Everton

Mike Richards
Fan writer

When you look back on the history of our club, I fail to see when there has been a more difficult and mentally challenging time than we are currently going through.

Defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday meant Sean Dyche joined Mike Walker in the record books for longest number of league games without a win (12).

Previous managers have been removed from their position for less. You’d think that if we had both the money and some level of boardroom leadership, the manager would find himself looking for alternative employment.

The lack of a Plan B has become somewhat of a calling card of the side under Dyche. We have become obvious in our approach and easy to work out. Toothless in front of goal and weak defending our own, makes it a recipe for disaster.

Combine all of the above with the announcement of pre-tax losses of almost £90m for 2022-23, there’s little room for any optimism. You wonder exactly how the club can explain the latest financial breach away, even before allowable expenses are taken off.

Supporting the club has become a somewhat joyless affair. You do it out of both loyalty and love. Once in a while, you expect something in return. You just don’t think that’s going to be any time soon.

Mike Richards can be found at Unholy Trinity, external

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Sean Dyche has urged his side to get the "details correct" against Newcastle as they continue to pursue safety this season.

The Toffees suffered a late defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Beto's 87th minute equaliser had looked set to give the side an important point but Seamus Coleman's own goal leaves Dyche's side three points above the relegation zone going into Tuesday's match at St James' Park.

"We have to make sure the details are correct because we haven't been doing that and that's quite obvious in both boxes," Dyche told the club website.

"That's what has to certainly be intact when you go to places like St James'.

"We don't need a reaction in the sense of effort, it's the details. Slightly less so against Bournemouth with the creation of chances, but generally, it's all there for us to build on, but you can't make mistakes - at both ends, by the way.

"It's not fair to just question a defensive moment because we've had chance after chance we haven't capitalised on. So we have to change both ends of the pitch."

The Magpies head into the game full of confidence after an incredible late comeback win from 3-1 down against West Ham at the weekend.

However, Everton won the reverse fixture between the sides 3-0 in December and Dyche believes that game is a "good marker" for his side.

He added: "Newcastle have had a great result and they're a good outfit - we know that.

"We did a really good job tactically and with the delivery of the performance against them earlier in the season.

"We can't rely on that, but it's a good marker that it's achievable to take these games on.

"It's no easy task. We've got a pretty experienced group, a few are learning as they go, but we expect to go there and deliver a performance. We've had a knock ourselves and now it's about correcting that."

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Alex asked: Surely if Everton's ownership was clear and there was someone obviously in charge, Sean Dyche would have been sacked by now? To not win since before Christmas and to equal the longest winless run in the club's history is catastrophic.

Due to the situation, he will stay, but is it pretty much do or die for him at the weekend versus Burnley at home?

Phil replied: When any Everton manager's record is compared to Mike Walker you know things are bad and Sean Dyche is currently suffering that comparison.

Everton's record since before Christmas is awful and to some extent Dyche has been fortunate that the noise around the club had acted as something of a protective shield for such a miserable spell.

It is worrying that Dyche had a three-week break to try to inject fresh impetus and ideas but they seemed as stale as ever against Bournemouth.

It's fair to say some of Dyche's predecessors have paid the price for records not as bad as that but I'd be surprised if anything happened this season. Who would even take the decision with the club in such a state of limbo?

I do think there needs to be an assessment of the situation in the summer because both results and the football Everton fans are currently watching have been dreadful.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Adam asked: Given the reports about 777, do you think their impending takeover of Everton puts the club at a less or greater chance of administration?

Phil replied: This is almost impossible to answer just yet, Adam. We're not even sure if it will be approved yet and what a proposed 777 ownership would look like.

I do think if it is rejected Everton are in a parlous position but, even if 777 gets the nod, there are so many questions about their business that hardly fill Evertonians with confidence.

It still surprises me that 777 appears to be the only show in town for Everton and there are seemingly no other potential investors out there. Maybe they are biding their time – but they need to make a move soon.

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Everton.

Here are some of your responses:

Bournemouth fans

Simon: Pleasing result. Cherries much the better side in a below standard match. Respect to Lloyd Kelly on his inch perfect cross for Solanke with his first touch. Praise to Iraola for the substitution bringing instant reward. Neto’s flapping and poor distribution gives me concern. Time to test Travers for remaining games this season.

Chris: A very poor performance. Too many poor passes. Too many negative passes in defence. Fortunately Everton had even poorer performance.

Jamie: Good performance and deserved the win. Considering he has just come back from injury, Adams to play 90 mins and look that settled and composed in this side is very impressive and looks good for the future. Downside is that Neto makes yet another mistake. With us having little to lose now this season, how long until we try Travers back in goal?

Everton fans

Mark: Bournemouth were there for the taking and our lack of pace, creativity and bravery meant we couldn't take advantage of this. It's 12 games without a win. We are sleepwalking our way to relegation. Having said all of that, it was a clear penalty at 0-0 and then who knows!

David: Very worrying times as the team is really struggling and never looks likely to score. Defence are all of a sudden looking very shaky and where once we could rely on clean sheets that is no longer the case. If it wasn’t for poorer teams in the league we would be in even deeper trouble. I'm struggling to see where our next win comes from.

