Sean Dyche at his pre-match press conference to preview Everton's home game with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sean Dyche at his pre-match press conference to preview Everton's home game with Wolverhampton Wanderers
As the pressure ramps up, are we finally seeing a different kind of Sean Dyche? One where the Everton manager is more humble... even vulnerable perhaps?
Back in July 2023 when this correspondent was covering the Blues’ first pre-season camp under Dyche by the shores of Lake Geneva, ahead of being the only member of the UK media to report on their inaugural friendly match of his tenure against Swiss second tier outfit Stade Nyonnais, literally across the road from UEFA’s headquarters, I enjoyed an exclusive interview with first team coach Steve Stone. Unlike Dyche himself, you don’t often hear the thoughts of the former England winger, who, along with Heswall-born assistant boss Ian Woan, a lifelong Evertonian, is one third of the trio that makes up the club’s current managerial team.
I remember that a lot of what Stone told me that day as we sat in the lounge of Everton’s hotel was very insightful but some 17 months on, there’s one particular line that stands out above all others. That was the ex-Nottingham Forest man telling me that beyond the often gruff-seeming exterior, Dyche has a more compassionate aspect to his character.
Stone said: “We’re all very harsh and truthful with each other but the manager makes the final decision and that’s how it should be. Especially from the gaffer’s point of view, you know how forceful and direct he can be but that’s not to say he doesn’t have a softer, caring side within him, we know that because we’ve known him for many years.”
Today, at Finch Farm, those of us in attendance of Dyche’s pre-match press conference were given a window into that world. From day one in the job, the Blues boss has admitted that he’s a 'Marmite manager' in that people often love him or hate him.
Results dictate how many might be in either camp at any one point in time, but part of that divisiveness can be Dyche’s demeanour when addressing the media. In the past, he’s often started to answer questions before the person asking has finished and observers have commented on there being a confrontational, even arrogant manner at times.
On Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford, he insisted that Everton’s 4-0 loss at Manchester United where his side conceded all four goals within a 30-minute spell was “no collapse.” Subsequently, in his ECHO column, Michael Ball remarked: “Sean Dyche can’t hoodwink Scousers, he can’t hoodwink Evertonians. He can say what he wants before and after games but what we’re witnessing with our own eyes is just not good enough.”
It was therefore curious in many ways then, to witness what seemed like a more considered, respectful Dyche back at the club’s Halewood training base ahead of fixture that could, if you pardon the pun, keep the wolves from the door, should he secure what would only be a second Premier League home win this season.
The 53-year-old gave us an insight into the human element of his job when speaking about his WhatsApp interactions with Farhad Moshiri but perhaps because the wantaway majority shareholder's absence at Premier League home games predates his own appointment by some 16 months, his narrative of the reasons behind the Monaco-based businessman's no-shows at Goodison was not correct.
The former Burnley boss told us he’s learned every game at Everton was a “must-win”, he insisted that he’s always been truthful with the fans and admitted that he’s made errors this season, and so had the team, which he said was obvious. Tellingly, he also acknowledged that Everton have got to start winning more games ASAP.
Whatever you think of Dyche, his approach, his tactics and his record, he’s not deluded over his fate in this respect.