Everton’s forthcoming pre-season programme will perhaps be the most important Sean Dyche has ever overseen in his managerial career.
The Blues are set to ramp up their preparations for the new season in the coming weeks as they aim to lay the required foundations needed to ensure they are not embroiled in a third consecutive battle to avoid relegation.
Dyche’s side stayed up by the skin of their teeth last season, and following the game at Goodison Park, the Blues boss made no attempt to sugarcoat the club’s latest great escape. Survival simply afforded Dyche the opportunity to speak with refreshing honesty about the problems he inherited when he succeeded Frank Lampard back in January.
A lot of the focus, and understandably so, is currently on this summer’s transfer window. The Blues have already decided against triggering a £4.5 million option to sign Conor Coady from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
READ MORE: Everton ignored plea to sign £40m Man United target as Erling Haaland error repeated
READ MORE: Everton could take transfer gamble on 22-goal striker who topped Erling Haaland in key area
Asmir Begovic, Yerry Mina and Tom Davies have also already confirmed they will be leaving the club once their contracts expire at the end of this month. Dyche and Director of Football Kevin Thelwell face another crucial summer in the transfer market as they attempt to trim a bloated squad and bring together a group that will be fit for purpose.
Dyche will also be hoping to get his squad in peak condition this summer. Many Everton fans reacted enthusiastically to images emerging from Finch Farm showing the 51-year-old putting his players through their paces following his appointment.
And if Dyche’s squad thought what they went through back in January and February was tough, then they are about to feel pain like they have never experienced before when they take part in 'Gaffer's Day'.
It became an annual tradition at Turf Moor following Dyche’s arrival at the club in October 2012. Burnley’s players would be put through their paces in a testing training session early in the pre-season programme.
The session involves elements similar to circuit training as well as a large amount of running, while there is also an emphasis on team building and the mental side of sport. For his part, Dyche made no bones about what his squad was in for.
He said: "Evian-les-Bains is somewhere I went over to last year to have a look at.
"We’re always trying to push the margins in training with not only the physical side but the mental side of the game. It’s a lovely place, a real good setting to work hard, and there will be hard work being done.
"It’s well documented now about how hard our players work. That’s a given, the way we train, the way we look after them."
Back in the summer of 2019, 'Gaffer's Day' took place in Portugal, and for new Burnley signing Erik Pieters, it was a case of going straight in at the deep end.
"Basically, you train without balls," said the Dutchman. "They are not allowed. They stay at the hotel, and the only thing you see are stopwatches and a big speaker saying ‘go’ and ‘stop’.
"It’s all part of it, and it prepares you mentally, gives you that edge, and give you that little bit more. When you’re doing it, you hate it, but afterwards, you’re pleased."
Before he added: "Gaffer’s day was lovely; I want do it again. But it’s part of his (Dyche's) thing, and it was good.
"It was hard work but was fun and was a nice welcome into the team in Portugal. It’s good to get your fitness level up and get you mentally prepared for the hard work, and the lads they did well."
