Everton fans have endured a terrible start to the season and as their frustrations grow, the club may be about to turn to a former manager to turn their early season fortunes around.
Back to back defeats having been two goals up, an early Carabao Cup exit to lowly Southampton, have exaserbated an already restless fanbase. And now, ahead of facing a huge match at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City on Saturday, speculation is mounting over the future of Sean Dyche and his possible replacements.
Dyche’s goodwill running out?
Having replaced Frank Lampard in January 2023, and against the backdrop of a points deduction, Dyche guided Everton to survival against the odds in his first season. Having galvanised the squad against further points deductions last season, Everton repeated the feat and survived comfortably. However their start to the season has sent alarm bells ringing. Uncharacteristically for a Dyche team, Everton are conceding sloppy goals, becoming easy to play against and the fans have grown tired of his style of play. Pete O’Rourke from Football Insider reports that Sean Dyche’s style is ‘not the way they want to see Everton play.’
As Shamoon Hafez from the BBC reported yesterday, the Everton hierarchy are publicly backing Dyche, with their director of football Kevin Thelwell saying he is ‘working under very difficult circumstances.’ However, with pressure mounting, journalists are reporting several names in the frame to replace Dyche, with one in particular standing out.
Is Moyes the answer?
Graeme Bailey from HITC suggests that Everton bosses are deeply concerned at the start they have made and have started their due diligence, looking at potential names that could replace Dyche. The top choice seems to be former manager, David Moyes. Moyes released from West Ham in the summer having led them to a European title, would seem a logical move. Amidst the never ending takeover talks, Moyes would be seen as a safe pair of hands to guide the club through a tricky transition in their final year at Goodison.
For Moyes, this could be a huge homecoming. Having guided Preston North End to promotion from Division Two and led them to within 90 minutes of the Premier League in 2001, Moyes moved to Goodison in March 2002. In his 11 years at Everton, he managed 518 games with a win percentage of 42%. He managed Everton through a highly successful period and so high was his stock in the naughties, Sir Alex Ferguson endorsed him as his successor for Manchester United.
Bailey goes on to say that there are a few other names in the frame, suggesting Graham Potter as a likely alternative, with them possibly waiting until the next international break in October. This may be the case, but defeat to Leicester this weekend, could trigger the Everton bosses into action.