Everton manager Sean Dyche has the full support of the club’s hierarchy and that won’t change anytime soon despite a poor start to the season.
The Toffees have lost all three of their Premier League games this season and the wounds are still sore from their last game, when they won 2-0 against Bournemouth on 87 minutes – before losing 3-2.
Some fans have questioned the manager’s tactics and game management, but Mail Sport understands that Dyche’s position is not under immediate threat. The 53-year-old has plenty of credit in the bank for guiding the club to safety over the past two seasons.
Club pundits point to the fact that the performances were generally good despite the defeats in both home games, particularly the excellent first 87 minutes against Bournemouth and also Brighton’s struggle until Ashley Young received a straight red card in the second half.
Despite faith from above in Dyche, the former Burnley boss has yet to be offered a new contract – his contract expires in June – in a sign of uncertainty over the club’s future. Owner Farhad Moshiri is still trying to sell his 94.1% stake in Everton.
Everton currently have no manager and only 12 players under contract for next season – but they shouldn’t be too worried about that. A new contract remains on the table for striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but for now the Englishman is available to leave in the summer.
The Toffees travel to Aston Villa on Saturday looking to make amends for their poor early season form and Dyche said his side did not bother to dwell on Bournemouth’s capitulation – although he joked he had watched it “47 times”.
“You have to park,” he said. ‘What are you (still) doing? It hurts and you feel it because you are the boss and it is your responsibility to make sure there are no mistakes. It’s one of those things… it takes a few days to come out.
“But the older and wiser you are and the more games you’ve got – I’m about 320 alone in the Premier League – it means you’re experienced enough to know that games can get away from you.”
“I was winning and losing games late in the process, but that was a real anomaly because of the nature of it. That’s the difference … it was a case of, ‘Wow, what did I just see?’ !’
But then the game never ceases to amaze you.
“Someone said, ‘If you knew it was coming, why didn’t you change it?’ But the game goes like that (clicks his fingers). The first goal goes and if you think about the timeline, no.’ having time to process the moment – ”what’s going on here?” – is not as easy as people think.
“You have to park,” he said. ‘What are you (still) doing? It hurts and you feel it because you are the boss and it is your responsibility to make sure there are no mistakes. It’s one of those things… it takes a few days to come out.
“But the older and wiser you are and the more games you’ve got – I’m about 320 alone in the Premier League – it means you’re experienced enough to know that games can get away from you.”
“I was winning and losing games late in the process, but that was a real anomaly because of the nature of it. That’s the difference … it was a case of, ‘Wow, what did I just see?’ !’
But then the game never ceases to amaze you.
“Someone said, ‘If you knew it was coming, why didn’t you change it?’ But the game goes like that (clicks his fingers). The first goal goes and if you think about the timeline, no.’ having time to process the moment – ”what’s going on here?” – is not as easy as people think.