Photo: Tony McArdle/Everton FC/Getty Images
Everton have epitomized defiance since being hit with the biggest sporting sanction in Premier League history on November 17. Tuesday brought disappointment in the Carabao Cup against Fulham, and Saturday sees a formidable task at Tottenham, but the response from Sean Dyche and his team to being relegated to the shared bottom was exceptional. Everton are 16th, seven points above the relegation zone, after four consecutive wins in the Premier League. We look at some of the factors behind their turbulent recovery...
The deduction of 10 points itself
Everton had shown huge progress before the punishment, winning six of nine games in all competitions before that, as Dyche neatly put it: "Some people took something away from that and said, 'You have to start again.' So we did that." However, there is no doubt that the entire club is galvanized by the shock and magnitude of the sanction. Dyche gathered his team to discuss the deduction on the first day they were all back at Finch Farm after the international break that coincided with the committee's decision. He was immediately struck by the resistance within the group and the feedback that nothing would derail their progress. That message was confirmed on the field. Previous divisions between fanbase and hierarchy have been put to rest. Anger has instead been focused on the Premier League, which fans say has sought to punish Everton not only for the club's mismanagement, but also as a way to show with a soft target that an independent regulator is not necessary . The independent commission's findings (which imposed a penalty exactly in line with what the Premier League had proposed) reinforced Everton's sense that they are being partly punished for building a fantastic new stadium at Bramley Moore dock. As their former manager Marco Silva said this week on his return to Goodison Park with Fulham: "You can see they are all clicking together: the fans, the team and the staff. When this happens to a club like Everton, they are always very strong."
The story continues
A resilient defense
"We will not be moved" was the soundtrack to Everton's response to the inference and Dyche's backline have embraced the sentiment. The four successive Premier League wins have come with a clean sheet, with Michael Keane's unfortunate own goal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday being the first Everton conceded in 416 regular minutes (plus significant amounts of stoppage time). James Tarkowski has taken on his leadership duties on and off the pitch after being given the armband in the absence of Séamus Coleman this season. His experience and attributes provided an ideal foil for Jarrad Branthwaite, the 21-year-old from Carlisle who is blossoming at the heart of Everton's defence. England manager Gareth Southgate was on hand to see another successful performance from Branthwaite in the recent win over Chelsea. Vitalii Mykolenko has been in excellent form at left-back since recovering from a long-term groin injury, although the Ukraine international has recently suffered another injury. He could return to Spurs. Right-back has been a problem position, but Nathan Patterson has the chance to finally seize the role with veterans Ashley Young and Coleman sidelined. However, the industry and organization of the collective are responsible for making Dyche's team difficult to beat. Everton is no longer a soft touch...
Impressive away form
...And nowhere is this more true than on the road. Everton fans have traveled in droves for little reward in recent years, but have seen Dyche's team win more away games this season than the last two seasons combined. Only Tottenham have won more away points in the Premier League than Everton this season (18 and 16 respectively), and Dyche's side are aiming for a fifth successive top-flight victory on Saturday. That would be the club's best run since winning the title in 1970. The run predates the points deduction and reflects the improved mentality that Dyche attributes to higher standards on the training pitch and real camaraderie among the squad. The willingness of players to embrace his tactics and demands is helping, evidenced by the win over Burnley last Saturday when the shape and composition of the team had to be changed on match day. "There was a lot of noise about the away form when I got here," Dyche said this week. "Together we have changed that. I think the mentality of it has improved significantly. I know I use that word a lot, but that applies at all levels of the club."
More options up front
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and his availability remain fundamental, but Everton are no longer as reliant on the striker for the required edge and outlet. Calvert-Lewin has not scored in eight games, but Everton have won five, with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucouré, Mykolenko, Dwight McNeil, Beto and Amadou Onana. Doucouré, last season's savior in the fight against relegation, has become a strong force under Dyche and is a major loss for the visit to Spurs with a persistent hamstring injury. The focus on improving Everton's attacking options in the summer, with Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell working expertly to sign Beto, Jack Harrison and Youssef Chermiti despite the restrictions they were under, is paying off. Harrison has brought much-needed balance to a team that sorely lacked a natural fit on the right last season. Emerging Lewis Dobbin has also improved competition and attacking options.
Sean Dyche
As mentioned, the manager managed to improve standards, performance and all-important results before the points deduction, but has since proven himself to be the perfect man for a crisis. Dyche has refused to allow self-pity to permeate the squad, or for a sense of resentment to distract his players from the considerable task of winning any Premier League match. His 'This is reality, let's move on' approach is exactly what Everton need to stay the course out of a huge mess.
