Emotional Beto rescues a point for fortunate Everton

I'd give Calvert-Lewin his bench spot – he didn't look happy so maybe a couple of matches on the bench might help.

I'm not saying Beto is the answer… but neither is Calvert-Lewin.

Keep this squad together until summer, it will keep us up, and give Beto more starts.

Dyche also needs to learn from this. We are the home team and should play more on the front foot and keep possession to pressurise the away team.

Honestly, for me, I can't wait to get rid of the guy!

I was in the Main Stand today and all I could see were three bald heads chatting shite. I presume they were chatting shite because nothing changed.

New ground… hopefully a new manager!

Objectively it’s a point against a side above us and a point further from the drop zone. Unbeaten in 5 now. I’ll take that.

Onwards to the next game. As long as we get points from games I’m not arsed about the performance. Worry about that when we’re mid table!

Happy for Beto.

But let's not forget the guy who made it happen. Young's cushioned volley onto Beto's head was a thing of beauty.

Be careful of what you wish for.

I think you called those subs and positional changes quite early on in the second half?! And too modest to draw attention to it after the game. Well done.

I know the game dragged on a bit, Lyndon, but surely it didn't seem that long?!

His heart doesn't seem to be in the game and going through the motions, even if that means not scoring seems to be his mantra.

Having said that, who is challenging his position? Hopefully, Broja will be fit soon and take up that chalice! (There's that word again!!)

What I do know is that we had 7 players in the box when Ndiaye crossed the ball. That creates options and opportunities.

I don't think Calvert-Lewin had 2 players within 30 metres of him all game.

MotD simply gave no idea of how much better they were and how bad we were.

Fulham = touch, pace, brains, pressing, strength, they played like it was a training match at times. Their football looked... intelligent.

Us = constantly giving the ball away, standing off, no press, humping the ball forward (to their grateful centre-backs), no (obvious) plan, we were clueless. Our football looked... shite.

As for Calvert-Lewin, he has two problems: 1) he gets no support (nb: fucking none!); and 2) he simply isn't a natural striker. Beto may not be the answer, but if I was an opposing centre-half, I'd rather face Calvert-Lewin.

Dominic might be a nice feller and all that but, when you compare him to natural strikers (Yakubu, Lukaku etc), he's playing a different game.

As for Dyche, some of the things I heard him (and his tactics) called today would make Chubby Brown blush.

Anyway, I'm heading off to New Year for a couple of weeks tomorrow so will be watching the next two games at The Turnmill Bar (at 10 in the morning, so at least I'm guaranteed a decent breakfast).

Up The (siiiiiiighhh) Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin was isolated but looked mostly disinterested. So why did we wait so long to bring Beto on and go two up top?

Sadly, I do not think Dyche will learn from this.

I'm kind of on a roll. I called Ndiaye and Keane as goalscorers last week.

I predicted an election a while back as well, but I'm not posting that here.

Eugene #12, yours is the second mention of the Turnmill today... my pal Paul Columb popped up on the Forum just long enough to recommend it to a questioner looking for a Toffee pub in NYC.

And you're right about Beto... nothing elegant but he puts a lot of opponents on the ground.

Why can't Pickford just find a defender who is free then the defenders find one of the 5 midfielders in front of them and then the midfielder being brave enough to turn with the ball (god forbid) and move the ball forward.

Football is a lot easier and less tiring when you keep it.

Look at the section entitled "Styles"

Fulham:

–Played with width
–Favoured long shots
–Attacked down the right

Everton:

(Team showed no specific style of play)

That is it: 'No specific style of play'. Everton are set up to spoil the play of the opposition. It is only when the opposition go out of the game, as most teams do over the time of a game, that they get forward. Then, it's improvise from there.

Actually Dycheball in a misnomer, since it implies defend deep and attack on the break. Dycheball is no specific style other than take chances to avoid defeat, aim for a draw, and hopefully nick a goal.

Interesting Fulham are predominately wing play. I always thought that was a Silva weakness – he rarely attacks through the centre. Everton looked thin at times defending the centre though when Fulham attacked on the wing.

But he often puts us at a % disadvantage in attack by just not committing enough people forward – especially at home. Possibly a fear of getting caught on the break without Branthwaite or a more athletic right-back?

Atuly abysmal performance. Change on and off the field can't come quickly enough. More of that garbage to come though, I feel.

