And then there was one…. One point that is. It took Everton 23 days to make 9 points up out of the 10 they lost after their FA charge into FFP rules and the Toffees who have faced the real threat of relegation for the last two seasons in a row are in their best form in the past six years. One could argue that the points deduction has simply spurred the team on, now the battle to stay in the Premier League wasn't just against the teams they had to play but against the establishing body of the league, it became an Us vs Them mentality. However at the same time that is to simplify what has happened because in truth Sean Dyche's side were already playing good football and winning games before the points deduction was handed out.
This season did threaten to be Everton's worst in recent memory with 3 defeats in a row to start their campaign off. As the club prepared for their trip to West Ham they had won just twice in 9 games but since then the Toffees have come out victorious in five of their last seven including recent form which has seen them win three in a row. The last two matches in particular have been impressive with a 3-0 win over Newcastle followed up with a 2-0 win over Chelsea. Five goals, none conceded and against the two sides barring Manchester City who have the biggest budgets in the league, not bad, not bad at all. At the weekend whilst it is an away game Everton will fancy their chances against Burnley, a side in 19th place who have managed just two wins from their opening 16 games. It is another important match for Everton because Vincent Kompany's team could reel them back in but for now Everton are four points clear of the bottom three and have even sorted out their goal difference which is now at zero.
What is interesting is that had Everton never been docked points they would be in 10th place, two points above Chelsea who spent upwards of £400m in the summer and four points from a European place. Of course the players on the pitch have to be praised but we also need to focus on the man in the dugout- Sean Dyche. Dyche has turned the team round, they have a backbone, a strong mentality and a belief in themselves. Now when losing possession players close down play and try to win possession back quick and the team are playing good football even in defeat. The recent 3-0 home loss against Manchester United seemed in a way unjustified- Everton had created 24 chances on goal, but United took their opportunities, but there was a sense of bitter disappointment in losing to the Red Devils and that shows you how far the club have come in a very short space of time. Dyche hasn't radically changed much at the club but he has with his players. He is a brilliant man manager and is able to bring the best out of the squad he has which is of importance when you are dealing with limited budgets. With the latest victory over Chelsea that changed Dyche's record to more wins than losses- 15 against 14 and while football remains a sport of one minute the hero the next the zero there is calm around the quarters of Goodison Park that suggests there is much more to come from Dyche and his team and that Everton are heading in the right direction.
Nottingham Forest's Steve Cooper has been installed as the favourite manager to next lose his job. Forest have managed to win just 1 point from their last 15 on offer and have nosedived down the table into 16th place. They have a five point cushion to the bottom three but that can quickly disappear. However even if Cooper has the tools to keep Forest up the owners may want some reassurance and have objectives that they can become a staple mid table side and not have to face the threat of relegation, so Cooper's days could be numbered. Certainly if their current form does not improve it wouldn't be a surprise to see him sacked this month. We have seen time and again that once one club makes the first move for the P45 others do too. Last week it was Sheffield United who sacked Paul Heckinbottom and brought back former manager Chris Wilder. In his first game although they lost to Liverpool the display and quality of their football was apparent and they went on to beat Brentford. The Wilder effect or more accurately the new manager effect is in full swing at the Blades, who need it given that they are bottom of the table. But managerial changes put pressure on rival club owners to act, so don't be surprised to see sacking season flare up in the next few weeks.
It's not just the bottom half of the table clubs that may be looking for a replacement. Should for example Eddie Howe be worried for his job at Newcastle? Some bookmakers have cut his odds from 61.00 to 21.00 and there is a sense that the Magpies are not living up to expectations based on last season. This week they crashed out of not just the Champions League but Europe altogether, and yet started the campaign by crushing PSG 4-1, that all seems a long time ago and to rub salt into the wounds PSG qualified for the last 16. In the league Newcastle are in 7th place and 11 points behind the league leaders Liverpool. While the owners of Newcastle have huge ambitions, a league title was not expected this season, but to be 11 points off the pace before the halfway stage of the campaign is telling. Howe has done a brilliant job of course but he probably over achieved last season as Newcastle were able to surprise many and qualify for the Champions League with a top four finish but already they are seven points adrift of that target and recent form has seen them concede seven goals in their last two games. Home form remains reliable enough but on the road is where the Magpies are suffering with just five points won from a possible 24. The amount of injuries which reads like a mini novel ultimately may save Howe for now, which would be fair but we have seen time and again from rich investors and club owners they have very little patience for that to subside Newcastle will need to have a positive December.
Next manager to be sacked: Steve Cooper 1.91, Erik ten Hag 2.75, Roy Hodgson 8.00, Mauricio Pochettino 15.00, David Moyes 21.00
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