Dyche on Everton takeover and the challenge of facing Arsenal (Full Presser)
Everton boss Sean Dyche on the controversial takeover at the club and the challenge of facing Arsenal
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00:00 Shaun, again, things off the pitch are making the headlines.
00:02 So I just want to get your thoughts, first of all, on the takeover, potential takeover,
00:06 I should say, and obviously how it impacts you and the players at the moment.
00:10 Well, there's no impact on me at the moment or the players other than the news, obviously.
00:14 You know, of course, as a manager, I was aware of something may be happening,
00:18 but I don't know as much as you from this morning, the strength of the words put out.
00:23 And I agree with you, I know there's also ongoing checks from the Premier League and the like,
00:27 so, you know, that will take some time.
00:30 Does that mean then you've had no chance to speak to the prospective new owners?
00:33 No, not at this stage. Like I say, strong news this morning was breaking to me as well.
00:38 Like I say, I knew some noise about it, but not the actual details.
00:42 I'm sure in due course I will speak to whoever needs to, but at this stage, it's too early for all that.
00:47 How does it compare to the situation you were in at Burnley?
00:49 Because obviously your final season there, a takeover happened.
00:53 So what similarities do you see between the positions the two clubs are in?
00:56 Well, I don't know the group that are coming in, obviously, with any depth at all, really.
01:00 So it's, you know, the people involved, the people you're working with or could be working with, depending.
01:06 And then, you know, you fathom that out as you go.
01:08 So I don't know their different thoughts until I speak to them about what their vision of the future is.
01:13 From your memory, though, what impact did that takeover have on you at the time?
01:18 And I suppose, are there concerns that it can impact your position at the football club?
01:22 Well, it's more about the modelling of the club. You know, the Burnley situation was different.
01:25 They changed the modelling of the club and their view of how they wanted it to go.
01:29 So that wasn't really the case. You know, I made it clear afterwards we didn't win enough games, simple as that.
01:33 So I don't think that was anything to do with the people involved.
01:36 That's just a fact of the matter of being in management.
01:38 Obviously, we need to win more games at the current stage of this season, although we've been playing well.
01:43 But yeah, so all them things to be looked at, the carrots involved, should this deal go all the way through?
01:49 And then we'll find out more, you know, relationships,
01:51 how you build relationships and their view of how the club can move forward, both on the pitch and off the pitch.
01:55 And what does a manager need from boardroom level that maybe has been lacking since you arrived at the football club?
02:01 Well, I've only had a short window. I think it'll be interesting to see,
02:06 you know, because the club have kind of found its way through all the different ways of working.
02:12 More latterly, it's been me and Kev, really, have been, you know, hands-on all the time,
02:15 obviously, mainly in the markets and stuff like that. Not the bigger pitch,
02:19 and not the stadium and all stuff like that, quite obviously.
02:22 I don't know. It'll be interesting to see what their view of it is, you know, how they see it moving forward.
02:27 And like I say, both on and off the pitch, the business side of the club,
02:30 obviously the stadium as well, and then also on the pitch.
02:33 So there are things to be looked at when, well,
02:36 let's imagine when everything's done and signed and sealed and tied up.
02:39 We'll get tomatoes on the pitch now. I'm sure you would have liked more in during the window.
02:43 It's unusual, to be honest, since I've been here.
02:45 You always have to front up when it comes to this. Nine months, one month of talking about all sorts of stuff.
02:50 Not so much on the pitch. As I say, obviously, I get the impression you wanted more in during the transfer window,
02:55 but how strong are the options that you have in the squad now, do you feel, when everyone's fit?
02:59 Yeah, I think that's the key. Of course, you know, as a manager,
03:02 you want to try and strengthen in as many areas as possible.
03:05 The financial situation, I've spoken as freely and openly as I can.
03:09 On the other hand, the people coming back to fitness, you know, Dom back on the grass again,
03:14 and should be clear. Jack Harrison's now on the grass with us as a team,
03:18 only the last few days, but that's good news and he's feeling good.
03:22 Dele's still a bit of time away, Shames is still a bit of time away,
03:24 but they're on the grass with the physios, so that's good, but not working with us in the team.
03:32 Dobbo, he's back. He trained with us. Trying to think who else we're missing.
03:36 Brunthwaite? Oh, yeah, no, Jarrett's fine.
03:38 Yeah, yeah, they're fine. Just, you know, Nox and nothing too major.
03:42 So yeah, so we are getting stronger. So Jack and Dom, possible options for the weekend?
03:47 Not Jack. No, Jack's only just out on the grass working with the team.
03:50 He's been out on the grass for a longer period, sorry, with the sports science team
03:54 and the strength and conditioning, all that side of things,
03:56 but actually training with us literally a couple of days.
03:58 So he's going to need more time than that. And with Dom, it's just obviously the facial injury.
