Once again, we survive by the skin of our teeth, and already ToffeeWeb is awash with various opinions on the manager, who we should sell, who we should buy, why did he pick him, why didn’t he use the substitutes earlier or at all, with the only common thread being that the Board should all be replaced (I agree wholeheartedly).

But maybe we should reflect on the reality of the situation we are in at this point in time.

Sean Dyche may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he galvanised a squad that was spiralling to relegation under Lampard – who subsequently couldn’t get a tune out of a Chelsea squad infinitely better in quality and depth than ours – and instilled some fight and belief into the team. Through injuries and suspensions, his options were limited and he could only play a formation that made us hard to beat, and generally he had no “improvement” substitutes to bring on to change games.

His strategies would almost certainly have prevented us from conceding late goals to Wolves and Southampton which would have been crap draws rather than catastrophic defeats. Pragmatic but 2 points we would have been grateful for. Yesterday, he knew conceding even one goal would almost certainly relegate us. We couldn’t go gung-ho and risk getting caught by a counter-attack. He was correct to play how he did with the players he had at his disposal.

Due to our financial mismanagement, we are now – like it or not – similar to Burnley. I doubt we will be making any major purchases and will be relying on loans, free transfers, a few unknowns, and hopefully some of our younger players who have made a fist of their loans: Cannon (who looks streets ahead of Simms), Warrington, Branthwaite and possibly Nkounkou.

Like Burnley, Dyche will have us punching above our current weight. Hate saying it but it is where we are now. We should not, however, underestimate Dyche as I think, with the right infrastructure behind him and given more time, he will have us playing more attractive attacking football – the Brighton game was not a one-off.

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We need to consolidate over the next few years and grow organically; there is no quick fix. Brentford and Brighton didn’t get to their current positions overnight. It took them years of manager and management continuity, clear objectives, and no short-term knee-jerk reactions at the first sign of adversity.

Whilst I think we should have a succession plan for our next manager, we should be identifying them now and reviewing what they are doing over the next 2 years; if Dyche is a rip-roaring success, then we just keep monitoring our potential replacements because, at some time, we may need to change to make the next step forward.

Many view Dyche as the second coming of Moyes. Well, when Moyes came, we were in a similar position: skint, playing rubbish football, no style or identity. Whatever is said about Moyes, he restored some hope and belief in Everton, and he only outstayed his time because Kenright made his financial package too good to leave; as a result, he followed “Chairman Bill’s” agenda. We were absolute crap when he came in; irrespective of our opinions on him, we were decidedly not crap when he left… frustrating and infuriating, but definitely not crap.

Let us get behind Sean Dyche and whoever plays next season right from the start so that we don’t have another “never again” season.

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Reader Comments (34)

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Steve Mink
1 Posted 29/05/2023 at 11:27:25
"Like Burnley, Dyche will have us punching above our current weight. Hate saying it but it is where we are now."

That about sums it up.

Eddie Smith
2 Posted 29/05/2023 at 12:13:21
I'm very confused by this article. I've read it a couple of times and if I'm reading it right, you seem to be an advocate for change, by doing the very same things that got us into this mess in the first place.

I know I had a few drinks last night, so I will assume you did as well.
Russelll Smith
3 Posted 29/05/2023 at 12:27:58
Eddie,

Apologies if my article came across as advocating continuation of our recent hire-and-fire policy. It is the exact opposite of what I was trying to say.

I believe we should give Dyche the next 2 or 3 years to try to build on what he has done so far. If he is successful in moving us forward incrementally, then stay with Dyche.

But all well-run businesses have succession planning. Look at Brighton, they lost Potter but had already identified De Zerbi as a natural successor who had a similar playing style to Potter.

This is what I would like to see Everton doing rather than sacking the manager and then looking for the next fall guy.

Peter Fearon
4 Posted 29/05/2023 at 13:52:19
Advocating for Sean Dyche to remain as manager ignores the primary reason we survived with a points tally that should have seen us plummeting into the Championship. That reason is Leicester City's catastrophic run of form – even worse, narrowly, than our own.

