How new Everton boss Dyche might set up his team to play

At last, Sean Dyche has been finally confirmed as Everton manager after an almost embarrasing wait for the formal news everyone knew, two days ago.

Everton really do take the biscuit for looking like the most inept club in the country at getting all this sorted and announced.

It’s almost like the people in charge of the Blues’ (who of course have made the appointment) were the only ones who didn’t actually know he had got the job until earlier today!

Anyway, as per usual it’s all chaotic and last minute with the Toffees’ and now Dyche has a race against time to get new signings in before the transfer window ends tomorrow night.

There are lots of rumours and stories flying around linking the club to this and that individual and it appears as though Everton have already lost out on several alledged targets to add to Arnaut Danjuma.

I really don’t know if there is enough time to get the players in so badly needed to improve this team before the end of tomorrow.

If there are no new additions – and I am seriously concerned there won’t be – Dyche may as well walk now, because I don’t think anything he does will be enough to right this sinking ship.

But, leaving all that aside, how might the man now look to set up his side to play in the remaining Premier League fixtures of this season?

Dyche is generally renowned for playing a fairly orthodox 4-4-2, although there have been stories in the media seeking to de-bunk this alledgedly unsophisticated view of him.

The truth is more complex and Dyche does have a more nuanced tactical approach than many imagine.

He does favour a flat back four and usually went with a four or five-man midfield although occasionally did play 4-3-3.

Although he goes with a back four he may also use one full-back to bomb on (as he has with past sides (the ideal player for this role at Everton would be Nathan Patterson) leaving the other to be more defensive.

So, if Ben Godfrey comes into the side again at left-back it would in effect mean the defence was becoming a back-three at times something Godfrey is comfortable in, as is Conor Coady.

Dyche also likes wide players who put plenty of quick, early crosses in from the flanks. And, he has generally used a direct centre-forward to lead his attack, Chris Wood is a perfect example. Dominic Calvert-Lewin should in theory therefore be relishing his arrival.

In addition, he’s a manager who wants his players to keep things relatively simple and not play in an over-complicated way.

While this is all pretty standard and predictable stuff for a coach with his reputation, he has shown some considerable flexibility and innovative approaches.

So, he introduced things like using his centre-backs to play raking cross-field balls in a more subtle variation of the traditional long-ball approach that many think is his forte.

He has two defenders who are well used to doing this as both played under him at Burnley; James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, if Keane gets another chance under Dyche. Coady too can do this effectively.

Dyche also likes to press energetically too at times, something the Toffees’ tried now and then under Frank Lampard usually to good effect.

His commitment to playing with width and getting lots of balls in should also suit the players he has inherited (assuming he gets at least one more winger in).

In many ways the team Dyche has inherited is almost built for him. It contains three players he coached at Burnley and others who’s strengths would seem to suit his style well. Can he then tease out more from this group than his predecessor?

Well, in just under five days time we will see exactly how Dyche intends his Everton side to play when they host league leaders Arsenal. And, from then on whether he can make enough adjustments and extract a bit more from the often lacklustre squad of players he has inherited.