Sean Dyche has banned two items from Everton training – admitting it ‘drives him mad’ when he sees players wearing them.

The 51-year-old, rightly or wrongly, earned a reputation for being no-nonsense and traditional in his methods during his time with Burnley.

We’ve all heard the story of Dyche making his players do the Bleep test in February, which you can check out in the player above. He’s been firm about wearing shin pads with match socks or trousers in training as he bids to raise standards.

The reason? They won’t be allowed to wear those items of clothing during games. It’s something Dyche admitted ‘drives him mad’ when speaking to the media ahead of Everton’s game with Arsenal.

He said: “This has been going round for years and it drives me mad. Unless I’ve been out of the game for too long, you’re not allowed to wear hats when you play on a Saturday, you’re not allowed to wear snoods when you play on a Saturday and you have to, by the rules, wear shin pads. It is not rocket science.

“Everyone makes the mythical story that it’s hard lines from Sean Dyche. It is just common sense. You train how you play, how can you train how you play if you have 14 snoods on, 15 hats and leggings, no shin pads, white socks, it’s not relevant. I told the players, ‘these myths I’m going to bust them for you right now’.

“I explained to them. There is not a single player here where everything is not explained to them.

“I’d be surprised if any of them are in the dark on anything. I explain everything to them and the reason behind it.”

It didn’t take long for Sean Dyche to introduce a new rule that is designed to ‘set the tone’ and ‘keep standards high’ in training.

“Our aim is to put out a team that works, that fights and wears the badge with pride,” he said. “There is quality in this squad, but we have to make them shine.”

The no-nonsense former Burnley boss soon got his players to work in this week’s first training session, where he put his new squad through a gruelling session.

In fact, he made his players do a Bleep Test as Ben Godfrey and Ellis Simms appeared to be the last players standing.

Away from the fitness aspect of training and some eagle-eyed fans noticed that every player was wearing a certain outfit.

That’s because the new manager has ordered all of his squad to wear shin pads with match socks or trousers for training.

You could argue that players may have held back in challenges when their teammates failed to wear shin pads in years gone by, but knowing Dyche, he will want his players to show intensity in training.

The Toffees have failed to show those levels of intensity in large spells this season but Dyche is keen to bring that passion back to Goodison Park.

“I know about Everton’s passionate fanbase and how precious this club is to them,” he said in his first interview.

“We’re ready to work and ready to give them what they want. That starts with sweat on the shirt, effort and getting back to some of the basic principles of what Everton Football Club has stood for for a long time.

“We want to bring back a good feeling. We need the fans, we need unity and we need everyone aligned. That starts with us as staff and players.”

He added: “We want to change the shape of this club going forward, remodel it in our style, but in a way that we can win.

“That’s the task in front of us – make sure we’re building, tactically and technically, giving players organisation, allow them the freedom to play, to go and enjoy their football because it’s brilliant when the team’s playing with a smile, but we’ve got to win.”

Thoughts on the appointment of Dyche? Can he save Everton from relegation this season?

Let us know in the comments.

Sean Dyche will face Arsenal in his first Everton match, should he be appointed as Toffees boss.

While Bielsa was reportedly the favoured choice of owner Farhad Moshiri, the Argentinian is said to have expressed reservations about taking over in mid-season while he questioned whether the squad would fit his physically demanding style.

There were also allegedly doubts over Bielsa’s expensive demands.

Arteta on Dyche

Dyche takes charge of an Everton side currently 19th in the table, two points from safety.

Furthermore, the 51-year-old has a dismal record against the north London side, having won just one of his 15 meetings against the Gunners, a 1-0 triumph back in December 2020.

Nevertheless Arsenal boss Arteta has much admiration for Dyche, having expressed his sympathies for the manager when he was sacked by Burnley last season.

Arteta said: “I only have words of praise because what he’s done at the club over the last ten years is phenomenal.

“He gave the club a really clear identity, he’s managed to keep the team, with one of the smallest budgets, consistently in the league.

“I wish him the best of luck and as always with colleagues, it’s sad when you see those decisions.”

Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche offered up a football level of masterclass analysis of a curry selection and sundries on live radio — and it’s a sensational watch for fans.

Ahead of Dyche’s potential return to the Premier League, the ex-Watford boss once hilariously impressed fans with his passionate conversation on all things curry (watch it in the video player above).

Dyche was in his element during a live appearance on BBC Radio Lancashire, with the 51-year-old meticulously talking about an assortment of different items.

“Now we’re talking,” Dyche said after being passed the lamb curry, before adding: “Okay. Yeah.

“See, you know the oiliness? I love that. I know you’re not meant to love it. I know it’s not very good for you, but oh, it’s so good that is.

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“Yeah, it should be naturally out there meat and then the ghee, isn’t it? That should be the mixture.”

Dyche’s segment on BBC radio left fans in stitches, with one fan saying he was brave to handle curries while wearing a white T-shirt — and we very much agree with that.

“Props to Sean, although the madman is handling and opening curry tubs with a white T-shirt on, very risky,” one fan pointed out.

Someone else tweeted: “Mate, like… who wouldn’t want to bring him along to a stag [do]?”

A third hilariously wrote: “So much is happening [here]. He even laid the boxes out in a classic 4-4-2.”

Another Twitter user posted: “Knows his way round a curry, I genuinely thought I couldn’t love him more…”

While one fan said: “This turned me into a Sean Dyche stan.”