Dyche improved our results only marginally, not enough to steer us to safety in most seasons. Improvement is a word that might more properly be applied to Forest or Bournemouth or Villa.

He was hired to keep us up and to win promotion if he could not. His primary qualification for that is experience with relegation and promotion campaigns.

He stubbornly refused to give Ellis Simms a consistent run in the side while persevering much of the time with the French Jigsaw Puzzle, Neal Maupay.

As we seem to have limited spending power right now, we will need someone who has experience developing young players and building winning teams. He is not that guy. Over his entire managerial career, Watford, Burnley and Everton, he fails to win about two-thirds of the time. Even Frank Lampard's record is better than that.

Jose Mourinho says clubs have to give managers either money or time. He's right. But you can give Sean Dyche 5 or even 10 years and he will still be a bottom-third-of-the-table manager or worse. I would rather give that time to someone else.

Chris Leyland
5 Posted 29/05/2023 at 14:08:40
Peter, your argument is fundamentally flawed. You claim that “Dyche improved our results only marginally, not enough to steer us to safety most seasons.”

Dyche's points per game since taking over would see us safe every single season as it would take us to 44 points over a full season. The highest ever points total for survival since the Premier League began is 42 points.

That doesn't take into account that he took over a team with 15 points from 21 games. and with zero signings in January. A team with no real striker and no goal scorers and a team that lost 5 players that can play full-back leaving him to have to play midfielders there.

He also lost 7 games since taking over – 6 of those were against the final top 7 sides. He made us competitive and hard to beat against all other teams outside that group.

You talk about Forest's and Bournemouth's improvement in comparison. Well, Dyche took 21 points in 18 games at Everton, Forest managed 17 points in their last 18 games and Bouremouth managed 22.

Peter Fearon
6 Posted 29/05/2023 at 15:59:11
Chris,

I think we both agree we need a manager who can build a successful team over a period of seasons with limited resources at least in the short term, using his youth resources and wise recruitment. There is nothing in his 10 years at Burnley that shows he can do that.

They were in the Championship when he took over and relegation bound when he left. What did he build there? What is his legacy there? Seat of the pants survival. It's not seeking miracles to ask for more.

Eddie Smith
7 Posted 29/05/2023 at 17:48:59
I apologize for not making my earlier post clearer. I took it for granted that everyone would understand that talking about managers, whoever they may be, would prove to be superfluous without change at the very top.

What I mean is, if the manager does not massage Kenwright's ego, then he is gone. If the manager should do something to upset Princess "Tippy Toes", then he is gone.

If somebody worms his way into Moshiri's inner circle and suggests that he knows a better way to run a football club, then he is gone.

So things at the top must change before any thought can be given to managers, coaches, DoFs, or even players.

They are my thoughts. I apologize to Russell if he thought I was having a go at him for writing the article.

Geoff Hind
8 Posted 29/05/2023 at 18:05:19
The for or against Dyche are all a bit simplistic, Pep could not have done much more in the same position in the last few months.

At Burnley, Dyche had very limited resources and kept them in a fairly steady position. Things changed and he endured a period where a buyout was in the wings so no investment (sounds familiar). He went before they were down (akin to Leicester and Leeds) so could not be blamed, although they had a slow start to the season.

He has not managed a "big" club and not had funds to improve teams. He should be kept on, will be given modest investment, and time will tell if he can develop into what Everton need.

Brendan McLaughlin
9 Posted 29/05/2023 at 18:10:16
I'm certainly in the "In Dyche I Only Trust" camp!
Danny Baily
10 Posted 29/05/2023 at 18:12:04
There shouldn't be any debate over Dyche's position. He's earned the right to take us into next season.

If it's not working after 10 games, then absolutely his position is up for debate. We need to be more ruthless when a managerial situation is irretrievable. It was clear from Boxing Day that Frank Lampard's time was up, yet we persisted with him throughout the transfer window.

10 wins is an absolute minimum next season. We'll know soon enough if we're on track to achieve that target.

Raymond Fox
11 Posted 29/05/2023 at 19:05:29
I've nailed my colours to the Dyche mast earlier in other threads.

