Everton

We asked you to send in your questions for Fara Williams and the former England midfielder and BBC Sport pundit has been answering a selection.

Chris asked: After the way Everton stood by Dominic Calvert-Lewin through his injury, allowing him maximum recovery time and not pressuring him to return despite needing him badly, would it be fair for him to not sign a new contract and leave for nothing?

The question is, with the new owners coming in: is there a contract on the table?

If there is not a contract on the table, is that the direction the owners want to go in or is there a contract there that Calvert-Lewin does not want to sign? There are two sides to these situations.

If there is an offer on the table and he is not signing it, for a club that have done so much for him and likewise he has done for them at times as their talisman, that would be gutting for Everton fans.

From that mutual respect they may have expected more from him, but the difficulty is not knowing whether there is a contract there to be signed.

Calvert-Lewin is someone who would have value on his head and it would therefore help the club in that way. So Evertonians would be bitterly gutted if he was running his contract down to leave.

It could be that Calvert-Lewin and his team are waiting for the new owners to come in to see what is put down and what direction they want to go. That is something the player does not really have a say in.

It is difficult because he is an ambitious player who, if the club stays in the same position it has been for the past few seasons, will want to move on. And, as a club, you do not want to hold a player back.

But, I also understand from a fans' point of view, with the support he has been given by the club, to leave like that without any profit would be gutting.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

Southampton remain most likely to finish bottom but their one point from seven games has seen their chances increasing dramatically from 28.6% to 61%.

A solid start, despite no win yet, has seen Ipswich's probability of finishing 17th creep up from 12% to 15.2% - but a 19th-placed finish has increased from 21.3% to 25.3%.

Leicester's most likely finish has changed from bottom to 18th after their first win under Steve Cooper, while Crystal Palace's poor start has seen their chances of ending in their current position of 18th go from 1.1% to 7.2%.

Wolves finished 18th in 9.7% of simulations before a ball was kicked but the now-bottom side are now at 20.1% to end in that position after a winless first seven games.

Everton boss Sean Dyche spoke about the progress of his players that are recovering from injuries, as his side prepare to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday.

Which Everton player would come first in a sprinting race?

And who does the most walking?

We've gathered the data from the Premier League season so far.

Find out here

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Winstanley, from A View From The Bullens podcast, says Everton's proposed takeover by The Friedkin Group provides the opportunity "to hit the reset button" and it would make sense to part ways with Sean Dyche in that process.

"They are going to want to set their own direction on and off the field," Winstanley told BBC Radio Merseyside. "That will come from the boardroom down as they decide how they want the football club to look.

"Conversations will need to be had to see if we will improve. Do I think Dyche is the manager to take us to the next level? I don't think he is.

"He is what he is, a limited manager, but he has retained us in the Premier League. The work he has done over the last 20 months has been OK - maybe even better than OK.

"His contract is up at the end of the year so that seems like the natural time to perhaps say goodbye with a new owner coming in.

"The football isn't aesthetically pleasing. That is where we are at this moment because we haven't got the players to go up that level.

"It just seems like a good time to hit the reset button."

Listen to the full interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko is "looking good" and right-back Seamus Coleman has also returned to training.

• However, Jarrad Branthwaite "is a bit behind them" and Dyche will decide whether he is available for Saturday in the next 24 hours, adding: "It’s just the training schedule. He has no injury, so we just have to be careful."

• James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson are all still sidelined with their respective injuries. Iroegbunam has a foot injury "that is going to be weeks not days," while Garner has a problem with his back.

• Dyche conceded this season "has been a constant struggle of trying to get players fit" but with players slowly returning it should give them a boost to pick up more points.

• On the importance of picking up where they left off before the international break after a draw and a win in their past two games: "There’s still a lot of work to be done but we went back to getting a lot of the basics right and got results. We are showing signs [of improvement]."

• He said "we do feel like we are an anomaly" in terms of the performances reflecting where they are in the league table, but added "the league doesn't lie."

• On opponents Ipswich: "They have spent a recognised fortune so they obviously intend on being in this division. You can’t take anyone for granted as there are no gimmicks in this league."

