I have always refused to believe managers do anything that deliberately reduce the chances of winning, even if they are arrogant. So when we see what seems indefensible, it really is just a mistake, a decision made on the info and players available that turns out to be wrong.
But Dyche has properly backed himself into a corner with a few decisions. If he starts Patterson on Monday and he even plays just ok with no mistakes, the last few games of Holgate and Godfrey look even worse and everyone rightly asks why Godfrey was given multiple chances to prove he was crap. And he succeeded in 45 minutes. Try it once, fine we have few options, but the minute it looks like a shocker, change it, mid-match. Then don’t do it again the following week ffs.
Keane did well when he first came in, but when he reverted to type, get Mina or Coady in. Long time ago now, but Coady started the season really really well for me despite his heritage. Most of the media were befuddled as to why Wolves had pushed him out when he was playing well and they were getting beat constantly. Coady had a couple of games where he made a mistake and he hasn’t been seen since. He’s was still in the England squad. Southgate has Keane’s number blocked. Tarks can play every week for me. Not amazing, and not the leader I was sold, but he’s an honest player, trying his best every minute. The other slot should have been changed when we started leaking mercilessly.
There’s a many more. Garner has only had cameos and decent game from the start. The mere fact that he wasn’t gash, but then gets dropped for Onana, who has don’t nothing good at all for months is weird. He won’t play him because of experience, and yet the world and Dyche can’t stop saying how Onana is still learning his game blah blah. What’s the difference? Garner looked more mobile and showed signs that he might at least try to create something. His history makes him more suited to the PL than Onana. Could argue he should have come in instead of Gana who has tried but has been terrible.
Again, I do think managers just make mistakes rather than sabotage teams, initial decisions at least. And Dyche is working with scraps so the initial decisions are just trying to find a blend that works. But when they get locked into repeating the same mistakes just because if the alternative succeeds the blame focusses entirely on them for not trying the alternative 3 games prior, if it was October they’d get the boot every time.