As far as the quality of our players is concerned, a good measure is by how many of our players would the usual Big 6 desire? We have only one, that's Pickford, and even then he would have trouble getting in 2 or 3 of those.

Calvert-Lewin and Patterson – if he goes the right way, are borderline but their injury record would rule them out I would say.

If we can't buy the best, we need to start finding players who will develop into class players; others seem able to do it. Easier said than done, I know, but it does seem like an area where we are very poor.

Eddie Smith
12 Posted 29/05/2023 at 19:46:01
Brendan, Danny, Raymond. Please help me, I'm confused (at my age, not for the first time). I thought this article was about getting behind Sean Dyche, so what has happened in recent seasons can never happen again.

I think up till now I'm catching the drift, would you agree? I will assume you do – let me know otherwise later, if you don't.

Right, my question is: How can we do this, if we don't know that he is going to be here to back and support?

We have a bunch of lunatics running what has become an asylum. So surely you would agree that the proper professionals must be put in place before anyone can be backed.

To me, this sounds like a gambler going out and borrowing a large sum of money, at a huge rate of interest, to back a horse he knows is a non-runner.

Brendan McLaughlin
13 Posted 29/05/2023 at 20:05:02
Eddie #112,

We don't know but then again we never know. Hopefully Moshiri has learned that his "Hollywood" manager approach hasn't worked and perhaps "Dull Dyche" might.

Sean has got me looking forward to the new season… it's been a while since I felt like that.

UTFT!

ps: My "In Dyche I Only Trust" IDIOT

Eddie Smith
14 Posted 29/05/2023 at 20:25:35
Brendan, thank you for your reply. I too look forward to the new season, unfortunately as time passes, it's with more and more trepidation.

I sincerely hope that this club great club, that we both hold great affection for, can once again be returned to its rightful place at the top table. NSNO

Neil Carter
15 Posted 30/05/2023 at 00:16:53
Agreed Dyche to stay -but with serious changes.
He’s been a sticking plaster over a second broken leg in a year!!!!!
Jack Plant
16 Posted 30/05/2023 at 07:15:22
Sounds like your on your own in the Dyche out camp Peter. I can't see how you look at his points return for us this season (particularly given the squad we have) and what he achieved at Burnley (he got them into Europe! Burnley!) and then question whether he's what we need. It's a funny old game football where people who follow it all their lives look at the exact same information and come up with completely different conclusions. I guess that's what makes it fun
Jim Lloyd
17 Posted 30/05/2023 at 17:12:21
Eddie, you're right, it is an article about getting behind Sean Dyche.

You're also right that he might be booted out before the season starts. Hopefully not, as I think he's the best man for the manager's job in the situation we're in. In my view, for once, luck might have turned to us when Sean was picked out of desperation.

I'm not sure what you mean, Neil, with him staying but with serious changes. If you mean playing staff? It's likely that we'll not have a pot to piss in for recruitment.

I hope we can follow the path that Robert Tressell wrote in his article, and that is realising there's not likely to be any massive outlay on players.

Mike Doyle
18 Posted 30/05/2023 at 17:22:09
Interesting to listen to Neville Southall on Radio Merseyside's Everton special last night (available for those who'd like to listen on line).

Nev isn't impressed by anyone who turns up for pre-season and thinks finishing 8th to 12th is okay. Also, he thinks a fit Calvert-Lewin is the closest we have to a world class player.

Martin Mason
19 Posted 30/05/2023 at 17:32:15
Mike @18,

He is absolutely correct about Calvert-Lewin and yet there are fans who rate him "Championship at best".

Martin Mason
20 Posted 30/05/2023 at 17:41:34
If I look at Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Doucouré, Gana, Garner, Onana, Gray and Calvert-Lewin, we have a potentially very good squad that could be in the top half. We just need to strengthen the squad though, so that we can compete even with injuries.

I'm positive for next season with our best players fit and gradual bleeding in of Academy players with a few smart buys. I'd love to see Mina kept on, he was a key factor in keeping us up.

