by Everton have embodied the challenge since receiving the biggest sporting penalty in Premier League history on November 17. Tuesday brought disappointment in the Carabao Cup against Fulham, and a formidable task awaits them at Tottenham on Saturday, but the reaction from Sean Dyche and his team to being demoted to last place has been exceptional. Everton are in 16th place, seven points above the relegation zone, after four consecutive wins in the Premier League. We take a look at some of the factors behind his stirring recovery…
The 10-point deduction itself
Everton had shown huge improvement before the punishment, winning six of nine games in all competitions beforehand, as Dyche put it clearly: “Some people took some of that away and said, ‘You’ve got to start again.’ And so we did it.” There is no doubt, however, that the entire club has been galvanized by the shock and magnitude of the sanction. Dyche gathered his team to discuss the deduction on the first day everyone returned to Finch Farm after the international break that coincided with the commission’s decision. He was immediately impressed by the challenge within the group and the response that nothing would derail his progress. That message has been confirmed on the field of play. The previous divisions between the fans and the hierarchy have been put on hold. Instead, anger has been turned towards the Premier League, which fans believe has sought to punish Everton not only for the club’s mismanagement but as a way of using an easy target to demonstrate that 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 proposed – added to Everton’s feeling that they are being punished in part for building a fantastic new stadium on Bramley Moore Dock. As his former manager Marco Silva said upon his return to Goodison Park with Fulham this week: “You can see everyone is clicking together: the fans, the team and the staff. “When this happens to a club like Everton, it is always very strong.”
A tough defense
“We will not be moved” has been the soundtrack of Everton’s response to the deduction and Dyche’s defense has embraced the sentiment. Four consecutive Premier League wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet, with Michael Keane’s unfortunate own goal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday the first Everton have conceded in 416 regular minutes (plus considerable periods of time off). James Tarkowski has taken on leadership duties on and off the pitch, receiving the armband in Séamus Coleman’s absence this season. His experience and attributes have provided an ideal complement to 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 see another successful performance from Branthwaite in the recent win over Chelsea. Vitalii Mykolenko has been in excellent form at left-back since he recovered from a long-term groin injury, although the Ukraine international suffered another recently. He could return to the Spurs. Right back has been a problematic position, but Nathan Patterson has a chance to finally take over the role with veterans Ashley Young and Coleman out. The industry and the organization of the collective, however, are responsible for making Dyche’s team difficult to beat. Everton is no longer a soft touch…
Impressive form away from home
…And nowhere is this more true than on the road. Everton fans have traveled in large numbers for few rewards in recent years, but they have seen Dyche’s team win more away games this season than the last two campaigns combined. Only Tottenham have won more points away from home in the Premier League this season than Everton (18 and 16 respectively), and Dyche’s side are aiming for their fifth consecutive away win on Saturday. That would equal the club’s best sequence since winning the title in 1970. The streak predates the points deduction and reflects the improved mentality that Dyche attributes to higher standards on the training ground and genuine camaraderie among the team. . The willingness of players to accept their tactics and demands helps, as demonstrated by the victory at Burnley last Saturday, when the shape and composition of the team had to be altered on match day. “There was a lot of noise about away form when I got here,” Dyche said this week. “Collectively, we have changed that. I think the mentality has improved significantly. “I know I use that word a lot, but he has done it at all levels of the club.”
More options in advance
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and his availability remain of fundamental importance, but Everton are no longer as reliant on the striker for the necessary cutting edge and outlet. Calvert-Lewin has not scored in eight games, but Everton have won five of them with Abdoulaye Doucouré, Mykolenko, Dwight McNeil, Beto and Amadou Onana among those sharing the load. Doucouré, last season’s savior in the relegation fight, has become a potent force under Dyche and is a major loss for visiting Spurs with an ongoing hamstring injury. The focus on improving Everton’s attacking options in the summer, with Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell working skillfully to sign Beto, Jack Harrison and Youssef Chermiti despite the restrictions they were under, It is paying dividends. Harrison has brought much-needed balance to a team that severely lacked a natural fit on the right last season. Emerging Lewis Dobbin has also improved competition and options on offense.
Sean Dyche
As we have already mentioned, the coach managed to improve the level, performance and the most important results before the points deduction, but since then he has proven to be the perfect man for a crisis. Dyche has refused to allow self-pity to permeate the team or a sense of grievance to distract his players from the considerable task of winning any Premier League game. His “This is reality, let’s move on” approach is exactly what Everton need to emerge from a monumental disaster.