Alan: It was a shambles of a performance by Everton. Poor team selection with players playing out of position and Dyche’s tactics questionable. We are playing with a lone striker, which hasn’t worked all season and are12 games without a win. This is the most underperforming team I’ve ever seen at Everton in 60 years of supporting.

Alex Scott introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Wolves

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Seamus Coleman's expression summed up Everton's current misfortune.

With the Toffees set to nab a much-needed point at Bournemouth, the talismanic captain's own goal handed over the three points.

It was clumsy and totally avoidable.

Coleman will take the flak but his goalkeeper Jordan Pickford should not escape blame.

Many will think the England international should have gathered the cross before the ball hit the defender's chest and went in.

Coleman's look of anguish and despair was mirrored by the travelling fans at Dean Court.

It also summed up the mood at a club where the uncertainty off the pitch has translated onto it.

Everton could yet have more points deducted for breaking financial rules, meaning they cannot afford to allow this 12-match streak without a win to continue any longer.

Sean Dyche spoke to BBC Match of The Day after Everton's defeat to Bournemouth: "We've had one penalty all season. It's a kick across the shins, it's a foul, it's a penalty and yet it is deemed not a penalty. It is bizarre. No one knows where VAR is at at the moment. I'm a fan of it but it is in a bizarre place.

"That being said you cannot give away second goals like that. A mix-up. A voice. A non-voice. We cannot rely on referees - that's quite obvious today. So we have to make sure we take care of ourselves. That's what we didn't do in the dying embers of the game. That second goal just cannot happen.

"We're responsible, I'm responsible. I didn't come into it thinking it was a walk in the park. But when things go against you outside your control - the 10 points and the referee today - they are really important moments.

"No doubt about it. We should have come away with a minimum of one point."

• Bournemouth are unbeaten across all seven of their Premier League home matches against Everton (W5 D2), the Cherries’ most matches at the Vitality Stadium against any side without recording a loss.

• Only Sheffield United (10) have scored fewer than Everton’s 11 first half Premier League goals this season, after the Toffees saw the first half of their match against Bournemouth end goalless. In fact, both Everton (5.67%) and Bournemouth (7.33%) hold the two worst first half shot conversion this campaign.

• Bournemouth have now avoided defeat in their past 11 Premier League matches in which they’ve scored the first goal since a 2-1 defeat to Wolves in October 2023.

• On his 358th Premier League appearance for Everton, Séamus Coleman netted his sixth own goal to consign Everton to defeat. Only Richard Dunne (10), Jamie Carragher (7), Phil Jagielka (7) and Martin Skrtel (7) have ever scored more own goals than Coleman.

• Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke has scored 16 Premier League goals this season, the joint-most ever scored for the Cherries during a season alongside Josh King in 2016-17.

Everton slumped to a club record 12th consecutive Premier League game without a win as Seamus Coleman's late own goal handed the points to Bournemouth in an extraordinary finish.

Dominic Solanke's header looked set to prove the difference for Bournemouth in a game of attrition and little quality.

But the contest burst into life in the final 10 minutes.

The Toffees thought they had would salvage at least a point when Beto took advantage of a goalkeeping error from Neto.

However, long-serving captain Coleman chested a cross into his own net - under no pressure - in injury time.

Everton have not won in the league since 16 December and, sitting in 16th place, they remain three points clear of the relegation zone.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Bournemouth fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Everton fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Eight fixtures make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

• Aston Villa v Wolves

All times GMT

Listen to national and local radio commentaries and follow live text updates here

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

For this weekend's games, he takes on Gladiators star Bionic.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I keep thinking Everton will turn a corner and get the win they have been waiting so long for, but it has not happened yet.

They were a bit unlucky to lose to Manchester United in their last game, on 9 March, but things are not going to change until they start taking the chances they are creating.

Bournemouth's comeback against Luton essentially means they are safe with 10 games to go, which is a position Everton would love to be in.

Sean Dyche's side beat the Cherries at Goodison Park in October but I just don't see them winning this one, even though they are desperate for the points.

Bionic's prediction: 3-2

Everton badly need a win but I look at what Dominic Solanke is doing this season and I am going to go with Bournemouth.

See the full list of predictions here

Briony Bragg
Fan writer

The definition of the word limbo is an ‘uncertain period awaiting a decision or resolution’.

That’s certainly how it feels to be an Everton fan at the moment. With the outcome of the second profitability and sustainability hearing looming and a torrid run of form recently, there’s an air of uncertainty around the final 10 fixtures and questions around whether the Toffees can rediscover the kind of form that saw them win four out of five games after the last international break.

Realistically Everton are competing with Luton, Nottingham Forest and even Brentford to try and avoid the drop. They are yet to play the bottom four teams in the league - having beaten three of these sides already. This team does have all of the ability to pull themselves out this scrap sooner rather than later. Without a points deduction they would be sitting 14th in the table, with a better goal difference than all the teams below.

On paper it’s a very favourable run of fixtures, but it’s not like Everton to do things the easy way - hence that uncertainty.

The international break has given Sean Dyche the opportunity for warm weather training in Portugal, where hopefully they picked up some more confidence - particularly in front of goal.