• Finally, in response to Jordan Pickford showing signs of fatigue and being left out of England's starting XI against Finland on Sunday: "He’s a top-class goalie. The England thing will sort itself out."

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

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you for one thing nobody is talking about at Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: I'm a little concerned about Pickford. When he's in form he's brilliant, but lately he seems to be more inconsistent and erratic in his performances which is unsettling the Everton defenders.

Andy: I would say that Everton look more of a threat going forward now than in the last three or four years. Never have we had the passing ability or attacking threat that we have now. I don't think defensive frailties have reflected how good we potentially could be this year.

Duncan: I'm concerned that lots of people are talking about big spending when the takeover happens. The accounts are still the accounts, and whilst we're climbing out of the hole we cannot afford to mismanage the club the way we did under Moshiri.

Ross: We seem to have forgotten that both Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are out injured and will give us more options when they are fit again.

After no wins in their first four, Sean Dyche has steadied the ship at Everton with draws against Leicester and Newcastle sandwiched either side of a vital win over Crystal Palace.

Fears the Blues could play the first season in their new stadium in the Championship have faded, while takeover discussions with The Friedkin Group are trundling on in the background.

However, you know your club best. So when it comes to Everton, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Tell us here, external

BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?

What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?

Send in your questions here, external

Image source, Getty Images

An Everton-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Paul asked: Do you see Sean Dyche lasting if and when Everton's takeover is sorted? If we're going to spend any money in January it will be to suit a more forward-thinking manager.

Phil answered: I would be surprised if anything happened with Dyche this season because Everton's sole priority is to stay in the Premier League and he has a track record of being able to do that.

On the other side of that coin, I would also be surprised to see Dyche lead Everton into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season because when - as seems certain - Dan Friedkin completes his takeover, history tells us new owners want their own men and the timing will coincide with the end of Dyche's contract.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

Juventus could move for Everton's 27-year-old English forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will be out of contract in the summer. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

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

Everton have set their sights on signing Stuttgart and DR Congo winger Silas Mvumpa, 26, in January. (Football Insider), external

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

Former manager Mark Warburton talks to The Football News Show about how managers can deal with mental health struggles while working at a club and what support there is available to them.

Watch The Football News Show's Mental Health special

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The international break probably comes at a good time for Sean Dyche given the injury problems in the run-up to the Newcastle game.

He will hope to have Jarrad Branthwaite back sooner rather than later, and the break gives one or two others a chance to come back in to the squad.

The draw at the weekend just keeps the unbeaten run going, and while it is only three games, it is a sign that perhaps things are starting to turn in the right direction.

Everton are no longer bottom, in fact they now sit 16th - important psychologically and will help confidence with games coming up soon against two sides below them, Ipswich and Southampton.

No game is a given, of course. They will be tough games but good ones to win.

Despite losing the likes of Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman, and Vitaliy Mykolenko to injury, they have managed to keep things fairly solid at the back and as he showed on Saturday, Jordan Pickford remains a huge presence between the sticks.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Football Finance expert Kieran Maguire says Everton fans should be "glad they dodged 777 Partners" as future owners "as it would have been a disaster".

The US-based consortium - unable to complete a take over deal earlier this year - has collapsed.

And despite putting in a £200m loan to Everton, that money will not have to be paid back any sooner than the date pre-agreed.

"It is still a legal contract between 777 and Everton football club," Maguire told BBC Radio Merseyside. "That will have a stated repayment date.

"If you take a look at the small print of this contract then it is what we call a junior loan. Everton have got a few loans outstanding from other lenders, so before 777 can be paid, the more senior lenders have to be paid by the club.

"It goes in steps so it is not going to be an issue.

"The chances are that someone is going to buy that loan off the equivalent of administrators or those administrators will have to manage the loan themselves. But there is nothing for Everton to worry about.

"All Evertonians will just be increasingly glad they dodged 777 as it would have been a disaster."

