Cornish Steve

Wolves 2-3 Everton Tarkowski

We're halfway through the season. Congratulations to Boston Toffee and Matt Tiger for predicting the correct score against City. Romey and Sibdane are joint leaders for the month of December. Boston Toffee has extended his lead for the season, while Bill remains ahead by a whisker per prediction.

Changing my goal-scorer to be Beto.

More importantly, will Doucoure be back?

Our problem is depth of squad. This season, we've been more fortunate than in previous years with comparatively few injuries. Recent games have revealed we can survive with one or two starters missing in defence or midfield, and probably up front, but we would likely be up a creek without Pickford. Still, I agree with the comment that we have a much more balanced squad at this point. Plus, we've moved out past prima donnas and most of those who are overpaid. Thelwell deserves credit for a job well done and for setting the right expectations.

Are you feeling left out? I can add you in the commentary if you wish! "Palfy's predictions may not have reached the heights of success in recent games but could possibly warrant the 'Highly Commended' commiseratory designation. His strength this season is consistency: bang average for the month, bang average for the season, and bang average per prediction."

Everton 1-1 City DC-L

For round 18, congrats to Boston Toffee and Sibdane for predicting the correct score against Spurs. For the month of December, Wiggytop leads by two points. For the season, Boston Toffee leads Romey by 7 points. Per prediction, despite being MIA for a few rounds, Bill retains the lead.

It would never happen unless an exchange: Branthwaite for Richarlison and Pedro Porro, for example. The fact is, though, that we invested in our forward line by bringing in Beto, Chermiti, and others. Would you swap DC-L for Richarlison, for example?

Red?

It is good, but I’m still concerned about missing Doucoure. This is going to be a real test of Dyche’s tactical nous. I’ll be very impressed if we win this one.

Another way to put it is that we deserved to win those early games.

Spurs 2-0 Everton none

Another great result: an away win against Burnley. Congrats to Romey and Wiggytop for scoring five points. Wiggytop leads for the busy month of December. For the season, Boston Toffee still leads but only by a whisker. Bill retains a comfortable lead per prediction.

A great result against Chelsea, and three people predicted the correct score. Congratulations to London Blue, Palfy, and Wiggytop. Formby also score 5 points by predicting Doucoure as our first scorer. Boston Toffee continues to lead for the season while Bill leads per prediction.

We're soon going to find out just how crucial Doucoure has been to team success. Personally, I see him as a linchpin, so let's see how Dyche adjusts to him being out.

Totally agree. Money talks - very loudly.

I'm going back to this post from October because it might still be relevant. The irony is that, just like I'd encountered Moshiri before when selling to Megafon, I've also sold to one of the Ambani family companies in India - and I can tell you some stories (good stories, though, from a potential interest in Everton). When I was attending meetings in India, the father in the Ambani family was still alive. Since then, the two sons inherited his business empire and have been falling out. Nonetheless, they are incredibly savvy businessmen. If there is an interest in Everton, we can be sure of several things: 1) They will wait to get the very best deal, maybe hoping for 777 Partners to pull out so Moshiri is more willing to negotiate price. 2) None of their dealings will be made public. If they become our buyer, we'll hear about it only when the deal is signed. 3) They will do what it takes to be a successful owner. I'd be more than happy should they eventually become the new owners of Everton rather than our current suitor.

I'd like to hear @MC11's view on Sean Dyche. He was quite right about Lampard (hence my profile pic).

Comments from Garth Crooks on the BBC site: "Everton go from strength to strength and look like a very dangerous team whoever they play. I don't think I've seen an Everton team look so dangerous on set-pieces. James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, AmadouOnana and Abdoulaye Doucoure, all six foot-plus, attacking the six-yard box like their lives depended on it. The superb header scored by Onana was typical of the barrage of artillery the Burnley defence was under when it came to set-plays."

X? X? Where's that? My laptop filters out anything owned by or related to Elon M*** (he who shall not be named).

Thanks for sharing since I can't see the original article. This graph is very telling. Carlo was a good manager, although it took time for his style of play to take effect. Benitez was a complete and utter disaster. Lampard was unable to turn around the mess created by Benitez. Dyche has performed absolute wonders, primarily by shoring up the defence. I'd like to see this chart extended all the way back to Moyes. For example, is the "blue" period at the beginning of Ancelotti's time the result of Silva's influence or no more than a new manager bounce?

The last thing we need next season is European football. We need to walk before we can run, and right now we need stability before all else. Our squad is quite thin, certainly not as extensive as would be needed to play a couple of games every week. Remember when Roberto got us into Europe two seasons running? It was asking too much, crippled our squad, and started the decline. If the points deduction prevents us from getting into Europe, then it will have had a silver lining.

Well done to Steven Naismith. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67667757

The remaining games this month will be a real test.