04:03 So he's managed to keep his fitness up, which is good.
04:05 So he'll certainly be coming back into the fold. Just with that depth,
04:08 how did you feel about the way Damari Gray left the club?
04:12 Well, I spoke freely of it. It was just one of them things, you know.
04:14 It's a situation where the club, all I was trying to make clear is,
04:18 the club will always make the decisions, not the players.
04:20 That's just the reality of this football club. It's the reality of all football clubs,
04:23 but certainly this one. So yeah, a decision was made. A very good fee for that player.
04:29 And that had to be considered. The business side of the club has been quite apparent,
04:32 I think, you know, this summer, with the money bought in against the money going out.
04:35 So I think that's part of the reality of where the club is at this time.
04:39 Obviously, Arsenal, at good of some, brings back good memories from your first game in charge as well.
04:43 It feels like you need something similar again.
04:45 What was key to that performance on the day and something that you can maybe harness this time around as well?
04:52 Well, the oddest thing so far this season has been the actual performance level against the points on the board,
05:00 you know. So we want the performance level to stay high.
05:03 Some of what we learned from that, although each season is different, each team,
05:06 you know, tweak what they do. The basic structure of the team has to be good,
05:10 of course. The work ethic of the team has to be good against all sides,
05:13 but particularly sides like Arsenal. They've had a good start. And equally, finding your key moments,
05:19 you know, and I think that's probably the biggest challenge so far this season,
05:23 is the number of key moments we've had and we haven't been clinical enough to take hold of games at the key times.
05:29 So not so easy against teams like Arsenal, but we showed last season,
05:33 which the, you know, when the team's in good shape, good,
05:39 I suppose, being committed to the cause, you know, that stage, it was first game,
05:43 Arsenal, big moment and every player's nose pointing in the right direction,
05:47 everyone playing on the edge and that's what we want, we want every player to do that all the time.
05:50 And like I say, apart from the lead time, which I can't disguise,
05:53 but the actual performance levels have been really high.
05:56 Thank you. Sean, on Arsenal, I know at the end of last season you spoke about this and you've mentioned it since.
06:02 There can be big moments in a season, turning points in a season.
06:06 Is this potentially one of them when you relate back to that first game in charge and the effect it had on the squad?
06:12 I think usually, not always, it's retrospectively, you know,
06:16 I think people look back because in the Arsenal game,
06:18 you've got to remember everyone just pre-supposed we're off and running and we sort of did do and then it tailed off.
06:23 So it doesn't guarantee. I think taking these on would be,
06:29 you know, if you can get that result that you all want and we all want,
06:31 then all it does is reinforce, actually, the good performances so far this season and you get your payback for the consistency.
06:38 There's one blip, of course, at Villa where we were miles off, but the other games we played very well.
06:42 So I think it's more about that, reinforcing the consistency of the team and the way it's playing to get a reward for it.
06:48 Is it fair to say you feel that as a group you're in a better place now than even at the end of last season?
06:54 Well, we look to balance the group. We know there was an imbalance.
06:56 I think we've done that, worked very hard and diligently throughout the markets and,
07:01 you know, trying to put deals together and I've said all along, those deals have been difficult.
07:06 So I think balance wise, as long as everyone's fit, which everyone's beginning to get fit,
07:09 then I think, yeah, we're in a better place. Whether we can, you know,
07:13 now take that into performances that can win, performance is there, but we've got to win.
07:17 Against a team like Arsenal and obviously what they're trying to achieve,
07:21 what is the key? What's the minimum if you are to put off a win on Sunday?
07:26 Well, you've got to all play well.
07:27 You know, I've said it for years, you know, when the big guns really turn up,
07:32 then you have to play well. Some things need to go in your favour.
07:35 They have a soft one, you know, and you play very well.
07:37 You know, your performance stops them. That can be a key factor.
07:41 But also we've got some really talented players, I believe, you know,
07:43 and we've been very creative this season so far.
07:46 We've got to continue to do that. So it's not just about waiting for the game.
07:51 You've got to go and take the game, you know, and I've said this to the players endlessly,
07:53 and so far this season, I think there's been a good show of that,
07:56 despite not getting the points on the board that we think we should.
07:59 Thank you.
08:00 Thank you.
08:00 We'll go to Shamir now.
08:03 Sorry, Shamir, one second.
08:09 Hi, Sean. Is having the take-off being resolved good for everyone at the club
08:14 to quieten some of that noise that you talk about?
08:18 Well, it's too early to say, I think, because it's not,
08:21 you know, like I say, with all the due diligence that is still to be done,
08:24 until that's done, it might be a different view.
08:26 But I think the noise has been there for a long time.
08:29 So I think people have just got used to it, to be honest.
08:31 You know, the noise of ownership and possible new owners and all that sort of stuff.
08:35 So I don't think it's that big a deal, certainly not to myself or the players.
