Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist rave over ‘excellent’ Sean Dyche live on air in new Everton admission
Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist have been raving about Sean Dyche and Everton live on air, admitting that his ability to improve players makes him a “top manager”.
The Toffees moved four points away from the Premier League relegation zone, despite their 10-point deduction, with a 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday (10 December), thanks to second-half goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin.
While Dyche has earned plenty of plaudits for turning the Toffees’ fortunes around in terms of results, both Stelling and McCoist have praised the Everton boss for adding some “steel” to his side and improving the players already at Goodison Park.
Speaking on talkSPORT (11 December, 6:14) McCoist said: “The first thing I have to say is Everton again, excellent. Dychey, well done again. I mean they’re picking up results but you’re right, they’ve got a bit of steel about them.”
Stelling agreed saying: “They’re soaring up that table. At Everton, you’ve got the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite who’s been playing out of his skin. James Garner who’s been absolutely superb, Vitalii Mykolenko, and Dwight McNeil who has been absolutely sensational recently.
“Sean Dyche is improving them and for me, that is the mark of a top manager.”
Top manager
It has almost been forgotten in the news of Everton’s point deduction just how good a job Dyche has done at Goodison Park. If the Toffees hadn’t lost those 10 points for breaching the profit and sustainability rules, they’d be sitting in the top half of the Premier League table.
This was a side that most pundits and supporters were tipping for relegation before a ball was kicked this season, but somehow Dyche has managed to create a team that is capable of picking up results consistently to climb the Premier League table.
As McCoist and Stelling suggested, the former Burnley boss has managed to improve several players since arriving at Goodison Park. James Garner has been transformed, Vitalii Mykolenko has been one of the division’s best fullbacks and McNeil is in the form of his life.
Dyche gets the best out of almost every player in his squad and in the fight against relegation that could prove to be decisive. It genuinely feels as though Everton couldn’t have a better manager to lead them through this relegation battle this season.
He may not be fashionable, but Dyche is a “top manager” in his own way.
In other Everton news, Micah Richards has urged Gareth Southgate to call up Branthwaite after an “outstanding” display against Chelsea