Dyche seeks to understand Everton problems by asking players to fill in questionnaire

Sean Dyche asked everyone in the Everton squad to answer a questionnaire as he wasted no time trying to understand the issues that have put them in jeopardy.

Dyche was formally introduced as the club’s newest manager on Thursday and did his best to honestly address the issues that have, in recent weeks, generated countless uncomfortable headlines for Everton, ranging from fan disappointment to lack of a striker on the day of the transfer deadline. .

The atmosphere around Goodison Park is toxic, but Dyche urged fans to “put their problems on hold for a while and reconnect with the team” as he wants the stadium to rebound for leaders Arsenal’s visit on Saturday. There is no indication if any board members will attend.

Reconnection is easier said than done, of course. The onus has fallen too heavily on the fans to inspire the team and it’s time for the team to step up and provide their own inspiration. Dyche is aware of this and set out to try to get to the root of his problems.

His first official day was Monday and, after introducing himself to the squad, Dyche gave everyone a piece of paper with three simple questions. All responses were kept anonymous and he received responses from all but two players.

Sean Dyche urged Everton fans to ‘put their problems away and reconnect with the team’

“It was just feedback on where everything is: what’s your take on it and just trying to be as open as possible,” Dyche explained. ‘By asking a question, you can sometimes guide people to a place. It was not about that, it was very short, as simple as possible.

They too had a choice. You don’t have to fill it out, you are under no obligation, and I definitely don’t want your names on it. I just want feedback, honest feedback, whatever you want you to think is relevant.

“Often when I’ve done this before, similar themes come back and I’m like, ‘Right, that’s what we need to see.’ There were only two out of the whole group that didn’t respond and I will do a similar thing with the staff as well. I haven’t done it yet, we’ve been studying a lot!

“The thing about 360-degree feedback, as they call it in the business world, is you have to be prepared for feedback. It’s not always great, but you have to keep an open mind. That’s all it was. Kind of a business crossover, change of what I had learned about in business and why they do it.’

There is no time to lose and Dyche, who was interviewed by both owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright before signing a deal through June 2025, went through a series of intense sessions, with plenty of 11v11 games, to assess the physical condition of the team.

He is convinced that there is a lot of talent at his disposal who “just needs to be pointed in the right direction” and that is why Dyche, who actually started work last Saturday, insisted he was not angry or disappointed by the lack of new Arrivals.

Everton thought they had struck a deal to sign Arnaud Danjuma two weeks ago, but changed their mind and got off a train at Crewe, rather than heading to Merseyside, to join Tottenham; Everton were frustrated by Villarreal’s failure to sign the paperwork that would have prevented that scenario.

They agreed a £22m fee with Rennes for Kamaldeen Sulemana, but the Ghanaian decided to join Southampton. Another option on deadline day was Reading’s Lucas Joao, but he was turned down by Everton and amid the drama, there were claims that director of football Kevin Thelwell had offered to resign.

That was never the case, with Thelwell committed to working alongside Dyche. Everton have been linked with moves for free agents Andre Ayew and Isco, but neither of those players have the physical capabilities to improve the current squad.

“You have to have alignment,” Dyche said. ‘You need the funding in place, but the things that get overlooked is that they have to be better than what we have here. I have never been one to sign players for the simple fact of signing them and never seeing them again. There are good players here, believe me.

Dyche has insisted that Everton worked hard to bring in new players on deadline day.

Dyche has insisted that he is happy with his current group of players, despite Everton currently being in the bottom three.