Does Dyche need to 'mix up' his style?published at 15:12 5 November
15:12 5 November
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Former Everton midfielder Mark Pembridge says Sean Dyche needs to be less "regimental" and "mix up" his attacking options to start games better.
Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Pembridge said: "He's quite regimental in the 4-3-2-1 formation, but you have to work on the training pitch and look at what players you have available to play certain systems.
"Midway through the first-half [against Southampton] he could have tweaked it a little bit to get them on the ball and creating.
"If you mix up the attacking options then you might get a little bit more joy from it.
"Goals change games and you don't want to keep chasing games."
'We have to demand more, fight and train hard'published at 19:25 4 November
19:25 4 November
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Everton midfielder Jesper Lindstrom says he is building "confidence" and "getting a feel" for the Premier League, after signing on a season-long loan from Serie A side Napoli this summer.
Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside following the 1-0 defeat by Southampton, Lindstrom said: "We have a better team than what we show on the pitch, so there is a level of competition [in the team]. Everybody has to train well, otherwise you don't play.
"I had a good training week and I think that's why I started this game. I have to keep going; everybody has to keep going. We have to demand something from each other and everybody has to fight for the team."
The Denmark international added that the Toffees' next fixture against West Ham United, who are also floating in the bottom half of the table, is "a six-point game".
"Every game is very important," Lindstrom said. "But this is a team that is around us, so we have to win against them to go on top of them.
"West Ham are good, especially at home, so it is going to be tough. We have to demand more, fight and train hard.
"If we perform like this [against Southampton], we aren't going to win [against West Ham]. We have to look in the mirror and tell ourselves to get better."
'A sense within the fanbase that Dyche's race is run'published at 16:00 4 November
16:00 4 November
Mike Richards Fan writer
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It would be easy for me to bemoan our luck after Saturday's defeat by Southampton.
Jan Bednarek not receiving his marching orders and Beto's equaliser being ruled out by the width of a toenail may be the headline for some.
However, the performance cannot be sugar-coated or seen as a hard luck story. It was embarrassing, lacklustre and woefully short of acceptable.
Everton have become somewhat predictable, from the setup to the personnel and everything in between. There is no freedom for players to express themselves.
If we are being brutally honest, the level of performance has severely dipped from last season and the slide needs to be addressed.
Focus naturally turns to the manager. Rightly praised for the job he did in his first 18 months at the club, there is a sense within the fanbase that his race is run.
With the potential takeover of the club lingering in the background, you wonder whether it has impacted the motivation of some who may not be part of the club's future.
I include management, coaching staff and players in that. It is well publicised who is out of contract in the summer.
With the reset button about to be pressed, the vast majority of those will not be present when we walk out for the first time at Bramley Moore.
The manager can quickly win some fan favour by reinstating Jarrad Branthwaite to the starting XI. His exclusion on Saturday was as baffling as it was unthinkable.
With yet another international break on the horizon, you have to feel the manager has to get it right against West Ham. If he does not, then I will leave everyone to make their own mind up on his immediate future.
'I do not see Dyche as manager beyond the end of this season'published at 13:02 4 November
13:02 4 November
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BBC Sport Chief Football writer, Phil McNulty has been answering fan questions on all things Premier League.
@win_n10 on X asked: Sean Dyche has never commanded critical acclaim for his no-nonsense post-war austerity football but Evertonians find themselves asking if his wretched anti-football has finally hit the buffers. Can he turn it around or is he a dead man walking?
Phil answered: I get the real sense of discontent from Everton fans, not just about results but the style of football under Sean Dyche.
I fear ambition will be limited to staying up this season as relegation ahead of going into that magnificent new stadium is unthinkable. This is why, unless Everton are plunged into a dire emergency, I think Dyche will stay in charge as he has charted a course to safety before.
I do not see him taking Everton into Bramley Moore Dock as history tells us billionaires such as prospective new owner Dan Friedkin want their own manager in charge and will harbour wider ambitions than simply safety.
I do not see Dyche, who deserves respect for ensuring Everton’s safety in the last couple of seasons, as manager beyond the end of this season.
Southampton 1-0 Everton - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:53 4 November
11:53 4 November
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Everton.
Here are some of your comments:
Southampton fans:
Vincent: What a relief. Everton helped us out by being pretty poor for large parts of the game and when they improved we got the luck we needed thanks to the crossbar and VAR. Still lots to improve on but it feels like we have positive momentum.
Daz: Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, it's only our first win in 10 games in the Premier League and to be honest it was a lucky win at that - we were lucky to hold on to the 1-0. We are still in a relegation spot, so is this the start of something good? Who knows, but I certainly won't be holding my breath. A lucky escape for Russell Martin this time around.
Connor: Not a perfect performance, we needed a lot of luck to get us over the line. Nonetheless, I welcome the feeling of a long awaited win and I just hope the confidence gained can kick start our season. Three more points next weekend please!
Mark: Don't get me wrong, I am very happy we finally won a game but in my opinion we could and should have lost. We can't defend. Playing out from the back will kill us. Martin has no clue about tactics or substitutions. We will be relegated.
