Everton used to be one of the most feared teams in the division once upon a time, not because of their outstanding quality, but instead due to their grittiness and unrelenting attitude.
Having lost that through the early stages of Farhad Moshiri’s tenure, Sean Dyche finally seems to have recaptured that just when they needed it.
And to great effect too, having finally started to churn out much-needed results with a style of play that has not earned great plaudits.
That being said, few can argue against its effectiveness.
Troy Deeney makes big claim about Sean Dyche
While Richard Keys would make his own claim about Dyche not being a Manager of the Season nominee, and Simon Jordan even compared Dyche to Arteta, at last, the 52-year-old seems to be getting the plaudits he deserves.
Having taken over when Everton were at their lowest, sat 19th in the Premier League and staring relegation in the face, it took some bravery to take on that challenge.
For many, it seemed impossible to reignite a club that seemed dead and buried, but achieve that feat he has in just one and a half years.
However, things are not nearly as easy as the former Burnley boss has made it look at times, as Troy Deeney would detail whilst speaking on the Three Up Front podcast.
He noted: ‘I would say to you as well having worked with Sean, he doesn’t want to play that way. It goes back to the David Moyes conversation, he has just gone in somewhere, and it’s been successful and now he’s gone I have to deal with that as this is what I’m getting.’
Sean Dyche’s play style is effective
Whilst some might seek to lambast Dyche’s ‘archaic’ and somewhat ‘defence-oriented’ style of play, they have clearly not watched much of Everton this season.
After all, whilst he does enjoy a rather direct philosophy, his team have been known to mix it up at times when the opportunity strikes.
One moment mid-way through the campaign, where the Toffees brushed aside Newcastle United at home 3-0, their third goal from Beto came at the end of a 29-pass move.
It is also worth noting that his side only ranks ninth in the Premier League for accurate long balls and seventh for accurate crosses, via Sofascore.
They by no means rely solely on a long ball up front and a hopeful cross into the box, but instead do rely on their solidity and set-piece prowess.
Regardless, though, it really does not matter what the style of play is if it works.
And for an Everton side that has been so poor and so nearly relegated on two occasions now, it is Dyche’s brand of football that would have navigated them to safety by a whopping 22 points at this stage were they not to have received a deduction.