Everton now 2nd in PL for remarkable statistic that outlines huge Sean Dyche impact
Everton have plenty to thank their current manager for as they enter 2024 a far better side than the one they started 2023 as.
It is crazy to think that just a few weeks will mark the official one-year anniversary of Sean Dyche’s appointment, given just how much progress the Toffees have made under his leadership.
It feels like he has been around forever, and his efforts in turning a side destined for the drop into one capable of so much more are the likes of which normally take years to cultivate.
After all, were it not for their ten-point deduction, the 17th-placed outfit would instead be sat in 12th, just three points off Newcastle United.
And yet, Everton once again are sailing under the radar, with a recent minor downturn in results once again seeing them fade into obscurity. However, that is arguably where they have thrived most in the past.
As the underdog, Dyche can set his team up however he pleases, with his patented style an exciting one for most fans even if it can be sometimes viewed as negative.
The speed in which they break forward in particular is admirable, with BBC actually detailing the exact figures that have shaped such a resurgence.
In fact, only Liverpool attack with more speed, as their 1.96 metres per second slightly outranks the Toffees’ 1.94.
How has Sean Dyche improved Everton?
To list all the ways in which Dyche has improved Everton would take far too long, but ultimately it boils down to a few very simple, but hugely important tweaks that turned Frank Lampard’s goal-shy and threadbare side into one few would relish facing.
Under the Chelsea legend, Everton offered little offensive firepower for their supposed disorganisation, which promised would bring chaos for the opposition.
However, all it ended up doing was confusing those in royal blue, leading to a backline leaking goals without the attack to make up for it.
Dyche’s first task was to deal with that defence, and given only five other sides in the Premier League have conceded fewer goals this season, that has clearly been achieved.
Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski offer the foundation for such success, as a steely pairing able to hammer away any danger and funnel shots straight at the ever-reliable Jordan Pickford.
This solidity has in turn provided the springboard with which the rest of the team can thrive, as their ability to soak up pressure then offers those key spaces on the break to exploit.
As such, already Everton have scored 24 goals this season after just 20 games, having only managed 34 after 38 matches last term.
Although an extremely basic way of outlining Dyche’s impact, these two facets, plus the incredible speed at which they attack, go a long way towards emphasising such progression.
