Everton boss Sean Dyche on the latest injury situation and a massive Premier League clash with Brentford
Finch Farm, Liverpool, UK
Finch Farm, Liverpool, UK
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00:00Hey everyone, welcome to our pre-match press conference to preview our game against Brentford. We'll start off with Vinny from Sky.
00:06We'll start with the squad news, Brodie, any chance of being involved yet?
00:09Not involved, but he's back training. He's only just getting into full training,
00:13he's been doing bits and acts as a floater, just light bits, getting him integrated into the group.
00:18As much for his injury as well, but no, he's had a full week's training, but he doesn't need a games programme obviously.
00:23So, is there anything organised as regards pre-match closures?
00:26We're looking at the dates now because we wanted to ensure that he came through his first full week.
00:31Obviously, it was interrupted from the international as well, but no, he's done well with that.
00:37He said he feels good and he's looking fit, so yes, we'll introduce a games programme
00:42as soon as the medical and the physical scientists and myself all align.
00:48But it's very soon now, I think.
00:50You kind of touched on it the other week as well, and maybe one player won't necessarily
00:53change everything in front of goal at the same time, can he?
00:57We brought him here to offer something, that's obvious. I think he's hungry, I think he's got a desire,
01:02he's worked very hard to get fit. Youssef's making good progress as well.
01:06He's slightly behind, but he had his first full day with us actually today and that's pleasing
01:12because he's worked very hard, very unfortunate injury.
01:15So, yes, there's two different styles of centre-forwards and we'll see what they offer.
01:19But first things first, get them fully fit and get them out there playing.
01:22Obviously, the takeover is still to go through.
01:24What impact is that having on what you can do in January, be it bringing in players or letting players...
01:29Yes, there's no use. So, we're working to the current situation in the club,
01:32which is obviously being very, very sensible financially.
01:37If the free-kicking group do get hands on the club and get it done in its totality,
01:43then things might change. But at the minute, we're just working with the guidelines that were there before.
01:48With those players coming back, do you even need to bring anyone in in January?
01:51Well, the thing you've seen when you carry a lighter squad is if you get a few injuries,
01:55it dilutes very quickly and I've spoken about it freely.
01:59On the one hand, some of the younger players get a feel of what it is quicker than maybe they were ready for,
02:05in a way, but it enhances their development. On the other hand, you lose that depth
02:10and that competitive edge for the sheer challenge of numbers.
02:14I think if the right players and the right finance are available,
02:17I think you're always looking in the market.
02:19How are you with some of the other players as well? I'm thinking Dwight McNeil, Jarrod Brantwaite...
02:24Dwight's come through it well, actually. He has a really good week training.
02:27Jarrod trained today after settling things down, so we'll see how he responds overnight,
02:35but we're hopeful on that and should be OK.
02:37Seamus, Jimmy and Tim still a little bit further away?
02:39Yes, Seamus is on the grass, but he's with the medical side, so he's just taking the first steps back.
02:44Jimmy's had good news from the specialist, although he's been out a while now,
02:48so he's going to have to start the training period again.
02:51It's a back and forth, you have to be careful in the initial spell.
02:55Tim's is similar but different, the stress response in his foot is clearing up,
03:00so he can start semi-loading again now and making sure he starts his progress back.
03:05How do you view the challenge now? You look at the stats, eighth in the form table for the last seven games,
03:09four goals conceded in that time, which is the best in the league,
03:12yet the positivity of a few weeks ago seems to have dipped somewhat.
03:16Well, it's hard to bring positivity here on a constant basis.
03:20The club's been hovering around the club for so long now that we get a respite
03:24and then people deem it something different.
03:28But in-house, I think the players have been very positive.
03:31The players go away on international, they come back, there's always that buoyancy
03:34about their teammates coming back into the group.
03:37So it's a nice, sharp session today, they look full of energy.
03:41I personally felt it was a good performance down at West Ham, they've spent a lot of money,
03:44they're a good outfit and we had a more dominant performance away from home, I would suggest.
03:49But you've just got to keep going and try and change that story.
03:54I've spoken many times, the feel in the camp has been good.
