Chris Sutton has Sean Dyche sympathy in Everton relegation verdict
Chris Sutton has said he feels sympathy for Sean Dyche after the poor start Everton have endured to the season, but claimed the club will be comfortably safe.
Speaking on The Monday Night Club on BBC 5 Live Sport [26 August], the former striker made an assessment that Dyche’s managerial career has never been “plain sailing” but believed the Toffees will improve.
Everton are currently propping up the Premier League table having conceded seven goals across two games to Brighton and Tottenham, and are yet to score this season in a dismal start.
But Sutton thinks there is no need to panic and that Dyche will turn things around at Goodison Park.
Sutton said: “I feel a bit sorry for Sean Dyche. Since he’s been in management, it’s never really been plain sailing. I felt sorry for him in the first game against Brighton because they played well for 20 minutes and then lost 3-0, with Ashley Young getting sent off.
“Then, I’ve got to say, Tottenham can do what they did to Everton to any team. That was a bit of a stinker and Tottenham can overwhelm teams.
“It’s not been a great start but there’s no reason to panic. If you look at their defensive record last season, they conceded the fourth-least goals but didn’t score enough. They have a squad more than capable of staying in the Premier League comfortably.”
Everton and Sean Dyche desperate to deliver
Make no bones about it – Everton would be stupid to even consider parting with Dyche anytime soon.
There is categorically no manager the Toffees could realistically bring in – especially in their current boardroom predicament – who could organise and rally the team as the former Burnley boss did last season.
Remarks may be made about how poor the relegated teams were last season, but Everton still finished 14 points above the drop zone having been deducted eight points during the campaign – and that late-season form was inspired by the boss.
Sutton makes the analysis that the team have been merely the victim of circumstance in their opening two games, and there is a point to be made.
This week’s transfer dealings along with the result in Saturday’s encounter with Bournemouth at Goodison Park will make a great deal of difference to the mood of the place as we phase into the international break.
In other Everton news, The Athletic moot a potential swap deal with Chelsea.
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