30 January 2023 , 14:17
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It was grimly fitting that the Everton owner and his board made something of a pig’s ear of appointing a successor to Frank Lampard.
After all, that has been a familiar look since the day Farhad Moshiri assumed ownership of the club. They flew Marcelo Bielsa in from South America, only for him to tell them he did not want the gig. Odd. And to then go from Bielsa to Dyche is some leap of imagination, a change of tack, to say the least.
Being a very proud character, Dyche might be slightly uncomfortable at being the first alternative but he will also be chomping at the bit to show he is not a one-trick pony, to show he can make a difference at a club with more resources than Burnley.
Of course, he left Burnley in April 2022, with the team heading for relegation and now has another mighty fight on his hands.
But Everton fans will judge Dyche on his overall body of work at Turf Moor rather than on his final few months - or on a relegation at the end of the 2014/15 season.
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They will judge him on his ability to get the best out of his squad, to play an effective brand of football, to communicate well, to inspire.
Sean Dyche is taking over at Goodison Park even though he was Everton's second choice (Everton FC via Getty Images)And you can be sure Dyche will buy into the whole ‘People’s Club’ idea, you can be sure he will strike up a rapport with the supporters. They will love it when he has a ruck with Mikel Arteta on his Goodison Park bow next weekend, for example.
First things first, he must haul Everton away from the danger zone and Dyche will believe he has the ability to do that but he will surely want one or two additions to the squad before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night.
Dyche will have known for some time that this opportunity might arise and, even though he is quite clearly the second choice, he will be thoroughly prepared for the tough challenge ahead. Good luck Sean - you are going to need it.