Another game at Goodison Park and another defeat as a truly dreadful day saw Everton lose yet again at home this season, this time to Luton Town.
What more can be possibly said about this group of players and the endless capacity they have to come up with results like this over and over again. I give up.
So many times, for season after season we have witnessed Everton find a way to lose a home match to a struggling side desperate for a break and some luck to turn their fortunes around. Once more this Blues team obliges.
The list is long and I can think of just a few examples off the top of my head such as Norwich City or Watford and now Luton can be added to that list.
Thinking about it, it was almost inevitable and so predictable. I don’t know why I allowed competely unjustifed optimism to give me hope that the Toffees could carry over the last week’s performances and wins into today’s match.
Prior to the game, I gave the team I would have picked. Essentially, it was the same side as won at Aston Villa apart from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil coming in.
And critically, it was playing in the same much more attacking formation than we’ve seen most of this campaign – as on Wednesday night – to dictate and dominate at home against weakened opponents.
Because remember, Luton were missing a number of starting players and still came to the Grand Old Lady this afternoon and won!
Sean Dyche decided to revert to type again at Goodison returning to his favoured formation and players and Everton paid the price. Why change it back again?!
Once more the Blues lined up in a 4-5-1 at home with the centre-forward leading the line (this time Dominic Calvert-Lewin getting his first start as I wanted) isolated and alone up front, again.
It’s utterly ridiculous to see this constantly negative approach and mentality transmitted to the players and the fans and giving their opponents confidence they can repeat the success of so many other visting sides.
Despite the return to the tactics and approach that has proved so costly at Goodison, the home side were on top early on and as seen repeatedly this season, missed a slew of good chances to score early and take control of the match.
If I was manager I would have these players doing shooting practice all day and night until they can find the net, it’s utterly baffling and awful how many chances this team misses.
And so, as if reading from a script that has been prepared and is ready to be brought out whenever Everton host a team in these circumstances, Luton countered and scored with their first shot on target!
Then of course they added another and we all knew that was it. Everton did pull one back after Calvert-Lewin’s strike was finally cleared by VAR.
But they never looked like getting another, let alone coming back to win and couldn’t even force a save in the second half. Disgraceful.
I have resisted the temptation to put this truly dreadful start to the season (especially such an unbelieveably appalling record at home) on Dyche’s shoulders alone and it’s not all his fault, obviously.
But these tactics and this mentality are killing the team’s chances of avoiding a third straight relegation battle. One that I think will finally be lost.
Everton should have beaten Fulham, Wolves and Luton Town at home already this campaign and instead have lost to all of them.
So, I feel that it is time for a change in the dugout before it is too late. Who it should be I’m not sure. Is there anyone left who will take this cursed job on?
Of course, the other question is who will make that decision with Farhad Moshiri apparently skint and anyway no longer interested in a club he is hoping to sell in a few months time.
I’ve said it so often but what a total mess this team and club are in. Any thoughts of sustained progress seem impossible to imagine, on or off the pitch.