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Everton: James Garner reveals similarity between Sean Dyche and Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag
Everton midfielder James Garner says the biggest similarity between Sean Dyche and Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is that both men are “very strict”.
Garner joined Everton from United in September 2022 for a reported fee of £15million [Sky Sports], not long after Ten Hag had officially arrived at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old has spent the past eight months working under Dyche, who replaced Frank Lampard in the Goodison Park dugout at the turn of the year.
Asked what it was like playing under Ten Hag, and now Dyche, Garner told BBC Sport [14 September]: “Ten Hag is a very approachable guy but is very strict. He takes no one bending the rules.
“He will say it how it is and will punish people if they have done the wrong things.
“Dyche demands 100% work-rate, whether that is in the gym or on the pitch, he doesn’t like anyone taking shortcuts and if you do you will be found out.
“He is a very strict manager too, very stern and straight to the point, which is what some players need at times.”
Regular starter
Garner struggled to make the grade at Old Trafford, but he has featured far more regularly since making the switch to Goodison Park.
The England U21 international made 16 Premier League appearances last season – it would have been more if not for injuries – and has started all four games so far this campaign.
Garner clearly has the trust of Dyche, whose strict nature is going to be needed more than ever if Everton are to recover from a slow start to the season.
Dyche faced criticism from Demarai Gray recently prior to the winger’s move to Al-Ettifaq, which was also the case for Ten Hag in his high-profile falling out with Jadon Sancho.
The pair, who also show a physical resemblance, are clearly cut from the same cloth.
Garner is now being given a consistent run in the side by Dyche and that will likely continue, just as long as he does not do something to find himself in the former Burnley manager’s bad books!
In other Everton news, former player Michael Ball has urged Dyche to unleash his “different animal” when the Toffees face Arsenal this weekend.