“Manager is already EMBRACING MEDIOCRITY” Sean Dyche names Everton player who had ‘rusty moments’ and outfielder who was ‘really good’ in West Ham draw

Sean Dyche Praises Everton Players Despite Draw Against West Ham

Everton manager Sean Dyche has shared his thoughts on the team’s 0-0 draw against West Ham United at the London Stadium. Despite the stalemate, Dyche highlighted the performances of several players, including Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Branthwaite’s Return

Jarrad Branthwaite made his return to the starting lineup after recovering from injury. The 22-year-old defender had minor groin surgery at the start of last summer and has struggled with injury issues since.

Dyche acknowledged that Branthwaite had “rusty moments” during the match but expressed confidence in the player’s ability to build match sharpness. “He’s going to get sharper, obviously,” Dyche said. “A couple of rusty moments when he’s given the ball away and missed a tackle, but that’s his lack of game-time.”

Branthwaite’s Partnership with Tarkowski

Branthwaite’s return to the lineup saw him partner with James Tarkowski in central defense, a combination that yielded the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League last season.

Dyche praised the duo’s performance, stating, “They made a good partnership with Jordan [Pickford] behind him and the two full-backs [Ashley Young and Vitalii Mykolenko] not always but a lot.”

Gana Gueye’s Impressive Display

Idrissa Gana Gueye was another player to catch Dyche’s eye, with the midfielder putting in a tireless shift. “I thought Idrissa was very good again, a lot of the stuff that fans – not our fans, I mean generally – don’t see,” Dyche said.

Gueye’s work rate and pressing were particularly impressive, with Dyche noting, “He covers the hard yards, presses, nicks it, keeps the ball.”

Mangala’s Contribution

Orel Mangala also earned praise from Dyche for his hard work and Premier League edge. “Manga worked very hard again, and that real Premier League edge and fitness,” Dyche said.

Areas for Improvement

Despite the positive performances, Dyche acknowledged that Everton needs to improve in the final third. “If we can add that bit of devilment and extra quality in the final third, it makes us more of a threat, and solid performances turn into winning performances,” he said.

Everton’s Draw Against West Ham

The 0-0 draw against West Ham marked Everton’s fourth consecutive match without a win. However, Dyche’s side remains 16th in the Premier League table, three points clear of the relegation zone.

Key Statistics:

• Jarrad Branthwaite’s starts: 1 in 5 games
• Everton’s defensive record: 4th best in Premier League last season
• Idrissa Gana Gueye’s tackles won: 4 against West Ham
• Orel Mangala’s passes completed: 30 against West Ham

Possible Outcomes:

• Branthwaite establishes himself as a regular starter
• Gueye continues to impress in midfield
• Mangala becomes a key player in Everton’s midfield
• Everton signs new striker in January transfer window

In other news, Everton has been linked with several players ahead of the January transfer window.

Everton’s transfer plans will likely focus on strengthening the team’s attacking options. The Toffees have struggled to find consistency in front of goal, and Dyche may look to address this issue in the new year.

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Related Posts:

• Sean Dyche’s managerial record
• Everton’s relegation battle
• Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury update

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