Sean Dyche slams those mocking Everton for losing to Chester while also being unimpressed by one journalist’s secret rapper question.
He took aim at “baying” critics that turned Everton into a social media into a storm throughout the week.
The Toffees boss reacted with frustration after his team making headlines for losing a friendly to National League North outfit Chester, with his side including eight players from the first-team, all of whom had 75 caps between them.
Everton were questioned about their ability to survive the Premier League when they could not even handle a sixth tier club.
Dyche said that the purpose of the match was to provide Dominic Calvert Lewin with valuable minutes following his two-month injury layoff.
He added: “It is just another negative story everyone is waiting for.” The story is easy, but it’s the truth.
“That’s ‘can we get Dominic Calvert-Lewin minutes on a pitch in a more competitive manner?’ Which we did.
“The outcome I was looking for is for Dom to play and be fit, and that was the outcome we got.
“I can’t start changing the focus, (just because of criticism). Did he look sharp? Yes. Did he play well? Yes. Could he have scored? Yes, numerous times. But was he in there to score? Yes. Did he come through it unscathed? Yes. Is he cool? Yes. Cool as in injury free, not cool as in… I’ve seen his gear!”
Dyche’s team for the behind closed doors friendly at their Finch Farm training ground contained Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who played 70 minutes as he steps up his return from a hamstring injury, along with Yerry Mina, Conor Coady, Nathan Patterson, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies, Ellis Simms and Mason Holgate
“If we’d have won it 16-0 and Dom didn’t score and got injured, what would you have been talking about then? Would you have been talking about something else?” he added.
“If we’d have lost 3-0 and Dom got injured, what would be the thinking. Exactly. So therefore it was always about Dom. 3-0 would have been an eye raising scoreline, so’s 1-0.
“But it still wouldn’t have been what I’m looking for. The outcome I was looking for was: ‘Can Dom play football and run around?’ Which he can. And that is really important because look at the noise, look at what the noise has all been about since I came to the club.
“Apart from the ownership all the noise has been about Calvert-Lewin. And we’ve been working really, really hard with the physios, with the medics with him, to make sure we give him the best possible opportunity to be as fully fit as possible.
Asked if their involvement in a defeat to a sixth tier side caused him any concern, Dyche responded: “No. I look at it and go: ‘Well done Chester.’ Brilliant reality of football, 5-4-1, hardly attack, wait for a chance, try to win a game. Well done you but that’s still not relevant to me.
“Because we are where we are, they are where they are. We know our market. We were just looking for players to come through unscathed, injury free, as sharp as we can get them when they’re not playing every week. These things have to be looked beyond because there’s a bigger picture. It’s not just us against Chester, that has no bearing on what is going on in the first team.”
Chester won the match thanks to a goal from teenage midfielder Reece Daly with the academy graduate signing his first contract as a senior player with the club in January, his 18th birthday, according to Cheshire Live.
Chester has a good relationship with Everton, partly behind the invite to participate in the friendly.
Calum McIntyre’s side has also brought in Everton’s Harry Tyrer on loan. This move has proven to be a great success as the 21-year-old has helped them reach the National League North playoffs.
Everton go into this weekend’s matches clear of the relegation zone only on goal difference with seven games to play.
Dyche then couldn’t believe he was being asked about the secret Premier League rapper.
He was questioned on if whether Dide, the masked Premier League rapper might be in his squad.
The song Thrill was released by the masked artist Dide via YouTube and already has more than 500,000 views. Dide first emerged on Instagram earlier this year with his bio saying: “Rapper at home. Footballer on the pitch.”
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Dyche was asked by Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor: “Something we’re checking with all managers, any secret rappers in your squad?”
However, he told the same reporter before the questioning got underway that he hadn’t heard Alex Iwobi – one of the rumoured possibilities for the identity of Dide – rap, replying: “Seriously, I can’t catch my breath. That even gets a question?”
Dyche, who once shared the stage with the Happy Mondays at last year’s Splendour Festival in Nottingham where he lives, previously talked with more enthusiastically on his own musical tastes in the past.
Back in February he told BBC’s Football Focus: “I love music. Probably go to is like Kasabian and stuff like U2. I love house music, I love dance music, I love rave music. Back in the day, Haçienda and all that wasn’t it. Dropping all the ones and twos.”
Dyche is quite rightfully annoyed that questions like these are being put to him, and not exactly on his preparations for the weekend and relegation battle.
🗣️ “Seriously, I can’t catch my breath. That even gets a question?”
Sean Dyche wasn’t best pleased with being asked about if he knows who the secret Premier League rapper is. 😤 pic.twitter.com/ciRXTNutP0
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 20, 2023
Twitter users reacted as Sean Dyche slams those mocking Everton losing to Chester while unimpressed by the secret rapper question put to him…
@LiamGrundy1: Heads gone
@cfos_SW6: Creasing 🤣
@christalksftbl: Does he have the balls to ask another manager that question after this though?
@palacebald: I know everyone wants to hate on journalists but people like Dyche just push the miserable Roy Keane persona. It’s not really that deep is it mate just live a little
@AFCpez: this is what Everton does to a man
@Alexjm05: Imagine being Sean Dyche with his own managerial reputation, you get to ask 1 question to him, and that’s what you ask. Fucking christ
@Armor4Sleep: Loool he’s disgusted. Would have answered if they asked Oasis or Blur
@SurvivingEnos: That’s the response of a man that is rattled beyond belief 😂
@MattWatts96: Of all the managers to ask about the identity of a mysterious Premier League rapper… 😂
@maxcpfc21: Fuck off has a journo actually asked that ffs 😂
@FrancisM9340767: I always thought dyche was quite level headed but Everton has ruined him already it seems
@NortUtd: What journo asked that
@lfcwxbb: journalists ask good questions challenge (impossible)
@Pau1Dwegsy89: That journo wants the fucking sack
@Ryanbains7: thats actually jokes
@toffee5000: I get it’s only a friendly and all a bit pointless but blimey they make it hard to be optimistic. On to the weekend! COYB!
@PaulHayes1878: Not surprised we didn’t score 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Toffeewolfie: Does it matter… remember beating somebody 22 nil in a friendly …..all the good it did us…
@IamFidgell: Yes its only a friendly, but dear lord with those names on the field thats ridiculous.
@seamusbaines: Championship 2023/24
@EFC_lemon11: To put this into perspective, these are 1 league above hashtag united that’s how fucking bad we are
@Grantos888:
We lose to Fulham 😭
Leeds lose 🙌
News of possible board changes ✅
Sharp and DBB topping out stadium ❌
DCL gets 65 min 👍
Lose to Chester 😭
Just a normal 72 hours in Everton land
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