Everton’s summer transfer window was a hugely successful one, having finished it with a squad far stronger than the one they started with.
Given how the Toffees have often conducted their business in the past, this represents huge progress made that should stand them in good stead for forging a brighter future, slowly and steadily.
One of the outstanding captures of the window was undoubtedly Tim Iroegbunam, who was brought in from Aston Villa in an unassuming deal which also saw Lewis Dobbin swiftly trade places.
At the time, it brought about some discontent from the Premier League, who viewed it as a PSR loophole that Everton had exploited.
However, given how the 21-year-old has started the new campaign, it’s fair to say that this midfielder is far more than just a financial pawn.
Tim Iroegbunam reveals Sean Dyche’s Everton message
Classy in possession yet combative when trying to win it back, it has not taken long for the young midfielder to win the affections of the Everton faithful.
As such, already his words are sought-after, with many curious to know more about the Aston Villa academy graduate.
Ironically enough, his latest comments to the Liverpool ECHO have actually detailed the tactical plan that has been deployed to get the best out of Iroegbunam.
He noted: ‘In the past, I’d not been able to show it [his talents] because I’d not really played but now, I’ve obviously shown it and it’s all going well for me individually.
‘The manager didn’t really give me any specific instructions in terms of my role. It was more a message to work hard and play together as a team, doing what you can to better yourself.
‘The pre-season was the hardest but best one I’ve done. I could see myself that I was getting better fitness-wise and that helped me transfer into the Premier League game because you’ve got to be fit.’
Sean Dyche is taking a leaf out of Carlo Ancelotti’s book
Whilst these comments are causing something of a stir across social media amongst Evertonians, it’s worth comparing the notion to something Carlo Ancelotti actually said not too long ago.
After all, to assume that these Premier League footballers receive no tactical instructions from their manager is somewhat naive.
He will know where to stand and what his plan is throughout various game states, but the main point behind Iroegbunam’s claims will be regarding getting the chance to express himself and exert his talent on the match.
This is exactly the kind of philosophy that has earned Ancelotti widespread praise, as he once claimed: ‘The mistake that the new generation of coaches make is giving too much information to the players in the game with the ball. This takes away creativity.
‘It is one thing to indicate to the player the positioning without the ball, there you have to give a lot of information, because without the ball it is concentration, sacrifice and collective play. But with the ball, it depends on the creativity of the player.’
Ancelotti is widely recognised as one the best managers of all time. Hopefully Sean Dyche‘s plan, which sounds eerily similar to the Italian’s, can soon pay dividends.
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