Dyche on Branthwaite's Everton future and Newcastle
03/10/2024
Finch Farm training centre, Liverpool, UK
03/10/2024
Finch Farm training centre, Liverpool, UK
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00:00It's warm in here, look at me, I'm the usual, that's the way to go.
00:15Good afternoon, everyone, welcome to our pre-match press conference,
00:18to preview our game against Newcastle United, we'll start off with Vinny from Sky.
00:22Getting that first win last week, what was different in the performance compared to what had gone before?
00:27We're seeing the game through, we didn't play as well actually, first half particularly,
00:31I thought we were stronger in the second half and looked a threat when we needed to and took our chances,
00:36and then seeing the game through defensively with a better feel to the organisation going into the end of the game.
00:43Even after that win though, obviously, off-the-field matters crop up again as well,
00:48and we see reports that new owners coming in could provide you with a sizeable transfer budget in January,
00:52what do you know about any such thing?
00:55Well, it's fair to say there wasn't many quotes in there, so I try and stick to the facts,
00:59and I certainly haven't heard anything from the owners at all, and certainly not about transfer budgets.
01:05So, as there was no quotes, I would say that was a mythical story like there's many out there.
01:11Until it becomes a fact, then I try, if I can, and concentrate on the facts, and I certainly know no other at this stage.
01:18Any plans for you to speak to them in the near future?
01:20Not from my point of view, obviously, I'm always open to speak to whoever needs to speak to,
01:25but no, I haven't heard anything from their side of things.
01:27And again, speculation surrounding Jaron Brenthwaite only just back from injury,
01:30what do you make of that, do you have concerns that someone like Liverpool could come in from him in January?
01:35I think we said, or I said, sorry, in the summer that any player at Everton Football Club,
01:40you know it's a worldwide market now, it's not just about one player, the way the game's changed,
01:46everyone, certainly in Europe, maybe the world, but certainly in Europe,
01:48the transfer situation has opened up across Europe, so it's not a surprise that good players are linked with other clubs.
01:56That's just the way it goes, you know the nature of it.
01:59I said in the summer he'd be staying here, he is, so that's good.
02:03Are you confident about him staying the entire season?
02:05I mean, look, the club has a situation which it will still be looking upon.
02:10Obviously, if the new ownership does go through, that might change things,
02:14financially, or the viewpoint of where the club is at and where it wants to go.
02:17But we don't know that yet, so we'll have to just wait and see.
02:21On the injury front, Coleman, Paterson, are they ready to return?
02:23And Chimity, Ambrosia, are they on course?
02:25Yeah, they're a bit longer, them two.
02:28Coleman's a bit longer as well, I mean, not too much longer, we'd be hopeful over this international period he gets closer.
02:34Pato is more common sense now, he's out training all the time,
02:36but he needs a game programme after being out just around that six-month mark,
02:40so a bit of a longer-term situation, but he's making good progress and he's training regularly,
02:44and so far, so good.
02:46You took four points off Newcastle last season, a 3-0 victory at Goodison Park,
02:50obviously it was part of that four-game run after the defeat to Manchester United as well,
02:54but what do you expect from Newcastle this time around?
02:56Just one defeat all season at Fulham, but followed that up, obviously,
02:59with a very good performance against Manchester City.
03:02Yeah, I mean, they're a good outfit, we know that, they've invested well and they're well-coached by Eddie,
03:05I think they do a good job there, someone I definitely respect in the game.
03:10They've got some good individuals and they're supplying another good season so far.
03:14We did do well in both games, I thought, for different reasons.
03:17Away ended up a sort of a basketball match at times,
03:21but we came out with a point there, and at home, I thought we delivered a very good performance.
03:25You know they can operate in different ways, they can play, but they often get the ball forward quickly,
03:30so you've got to be alive to that, because of that pace and on the counter.
03:33They're a good outfit, they've been put together well, but as you said,
03:36our record against them was good last season.
03:38There's certainly no given reason why we can't replicate that record,
03:41but you've got to play well, and I think we've got to play well from the start to the finish.
03:46I thought we pieced it together better the second half last week against Palace,
03:50but you've got to do that for the full game.
03:52Thanks, Vinny, we'll go to Fraser.
