Everton manager Sean Dyche baffled by ‘strange’ Jarrad Branthwaite gesture at Goodison Park
Everton manager Sean Dyche admits he found it “strange” when Jarrad Branthwaite celebrated winning a tackle against Luton Town last week.
Branthwaite gestured in delight when halting an opposition attack, although it came in a match in which Everton went on to lose 2-1.
But while he was baffled by that response, Dyche is pleased with the youngster’s development at Goodison Park.
“It’s a strange thing about football, celebrating a tackle,” Dyche said at a press conference on Thursday [5 October], as per the Liverpool Echo.
“That’s actually your job so I find that one a bit odd. We’ve got a couple of players who do that, so I do remind them that’s their actual job.
“He’s going along nicely and I do want players to enjoy it and I don’t mind a human reaction, as long as it’s the right one.
“He’s going about his business the right way at the moment, learning all the time and he’s playing with some good players around him.”
Good to see
There is no harm in players showing a bit of passion, even if it is celebrating ‘just’ a tackle. A striker celebrates putting the ball in the net, after all.
Admittedly, the fact Everton went on to lose 2-1 to a relegation rival at home does make the defender’s actions look a little over the top in hindsight.
Branthwaite is a rare Everton player who can hold his head up high at the moment, having forced his way into Dyche’s starting line-up since returning from a loan spell with PSV.
Speaking at the same pre-Bournemouth news conference, Dyche hinted that a new deal for the England U21 international is close to being signed.
That is great news for Everton, as he has been linked with both Manchester United and Manchester City once again this week [Daily Mail].
Hopefully we get to see the 21-year-old celebrating challenges at Goodison Park for many more years to come.
In other Everton news, Branthwaite has opened up on the “best thing” for him amid those recent transfer rumours.