Sean Dyche has described Everton's transfer strategy during his time at the club as a "s***show" and revealed he was "constantly putting out fires." The former Toffees manager made the remarks on The Good, the Bad and The Football podcast, reflecting on his nearly two-year spell at Goodison Park.
Dyche contrasted his experience at Everton with his longer tenure at Burnley, where he was able to delegate recruitment responsibilities to staff who understood his priorities. At Everton, however, he found himself needing to be more directly involved in the transfer process due to the club's financial situation and Premier League survival battle.
"When you are at somewhere a longer period like I was at Burnley, after year three or four we have got it up and running, it is working, everyone knows their roles," Dyche explained. "You can delegate better, once that trust builds and you are onto something, the CEO, data analysts and sports science knows what you are thinking, then it is really easy."
He elaborated on the challenges at Everton, stating, "It is not so easy going to Everton, where it is like a fing sshow you know and it is constant putting out fires."
Despite the difficulties, Dyche found a sense of reward in helping the club navigate its challenges. "There was a reward because you get the feeling of 'I've played that little part in a really important time' and Evertonians now treat me way different than at the time," he said. "When I came out they were ready for me to go, but when I meet fans now they are like 'thanks for helping us through it'."
During the summer of 2023, Everton's fee-paying signings included Beto and Youssef Chermiti, with Ashley Young joining on a free transfer and Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison arriving on loan. The club also saw notable departures, with Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi generating significant fees. The following summer, Everton signed Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O'Brien, and Tim Iroegbunam, while Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala, and Armando Broja joined on loan. Midfielder Amadou Onana was a major sale, moving to Aston Villa for £50 million.
Dyche was dismissed a month after the Friedkin Group's takeover of the club. The club subsequently overhauled its recruitment staff in June, appointing a technical director, director of scouting and recruitment, a head of football strategy and analytics, and a head of player trading.
Speaking about new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, Dyche expressed admiration for the Spanish manager's ability to adapt his tactics. Dyche noted how Iraola, after an initial slow start at Bournemouth, shifted his approach to a more direct style suited to the Premier League, a contrast to what Dyche described as his initial "Spanish way."
"Iraola basically plays lower league football, but at a high level. They turn you and turn you, and force you into submission," Dyche commented. "High quality and high energy version."
He recalled an early-season match where Everton "ran all over" Iraola's team. However, Dyche observed a significant tactical change in subsequent encounters. "The next time we played them, he is bombing it down our throats, getting us turned, full backs keep turning and having to run back towards their own goal, centre halves thinking that they never get a break. They looked a different outfit and he's done a brilliant job."