Everton have no set-piece coach, with likes of Arsenal reaping rewards with one
The Toffees have the second best record from dead balls, behind the Gunners
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By LEWIS STEELE
Published: 17:30 EST, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 17:30 EST, 5 December 2024
For all the talk and eulogising of set-piece coaches in 2024, and Arsenal’s Nicolas Jover in particular, Everton boss Sean Dyche believes his old-school plan of going without is still paying dividends.
Since the boss took over at Goodison Park, Everton have scored more goals than all but the Gunners from dead-ball situations in the Premier League – and the Toffees do not have a set-piece specialist on the coaching staff.
But Dyche – who joked he was a ‘dinosaur’ – is adamant his team are using set-pieces as a big asset even without one, with those duties delegated to his trusted lieutenants Steve Stone and Ian Woan, plus lead performance analyst Matthew Hawkes.
Asked why his old-school approach has served him so well, Dyche said: ‘Because I’m a dinosaur! No, on a serious note… the way I look at it, my staff have got goodness knows how many games playing. I’m going to say around 1,000.
‘I’ve got 1,000 myself in playing, development coaching, youth team coaching, manager. So if we cannot design a set-piece with a group of analysts – who can see everything that happens on a set-piece of the opposition or us – then I’ve got the wrong staff.
‘So therefore, with that depth of knowledge, I’d use them. I am happy to pass it over to them. That’s not to say there is not a reason for set-piece coaches – that’s up to managers and staff and football directors.
Sean Dyche has insisted he doesn't need a set-piece coach amid the rise of the idea
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have enjoyed heavy success from set-pieces in the last two season
They scored two more from set-pieces on Wednesday, taking total to 22 since start of last season
‘Seven or eight years ago everyone was like, “Why are you worried about set-pieces? Get it down and play”. Now everyone has re-realised that set-pieces matter! For a long, long time a rough figure is that 25 per cent of goals are from set-pieces. So why wouldn’t you use them?’
Everton’s free-kicks and corners caused havoc on Wednesday in a thumping 4-0 win over Wolves – to end a run of five winless and four without even scoring – and Dyche believes this can be a big weapon in Saturday’s Merseyside Derby.
Asked if they were back on point with set-pieces, he added: ‘Not just with delivery but the body language and intent to go and score is different when teams are on it. We looked back there.
Freedom is the wrong word but intent is better – attack the ball and only see the ball.
‘I told the players that. Just the intent. Jack Harrison smashed one over the bar but he was in the right place. Spot on. I commended him for that and said “fantastic, another day it flies in”. Be in the right place and go with the intent to score.’
Dyche is not fussed about the lack of credit he gets for this and said: ‘Oh, I’m not bothered. I’ve been doing it too long. Now I just get on with my business. I know how the game works, I know how to piece a team together. I get things wrong, I am a human being.
‘Everyone gets it right after the game, the hardest thing is getting it right before the game or during. Worrying about what everyone else thinks is a complete waste of your energy, honestly. What I will say is: Cadbury’s chocolate is still Cadbury’s chocolate. People still buy it!’