Everton

Everton boss Sean Dyche says it could be an "incentive" for players to step up their levels if their contracts are set to run out next summer.

The Blues have 12 players - eight on permanent deals and four on loan - whose contracts are set to come to an end when the season finishes.

It is a list that includes Dominic Calvert-Lewin, captain Seamus Coleman and centre-back Michael Keane. However, the ongoing talks over a takeover of the club is making it difficult for contract negotiations to take place.

"Each player is different. Whether you are in or out of contract, your goal should be the same," Dyche said. "Playing well consistently for the club, that shouldn't change.

"You could argue that if your contract is coming to an end then that can add a bit of incentive, because if there is not a lot of noise about you then you need to create the noise.

"I don't think it is a terrible or questionable situation. It is just the reality at the moment. People know a lot about the history of contract situations at this club - we are just down a different road at the moment.

"It is not helpful with ownership situation, but we just have to wait and see."

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We wanted your views on Everton and specifically asked what topics are flying under the radar at the moment.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: It is easy to be negative and criticise the team and manager for poor results without really looking at performances in detail but looking objectively, the team doesn't really play that badly and they certainly don't deserve the criticism they receive.

In terms of numbers the stats aren't bad in terms of attacking and shots and such. It may sound obvious but the issue I see is the inability to put the ball in the net. Whenever any team struggles with this, of course it will eventually have a negative effect on everyone in terms of confidence. You would have players subconsciously thinking, 'oh what's the point in putting the extra attacking effort in and passing to him, he won't score anyway.' Or, 'what's the point in running up to support as he'll only lose the ball or won't make a successful pass to me.'

There seemed to be a huge difference when Duncan Ferguson was tasked as a striker coach at the club. Maybe this was an arm around Dominic Calvert-Lewin that he really needed. The transformation was unbelievable. When 'Big Dunc' left, back Calvert-Lewin went, there wasn't the same goals or confidence. Ferguson is currently not working, can we get him back at the club, albeit temporarily? Maybe another striking coach?

John: Why we keep playing two wide men who don't supply a decent service to DCL, who also are not defensively minded, leaving only two real midfielders, which is why our possession rate is so low.

Carl: The noise is anti Dyche, the roar is supporting an underperforming team but who do we think will do better? I don't see anyone capable of keeping Everton in the Premier League but Dyche. Let's stop moaning and realise we're a poor team with flashes of positivity. The reason we keep missing chances? We don't shoot well enough!

Wayne: Will Jose Mourinho be next Everton manager when Friedkin group take over?

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Arsenal (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the Merseyside derby being called-off due to Storm Darragh: "We came off a big result [against Wolves] in the week which might have added more feel. It was a blow for sure, all parties wanted it to be played, but safety had to come first. We park that and move forwards until next time."

• Dyche confirmed Seamus Coleman, Youssef Chermiti, Nathan Patterson, Jake O'Brien and Armando Broja all featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly following the postponement of that match against Liverpool.

• The Everton boss also confirmed Michael Keane has "come through" his injury after being "touch and go" for the last match, but Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner will still be a "little while".

• On negative perceptions of teams like Everton and Arsenal who are good at set-pieces: "I'm not bothered. People just twist and turn situations to their liking. It's the way life is. Finding different ways of winning is what I have always been trying to achieve, with whatever group I'm working with."

• He added: "Sometimes there are certain clever ones that catch people out, but generally it is down to delivery and intent. It's something I have always preached strongly to groups I have worked with. It is not always about clever movement, just the simple basic of a top delivery and attacking it. That sometimes gets overlooked. But I know the box I live in - that's the way it goes."

• Dyche said you have to "learn to relish all parts of the Premier League" before a difficult set of fixtures, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City: "Tough runs can come out of nowhere" but Blues are "looking for ways to try and make it work and win games".

• He said Dominic Calvert-Lewin's contract situation is "an ongoing one". "He will have his things to think about, the club as well, the ownership, all these things have to combine."

• Dyche insisted Everton "will manage it as best we can".