So there is one very obvious required change for next week.

We're in a pretty bad way with a weak squad, no playing style or strategy to speak of, and despite what I personally see as a very weak and negative head coach, it was a point and we survive.

Next week is another game and another chance to sort ourselves out and put space between us and relegation.

But we do need to move on; whether it's the manager or the players, this type of ‘hope to grab a goal without conceding and then hang on' football will only get us so far.

We know Dyche is limited by his preferred style, but he got away with it yesterday thanks to Beto. We badly need to pick up another couple of wins before those December and January fixtures to keep the pressure off.

So many late goals this season with defences caving in under pressure at 90+ minutes. Really is quite extraordinary. At least this time we got the benefit.

Rewind your clocks to 1970, and dream…

So 5 games unbeaten and let's focus on extending this run at Soton!

UTFTs!

Branthwaite, Mangala, Lindstrom, Broja and a recovered Tim Iro will bring better technical quality; we have been derailed by injuries but having them fit and premier league ready will make a difference.

Branthwaite alone will allow us to play a higher defensive line. Hopefully that will improve the half-assed press we operated yesterday.

The performance against Fulham was disjointed and way off the mark. Changes must be made for next week. The most glaring problem yesterday was DCL. He has been picked ahead of anyone else all season for whatever reason (presumably nothing to do with his current form). Beto was bought for a considerable fee (that has to be paid at some stage). Why is he never selected when Dom isn't scoring the goals he is paid to score. Give him a chance. Not just one game either.

DCL wasn't alone though. Another of your favourite picks is Harrison. Why? Okay he works hard and gets back and defends as necessary. Probably answered my own question there. Hang on a mo though. He is an attacker running the wing to provide DCL & Co with crosses they can score off. No wonder DCL is starved of crosses.

Finally another suggestion if I may. It would do the team good, and probably the player too, if Jordan had a break for a couple of weeks or so as he looks unsettled and jumpy.

The players I have mentioned were not the only one to have an off day. There was a general malaise evident. A lack of preparation by the coaches perhaps? Whatever, if you want to be here past the end of the season more is required of the team, and they must show it, so we don't end up fighting the drop again.

I can completely understand both Dyche and Young himself being reluctant to commit forward - he simply won't get back in time. But who picks him? And that's with no criticism intended of Young who is a model professional. There have been options over the duration even if they've been more limited of late.

I've been slated for using the word 'coward' when it comes to Dyche. I absolutely stand by it. He works with a system that can be defended. I haven't watched his post match comments (and won't) but I'll guess he refers to a bit of bad luck and a couple of errors. It's always been the same with him.

I'd love him to be brave every now and then. Make a decision that might come back to bite him but also might change a game. Maybe get the players to commit forward for a spell. That's what leaders do. Not this paint by numbers crap.

He'll never change my mind. He is what he's always been. I've watched Everton regress under his stewardship every week since he was appointed until we are now peak Dyche. We don't take any chances. We don't take any risks.

Unless Dwight gets injured and we've used all the subs he's prepared to commit to.

Such a weak individual. One of the highest paid managers in world football

We have sold all the players that the top clubs are interested in apart from Branthwaite, Pickford and maybe CL but he's debatable.
Thats a goalie and a defender and CL, and yet some think we should play a passing game like City.
Martinez tried doing that and look how that ended.

Dyche will keep us in the division no problem and with this squad that will be good enough for me, we are not a bad side but we are lacking that bit of skill that raises us up a level.

We can hopefully look forward to improve the overall class of the squad next season.

Fulham are a more fluid team than us and have more talented players.

Let's take the point and move on.

To get to this level, all players must have a reasonable talent that propels them above all the wannabes. Dyche doesn't actually make players better, such is his determination to play anti-football.

To play progressive football, you don't have to go gung-ho like many posters seem to think. There is a balance. You can attack when it's on and still not leave yourself wide open like Martinez used to do.

Watching yesterday, we were so deep that Fulham's full-backs were consistently playing from the half-way line and Leno in goal was playing from the edge of his 18-yard area. No pressure, just letting Fulham do what they want.

Fulham are an okay side. Not great like some would have you believe, but we made them look very good. The only plan we had was hoof it up the pitch.