Is it in their hands? Of course it is. I just hope this season ends with as much discussion as possible on the teams’ footballing merit, rather than the outcome of a court battle.

Briony is from This Fan Girl, external

Image source, Getty Images

Chief executive Colin Chong says he understands the uncertainty Everton's charge for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules has created among fans.

"As I know you will appreciate and understand, I am not able to share specific details relating to the charge we face, or the commission process," he said in a statement.

"But what I can share with you is my understanding of the uncertainty it has created for every Evertonian.

"This has been a season unlike any other the club has ever experienced - and when I talk about the club, naturally, I talk about not only the players and staff, but every fan."

Chong also addressed the uncertainty surrounding the club's prospective takeover by 777 Partners.

"Out of respect for that process and aside from affirmations of a collective commitment to complete the transaction, [club owner] Mr Moshiri and 777 Partners have deliberately not provided detailed running commentary during the regulatory review period," he added.

"And that must remain the case until the process has concluded."

The verdict on Everton's charges is expected to arrive in the early weeks of April.

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

James asked: Do you think Everton could still be dragged into the relegation battle? And if so, are they at risk of going down?

Michael replied: I think it is there for us all to see. There are only four points in it and I have always felt they could be dragged into it.

If you look at their points return, if it was not for the points deduction they would be sailing miles away from it.

They could be dragged into the battle - but I would be shocked if they did get relegated.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Manchester City and Newcastle United will rival Manchester United for the signing of Everton and England Under-21 centre-back Jarrad Brathwaite. (Football Transfers), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

Everton manager Sean Dyche says "everyone is wondering" why Nottingham Forest received a four-point deduction for their breach of Premier League financial rules given the Toffees were initially docked 10 points.

Everton's penalty was reduced to six points on appeal, and Forest confirmed on Tuesday they would also appeal their sanction.

The deduction moved Forest into the relegation zone, four points behind Dyche's side having played a game more.

"I don't know the minutiae of our own, let alone theirs," he said in his pre-match news conference before Saturday's trip to Bournemouth.

"I can only imagine there's more depth to it, which is why they gave them those points and us ours. But in its simplest form everyone is going 'how does that work out?' But I don't know the depth involved, because there is so much that goes into it.

"The rhymes and reasons behind it will be down to the appeal situation, it's not down to me, that's for sure."

Everton are also facing a hearing into a second charge but Dyche is happy with the mindset of his players despite the possibility of a second points deduction hanging over them.

"You can't judge every person about their own psychology but the main thing is we know we're all on board with it," he added.

"It's the reality. We've dealt with it before really well.

"It's an experience nobody wants but it's the reality. The players don't seem affected at this time so we will see what it brings."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Everton manager Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League match away to Bournemouth.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the second charge for alledgedly breaching profitability and sustainability rules: "The last one jolted football so we're just waiting now. From our point of view, we can only give the appropriate information. We hope they can see accordingly what the club's been trying to do. We hope it comes to nothing.

• He added: "The players don't seem affected at this time so we will see what it brings."

• Dyche played down reports he struck defender Nathan Patterson on their warm weather training camp: "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Nothing in it really, I tapped him on the head like an older brother would and he didn't get the joke. It's really that simple."

• On the prospective takeover from 777 Holdings: "I know no more than what I did know. I'm sure they would let me know. The one meeting I've had with them was very casual so no news."

• He offered an injury update: "Idrissa (Gueye) played 70 minutes (for Senegal) - lots of travelling involved but he's fit. Arnie (Danjuma) has only just been back on the grass and it is literally his first training session with us today. He'll need time to get right."

• On Saturday's opponents: "They've changed slightly. Early season it was out-and-out football. They've gone slightly more direct but roughly the same kind of plan and fair play to their manager - he's stuck with it. They're a good outfit. You have to be a good outfit to do what they're doing."

Follow the rest of Thursday's Premier League news conferences

Everton, Tottenham, West Ham, and Brighton are all plotting moves for Juventus and England Under-21 winger Samuel Iling-Junior, 20. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United are keen on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, as they prioritise improving their defence next season. (Telegraph), external

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

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's Premier League fixture between Bournemouth and Everton.

• Bournemouth are unbeaten in their six Premier League home games against Everton, winning the past two while scoring three goals both times.

• However, the Blues have won their past two Premier League games against the Cherries, though both were at Goodison Park.

• Everton are on the longest winless run in the Premier League and failure to win at Bournemouth would mean equalling their record such run of 12 games from August to October 1994.

• The Toffees have scored just one goal in their past five league away games, despite having 65 shots, seven big chances and an xG of 4.8. In their most recent away fixture, they had 23 shots against Manchester United - their most without a goal in an away league match since August 2010 at Aston Villa.

• Antoine Semenyo has scored four goals in his past five league appearances, as many as his first 30.

• Dominic Solanke has scored 15 Premier League goals this season, with only Josh King (16 in 2016-17) ever netting more for Bournemouth in a campaign. Nine of those goals have given the Cherries the lead – the most of a player for any side in the competition in 2023-24, and an all-time Bournemouth record in a season in the division.