decline prior to extinction…

Very worrying performance, it really is shaping up to be the season from hell.

ALL HAIL THE MOYESIAH

Same formation, tactics and personnel.

Effort and commitment yes. Quality, no.

We've underperformed a bit this season but not by much - especially given the small squad and run of injuries. We're one of 5 poor sides.

We need to buy some quality pronto.

Different day.

All we have left is hope.

A couple of chances fell our way but Calvert-Lewin again seemed to get himself in a mess when a good chance came his way but we seemed in the second half to lose any pattern, intent or composure.

Again I cannot see any consistency in the refereeing and some of it looks just plain cowardly when Gana gets carded for playing the ball albeit sliding and players in a headlock or pushed in the back at corners is totally ignored.

A disappointing second half and I hope we see more improvement in the near future but some players just seemed lost particularly Harrison in the first half and Lindstrom in the second and oh for a clinical striker.

Sadly that's the difference and has been the difference ever since we sold Lukaku in 2017.

It's no real surprise that we've struggled to score goals in virtually every season since then.

DCL needs moving on, the relationship has run its course now, the injuries he's had have killed him too, but he never has been clinical enough anyway.

We need to get moving in this window, I'd be looking to get at least three out and at least three in.

We actually got men in the box, we played with more intensity and tried to utilise the wide positions. If we can just stop giving the ball away in stupid positions...

Calvert-Lewin has proven once and for all that he's rubbish and will never be an effective striker while his arse points to the floor.

Let's hope he clears off in the next few days, I'm utterly sick of the sight of him.

The reality now is that we are a poorer side than we were back then. I don't see where the five plus wins we need to stay up are coming from, so we should prepare for the worst. Whatever happens, the fightback begins in August.

Problems all over the pitch. Good effort from the players but I can't fault their effort this season. There is so little quality and zero confidence. Moyes needs to source goals from somewhere.

If we can't greatly improve on that starting 11 in the next two and a bit weeks, it's 2 from 4 for the drop, and we will be in the bottom 2!

Are we really that bad? Yes!

Gueye is dreadful. He was nowhere to be seen when they scored. Mangala adds a bit of steel. Harrison and Doucoure offer nothing.

We need signings in this window and the sooner the better. Not the last chicken in the shop on the 31st.

Young also offers little in an attacking sense. I expect changes for the next game or I expect people will quickly get on his back.

I expected very little after seeing the starting lineup and two keepers on the bench – seriously, what is the point if that??? Underwhelmed…

We need to be moving in a new direction and I'd be disappointed in the new owners if they think hauling more cash at him is the answer.

Remember, Moyes and Dyche already have relegation on their CVs, as do many Everton players.

I'd have sacked him at half-time.

We need Garner, McNeil, Iroegbunam and a couple of new signings for Sunday.

Other than Lindstrom, the substitutions made no sense to me. Maybe Moyes needs more time to figure out his best team?? I would have brought Patterson and Armstrong on for the last 15 instead of Young and Gana and pushed Doucoure back.

What is clear is that we need some influx of quality soon and hopefully somebody who knows how to find the back of the net because we cannot buy a goal at the moment.

Young, Harrison and Doucoure should not start against Spurs.

20 games in, 15 goals scored, 3 games won, barely scraping above the Bottom 3 with a shit load of horrible-looking fixtures on the horizon.

I don't want to put too much blame on Moyes but he should have made some changes, the usual suspects Young, Doucouré, Harrison and Calvert-Lewin were just terrible and the rest not much better.

One of many things I don't like about Moyes is his reluctance to make early substitutions when clearly the game is not going your way but, true to form, he left it far too late.

We desperately need some incoming players that will give the squad a boost because, if not, it's going down to the line once again this season.

Downwards.

He brought on two fresh players with 8 minutes to go… unbelievable.

I thought there would be more aggression and 'in your face' attitude. There was no sign of it.

As a long-term Palace fan, I know a thing about bad strikers! But Calvert-Lewin is really up there with the worst, Everton must have somebody else they can play, a youth player? Even the tea lady ??

The lack of quality is what is killing us from midfield to forwards. Shocking, huff and puff and that's it – something has got to change. McNeil is being badly missed – would we ever have thought that?

If there is any truth that Richarlison would be willing to finish the season on loan to us, we should try to make it happen.

Spurs next up and more of the same awaits…

Up front with Calvert-Lewin is a reminder of how poor we are. He's shot to pieces and offers nothing. He's not alone though and we're dropping deeper into the mud because of our poor recruitment and coaching over the years.

Wolves and Leicester both lost so hopefully Ipswich can make it a perfect treble to ease our pains.

People and characters like Baines, Jagielka, Carsley, Cahill, Osman, Arteta replaced by basically snowflakey type players that seem devoid of any braincells let alone fight.

Wasn't Baines there to tell him that Doucoure and Harrison are shit?

The definition of madness, doing the same thing over and over expecting to get a different result. So Moyes picks the same team as Sean Dyche would have.

Good one, Davey.

It might be necessary to sell Branthwaite if we want to strengthen enough in the areas we need and stay within PSR.

I think we would be lucky to get £50M for him now though and his form would need to improve for a number of months before he'd regain any value he's lost this season.

So it's a bad time to sell!!! But we need funds.

The advantage would be to sign enough quality to see us stay up this season and build for the future. If we sign quality with potential resale value, then the likelihood is in a couple of years, when the breach catches up with us, that any points deduction won't see us relegated as the team will be performing well with the capability of getting 50 points in a season.

Or alternatively, players are bought after a successful 12 months with us and we sell for profit meaning no breach of PSR anyway.

Does Moyes talk to him? Probably not, I wouldn't blame him.

Ndiaye's Stats:

Pos PL Goals Assts

Centre-Forward 48 10 12
Attacking Midfield 32 7 2
Left Winger 20 3 1
Second Striker 17 8 3
Right Winger 8 1 1
Left Midfield 7 1 -
Right Midfield 1 - -

Why wouldn't you make an attempt to invigorate the crowd when they're your best chance of knocking Villa off their game?