03:58The outside feel, as you suggest, it shifts constantly
04:02and all we can do is work hard to get the right results to keep it going.
04:05I know the form table of course, the stats, facts, the progression in the team,
04:09the adjustments and all of that.
04:11But we have to focus inside and just hope that everyone else comes with us.
04:15But it's been a tough story to change, as you rightly know.
04:19Since I got here and before that, way before that,
04:22it seems like the dark clouds are always around heaven somewhere
04:25and we've been pushing them back and then they come back and push them back again.
04:28Our job at the moment is to build on that kind of form and turn it into winning form
04:32and just continue with the consistency of not being beaten
04:35and I think that's a valuable thing to have.
04:37How do you get the right mindset to push it back again?
04:39Because from the outside, people will look at the league position
04:41and see three points off the drop zone.
04:43You're the one at the moment who has to shoulder the pressure
04:45and the responsibility once again as well, and scrutiny I suppose.
04:49Well, that's standard for Everton life as a manager.
04:52It has been for many years, I'm no different.
04:54It's not an enjoyable thing by the way, but you want it to be happy times, of course.
04:59But it's part of my role and many other managers have been for me.
05:02On the players' side of things, I think they've been very resilient through my time here.
05:06There are a lot of questions asked of all of us and obviously the points and all the rest of it.
05:09I couldn't be more proud of the players, to be honest.
05:11The new additions are learning, they're getting stronger, I believe,
05:14and learning about the Premier League.
05:16We're trying to constantly regroup and reform a group that can be successful
05:22on a more consistent basis and I think there's been signs of that this season.
05:26We've got to continue, we've got to continue stepping forward
05:29and I think the players are willing to do that and I'm certainly willing to do that.
05:32Won three of the last four against Brentford,
05:34the last two at home against them seem to be important points in the season,
05:37they were round about March or April, it seemed a big part of what happened ultimately
05:41in the end of those campaigns.
05:43Is this potentially as big a moment?
05:46Every moment's a big moment, how many times have you asked me a similar but different question?
05:50Every game is vital to the fans, it's vital to me, it's vital to the players.
05:55It's got that feel about Everton, every game's a massive game
05:58and it's another massive game for us and we've got to take on a side
06:01that they do have ups and downs but they're a good side
06:03and I've got massive respect for the manager.
06:09Just back on Gerard Brantway, Everton's win percentage is almost double
06:13with him in the squad than without him.
06:16From your perspective, what is it that he as an individual adds to the side
06:20when he's in it that maybe the other options don't quite have?
06:23The obvious one is balance.
06:25He's left-sided centre-half and there's not many around,
06:28certainly not many of the standard that he is.
06:31That's the most obvious outstanding quality.
06:35There's many others of course, his size, his physicality of course
06:38but it's nice to get left and right so balanced
06:43and I think that's a helpful factor not just to him but to the whole group.
06:46If we have that balance I think it's a helpful thing.
06:48I don't think the stats are just down to him by the way
06:51but I think he's proved to be an important part of that down my time here.
06:54Brentford's without an away win this season, still 11th in the table.
06:58What do you expect from them?
07:00They have had in those games where they haven't won on the road
07:02there have been some thin by tight margins.
07:05I know Thomas quite well and I know Benham a little bit
07:10and they work on their margins.
07:12You've got to progress in so many ways and certain areas to hit
07:16and certain markers to get a performance that can win
07:18and obviously you want to do it right at the back
07:20and that's always the challenge, finding the right side of it.
07:22They've had those ding-dong games of scorelines
07:25but over the last few years they keep coming out on top of it
07:28as they keep getting on the right side of the margins.
07:30I think they've got some very good players and a very good manager.
07:33I like him personally but I also respect him.
07:35I think he's done a brilliant job there.
07:37I think the club are staying calm to what they believe in.
07:39The owner as well are just sticking to their principles
07:42and they keep going and keep adding and keep going.
07:44I like what they do there and I like the manager a lot.
07:47You've answered it slightly already but it's such a tough run of games
07:51after this through December.
07:53With that in mind, how vital is it to secure a voice?
07:56They're all vital.