Everton fans:
Nigel: This all hangs on Dyche. He hasn't got it in him to try anything different. He could have tried Calvert-Lewin and Beto together. He could stop playing his favourites (McNeil). He could start our best player, Branthwaite. But he's just stubborn, or hasn't the coaching ability. I'm grateful for his service in keeping us up, but it's time to go!
Peter: Every week we stick with Calvert-Lewin, every week he fails to engage in the team strategy, then we bring on Beto who looks 100% behind the team plan. Beto wants first team football, Calvert-Lewin won't sign a new contract. Am I missing something?
Ed: Dyche has to go, plain and simple. Southampton have beaten us twice. Embarrassing. Our unbeaten run has flattered us and I honestly think anyone could get a better tune out of these players than the current management. Focusing on key decisions is a distraction from the underlying mess. The whole club needs flushing out from top to bottom.
Jim: Very sloppy performance, couldn't keep hold of the ball and no decisive cutting edge in attack. Took off our influential attacker in the second half which is a bit baffling. Everton left the back door open for their winner. Head scratching time.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 11:12 3 November
11:12 3 November
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
'Key decision went against us'published at 20:21 2 November
20:21 2 November
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Everton manager Sean Dyche spoke after today's loss: "The key decision in the game went against us. The sending off, I'm surprised by that (was not given).
"Beto is in his stride and he's breaking across. The thing that worries me is that players who don't roll around don't get decisions.
"Beto is trying to stay on his feet and nothing gets given but just a yellow card, the defender is a long way off."
Southampton 1-0 Everton - analysispublished at 18:03 2 November
18:03 2 November
Harry Poole BBC Sport journalist
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Everton’s five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League has come to an end after a breathless conclusion at St Mary's - but Sean Dyche will feel his side did enough to leave the South Coast with a result.
Dyche admitted his side had not been playing their best but had “found a way” to get results – a characteristic which has been vital to ensuring they have retained their Premier League status despite recent struggles.
But fine margins meant they were unable to maintain their recent run of improved form, not least when Adam Armstrong scored with one of Southampton's two shots on target 25 seconds after Beto had struck the crossbar.
Dyche believed the hosts should have been down to 10 men before then, after Jan Bednarek stopped Beto's run towards goal and VAR decided not to upgrade his yellow card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
A marginal offside denying the Toffees a late leveller summed up Everton's day, and Dyche's side must now brush themselves down after coming up short here.
Southampton 1-0 Everton - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:57 2 November
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Sutton's predictions: Southampton v Evertonpublished at 11:10 2 November
11:10 2 November
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 10 he takes on The Piano TV series winner Brad Kella.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Everton's late equaliser against Fulham helped get me a predictions win last week, and I am going for another 1-1 draw this time too.
The way both teams approach the game is interesting. Sean Dyche's side have got the nous and are streetwise, while Southampton are viewed by many as being naive and playing fantasy football, with their style of play under Russell Martin.
You look at the games that Saints have thrown away - like they did against Leicester and Ipswich - and you feel like Dyche will have hope on Saturday even if his side are trailing late on.
I really enjoyed seeing Dyche put centre-half Michael Keane up as a makeshift centre-forward to mix things up against Fulham, and his Everton team never lie down, which is why I think they will get something out of this game too.
Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Everton player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.
The correct answer was Phil Neville.
Today's trivia challengepublished at 09:14 1 November
09:14 1 November
Guess the former Everton player from their Premier League statistics at the club:
Years at club: 2005-2013
National team: England
Position: Defender
Appearances: 242
Goals: 4
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT
Did you know?published at 16:35 31 October
16:35 31 October
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Everton’s Ashley Young has three assists in his last five Premier League appearances, as many as he had in his previous 124 matches combined.
Dyche on Garner injury, team fitness and Beto's confidencepublished at 14:42 31 October
14:42 31 October
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Southampton (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Dyche is hopeful Dwight McNeil will be available for the trip to St Mary's and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has had a "small issue", should also be fit.
James Garner will be sidelined for weeks with his back injury and has stopped training on the grass in line with medical advice. Dyche added: "It is likely to be beyond a month, I’m pretty sure, but we will see."
Striker Beto, who scored against Fulham, has trained well on Thursday and is continuing to work hard as he comes back from injury.
On Beto's confidence after scoring: "It is bound to bring a real feel good factor. He’s had his question marks but he continues to learn."
Dyche said Everton have "got to perform better than in the last game" [Fulham] if they are to get a result against Southampton.
Armando Broja is still working with the sports science team but could return to light training next week.
On whether it is Nathan Patterson's time to get a chance: "It is time when he is ready to appear in the first team. No-one is holding anyone back here. If you are fit enough and good enough you will play."
He said his side are learning to "grind and play our way out of things" to get points from games. Dyche added: "The work myself, the players and staff have put in is beginning to show."
'Win a game, even if it is scruffy'published at 12:05 31 October
12:05 31 October
The bottom six teams in the Premier League all play one another on Saturday and with the way the season has gone so far, those fixtures are going to be big.
