Sean Dyche must make two Everton changes as pressure mounts

Everton return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium. The Blues travel to the capital on Saturday, sitting 16th in the table on nine points after 10 games.

However, Sean Dyche’s side will take on the Hammers on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Southampton. Adam Armstrong scored with one of his side’s two shots on target just seconds after Beto headed against the bar.

As a result of the defeat on the South Coast, the pressure has grown on boss Dyche. And with the defeat to Southampton and this weekend’s game in mind, our Everton jury has returned to have their say.

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James O’Brien - The team lacks creativity

The past couple of games have been some of the worst performances I have ever seen from Everton in my lifetime. If the pressure hasn’t already been on Sean Dyche, it simply has to be now.

The team lacks creativity, and if a long ball up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin doesn’t work, then it’s usually the end of our attacks. It’s a real toothless dog approach - it’s like we’re a lower league team hosting a big side in the FA Cup.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been the only silver lining in recent times for Everton, yet Dyche continues to play him on the bench. I’m not going to deny that Michael Keane probably surprised a few fans with some decent performances, but for the level we are at, we cannot afford to not play our £75m+ centre-half.

Dwight McNeil was poor, and it looked as if he hadn’t properly recovered from his injury in the previous game. Playing him down the middle is so detrimental to our attacks due to his reliance on his left foot. I think it’s time for him to be moved back out wide and give Iliman Ndiaye a chance down the middle. Something needs to be freshened up in the attack otherwise results are never going to go our way.

Beto’s substitution showed once again that he should be at least considered for a start. In the 20 minutes he played, he caused real issues and was very unlucky to not have a goal or two. Armando Broja’s return is definitely welcomed with the photos surfacing of him playing on the grass. As a striker who has had experience on the wing, it’ll bring crucial options to our poor attacking options.

When West Ham faced Manchester United, it was described online as “El Sackico," which the Hammers went on to win. With Lopetegui under serious pressure again and Everton’s horrific form, I am hopeful that this description can be used again.

According to Opta, Everton have had the easiest start to the season out of any teams in the Premier League, yet we sit just above the relegation zone. If Everton do lose and part ways with the manager, then it gives us a solid two weeks in the international break to find a replacement and give them adequate time to bed themselves in.

I'd love to say I'm optimistic, but with this Everton side, who knows what's going to come out of the tunnel on Saturday? COYB!

Paul McParlan - Bring Back Branthwaite!

Everton continue to find new ways to frustrate and torment their fans. After an encouraging five-match unbeaten run, there was a feeling of optimism that we could continue that sequence last Saturday.

A win at bottom-placed Southampton against a team who had not won a single Premier League game all season seemed a distinct possibility. We should have known better. This is Everton, after all.

The news that Michael Keane would be playing in defence instead of Carlisle Kaiser, Jarrad Branthwaite, was difficult to understand. Branthwaite is a brilliant defender, and our backline always looks stronger with him playing. Several clubs showed an interest in signing him over the summer, but, fortunately, we resisted all the offers.

So why on earth did Dyche not start him for the second consecutive game? It defies any footballing logic. And how must Branthwaite feel if he cannot get into the team ahead of Michael Keane? Is he really going to be content to sit on the bench after almost making the England squad for the Euros last summer? Who could blame Branthwaite if he now decided to hand in a transfer request for January, knowing that there would be no shortage of suitors?

Once again, Beto created more opportunities in his 20-minute cameo than Dominic Calvert-Lewin had in the previous 60. Only the crossbar and another dodgy VAR call denied Beto a goal that his efforts deserved. Beto had earned the right to start the game after his last performance against Fulham and should have been given his chance.

Suddenly, instead of looking towards midtable security, Everton now find themselves slipping uncomfortably close to the drop zone. The chance to build up a safety net after a relatively benign set of opening fixtures has been squandered. Two wins and nine points from ten games is simply not acceptable.

After our trip to West Ham United on Saturday, five of our next seven fixtures are against teams who qualified for Europe. It is hard to see Everton gaining many points from those games, so it is vitally important that we pick up something at the London Stadium this weekend.

The style of football served up by Sean Dyche this season has been dire. We did not have a shot on target until the 50th minute at Southampton. The football was pedestrian and lacked any ambition or creativity. It relied on Sean Dyche’s default tactic of launching aimless high balls down the pitch, where possession was inevitably lost, and handed the initiative and impetus to a Southampton side desperate for their first league win.

The Blues who travel in their thousands all over the country, at great expense, to support their team deserve more than this. A quarter of the season is gone, and another relegation battle looms. Is this the new normal for Everton?

And if Dyche continues to leave his best defender on the bench, then questions will continue to be asked about whether he is still the right man to lead Everton.