Dyche, Dele and the real essence of ‘Dycheball’

Maybe Dele, if he never re-makes the grade as a player, has a future as a Coach... Those who can, Do! — those who can't, Teach.

There are subtleties that were not mentioned, I’ve noticed sometimes Calvert-Lewin peeling away from the CF position to receive the long ball wider, ie competing with the full back for the header. Winning possession, passing it to a midfielder and quickly getting back central.

Also with regards Dyche’s point I like the way Onana and Garner play in midfield, both can turn and play it forward. It sounds a simple manoeuvre but it takes strength balance and skill. It’s part of the reason we play well with these two in the middle. Still early days for these two young CMs, but their input and consistency will be a key factor to our improvement.

A mention for Dele, I think the whole of football would be delighted to see such a talented player back playing and fully fit. What an asset he would be giving us a different option in the no10 role. I hope for Dele’s sake they can do a deal that gets him playing if he is ready early next year. It’s a long shot, but at least give him a chance.

And if not, why is Dele Alli so special?

“He said: ‘I think you need to define with these players… when you talk about direct play, I think they think you mean kicking it forwards, but I know you don’t."

And if there's a reason why Dyche couldn't have explained this to the players himself before a Road to Damascus revelation from a psychologically crocked player, then can we trust him to move us forward?

Judging by the precarious position of the club and its finances, then he definitely stopped us going so far backwards from something that might have taken another 24 years to recover from.

But the article seems to be a puff piece to promote Dele Alli and detracts from Dyche himself.

Martinez tried to get a squad of David Moyes signings to play like that and, after an initial 3 months of success, was found out by the opposition who knew how to break us down.
Round pegs in round holes. That's what a manager does.

If your strength is win the ball and hit hard on the break, play to it. If your attacking players are good, they will score goals. so work at keeping the ball out of your own net.

I have never seen Dyche as a 'Long Ball Merchant' in the way of a fat Sam or Tony Pulis. He is pragmatic. But pragmatism gets results. And he has the nous to get our players believing they can win.

There was a stat quoted at the last derby that Bingo in his time at Mordor, has now faced seven different Everton Managers. The revolving door needs to be stopped.

Dyche has his annoying traits, like with his infexible approach to subs. He has however got us playing, at times, better football than we saw under Frank or the waiter chap.

A further offering is that those who can do, those who can't teach and those who can't teach teach gym.

I do wonder though if the manager would have taken as much notice if he had said he thinks he's got it all wrong or on the strength of this asked all the other players what they think.

And with that got into his gold Bentley and drove off and never even got the chance to thank him.

Incredible stat reveals where Everton rank in Europe for 'direct play'

Basically supports what Dyche is saying and also reinforces our poor luck.

It does alas also probs suggest its tactics designed for limited players. It will be up to Dyche to evolve it as we build up a better squad as per Newcastle.

Don't get me wrong, I don't really care if we're a long-ball team. Whatever style you pick should consider the players available.

Tell me, if the philosophy is to 'get, turn and play', how does that reconcile with playing Gana ahead of Onana before injury curtailed that dysfunctional partnership?

As for his Dele Alli story... I'll go with it being cleverly crafted to indirectly compare himself to Pochettino.

Marcel Brands said Benitez turned down Diaz, which just shows you what type of person was in charge of our recruitment, imo, although not everyone will share this view.

Benitez spent £1.7 million after getting promised money once he had reduced the wage bill.

I'm someone who's been highly critical of Sean Dyche and wouldn't call myself a big fan now, but the things he's saying about his tactics here really strike a chord with me. I absolutely don't want to watch centre backs passing it round at the back and I absolutely do want to see Everton moving the ball forwards and playing in the final third.

I still think he's got a hell of a lot to prove here, but he's bringing back some of the Moyes strengths that we'd lost and he at least has a clear plan that the players are beginning to implement.

Dyche was hamstrung by not getting his squad signings in early. Since 1st September our results have been good overall.

He asks Deli Alli in the canteen what his thought are, what he's thinking? Sure he does. I bet he's said no more than two words to him since he's been at Everton and they were, "Are you still here?"

