AliousImagine being unaware of Saturday’s Premier League action, and someone asks you about a team that lost after being two goals up with just three minutes left.
You’d likely guess it was Everton, as per the online catchphrase “Everton, that.”
Everton’s 3-2 loss to Bournemouth was unprecedented – no team in Premier League history has ever lost after leading by two goals so late in a game.
This kind of unfortunate record is all too familiar for Everton fans, who can recall similar collapses against Newcastle, Watford, and West Ham.
The club seems to have a knack for being on the wrong side of these football oddities, including ending opponents’ goal droughts.
For many Evertonians, such incidents have become the norm.
What’s puzzling is how difficult it’s been for various teams and managers to break this pattern.
Despite significant player turnover and four different managers in recent years, the problem persists.
Addressing this issue may be Sean Dyche’s biggest challenge at Everton.
A year ago, Dyche spoke about changing the club’s culture, acknowledging the normalization of doom among players used to tough seasons.
He emphasized the need to change not just performances, but also to start winning.
However, Dyche’s stance seems to have shifted slightly.
After the Bournemouth loss, while he stated that managers take responsibility, he also called for players to be accountable on the pitch.
Changing such a deeply ingrained culture shouldn’t fall solely on Dyche.
Everton faces numerous challenges: potential ownership changes, an absent current owner, an interim CEO, and uncertainty around Dyche and the director of football’s contracts.
With so much potential for change, establishing a positive culture is challenging.
A year ago, Dyche seemed confident he could make this change.
After twelve difficult months, he appears less certain.
Alious