07:58I don't mean it sincerely, people laugh about it, but I do.
08:01Every game is vital in the Premier League.
08:02Every manager will tell you they should do.
08:05Pep will be looking for his next one after the run they've had.
08:07Every game is vital.
08:08They're looking and everything matters.
08:10Everything is another step if you can get it right.
08:13It's another one of them for us.
08:14We've had lots since I've been here, massive games.
08:16For the wrong reasons in a way.
08:18For when you're down there and you're fighting
08:20and you're having to get things done.
08:22So I think we've had massive games many times
08:24and this is another one for different reasons.
08:26We want the mentality for us to stay like that actually.
08:30Every game should be a big game, should feel it's a big game.
08:33Some slightly bigger than others, of course.
08:35The derby and things like that, last game of the season against Bournemouth,
08:38of course they're huge games.
08:40But at the end of the day, it should feel like that for every game.
08:42That's the mentality we're trying to grow in the group.
08:45I think ours has grown and now it's the consistency to follow it through
08:48and keep on the run that we're on.
08:50Turn some of the draws into wins.
08:52Thanks Alan, we'll go to Julia.
08:58Before the break then, the West Ham result,
09:00I was looking at the stats online,
09:0218 shots and four were on target.
09:04I know we've spoken before about how you get those converted.
09:08The shots are happening, the four are on target.
09:11What work's going on in here right now
09:14to try and turn those into goals to make the draws become wins?
09:17It's just constant practice.
09:19Goal scoring is the hardest thing in football.
09:22If it wasn't, everyone would be a great goal scorer.
09:25You coach, you manage, you try and get players in the right area.
09:29But the final moment of truth, I've said many times,
09:31and every manager will tell you, that's the bit you can't do.
09:33That's the bit down to the players, the final finish, the final choice of finish.
09:36Getting them into the key areas, creating the stats,
09:39the right stats, the positive stats, that's part of what we do.
09:42The bit when they're actually out there,
09:43then that's when we entrust the players to find them final killer moments.
09:46One of the attacking players, Illiman, and I,
09:48I know this season he's maybe surprised quite a few people,
09:51and I know you said you weren't sure how he would
09:53necessarily step up to the Premier League,
09:55and he seems to have enjoyed that challenge.
09:57He's played in a couple of different positions, right, left.
10:00Where do you see his best position for Everson?
10:03Currently, he's doing well coming off the left.
10:05People keep telling me I should be playing him in the No. 10.
10:08There's no evidence to suggest he should be played in the No. 10.
10:11People keep telling me of my role as a manager, as they do.
10:14But no, I think he can adapt into Everson.
10:16The modern No. 10, you have to defend from there as well.
10:19You see Dwight McNeil doing very well on the offensive side.
10:22Some of the defensive side, he's found more of a challenge.
10:24It's not as easy as people think, getting the right passing lane,
10:27stopping the opposition, and then on the turnover of transition of play,
10:30attacking in the right format.
10:32And learning how to do that consistently throughout 95 minutes.
10:36That can be developed over time.
10:38At the moment, I think he's doing a good job coming off the left.
10:41He can wriggle, he can affect, and he can drive into the box.
10:44I think he's doing well with that.
10:46I think he's still young in his Premier League learning, that's for sure.
10:49We know that. And he's still adapting.
10:51So we're letting him go a little bit whilst coaching him as well.
10:54James Tarkovsky has spoken about his frustration of not being fully fit
10:58and sort of managing to play.
11:00This break, has this allowed him to be 100% now, would you say?
11:04Well, I mean, the risk of the style of injury,
11:06he's done very well to play through the injury
11:08and careful sort of adjustments from the medical team
11:11and from the specialists who advised.
11:13And we're still monitoring his training a bit,
11:15but he's thirsty to train all the time and train hard.
11:17He was doing this week, we were going to lower it a bit,
11:19and he said, no, I want to train.
11:21Yeah, and that real sharpness that Tarky has,
11:24he knows early season was not quite there,
11:26but he kept going out there.
11:28You can't do anything other than sort of marvel at his professionalism.
11:31Not just his, Michael Keane's another one.