Ben King
21 Posted 30/05/2023 at 23:52:38
Martin #20

Yes I’m hoping we can keep Mina too. He’s a dominant centre half. Tarks is decent but not dominant like Mina is and they seemed to be solid together.

I think anyone that wants Dyche out doesn’t understand Everton and that part of the reason for our recent troubles has been the managerial instability.

We’ve finally found a manager that’s made us hard to beat and some want him out??? I honestly believe that some of our fans are part of the problem.

(To be clear, the majority of our fans are INCREDIBLE and have saved the club twice in a row).

We need to some how gain the funds AND comply with FFP to overhaul our offensive options. The rest of the squad has a decent basis albeit maybe 1-2 full backs needed too.

Mark Murphy
22 Posted 31/05/2023 at 00:08:59
A “fit Calvert Lewin” is sadly a thing of the past and Mina is, also sadly, gone. Young and fit is the way forward. Rebuild with a spine of Pickford, Branthwaite & Tarks,
Garner & Doucoure & lots of TBAs
UTFT
Mark Andersson
23 Posted 31/05/2023 at 04:15:23
Buckle up for another roller coaster ride next season. Dyche has already indicated that, meaning he knows he will have limited funds.

If the owner has any sense, which he clearly has not, he should play it safe until we move into the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. A bad run of form and a possible points deduction could see us back into a relegation fight.

Dyche for me, the board out, and the fans to remain motivated to help whatever team puts on the blue shirt.

Enjoy your summer, Blues.

Ernie Baywood
24 Posted 31/05/2023 at 04:37:19
Ben King, I generally keep things civil. Happy to argue my case, and happy to be argued against.

You've posted that anyone who doesn't rate Dyche:
1. Doesn't understand Everton.
2. Is part of the problem.
3. Is not part of the incredible majority who saved this club.

You may not be ranting and swearing at people but that's as poor a post as I'll ever read on here.

A little self-awareness is needed. You might not be the oracle that you seem to think you are. It's possible that others might have a different opinion to you... without being the things you have accused them of.

Whether you're right or wrong on Dyche... you're wrong here.

Steve Brown
25 Posted 31/05/2023 at 05:46:41
Chris @5, Bournemouth also spent £47 million in the January transfer window and Forest spent £20 million.

That is on top of the £146 million gross spending by Forest and £23 million gross spending by Bournemouth in the summer.

Our gross spending last summer was £5.5 million and -£40 million in the January transfer window.

In that context, Dyche's points haul in his 18 games in charge was really impressive.

Ian Jones
26 Posted 31/05/2023 at 06:24:17
There was an interesting piece on BBC Monday Night Club. Worth a listen to on BBC Sounds. Essentially it was suggesting that in Sean Dyche's post match conference he seemed to be indicating that he's not particularly happy and that the club is in a worse state than he thought when he arrived so might actually question his whole reasoning behind staying.

Also, it's suggested that many of the fans are divided into those that prefer the 'Dogs of War' style of play and those that go for the 'School of Science' style.

Rather simplistic, but there is some truth in that.

So what do we want to see? What playing style? I'll go for a mix of the two!

The conclusion was the club as a whole, with the support of the fans, perhaps needs to decide what identity the club wants, the overall playing style that we are all happy with, cut the cloth accordingly, and plan a future from there.

Getting back to Brentford, I have some background knowledge of how that club has been run over the years. Their recent 'success' was actually forged in the 1980s and, apart from a few dodgy club management years, has been a very well run club since then. They have evolved and are finally reaping the benefits.

Unfortunately, we are the exact opposite. It'll take time to sort out but I guess our time will come. Football tends to be cyclical.

In the BBC programme, it also mentioned that this season was the highest top-flight goalscoring season since 1967-68 yet we only contributed 34 out of 1,084 goals.

It's obvious that our main issue is getting a few forwards and keeping them fit.

Sean Roe
27 Posted 31/05/2023 at 07:15:01
Dyche has proven time and time again with Burnley that he can keep a club with no money and a limited squad in terms of ability punching well above its weight. That's what we are, a club with no money and a limited squad.

