2024/25 Sean Dyche - Sacked

[jazzy]

We have definitely strengthened the squad in attack. One could argue that Ndiaye has raised that bar for the squad by himself - what a breath of fresh air he is.

In midfield, we lost Onana, the merits of whom we've debated over countless pages of GOT threads. Regardless how you feel about him, he was at worst an average midfield body with upside. We replaced him with the guy from Villa we had zero expectations for and Mangala. So let's call that, at best, a wash. We still have Doucoure plying his trade out there.

However, it's in defence we are no better than last season - just look at how bad we've been in defence without JB in there. Add to that our geriatric fullbacks, and we're not far from serious trouble.

Expectations? I think they should be to finish around where we did last season, without the points deductions. Our ceiling with this squad might be 5 points north of that, but a lot would need to go our way.

Realistically, this is another season we just need to slog through before we get into our new stadium and get the ownership situation sorted. Dyche has, on the whole, steered us through some choppy waters to get to this place.

The only changes in the squad regarding defence are Godfrey and Holgate out and O'Brien in.

Holgate was worse than a liability. Godfrey was terrible at CH but useful cover at full back.

O'Brien should be decent based on his time at Lyon but looks like Dyche will never play him so we won't know if he's any good until next season

I'm not convinced that the defence is that much weaker this season.

 

[John from Bootle]

The only changes in the squad regarding defence are Godfrey and Holgate out and O'Brien in.

Holgate was worse than a liability. Godfrey was terrible at CH but useful cover at full back.

O'Brien should be decent based on his time at Lyon but looks like Dyche will never play him so we won't know if he's any good until next season

I'm not convinced that the defence is that much weaker this season.

In terms of first choice defence, we've stood still at best. Considering Coleman and Young are a year older. We've also lost the versatility of Godfrey who could play anywhere in a back 4.

 

[jazzy]

People can have expectations you know….thats what drives standards. I accept however that there has to be some basis for them.

My expectation is that the team that finished 1 point from top half last season, and have improved the squad (even slightly) should go to games against newly promoted sides and be able to and be expected to win.

Nice to see the manager raising expectations around the place!

Always a sign of a job well done.

Fair play Sean.

If Dyche delivers a mid table finish your expectations are therefore met then? Where they met last season having earned 48 points?

In my opinion if a football club is so desperate to employ Dyche ( we were and for all the downsides it was probably the correct decision) then the only reasonable expectation that you can have is that Dyche will keep you in the division.

 

[Ufotone]

Nice job beating Ipswich Mr Dyche

Hope you can prove your worth against Fulham

EFC

 

[Blue peter]

In my opinion if a football club is so desperate to employ Dyche ( we were and for all the downsides it was probably the correct decision) then the only reasonable expectation that you can have is that Dyche will keep you in the division.

But he did more than that last year so expectations do need to be readjusted beyond just survival, to somewhere as high as last year - around 12th to 13th (if there had been no deductions).

I know people can’t stand the style of football so that will always attract debate, but if we didn’t have the start we had and had we been sitting in and around those places now, a lot of the current debate around results wouldn’t be happening in my opinion.

We should expect him to maintain at least last season’s performance and try and improve on them a little if we can. To just expect survival now would be anti competitive and lowering expectations.

 

[jazzy]

But he did more than that last year so expectations do need to be readjusted beyond just survival, to somewhere as high as last year - around 12th to 13th (if there had been no deductions).

I know people can’t stand the style of football so that will always attract debate, but if we didn’t have the start we had and had we been sitting in and around those places now, a lot of the current debate around results wouldn’t be happening in my opinion.

We should expect him to maintain at least last season’s performance and try and improve on them a little if we can. To just expect survival now would be anti competitive and lowering expectations.

Mate my only hope / expectation is that he won't be Everton manager next season

 

[pfim]

The only changes in the squad regarding defence are Godfrey and Holgate out and O'Brien in.

