Michael Ball ‘baffled’ by ‘rash’ Sean Dyche sacking that helped Everton
Michael Ball has slammed Burnley for their “rash” decision to sack Sean Dyche whilst outlining how it has helped Everton in their relegation scrap.
The Blues sit three points ahead of the Clarets in 17th but have one game in hand on their managerless rivals.
The former Toffees ace was “baffled” by the decision to part ways with Dyche without a replacement plan with only seven games left of their season.
He wrote in his Liverpool Echo column: “The decision of Burnley to dismiss Sean Dyche came as a real shock.
“Few things in modern-day football come as a surprise, and this is not the first time such a seemingly rash decision has been made at an important point in the season. But I was shocked when I first saw this news.
“After everything Dyche has done at that club this is a gamble by the owners. They clearly wanted a reaction on the pitch and they nearly did get it – Burnley could so easily have been 2-0 up against West Ham and gone on to win and close the gap to Everton to just one point, though in the end, they did not. Yet whatever happens next, I think the decision has baffled ‘football people’.
“In a way, I thought it might be bad news for Everton – we see time and time again how such decisions create a reaction.”
Let off
It was a huge feeling of relief when Burnley parted ways with who was the Premier League’s longest-serving manager.
That tells you how much of a blunder this really is. Admittedly, Burnley have been on the decline over the last couple of seasons and relegation looked inevitable – maybe not this year but it was coming – but that was hardly Dyche’s fault.
The 50-year-old was the only thing keeping them in the league and to sack him with so little time left is ludicrous.
Make no mistake, it is brilliant news for Frank Lampard and the Blues. They are now battling a team without a manager and seemingly no plan.
The Blues can benefit from another game at Goodison Park against Leicester on Wednesday [April 20].
With the Clarets not playing until the next day, it gives Lampard the chance to put six points between the Toffees and the drop zone and it will hopefully stay like that if Burnley loses to Southampton.
In other Everton news, the Blues are to axe several senior players in summer for “hungrier” alternatives according to Chris Beesley.
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