03:54Sean, you talked about last week saying that it wasn't maybe the best performance,
03:57but the grit that the team showed, the determination was largely a part of what managed to get you over the line.
04:03How much more are you going to show of that now?
04:06Well, it was more seeing the game through, I think.
04:08That side of things, because after the first half, when we were below par, I thought,
04:13we were strong for the early part of the set,
04:16that's quite apparent with two very good goals and we provided a good performance.
04:20It was more seeing the grit side, seeing the game through at the end.
04:23I mean, it's much determination to do the basics, really, the shape of the team,
04:30the hard yards, as I call it, the bit that not everyone notices,
04:34but certainly your team-mates do and certainly myself and the coaching staff do.
04:38The organisation and the willing desire to make sure that we looked after ourselves
04:42and make good decisions when they were needed.
04:44And I thought we did that.
04:45So, you know, we're trying to piece together or re-piece together,
04:49because we showed it very strong as a group at the end of last season,
04:52that ability to operate in different ways.
04:54Sometimes you have to see a game through by shutting it down,
04:56which we haven't done as well this season until last week.
04:59Sometimes you can play open, sometimes you can affect teams with that.
05:02Sometimes it's counter, sometimes it's drop back and absorb.
05:05You know, how many different ways do you need in the Premier League?
05:07Well, usually you need lots of them.
05:09And I think we've shown very good signs in other games where we've attacked well,
05:12maybe not defended as well.
05:14And now it's about, you know,
05:15bolting it together and doing it for 95, 97 minutes,
05:18whatever the game offers and finding different ways of operating
05:20to make sure we look after ourselves and win games.
05:22And like I say, so I was pleased with that overall against Palace,
05:26of using them different ways of working to make sure that we did look after ourselves.
05:30Obviously, we've got to go and do that moving forwards.
05:34And in terms of the confidence in the group, having got that first win,
05:37has everybody had a bit more of a stronger feel this week,
05:40a bit of a spring in their step?
05:41Yes, I mean, you know, it's a strange thing.
05:44Confidence is that funny thing that, you know, it comes and goes, it ebbs and flows,
05:48but mainly you have to have an underbelly of confidence to be a professional footballer.
05:52But, of course, it enheightens it when you get a reward.
05:54You know, the players, there's been no lack of work from the players this season,
05:58but, you know, it enheightens the work when you do get a performance that can win
06:01and you do see it through and you can win.
06:03And it reminds some of the players of how different ways to operate can win.
06:06So I think there's professional confidence, as I call it, in what we do,
06:11the day-to-day work and what they do as a group when the whistle blows.
06:14And that's one thing.
06:15The individual confidence is obviously something that each player will adapt to,
06:19play them well.
06:19You know, there are players who have played very well in the previous games we hadn't won,
06:22so they'll actually be confident about their own performance,
06:24but bringing that team confidence.
06:26And I think winning brings that whole team and whole collective mentality
06:30where everyone feels a bit better about life.
06:32James Fraser, we'll go to Juliet Radio, Merseyside.
06:34Hi, Jesper Lundgren was substituted at half-time against Palace.
06:38How has he reacted to that this week in training?
06:41Yeah, fine.
06:41I mean, you know, players, it can happen.
06:43He had a below-par first half, but he's adapting.
06:46I've said all these players that we've brought in,
06:48none of them have played in the Premier League regularly,
06:50so they're adapting to the challenges of it.
06:52And, you know, finding that in-game consistency, which I've spoken about endlessly,
06:55you know, it's not just about week-to-week consistency during a game,
06:59staying true to the cause.
07:00And if it's not your day to be, say, if you're a real talented player,
07:03which he is, I think, with the ball technically,
07:05if it's not your day to be good at that, then you've got to do the team job.
07:08And if both are not operating as well, then sometimes it needs a change.
07:11So it's all part of his development and learning about what the Premier League's about.
07:14So, yeah, there's certainly no question marks other than learn,
07:19move forward and we get ready again.
07:21Can I just ask the difference between Jarrod Brantwaite had a game for the under-21s
07:25and then came back into the starting XI.
07:28Nathan Paterson has done a couple of hours with the under-21 games.
07:32What's the difference there?
07:33How long will it take Nathan Paterson to get up to that level, to be in the starting XI?
07:37Yeah, Paterson was a different kind of injury.