I do wonder what would be the result if we actually coached the players to play joined up football and to support each other instead of just hoofing it whenever we have possession.

Are these players any worse than the ones we had when Moyes first took over back in 2003? Probably not. Moyes made players better though and it makes me laugh when posters slag off his efforts over the years then laud Dyche in the next sentence and suggest we are lucky to have Dyche.

No, I don't want Moyes back either but he played to his players' strengths and made a team as opposed to hoofing the ball upfield and run after it. Let's not forget, Moyes had no money either but found numerous gems.

We got very lucky yesterday and the sooner we get enough points to safety and get shut of Dyche, the better.

We're not lucky to have Dyche at all and the fact that some posters think he's doing a good job just shows how poor expectations have fallen. Say it enough times and people believe it.

As for the crowd yesterday, the atmosphere was okay at kick-off time, but playing the style of football we do, it's no surprise it falls as flat as the football. There is absolutely nothing to get behind. All-in-all, a proper shit show.

It's a lower Premier League team when you've got full-backs offering nothing, little passing quality from Doucoure, a bang-average winger in Harrison, and a striker that's fed on scraps- but is an unreliable finisher when he is put through.

This season Calvert-Lewin's hit the target 9 times in 9 matches. Missed 7 big chances and been caught offside the same amount as Haaland's Premier League career.

But look at the ball quality going into him... Like Onana, he will play better when surrounded by better players. It's going to be hard sell bringing good players in.

And absolutely correct. My heart goes out to Calvert-Lewin, the service into him is atrocious.

Besides, remember who replaced Silva. Carlo is one of the best club managers in the world, and even he couldn't establish a consistent style for this under-talented roster.

It might not have been that but certainly looked like that to me and people by me.

Wasn't too long ago we went 2-0 up against a couple of sides back to back, playing decent football, only to lose both games. We're not going to perform, week-in & week-out, and points are the main thing we need right now. If you look at the table, we're nearer 8th than 18th, despite being 16th. With some of the injured back, we'll get better. Take the point and move on to the next game.

Those wanting Dyche out will no doubt get their wish soon enough. The average tenure for a Premier League manager is only about 2 years. Dyche will likely be gone in the summer when the new owners can bring in whoever they want for free. Just a few months for you guys to wait.

Until then, be happy with the 5-point gap to the drop zone and that the likes of Southampton and Ipswich look like guaranteed relegation candidates (assuming they don't change manager anytime soon).

When the fan by me done one with 20 minutes to go, I knew how he felt. I always stay to the end but the feeling of frustration and despair was all around the ground until Beto gave us a feeling of relief.

But in my case, it didn't obliterate that pathetic performance nearly all over the field.

Calvert-Lewin holds up the ball though at the moment cannot find the back of the net except chalked off for offside.

Calvert-Lewin, however, seems to be offside often. Someone needs to say, "See that man on the right wearing black and holding the flag? Stay behind him, hold your run".

Beto on the other hand is a better finisher it seems but can't hold the ball up. It needs 4-4-2 as Beto and Calvert-Lewin are not being serviced with any balls without being suffocated.

Interesting we get goals without needing set pieces when we have two upfront – Keane last game and Beto this one.

Impossible for any blue not to thrilled for him. I almost enjoyed his interview as much as the goal!

He spoke later about how important it is to have competition for places to encourage performance. In other words, leave out your best player simply because a lesser player has been doing well until he doesn't. He is a coward.

The nonsense of subbing Calvert-Lewin and soon after sending Keane up as a makeshift striker is laughable. We were losing when Beto came on but surely he and Calvert-Lewin should have been employed together?

Until they equalised, I was wondering if Virginia may come on for Pickford to play upfront as well. It's Sunday league alehouse stuff and it's miserable to watch and it's Dyche's choice.

However, I think we can all agree there’ll be changes once the ownership transfer is completed and this is likely just a few weeks away. Dyche is Dyche and isn’t going to change overnight, especially not with the squad we have available, so would suggest people just accept it until we see what the new owners plans are. If they back Dyche then hopefully we can buy better players. If they bring in someone like Mourinho (who apparently has unfinished business in the Premiership) then that’ll be a new chapter to look forward to.

Ultimately it was just one game. Whilst frustrating a performance at least we got a point. Southampton away will be an interesting one. Fail to win and I imagine the pitch forks will really be out!