McNeil returns to full training

McNeil will be back in as soon as he laces his boots up. I hope Dyche doesn't leave it too long to introduce Broja, I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.

Let's be honest: we are desperate for something new up-front because we are piss-poor with zero goal threat. I know it's not entirely Calvert-Lewin's fault but he's made it obvious that he's looking to move on and I'd like us to move on from him.

Remember when Lukaku could stroll about and get loads of stick on here for being lazy but was lethal and could score for fun?

I'd take any of the four being a bit lazy if they stuck the ball in the back of the net more. I worry we have no Plan B or options off the bench (when all 4 are fully fit..) that aren't essentially like for like.

The lad has a great left foot, guile and can score. He is one of our most productive players.

Without him in the side, there are few willing to have a shot at goal when in a position to do so.

If Branthwaite is not available, use O'Brien. Take it to them instead of giving up before we've started. Home game. It is time that we attacked, for a change. I'm really pissed off with our current shithouse tactics.

Broja is back-up for Calvert-Lewin if he leaves or gets injured. Beto and Chermiti will be forward subs at best.

I say most people...

Derek - they are lyrics from “Let's stick together” by Bryan O'Ferry.

Did you know he played footy with Howard Kendall?
UTFT and do the fecking Stand, love! 🤪

The Seahorses — Standing On Your Head

There's a statistical category called Big Chances Created.

Dwight has 8 this season.

The rest of the club combined has... 8. Nobody else more than 2.

That's how important he is.

McNeil is definitely a vital member of our team, but I believe Dyche should play him in his original position on the left wing, Ndiaye is totally wasted there, he should be at No 10 beside Calvert-Lewin.

If he stays fit, makes his debut in January and does well (eg, scores 8 goals, 4 assists) is that good enough to sign him permanently for £20M?

My general question: What does he have to do to prove he's worth signing permanently?

I just feel, like Dele Alli, he's not going to prove he's worth the money or the wait. 4 months and counting. If we start paying his wages when he's in the matchday squad, then we'd better make sure he's 200% fit!

Workrate, energy, enthusiasm, can tackle, dribble with the ball, take it in tight situations, pass, cross, create, score and he reads the game well.

I prefer him on the left but, as long as he's on the pitch, we are a better team with him.

Unfortunately the option price to buy Broja is £30M.

We need more of this standard. To get beyond, players of this standard need to be options from the bench.

I'd be tempted to play a back 5 just to get Keane's goal presence on the pitch as our centre-forward offers us sweet fuck-all and can only score with his first touch.

I love Dom but, if he has to touch the ball before his strike, he misses. A very high percentage of his goals are with his first touch; in the big season under Ancelotti, almost all of his goals were off a first-time strike.

We have a solid back 5 that keeps clean sheets so anyone who can nick the odd goal must play.

It was Do the Strand!!

I cringe every time I see him included in the team, usually accompanied by, 'We are down to ten men already'! Hopefully, the takeover gets sorted sooner rather than later, and we may have a couple of additions in the very limited January window.

This ridiculous, lefties down the right, righties down the left, moronic system means there are no longer any crosses into the box for a Calvert-Lewin or similar forward to attack.

Can you imagine Dave Thomas (for you oldies) playing down the right and constantly cutting back to use his left peg? Latchford would've been lucky to score 10 goals a season, never mind 30.

Play McNeil down the left where he's more effective.

Football used to be about playing to people's strengths. Now, it's about copying the latest (imported?) fad. Let's all play like robots!

The wingers aren't classic wingers in any case – more wing forwards in a much more versatile front line than the old 4-4-2 wingers.

Our problem is that we don't have quality attacking full-backs going on the outside of our inverted wingers. This is what makes things work from an attacking point of view.

What I meant to say is, if we don't have decent, or competent full-backs, do something different to upset the apple cart.

Bela Gutman (Hungary), Michels (Holland) Santana (Brazil), Cruyff (Barcelona), Guardiola (Barcelona) etc… Visionaries and revolutionaries who changed the way the game was played.

Can our own Sean Dyche shock the world and try something different?

Mykolenko appears to play as an inverted winger when he does get forward. The width rather than overlap being provided by a forward.

