EPL

Everton lacking finances 'to change things', claims Dyche

By Sports Desk August 24, 2024

Sean Dyche claimed Everton do not have the finances to make significant changes in the transfer market.

Everton were hammered 4-0 by Tottenham on Saturday, following on from a 3-0 defeat to Brighton last week.

Those defeats have left the Toffees rooted to the bottom of the early standings.

Everton have signed five players this summer, but with just a week remaining in the window, Dyche does not expect many more incomings.

"There aren’t any finances to change things, this is what we are," said Dyche when asked about potential signings.

Speaking to Everton's media channels, Dyche added: "It's a strange situation here. In my 19 months here, we build something, we have to go back down the hill to remind ourselves of the challenge and go back up again.

"Look at the last three seasons, we're trying to rebuild a team. I still expect more, I don't expect the first two games to go like this, that's fair and definitely my responsibility.

"The Everton fans don’t want excuses, I'm not prepared to make them, at the end of the day we've still got players here I feel can operate at this level.

"We're a good group of people, working hard so let's go and take it on and that’s got to change."

Everton are just the second side to lose their opening two Premier League games in three consecutive campaigns (excluding when a relegation was suffered in between), after Bournemouth between 2015-16 and 2017-18.

And after last week's capitulation at home to Brighton, Everton have lost their first two games in a top-flight season by 3+ goals for the first time in their history.

The Toffees' prospects in the market may change if they are able to sell players in the next week, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin among those linked with a move away. 

Calvert-Lewin is out of contract at the end of the season, and Dyche confirmed the club would likely have to listen to offers for the striker should they come in.

Neal Maupay, meanwhile, is reportedly of interest to Marseille.

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    Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was in a defensive mood following his team's goalless draw away to Scotland in the Nations League on Tuesday night. 

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    It was a frustrating night for Martinez and fans alike.

    Despite Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Jota among other big hitters starting, they were unable to find a way past 41-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who made some impressive saves when they did get in on goal.

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    "The national team always has an open door, but now we are talking about a very, very large group of players," said Martinez.

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    "The point was important for us after the work the group put in to get off the mark."

    The result also marked Scotland's first clean sheet since beating Gibraltar 2-0 seven games ago in a pre-Euro 2024 warm-up friendly.

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    "We denied a lot of space in behind. Good concentration in the box, determined defending at times, some really good blocks, which you need against sides like Portugal.

    "Everyone contributed to earn the point."

    Despite taking an unexpected point, Scotland are still bottom of their Nations League group, while the draw means they are winless in 10 matches - their longest ever run.

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    "Everyone keeps talking about confidence, but they know they can play well," he said. 

    "We maybe didn't play as well as we could on the ball, which could be down to fatigue. But I don't think they lack confidence. Tonight's point will give us more confidence."

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