What Everton fans did in the 61st minute vs Southampton proves that £40k-a-week player’s time is up

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For the second time in just four days, it felt like Everton fans had known what was going to happen with their club before it actually did.

After all, first facing Aston Villa on Saturday, there were very few who genuinely believed that Sean Dyche‘s men were going to hang onto the 2-0 lead they had shockingly sprung into.

And then, despite once again snatching a 1-0 lead last night, penalties were written in the stars, especially after the equaliser came not long after their opener.

The match was a dire one, between two teams who thus far deserve to be at the very bottom of the Premier League

But there was one particular moment of supporter outrage that typified the night and sent a signal to one player that he is no longer wanted in the starting side.

Everton fans boo Ashley Young substitution

As the Toffees sought to retake the lead, there was frustratingly little pressing impetus from the frontline, who were often pictured standing still whilst the Southampton defence passed from side to side.

They did not threaten with this practice, but it led to a frustrated Goodison Park where tensions were building.

After all, given the start to the campaign they had endured, many hoped that last night might mark a cathartic moment to finally brush aside their horrendous run.

Alas, it was not to be, and they can now add an early exit from the Carabao Cup to their list of early-season blunders.

Thus anger and anxiety spilled over in the 61st minute in particular, when Dyche took to his bench to freshen things up.

Seeing how poor Beto had been in leading that aforementioned standstill press, he sought to make a tactical change.

It was just unfortunate that it included bringing on Ashley Young for the striker, thus freeing Dwight McNeil to move further forward.

Goodison Park did not like this move though, and let their feelings show, with a chorus of boos as the former Aston Villa man trudged onto the pitch.

It’s no surprise that he would miss the crucial penalty, hammering it straight at the goalkeeper who saved onto the post.

Sean Dyche has no Plan B

This moment offered a microcosm for a miserable night under the floodlights, where an expectant Goodison Park was treated to a dire game of football.

The visitors once again tried their ambitious and naive brand of football with limited success, whilst the hosts were happy to surrender possession.

However, whilst the displeasure over the Young substitution was likely not completely personal, there was an element of spite about it that has been born of the £40k-a-week veteran’s consistently poor performances.

There has been a growing frustration towards his continued selection, and whether it was directed at Young, Beto, Dyche or someone else entirely, it will not have helped the player coming on.

His place in the side might have become untenable now, as it’s damning that Everton fans booed Mason Holgate’s substitution back in August only for the defender to be shipped out later that month.

What was most frustrating about the tactical tweaks that came from the change was that their play style did not waver, and despite moving Iliman Ndiaye up front, a notoriously small and skilful player, they still pumped balls long for him to lose in the air, unsurprisingly.

Dyche has no plan B, and it could soon cost him his job…