Mykolenko does not have the shot for chances and the forward has no one to cross to. You see Lindstrøm and Doucoure trying to get on the end of crosses, but they are the wrong side of the penalty spot. Calvert-Lewin is either marked up or off the play. The opposition have to ebb out of the game for all this to happen under Dyche.

Thanks for explaining the inverted forward role, since I could not comprehend why Mykolenko was inside rather than overlapping.

But can he organise a team to get more crosses into the box?

Yes, I am sure he can – as he did with players like Brady and Trippier at Burnley.

The problem for Dyche or any manager is our lack of a transfer kitty – to bring in a dynamic right-back we've so obviously needed for ages, and an attacking left-back option too.

You may say I'm only a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope one day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

UTFT!!!

Going forward, a fast wide left and a fast wide right, and matched with at least one fast centre forward (preferably 2). It's not rocket science but it still works, providing the midfield and defence are up to scratch. OMG.

While McNeil looks better in the No 10 role, does that mean we have to sacrifice leaving Ndaiye wide, when he looks a natural No 10?

The problem our wide players always face is that teams know Dyche doesn't like his full-backs to overlap, so they just double up on the wide players – hence why the only option for our wide players is to play it backwards or come inside when receiving the ball.

Dyche may have the luxury of having 4 centre-forwards to pick from: Broja, Chermiti, Beto and Calvert-Lewin. I don't like 4-4-2 but, with 4 strikers, he always has that option.

We have to soldier on with what we have but the next 6 weeks will be even more difficult with our lack of attacking options.

We will need some big defensive showings to pick up any points at all and hope that things will change significantly in January; otherwise, it will be the usual struggle with the other bottom feeders.

Despite experience and ‘doing ok’ Young and Coleman should really not be starting games for us. The first priority of the new owner/manager should imo be a top class RB (assuming they’ve given up on Patterson). Myko is ok but not top class so not as much of a priority. Sell Patterson whilst he still has some value and look to bring Dixon through. Albeit a new manager might give Patterson a proper go.

Re McNeila and Ndiaye, could they not both play wide left and no.10? Give them license to swap during the game? Similar to Lindstrom, rotate on the wide right with Ndiaye as well. If we’re playing 4231 then these 3 should be the regular attacking 3, given license to rotate (and shoot!).

Overlapping fullbacks is such a basic part of the modern game which we’re sorely lacking. I can understand that with Young given he’s 94 and Myko as he doesn’t have that much pace. However, it doesn’t seem to have been a priority for Dyche in the transfer windows. Would rather have used the Harrison loan money to sign a RB, even on loan.

The way Everton are set up to score is the inverted winger is actually a attacker as are Doucoure and Lonstrom.McNeill, Harrison and Calvert Lewin being the other options.So there is no definitive striker, they all have harrying and defence type roles.Even Young is a inverted winger at times.There is no way he can overlap.

The above only happens with Everton are able to get forward.

But îhhu

There is already a bit of talk about our next targets and hopefully we do recruit in January.

And you still get the constraint of needing defensive shape if a turnover occurs, make that when.

If Branthwaite is 90% fit he will not be played, if Young is blowing out of his backside after 80 mins, he will not risk Patterson having 10 minutes, if Broja looks ready, he will not get ten minutes.

There lies the problem, he will rush certain players back in, but others comes up with the back on the grass, another week or so away, then the next week it’s another week away.

I am all for players not being rushed back, but when McNeil and Doucoure were thrown straight back in, both players struggled in the second half, McNeil coming off injured again in his game, and Doucoure shot after 60 mins in his game.

But he will throw McNeil straight back in this Saturday, he will play Tarkowski who is clearly struggling through the pain barrier, but the likes of Patterson, Broja, will be lucky to see any game time, this side of Xmas.

It's hard to know how fit or not some of these players are - and what the risk of further breakdown is.

It does seem unlikely we'll see too much of Broja this side of Xmas though as he recovers from his long term injury problems.

Patterson has also obviously missed a lot of football since we bought him almost 2 years ago. Hard to know what the future holds for him.

Does the name Digne ring a bell?

He overlapped and crossed constantly. Still does.

What you suggest is the way forward.But Robert I can't see them buying in anyone and I can't see Dyche commit to support such a attack, even when he has set them up.