Winning these games and earning three points could at the end of the season be called the six-pointers.
When I played for Reading and we were fighting down the bottom of the league, these are the fixtures that we looked for because they are must-win games.
I am not sure Crystal Palace would have targeted these at the start of the season because they would have expected to have been higher in the league, but the newly promoted teams will have.
Wolves probably need the win the most because they wouldn't have expected to be second from bottom after nine games and they need to start picking up results.
It is a little bit more difficult for the promoted teams because they are still trying to adapt to the Premier League.
I don't think these results will necessarily define any team's season - as it so early on - but winning helps to break the rut and sometimes it becomes difficult for teams to know how to win when they aren't.
For all of these teams something has to adapt at some stage. You have to find a way to win a game, even if it is scruffy, and especially against those teams that are in and around you.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
Stadium move Q&A: Seat availability and sitting in the 'home end'published at 12:02 30 October
12:02 30 October
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Scott McLeod, Everton's director of communications and engagement, and Mike Gittins, head of data science and insight, have spoken to BBC Radio Merseyside about the process for season ticket holders at Goodison Park to secure their seats at the club's new stadium next season.
Q: There will be people who sit in the Gwladys Street or wherever, wanting that "home stand" feel - but is it important to remember that it's a much bigger capacity, and even if you're not in that first section of fans that can get their season tickets, you've still got a good chance of getting in that home end?
Gittins: Based on our forecasts, the last season ticket holder to pick their seat at the new stadium will have 12,000-15,000 seats available for them to pick from. That home end is significantly bigger than the Gwladys Street at the moment. So we're really confident that once season ticket holders get their opportunity to purchase, they will have a full range of options to pick from.
Stadium move Q&A: Purchasing seats in groupspublished at 11:56 30 October
11:56 30 October
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Scott McLeod, Everton's director of communications and engagement, and Mike Gittins, head of data science and insight, have spoken to BBC Radio Merseyside about the process for season ticket holders at Goodison Park to secure their seats at the club's new stadium next season.
Q: If you're in a group, what does that mean? You might have had your ticket for 15 years but somebody who you go with might have had it a bit less. What happens then?
McLeod: In order to protect the tenure and manage it in a fair way, if you've had a season ticket for 15 years, you've got a friend who has had one for 10 years and another friend who has had one for five years, in order to sit together, you need to wait until the friend with the lowest tenure is eligible to buy.
You will still have thousands of seats to choose from. But for those groups, we will manage that in a way that allows the person with the lowest tenure to be the key individual in that group purchase.
Over the past two years, the insight team have conducted a number of surveys which tens of thousands of Evertonians have taken part in, that have helped shape and inform the way we have modelled this process, with the number one priority being fairness and ensuring everybody who is making the move to the new stadium is managed in a fair and balanced way.
'Everton will survive ugly'published at 09:50 30 October
09:50 30 October
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
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Life is like a box of chocolates as Forrest Gump was once to say and there were plenty of sweetmeats to enjoy at the weekend in the Premier League. There were late goals and last-minute dramas aplenty.
West Ham, Bournemouth and Brentford all secured extra points after the 90 minutes had come and gone, so the supporters of the above who hung around could enjoy a feast.
The game I was at felt like famine until Beto equalised for Everton in the 94th minute. Mayhem erupted as Everton stole a scarcely deserved point from Fulham, but the previous hour and a half left a very bad taste.
The Everton fans pack the place out, they hope for the best, but now expect very little. I can never remember that grand old ground being quite so quiet. When it seemed to be trundling towards a dull 1-0 defeat, there wasn't even enough passion to be righteously angry.
The tactics were from many decades ago and they wouldn't even have been considered sophisticated for that time. They did work in the end which underlined that there are no right or wrong ways to play football, only ways that work for you.
Everton will survive ugly, but in the long term it will not be enough to satisfy true Blues who have known much better. They are already looking forward to next season with new owners, new stadium and completely new outlook, but hopefully not in a new lower league.
'We look a bit more defensively sure'published at 08:00 30 October
08:00 30 October
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Defender James Tarkowski has said Everton are a "work in progress" but he is pleased with the positive strides made by the team in recent weeks.
Saturday's 1-1 draw against Fulham was a fifth Premier League game without defeat for the Toffees, who had started the season with four consecutive losses.
"We're a work in progress, like every team," said the former Burnley centre-back. "We're slowly getting to where we want to be but it takes time. We're not going to perform to our best every week. Ideally we want to win every game but that's five unbeaten now.
"We look a bit more defensively sure, I know Fulham had a few chances [on Saturday] but I don't feel we're as open as we did early in the season. We're working towards getting to a level where we can pick up results consistently and we're sort of getting there now."
Tarkowski conceded that Everton were not at their best against Fulham but Sean Dyche's side secured a point thanks to Beto's late equaliser.
He added: "In my time here, in previous years that would have been a defeat - especially my first season when every time we went down, we never seemed to get back into games.
"It's a sign of the progress we've made but there is a lot more work to be done."
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