08:39 You know, it doesn't affect the fact we're prepping for the game against Arsenal.
08:42 You know, that just continues regardless of what's going on at the very top of the club.
08:46 Is it something to look forward to for the fans,
08:48 who have maybe been unhappy at what's been going on here for the last few years?
08:52 Well, like I say, we don't really know which way it will go yet,
08:55 with the strategy, the thinking, the course that the new ownership,
08:59 let's say it goes through, will take.
09:01 So I think, well, I imagine that messages to myself,
09:06 messages going out there will come in due course
09:08 and allow our fans a window of opportunity to see what their plans are.
09:11 What have you had a chance to work on with the players during the international break on the training pitch?
09:16 Yes, it's not so easy because obviously a number went away, a number of our starters,
09:20 but they got back in today.
09:21 So we did some relevant things that we thought today and you've still got to monitor,
09:25 you know, a couple of players played both 90s, I think Miko and Ama.
09:30 Ganna played the second game, you know, so some have had more minutes than others,
09:33 Pato less so, Jordan, of course, you know.
09:36 So it's just getting them back together today and doing some work on what comes next.
09:39 And obviously with Arsenal, we do have to make sure the players are prepared as we would do.
09:43 But yeah, we've only got a couple of days with them together as a group.
09:46 And yet to pick up a victory this season,
09:48 but can they summon that energy from your first game here to repeat what you did?
09:53 Well, it's a long time ago.
09:54 I don't think they'll summon that energy, but I'd like the energy to be in the performance.
09:58 I mean, that's for sure because it has to be, it has to be in all Premier League games.
10:01 So that's a given for me. Minimum requirements, maximum effort.
10:04 You know, that's one of the things I've said to the team, all teams I've worked with, to be honest.
10:08 And I think that's the way I thought I played myself, as limited as I was compared to these players.
10:13 But I think I always put effort in and I think I always put maximum in.
10:15 I think that's a key thing when you get that collective energy, it can be a powerful force.
10:21 Sean, you say you and the players are trying to stay immune from the outside noise.
10:26 What's the key to keeping sort of the stability within the squad when there's so much talk
10:31 and there's going to be for another three months until this deal gets done?
10:34 I think they're used to it. I think ever since I've been here, probably before I was here,
10:37 there'd been noise about everything. A lot of people laughing about, you know, with veneers.
10:42 Ever since I've been here, there's not many press conferences I've done about football.
10:45 That's for sure. Purely about football, that is.
10:50 Thanks, Karl. Julia, Radio Merseyside.
10:52 Hi, Sean. This will be the first time the home crowd get to see Beto.
10:57 He's become quite popular already. I'm sure you're aware with the fans.
11:00 Has he provided a boost here?
11:04 I think he's added a different feel.
11:06 You know, I think he's quite quiet, actually, but the way he goes about it, the way he trains,
11:11 he's got a lovely rawness about him so far, but he just wants to take it on.
11:15 Very open-minded. I think he's shown that in his performances so far.
11:18 He's shown that in training and we certainly want to allow him to build on that,
11:22 you know, because you know yourself, you want, strange thing about football,
11:26 you want players to be polished, but you also want them to not lose that raw edge.
11:29 And I think he will become more polished as a player,
11:31 but he's definitely got that rawness and that desire to do well.
11:34 And that's a great thing to have, I think, coming into the Premier League.
11:37 I know you said Jack Harrison isn't ready for selection yet,
11:40 but now you are able to work with him a bit more closely.
11:42 What qualities is he bringing you to your squad?
11:44 Well, I think he can work in a number of key areas on the pitch.
11:47 You know, we know he can score, we know he can assist and we know he's got quality,
11:52 but he's also got a high work ethic and I think that's a really healthy mixture for any team,
11:57 but certainly for this team. So, yeah, we want him to do all of that.
12:00 Like I say, it's early stages of him getting true fitness,
12:03 but he's a fit lad, that's for sure. He tests well, as in our physical testing,
12:07 and he looks free. The main thing with injuries sometimes,
12:10 you know, players come back, they don't quite look free. He does.
12:12 You know, he's joined in training the last couple of days and he looks like he's clear and ready to go.
12:16 So now it's just getting him to full match speed and match fitness.
12:20 When you do those physical tests then,
12:22 do they match up to what you then see in the training and what we see on the pitch?
12:27 Well, the only thing that people talk about, you've heard it for years, is that true match fitness.
12:31 I say it myself because there's something about playing a game that is,
12:34 you know, you've got to add in the emotion of a game, the feel of a game,
12:37 also the prep of a game, the build up, all of that. You can never quite recreate that,
12:42 but what you can do is get them fit for the task.
12:44 So I think he's done a lot of work, a lot of background work.
