Everton boss Sean Dyche on their recent upturn in form and Saturday's clash with Brighton
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00:00 Hiya. On time.
00:02 Only the second time.
00:05 Lombardi time, innit? Lombardi time.
00:08 No, it was only last time, but we put it back an hour later.
00:11 To make sure I would get on time.
00:14 Good afternoon, everyone, welcome to our pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend's game against Brighton and Old Malby.
00:19 We'll start with Vinnie at Stade Sport.
00:21 Hi, Sean, first of all, can we just start with your reaction to the Cup draw last night?
00:25 Obviously, facing Fulham in the quarter-finals.
00:27 Yeah, the Premier League side at home, we want to add to the home mentality.
00:33 I think it's growing.
00:35 Like I said, early season, I think performances were there, the outcome wasn't,
00:37 but we're getting the outcome right now and we certainly did last night.
00:40 So we'll look forward to that game.
00:42 How different then a proposition are Everton now compared to the side that faced Fulham on the opening day of the season?
00:49 Well, like I said, it's hard one to judge because I thought the opening day of the season was a very good performance.
00:54 We didn't get on the right side of the result, but the performance was certainly there.
00:57 So I think what you'd like to think when you keep your performance levels high,
01:01 I've spoken endlessly and I did again last night about consistency and the mentality,
01:07 the consistency of the mentality in every game we play.
01:11 So I think we're kind of getting rewards for sticking at it and sticking to what we believe and sticking to what the team's delivering,
01:17 because like I said, I thought it was a very good performance against Fulham in the first game of the season.
01:21 The difference is now we're taking chances, we're still creating and we're defending very well.
01:25 That potency really has developed, hasn't it, up top?
01:28 Yeah, I mean, our chance count is slightly less, but the finishing is improving,
01:34 and getting goals from other positions as well, not just relying on the striker,
01:38 which is obviously a focus of a striker, but other parts of their game and allowing other players to come in and score goals.
01:43 So we're pleased with that.
01:44 Five wins from seven, that was after just one win in six.
01:48 What does that also say about the mentality of your squad to have recovered the way they have?
01:52 Yeah, I mean, what you're constantly looking for is, like I said, the consistency of the mentality, win or lose.
01:59 I felt when I got here and it's still there somewhat, it's kind of super high when the team, the club win,
02:06 and it drops off radically when they lose.
02:07 And I said to the team, we've got to find a more level view of it and really stick to our guns with our performance levels,
02:13 our individual performance levels, our team performance levels, our game planning, and stick with that.
02:18 And that's, well, currently, work in progress, of course, but we're still working towards that.
02:24 And currently it is paying us back because I think our performance levels have been high and we're now getting the outcomes.
02:29 Are you seeing more resilience in that as well?
02:31 I'm thinking, obviously, the victory over West Ham away, the victory over Aston Villa in the Cup away,
02:36 victory over Brentford away as well, at times you've had to dig in during all of those games.
02:41 Well, to go back to where I started, when I first came here, I said, respect and admire the past, but build a future.
02:47 And I think there was the best teams that have played here, had a grittiness of determination, an edge to their performances,
02:54 as well as being able to play, as well as being good footballers.
02:56 And I think we're searching for that, trying to find that combination, because I've said all along, I think there's some talented players here.
03:03 And the mentality towards being a tougher team, or a modern tough team, you understand,
03:08 you can't go around big tackles and stuff like that.
03:12 You've got to be clever with your toughness, but you've got an edge to your performances.
03:15 And I think, of course, winning helps with that.
03:19 But I think the players have been consistent with that and finding that tougher team ethic, if you like.
03:25 So, harder to be beat at one end of the pitch and hopefully causing more trouble for the opposition in the top end of the pitch and scoring goals.
03:32 And we're beginning to find that balance better.
03:34 How are you looking squad-wise? How's Seamus?
03:37 Seamus is going well. He'll hopefully get involved in a game in the U21s this weekend.
03:43 He needs some game time, of course, but he's training very well and I think he's pleased to be back on the grass.
03:48 Gomez and Dele a bit further away?
03:49 Yeah, Dele's still got time to go. He's just back on the grass now.
03:53 He's in good place, though. I spoke to him, had a chat with him, he's in good place, other than his injury, of course, frustrated by that.