Why would you wait until 82 minutes before trying something different?

Why would the something different involve an extra central defender?!

Also, has anybody noticed that we need creative, skilful players? We've got one playing out of position at right back, and he's not very good at it.

What a thoroughly miserable, depressing night watching Moyes get wrong exactly what Dyche has been getting wrong all season.

Learn fast, Davie, or get out.

Pickford
Patterson
Tarkowski
Branthwaite
Young (left back yes)

Lindstrom
Armstrong
Mangala
Gana
Ndiaye
Beto

Try something a bit different

Maybe we're just cursed!

Time to use the rest of our squad and give our young lads a chance!

However, it would be churlish indeed to criticize him after one game. He will have learned a lot tonight, mainly what a task he has ahead.

I'd agree with that team except for Beto, his first touch and general timing is dreadful. Calvert-Lewin for all of his misses, is still our only option up front at present.

Even with a fully fit squad, I'd say we are still three signings away from safety. We were asleep for the first half hour tonight, but there were encouraging signs second half.

Ndaiye looks great twisting and turning people and appears to be a class act, probably our best player. But he still rarely delivers the final killer pass and often hangs on to the ball that bit too much, when the layoff would be the better option

It's just bewildering… did nobody on the staff happen to mention that this hasn't worked all season and, if it had been working, you wouldn't fuckin be here, David!!

After 30 plus years, I should not allow this kind of thing to surprise me anymore, but I still do. And will again.

I' m with you Mr Kenrick. Stealing money, and he thinks he's better than us!! Been getting away with it for years.

Phil 111 sums it up... Calvert-Lewin 'for all his misses, he's still our best option''. Lord Help us.

There's an earlier post which made me laugh, admittedly ironically, but laugh I did.

When you have a "best" first eleven where at least five of them are simply not good enough, you can have any fucking manager you care to think of and we wouldn't be a better side by any more than a couple of percent.

So Moyes picks the same team as Sean Dyche would have. Good one, Davey.

So tell us what team would you have picked that would have done better than the one picked?

He'll do a lot better than Douche.

Moyes presently hasn't got much to play with but he's a very cagey manager and you don't score goals by being cagey.

Dominic has got to score with at least one of those chances tonight, and Brainthwaite has got to be better, because he gifted them a great chance in the first half and also started the move for Villa's goal tonight simply because of a lack of concentration.

Central defender gives away a goal and centre-forward misses two gilt-edged chances. Fine margins and when you are down you are often on the receiving end of these fine margins, but the lack of quality isn't being helped by our lack of confidence.

We have got to sign a couple of players urgently.

What were people expecting, formation- or selection-wise? There was never going to be sweeping changes.

We pressed higher up the pitch; the game-winning goal and Villa's best chances came from forced errors. We were trying to play more on the front foot and mistakes were made. It happens.

Haaland went 8 or so games without a goal, even surrounded by City's wealth of player choices. Arsenal had 49 goal attempts (pre the Spurs game) in 2 games and scored once!

Calvert-Lewin is not at an elite level, but he's been chasing his own headers under Dyche for 2 seasons. His ballooned effort is the only one that I can complain about today. The left shot is weaker foot at a tight angle. The goal-line clearance had the ball drop very slowly behind him. Keep putting these chances in front of him and he will get some goals, but as I mentioned, he isn't Haaland or Isakor Jota.

Also, anyone would think we've been scratching our heads for 24 months wondering how we don't win 3-0 each week. A change of manager wasn't going to magically turn us into a winning side.

The stats show we matched Villa today for possession, passing and defensive work. I'll take that over the "sit back and defend the ball" tactics we've had for the last year.

I watched the highlights again, Calvert-Lewin's first-half effort the defender took the pace off the ball, before the other defender cleared off the line. But he should have buried the one near the end, even though it was bobbing when it came to him.

I'll give Moyes the benefit of the doubt since he's been here for all of 5 minutes, but those claiming to have seen improvement on the pitch today are squinting through some seriously thick rose-coloured glasses.

One of the commonest feelings among Everton supporters was we had a poor squad and needed some new players brought in to improve the team and squad. Today's game showed what a difficult job any Everton manager will have without new players added.

We never got blown away and Pickford never had to provide difficult saves to keep us in the game, plus the new ruling that appears to be given to referees, that fouls are only to be given outside the penalty area, inside the area it is allowable.

Today's game we hope, showed Moyes what changes should be made and not judge him, it will take 4 or 5 more games to make a decision of whether there is progress or not but, as they say, the clock keeps ticking.

Patterson at right back, Armstrong wide right to start with. Moyes said we need to score goals, well pick some players who look like creating them then.

Not Young and Harrison down the right side, Young cannot get forward, he's too old, and Harrison… does it need spelling out?

Unless we get in at least two strikers, I think our 70-year spell at the top level will end this season.

But it was obvious that the 'same players in the same positions' were actually in different positions. They were further forward. Both with and without the ball. Sometimes they were even in the opposition box...

I thought it was a big effort by a group of players who are below the level of their opposition but still capable of more than they've shown this season.

I don't want to put too much stock in a losing effort, but if we are braver then we will score more goals. And we were braver.

I'm still surprised we didn't see Patterson. It felt like that game was made for him, particularly late on when Villa sat deep and we had men in the box.

Moyes did a near perfect impression of Dyche, except even Dyche eventually realised Patterson had to come on for Young to start putting some crosses over.

But Moyes chose O'Brien. Absolutely clueless.

Maybe Moyes will make changes for Sunday but I have no confidence in Moyes making the right ones. We may well be in crisis by next week.

This was the game to make the subtle changes that would make a big difference. Young, Harrison, Doucoure out; Patterson, Lindstrøm, Armstrong in.

When Royle came in for Walker, even when Dyche came in for Lampard, we got an immediate response. Tonight we got nothing, and could have been two down in minutes.

I am horrendously worried tonight.

