Monday 20 November 2017 23:26, UK
Jamie Carragher believes Everton should be "bursting the door down" to appoint Sean Dyche as their new manager, but feels the Burnley boss' direct style of play is hindering his chances of landing a top job.
The Clarets continued their excellent start to the season with a 2-0 victory over Swansea at Turf Moor on Saturday solidifying their position in seventh - on the same number of points as Liverpool and Arsenal in the two places above them.
Dyche was linked with the vacant Everton managerial position following the departure of Ronald Koeman last month, but their attention has turned to Watford head coach Marco Silva, and Carragher is convinced the Toffees have taken into account his direct style of football.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "The results Sean Dyche has got since he went to Burnley… I don't think any manager in world football could get them higher, considering the money spent by the club, where they're actually part of a top seven.
"The job he has done is unbelievable. I'm not criticising his style of play, but there's no doubt that top teams are put off if a manager gets a tag for playing direct football, no matter how good a job he does. Everton should be bursting his door down (to get him), but they're not.
"I go back to Roberto Martinez getting the Everton job. This was a side who were fifth at the time. David Moyes had just gone, Wigan had been relegated. He got the job for the way his teams played. He was also interviewed for the Liverpool job. Brendan Rodgers the same summer gets the Liverpool job because of the way he played.
"If you compare the three managers, there's nothing in it. The percentage of wins is exactly the same. So why will Dyche not get that job? Any coach going into the game, how do you stay in the game as a manager and not lose your first job? You've got to get results and survive.
"You've got to decide how you do that, and sometimes you have to be pragmatic. But if you get that tag of being a direct manager, you're going to struggle to get the top jobs. There's a fine balancing act between getting results and not getting that tag."
Burnley's win over the struggling Swans was their third successive victory in the Premier League - a feat they achieved for the first time - while only the two Manchester clubs have a better defensive record.
Consistency to the line-up has been key to their success with Dyche making just nine changes to his starting selection in 12 matches.
No Premier League side ranks higher for percentage of pass long this season (22 per cent) while the average possession of 41 per cent is the 17th lowest in the division.
Carragher added: "Can I say they're playing a different way? No, not really. They're getting better results, so they're playing with more confidence and belief. But the stats say they are a direct team. We can't lie, or mix the numbers up whichever way we want them, that's the stats.
"I'm a huge fan of Sean Dyche. But a manager who gets that perception (for playing direct football) will never get a big job. He has done a better job than Silva, and Watford have better players, but style does play a part. Everton fans were put off when they thought that Sam Allardyce might come in, and even Dyche, whereas they'd pleased with Silva."
