A Brief Analysis and Verdict on the sacking of Sean Dyche.
To my be-puzzlement at 10:29, The Athletic first reported the sacking of Sean Dyche. Whilst the aim of this piece isn’t to converse my opinion and rather to use objective data and consider concurrent and previous circumstances to formulate an overall conclusion of the fairness of the sacking. It is tough to ignore that on a personal level, the sacking seems a foreign experience due to the synonymity that Sean Dyche and Burnley have-a marriage that has lasted the majority of the time I have been interested in football and regardless of the circumstances it is tough to envision a Burnley team not under the helm of Dyche.
At the time of writing, Burnley sit 4 points off safety (Everton) having played an equal amounts of game (30) and thus their situation is disadvantageous but not at a point of theoretical or mathematical calamity. Burnley have lost 5 of their last 6 games, which places them bottom of the form table in the last 6. Albeit, looking with a wider scope over the last 10 games Dyche’s outfit picked up 10 points with 3 wins and a draw; a record that earns them 15th place in a form table of the last 10-which irrefutably provides evidence to a recent slump in form.
The timing is tough to understand. A run-in of West Ham (A), Southampton (H), Wolves (H), Watford (A), Aston Villa (H), Tottenham (A), Aston Villa (A) and Newcastle (H) does not provide an impossible task. A fact only expedited by the respective run-in of their opposition. Everton’s fixtures are as follows: Leicester (H), Liverpool (A), Chelsea (H), Leicester (A), Watford (A), Brentford (H), Crystal Palace (H) and Arsenal (A) on the last day of the season.
It is worth contextualising Burnley’s ownership status. In December 2020, Burnley were taken over by Velocity Sports Partnerships. Thus, with a change of owner there is a loss of previous loyalty and sentiment and subsequently an increased focus in financial and profit-based concern. Sean Dyche has secured Burnley’s premier league status consecutively for 5 seasons despite a restricted budget, therefore considering the respective aforementioned respective schedules it is practically impossible to suggest that he would not do the same this season despite adverse circumstances. Nevertheless, there seems a blatant money-fuelled ignorance of this fact from the current stakeholders.
Whilst the new management team is yet to be announced, it seems naïve to place the upcoming game on Sunday vs West Ham in the hands of the greatly inexperienced of Ben Mee. It is not possible to say they will definitely lose but it seems very likely considering the coaching staff and the overall mood of the club. Thus, the timing and lack of imminent replacement could to some extent ‘sacrifice’ the prospect of 3 vital points which would not have been unattainable under Dyche albeit relatively improbable. The emerging favourite to replace the former Chesterfield centre-back is Sam Allardyce, closely followed by Michael Duff (of Cheltenham). The first appointment only provides greater evidence to the aforementioned short-term financial consideration and a survival expert (yet a man who offers not much more) is a reasonable appointment given Burnley’s situation yet it poses the question as to how much Dyche’s hypothetical chances and Allardyce’s prospective chances of keeping Burnley up differ. The alternative, Michael Duff has been compelling at Cheltenham yet a very limited managerial CV and no Premier League coaching experience makes him seem like an appointment with a longer-plan and is probably not equipped to turn Burnley’s future around in the space of 8 games. If the long-term future is the current concern of Burnley it further proves the sacking as nonsensical. Sean Dyche has not only (as aforementioned) kept Burnley up for the previous five seasons but has also promoted Burnley twice-once at the first time of asking following relegation.
As far as I’m concerned, the sacking is unjust. After over a decade, the new owners should reward Sean Dyche (a proven Premier League quality manager) the chance to keep Burnley up again. On a tactical standpoint, he is rarely outcoached and has often instilled an effective press in a 4–4–2 mid-block shape. Notwithstanding his previous achievements at Burnley, the current underlying numbers are damning as expected points suggests that they should infact be 19th. Yet, considering sentiment and his proficiency in both the Premier League and Championship this sacking proves nonsensical in the short, medium and long-term.
