Sean Dyche SACKED - What's next for Everton?

After almost two years at the club, Sean Dyche has left Everton having battled them through two relegation threatened seasons, but with the club under new ownership and having just won three Premier League games this season, Sean Dyche hasn't been given the chance to escape for a third time.

Having replaced Frank Lampard in January 2023, with the club having lost 9 of their last 12 games, having won once, Sean Dyche was given one task from the Everton board, keep the team in the Premier League, which he did with a win on the last day of the season over Bournemouth.

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Going into the 2023/24 season, Everton's financial trouble was well documented, with FFP and PSR breathing down their necks, it made Dyche's job even harder, having to sell Alex Iwobi and Demari Gray with the hope that they would comply with the rules.

With Everton comfortably away from the relegation spots mid-season, Everton were handled a 10 points deduction, a figure which would've easily relegated Everton the past two seasons, and despite being reduced to 6, Everton were easily able to stay well clear of the drop zone, with the team ending on 42 points, 16 points clear of Luton Town in 18th.

The fact Everton, despite the points deduction, were so at ease with the relegation battle last season, gave fans a bit of hope coming into this season that the same could be achieved, but a fourth season in a row in which Everton made profit on transfer dealings, has seemingly finally caught up with them, especially in attack.

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Everton have collected the lowest amount of expected goals in the league this season, having accumulated just 18.1 in 19 games, an average of just 0.95 per game, a massive downturn from last season's 1.42 expected goals per game.

Everton's top scorers in the league this season have been Dwight McNeil and Iliman Ndiaye with three goals apiece with their strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto combing for just three Premier League goals this season, a massive underperformance especially with Calvert-Lewin being able to stay fit so far this season, featuring in all 19 league games this so far this season.

This attacking fall-off can be traced to their transfer dealings over the past few seasons, especially since the 21/22 season, having spent £1.5 million on Demari Gray, £15 million on Dwight McNeil, £10 million on Neal Maupay, £20 million on Beto, £10 million on Chermiti and £15 million on Iliaman Ndiaye.

These players have combined for a total of 30 goals for Everton in the Premier League in 259 appearances, a massive indictment on the recruiting team, especially the £30 million spent on Beto and Chermiti in the summer of 2023 who have combined for 4 Premier League goals, all scored by Beto.

As well as these transfers, since the 21/22 season, Everton have welcomed plenty of loan and free transfers, including, Salomon Rondon, Dele Alli, Andros Townsend, Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja, who have combined for 8 goals in 141 games for the club.

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This gives a total to 38 goals for attacking players Everton have signed in the past four seasons, a number which makes you surprised they are still in the Premier League and aren't in a worse position this season.

As expected, the saving grace under Dyche has been their defensive solidarity and their set-piece threat, but with their set-piece threat having dried up this season, it has only exacerbated their attacking issues.

Defensively this season, Everton have been quite good, having conceded the 7th lowest goals in the league this season with 25, which is backed up by the underlying numbers with Everton the 8th best on expected goals against, with this being despite Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman being regulars in the starting squad.

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With Everton already in a financial struggle, with transfer debts needing to be paid, club debts needing to be paid and most of all, new stadium debts needing to be paid, it seems more critical than ever for Everton to stay up this season, putting even more pressure on their new management, especially with their current squad.

David Moyes looks to be the frontrunner for the role and whilst still a more defensive-minded manager, he has had more success in the game than Dyche, having lead to thee season in Europe and a Europa Conference League title.

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What could be a big boost for Moyes' return is his first two games in charge will be at Goodison Park, which really could boost their relegation fight but it won't come easy with the fixtures being Aston Villa, who they haven't beaten in the league since 2016 and Spurs, who they have had one league win against since 2013.

What is clear is that January reinforcements are needed for Everton, especially in midfield and attack, with there not only being a quality issue, but also a depth issue, with Dyche very much being forced into playing a 35 year old Idrissa Gana Gueye and a 32 year old Abdoulaye Doucoure every game, a set-up that would've been fine in 2018, but in 2025, it leads you into a relegation battle.

If Moyes is able to keep Everton as defensively stable as Dyche has gotten them to, with maybe adding a but more variation into their attacks through new ideas or signings, then Everton still do have a good chance to stay up this season, but now Wolves and Ipswich suddenly just one point behind and breathing down their next, with each picking up two wins in their last four games, it is imperative for them to get a good start under their new manager.