Sean Dyche believes he has to focus on finding the answers to Everton’s problems within the group of players at his disposal. Everton had 19 efforts, nine of which were on target, but still failed to score. The sheer amount of opportunities was a positive Dyche said he drew from the match.
Sean Dyche said: “I thought we played well. I thought a lot of the things we are looking for these players to bring to a performance were there, especially in the first half, where we limited them to almost no chances whilst creating, I think, nine or 10 in the first half, five of which were of high quality. The mix of the performance is right when that happens. But we have got to score a goal. In the second half we allowed a couple of easier chances against us but we were still on the front foot, still looking to score goals. We had one of the highest chance counts since I have been here and the highest quality of chances, which has always been my thing – it is not about making loads of chances, it is the quality of them and there were lots today.”
With Calvert-Lewin thought to be close to availability, Danjuma approaching full fitness and Chermiti set to work on his, more goalscoring options will soon be available to Dyche. While the club is looking for further attacking additions to the squad, Dyche said his priority must be on solving its problems with the players currently available.
Sean Dyche said: “I am confident we have to rely within the squad because this is what we are at the moment. If we can affect it, we will do. It is not easy, as I have said. We are working with these players, roughly the same players today [as last season] though Young played. Arnaut [will get fitter and sharper], Dom will get fitter and sharper, he is at the end of his rehab now, amongst other players who are at the end of their recovery period. Look, the idea is you get them out there to create a better version of chance and more of them. We did that today but you have still got to take them.”
Neal Maupay and Abdoulaye Doucoure were among the players who missed big chances with the game goalless, Maupay seeing several opportunities stopped by man of the match Bernd Leno. Asked for his thoughts on the spurned chances, Dyche said he was pleased players such as Maupay were finding themselves in good positions.
Sean Dyche said: “I want all the players to get into the right areas and he did. You have got to keep getting into the right areas to score goals, that is what we want from the team, to get into the right areas and eventually if you create that many chances and you keep doing it relentlessly you will score goals and you will win games… the key is you have got to keep doing it. We certainly believe after that performance. The challenge is to keep that consistency of how we can affect games but there were a lot of good things about that today.”
