Sean Dyche blasted by really angry former Everton ace as he deflects blame for Bournemouth loss
Sean Dyche’s failure to react to events in front of him to prevent Everton losing 3-2 to Bournemouth infuriated Michael Ball.
The former Toffees defender slammed the Goodison manager in his Liverpool Echo column on 2 September for then shifting the blame for the late defeat onto his players, having taken off the “best player on the pitch” in Iliman Ndiaye.
Everton were leading 2-0 in the 87th minute through goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin before collapsing to leave them winless this term, with Dyche speaking afterwards as if he had no influence over the situation despite making just two of five substitutions.
Ball said: “We were all left really angry with how it ended for Everton against Bournemouth but what frustrated me more was Sean Dyche’s comments. Some of his post-match remarks so far this season have really baffled me.
“I let him off somewhat after Brighton & Hove Albion but this is modern day football and for him to come out and say he could smell the comeback for Bournemouth happening after their first goal, but I think nearly 40,000 fans could see it at 2-0. I also demand hard yards from players but some of them out there had given absolutely everything and players also need help from the coaching staff and their manager.
“If you can smell it, make a change. Don’t sit back and watch it, you’ve still got three more possible substitutions to make…
“Game management was totally non-existent from the players. They were tired both mentally and physically.
“But it was a similar story from the manager as he sat back and watched his players suffer. That really made me angry, and he tried to pass a lot of the blame onto the players.”
Sean Dyche substituted Iliman Ndiaye for Everton
Dyche has had his critics among the Toffees fanbase for some time due to the uninspiring style of play and his rigid tactical decisions.
After steering the club clear of relegation twice amid near-constant around him, in terms of points deductions, takeover collapses and financial fears, he might have bought himself some leeway.
Even through two bad defeats to Brighton and Tottenham to start the new season he could be defended by pointing to a serious injury crisis and a careless red card from Ashley Young.
But he will absolutely not help himself if he exhibits the exact features that his detractors find most infuriating about him, they contribute to a comeback for the ages from the opposition, and then he acts like it was nothing to do with him.
His job is now widely being questioned, while Kevin Thelwell has been tipped to go sooner rather than later specifically because he doesn’t have the influence with Farhad Moshiri to effect a managerial change [The Esk, 2 September].
Were circumstances not what they are at Goodison he would surely be on notice after the Cherries debacle, but in practice it isn’t clear that the owner has the means or the appetite to make a change.
And with David Moyes probably the only realistic replacement it is far from certain that the Scot would be an improvement.
With the takeover still up in the air and a transfer window just closed there is even still a strong argument to stick with Dyche for a third relegation battle, at least until there is finally a change of owner, but he has invited fierce criticism on himself at the very least.
In other Everton news, the Toffees rejected the chance to sign a defender who cost nearly £40m without having to pay for him.
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