Asking Alli about a dinosaur style of football that doesn't work anymore. If we had been relegated last season, that would have been down to Dyche, no one else.

He had enough time to get us safe, and we barely scraped survival. If we can't blame Dyche for that then we can't thank Lampard for the previous seasons escape, he was as much to blame for near relegation as anyone.

I've said it before, Dyche is a bang average coach and the sooner we are rid, the better. People thanking Dyche for us still being in the Premier League, really?

He's out-dated with his ideas, and if we ever get wealthy owners, he's gone. Opinions are what makes us different to apes I guess. 😀

Dyche may help us achieve this. Then, maybe, someone with a wee bit more "elan" will help us continue our progress.
In short, right now,we are a pretty crappy team/ club with a great history and great fans.

As George Harrison put it... "It'll take time and a whole lot of spending money."

I think that's where Ernie is too (although he can speak for himself if he disagrees).

Fair enough I certainly don't like our predicament as a crisis club fighting annual relegation battles either.

I do however see Dyche as a fairly reliable if unspectacular way of rising above that awful status into mid table. Whether you describe that as stability or mediocrity it's still plenty better than we've been of late. So I prefer that crap predicament to an even worse one. It doesn't mean I accept mediocrity though.

As you note yourself anything above mediocre is really dictated by how much money we have, not who our manager is. Unfortunately what I do accept is that our chances of getting a wealthy backer as per Newcastle are not much higher than zero.

So Dyche is a good bet for the time being and we are moving unspectacularly and slowly in the right direction.

The Mail article does seem that way which is why I deliberately framed mine around Dyche’s chat with Andy Gray which reflects a lot better on the manager.

What Dyche is talking about in terms of philosophy jives very well with the way Everton played in the 1980s. I think the biggest impediment to him being successful with it with us is personnel because our execution in the final third is so often lacking.

But the theory is correct and that 80s team could also pass effectively, something the current team doesn’t always do consistently well.

Wow, so we are second in Europe behind the mighty Luton Ttown. But well clear of the galacticos of Sheffield Utd.

I think he's a dinosaur who plays the media. In some ways he's absolutely like Big Sam. Sometimes you can just see it – the football media supports their own and Dyche is in that club. Him, Gray and 'Keysie' sound like drinking buddies in that interview.

I can't quite figure out how he manages to trick people into thinking they're seeing better football and better results.

Objectively... we're 16th in the league after very good fixtures. Subjectively... we play crap football. Yet every article on here sees people say we're playing better football and that he 'gets results'.

Dyche may well keep us up. Not because of our form to date, but because the bottom three or four look like they may break records.

This is absolutely not the time to be happy with 4th or 5th bottom. Because that is and is going to be a pretty low marker. The kind of marker that might see us relegated at Bramley Moore next season.

But Dele Alli has still got that sucker contract clause, which he is currently not worth. That needs to be resolved. Maybe Dyche is keeping Dele Alli thereabouts just in case it is.

I think in the Premier League, space to run into is the hot commodity and you can get, turn and push forward all you like but, if the player is deep, has no space to run into, they won't be long getting bottled up.

Yes, this is a good tactics, but shape needs to be maintained to increase the space to run into, and threaten.

Everton are blowing hot and cold doing this.

I certainly agree with Dyche about tippy tappy between the defenders - most of Brightons play last week was in their own half and it was boring. We made it worse by giving the ball back to them freely, but could have scored plenty more (and had a penalty or two) had a few balls not gone astray. We are lacking quality, but have plenty of guts. And I like that (the guts part, not the lack of quality!).

Hopefully we'll improve with the ball as the season progresses, depending on injuries and suspensions, I'll reserve judgement until the pressure is off.

For now, with the players at our disposal, I think Dyche is doing pretty well. I understand why people don't like him, but I don't share their opinion.

Dyche is unspectacular, and he talks a lot (to the media) so a lot of what he says naturally gets people's backs up.

