Everton have been blown away in their first two games, their takeover is dragging on and they could lose more players this week – the club’s sorry saga could yet end in relegation, writes MATT BARLOW
10:05 BST 25 Aug 2024, updated 10:05 BST 25 Aug 2024
Everton have been thrashed in their first two games without scoring a goal
They are also dealing with off-field problems and look set for a relegation scrap
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After years of genuine crisis, last season ended with the hope that the worst might soon be over for Everton.
They had survived in the Premier League despite an eight-point deduction, a fabulous new stadium was taking shape by the Mersey, and the disastrous Farhad Moshiri era was staggering towards its end.
Some of the noise around the club subsided and perhaps some of the existential fears went with it.
But the takeover drags on, more players could be sold before Friday’s deadline and the first two games of the new campaign have brought little by way of comfort.
On the evidence of a 4-0 thrashing at Tottenham, Sean Dyche’s depleted team are a long way short of the levels they produced to escape trouble last season.
Sean Dyche’s Everton have been thrashed in their opening two games of the season
Their takeover is still dragging on, with the disastrous Farhad Moshiri era yet to come to an end
They could still lose players in the final week of the transfer window, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin (left)
It is a reminder that the whole sorry saga could yet end in relegation for the first time in 70 years as Everton bid farewell to Goodison Park.
Maybe that no longer feels like such a terrible outcome.
After all, teams can bounce back and it can be a welcome change to watch the team win a few games in the Championship.
There was an air of resignation about the Blues on Saturday once Yves Bissouma fired Spurs into an early lead and Jordan Pickford gifted the second to Heung-min Son.
Cristian Romero headed in the third as the home side relaxed and savoured their first win of the season and the away end started to empty once Son completed the scoring with his second in the 77th minute.
Evertonians have witnessed two sobering defeats in the first two weekends of the new season.
They saw their team beaten 3-0 by Brighton at Goodison in the opening fixture and they knew this one could easily have been more emphatic.
Everton are set to move into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season, but their first year away from Goodison Park could yet be in the Championship
James Tarkowski has issued a rallying cry, but Everton need to turn things around quickly to avoid being dragged into another relegation scrap
Maybe Dyche detected crisis fatigue around the place and he searched for the fighting spirit which has served the club well.
‘We seem to be good when we’re written off,’ said the Everton boss. ‘It’s not our first rodeo.’
He is looking at home games this week, against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, as a chance to get momentum moving before the international break.
James Tarkowski joined the call to arms. ‘I’ve been here a couple of years now,’ said Tarkowski. ‘We have been through many tests. This is another test. We need to get through it.’
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Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.