“My only friend, the end.” Yes. It seems like the grim reaper is sharpening his scythe ready to take away the soul of Everton although I fear the board has already beaten ol death to it on that one!

Yesterday’s performance was another dagger directly into the heart of long suffering Evertonians. I make no apologies for the grim tone of this article but at present I see no way out.

Perhaps a tad harsh on Dyche but he played a major part today and possibly the future of (PL status) Everton football club with a poor set up and a refusal to change until it was too late.
Many will excuse Dyche, getting Everton out of the relegation zone and giving them a fighting chance however, there is NO excuse for playing and persisting with Neil Maupay.

Quite what Dyche sees in training (in Maupay) is anyone’s guess, but the fans have not seen anything to suggest he justifies a place in the first team. Two glorious (seemingly harder to miss) chances from two yards out, spurned by someone who calls themselves a striker! Score those two and the likelihood is it’s a different game. As it turns out, Everton just sunk deeper and deeper into the mire, nerves set in and it was in danger of becoming a route for Fulham.

Dyche’s substitutions irked many, with a reluctance to change until the latter stages of the game when, as Everton conceded a third, he left the Goodison crowd baffled with a like for like DM for DM, sitting our only striker back down!

On the other hand if we take the game out of the equation, Dyche ‘has’ been dealt a poor hand. Rafa Benitez still haunting Everton with possibly two of the worst full backs in the league, remember when we had an embarrassment of riches in that position?!
Iwobi had another unacceptable performance, seemingly only able to pass to a shirt in white. If he indeed is stalling on a new contract I don’t think any tears will be shed if he goes.

Who’d have thought that we would miss Doucoure. The team looked badly out of shape and ideas as it did in the United game. The press that Doucoure applies is missing from the rest of the team as well as the aerial threat he provides. Unfortunately for James Garner, his first full start didn’t exactly encourage Evertonians but it would be harsh to judge him on just one game alone.

Calvert Lewin is still missing from the squad. I feel it would be best if the club were honest with the fans and telling them he’s not going to return this season. It’s unfair on the fans and heaps huge pressure on DCL. Personally I think he needs to persist with Simms. Demari Gray was anonymous again yesterday. Simms needs a run in the team and it’s unfair to keep swapping him in and out and expect any kind of consistency.

Next up Everton have Crystal Palace and given we’ll still be without the Doucoure and likely DCL and, Palaces remarkable turn around in form, even the most optimistic Evertonian wouldn’t be expecting anything from Selhurst Park.

Everton’s destiny is still somehow in their own hands. At present the only possible scenario of survival is if the bottom three are just worse than them. A major problem is seeing where the next three points are to come from. Fellow strugglers Palace, Leicester and Wolves away to come though admittedly two of those now look safe. City, Newcastle and Bournemouth at home, all of which have been in decent form with Newcastle dipping slightly.

Sometimes I think the sooner it’s accepted (the R word) the sooner we can move on. Many blues despite the team playing poorly will still be clinging onto hopes of surrounding teams getting beaten, becoming Utd and West ham fans for a day. Perhaps it’s not the grim reaper we should fear, it’s actually the hope that kills you .

by Simon Barry – his personal blog

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