Sean Dyche’s tenure at Everton may still be in its infancy but after a double dip of managerial sackings from both Leeds and Southampton, fresh perspective has illuminated the Blues’ appointment.
Considered a ‘Marmite manager’ by many for his battling, no-nonsense approach to football, the 51-year-old Dyche has many traditionally desired characteristics for a team in the drop.
While not as glamorous an appointment as the likes of Carlo Ancelotti in years gone by, his battle-hardened Premier League experience - which saw him keep an unfashionable Burnley side in the league for six consecutive seasons - is a rare attribute among the available mercenary managers.
READ MORE: Everton line-ups as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ellis Simms decisions made vs Liverpool
READ MORE: Something isn’t right there' - Liverpool sent derby warning despite Everton 'negligence'
Coupling this, his seasoned rapport with Burnley-turned-Blues boys Tarkowski, McNeil and Keane provides a lot of positives for the Kettering man’s installation.
Now, as Leeds and Southampton sit in No Man’s Land scrambling amongst the remaining candidates, and with Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil favoured next for the chopping block, has the timely Dyche appointment been vindicated?
Leeds United
Unlike Everton, who failed to sign a single player in the January window, Leeds’ transfer exploits have proven more fruitful.
However, despite bolstering the squad with the £35.5million club-record signing Georginio Rutter and £12million Maximilian Wöber, ambitions failed to translate into points in the league.
Without a win since the Qatar World Cup, the Whites had no choice but to dismiss Jesse Marsch after less than a year in charge.
Ajax’s Erik ten Hag successor Alfred Schreuder had emerged as an early candidate, although reports emerging from Elland Road suggest the 50-year-old is out of the running.
In besting league leaders Arsenal in a 1-0 ‘trial by fire’ last week, Everton’s coup of Dyche may serve as the pivotal signing amongst the relegation battlers.
The Goodison Park faithful will hope Marsch’s successor - whoever that may be - won’t create a turn in fortunes prior to their bottom of the table clash on Saturday, February 18.
If Leeds continue to pursuit foreign suitors, they’ll hope they can establish their philosophy as soon as possible. But if history serves true, we know this may not always be the case.
Southampton
Like Leeds, Saints are on the hunt for a new manager - their third of the season - after Wales’ Nathan Jones was discharged yesterday evening.
After just three months at the helm, and in spite of ample investment - which saw Genk’s Paul Onuachu, Renne’s Kamaldeen Sulemana and Racing Club’s Carlos Alcaraz arrive in the winter window for a combined £56million - Jones will feel the team never had time to marinade under his administration.
Sitting rock bottom of the Premier League and after being ousted in the semis of the Carabao Cup, the Hampshire side need to act fast to salvage the remainder of their season.
But as recent Leeds and Aston Villa exiles Jesse Marsch and Steven Gerrard occupy the bookies’ top picks to replace Jones, Saints will be disappointed by the thinning talent pool of mangers with Premier League expertise.
In hindsight, Dyche may have been the man they were after.
Bournemouth
Since thrashing Everton 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium in November last year, Bournemouth are yet to secure a league win under current manager Gary O’Neil.
Sitting just above Southampton in 19th, Bournemouth have been in freefall since besting Lampard’s lackluster Blues.
Signs of promise twinkled last Saturday, holding Champions League hopefuls Newcastle to a 1-1 draw, but having scored just two goals in their last seven league appearances, greater strides will be needed in attack if they want to avoid relegation.
Coincidentally, had Bournemouth not bested Everton back in November, a managerial rejig may have already occurred.
O’Neil will be wary of his enfeebling position, and forthcoming fixtures against Wolves, Man City and Arsenal will undoubtedly test the Cherries’ trigger finger and he hides from the firing line.
For their sake, they will hope they haven’t left it too late.
READ NEXT:
- 'I cannot lie' - Alex Iwobi reacts as Sean Dyche bans two items from training
- Rafa Benitez makes honest admission on Merseyside Derby loyalties as Liverpool face Everton
- How Luis Suarez 'helped' Everton by diving right in front of David Moyes
- Sean Dyche sends message to Everton fans and response to Liverpool questions
- Sean Dyche gives blunt assessment of Everton record at Liverpool