He's basically turned up for work on his first day and made the same errors that got his predecessor the sack.

That, if I'm being honest, was as bad as anything under Dyche. I was gobsmacked when I saw that side before the game. It's obvious Doucoure has struggled all season, it's obvious Harrison cannot play on the right, yet Moyes put the same square pegs in the same round holes.

In 9 of the last 11 we've failed to score and, if we persist with that formation and personnel, I doubt we'll score another goal, let alone win a game.

Unless he gets a couple of players back and at least 3 in, I honestly think we will perish this season.

These players don't look like it hurts them enough, they don't seem bothered when we concede, no fight, no bottle, no urgency – it's the same lazy lethargic football.

I don't think these players realise how serious this mess is, it doesn't hurt them enough.

It really is unforgivable.

Just who exactly? Who would come to this omnishambles?

Same team that Dyche would have chosen, it did not work, we knew it, Moyes now knows it. We move on and learn.

Give the new Manager time and show some patience!! How were you lot in our first day at work in a new job?

If you don't know that you need to bring Patterson on to put some crosses over, you should not be in the job.

Moyes should have at least changed something to stamp his own idea on the game prior to kick-off.

We haven't got the time or games left to mess around. Get the players in on Thursday and change the game plan, that is the whole idea of recruiting a new manager.

Apparently Calvert-Lewin isn't the only striker to miss chances, would you believe it?

Personally, I was gutted as pre-match I'd been advocating for 3-5-2. I couldn't believe we sent out the usual 11, in the usual formation.

As soon as I saw that set-up, the result was ominous. I still can't believe this shite. Unbelievable…

Same team, same tactics, same result. What did we expect?

Calvert-Lewin – the number of times it's easier to score than miss. I don't get this either.

Pickford's 'keeping saved either three or four certain goals today. If he were a striker that would be a good day's work.

Carry on carrying on, with the same eleven players starting, same like-for-like subs, two ‘keepers on the bench, very slight attacking moves, same unenforced mistakes creating chances for the opposition with one giving the game away, same late subs, chances missed with the one in the last minute really poor.

The last 20 minutes was like the Forest game not long ago with the players not wanting the ball, passing the ball to each across the field when forward momentum was called for – well, screamed out for. On the good side, teams below continue to lose so we are still in with a chance if they continue to do so.

No blame on the new manager — yet — it's his first game, he did nothing that the dismissed manager hasn't done loads of times this season.

We need guile and plenty of it but I doubt we have the players to provide it along with good passing, movement and wanting the ball instead of treating it like a hot potato.

One last moan — what the fuck is wrong with Branthwaite??? He hasn't been the same player since he came back and loads of times tonight he looked, to me, that he didn't even want the ball, mostly giving it back to Pickford or whichever player gave him the ball, and giving the ball away very carelessly and one which provided the winning goal for Villa.

“By the way, I can't ‘magic' all that to change, I just can't do it.

Not a magician, but over the next few weeks he'll have to produce something that gives this club a chance to improve the goalscoring record this season and ultimately our chances of remaining in the top-flight.

Villa were a decent side but not out of this world, but they didn't have to be, in fact too many visiting sides don't have to be much better than ordinary to take something away from Goodison, as Everton are not really threatening up top.

I just heard the commentator say that Villa haven't lost at Goodison since 2015, and Sunday's opponents Tottenham also have a fine record at our place in recent years.

We have to accept that we're not very good, and we'll experience more results like this before the end of the season, but it's those games against fellow relegation rivals which will ultimately decide our fate, it'll be touch and go, which we've known for quite some time.

Doucoure, Harrison and Dominic Calert-Lewin have been fairly poor for most of this season, and we can't rely on them to produce anything substantive on current form, trouble is nobody else will buy them from Everton in order for us to strengthen this team.

Tony #117, remember we have four "new" players coming back from injury, and three of them are starting midfielders, including our best attacker. I'm not sure we're going to sign anybody who will make as much of a difference.

Ernie #124, agreed. I thought we were more aggressive in this game than we have been for months.

Bill #121, I don't like that Moyes is here, but that's a perfectly sensible post.

Jim #108, I wouldn't take Mykolenko off the pitch for Sunday. We were hoping some underperforming players would raise their game under the new manager. Mykolenko certainly did, as did Tarkowski. Both had their best games for several months.

Apparently Calvert-Lewin isn't the only striker to miss chances, would you believe it?

That's a somewhat huge difference.

So surely he could have advised Moyes to leave out the embarrassingly poor Doucouré, not under any circumstances start with the truly dreadful Harrison, and rest Young and play Patterson?

There are other issues but Young, Harrison and Doucoure are dreadful and need dropping. There are other players who can improve these positions.

Let's all hope that he can somehow repeat the feat this coming Sunday.

Are you sure you saw O'Brien put three or four good crosses in tonight? He only came on for the last 10 minutes and I'm struggling to remember him in Villa's half of the field, except in the penalty area for corners and free kicks which I think he was brought on for.

He was another who played the ball mostly sideways or backwards, when it was urgently needed playing forward.

Despite all that, we will not get relegated this season.

By the way, Dave, I was thinking of you when watching this: Chelsea v Everton 14 October 1967. Over 30 minutes of highlights. Some names in that team! Enjoy! (I won't tell you the result, but you probably already know it!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8L0mTjBi5o

The only criticism I've got of Dom tonight is missing the target for that last chance. It wasn't exactly an easy finish and he was past the front post when he connected, but he just had to hit the target from there.

Scuffing it over the bar is unfortunately the standard for a guy with limited technical ability in front of goal. That was his chance.

"Why can't we play two up front, the extra man in midfield offers nothing going forward?"

And on the evidence of a 0-1 defeat – even less defending. The old regime was given one last chance – and blew it. Though why wait until the 82nd minute to go 3-5-2.

That said; we only have 18 games left – 2 vs Liverpool (net 16?) for Moyes & Thelwell to get injured players ready to go, offload any they might want to, source any incomings, then shuffle the pack each game in the hope of getting an 11 that works... and that's without any more injuries.

