This year marks the final season at one of the oldest stadiums in the country, Goodison Park for Everton. Here are a club who were one of the founding members of the league and have not been relegated in over 70 years. However for the third season in a row relegation is a real possibility for the Toffees. Football fans up and down the country would quite frankly find it hilarious if not ironic if Everton were to be relegated and spend their debut season in a brand spanking new 50,000+ seater stadium only to be playing Championship football. But as each game ebbs on by one has to wonder if lady luck has finally run out for them?
Sean Dyche's sacking is not a surprise and in fact was nailed on once the Friedkin Group had officially taken over. Out with the old and in with the new, except for Everton it's out with the old and in with the old. David Moyes has returned to the dugout for the first time in 12 years. Moyes spent an incredible 11 years with the club and although he didn't win any trophies Everton finished in a European position four times and reached the final of the 2009 FA Cup. The appointment of Moyes has divided opinion among fans and that is never a good sign. Have the owners simply swapped like for like when it comes to managers? At West Ham Moyes delivered them their first trophy in 43 years and qualified for Europe numerous times. However the main difference was that Moyes had an abundance of decent attackers and midfielders at his disposal. Even then Hammers fans were glad to see the back of the Scotsman who for the most part made the fans watch some dire negative football. Everton are already at that stage but in defence the club have been able to manage their own with the very best sides. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford keeps saving the club and he has the second best record for clean sheets in the league. The worry is in attack. Everton have only 15 goals this season it is beyond a poor return with only bottom side Southampton scoring less. Wins and goals go hand in hand of course but Everton do not have a potent attacking line up. Between them Dominic Calvert Lewin and Beto have scored just 3 league goals since August. That is a jaw dropping figure.
David Moyes problems lie in the fact that this Everton side cannot score goals. Moyes is not known for his free flowing attacking football so does his return spell disaster for the club? Certainly there is nostalgia about it and he was welcomed to Goodison Park and looks set to become the final manager at the old stadium. There should be a sense that something special is about to happen with Everton and Moyes has created miracles in the past. The problem is those special moments were in the past. There is also the cases of Moyes time at Sunderland when the club were relegated from the Premier League his time at La Liga outfit Real Sociedad did not go well either. Of course we can mention his ill fated time at Manchester United but perhaps in fairness he wasn't given the time or respect at the club. At Goodison Park this week the nostalgia and excitement was sucked out of the stadium after an hour against Aston Villa like letting a loose balloon disappear into the cold snap Liverpool evening. Moyes first game ended in defeat and next up is an attacking Tottenham side. The future looks murky and worrying for the Toffees who have to bring new faces in. They have two weeks to do so.
It's worrying to see that Chelsea are trying to make a financial settlement with the FA over player transfer discrepancies stretching back to the Roman Abramovich era thus avoiding any points deductions. Granted the Blues went to UEFA and the FA when the new owners found out the problems through checks and have been transparent about this. But does honesty after breaking the rules now mean that points losses will not be incurred? Did anyone tell Everton and Nottingham Forest this? Does this give us a clearer window into what may happen with the 115 case charge of Manchester City. City are dealing with some charges going back to 2009. If Chelsea and the FA reach an agreement it would feel like a slap in the face for other clubs struggling with potential point losses. Are we living in a two tier league where the rich clubs can simply pay themselves out of trouble?
Finally the midweek games told us that Arsenal once again look like being the nearest challengers to Liverpool. The Reds have been the best side in the league so far and still have only lost one game. Their draw with Nottingham Forest was significant for them given they were losing. Another game chalked off and Liverpool remain six points in front of Forest. But it was Arsenal making all the right moves and their 2-1 derby win over Tottenham means that the Gunners are just four points shy of Liverpool albeit Arne Slot's side has a game in hand. Still Arsenal's recent victory in a week where Liverpool dropped two points has given the league leaders something to think about
Premier League Winner latest odds: Liverpool 1.44, Arsenal 4.33, Manchester City 34.00, Nottingham Forest 41.00, Newcastle 51.00
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