Everton response shows truth about Sean Dyche as Jarrad Branthwaite decision pays off

Our regular Everton fan jury talk at length about the issues of the week at Goodison Park

Everton return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The Blues head to the capital on the back of a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park. The point helped extend Everton’s unbeaten run to three games.

Off the pitch, talk continues about a 777 Partners takeover, with a report emerging earlier this week that claimed David Dein, the former Arsenal chairman, could be involved in some capacity after he visited 777’s Miami HQ. And with the Blues’ trip to face Palace in mind, our Everton jury are back to give their views on what is going on at their club.

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Alex McMonnies – A sign of how far we’ve come

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It’s definitely a sign of how far we’ve come under Sean Dyche that many people are viewing Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton as a poor result or a missed opportunity.

Everton led for almost the entirety of the match and aside from Lewis Dunk’s disallowed strike in the first half, Roberto de Zerbi’s side never truly looked like scoring before Kaoru Mitoma’s cross flew over Jordan Pickford courtesy of a wicked deflection off Ashley Young six minutes from time. The Dyche critics will argue that the Blues would have held on had Young been replaced by the fresher legs of Nathan Patterson.

However, context is important, and Evertonians need only cast their minds back just ten months ago to the last time the Seagulls made the trip to Goodison Park and played the hosts off the pitch, romping to a comfortable 4-1 victory that probably even flattered the Toffees. Before Saturday’s match, most Evertonians would have taken a draw against a side confidently competing at the other end of the table.

I think I am now firmly aboard the Dyche bandwagon and feel prepared to fend off almost any criticism that might be thrown his way. There is definitely a case to be made that changes should have been made sooner than they were on Saturday, but I disagree with the idea that the players looked particularly tired and indeed thought they were doing more than enough to keep Brighton at bay. This is backed up by the fact that the south-coast outfit was restricted to just 0.44xG, by far their lowest total of the season so far.

The manager has definitely succeeded in making Everton tougher to beat, which has been helped in no small part by the form of Vitali Mykolenko, who has not put a foot wrong since coming back into the side and was rewarded with a goal on Saturday.

It’s clear that there is a plan in place to win games and a well-earned draw against Brighton is far from the disaster some fans made it out to be over the weekend. Dyche needs backing.

Luke Davies – Luck was not on our side

Another strong performance without the ball against Brighton at the weekend, as only a fluke goal prevented us from getting all three points.

There were so many positives to take once again: Jarrad Branthwaite was as solid as ever, the midfield looked solid and Jordan Pickford was at his best. A disappointing result, but still a point on the board after a week of positives.

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Moving forward, Crystal Palace away is always a difficult fixture, normally very low scoring with a few 0-0s and 1-0s springing to mind in recent years. Again, I believe they can win there or at least get a point.

They are an inconsistent side that scores very few but also sports a solid defence. They may find our style difficult to combat as the home side will be expected to press, playing into Everton’s style of counter-attacking football; we can get at them.

Selection-wise, I’d understand why the manager may like to stick with the same 11 that he fielded against Brighton. However, bringing Amadou Onana back into the fold would be my choice; he offers a lot more offensively.

I enjoy watching Everton at the moment; there’s a disciplined look about the side, we waste very little, and I’m not going to bore you with xG, but basically, we shoot a lot too.

We look very much a mid-table side rather than relegation strugglers and a relaxed May will be fine with me. I rate Sean Dyche more with each passing game we play, something I couldn’t say earlier in the campaign. Another 0-1 on the cards, possibly.

Paul McParlan – Another step forward?

There was a mixed reaction to Everton’s match with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday in the stadium and on social media.

Some were disappointed that the Blues failed to build on their lead in the second half; others felt that this was a well-earned point against an outfit that dominated possession for long periods. It is a measure of how much recent performances have raised expectations that sharing the spoils with a team playing in Europe failed to keep everyone happy.

For a side that has lost four home games already this season, a draw is a step in the right direction. Although there was criticism of Sean Dyche’s failure to make substitutions earlier, the fact remains that if it were not for an unfortunate deflection, then all three points would have come our way.

The resilience and organisation shown by Everton throughout the game were highly encouraging. Dyche has found a style that suits the players he has at his disposal and is turning them into a side that is difficult to break down. This is no longer a team that falls apart when it concedes a goal. It might not be the free-flowing football that those who watched the Blues in their mid-80s pomp crave, but it is producing results.

Perhaps the most important decision that the manager made this summer was his insistence that Jarrad Branthwaite should not be sold. Instead, Conor Coady, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate were shown the exit door, and their presence has not been missed. Branthwaite has brought a calm air of authority to Everton’s defence with his reading of the game, timely interceptions and physical presence.

The sight of Seagulls striker Euan Ferguson being withdrawn on 68 minutes showed how effectively the young centre back had shackled his opponent. Last January, the same player tormented Everton’s defence in the 4-1 mauling at Goodison Park that marked the nadir of Frank Lampard’s reign.

Everton have won on both of their visits to the capital this season. Saturday provides another opportunity to extend that sequence. Crystal Palace have only won once at home in five games so far and have failed to score in three of them. Although another point on their travels would be welcome, this is a real opportunity for the Toffees to grab a win and head into the international break comfortably ensconced in mid-table.

After the traumas of the last two campaigns, Sean Dyche is making measurable improvements to his side. Despite operating on a shoestring budget against a background of financial chaos, he is giving fans a tantalising glimpse of a brighter future.