Everton under Sean Dyche are a solid, pragmatic outfit that seeks to sit deep and counter with pace.
Usually, this breeds a solid defensive foundation, but this season that has been sadly absent.
So, by sacrificing their attacking intent, but also failing to showcase any quality across their backline, many have started to question the tactician.
Yet, he assures fans that he will keep doing what he sees as the right thing for this club.
Sean Dyche to ignore Everton advice
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, the Everton manager was once again full of praise for one of his players.
However, any adulation he offers is always met with a bit of constructive criticism too, such is the nature of the 53-year-old.
Dyche revealed the advice he keeps giving Dwight McNeil, despite the winger being quite comfortably their best player this season.
He trusts himself completely to make the right decisions, both regarding the tactics and personnel, and that is why he is set to ignore all advice given on the latter.
The former Burnley boss noted: ‘We try and look at players with as much flexibility as we can. When Iliman got here everyone was telling me he must play in the #10. I think we are finding he can play and operate where he is doing and I think he is doing a very good job at it so far.
‘Not every player lives in a certain role. You look and you change and see where you think they can fit and I think Ili is beginning to look like he knows that zone out wide, his stats are improving, they are still not total Premier League stats so far but that is about learning about the Premier League, the ups and downs of playing out wide, the wide player nowadays doesn’t just stand out wide, they work both ways, that is the modern way of playing across the Premier League.’
Iliman Ndiaye is a true entertainer for Everton
Signed for a mere £17m, at the time this felt like shrewd business.
However, having now seen him regularly in royal blue, that has proven to be a gross understatement.
Iliman Ndiaye is already a huge fan favourite around Goodison Park, with his style of play unlike anything these supporters have seen for some time.
He boasts skill, pace and a magical touch that dumbfounds every defender he faces. Whether he plays out wide or through the middle, he remains just as impactful.
Dyche may have made some questionable decisions during his time with Everton, but the one to acquire Ndiaye was not one of them. It doesn’t matter where he plays, just that he does.
He has fast become one of the first names on the team sheet for the Toffees.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