07:38You know, it was quite a serious injury on a tendon, which is unusual.
07:43Needed surgery on a tendon, which is equally, you know, has to be careful on the recovery.
07:48So therefore it needs more time.
07:50Coming back to true fitness, true sharpness, game sharpness,
07:53that's six months is a long time to be out.
07:54So it's a games programme rather than one game.
07:57He hadn't done as much of the support training.
07:59So although he could play a bit quicker than Jarrod, he hadn't done as many hours
08:02just on the support side of things, as in the sports science support.
08:06Jarrod had obviously had a spell when he came back and was nearly back and then went down again.
08:11So all these things have to be calculated.
08:13And, you know, still we made a decision on Jarrod.
08:15He felt good, he felt right.
08:17And Pat, we know and he knows he's still just sort of searching for that true fitness and that sharpness.
08:22So there's more to it than just literally injury for injury.
08:25There are different kinds of injuries and they're treated differently
08:27and the recovery is treated differently as well.
08:30Dwight McNeil at the moment nominated for Premier League Player of the Month for September.
08:34He's also topping loads of the stat lists, including key passes.
08:38He's still only 24 years old.
08:40Have we seen the best of him and how much more is there to come from him?
08:45I spoke to him when I first got here about, you know, what we felt of him.
08:48Obviously, I gave him his debut all them years ago
08:51and he's never really looked back.
08:52He's had a couple of tough spells and I appreciate it before I got here.
08:55He was having a bit of a quiet spell and people were asking questions about him.
08:58But, you know, he's affected himself, not just us affecting him, he's affected himself.
09:02He continues to mature as a player.
09:04He knows we speak to him about other things that we still think he can round himself with.
09:09Changing position was something that we've talked about a lot since I've been at the club
09:12and when and where we could do it and the reasons for doing it.
09:16And so far it's been productive.
09:18I still think he can operate all across that middle band of the pitch.
09:22But so far he's done very well and it looks like, excuse me,
09:24it looks like to me he's enjoying his role as well.
09:27I appreciate that there's a lot of the season to go,
09:30but being out of the bottom three after lots of questions about being in it,
09:34does it give a slight psychological boost?
09:38It doesn't to me particularly, but I mean, it changes the feel of what's going on, you know.
09:43And you know yourself, the noise created is very quick.
09:47Evan's had a gloomy story for a long time now, so it's an easy story.
09:50I've always said that, you know, if we're not winning games, it becomes an easy story
09:53and everyone jumps on it very quickly because they can roll the story out quickly.
09:57And so I think it's more the feeling of everything.
10:00You know, you come out the bottom four and it just lightens that kind of mood around the media side,
10:04the fan side, the player side even, you know, and it gives a different feel.
10:08Now we've got to capitalise on that because if that does affect people,
10:12then you want that to go away quite obviously.
10:15You want them to, you know, that fine line between when you go on a pitch and being focused,
10:20but that freedom to go and play.
10:21And when that story changes and it softens a bit,
10:24then that gives a bit more freedom to the players to go and play.
10:26And you want them to be relaxed but focused when they play.
10:28So overall, of course, psychologically for the fans and I think for the players deep down,
10:34it's nice to be out the bottom three, but it's not a work done for the season.
10:38There's plenty to do.
10:40And unfortunately, we have been down that end of the table for a few years now.
10:44So it's not new ground to the players,
10:46but we certainly didn't want to be there and we still don't.
10:49So now we're working to come away from that and get clear of that.
10:51And then, like I say, find that better days when everyone's a bit more relaxed about it,
10:55they can enjoy their football and usually, not always,
10:57but usually you find that that brings better results.
11:01Thanks, Julian.
11:02Who's next? Will, we'll go to you.
11:08Hi, Sean. Just on Jarrett, there was a lot of speculation obviously over him in the future.
11:13How does he handle all of that talk over the potential exit away?
11:17Well, I don't think, I didn't really speak to him about it, I don't need to.
11:20He's still there, I'm not going to sit there and chat endlessly about stories in the paper,
11:25of which 95% are not true.
11:27So there's no point to it, you know.
11:28So he seems fine, you know, other than being injured.
11:31Obviously, that's been a real blow to him, but he's been fine.
11:35In terms of your midfield, you've rotated a little bit and you've had a little bit of unavailability.
