History will be kinder and afford more respect to Dyche than the present, given he kept Everton up in his first season, albeit on the final day with victory against Bournemouth, then repeated it more comfortably last term despite breaches of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) resulting in a deduction of eight points.
And Dyche will always have the memories of an outstanding 2-0 win against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Goodison Park in April, a performance that briefly released Everton from the icy grip of the cycle of misery that has enveloped them for years while also wrecking their arch-rivals’ Premier League title bid.
This season, however, Everton have gone into decline, with the damage starting to be done when they lost 3-2 at home to Bournemouth on 31 August after leading 2-0 with four minutes of regulation time left.
Everton also lost a 2-0 advantage as they were beaten 3-2 at Aston Villa, and unflattering statistics were piling up around Dyche’s team like rubble, leading to his eventual demise.
They have not scored in 11 of their 19 league games this season. There have only been three campaigns in the club’s history when they have scored fewer goals after this number of games. As at Bournemouth, they also had no shots on target in the 0-0 draw at Arsenal in December.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goals have long dried up with speculation doing the rounds about his future as his contract expires this season. Beto has been a very poor signing in a deal reported to be worth up to £30m from Udinese, while Armando Broja, on loan from Chelsea, has barely been fit.
In the past 10 games, Wolves defender Craig Dawson is Everton’s top scorer with two own goals in a rare 4-0 win at Goodison Park.
As the season went on, Dyche’s Everton not only looked like they had forgotten how to score, but also how to create chances.
Everton’s fans, already bubbling with revolt, had their noses rubbed in it by their Bournemouth counterparts at Vitality Stadium last Saturday as they were taunted with chants of: “How do you watch this every week?”
Dyche was increasingly accused of “dinosaur” management as anger among the fanbase increased at the miserable fare on offer, with only former Burnley winger Dwight McNeil – before he was injured – and summer signing Iliman Ndiaye offering real flair.
Former Everton midfielder and pundit Leon Osman told BBC 5 Live Sport’s Monday Night Club: “Doing commentaries on their games is not easy because not much happens.
“I do think there is a lack of quality in the squad, but anyone will tell you that you should still be creating chances and scoring goals. It is a tough watch.”
