The situation has reached a point where people are debating the reasons behind Everton fans' booing. During the Carabao Cup defeat by Southampton, when Sean Dyche turned to his bench, the echoes of discontent were directed at the manager. Whether it was due to the removal of the lone striker Beto when there was a match to be won, or the introduction of Ashley Young, remains uncertain. The truth lies somewhere in between, but the key detail is the unrest at Goodison Park.
Everton's exit from the Carabao Cup was meek, adding to their dismal Premier League start of four consecutive defeats, including two after leading by two goals. Even Harvard's finest professors are struggling to understand how they conceded three goals to Bournemouth in the final nine minutes, but it's clear that something is amiss. Dyche admits the situation on and off the pitch at Everton is "volatile." On the field, this volatility can be likened to a toddler at a birthday party who has had too much sugar and crashes late on. In the boardroom, the situation is far more serious. John Textor is working behind the scenes to complete a takeover, but whether he can succeed remains uncertain. He is the fifth party to reach a period of exclusivity with Farhad Moshiri, the much-despised owner. The fourth was the Friedkin Group, which is waiting in the wings to pounce if Textor stumbles.
Against Southampton, the atmosphere was subdued for long periods. An air of discontent surrounds Goodison Park in its final season as Everton's home, and a defeat on Saturday at Leicester, another team facing a relegation battle, would further tilt the scales against Dyche in the fans' eyes. There are few supporters willing to back the manager. It feels as if the atmosphere is becoming increasingly toxic, with Dyche becoming the focal point for years of mismanagement at the club.
"There is not a flick of a switch and we have solved everything," Dyche said. "There is a long way to go in the journey of Everton Football Club to get it back to where it wants to be and where it should be." It didn't help that Young missed a penalty on Tuesday, sending Everton out of the competition. Few expected the former winger, now a full-back, to be on the books this season after his clear decline, but it was decided he deserved another year at the age of 39. Fans want to see more youthful signings, are excited by the arrival of Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa, and feel a more progressive recruitment strategy would be more beneficial than hoarding available bodies.
Seeds of discontent were sown when Dyche criticized fans for leaving the opening day 3-0 home defeat by Brighton early, saying: "It feels like reality at this football club – if you're not doing well and you're not winning, that's what happens." Supporters had the right to protest with their feet after an indication of the capitulations to come. Everyone knows what to expect with a Dyche team, and the style has been forgiven by many when results are positive, but amid a run of losses, the failings are exacerbated.
Inside the club, Dyche is backed. The summer's recruitment was geared towards the manager, aiming to build a squad that reflected his ideals. If things were to worsen and Dyche were to be sacked, Everton would need someone who mirrors the current manager, making it even less likely they will make a change. Fans expect some level of evolution, but Dyche has a set system and strategy, and very little changes.
Injuries are deemed by Dyche to have played a key role in the inability to pick up points, such that he brought a list of absentees to Thursday's press conference to avoid forgetting any. Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are yet to play a minute, and Everton acquired an injured Armando Broja on deadline day. The center-back pairing of James Tarkowski and Branthwaite was the foundation of Dyche's plan, and without it, the struggles have been evident. Last season they conceded 51 goals, the fourth fewest in the league, whereas this season 13 have been shipped, the worst record in England's top three divisions.
The points situation was not much better this time last year, when Everton had one draw and four defeats in their first five matches, and Dyche led Everton to safety with 40 points. The team would have finished 12th but for an eight-point deduction. He kept them up the season before after replacing Frank Lampard and has taken charge of more Everton games than his six permanent predecessors, surviving 20 months in a somewhat difficult role.
"I regard [my reign] as a current and ongoing success because people only know that much of the challenge," Dyche said. "It is not fair on supporters to know everything, but there has been huge amounts of shifts here. We have brought in tens and tens of millions in fees, we have got tens of millions off the wage bill, safeguarding the club, trying to develop teams that can excite and win, and trying to get young players through the system. All these challenges. They are right there in front of everyone's eyes. I can see it all."
Few could dispute that Dyche was the right man for the job when he arrived, but he has to prove he is the man for now. A loss to Leicester would be further evidence that he is not.
