by Everton have expressed concern since being hit with the biggest sporting sanction in Premier League history on November 17. Tuesday’s Carabao Cup disappointment against Fulham, and Tottenham face a formidable task on Saturday, but the reaction of Sean Dyche and his team after being dismissed at the bottom of the joint has been outstanding. Everton are in 16th place, seven points above the relegation zone, after four consecutive wins in the Premier League. Let’s take a look at some of the factors behind their remarkable recovery…
The 10 point deduction itself
Everton had shown great improvement before the penalty, winning six of their previous nine games in all competitions, as Dyche neatly put it: “Some people took some of that and said: ‘You’ve got to start again.’ So we did.” There is no doubt, however, that the whole club is shocked by the size of the sanction. Dyche gathered his squad to discuss the deduction on the first day they were all back at Finch Farm after the international break which coincided with the commission’s decision. He was immediately struck by the challenge within the group and the feedback that nothing would stop their progress. That message can be seen on the pitch. Divisions have previously been parked between followers and hierarchy. Instead, anger has turned towards the Premier League, which fans believe has tried to punish Everton not just for the club’s mismanagement but as a way of using a soft target to show an independent regulator is not needed. . The findings of the independent commission (which imposed a penalty exactly in line with what the Premier League had recommended) gave Everton the impression that they are being partially punished for building a magnificent new stadium at Bramley Moore dock. As his former manager Marco Silva said on his return to Fulham’s Goodison Park this week: “You can see they are all clicking together – the fans, the staff and the team. When this happens to a club like Everton, they are always very strong.”
Resilient protection
“We shall not be moved” is the soundtrack to Everton’s response to the relegation and Dyche’s backline has taken the sentiment. The four Premier League wins in a row were accompanied by a clean sheet, with Michael Keane’s unfortunate own goal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday conceding Everton’s first in 416 minutes of regulation (plus plenty of stoppage time). James Tarkowski has taken on leadership duties on and off the field, having taken over in the absence of Séamus Coleman this season. His experience and attributes provided a great foil for Jarrad Branthwaite, the 21-year-old from Carlisle who is flourishing at the heart of Everton’s defence. England manager Gareth Southgate was on hand to witness another impressive display from Branthwaite in the recent win over Chelsea. Vitalii Mykolenko has been in top form at left-back since recovering from a long-standing groin injury, although the Ukraine international recently suffered another. He could return to Spurs. Right-back is a problem but Nathan Patterson has a chance to finally grab the role with veterans Ashley Young and Coleman sidelined. The collective’s industry and organization, however, is responsible for making Dyche’s team difficult to beat. Everton are no longer soft…
Great away form
… And this is no more true than on the road. A large number of Everton fans have been traveling for little reward in recent years but Dyche’s side have won more away games this season than the two campaigns combined. Tottenham have not won more points in the Premier League this season than Everton (18 and 16 respectively), and Dyche’s side are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in the flight on Saturday. That would equal the club’s best run since winning the title in 1970. The run comes before the points deduction and reflects the improved attitude Dyche attributes to higher standards at the training ground and genuine camaraderie in among the squad. The willingness of the players to accept his tactics and demands helps, which shows the victory at Burnley last Saturday when the shape and composition of the team changed on the day of the match. “There was a lot of noise about away form when I came here,” Dyche said this week. “Together, we have changed that. I think the perception there has improved significantly. I know I use that word a lot but it’s at every level of the club.”
More options in advance
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and his availability, are fundamentally important, but Everton are less reliant on the striker to provide the leadership and outlet needed. Calvert-Lewin has not scored in eight games but Everton have won five with Abdoulaye Doucouré, Mykolenko, Dwight McNeil, Beto and Amadou Onana among those sharing the load. Doucouré, last season’s savior in the fight against relegation, has become a formidable force under Dyche and is a major loss for the visit of Spurs due to a persistent groin injury. The focus has been on improving Everton’s attacking options in the summer, with Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell working deftly to sign Beto, Jack Harrison and Youssef Chermiti despite their restrictions, paying dividends. Harrison has brought much-needed balance to a team that lacked natural right last season. The emerging Lewis Dobbin also improved competition and attacking options.
Old Dyche
As mentioned, the manager managed to improve standards, performances and key results before the points deduction, but has since proven to be the perfect man for a crisis. Dyche refused to allow self-pity to seep through the squad or a sense of grievance to distract his players from the monumental task of winning any Premier League game. His “This is the reality, let’s crack on” approach is exactly what Everton need to steer a course out of a significant mess.