11:33He goes here and he plays pretty well, in my opinion,
11:36that he comes out, and then he's still cracking it out there every day.
11:39And that's the bit that people don't see.
11:41A lot of admiration for these players.
11:43And back to Tarky, I think he's getting fitter and sharper and stronger.
11:46And just asking you about substitutes, I don't know if you're aware,
11:49there's been some criticism feeling that they're like-for-like.
11:52Criticism? No.
11:53Criticism here.
11:54Incredible.
11:55They are like-for-like substitutes
11:58when maybe Everton are looking to try and change the game.
12:01Is that planned? Is that just what your bench is?
12:03There's an amazing art of football, you know,
12:05where people have these huge checkbooks
12:07and they find these players that don't all assimilate.
12:10We haven't got that,
12:11so therefore we're trying to develop players in different ways.
12:13So there's got to be a balance to the amount we've invested,
12:15the amount we're trying to improve players and work with them consistently.
12:19And trying to change a player's style in a short space of time
12:23when you've just bought them in the summer is quite tricky.
12:25I'll have you know.
12:26So we're constantly trying to develop the players.
12:28We're constantly trying to develop the team.
12:30It's analysis, coaching, sports science, all the rest of it.
12:33When it comes to changing the way a team operates,
12:36obviously it's often down to the player.
12:38It's not always the shape.
12:40Pep very rarely changes his shape during a game
12:43and he doesn't know it might have that many substitutions.
12:45But when he does, it's often a like-for-like style player in the same spot.
12:48It's just that they're not like-for-like in their talent base.
12:51So that's the difference.
12:53It's often that as well as the fact that we've got to make good decisions.
12:56And that comes down to me without a shadow of a doubt.
12:58Make the right decisions at the right time.
13:00Sometimes you know you make the wrong decision, it pays off and you win.
13:03And everyone thinks you're a genius.
13:05That's football.
13:07Thanks, Julian.
13:08Any further questions in the open section?
13:16Hi, Sean.
13:17I just wanted to ask about Beto and what does he really have to do to start?
13:21I mean, we do a lot of fan polls and weeks now have been telling us
13:24that they believe that he deserves to start.
13:26So I definitely sign him and that's it.
13:28Obviously, you don't bow to fan pressure.
13:30No, it's not about bowing.
13:31It's just that I see these players every single day.
13:33I sign them as staff.
13:34We have a process.
13:35We work through it.
13:36We involve the players sometimes in that process.
13:38We involve the analysis team.
13:40We look at what they're doing, the stats, facts,
13:42what we see in their eyes, how they're feeling,
13:44working with the sports science, the medical team.
13:46And then we decide when they're ready.
13:48And of course, then you have the bank of knowledge
13:50from coaches who have had thousands of games.
13:52That's when we decide.
13:53So that's the process.
13:54And so that's all it is.
13:55You've got a player who's come out of relatively nowhere
13:57four or five years ago.
13:58He was playing at a very low level of football.
14:00So he's developing all the time.
14:02And it's a big jump coming into the Premier League.
14:04And I think he is developing.
14:05But his all-round game still needs work.
14:07And he's all now around awareness of the Premier League
14:09and what its demands are still needs work.
14:12So it's more of an experience factor, of course.
14:14It's more of a learning factor, to be honest.
14:16You gain experience from every day.
14:18It's not just playing games.
14:19Of course, that's the biggest step is from playing games.
14:22But every day when we're out here,
14:23working with the coaches as well.
14:25And him working very hard, by the way, just to be clear.
14:27He works very hard.
14:28He wants to learn.
14:29He wants to improve.
14:30But he knows the parts of his game that we continue
14:33are looking to develop.
14:34But he must have been really pleased with that impact
14:36off the bench against Southampton when he was...
14:38I thought he did very well.
14:39And then Southampton against West Ham, not so well.
14:41Like I say, the consistency of a performance
14:43when you're coming off the bench.
14:44It's hard coming off the bench as well, by the way.
14:46But the consistency within that, the nuts and bolts,
14:49what the team need as well as what you need,
14:51that's the bit that we're trying to develop.
14:53Cheers, appreciate it.