The promising news of Everton’s acquisition by the Friedkin Group, as announced this week, has been applauded by Steve Rotheram, Liverpool’s Mayor, who expressed much optimism at this degree of progress. Entailing a promising future for not only the club but also the locality and the league as a whole, the takeover marks a significant shift from the previous state of affairs.
The Friedkin Group, an actual corporation helmed by Dan Friedkin, has a substantial business portfolio dealing in palpable and comprehensible assets. Friedkin, who resembles a less significant relative attending a wedding in Succession, exhibits no evident signs of irrational behaviour. This seeming stability and sanity in management has evoked a sense of progress for the inspecting parties.
Even though this is the group that introduced Jose Mourinho as a Rome representative, there remains no proof that the same management will be directed towards Everton’s football activities. Nevertheless, recruiting Mourinho appears to be a phase for proprietors, likened to adolescents’ inevitable immersion in heavy metal music. Interestingly, Mourinho’s engagement once alleviates the risk of any future employment of his services. It appears as if Mourinho has turned into a sort of football equivalent of measles, requiring undergoing the fever only once.
Nevertheless, Sean Dyche is attempting to keep Everton’s newfound optimism at bay. In other news, Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag is positive about Bruno Fernandes rediscovering his scoring form. Torino’s Samuele Ricci is being eyed by Manchester City following Rodri’s sidelining due to injuries. However, it is anticipated that Caoimhín Kelleher of Liverpool will be benched against Wolves owing to Alisson’s return.
Many fans may experience a sensation of déjà vu. After enduring uncertainty and being targeted by opportunists and vulture capitalists with intermittent interests, Everton is on the cusp of securing a new stadium, handling a £600m debt, and transitioning to mature management. Why wouldn’t this be plausible? This team was not destined to be trapped in sorrow or held ransom by grandiose dreams. Everton should be in a position to survive comfortably, reflecting the spirit of an entertaining club with a substantial support base while maintaining grounded expectations of their capacity. There is palpable optimism that everything might fall into place.
In the midst of this positivity, some thought should be spared for the potential plight of Sean Dyche. His contract expires in June, and with it his role could lessen into insignificance if newer ownership opts for a fresh start. The prospects of a departure are in the air, but it’s important to recognise Dyche’s instrumental contribution to safeguarding the club’s status over the past 20 months. His stewardship kept the club steadfast during a turbulent period when collapse was a looming possibility.
My viewpoint may be influenced by my fondness for Dyche’s aura and persona. The quintessential image of Dyche for me is his ginger buzz-cut, horseshoe beard, shiny shoes, black trousers, and white shirt sleeves, giving him the appearance of a policeman carrying out mundane household tasks. Dyche might constantly be labelled as obsolete – be it a dinosaur, a fossil, or anything archaic (a harpsichord or a horse-drawn carriage). Yet, he has managed to keep Everton afloat for two consecutive years amidst a two-fold challenge of a points deduction and taking over a team from Frank Lampard. At the very least, his efforts should be recognised as part of the team’s revival.
The current circumstances aren’t conducive to acknowledge this. Everton has struggled this season in an unusual manner. On the surface, it appears to be a typical Dyche-guided team, with the second-lowest possession stats in Europe (only Empoli has fared worse), but leading the Premier League in tackles and blocks. Notwithstanding these signs of resilience, the persistent squandering of leads and glaring weaknesses within the squad have been major setback. Dyche’s signature approach – excelling in both boxes and turning the midfield into a battleground – is difficult to implement with players who exhaust themselves chasing the ball.
Has this outcome not been foreseeable? The current state of Everton is the manifestation of the turbulent past years. Significant investment has been made and then reclaimed, resulting in a £100m transfer fee profit during Dyche’s tenure. The struggle for survival has been a minimalistic endeavour, pragmatic yet amusing in its own right.
During Dyche’s stewardship, Everton has claimed victory in 23 fixtures, predominantly over a select group of adversaries. Doncaster have been the victims in nine percent of all his Everton triumphs. Maintaining their Premier League status is reliant largely on their eight victories against Burnley, Brentford, and Bournemouth. Previous season’s survival was achieved on the back of a winning streak extending from November to December, when everything fell into place. There is potential for a revival of this spirit with an expectant home crowd against Crystal Palace in their upcoming match.
Going forward, it’s apparent that Dyche may not be integral to Everton’s future plans. The probability suggests he completes his tenure and is subsequently succeeded by a 27-year-old Austrian kitesurfer sporting a checkered blazer and riding breeches. This begs the broader question: what is next for Dyche and his philosophy?
Fundamentally, Dyche embodies the quintessential football man. Many managers view a Premier League season as a pedestal for promoting their personal brand—a showcase of their style, a platform to win over fans. Dyche, on the other hand, will exhaust every effort, employ every tactic to ensure your survival over auditioning for his next role. The commitment, tactics, and energy will be consistent. The ship will not sink. This was his contribution to Everton during the trying years, preventing a potential freefall into obscurity.
At the very least, his crucial role in the club’s survival should receive recognition. Perhaps in the forthcoming era of waterfront development, we might even witness the inauguration of Dyche-themed amenities: a Dyche bar, a Dyche footbridge, or even a Dyche popcorn stand. And hopefully, a touch of fond nostalgia might spawn from those thrilling times lived on the edge.