The Spurs game now generates even more pressure, though to be fair, plenty of pressure on Postacoglou too.

We win and it's still P20 / 20 points. 1 point per game, which is too close for comfort.

It was stated on here 15+ years ago that Moyes did not seem to fulfil Napoleon's main requirement in a general... is he lucky?

Well let's hope he's got a bit luckier (bank balance not withstanding)... we're going to need it – though that was always the case this season whoever was in charge .

We went through a phase in the late 60s of drawing 1-1 at Chelsea, with a 2-2 thrown in for good measure, iirc.

It cheered me up after tonight's game.

This has loads of old 60s/70s MotDs.

https://www.youtube.com/@YeOldeFootballChannel/videos

Calvert-Lewin and Beto up top, Ndiaye sitting behind in a free role. Got to have some creativity as once again, we could have stayed out there all night and still wouldn't score.

Maybe Moyes had to see for himself just how poor Harrison and Doucoure really are. He won't have a lot to spend on new players so I'm hoping he is ruling out players as such, to prioritize what position to buy?

Not a lot Moyes can do about the big mistakes Young and Braithwaite made. You see it every week in the Premier League, stupid goals given away with dreadful back passes. All for the sake of keeping possession. Makes no sense as the keeper will mostly just belt it up field anyway.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but if you keep the ball away from your own goal, the opposition don't score?

Harrison looks absolutely devoid of all confidence, he could have been dragged off at half-time – everything he touched turned to shit.

Villa on paper have a better team than us with probably only Branthwaite in for Mings but, on recent form, Branthwaite is a lucky lad keeping his shirt.

I didn't think Villa deserved the win. A snide shit bag of a team with a shit bag of a manager which in today's football is sadly par for the course. A weak ref who whistled for anyone hitting the deck except for the clear push on Lindstrom in the box.

Only plus points: Moyes has seen first-hand how shite Harrison, Lindstrom and Doucoure are. The hard bit is replacing them as the squad is threadbare. We need Garner and McNeil back asap.

Moyes has to get Ndiaye closer to the opposition 18-yard box. He is one of the few that have the hunger to win a game. And as bad as Beto is, he deserves a chance ahead of Calvert-Lewin. The lad will run through brick walls.

Roll on Sunday for one of those early kick-offs. It doesn't get any easier supporting the Blues.

I could tell you what you are but my only concern is the team. You should try it and suggest what needs to be done. If you think that playing 3 central defenders is the way to get us out of trouble, so be it, but I will disagree.

Patterson needed to come on for Young to get down the wing, knit play together better and get some quality crosses over. That is what Patterson does. O'Brien is a central defender and won't be getting down the wing much at all.

No team needs 3 central defenders. It is ridiculous.

So bad was Moshiri's and Kenwright's "management" of the club they owned and directed that we are still parlous on account of PSR bollocks when it comes to signing anyone.

In addition, Everton for years under those two divvies have been identified the world over by rapacious agents and their nowhere-near-good-enough players as the financial and contractual heaven they all dreamt about in their mediocrity. We're still in the possession of a notable few of them.

So, signings to improve us this month? Dream on.

Something drastically needs to change in the setup of the team, both formation and players, to start posing more of a goal threat to get a win and much-needed points; playing it safe and playing for a draw is not going to be enough.

There's players to come back from injuries but they might not be match-fit for a few weeks but they will offer the team more creativity and threat when they do get back; it's unknown whether there's going to be any players bought.

Team for Spurs:

3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Branthwaite
Patterson Mangala Lindstrom Mykolenko
Sherif Ndiaye Beto

We're currently on a losing run of matches where the team has offered little to no goal threat, albeit marginally better this evening, but still nowhere near enough threat, so drastic measures to change our fortunes and the script.

Be brave, Moyes, and you might win some sceptics over; stay in Dour Davie mode and things will go south and sour in no time.

Right wing, centre forward and left back a weak link, as is Doucoure who struggles to even play a 1 yard pass.

If Moyes has learned anything from today, Harrison and Doucoure will not be starting Sunday, Mykolenko needs to get his finger out as well.

Overall I thought we pressed better got further upfield, but the build up play was way too slow.

Baring anyone coming in, I would look to play Tarks, O,Brien and Branthwaite as a back three
Play two wing backs to get further up the pitch, switch Doucoure for Harrison Armstrong and this might surprise a few, I would start with Beto and Martin Sharif as a two forward line.

He has Rob, hasn't he. Perhaps my biggest disappoint up to now in a disappointing season. It could be that he was suffering in a pretty bleak time, although he was poor again tonight. And perhaps dropping him will rock his confidence. One thing for sure; he will not be in Tommy's first squad. Another; Jordan will be and will start.

It’s not all doom and gloom yet, but it could turn that way very quickly.

It’s so uncertain, will we get three players in before February?

It feels like maybe this won’t happen, and if it doesn’t, we’re screwed.

Can’t see Moyes finishing this season, he’ll be dismissed too late, March/April time, and it’ll be up to Baines to save us.

This is all Dyche’s fault.

However, I remain confused as to why you so adamantly wanted Patterson when O'Brien filled the same role -- allowing Young to get down the wing, from whence he accomplished nothing. Maybe the right move would have been to push Patterson up there. But if you're expecting quality crosses from Patterson, maybe to Dom's head... it's a dream. I don't recall ever seeing one from him.

Dave #145, oops. O'Brien floated a lovely ball to Myko at the back post right on 90 minutes, and I thought it was his perfect ball to Mangala's chest for the deflected shot a minute later, but on consulting the replay I realized that was Tarks. Sorry.

Andrea #154, apparently we will get three and perhaps four players in before February. Their names are McNeil, Garner, Iroegbunam and Chermiti.

But, there are players who have been consistently off-form all season and should step out of the team as and when replacements are available.

DCL, Harrison, Doucoure and Mykolenko all need to taken out of the side. Knowing how cautious Moysey is, he won’t change all of them immediately but it kills team morale if under-performers keep getting selected.