• On if he has spoken to Kevin Thelwell about the January transfer window: "Yeah. As I said recently, the current situation wouldn't allow much to be done anyway. It is just the nature of the situation of where the club is financially. It may change but we will just have to wait and see."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Former Everton striker Tony Cottee has revealed he played against his window cleaner for the Blues' third team after falling out with then boss Howard Kendall.

The forward scored 77 times in 202 appearances for Everton but told BBC Scotland's Sacked in the Morning podcast about his punishment for upsetting the manager in 1991.

"I had the famous game in 1991 where I fell out with Howard and got put in the reserves," he said. "We played at Man City on a Thursday night and we got beat 4-0 and it was a dreadful performance. Really, really poor. It could have been 10-0.

"I was obviously one of the players playing in the reserves. And it was sort of three or four what you would call established players in the team as well, so we should never have lost 4-0.

"Anyway, we came into training on the Friday morning. Before we could even start, they put a teamsheet up for the Morecambe game which was the A team, Everton's equivalent of the third team, playing on the Friday night.

"So they put me in the A team to play against Morecambe on the Friday night."

But the indignity of playing in the Everton thirds was not the end of the problems for the established England international.

"So we go up to Morecambe to play the game and I feel to just try and be professional, to go out and do a warm-up," Cottee continued.

"I've gone out and started doing my stretches. I'm just warming up and loosening up and I looked, the Morecambe team came running out. When you look at someone, you think, 'Oh, he's really familiar, isn't he'? I looked again to make sure - it was my window cleaner!

"Honestly I was playing against my window cleaner in Everton's third team. It was like a comedy sketch. I think it's fair to say I'd hit the depths then when I played against my window cleaner. And there was only one way I could go on."

Listen to Cottee in full on Sacked in the Morning

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Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen spoke about set pieces on BBC Radio Merseyside's Total Sport show: "Set pieces can be a beautiful art form, it can be. I don't think it's ugly football at all.

"It's an integral part of the game and it's very clear that teams that put a lot of effort in it, in terms of the defensive set-up and defending set pieces, they won't concede a lot of goals and the teams that spend a lot of time taking corners and wide free kicks, especially if you've got a specialist, can pay huge dividends. That shows with Arsenal and Everton this season."

Everton boss Sean Dyche has said he doesn't need to to follow the model at other clubs, where specialist set-piece coaches have been recruited., external

Meulensteen said the use of such specialists is "part of evolution".

"If you go back 15 years ago or 20 years ago no one's heard of a performance coach or strength and conditioning coach, that has all come in," Meulensteen added.

"Now it's a specific set piece coach and I think with the way that football is going, it's such a specific specialist approach, you're probably going to see more teams working with defensive coaches or teams that work with more assistant coaches that focus more on possession and forward play and a set piece coach fits in to that as well because it does take a lot of preparation. You have to look at all the details, it is making sure that everybody knows their job and then does their job.

"Especially with the attacking set pieces, you can't rely on the same sort of set pieces all the time because then you become predictable, so you need to sort of refresh and you have also players that fall away because of injury or suspension so I think it's essential.

"It frees up a lot of time for the head coach and the manager because if he can trust the set-piece coach to do a really good job, he doesn't have to really be involved, which is a good thing."

Listen to Total Sport

Everton, Crystal Palace and Fulham are all interested in Lyon's French winger Ernest Nuamah, 21. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Everton fans were made to wait for the final league Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and there has still been lots said about where the Blues might be at the end of a December that still includes games against the other four sides currently in the top five - Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.

But given you know the Toffees the best, we want you to tell us the one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about regarding the club right now.

Have your say here

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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Goodison's final league Merseyside Derby will have to wait after the weekend's postponement.

Prior to the 4-0 win against Wolves last Wednesday, the majority of Evertonians were looking ahead to the visit of our neighbours with much trepidation.

A routine win for us and a sloppy draw for Liverpool at Newcastle began to shift the feeling heading into the game however.

Given our recent form, you often wondered where our next win was coming from, let alone scoring four goals without being severely threatened.

After the abysmal showing at Old Trafford, you hoped the players would show some kind of reaction.

I wrote last week about professional pride and the players remembering exactly who and what they represent. Although far from perfect, character was shown, ensuring the pressure was relieved for a few days.

