'Absolutely mad' - Jones cannot believe what Sean Dyche recently did at Everton v So'ton

Sean Dyche has been torn to shreds over his decision to start Jarrad Branthwaite on the bench against Southampton by Matt Jones.

Branthwaite came on as a late substitute as the Toffees suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of previously winless Southampton at St. Mary’s on Saturday (2 November).

Speaking after the game, Dyche cited Michael Keane and James Tarkowski’s form as the reason for his decision to put the 22-year-old on the bench (Liverpool Echo), leaving Jones baffled.

“It’s absolutely mad that you’ve got your best player sat on the bench”, Jones said on The Blue Room podcast (5 November).

“I’d have played him at centre-half, I’d have played him at left-back even because Mykolenko has been struggling if you’re really desperate to keep that centre-back pairing together.

“The evidence is there, just go back to last season, the lad made us such a better player in every aspect, on the ball, recovery pace, helps the left-back out. I’m just baffled by it.”

Jarrad Branthwaite decision mad at Everton

One would have expected the reason for Branthwaite not starting against Southampton was that he is still working his way back from injury.

However, Dyche’s comments after the game have raised major questions ahead of the Toffees’ trip to West Ham this Saturday (9 November).

Chris Beesley has revealed that the England international is “fully fit” (Royal Blue podcast), but it appears Dyche might continue trusting Keane and Tarkowski at the back.

The manager must avoid doing that at the London Stadium at all costs if he wants to keep his job at Goodison.

It is worth noting that Everton have won only two of their 10 league games this season and are just four points above the relegation zone.

The fact that Dyche is choosing Keane and Tarkowski over one of the best players in the team when the club cannot afford to do so is bewildering.

In other Everton news, Dyche may have lost the Goodison dressing room already as huge question marks emerge.

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