As has been mentioned several times Harrison, and even worse Doucoure, should never play for us again, both liabilities offering little or nothing. Young, who has been decent of late, reverted back to rash tackling and suicidal back-passing yet again. Nearly 40, he is keeping younger options out of the team. Why?

One positive if you can call it that, is or was, we seemed to attack more than of late, but abject half-hearted finishing spoilt any potential chances of scoring or even equalising. Massive changes needed for Sunday, but I won't hold my breath!

As an afterthought, I wonder if it was a calculated gamble by Moyes, as a message to TFG: "Look what I have to work with, we desperately need reinforcements!" Or am I giving Moyes more credit than he deserves?

We need changes on Sunday.

The old Moyes classic of waiting until the last 10 minutes before making some attacking subs. It's like déjà vu all over again.

This "safe pair of hands… we won't be relegated with Moyes" theory is going to be sorely tested judging by that rubbish.

DK #170, I think Moyes just wanted to see the existing 11 up close and personal to draw his own conclusions. I believe we'll see those conclusions on Sunday.

Denver #172, come on. He made an attacking sub in the 59th minute with Lindstrom. Dyche never did that. It worked pretty well, too. We had most of the ball and put on the majority of the pressure from that point on.

Bookies still have us finishing 5th from bottom, but I can't help feeling the jig is up this season. We really needed a win last night to change the narrative and outlook. Now we need five or more wins when there are only three winnable fixtures left.

We'll have to be pleasantly surprised by some results at some point to avoid relegation.

You've got some cheek putting Chermiti on that list.
He'll never score a goal for Everton and is completely useless to this team. I'm starting to suspect Lindstrom might be the same; I hope not because he seems like a tidy footballer – problem is, that doesn't make him an effective one, especially under managers like Doyes (an overpowering ginger compound).

The ginger baton was truly handed over last night. Dyche was doing a good job, well, he's not going to say he's bang average is he?

I hope Garner and Iroegbunam weigh in with some goals or assists. McNeil is obviously the most important player to return from that list, but it won't be like having a new signing, it'll just be like Dwight coming back from injury – which is what it is.

Fresh blood is what is needed. Ben Chilwell needs a boost to his career, but it's more likely to be Aaron Cresswell isn't it? A loan player (if Broja goes) and a signing is the bare minimum required.

I don't buy that horseshit that Moyes was showing the owners he needed players last night by picking the underperforming ones. If that is the case, then Moyes has lost his ruthless edge and wasted the chance to get 3 points against a side who have looked lost away from Villa Park this season.

Harrison Armstrong should have started the match, he looks composed and confident. Age only matters in football for certain players, the ones that aren't that great. Look at Luke Littler, sometimes athletes are fully formed at 17, mentally and physically.

The next couple of games may be tough but then, starting in February, we have Leicester, Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Wolves and West Ham. That is a run where we will need to get results. Let's hope Moyes has some answer and preferably some new players by then.

Lindstrom for Harrison was a regular occurrence under the previous manager, especially after yet another Harrison non-performance. A Dyche move, if you will.

I think that was an obvious sub.

Personally I'd have started with Lindstrom and Patterson. You'd have gone with Armstrong. Some like 352.

On form, you might even have picked Keane who has arguably been our best CB this season despite being a very unpopular player.

Realistically though there's no magic formula that lifts the First XI. We're just not very good - especially with the ongoing injury crisis (that has hit Branthwaite's form as well as fitness).

My biggest disappointment is that were now 2 weeks (+) into the window with no movement on new players - players we've needed since Ancelotti left. Hopefully soon.

But - If you're good enough, you're old enough.

Chilwell is a good shout and Moyes himself at W. Ham relegated Creswell to the bench ages ago, so that's one to swerve.

*puts on tin hat; Broja is broken, Harrison is shite - send them both back, cancel their loans.
Move heaven and earth to get Rashford in on loan.
He doesn't seem to want to go very far from Old Trafford...if at all, but he's not even in their 25 - Everyones a winner.

I actually thought that Moyes's presser was honest, commendable, insightful, self-critical, pragmatic, and I think I know what to do. It made me feel better, even though I'm unhappy with the second coming.

Encouraging, unlike the match.

However,'burnt out' after two days was not the smartest thing to say.

Nobody should ever be an automatic choice. Team selection should be made purely on current form, not past performances. Many seem to think Tarkowski performs better with Branthwaite, but that should not be the criteria for Branthwaite's automatic selection. Perhaps that's simply making excuses for poor games Tarkowski has had.

Taking this into account, I would recall Keane and bench Branthwaite for the time being. I'd even try pairing Keane with Branthwaite at Tarkowski's expense. There needs to be rotation at the back until we find the formula which prevents us leaking silly goals from expensive errors.

This was on Moyes and his staff lets be honest, regardless of how long he had to set up he went with the same 11 which has barely managed a shot never mind a goal, It has loose cannnons throughout the side starting with Ashley Young who should be nowhere near starting, and Doucoure who Lampard was right about when he turned up 3 years ago, and he is still starting. Harrison and Dom's confidence is on the floor and it's just poor management and sad to watch continuing to play them with this set up.

He missed an opportunity to try something new, to send a message to the fans and players but before kick off the sting was taken out of the whole thing.

Getting beat with a drab performance like that, nothings changed as expected, he isn't the messiah and we are in deep trouble.

343 / 5221 looked okay against them, but I expect 451 of last night would have done also.

Armstrong did really well against Peterborough - by which I mean he put in a great through ball (a rarity) for our goal and found pockets of space etc. I don't think he 'starred' but he's obviously got better technique than Doucoure - and should be pushing for regular selection over the next season or two. By age 20 he could be a nailed on regular. That's his likely trajectory under any manager.

Moyes will, I am sure, have liased with Seamus and Leighton over line ups etc and the general consensus amongst the coaching staff might well have been that last night's formation / selection gives us the best balance between attack and defence and plays to the players' very limited strengths.

