The decision of Burnley to dismiss Sean Dyche came as a real shock. Few things in modern day football come as a surprise, and this is not the first time such a seemingly rash decision has been made at an important point in the season. But I was shocked when I first saw this news.
After everything Dyche has done at that club this is a gamble by the owners. They clearly wanted a reaction on the pitch and they nearly did get it - Burnley could so easily have been 2-0 up against West Ham and gone on to win and close the gap to Everton to just one point, though in the end they did not. Yet whatever happens next, I think the decision has baffled 'football people'.
In a way I thought it might be bad news for Everton - we see time-and-time again how such decisions create a reaction. Just look at Newcastle United. OK they had a lot of funding but they are in a completely different position now under Eddie Howe than when Steve Bruce left.
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Removing Dyche was a big decision though - and it shows how rash it was that they did not have someone lined up and ready to come straight in to replace him.
Will a new manager help to change the fortunes of Burnley too? Hopefully not for Everton's sake. It can go either way but we have got to just get our own house in order and concentrate on ourselves. Everton have got two huge games coming up this week. First there is the game under the lights at Goodison Park against Leicester City.
After the 10-day break following the win over Manchester United, hopefully Frank Lampard has had a chance to really work with the squad - mentally and physically - over what they need to do in these final eight games of the season, starting on Wednesday night.
Then there is the trip to Anfield. The good thing about having a derby is, and I have been a player going into one of these games as part of a team that is struggling for form, is that form can go out of the window. Liverpool seem to be the best team in the Premier League right now. They have a lot of confidence. But a derby can reset things. Sometimes you can go to Anfield, or play at Goodison Park, and get a result that can change the rest of your season. It can be a confidence booster.
It is an opportunity to play against a top side and Everton's players must not be afraid. They need to thrive on the passion of the supporters and the pressure of the rivalry to deliver. Everton have nothing to lose on Sunday, we can go out there and express ourselves and hopefully get a good result.
It will be Frank's first Merseyside derby and he won't want to be embarrassed. Those players will remember the last derby, the 4-1 defeat at Goodison Park. They will remember how it felt after that result and they need to use that hurt in a good way to help them pay back the supporters. They must leave everything on that pitch on Sunday.