12:47 The final bit is when they get out there playing and it's not just one game,
12:50 you know, it's each game as it comes and usually by sort of that two, three, four game mark,
12:56 they usually got true match fitness and physical fitness because most of these lads,
12:59 you've got to remember, the days of these players coming in after pre-season,
13:02 that overweight and all, it just doesn't happen now.
13:04 You know, most of them, their general fitness is very high anyway,
13:07 but we're talking about that peak, top performing fitness
13:09 and there's a small percentage of difference,
13:12 but it's very important, that last bit.
13:15 You've already, you know, mentioned it a couple of times there.
13:17 Since you've come in, the headlines around the club have not always been about the first team,
13:21 rarely about the first team.
13:22 In fact, has this been quite a learning curve for you as a manager?
13:25 Yeah, definitely.
13:27 I will say that it's been some interesting times,
13:30 but no, it's a challenge.
13:32 I didn't come into it with my eyes closed.
13:34 I knew it would be and it certainly has been, still is,
13:38 but there's some really strong signs, I think, you know,
13:40 and I think as a club and I'd like to think, we're showing signs of that connection I spoke about
13:46 and I think the connection with the fans.
13:49 We haven't got the points of what we deserve and I think they agree
13:52 and, you know, that's the feeling I get.
13:53 I don't speak to all fans, but I speak to some and they sort of get it,
13:55 you know, they've backed us home in a way, like they do,
13:58 and I think so far they've liked what they've seen, other than the league table.
14:01 Now, we've got to correct that by winning games,
14:03 but I think there's a lot of good work done.
14:04 There's lots more to do. Thank you.
14:07 Thanks, Julio. We'll go to Will.
14:10 Hi, Sean. Sorry, hi, Will. It's all right.
14:17 Just wanted to ask about Gareth Blampley. He's obviously started the past two games,
14:21 caught the eye, but it's an importance with him giving the young lads fairly an experience.
14:25 Do you have to take the rough with the smooth?
14:27 Maybe there might be mistakes, but sticking with them and not
14:30 maybe getting on his back too much?
14:32 Yes, I mean, you know, part of the learning curve of all players,
14:34 and I've mentioned many times about goalkeepers and centre-halves,
14:37 they often mature later because their game knowledge improves.
14:40 And I think that's where he's at.
14:42 You know, we know he's a good player.
14:43 It's now about game knowledge and, you know, being alive to the nuances of being a centre-back,
14:50 basically, you know, the tiny details that you learn from years of playing there.
14:55 And, you know, and I think he's made a really strong start to what he's about.
14:58 And I think he's getting more and more effective very quickly because he needs to,
15:02 and he'll understand that. We're not, certainly not overcoaching him at the moment.
15:06 We're letting him play. We don't want to over, you know,
15:08 overcoach him by giving him so much to absorb and so much to take on.
15:12 So, at the minute, it's just pointers, really, direction as a group in the unit,
15:17 and him absorbing his own performances. Because when you first start at any level of football,
15:21 there's enough going on, you know, and so we coach enough, we feel,
15:25 to, you know, give them the awareness of what their job is and their role.
15:28 But then sometimes let them go a little bit, you know, let them learn from what they're doing.
15:31 I think that self-learning in football is something that's still relevant and not always the case.
15:37 You know, some players, and sometimes you can feel like you have to overwhelm them
15:40 with information about all the different things and players they're playing against.
15:44 Sometimes, you know, we've found over the years,
15:45 it's better to just back off a little bit and let them naturally play.
15:48 And so far, he's done a good job of that.
15:50 - I just want to ask about Andre Gomez as well.
15:52 He's been linked with a move to Turkey before this evening.
15:54 Is there any chance of that happening before the window closes?
15:56 - I think it's unlikely. He's been very unfortunate with injuries, not major injuries.
16:02 He's aware that I want him to get fit. I want him to be a part of what we're doing.
16:05 I think he's a very good footballer. I think he's shown that down the years.
16:09 So, I think it's unlikely. I think he'll be here at the end of today.
16:13 And I hope he is. I hope he is.
16:14 - Just finally, you said in January, after the window shut,
16:17 there can be a couple of pots of gold, maybe, in terms of the free agent marker.
16:20 But given that it was two weeks since the window shut,
16:22 is it maybe too late now to say if that would have already happened?
16:25 You might have brought any in or you're looking at that?
16:28 - Sorry, do you mean retrospectively, players?
16:30 - Just the free agent marker. - Oh, free agent, sorry.
16:32 - You said in January, pots, there can be pots of gold.
16:34 - Yeah, yeah, sorry, yeah. It's rare at this stage.
16:38 You get one who's, you know, missed for odd reasons.
16:41 Usually by this stage, the market's found the situation for players,
16:44 you know, where they're at. But, you know,
16:47 we're certainly keeping an eye on the list of players and see if there's anyone who sorts,
16:50 which we've already done, of course. But we will keep doing that.