I want to see Sean Dyche try out the new Everton tactic – now is the best time to find out

Everton may be safe, but the last two games of this season really matter.

This summer will be so important for the club and there is the potential for many changes in the dressing room. What is clear is that Everton will not have a lot of money to spend and therefore transfers must be judged wisely. So will the departures over which the club will have control.

With that in mind, Sean Dyche could learn some valuable lessons against Sheffield United and Arsenal.

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Everton have played under huge pressure for so long. With it taking a win on the final day of last season to keep the team up, and then the struggle starting from the start of this campaign, opportunities for Dyche to experiment have been non-existent. Now he has them. Therefore, I would like him to look at two key areas – team players and tactics.

With players, this is as good a time as any to understand a team’s characters. As a player, it can be difficult to get motivated for late season games with little to ride after a tough season. But there’s plenty of time to think about the beach when you’re on it. Now is the time to stay professional and show that you are not happy to just go through the motions, but that you are determined and disciplined enough to maintain high standards. There are players in that squad that Dyche will still have questions about and watching how they respond to minutes on the pitch now could be useful in informing his decisions over the summer.

While I’d love to see squad players tested, I wouldn’t want young players to get a free pass. Give them opportunities, yes, but try to make sure they work hard enough in training to deserve them. If they do, then Dyche should be willing to offer chances. Traveling with the squad on a match day is a priceless experience and some players react much better than expected when thrust into the Premier League spotlight.

Tactically, we saw Dyche stick with the same approach for most of the campaign. He has a small team and needs results, so it’s understandable. But then again, maybe this is just a chance to see if there’s a Plan B available in the squad he currently has. Is there any way the 4-4-2 could work? Could Youssef Chermiti, who I think has shown some nice touches in recent games, play against Dominic Calvert-Lewin? This is the best time to find out.