Hard to believe? Maybe we'd have lost more heavily if the likes of Lindstrom, Armstrong and Patterson had been used. None of us know.

"That was the sorriest "new manager bounce" I've ever seen" - Yep. It would seem gallows humor, is the only humor in town at the moment;

"It kills team morale if under-performers keep getting selected" - Yep. Aint that the truth At every level.

"Apparently DCL isn't the only one to miss chances" - Yep. its all getting very, very silly now. Brilliant effort running away from goal after controlling on his chest. Drags one quite literally out of the sky which lands slightly behind him and although smothered by defender and goalkeeper still manages to squeeze a shot on target. Both efforts described as "sitters". The lady who sits right in front of me was scanning comments on Live forum at HT and said "If I didnt know better I could swear they want him not to score" - Yep.

Oh and am I the only one who's heart sank when reading Paul Hewitt confidently predicting a 3-0 home win ? I'm sure Paul is a very nice man but he seems on a one man crusade to disproved the stopped watch theory.

The kopites of London up next. Plenty for Davey Boy to think about between now and then

I do think performances will improve - and that Moyes and the coaching squad will try different options in the next match. So hopefully that will bring more confidence within the squad for a difficult run in.

I understand what and why you say “ could we start crossing the ball in the air” but every ball in the air was gobbled up by Minge and co. Did we manage a decent header on target? I know that we didn’t play to their weaknesses at the back.

There aren't any goals in the squad and that's not due to bad coaching it's down to having players who just don't score regularly.

Whenever we get players that create or score we have sold them and replaced them with lesser players.

Ndiaye has been our best player this year and the jury is still out on his quality and goal contribution.

We have 1 loan injury prone striker. 1 young injured striker, 1 striker out of contract who isn't arsed but is somehow getting game time even though he can't finish his dinner and a contracted striker who is like a bull in a china shop. That's why we can't score goals.

This squad reminds me a little if the Walter Smith squad when his purse strings got pulled. He unearthed players like Scott Gemill, Davey Weir, pembridge, Gary Naismith and a loan of Kevin Campbell.

Moyes needs to unearth hungry players with a point to prove regardless of what division they are playing in.

In our situation we need fight in the players bellies not players who are running down their contracts or loanees who don't look interested.

Our previous ‘strength’ was set pieces so why can’t our very tall players get off the ground and win a header, the Villa centre backs dominated them like they were a bunch of u14s.

Branthwaites value has plummeted which further limits our options and looking for new players in this window is notoriously difficult. I’ve got zero faith in Thelwell who I think is useless and getting away with murder, he’s a major factor in this shockingly put together squad.

Moyes does not have the breathing space to move cautiously, and if he's serious about finding ways for us to score, he needs to take some chances and make changes to his line-ups. Talking about finding ways to score but not actually doing anything different was something his predecessor did.

I'm not encouraged, I'm worried. I wasn't against the appointment of Moyes, but after last night the small doubts in my mind have magnified.

Moyes needs to go against the grain starting Sunday. He needs to pick an attacking eleven even if it means we are more open. Patterson has to start. It's blindingly obvious. Harrison and Doucoure have to be dropped. I would give Armstrong the first 45 minutes if nothing else.

My concern is that Moyes will not make these changes, he will instead prioritize defensive solidity and stick with the likes of Jack Harrison, his modus operandi. Patterson will not start, Armstrong will not start, and we'll get a slightly shuffled line-up - maybe Beto for Calvert-Lewin.

Fair enough, we were further up the pitch last night, Myko played a bit better and got a couple of crosses in, we had more possession and didn't go hoofball every two minutes. They were the only positives, not saying much is it?

Moyes cannot revert to type, he's in a relegation battle and this is not the time for dithering or being patient. He needs to make changes to make chances.

I do hope that TFG, didn't ask the previous manager the question, can you manage the team to safety with no additions, or without spending money? IF they did, then they got the answer to their question last night, we will not survive without some fresh blood being added to the first-team.

If by the time we face Leicester at Goodison no significant additions have been made, then without a great dollop of good fortune, we will open BMD as a championship club, that is the harsh truth and reality of our current situation.

We keep blaming managers and changing managers but that's as true now as it was years ago. Until we get better players we'll struggle. The interviews/press conferences I've seen from Moyes basically say the same if you read between the lines.

From his face at the post-match presser last night though, I think even he's been shocked how rubbish most of the squad are. It's obvious he plans to sack most of them off over the summer as he knows they're not up to it in the PL.

Look at Doucoure - a man who runs about a lot but thats about it. Calvert-Lewin is out of excuses now too after another big miss last night cost us points.

He's had enough chances this season (and in the last couple of seasons) to score and continually messes them up. Top strikers shouldn't need 10 gilt edged chances laying on each game to score one.

Watkins had two chances for Villa last night and scored one. Calvert-Lewin had the same I think and missed them.

I would go 4-1-3-2 moving forward and put Beto up top with Ndiaye just off him. I'd had Lindstrom as the central one of the three behind them. Put Mangala as the one behind the three and tell him to sit there & not move like Carsley used to do. Not Gueye as he is incapable of holding his position and leaves us wide open. Patterson and O'Brien as fullbacks for more energy and more attacking oomph.

Failing all of that, get Bainsey to pull his boots back on and get out there!

Forget managers, its the players that have to play the game, our saving grace is that there may be 3 or 4 teams worse than us.

We have too many injuries in an already threadbare squad, so just what Moyes can do to fix our problems I don't know.

A plus was we only conceeded 1 goal so the defence apart from a couple of silly passes did their job.

Its looking very dicey I must say, but the betting still has us finishing in 16th spot at the end of the season.

He’s brought in McKinlay and Irvine with Baines involved. He’s apparently looking for a set pieces coach.

No mention of Seamus in article I read, which was dated this week, so unsure of his future involvement on the coaching staff.

I will carry on sounding like a broken record with comments I've posted recently but I'll continue to say what needs to be said from what I'm seeing on the pitch.

