Sean Dyche held his weekly Everton press conference at Finch Farm on Thursday afternoon ahead of his side’s clash against West Ham United this weekend.
Dyche is certainly under pressure to deliver a positive result against West Ham, who are struggling equally as much this season.
In fact, if The Hammers lose, Julen Lopetegui could be sacked with Maurizio Sarri, among others, already eyed as his successor.
The Friedkin Group are expected to remain more patient with their man, though, as they recognise they’ll have to wait until the summer to find a long-term successor.
So for now, Dyche is set to remain in post and supporters are hoping that he drops Calvert-Lewin for Beto on Saturday.
The Everton boss has just responded to questions about whether he could be benched.
Sean Dyche remains coy on if Beto will start vs West Ham United
When asked whether Beto should start over Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dyche remained coy in his answer but did admit the margins are getting tighter.
“Yeah we try and look at putting trust in people to deliver performances. Some of the stuff that fans don’t always see.
Obviously with strikers, they are eventually, virtually always looked at by their stats and their goals scoring, of course, and we’d be no different in that sense.
“But, the management team look behind that and go what’s the effect on the game the striker’s having, striker is the hardest position on the pitch I think, I was a centre-half, I think it’s the hardest position.
“So I suppose, I’m slightly more tolerant of a striker, you know when they’re maybe having a quieter spell because I think it’s a very very tough role anyway. So I think there’s a bit of that.
“Beto’s going along well and I think he himself knows that he hasn’t played as well as he can do in the past but that’s because he’s learning, we work with him, the coaches work with him and show him.”
Dyche added: “The margins are getting higher, though, I mean he’s coming on, he’s affecting games. You know Dom has had chances and hasn’t scored, consistency a bit up and down, so it’s getting tighter.
Sounds like Dominic Calvert-Lewin will start
Dyche’s answer very much sounded as though Calvert-Lewin will be given another opportunity to start and play his way into form.
The Everton boss was keen to note that Beto is still learning and indicated that he’s still behind Calvert-Lewin in terms of his overall play, not just in front of goal.
But he did concede that it’s getting tighter, so perhaps the West Ham clash is somewhat of an ultimatum for Calvert-Lewin.
If he doesn’t get himself on the scoresheet or more involved in the final third, he could be dropped after the international break.
