AliousJoe Thomas, a journalist for the Liverpool Echo, suggests that Sean Dyche might be sending a message to Iliman Ndiaye by naming him as a substitute for Everton’s friendly against Roma.
Despite Ndiaye’s frequent appearances in pre-season since joining from Marseille, Dyche opted to start Abdoulaye Doucoure in the supporting striker role behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Thomas speculates that this decision could be either a defensive move, with Doucoure offering more support to the midfield, or a challenge to Ndiaye to earn his place in the starting lineup.
Dyche is known for rewarding consistent performers, and Doucoure has been one of Everton’s standout players under his management.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Ndiaye will be relegated to the bench permanently, but he may need to show patience and make an impact as a substitute initially.
Alternatively, Dyche might simply be exploring different tactical options during pre-season.
Regardless of the reason, having such selection dilemmas is seen as a positive for Everton.
The hope is that by the end of August, Dyche will have even more difficult decisions to make regarding his team selection.
Alious
