Burnley: 10 Things You Need To Know About Sean Dyche
4. Alignment
Dyche talks about this frequently and uses the word a lot, and it simply means singing from the same hymn sheet. Those who find it difficult he will talk to, and if they still find it difficult they will be shown the door. At the beginning of the season he had one-to-one talks with all the players and explained his needs and feelings and what he expected of them. This means that egos are in short supply, and divas are hard to spot. Everyone must buy into his style and requirements. Alignment was the word he used early in the season. There were still a few supporter grumbles and groans. When are there not? Where has the money gone? Where are the parachute payments? Why are we not buying new players? These were the questions fans asked even when the team was winning. The co-chairman Mike Garlick deliberately revealed the clubs financial position and debts well ahead of the AGM. It stopped the grumbling and the questions. Fans were now aware of the difficulties. Dyche saw it as a crucial moment and said it meant that everyone was aligned throughout the club and across the support. It was a defining moment. It made his job easier and took off some of the pressure. Everyone was now aware of the limitations. The club had what it had and he would work with that. And everyone shared the same philosophy. You work with what you have and play according to whatever strengths are available. Board and manager were together: they were aligned. Supporters and manager were together: they were aligned. Its a key word in the dictionary of Dyche.