11:40Do you still feel like you're searching for your best two?
11:42Do you know your best two, or do you think there's different combinations?
11:45No, I think there's different combinations.
11:47I think, you know, we're searching for the right fitness levels,
11:50because obviously Ganner had to go away unfortunately with a family situation,
11:54missed a pocket of football, and Tim's learning about the Premier League.
11:58Duke obviously is always pretty clear that everyone knows that he can cover the hard yards of a football pitch,
12:04so that's without a doubt.
12:05Jimmy coming back to true fitness.
12:07So, you know, you're sort of looking, piecing it together a little bit and finding the right mixture.
12:13It's not an easy task, but they're all good players,
12:15so the main thing is to get them all properly fit, Premier League fit,
12:18and they're just about getting there now, which is going to be beneficial moving forward.
12:22Just in terms of Nathan Paterson, he's been here nearly three years now and his focus is on getting fit,
12:27but how determined is he to really nail down that right back there?
12:31Because he has had injuries and maybe been in and out of the team,
12:34is it his time to really nail that position down now?
12:37Well, it's all about his time, his time could be whatever,
12:39it's about him getting fit and getting his form right to go and play.
12:41But the first thing is to get him to that fitness level, having such a long spell off.
12:46There's certainly, you know, it's that push and pull scenario,
12:49making sure that we push hard enough and that he pushes hard enough to get to that true fitness and Premier League fitness,
12:54but obviously just being a little bit careful with the nature of his injury,
12:58as much as the medical team looking after that side of things.
13:00But I think you do it in layers, you know, when he's there and then we go, right, OK,
13:05and then we start looking at him pushing forwards, as you're suggesting,
13:07pushing to almost make it his zone where he's going to play
13:11and he's going to build and he's going to grow into the Premier League with Everton.
13:14You know, that's certainly what he came here for.
13:17He's got some good players there as well, some very experienced players, we know,
13:20and some good players.
13:21So it's not just, you flick your fingers and it all works.
13:24You know, there's a bit of work to be done, that's for sure.
13:27But the first thing's first, get him totally fit and clear-minded,
13:29because he's had a tough run at it with this injury and it's not easy.
13:33And Dele Alli was linked with a move to Serie A earlier this week, is there any more on his future?
13:38No, as far as I know.
13:41Thanks, Will. We'll go to Karl at the Press Association.
13:44Hi, Sean, just one more on Jared.
13:46I think there's been an underlying feeling all season that once he's back in the team,
13:50things will be OK.
13:51But is that too much of expectation and responsibility to put on his shoulders?
13:56Well, whether it is or isn't, people make that story, that's just the way it goes.
13:59And I think he's rounded enough to know that.
14:02But there's 10 other players out there at any given time working hard,
14:05and I thought they worked hard around him on Saturday,
14:07because he's still getting back to true fitness.
14:10Yeah, I know him well enough to know that he's well aware of his team-mates
14:14and what the importance of the group are.
14:17Yeah, I think there's a lot going on for him outside of what we do,
14:22and it's nothing to do with him, obviously, stories everywhere about him,
14:25but he seems pretty level and pretty much just enjoying playing,
14:29or getting back to playing, that's for sure.
14:32Thanks, Karl. Any further questions in the open section?
14:35Can I just ask a question?
14:37Yeah, please.
14:38I'll say it loud.
14:40Jack Dowling, your first-team physical performance coach, has just completed...
14:45He is physically performing, that's for sure.
14:47He is, just a touch, 26 minutes every hour for 26 hours, £100,000.
14:52And he's in today as well.
14:54Can he go home early? And also, how proud are you?
14:56No, amazing.
14:57You know, the effort he's put into raising funds,
15:01and obviously we know the story behind it from his family point of view,
15:05it's been incredible.
15:06And this one, again, slightly more under the radar, this one,
15:08but it's been amazing, and the lads all found out this morning
15:11that he did complete it, a few of the staff done some bits with him.
15:13I think Seamus was on his bike at midnight last night,
15:16going a bit with him and just trying to help him through it.
15:18But yeah, I mean, he's an incredible character for doing what he's done,
15:22you know, in the memory of his brother.
15:24So, incredible, but a fantastic achievement, again, that's for sure.