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Post by Everton News. on Mar 30, 2023 13:08:07 GMT
Sean Dyche believes Everton are showing signs of being a more balanced side and playing "effective football" at both ends of the pitch, while also displaying a more "relentless mentality".
As well as an improved defensive structure under Dyche, the Blues have now accumulated a combined Expected Goal (xG) total of 12.25 since the 1-0 home win over Arsenal - the manager's first game in charge - with only Brighton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal amassing a higher total in that time.
Everton host Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Monday evening (8pm BST) - and Dyche has called on his players to build on their promising three-game unbeaten run that preceded the international break.
"The [attacking] stats have improved since we've been here on some of the markers you want - getting bodies in the box, getting better quality into the box, better quality of chances and different scorers," said Dyche in Thursday's pre-match press conference.
"I made it clear... it's always been my mentality that if a player goes out the side then there's a good opportunity for someone else.
"Beyond that, it's the responsibility of the whole team to score goals and we're showing good signs of that - being productive from different areas of the pitch, in different formats, different ways and trying to affect games.
"Effective football is what I want from the team and we're showing good signs of that.
"I think it's fair to say we've had a better defensive structure in the weeks I've been here and now we're just starting to find that balance between that and transitioning into attack.
"There seems to be a better feel to that. It's hard to explain but the transition moment, adapting to it and seeing it early is improving."
Dyche reported a clean bill of health with regards to the Club's international players, who have now returned to Finch Farm.
Nathan Patterson and James Garner gained minutes for Scotland and England Under-21s respectively, having both recently recovered from injuries.
That means Andros Townsend will be Everton's only definite absentee for Monday's game, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin "back out on the grass" but yet to return to full training.
"It was good for that reason [to get Patterson and Garner minutes] and some have got more minutes in other games, then the group left behind got a few days off but they certainly did some work as well," said Dyche.
"I think they look fresh, actually, with the way they've trained in the past three games, so I've been pleased overall.
"There's been nothing too major come back on the injury front, either, which is helpful, particular with Ama[dou] Onana, who played both games.
"A couple of them have come back in today, so it's been good to see them."
On Calvert-Lewin, Dyche continued: "He hasn't trained with the group but he's back on the grass again and has been, so he's making progress which is good.
"He did have that tiny niggle on the injury - it was a slightly different area - but he's making very good progress so we're happy with that at the moment.
"There's no timescale. I don't do that anyway and certainly when we're just trying to get him back to 'full fitness', as I call or it, or as close to."
Spurs head to Goodison Park on the back of a testing fortnight, with Antonio Conte departing the club and his former assistant manager, Cristian Stellini, appointed as interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
Despite any perceived turbulent times, Dyche warned the Toffees must be at their best to take a positive result against their Champions League-chasing opponents.
"Congratulations to [Harry Kane]," said Dyche, when asked about the Tottenham striker becoming England's record goalscorer. "I'm lucky enough to know him a little bit as well and he's a fantastic fella, an all-round professional.
"He'll be aware [Spurs' attack] isn't just about him because they have a lot of good players there but, of course, he's a threat, as he has been season after season.
"Even when [Kane] gets questioned, he shuts down those questions pretty quickly with what he does.
"There's a good team there. I know there's a bit of noise with things going on it seems but, at the end of the day, they've got a good group of players there and we have to be ready for that."
Everton FC
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Post by Avinalaff on Mar 30, 2023 13:12:35 GMT
Still no DCL then ...
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 1, 2023 13:10:19 GMT
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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 2, 2023 14:04:52 GMT
Could go either way - Their mentality could be questionable , but perhaps they will be released now Conte has gone.
Draw methinks
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Post by Everton News. on Apr 3, 2023 9:43:16 GMT
Manager's Programme Notes
Good evening.
It's fantastic to be back here at Goodison Park with you after the international break and our aim is to pick up where we left off in terms of the momentum we’ve been building in our past few games.
Since the last time I wrote these notes, we earned an important home win over Brentford, who were unbeaten in their previous 12 games, and twice came from behind to take a point away to a quality Chelsea side who were also on a good run.
I've said from the day I arrived here that there has to be substance to our performances and we have to be relentless and it feels like we're starting to see signs of that.
As I always point out, every manager in the world would take the occasional lucky win, but, equally, there is no long-term success in relying on those kind of results.
There has to be a structure and a method behind what we do at both ends of the pitch – and underpinning that, always, must be maximum effort from every player in the squad.
Looking at the Chelsea game, in particular, I felt we were good defensively in the first half but I didn't think we operated with the ball well enough.
We spoke about that at half-time and I told the players we've got to find that clarity when the ball turns over in transition.
It's not just about working hard when we haven't got the ball. What about working hard when we have got the ball and also working smart, not just hard? We must be available for each other and go and play.
I thought that improved in pockets in the second half and the relentless mentality that I value highly helped us get something from the game.
I've been delighted with the application of the players in the past two months. Their willingness and ability to take on new ideas has been impressive and I can assure you this is a group that is desperate to do well for you as fans and Everton as a club.
We're building a mentality from within and it's no surprise to me that when we get all of the basics right and put in the hard yards, the quality starts to show, because this is a very talented group of players.
A lot gets spoken about when it comes to international breaks and their timing, but it's there in the calendar for us all to see.
It is our job to use them as wisely as possible. The work ethic of the players has improved, as we can see in the statistics we receive from training sessions and games, but there has been a chance to build on their base levels in the absence of matches in the past fortnight.
As well as that, it's been as important for the players to take a short break for a few days, so they are refreshed and mentally sharp for what is going to be an intense couple of months, with plenty more hard work.
We welcome Cristian Stellini and the players and staff of Tottenham Hotspur tonight.
Cristian is an experienced coach, who had success in Italy before heading over to England with Antonio Conte.
Spurs come to Goodison Park in fourth place in the Premier League table and securing Champions League again for next season is a clear objective for them.
We know they have quality players all over the pitch and it's going to be yet another tough game.
With that said, our home form in the past couple of months has been strong and we must retain – as a collective – the feeling that anybody who comes here is in for a tough time.
My message is to be courageous and use the Goodison atmosphere to our advantage.
This will be my first experience in the home dugout under the lights here and it's something I'm really looking forward to. It's impossible not to be energised by the feeling you create.
It starts with us, as always, but let's all play our part and keep moving in the right direction.
Enjoy the game.
Sean
Everton FC
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