Chris Sutton leaps to defence of Everton manager Sean Dyche amid ‘unfair’ criticism
The criticism Everton boss Sean Dyche has received as a manager is “unfair”, according to Chris Sutton.
Speaking on the BBC’s The Monday Night Club podcast on 27 November (01:36:33), the pundit said the Toffees chief is often viewed as being “quite basic” in his approach to the game despite previously being “pragmatic” when keeping Burnley in the Premier League for a number of years.
He believes the 52-year-old has worked out how the Blues can score goals this season, but that it’s now down to the players to find the back of the net after missing a number of chances in the 3-0 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday (26 November).
“It’s slightly unfair how he is viewed as a manager in terms of being quite basic with his approach,” said Sutton. “I think it’s unfair because he kept Burnley up for many years with a pragmatic approach.
“When you see Everton this season, the opportunities have been there. I also take your point Mark (Chapman), they have good wide players and centre-forwards, Calvert-Lewin especially, Doucoure’s a decent size. That’s a great strength.
“Calvert-Lewin had a great chance to score, you have to know what you are, you have to score a goal in a game. How are you going to do that? I think Sean Dyche has certainly worked it out, but it’s up to the players to work that out.”
Consistency
The biggest problem for Everton at the start of this season wasn’t creating chances, it was finding the back of the net when they did come along.
After their fortunes had improved in front of goal before the clash against Man United, the Toffees once again showed their lack of composure at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The Blues had 24 shots in the game, but they only managed to hit the target with six of those attempts and couldn’t convert any of them.
There is only so much that Dyche can do as a manager to help his team hit the back of the net – it’s down to them to do the business and the forwards to earn their money.
If the Merseysiders are to fight off the threat of relegation again this season, then finding consistency in front of goal is going to be absolutely crucial for them.
In other Everton news, Alan Brazil has predicted “chaos” to ensue in the Premier League after a Toffees development.