03:59 Yeah, and that's... Who was the other one I asked about?
04:04 No, Dele, we'd have covered him.
04:05 Oh, yeah, sorry, Andre, yes.
04:08 Yeah, he's been very frustrated. He's got a niggly calf injury again, but he's coming back through that now.
04:14 It appears to be a bit of a frustrating time for Dan Juma as well. It didn't quite happen for him last night.
04:18 What does he need to do to get through that?
04:21 Well, he's certainly working hard. He's working hard in training.
04:25 We wanted to try and free him up a little bit in that role last night.
04:28 Excuse me.
04:30 You know, it's not easy when you're out the side, you get put back in, but he's certainly working hard and he's working hard to adapt to the team.
04:35 I think he still feels, we feel, his best position is coming off the left, but you all watched it.
04:43 Dwight Maneel, I thought, excellent last night, particularly second half.
04:47 So there's a challenge there, but no, it's not easy to be put in and then sometimes you're playing, wondering are you in, are you out?
04:54 But on the other hand, we tried to free him up and get in a role where he could use his talent because he's a talented player.
04:59 I didn't see that work rate, actually, there was a pitch level yesterday, you didn't see the work rate from both Dwight and Jack on the wing?
05:06 Yeah, tremendous, we ask a lot of wide players, I always have them in the teams I've worked with,
05:10 but they're willing and they've got quality, but they're also willing to do the hard yards.
05:14 And I think, again, it adds to that mental toughness of the team we were just talking about.
05:18 And just on to Brighton, when you look at what happened last season, obviously it was before you came in,
05:23 you lost 4-1 away, but there was a sorry 4-1 at home...
05:27 You remember the away one, yeah.
05:29 We saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin at his best that night as well.
05:32 No, I agree, I thought he was excellent. The team delivered a very good performance, I think they're a very good side,
05:37 they still are, they've sold a couple of players, but they're still a good side, they're showing that.
05:41 You have to be tactically right, but you have to impress yourself upon the game as well.
05:46 I thought we did it very well away from home last season, we're going to have to do that again.
05:50 And then coming up to Goodison, good feel about the team and a good feel at Goodison at the minute,
05:53 so we'll use all of them things to our advantage.
05:56 Thank you, Vinny. We'll go to the back.
05:58 Hi, Sean. You say there's a good feeling about the team at the moment, five wins in seven games.
06:04 I was just wondering, how much confidence does this give you going into that match against Brighton?
06:09 I don't think we're overly at confidence, but there's no two ways about it.
06:14 That winning mentality, it grows and it does add on to your confidence level, it adds on to the belief,
06:19 and it brings a more assured view of the team, I think.
06:23 Apart from about 20 minutes last night, we went a little bit soft after scoring our goal.
06:27 We weren't threatened at the back, but we didn't play particularly well after that.
06:31 I thought we looked strong.
06:32 And I think that winning mentality, that winning edge, I think it is important.
06:37 And the more you build it, the more wins you get, the more it grows.
06:39 So we want to continue that whilst realising we're playing a very good side in Brighton.
06:44 What sort of challenges are you expecting from Brighton?
06:48 Well, they flexed it slightly recently with going to the three centre-halves and changing slightly.
06:53 But we know they're a passing side, often want to break through the middle of the pitch.
06:57 And the biggest thing of all, I think you've got to be tactically aware.
07:00 I think teams that have done well against them have delivered good tactical performances,
07:04 as well as finding their own way into the game as well.
07:07 It often is, but it is a balance between being aware of the opposition and dealing with that,
07:11 but then also playing your own game and breaking from the tactical scenario to go and attack.
07:16 And I think finding that balance is important.
07:18 We did do towards the end of last season.
07:20 We've got to do that again because they're showing again this season they're a very good side.
07:24 What do you make of Roberto Dzerbi?
07:26 How impressed have you been with him since he's taken over at Brighton?
07:30 Yes, I didn't know of him.
07:32 I'll be honest, I didn't know much about him before he came in, but he's done a very good job there.
07:35 There's a change in the way they work and the style and some of the players they've brought in and brought through.
07:40 I'm sure that's not just in the recruitment system as well.
07:43 It looks like they've got it right the last couple of years.
07:45 But yes, they're a good side.
07:48 Great, thank you very much.