We stayed up last season with Lampard in charge by pure luck in my opinion, it was certainly nothing to do with Frank's tactics – that's for sure. This season, we escaped the drop because we have a proper manager in charge who knows how to get every last drop of effort out of every player and one who adapted his tactics for each match, even with no substitutes on the bench worth bringing on.

Would these ''great'' managers like Guardiola be able to compete with a shite squad and no endless pit of money to delve into? I have my doubts.

If we have no money to spend again, then Dyche is definitely the man for the job. If we do have money to spend, then just maybe Dyche is a good enough manager to play more attractive football with a better quality of player.

Sam Hoare
28 Posted 31/05/2023 at 07:33:11
Peter @6,

Dyche's legacy at Burnley is that he kept them in the Premier League for far longer than their resources should have allowed. They even finished 7th one season.

The revenue that they got in the (unexpected) 7 seasons that Dyche managed to keep them in the Premier League was instrumental in building the foundations for a club that was the strongest in the Championship last season.

When Dyche took over Burnley, they were one of the weakest teams in the Championship, far more likely to go down than up. Since then, they have been primarily a Premier League team who've been relegated twice but jumped straight back up.

Seems an impressive legacy to me!

Paul Tran
29 Posted 31/05/2023 at 08:02:42
Ian #26, I heard that MNC piece. I thought it was interesting, though simplistic, not least because, as with all great teams, our School of Science had several players who would sort out the Dogs of War.

I had a different take on Dyche's post-match presser. Looked to me like someone who had been working his socks off and holding it together could finally let go.

I also thought he was carefully pitching to keep the job, talking about what needed to be done on and off the pitch with limited budget. He acknowledged our history and support, but rightly said we weren't being run like a big club. He also made the good point that that work needs doing before they bring in a 'fashionista' - we all know that Moshiri is thick enough to think that a 'big name' will sort out all of our problems. He's tried that three times and clearly wanted a fourth go with Bielsa.

I thought I was watching someone who knew he'd nailed his first (only?) task with us, despite having both hands tied behind his back. He wants to keep his job, but only on his terms, and was happy to tell a few hone truths while his stock is high.

We'll soon find out if the board are encouraged/put off by Dyche's honesty and competence. Whatever they think of him, they really ought to take heed of his good sense. As does any potential buyer.

Ian Jones
30 Posted 31/05/2023 at 08:13:36
Paul, agree with your comments above. As ever, interesting times !
Danny O’Neill
31 Posted 31/05/2023 at 18:00:31
Brentford is a success story, Ian @26.

Interestingly, they closed their academy in 2016, opting for a B Team model from which they took cast-offs from other academies to play for them. I've said before, they used to train on the same mud (winter) or daisy filled (summer) pitches as my Hayes & Yeading lads.

They've just reopened the academy as of last year.

A well run club. In my 18 years down here, I've watched them progress from being no one to having a shiny new stadium and comfortable in the top flight of English football.

A good coach as well. I'm surprised there haven't been more rumours about Thomas Frank when big jobs become available. The obsession seemed to be with Potter.

Joe McMahon
32 Posted 31/05/2023 at 18:20:34
Fully agree, Danny.

Brentford and Thomas Frank are a fantastic model and example of how to do things right.

It's just amazing all other clubs' Chairmen are ringing Bill!

Dave Abrahams
33 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:47:30
Danny (31),

Today it was announced that Brentford had appointed a lady to be joint coach of their U18s team, the first female coach ever in the English men's game.

Barry Hesketh
34 Posted 01/06/2023 at 20:57:47
Dyche managed to get 21 points from his 18 matches in charge, six more than Frank managed in his twenty game stint. Has any other club scored less than 20 goals at home and managed to escape relegation?, it's remarkable that only sixteen league goals were scored at Goodison by the whole team, once upon a time one player would have gotten close to that total, although that set me wondering which Everton player has scored the most goals in a season on home soil. I guess the answer would have to be Dixie?

As for style of play, any style is acceptable if it leads to winning lots of games, there isn't a perfect style that all fans will accept. I bet there's a few City fans who dislike the way they defend, but so long as City continue win points and trophies they'll accept it.


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