Now is not the time for pragmatism or safety first, wins on the board are the only game in town, setting up to play for draws is not going to be enough to guarantee survival.

The whole squad and management team should be focused on whatever it takes to get at the very least 5 wins out of the remaining fixtures, that means being brave and trying new things.

Everyone is unhappy at the lack of quality we have in the squad but here's a novel idea how about playing players in their preferred positions especially the attack minded players and playing new formations.

That may be the difference in getting some wins and precious points for the race to survive in the PL.

Players wasted in being shoehorned into positions they have and are not producing, give them a match or two in their preferred role and see if they produce the goods, if they fail to produce then so be it at least you tried to do something different. If the players still don't produce in their preferred position after a couple of matches then swap them out for somebody else. If that means a change in formation then so be it, God forbid even changing personnel and formation multiple times during a match might be needed.

Sometimes a team can be greater than the sum of its parts but that requires you to play to your strengths as a team and not just playing to just solely limit your opposition in any given match.

All I see, is people bigging up the appalling teams around us and talking about their "Vast improvement"

Yes it would be great to bring in reinforcements, but if that's not possible we simply cant resign ourselves to the drop.
Yes we lost last night and yes we were poor again, but our superior goal difference to Wolves and Leicester actually got wider. if we are still not in the bottom four while we are playing like this. We have to be believe we can pull away in the event of even the slightest of improvement.

Mykolenko proved he can cross a ball if you give it to him to run on to. Conversely, giving it to his feet on the touchline will, nine times out of ten, result in him passing it back to where it came from.

Ndiaye is the only player in the team who can create space for himself. I am wondering if he can drop deeper to provide some creativity in the middle of the park.

Rob # 154 - “ The lad will run through brick walls.”. That is enough reason for him to start ahead of DCL.

Yes, wholesale changes required but I have to say, the recent memory of Moyes trundling on to the pitch with his hands in his tracksuit pockets at the pre match training session at Finch Farm doesn’t fill me with expectation.

Maybe it doesn't matter perhaps we will scrape by as in previous years but the danger in calling for a new manager is they must bring change.

Any new faces will have to be oven ready to replace incumbents not delivering. The impact is either immediately positive or mildly cack in which case what team spirit existed floats away on the outgoing mersey tide to the Irish sea.

A couple of old stagers looking for a last payday might do it if they can still finish and pass a ball.

Wissam Ben Yedder turned 34 in August released by Monaco in July 24.

Might be worth a punt, scored plenty for Monaco & Sevilla, good pace and knows where the onion bag is

We need a creative midfielder and a striker pronto.

I'm sure they will be looking but quality ones don't grow on trees.

Likewise, I'm not sure we can expect the likes of Patterson and Armstrong (who have played almost zero first-team football in the last 18 months) to come in and start bossing things.

Mostly it is going to be the players that we already have and that have (rightly) taken lots of flak this season. It won't be pretty and will feel a lot like a Dyche team and a Dyche approach. Because it is!

There were one or two signs last night of a bolder philosophy for the eagle-eyed but confidence is shot and will only be restored by goals and results. Which may require more confidence. A dangerously negative cycle.

I'm excited to make my annual Goodison pilgrimage on Sunday but my expectations are fairly basic: a tough fighting performance in which we can hopefully grind out a point at least.

As I said earlier, I think it is the February run which will make or break us but by that point we may hopefully have a new face or two on the bench to offer options at least.

Danny 213 - In my heyday I turned down other clubs including Shanklys Liverpool awaiting the call from Everton - they never did.

That ship sailed many moons ago

This is the first game Moyes has seen the players in action, away from the training field, he saw right through Harrison and took him off, he took Doucoure and Young off, but he tried a plan b, he did not do a like for like striker sub, he went two up top.

We are all disappointed with a near same 11 starting line up, however the next match or so will tell us if Moyes is just another Dyche, as others have said, or will we see Harrison away from the starting 11 and even Doucoure switched for Betto and a 4-4-2 formation.

Dyches problem was he went for the same 11 week after week, let’s see if Moyes changes it on Sunday.

The next couple of games will tell us if we have a manager with a plan b, but I am pretty certain come Sunday, Harrison will not be in the starting 11 and would not be surprised if either Beto or Harrison Armstrong start instead of Doucouré.

While I don't fault his effort, Calvert-Lewin is now a spent force in a Blue shirt, he is winning less and less headers and most centre-backs find him too easy to play against as he has a poor first touch and seems to be easily outmuscled.

Doucoure is another whose work rate is to be commended, but again no goal threat like Calvert-Lewin and his passing is awful most of the time. So that's what Moyes has been left with by Dyche and Thelwell.

Then we come to the wide men; obviously Moyes sussed pretty quickly how bad Harrison is. Ndiaye is tricky but we need goals and assists and all his good work is just inside the opponent's half.

Lindstrom is obviously a better choice than Harrison but no goals or assists although he should have registered an assist but Calvert-Lewin couldnt even force the keeper to make a save from 3 yards out.

Beto is not the answer and Broja was unfit when we signed him and has been unavailable for months (what were Dyche and Thelwell thinking?) and now has a long-term injury which will probably mean he goes back to Chelsea.

Branthwaite had his worst game in a blue shirt, giving the ball away in the 1st half which nearly ended with a goal, and his mistake in the 2nd half led to their goal.

I would imagine that Moyes is asking Freidkin how much can he spend because, without a decent striker and a decent playmaker, we will not score the goals to keep us up.

I hope he goes with 3 at the back 5 in midfield and 2 up top against Spurs as that will help get more men in the opponent's box as I doubt he will get a striker in before Sunday.

Leeds, Liverpool, Derby called while at college but the now missus didn't want me away all the time so it had to be Liverpool or Everton. Everton didn't call and I wouldn't go to Liverpool.

I began to drift away with the last serious effort being a workout giving Merseyside Boys (I think thats what they were called) a practice game. Good players most on Everton's and Liverpool's books who stuffed us 6 - 3. I scored 2.