I actually quite enjoy his interviews for what it's worth. He's at least got a sense of humour and doesn't really appear to give a fuck what people think of him, and that's a good trait to have in my view.

Is he Pep Guardiola? No. Is he Sam Allardyce? No. Is he somewhere in the middle? Probably, roughly, yeah. Maybe leaning more towards Allardyce in terms of the way we play, but that's got a lot to do with the players we have and can attract at the moment.

You only have to look at Beto as a good example of a player who fits the Dyche/Allardyce mould rather than the Guardiola one, but again that's as much down to us being Everton as it is a choice in who we sign. Our hands are tied in many ways and we need a manager who is happy to get us to mid-table mediocrity.

As fans we obviously want more, but given recent years I'd be careful what you wish for (something I also said when we sold to Moshiri for what it's worth) and look at getting us to a safe, if mediocre table position for the next few years before we start thinking about anything else.

Also, I'd love to see Dele back and firing, whether we will is a moot point and only time will tell.

On the other note - passing forwards? What a wild and crazy idea. See, he's not Guardiola.

I won't be happy with 4th or 5th bottom either, I think we will beat Palace tomorrow and go on to finish the heady heights of 10th this season (might regret writing that though).

Lyndon, thanks for the added context, I'm in agreement that it reflects quite well.

His management of Calvert-Lewin was superb and I think his management of Dele Alli is spot-on too.

Life is too short to refute all the idiotic comments above but to focus on just one. Given Dyche was a defender and, at his best, Dele a superb attacker (I haven't forgotten that second-half masterclass in the 3-2 Palace game and I bet the squad hasn't either), then using him to get a message across is a no-brainer.

As a former teacher, I can assure you that class participation can sometimes get a point across far better than the same thing said by a teacher.

I would love Dyche to stay, and be given some money to build.

But, as you were: many of you quite frankly don't deserve him. Just got to hope he doesn't read the posts on ToffeeWeb…

If that is Dyche's philosophy, it's very laudable, but it doesn't seem to me to be put into practice on the pitch very often. It seems to be left the opposition have the majority of possession (look at the stats) then we hit them on the break if we can?

A risky game plan at best, especially when we can't put the ball in the net!

Come on, Sean, if that's your philosophy, let's see some evidence of it on the pitch especially ball retention.

I'm not disputing your comment about Dele Alli's second half masterclass that evening. Others have also mentioned this.

I only saw brief highlights of that game so not best qualified.

What did he do that was so great.

Perhaps I need to find a copy of the whole match :)

What I remember mostly was Dele coming on during the interval with Price and Welch, I think, two young Academy players, and it was very evident he was coming on in the second half. As they got past the halfway line walking towards The Bullens Road stand, Dele was given a really terrific welcome from the crowd, he looked up and seemed very surprised at the crowd's cheers. Maybe this gave him a lift and he got involved in quite a lot of the play including a bit of needle here and there.

Being honest later, after the game, I wasn't sure whether the cheers were for Dele Alli coming on or the crowd reassuring themselves that Gomes wasn't coming back on – he was a disaster in those first 45 minutes!

I believe he deserves great credit for keeping us up late season and for never moaning about the hand he was dealt.

We may only have a small to medium chance of lifting the League Cup this season, but if we do, he deserves every accolade he will get. Good luck, Mr Dyche, more power to your elbow. 💪🏻

Leicester won the league with 40% possession, I don't think we'll equal that feat but conversely have lost the games where we've had most of the ball! Funny old game.

Hope that's clear!

Amen. And amen.

“So, I actually told the players because I wanted them to understand that Dele, now, is in a really good place and he’s watching what we’re do and he’s thinking about it."

Really don't think Dyche was using the Dele conversation to simply clarify to the squad what he meant by "direct".

George actually sang:

"But it's gonna take money
A whole lotta spending money
It's gonna take plenty of money
To do it right, child", 😀

And if we ever get a whole lot of spending money again, I hope it's not Dyche spending it.

Can I be the first, possibly, to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and good health to every one of you and your families, oh. and Lyndon and Micheal.🎅🌲⭐

Good health in the meantime, mate.

