Our Everton jury have their say on the big talking points from Goodison Park after the defeat to Bournemouth
Everton’s poor Premier League run of form continued on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth. David Brooks scored the only goal of the game 13 minutes from time.
A report then emerged on Monday morning claiming that Graham Potter was being considered by some members of Everton’s hierarchy to replace Sean Dyche. However, the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss now looks set to join West Ham United.
But that hasn’t stopped the speculation about Dyche’s future. And with that in mind, along with the defeat to Bournemouth, our Everton jury has returned to have their say.
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Paul McParlan – A stay of execution?
After another wholly predictable and depressing defeat at AFC Bournemouth last Saturday (why can’t we ever win there?), there was mounting speculation that Sean Dyche would be on his way out of Everton. Social media swirled with posts from those claiming to be ‘in the know’ and others who apparently have contacts within the club that the Friedkin Group were about to sack the manager.
Sky Sports News reported that Dyche’s position was under review and various betting companies had him at almost odds on to leave. Except he did not. And there he was again at Tuesday’s press conference, calmly dealing with speculation about his future and accepting that results needed to improve. While the new owners did not give Dyche a ‘vote of confidence,’ it appears that they were reluctant to make a change at this time.
Jamie Carragher’s detailed assessment of Everton’s style of football on Sky Sports on Monday night was incisive and informative. It was also deeply disturbing to any Blue watching and confirmed what most fans already know. This team is way below the standards required for Everton Football Club, and by implication, so is the manager.
But, if our only ambition this season is to survive in the Premier League, then maybe this style of dour, defensive, long-ball football might just scrape us enough points to avoid the drop. Because in recent seasons, Everton fans have been conditioned to accept that finishing 17th is a successful season.
Everton failed to have one shot on target at Bournemouth, and it was painful to hear their fans chant, ‘How do you watch this every week?’ at Everton supporters. Sadly, their jibes rang true. We have scored in just two of our last ten games; how is this acceptable? We struggle to create chances; we have no creativity in midfield and nobody up front who can hit the target. Even worse, we have a manager who does not have a Plan B when the long, aimless punts into the opposition half fail to work yet again.
Having seemingly made their choice, the Friedkin group must now back the manager in this transfer window and find ways of reinforcing the squad without falling foul of the PSR (Profit and Sustainability rules) again. Tonight’s FA Cup tie against Peterborough United is an opportunity to experiment with a more adventurous style of play and give some players some valuable game time.
It is important to start winning games and scoring goals again no matter who the opposition is, and making progress in the competition also gives the Old Lady the chance to host more games in her final farewell. Giving Sean Dyche a stay of execution was the first big call that the Friedkin Group have made.
They appear to have placed their faith in the manager. Only time will tell if this was the right decision. We can only pray that it was.
Alex McMonnies – The names being suggested as replacements really don’t sit right with me
Just over two years ago, it was the very first fixture of 2023, which all but spelt the end of Frank Lampard’s time as Everton manager.
High-flying Brighton & Hove Albion ran amok on a cold Tuesday night at Goodison Park, pulling away into a 4-0 lead before the hour mark, and although Lampard’s reign didn’t actually come to an end until a few weeks later, this 4-1 defeat is what many Everton fans tend to cite as the final nail in the coffin of the current Coventry City boss.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth wasn’t quite as damning as the humiliation suffered at the hands of the Seagulls two seasons ago, but it does appear to have had a similar effect on the fanbase, with even many of the staunchest defenders of Sean Dyche now viewing his position as untenable.
The final scoreline certainly doesn’t tell the whole story, as for over 75 minutes, the Toffees were clinging on to a point they scarcely deserved before a well-taken goal from David Brooks consigned them to their eighth league defeat of the season. Everton failed to register a single shot on target all afternoon, and their sheer impotency in attack was dissected by Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football programme.
Despite how polarising a figure the former Liverpool defender is to many Evertonians, none of them could have argued against the points made, as the alarmingly low number of just 26 open play goals scored by the Blues in the league since the start of last season was prominently highlighted.
It would be unfair to pin all of the problems the club currently face on the playing side of things on Dyche, but just like two years ago, when Lampard’s side were slaughtered by Brighton, it really is beginning to feel like time is running out for the manager.
Most of the names being suggested as replacements really don’t sit right with me, so one can only hope the Friedkin Group have done their homework and have the right candidate lined up should they decide to pull the trigger.
On Saturday afternoon, the Bournemouth fans jeered, ‘How do you watch this every week?’ towards the travelling support. Many Evertonians will be hoping they won’t have to for much longer.