Listen to Maguire on BBC Radio Merseyside

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

So often deemed the pantomime villain in this fixture, it felt incredibly sweet when Jordan Pickford left the Goodison Park pitch the hero on Saturday night.

There are the usual inflatable dinosaurs splattered across the away end, accompanied by Newcastle fans regularly voicing their dislike for the Everton and England number one. In years gone by, Pickford would be the first to admit he played up to such scenes.

Given a bitter rivalry born from his years supporting and playing for Sunderland, he simply failed to compartmentalise his job and apparent need to bite back.

Thankfully, those days are behind him.

The script couldn’t have been written any better on Saturday night.

If Newcastle are going to miss a penalty, all Evertonians would want it to be Anthony Gordon taking it and Pickford the man to deny him. It being in front of a raucous Gwladys Street made it all the sweeter.

Everton's official X (Twitter) account has subsequently been vilified for apparently ‘mocking’ the miss on social media, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher leading the backlash.

It’s incredible how much the famous Family Fortunes ‘wrong’ buzzer can evoke such a reaction.

Those present at Goodison Park will be well aware the same comedic sound effect was used during a half time fan game when they failed to hit the bar.

The penalty taker was almost irrelevant. The save deserved to be celebrated. Isn’t this what football is all about?

It really wasn’t that deep.

In a world that seems to growing more serious by the day, light-hearted comedy shouldn’t be frowned upon or made out to be some kind of targeted psychological attack.

There is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. This line certainly wasn’t.

There is room in the world for laughter.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Sean Dyche says the noise around the club's takeover by The Friedkin Group is "just a reality of the job" and he knows no more than the fans about how long it will take to complete.

"I've said it all along," Dyche told BBC Sport. "The powers that be might know more than me, and that's right because it's a business. It's not just a football business that I take care of on the pitch, it's the whole business. So they're going to have to wait and see.

"'The noise is just a reality of the job. It's a great club, with great history and great concern.

"We have to just to keep growing, keep maturing, keep building on some tough times and keep coming out of those tough times."

Image source, Getty Images

A VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.

@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.

Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.

Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.

I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Greg: A gutsy performance if not much more, and would probably have taken a point seeing the team selection. Midfield needs a shake up as neither Mangala or Doucoure are capable of controlling a game, however we all know he wont change it. Nice to see Pickford taking control of his six yard box a bit more. A very commanding display.

Dixie: A good defensive display. Pickford loves these games and did well. Makeshift back four or five depending how you look at it did well against a good attacking side. Dyche made the right substitutions at the right time. Well earned but deserved point. Clean sheet a bonus.

Yozza: Makeshift defence against a makeshift attack. We knew we were up against it against a strong midfield but I just don’t get the Calvert-Lewin penalty. If Burn was playing the ball then fine but he wasn’t. He was blocking Dom's kicking arc as well as coming in from the back. Should have stood. Good point though.

Steve: Plenty of effort but lacking creativity at the top end of pitch and at times looked open in the midfield. Great save from Pickford to deny Gordon who quite clearly was affected by the crowd.

Newcastle fans

Paul: Defensively better but we didn’t convert our possession into goals. Gordon played well but missed a pen and a very easy chance. Only a point is disappointing. There’s no excuse for us not having adequate cover for Isak and Wilson as we spent very little in the past two transfer windows. Our transfer policy needs sorting out.

Andy: Against a combative Everton side it was always a tough ask of Gordon to keep playing the central striker role even with his pace. We are strongest in midfield rotation, surely Howe could use Joelinton as a hybrid forward when needed. A draw was a fair result, but had we won Everton could of had no complaints. Cohesive team performance with no end product.

Jon: Signs of continued progress from the City game - energetic, more fluid in midfield through Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno, and the press gave Everton trouble. But we lacked any real edge in the final third, and still look vulnerable on the counter. Poor summer transfer window - we're a forward and a defender short of competing where we want to.

Alex: Newcastle lack any sort of creativity from midfield. Not one player from the midfield three is able to take the game by the scruff and win the game themselves. Too much reliance on Isak/Gordon. Howe needs to figure out a way to get goals from midfield.