Danny Murphy believes former Burnley manager Sean Dyche is the ‘obvious candidate’ to take over from Bruno Lage at Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, speaking to talkSPORT (12 October, 12.15pm).
Unfairly or not, Dyche’s critics will forever use Burnley’s rather ‘direct’ approach as a stick with which to beat a man who turned the Clarets into one of English football’s great overachievers before things went stale at Turf Moor.
As such, suggestions that Wolves should consider the gravel-voiced former Clarets gaffer as their new head coach are likely to split the Molineux fanbase right down the middle.
The pro-Dyche faction will point out that he kept Burnley safe from the drop for five straight seasons. That was despite operating on a shoestring budget. An unfashionable side even qualified for Europe in 2017/18. Others, however, will argue that Dyche’s style of play is ill-suited to a talented and technically-gifted Wolves squad; even if accusations that Burnley were little more than a modern-day Wimbledon – all elbows and long balls – are more than a little unjust.
At times, particularly during spells of the 2020/21 season, Burnley played with far more swagger and style than they are often given credit for.
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“I think there’s an obvious candidate in Sean Dyche,” former Liverpool, Tottenham and England midfielder Murphy says when asked to give his view on Wolves’ situation.
“He knows how to stay in the league. He could get them playing good football. I don’t think he’s a one-trick pony – far from it. I think he’d be a brilliant fit.”
According to The Mirror, 51-year-old Dyche is likely to rebuff any advances from West Brom. He is awaiting a new role in the Premier League role. Wolves, meanwhile, are back to the drawing board with talks breaking down – for a second time – with former Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui, per Guillem Balague. Lopetegui opted to stay in Spain for personal reasons.
Ex-Olympiakos boss Pedro Martins is another option. He turned down Hull City last week. Bo Svensson and Ruben Amorim, however, have publicly committed their futures to Mainz and Sporting Lisbon respectively.
Wolves are currently 18th in the Premier League table. They have just one win, and three goals, from nine games thus far. Midland neighbours West Brom have endured an equally underwhelming campaign. Steve Bruce paid for his job with the Baggies, pre-season promotion favourites, stuck at the wrong end of the rankings.
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