Way too early...too much tragedy in the world right now.

The first is that he's gone through a dark vale and he might well have his life (and love of football) back.

The second reason is a selfish one: Dyche and the rest of the team have, I believe spent a lot of time supporting him. And I'd just love to see it pay off and see him on the pitch for us. See him working his way back to the great player he was.

I still believe he can do it. More importantly, I think our management team believe he can become an extremely useful player for Everton.

When your squad is only a rank "C" squad, there's nothing an "A" manager (eg, Ancelotti) can do. Dyche is the right manager for this squad. Until we have the money again to improve the squad, then we'll think whether we need another manager.

Dyche has shown pragmatism in formations to suit the players available.

Lampard was trying to get average footballers to play like Man City and it looked terrible. His downfall was not being pragmatic enough to recognise the fact and change his style.

When Maupay was playing, it looked unbalanced and odd as we had nothing in the final third. Put a big man up top and, all of a sudden, we look better as it masks over the shortcomings of the midfield.

We lack quality in most positions but Dyche is developing a good young spine of the team.

With the circus surrounding the club Dyche is the one decent thing holding the club together and given Moshiri's past record he only has about 6 months left in the job before he gets the sack and we start all over again.

The dross Dyche inherited that was spineless and clueless.

Now has some battle in it with even less numbers.

Our attack stats beat the dreadful Lampard & Benitez by country miles.

However although we have high xG we have the lowest conversion rates.

I wanna know 2 things the Dyche haters clearly have the answers to ;-

1) Name the manager lining up to take his place

2) How would you get better performances out of relegation regulars than Dyche has.

(I include not having a striker or fit players as he has had)

That's for Thellwell to figure out but Brighton seemed to unearth a decent fella after Potter split, I mean we literally gave them the freedom of Goodison last week as we played turn and boot.

We were 16th when Dyche took over in January and we're still 16th. Yes, there's some signs of improvement and, if we can keep Calvert-Lewin fit, I think we'll be okay, but it's perilous and can go either way.

Don't be mentioning Easter in the middle of January.

Were Wolves and Fulham given that freedom? When we had 0 strikers still. Luton maybe??? Bournemouth perhaps???

The vast majority of our players are the same who have almost gotten us relegated over the past few seasons and are not good enough. Yet we can't replace them because of the inept ownership and board (which is now a nonsense).

When Dyche took over, the playing staff were a mess. No confidence, little to no threat, and most supporters feared each game would be another defeat. That is completely the opposite now.

To compare the two right now with what has gone on and still is occurring and looming is a completely flawed perspective. If you truly believe that the team and players fielded now is in the same state as when he took over, then we are watching in different universes.

Do you honestly believe that, with Dyche in charge, we will be 16th or worse by 30 January???

Not for his style of play because he's only working with the tools he's got, more for his honesty really.

He doesn't rave when we win, neither does he rant when we lose, let's face it he could have gone all Arteta when that coward Pawson fucked us over a few weeks ago, but he never he kept his counsel.

The one at the club who worries me is Thelwell, I honestly think he hasn't got a clue about football.

OK it's only early days with Chermiti but he looks nothing like a prem player in the cameos I've seen.

As for Beto, strange one, big unit strong as an ox but doesn't look like he's got 5 goals in him between now and the end of the season.

Also Thelwell and his worrying pursuit of Che Adams and Willy Gnonto. Neither of them getting regular football for their respective clubs. Believe me, we've definitely dodged a bullet with those two.

I just hope Dyche can keep our heads above water this season and by that I mean keep us well away from the bottom 3, because it's imperative when we move house, we are still playing top flight football.

Something I've only ever seen in all my years of going.

I'm 64 so been going 54 years regularly.

Today sneaky little 1 0 win but won't be pretty, me I'm not bothered, substance before style at this time

So Dyche solves the Calvert-Lewin enigma and few give him a chance with Dele? It is good to have a manager who just knows what to do, makes an effort to communicate, but ultimately won't let niceties get in the way of what is in the club's best interests.