Holgate was worse than a liability. Godfrey was terrible at CH but useful cover at full back.

O'Brien should be decent based on his time at Lyon but looks like Dyche will never play him so we won't know if he's any good until next season

I'm not convinced that the defence is that much weaker this season.

And there are quite a few defenders who are a year older, who can't really afford to be any older...

 

[jazzy]

And there are quite a few defenders who are a year older, who can't really afford to be any older...

Can't disagree there , mind you ......a bit more experienced ? Played together as a unit ? lol

 

[Lanolin]

But he did more than that last year so expectations do need to be readjusted beyond just survival, to somewhere as high as last year - around 12th to 13th (if there had been no deductions).

I know people can’t stand the style of football so that will always attract debate, but if we didn’t have the start we had and had we been sitting in and around those places now, a lot of the current debate around results wouldn’t be happening in my opinion.

We should expect him to maintain at least last season’s performance and try and improve on them a little if we can. To just expect survival now would be anti competitive and lowering expectations.

I think there's a couple of aspects to it. As fans we all want the club to be the best it can be and to be progressing all the time, so to an extent I agree with what you're saying. I don't think anybody is really advocating just finishing 17th and staying up on goal difference and saying that would be fine, it's just trying to be realistic about what would be acceptable. For me, the key thing is just not being in serious trouble at the end of the season. I don't really think it matters in a sense whether we finish 15th or 11th because we're not even in the rebuilding phase yet, the remit from the club has quite clearly just been to stay up with the smallest possible financial outlay and let the takeover and stadium move happen with us still in the PL and so I think expecting us to improve and finish top half is a bit over the top. If we did manage to do that then I think Dyche would deserve a hell of a lot of credit, I'm not and never have been his biggest fan, but I think taking over a team that was in 19th and had stayed up by the skin of its teeth the year before and keeping them up before finishing 12th and 10th with a positive net spend would be a genuinely impressive piece of work.

 

[Blue peter]

I think there's a couple of aspects to it. As fans we all want the club to be the best it can be and to be progressing all the time, so to an extent I agree with what you're saying. I don't think anybody is really advocating just finishing 17th and staying up on goal difference and saying that would be fine, it's just trying to be realistic about what would be acceptable. For me, the key thing is just not being in serious trouble at the end of the season. I don't really think it matters in a sense whether we finish 15th or 11th because we're not even in the rebuilding phase yet, the remit from the club has quite clearly just been to stay up with the smallest possible financial outlay and let the takeover and stadium move happen with us still in the PL and so I think expecting us to improve and finish top half is a bit over the top. If we did manage to do that then I think Dyche would deserve a hell of a lot of credit, I'm not and never have been his biggest fan, but I think taking over a team that was in 19th and had stayed up by the skin of its teeth the year before and keeping them up before finishing 12th and 10th with a positive net spend would be a genuinely impressive piece of work.

I agree hence the 12th / 13th placing. TBH even if he finished slightly lower than that but same or one or two points more I’d have that as progression just in a tougher, more competitive season. In the overall scheme of things pre re-build 11-15 doesn’t really matter, but from a financial position it does it’s about 3m per place.

 

[chippy1722]

The only changes in the squad regarding defence are Godfrey and Holgate out and O'Brien in.

Holgate was worse than a liability. Godfrey was terrible at CH but useful cover at full back.

O'Brien should be decent based on his time at Lyon but looks like Dyche will never play him so we won't know if he's any good until next season

I'm not convinced that the defence is that much weaker this season.

I don’t expect to see much of O’Brien here, reckon he will be gone in18 months with a handful of appearances.
Once Branthwaite goes we will spend a bit on an actual replacement.

 

[Username.]

Enjoy the sunshine while you can Sean, you are on borrowed time thank God.

 

[Arteta2391]

wins once in a while

Everton that.

 

[NathDogg]

wins once in a while

Everton that.

But some people make out he’s Howie mk1 reincarnated.

 

[PeregrineT]

You what mate?

You what?