07:50 Sean, talking about Brighton and their recruitment policy,
07:56 they've had outrageous success in the past couple of seasons in particular.
08:00 Has that meant clubs like Everton looking at their recruitment policy?
08:05 I can remember hearing Paul Barber, the Chief Executive, saying that they shop in a different pool.
08:11 They look in areas where other clubs don't because of their financial situation.
08:16 It's quite a healthy pool they've been shopping in down the years.
08:19 If you look back about four or five years, you'll find they've spent quite a lot of money.
08:23 The players they've brought in from Ecuador in particular, and Kaworu Mitoma from Japan.
08:29 I know they had him over at Union Sanctuary.
08:32 It's a different outlook.
08:36 Kaisi, though, they've made a fortune off from Ecuador, and they've signed other players and made big profits.
08:43 Would Everton, for example, look at making changes to the way?
08:49 I think we're all looking at the best way of recruiting.
08:51 I think they cover a large part of the planet, I think that's right in saying.
08:56 I think Matt Benham does a very similar thing at Brentford, they've been doing that for a long time.
09:01 They know and I know, and you probably do know, but they never get talked about.
09:05 They've made a lot of mistakes along the way.
09:07 It's taken a long time to get to where they've got to.
09:09 They've signed some very good players, I agree, the last couple of seasons, and coached them very well as well, as have Brentford.
09:14 But there's been a lot of work put into them for a lot of years before what you're talking about now.
09:20 We're remodelling constantly and then getting to a place now where I think we've recruited well within what we can do this summer.
09:28 I think we've got a more balanced look at the team.
09:30 Inevitably, somewhere down the line, things cost money, and that's something we haven't had abundance of.
09:35 Looking at the match against Burnley, another really good contribution from Jack Harrison.
09:41 I know he's only just coming back after injury, but he works at both ends of the pitch.
09:46 He sees things early, he's got an eye for goal.
09:49 How much better can he get?
09:52 Well, first of all, it's to get him fully fit.
09:54 He came in injured, unfortunately.
09:56 He's dealt with that side of things.
10:00 He's got sharper, he's got fitter, and I think he's enjoying his football.
10:03 That's a big thing.
10:04 I think he's infectious amongst the group, very good around the group before you even get him on the pitch.
10:09 He's got that way of playing, that busy nature, and he's a very good player.
10:12 He's been very effective for us so far.
10:15 I think there's a number.
10:16 I think Gerrard continues to do well, Jimmy Garner continues to do well.
10:20 Amadou's getting a good partnership.
10:23 Again, last night I thought was outstanding.
10:26 There's a lot of good signs, and it's about continuation.
10:29 Beto came on and his contribution off the bench was really good, close to a goal on a couple of occasions.
10:38 Do you think he can benefit confidence-wise?
10:40 Because when he came in, he played really well for a few matches,
10:45 and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was fit again.
10:47 And not easy when you come in and you play a few games and then you're out.
10:51 So do you think he can benefit confidence?
10:54 He's just maturing into what it is.
10:56 He's come to a new club, he's raw, he's rough and ready, but he's working hard at his game.
11:01 And there's a lot of improvement to come, I think.
11:03 I thought he came on and affected it last night, he'd had a couple of quiet spells before that,
11:07 but he's adapting to the Premier League, it's different.
11:09 He came in and hit the ground running at first, and if you like, maybe, I spoke to him a little bit about it,
11:15 maybe he thinks he needs to be a bit more polished, but he actually doesn't.
11:18 We like the rawness, we want him to be raw, we want him to be hungry,
11:21 and show that in a natural way, and I thought he did that coming on last night.
11:24 He's really quick, isn't he?
11:25 He is, very quick, yeah.
11:27 Hi, Sean.
11:35 That victory at Brighton towards the end of last season,
11:38 would you class that as the best performance you've had from the side since you've been here?
11:42 I think tactically it was, not necessarily the best performance overall,
11:46 but I think tactically the players delivered a good week's training and took it into the game,
11:51 responded to the challenge in front of them, obviously they were high-flying at the time,
11:55 and we delivered a very good tactical understanding performance,
11:59 and of course the way of them breaking from it, not just absorbing them,
12:02 but actually attacking them and using the threat that we had.
12:06 So I think from that point of view, from the coaches' point of view,
12:09 and working with the players and them taking on the information and delivery,
12:12 that was very pleasing.