Dyche is in charge. Just get behind him. He has squad that a mad scientist would be proud of.

He's the best there is out there at this moment in time and who's willing to take the team forward.

There is an improvement with a terrible squad.

Ugly or fancy football, it's about Premier League status and as many points as possible.

Big game today before another snore fest for 2 weeks. 3 points, please.

COYB.

Some people are advocating there's better managers. Well maybe there are, but there's a few reasons that seem to me, to say, we're not going to get one. So I think it's a pointless argument to say Dyche is poor and we can get better. Those reasons?

1) Who is going to come to this club (either manager or player, when we could be relegated, or on the way down, depending what the inquiry decides.

2) We don't have an active owner; and that may take some time to resolve before we can change a manager or buy a player; even on a free. We have no idea what our financial or premier league status will be, this season or the next.

3) Dyche and Thelwell are making progress in my view and during this extremely uncertain time we're in,

Brighton are an excellent passing side and are in a good position, and their scoring is on par with those above them. I looked at the game from the Upper Bullens, and thought that with the players we've got we should have been able to attack more. But, some players we're off form, which didn't help us at all.

Of all the home games this season, I think we're improving steadily. I think if we'd have had the players we've got in now, We'd have won 2, maybe three of the first four home games

I think Dyche has done well, I think Thelwell has done well. I'm glad we've got them for the coming months at the very least

I think many fans would buy into Dyche's football if it was delivered up by a Spaniard or a German or a Portuguese with a more glamorous persona. There's a lot of vanity wrapped up in the dislike of Dyche (much as there was for the love of Rodriguez).

Nobody's claiming Dyche is 'world class', whatever that even means, but I'm convinced he's doing a good job given the madhouse he walked into.

We may still not be very good but I am pleased the players are a unit that are fighting for the shirt. We are also not the fragile patsies of the Premier League anymore.

Dyche has stopped the team being lazy. He has stopped them rolling over. He has stopped them giving up on games when adversity strikes. He has stopped us being the sort of fragile crumblies that fans hated most.

Considering the financial and off-field situation and our average and paper-thin squad, I think Dyche has done a good job so far and laid a great foundation for Bramley-Moore Dock and beyond.

Last week's constant defending when we had done okay attacking and getting the first goal but then tried to hold onto that one goal lead for most of the rest of the game. No I think we have to offer more than that.

I know we have a weak squad, yet we had opened up Brighton's defence, which seemed a bit fragile, when we did attack, but then we retreated for most of the game.

Carry on, Dychey, but let the team attack a bit more… or a lot more.

I agree. I think we've got a decent manager. No! He's a good manager and in our situation the best suited for us. We have just won a very important away game and I could say, yes we should attack more; but he's the manager, he knows the strengths, and weaknesses of our players and he's playing a way that's suits them

When Brighton, and now Crystal Palace, played us, both good passing teams. We've got some weak defenders/midfield and if we'd attacked more we'd have been opened like a tin of kippers. As for those calling for him to be sacked. Are you sure?

One deflecton away from beating Brighton, beat Crystal Palace, Liverpool got the ref to help them. I'm not so sure we can question his tactics. Discuss them, fine but he's winning us more points doing things his way.

I think once the team/squad's been together a while, then he will probably attack more. But with Mykolenko, Branthwaite and, especially Patterson, learning their trade, I think it might be a trifle suicvidal playing a high defence.

And Jim you are correct about the Liverpool game. How many times have refs done that to us. It's criminal.

Dave's @ 59 & 61. I agree. Our bench doesn't offer up much but it is all we have. I think Dyche used it a little better today v Palace.

And not rolling over is one huge leap forward. And going forward after two terrible goals conceded to grasp a late and very good winner. Get In 🥳

And I believe that Dyche commented about Dele as a snippet to show that the players are all "family" within the club. I'm fairly sure he wasn't expecting the microscopic examination that followed.

Maybe next time he will reveal that it was the tea lady who gave him a drawing on a napkin which manifested as Gueye's goal at pPalace. 🤭