Everton must adopt new approach as worrying Sean Dyche pattern emerges
Everton cannot rely on Sean Dyche to repeatedly steer things in the right direction after prolonged dismal spells of form.
After the positive conclusion to last term, it all seems now as if it was just a quick fix and that the team are back to square one.
The Athletic journalist Patrick Boyland [12 September] noted that Dyche’s teams during his management career have been notoriously slow starters with a horrendous August record, with the Toffees sitting pointless in the Premier League table.
Boyland pointed out that Dyche has “the second-lowest win percentage (12 per cent) of anyone to manage more than 10 Premier League games in the first month of the season.”
The manager has also been blamed for his unwillingness to make too many changes to his line-up along with key injuries as explaining the “sloppy” start.
The team were also branded “undercooked” in The Athletic’s report following multiple injuries, including to that of Jarrad Branthwaite – and the players who have been deemed fit have simply not been up to the task thus far.
Everton will have to battle through to find form
There are several contributory factors to the sluggish Everton start, and whilst the buck does stop with Dyche, he cannot front the blame for too much of the situation.
Off-field chaos continues to envelop the club as John Textor continues takeover talks with Farhad Moshiri. Injuries are blighting the squad, and the Toffees were restricted in the reinforcements they could make in the transfer market.
Discontent from the supporters could tilt some players one of two ways – and those same fans will argue that anyone weakened by the hostility should not be representing their club.
There will be good days this season – there is enough talent that Dyche can extract a good performance from, as seen towards the end of last term.
Last season, Dyche managed to get Everton to the fabled 40-point mark despite two separate points deductions for PSR breaches.
But there is a general feeling that the league is stronger this season and they cannot keep relying on patches of form to save themselves.
With away trips to Aston Villa and Leicester City coming up in their next two league games, it feels like it could already be a make-or-break period for Dyche and Everton this term.
In other Everton news, Textor reveals the club’s asking price over the summer for Branthwaite.
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