Everton’s Year in Review: How Dyche turned Lampard’s failure into unprecedented progress

Everton’s 2023 has been longer and tougher than most, through the majority fault of their owner.

Farhad Moshiri’s past transgressions had been threatening that a campaign like this would soon emerge, and after the 2021/22 season, many thought it was over. However, that was proved to just be the beginning.

There have been ups, downs and everything in between, as the Toffees have sought to secure safety and security amidst financial turmoil and numerous setbacks.

And yet, they are still alive and kicking, with Sean Dyche the man hoping to lead them into a brighter future.

Everton sack Frank Lampard

Starting 2023 off in the worst possible fashion only confirmed what many fans had already resigned themselves to: Frank Lampard could no longer be their manager.

Although the 4-1 drubbing to Brighton and Hove Albion was equally a result of the visitor’s immense quality as it was the Toffees’ terrible performance, subsequent limp defeats to Southampton at home and on the road to fellow strugglers West Ham United secured the 45-year-old’s fate.

However, many felt that his departure should have come months before, following a cup and Premier League double-header in which they were twice embarrassed by AFC Bournemouth in the same week.

MORE EVERTON STORIES

Everton appoint Sean Dyche

So, with a vacancy in the dugout and just days of January left, Kevin Thelwell had to act quickly in what would be his first managerial appointment since his own introduction.

Selecting Dyche has since proven a master stroke, although admittedly it was a decision that had been staring the club in the face for years.

A manager who prides himself on extracting the most out of the underdog, his gritty and hard-working principles have aligned well with the Everton faithful.

Starting proceedings with a 1-0 win over title-chasing Arsenal certainly helped things too.

The results that secured Everton’s survival

In the end, there were many results under Dyche that cumulatively secured survival during the 2022/23 term, but a few do stand out.

A narrow home win over Leeds United saw them earn a crucial three points over a relegation rival, whilst draws on the road to Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers also garnered integral points.

However, few have proven as important and unexpected as their trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, brushing aside the European-chasing high-flyers by a mesmeric 5-1 scoreline.

A dramatic final day of the Premier League

Despite these fine results, it would come down to the final day of the Premier League campaign to maintain their top-flight status.

Although far from ideal, they at least started the day outside the relegation zone, and thus had it in their hands to avoid the drop.

Having spent part of the day below Leicester City and doomed to enter the Championship, the reborn Abdoulaye Doucoure would step up to thunder home the only goal of the game and keep Everton where they belong.

Whilst relief was evident, celebration was in little supply. This had been an arduous, unforgiving campaign, and one the fanbase could not go through again.

Tough start to the new season and a points deduction

Starting the new season with a loss was frustrating given the strides forward made over the summer window, but Dyche assured fans that the results would come if they maintained that level of performance.

It was a notion he even echoed five games later, after they were still without a league win.

However, his premonition would soon come to fruition, and despite the tough start they finally beat Brentford on the road to secure their first three points.

Things were once again looking up, but that was until the unthinkable happened.

Having been thoroughly investigated for their financial movements over the last few years, the Premier League’s independent body saw fit to hand Everton the harshest sanction in top-flight history, with a ten-point deduction rocking the football world.

Turning things around

However, such is the newfound mentality emerging at Goodison Park, that has not phased the players or coaching staff.

In fact, it actually provoked a four-match win streak in the Premier League, brushing aside Newcastle United and Chelsea at home whilst also recording comfortable victories away to Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

Even in recent defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, the side fought hard and arguably deserved more than they got, which for Evertonians, is often enough.

Although their league position remains precarious, they know that without the deduction they would be well clear of the relegation zone.

They are picking up far more points than those below them, and have a spirit and drive unseen in years on Merseyside.

2023 has been a year of sensational growth and progression, with 2024 only set to see more of the same.