In retrospect, I had the wrong attitude. I had all the skill in the world but someone needed to tell me football wasn't about beating a man then going back to beat him again. Plus I had a shocking temper and got sent off 3 weeks running for scrapping for different teams.

Bit off a headbanger in truth.

They all called me but I was waiting for Sandra Bullock.

Villa should have had 3 or 4 more goals. The ridiculous Young back-pass, just one example. We are rock bottom. We are crap. It's becoming very boring to watch them or to hear about them.

Thank God we have some great rugby to watch during the next couple of months, instead of that shite in blue.

A high press, more wing play (tho as Ossie said on commentary, it was all coming down our left), more possession, more adventure, and yet more same old, same old.

I'm not going to criticise Moyes, and I actually thought, when the camera panned to him at I think it was the 66th minute, he looked like a 'stunned mullet!', much akin to 'How bad is this team!'

I honestly think, much like Dyche, they both must see the players in training, and think they're OK, then come match day, they 'freeze'.

I think with the players coming back, we currently (only! sic!) need a RWF this window, but just focus on buying that player with the best quality we can, with the money we have.

I know I'll have to put my tin-hat on here, but over-playing Armstrong is not going to be the panacea we all think it will be, nor will trying to shoe-horn Patterson into a RW or RWB either.

If I had just 5 minutes to spend with Moyes, I wouldn't talk about the team or formation.

I would say that he needs to bring in a finishing coach to work with Calvert-Lewin and Beto, and others.

Ask him to question what does Mackinlay, and Irvine (who won't be with us till after Sunday) bring you that Baines doesn't, and who do you rate as one of the best technical training coaches in the game (then go and get them!), and yes we need a good set-piece coach.

Then I would suggest he gets a Clinical Hypnotherapy Psychotherapist in to work with the players to help with their confidence and attitude.

That doesn't mean that you hypnotise the players, but whereas a normal Psychotherapist works on the conscious level, a Clinical Hypnotherapy Psychotherapist works on both the conscious and subconscious levels.

The way I see it is that we have a mixed bag of players, who are under-performing, for whatever reason. By that, I mean we lack composure with the ball, there seems to be an obvious lack of confidence once we pass the half-way line, and there is little to none off-the-ball movement, and of which there is, it is usually ignored and the safety-first ball is played.

I don't think any manager can turn us around immediately, though with patience and the correct approach, I think we'll have enough to stay up.

As I said above, I wouldn't expect more than one incoming, unless we are going to ignore the 30 June PSR deadline.

We can all blame the manager, whomever it is, we can blame his tactics and formations, but at the end of the day, it is they who see the players day-in-day-out, week-in & week-out; we don't...

Well, there are plenty of daydreamers on here!

Also, it becomes apparent that Beto is more likely to score than Calvert-Lewin, but neither are good enough and I would suggest that we have a far more capable striker on the bench in Keane.

He has a goal in him, he can strike a ball, pass a ball, and head the ball better than both of them; he's probably not got the hold-up play but can learn. Mykolenko had a good game; nice to see some decent crosses in, but we need a much stronger spine.

We need you like a frog needs spawn.

Disappointed with the starting line-up which I'd hoped would have at least a couple of different starters.

Worrying for ‘out in the cold' Patterson and he's now been leap-frogged by previously ‘even more out in the cold' O'Brien (who did okay again).

I too (along with Mike G) thought Mykolenko was much improved, especially as an attacking asset looking to deliver the ball in behind or put in crosses much more often.

There did seem to be a general 5- to 10-yard step further forwards from defence and midfield but the right-side partnership of Young and Harrison was particularly ineffective, possibly instinctively worried about the space left behind them.

This put more responsibility on the left which had a very unfortunate consequence when over-exuberance led to players ending up out of their set positions. Jarrad felt he had to step forwards to nip a break-out in the bud but, after battling for it and gaining possession twice, he tried to lay it off and inadvertently nutmegged Ndiaye, which led to Watkins's goal.

I think any calls for Jarrad to be dropped are missing the bigger picture of how much responsibility is already put on his young shoulders and how he is still having to learn under extreme stress conditions.

I still think the current selection is uninspiring and severely limits the questions we can ask of the opposition. Hoping for some creativity and a big boost when the recovering bodies are all available.

You thought Mykolenko was outstanding, really and please tell me what are you basing that on?

The only 2 good things he did was throw himself in the way of 2 shots by Villa, the rest of the evening he was shocking.

He gets a nosebleed when he crosses the half-way line and his distribution is appealing, and if you don't believe me come and sit with me one game and listen to the lads and lasses there, they'll tell you what what they think of Mykolenko.

To think we sold Digne and replaced him with the Ukrainian, love to know who sanctioned that deal. A truly awful player who actually looks scared when he receives the ball.

We need a replacement for him asap and I believe Moyes will replace him, if not this window, certainly the next.

As to who sanctioned the deal to sell Digne and bring in Myko and Patterson, it was Benitez.

Benitez was the manager when Mykolenko and Patterson were brought in. Digne was sold to bring money in and get his wages off the books.

Kenwright was thanked by the Rangers chairman for his negotiating the Patterson deal. Who bought and sanctioned Mykolenko's transfer is unclear, I couldn't see Benitez paying that fee for him or even wanting him to be honest, mind you, he did sign Rondon!

Benitez even kept invoking Peter Reid to excuse his treatment of Digne -- the sacrilege of the legend's name in that vile man's mouth was sickening. And Benitez getting sacked less than 3 months later vindicated Digne in my view.

But anyway, Digne being exiled was what triggered the Mykolenko and Patterson acquisitions, not the other way around.

That said, maybe the self-created hole beneath the waterline is too huge to be salvaged at all but, if so, some of us are still forever saying the likes of, "Let's lambast today's captain, bosun, navigator, crew" as the sole cause for us sinking to the level we have.

Maybe some of us need advice from Gisèle Pelicot when it comes to successfully taking to task those who for decades serially fuck rotten an erstwhile honest, innocent, respectable entity.