12:13 So if it's not the best performance, is it the most satisfying for you as the manager?
12:17 The most satisfying was when we won the last game of the season, I can assure you,
12:20 without a shadow of a doubt.
12:22 And just what different side-focuses does it make looking up the table rather than looking over your shoulders?
12:28 Well, I'm not obsessed with the table at this stage, I always say it's the season's work for me,
12:32 it always has been, because the ups and downs, you've got to manage them as a team,
12:38 not just me, the players, the individuals.
12:40 So, yes, I'm really looking at the plan for the season, but so far I'm thinking there's progress,
12:45 and that was the first marker from the last couple of seasons, can we progress,
12:48 can we look like a stronger unit, can we look like a more effective unit?
12:53 And I think there's strong signs of that with how we're playing,
12:57 and then you add the results in, a couple have got away from us,
12:59 which I think we probably deserved, but if you added them in, we'd certainly be in very good shape,
13:04 and I think it's paying us back lately.
13:06 As you said before, it puts a different spin on perspective, how you're perceived when you're winning games.
13:12 Yes, I'm not really worried about that, me individually you mean?
13:15 No, each of us.
13:16 Oh, the team? Yes, but I think that's natural, I think there's an underbelly of die-hard fans
13:21 who probably look at Evan as a side in the delivery of performance,
13:25 there's equally fans who just look at results, that's the way the industry is,
13:28 and inevitably you are judged on results, you're not judged all the time on performances,
13:32 it's helpful, and I think people can see a future in performances if they're good
13:35 and there's consistency, but you're actually judged on what the wins are,
13:39 so I've always been aware of that, but I know the work that goes into the process to get them wins,
13:43 so I've been pleased with the work, pleased with the performances in many ways,
13:47 but of course I'm always hungry for more, I felt that we should have more points on the board,
13:51 I think the players do, but I think they're now beginning to add to the performances of early season
13:55 by finding that hardy edge to defend properly, and defend with that resolute nature,
14:00 and equally attack with that bit more freedom, and to score goals and feel loose and free to score goals,
14:05 particularly at Goodison, that's what we've got to change and we are beginning to change it.
14:08 Hi, Sean, Vitaly Mikhailenko wasn't fit at the start of the season,
14:16 since he's come back, it looks like he's given you a lot more balance now,
14:19 that left-hand side, and do you think the game's...
14:21 Yeah, he's doing well, he's doing well, when I got here I thought he was a good defender,
14:25 I think we're still adapting him to his attacking game, but I think he's defending very well.
14:29 He's got a lot of strengths to his game and I think he's enjoying it as well.
14:33 Well that's always well to ask, do you like having that solidity from him,
14:36 or do you want him to now hone his attacking side of his game?
14:39 Well I certainly think he can develop further with that side of his game,
14:43 he can play, he can find a pass, he's got good energy, good pace,
14:46 but he is a defender first of all, and I like defenders to be defenders,
14:49 and I think he is, and I think he's showing that, he's done very well against some very, very good players
14:54 over his time, and particularly since he got back fit, as you rightly mentioned,
14:57 he was very unlucky with that, excuse me, going from last season,
15:01 and now that he's back to real Premier League fitness from getting the games under his belt,
15:04 I think he's looking sharper and stronger each game.
15:06 Well, Josh Wander didn't have a shady with the game last night at West Ham,
15:10 are you still in discussions with Bolt in regards to the takeover?
15:14 Me personally? No, I don't get involved in those discussions, trust me.
15:19 Obviously January is just around the corner, is there any discussions with 6777?
15:24 No, me and Kev obviously with the recruitment department and the staff,
15:29 we talk about things, but no, we're not talking about all the bigger picture stuff,
15:32 that's to come over the next few months.
15:34 Do you know, heading into January or not, it will come around quite quickly,
15:37 especially when you get through December, do you still think it will be difficult financially for the club?
15:43 We'll see, at the moment, if all things being given are the same, then yes,
15:48 I don't think there's been a massive amount of finance there, that's quite obvious.
15:52 I think we've done well by making finance come into the club and then bouncing off with players coming in.
15:58 It might be much the same, we'll wait and see.
16:01 Thank you Will, any more questions in the open section?
16:04 Right, thank you everyone, we'll now move on to the Q&A.