Everton have got away with it again
1994, 1998 and now 2023. All seasons in which Everton have survived Premier League relegation on the final day.
12 months ago, the Toffees came from 2-0 down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the penultimate game of the season, and the message after that was that this can never be allowed to happen again.
Well, a year on, the Blues’ came even closer to a first relegation since 1951.
Back in January, Frank Lampard was sacked as manager, with the team 19th in the table, having won only three matches just beyond the mid-way point of the season.
Sean Dyche came in and had an immediate impact, winning his first two home matches at the helm, both 1-0 beating Arsenal and then Leeds.
After that though, Everton won just one of their next 11 so, following a 2-2 draw at Leicester on 1 May, they remained in the bottom three.
Then came possibly the surprise result of the entire season, as the Toffees demolished Brighton 5-1 at the Amex, with Dwight McNeil’s late brace completing a win that was both extraordinary and unexpected in equal measure.
This victory essentially kept the Blues up, as it meant their fate was in their own hands going into the final day.
So then, on Sunday, Abdoulaye Doucouré's rasping volley was enough to down Bournemouth, thereby saving Everton from relegation and sparking wild celebrations at Goodison, both after the goal and at full time.
Now though, having finished 16th or lower in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1959, how do Everton ensure they aren’t in next season’s relegation dog-fight?
With their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock scheduled to open in August 2024, they simply cannot afford to live on the edge like that again.
Can Sean Dyche ensure that doesn’t happen again.. again!
So how do Everton ensure this doesn’t happen again?
Well, given the financial difficulties the club are enduring, on top of the cost of a new stadium, this won’t be easy.
Yerry Mina is out of contract, while it’s expected that Séamus Coleman will sign up for another season and Conor Coady’s loan from Wolves is set to be made permanent.
Star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin simply cannot stay fit, managing just 15 starts this season and scoring a measly two goals.
Turns out spending £15 million on Neal Maupay wasn’t the best idea, with the Frenchman’s sole goal for the club coming in September; a new striker is sorely needed.
Midfielder Amadou Onana has impressed since arriving from Lille, meaning he’s one of very few players in this squad that could command high a transfer fee, although they’d be loathed to lose him.
Nevertheless, selling Onana could help Sean Dyche mould the squad in his image and, given all the success he had at Burnley, there’s no better man to work wonders on a budget.
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