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Andy Townsend has defended Sean Dyche at Everton [Credit: Imago]
Jonathan Burnett
Mon 2 December 2024 12:10, UK
Everton fans calling for Sean Dyche’s sack should remember just how much money had been spent before he arrived at Goodison Park, Andy Townsend has said.
Speaking on talkSPORT (2 December, 9:22am), Townsend said that poor results, and the relegation battle they are in, come against the backdrop of millions being spent down the years.
Highlighting that the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Ronald Koeman and Rafa Benitez preceded Dyche without success in the Toffees dugout, Townsend encouraged a siege mentality for the rest of the season.
“Lots of Everton fans are saying ‘hold on, when are you going to start to really criticise Dyche?”, he said.
“You’ve had a chairman that was splashing ridiculous amounts of money on players – you’ve had Ancelotti, you’ve had Koeman, you’ve had Marco Silva, Benitez.
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“All these guys that have been round the block – and been successful by the way – you’ve had money that a chairman has spent.
“Now all of a sudden, because of the ground and how important it is – this is a period where you’re just going to have to ride it out and stick together.”
Sean Dyche paying for the sins of the past at Everton
While Dyche cannot be excused for the sub-par results so far this term – none more so than Sunday’s 4-0 drubbing at Old Trafford – he can’t be blamed for the actions before his arrival.
Townsend is spot on when mentioning the calibre of managers to precede Dyche in the dugout, while the money spent on players by Farhad Moshiri down the years has been nothing short of eye-watering.
Everton Farhad Moshiri
Farhad Moshiri’s years of reckless spending has landed Everton in a precarious financial situation
As a result, the squad Dyche has been left to work with – albeit with several signings very much in his image – is a shell of what the Toffees’ potential would be had all that money been spent wisely.
Tactically, Dyche is rightfully receiving pelters for the way his side set up against Manchester United, but it’s worth noting that costly errors came from the likes of James Tarkowski, who joined the club for free.
Jarrad Branthwaite had a horror show of his own at the stadium he could well have been calling home this season, but if Dyche can keep the Blues up this season, Branthwaite is an individual who can represent the potential of a bright new era on Merseyside.
In other Everton news, Dyche has discussed what he told the club’s board amid interest in Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.
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