It was a pleasant surprise to see our set-pieces be effective once more.

So often our weapon of choice under Sean Dyche, you become more accepting of the brand of football on show if you're a threat in the opposition's box. Set-pieces have so often given us that threat.

The atmosphere at the ground still felt somewhat subdued.

The sense of disconnect between fans and manager still appears very much at the forefront of fan's minds.

The takeover rumbles on, with our fingers over the play button, hopefully rushing in a new era of hope and optimism.

Until the official 'rubber stamp' from the Premier League, it's hard to look forward and think about brighter days.

This time next week.....

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Everton's Beto could be heading back to Italy in January, with Torino interested in the striker. (Tuttomercartoweb - in Italian), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Everton fan Mackenzie Kinsella was "shocked" to find out the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park had been cancelled on Saturday morning, after travelling more than 10,000 miles from Australia to watch the Toffees.

The 15-year-old spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside about his trip: "I was a bit shocked to be honest because it is a bit unheard of, games being cancelled like that. I understand why it had to happen, but I was a bit sad. It was one of the main reasons I came out, but I'm still happy.

"I only made the decision to come two weeks ago. It was very last minute! My mum has been to many games and I just wanted to be part of the history - the last Goodison derby is very significant.

"I have heard amazing stories about derbies from my family members, who all live over here and have gone, so I really wanted to see what it was like and be part of the history."

After hearing of Kinsella's story, Everton captain Seamus Coleman invited him to the Blues' training ground on Saturday instead. "Amazing news! That is really good," Kinsella said in response.

"I would love to have gone to the game, and I would still like to, but not many people get to go to Finch Farm. It's a great opportunity so I'm really thankful.

"Every cloud has a silver lining. I'm not able to go to the game but I can go to Finch Farm and meet the players - I am made up!"

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Planet Premier League pundits Nedum Onuoha and Gilberto Silva discuss their memories of Goodison Park before the final Merseyside league derby at the ground.

Get the show in full on BBC Sounds

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 15 he takes on Dougie Payne, bassist with rock band Travis.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Liverpool let victory slip away right at the end of their game at Newcastle on Wednesday, with Caoimhin Kelleher's mistake proving costly.

But he has been excellent for them while Alisson has been out injured and I don't think a draw at St James' Park is a bad result.

Everton come into this game in better form following their win over Wolves, which was a huge result for Toffees boss Sean Dyche after the run they were on.

They can definitely make things difficult for Liverpool, and I suspect they will be fairly direct when they attack, but Arne Slot's side should have too much quality for them.

Payne's prediction: 1-3

At the start of the week I thought Liverpool would absolutely pump Everton, but then Everton put four goals past Wolves. I still think Liverpool will win, but it won't be as simple for them.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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From the Don Hutchison disallowed goal to the Luis Suarez dive celebration, BBC Radio Merseyside has looked back on five of the stranger things from previous Merseyside derbies.

Will they bring back memories of joy or rage?

Find out on BBC Sounds here

Everton midfielder Orel Mangala says he is "very excited" to play in his first Merseyside derby on Saturday and it is something he has been looking forward to since signing on-loan in the summer.

The 26-year-old has played in some "crazy" Bundesliga derbies over the years, but knows how "big" of a game this is given it will also be the last time the two sides meet at Goodison Park.

"I am very excited," he said. "It will be a good game and something that I have been looking forward to since I came in.

"From when I was young I knew it was always a big game. I am looking forward to playing this type of game. That is why we play football.

"I have had some crazy derbies in Germany. This type of atmosphere is very good, I love it, [but it's] definitely a bigger game.

"In a derby you need to play to win the game. It is important for the city and for everybody here around the club, even for us, players and staff. We go on Saturday and give everything to get the three points."

Listen to Mangala's interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds

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Everton won 2-0 in their most recent Premier League game against Liverpool in April, and last won consecutive league Merseyside derbies in the 1984-85 season.

Everton boss Sean Dyche spoke to the media about Armando Broja on Thursday.

The on-loan striker made his debut off the bench in Wednesday's win over Wolves.

Everton's Guinea-Bissau striker Beto, 26, and Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, 31, are both wanted by Roma. (Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column