Everton fans have every right to feel supremely aggrieved, after watching their team collapse so spectacularly yesterday.
They were cruising at 2-0, and inarguably should have had more, with James Tarkowski heading a corner onto the post and Seamus Coleman doing everything right but the finish, to name just two examples.
However, when the clock struck 87 minutes, something changed, and conceding just one goal caused the Toffees to crumble.
Whether it be pressure from the fans, a lack of a clear plan, struggling for fitness or just plain cowardice, someone has to be blamed. Naturally, Sean Dyche will be a lightning rod for such frustration
Alan Myers on Sean Dyche
And with good reason too, after his inability to change a midfield that was dead on its feet cost them dearly.
This left the backline woefully exposed, which is not the fastest at the best of times, and the energy and speed injected by the Cherries’ substitutes, ironically enough, proved pivotal.
One fan took to X to voice his displeasure, speaking to revered journalist Alan Myers about Dyche’s downfall yesterday.
He questioned where the ownership was and whether they could even make a decision on the manager if they wanted to, to which the Sky Sports reporter replied: ‘They will be concerned Bill, I’m sure of that.’
This comes after Graeme Bailey had already told Everton.News exclusively that Sean Dyche was on thin ice at Everton.
Everton’s collapse vs Bournemouth not just Sean Dyche’s fault
Whilst there are a million things that Dyche could have done differently that would have likely resulted in his side holding onto that win, a result like that simply cannot be solely his fault.
Yes, the midfield was dead on its feet, and his decision to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye when they had been the team’s outlet all game was particularly baffling, but even without a manager and without substitutions, these are professional footballers.
When the clock struck 87 minutes, there was only ever going to be, at very most, ten minutes left to play.
Surely they would have the professionalism and fitness to just put one final shift in, keeping the ball when necessary and finding the corners at other times to wind down the clock.
Instead, they panicked, which is a trait that has plagued Everton teams for as long as many can remember.
Even under Roberto Martinez, for all the fine football played, they showcased a fearful fragility when conceding late. Here we are, nearly a decade on, and nothing has changed.
This mindset, even with a completely different crop of players, remains at the club. Dyche cannot possibly account for such cowardice.
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