Will Everton be in the same relegation battle as last season?
Scenic panorama of Goodison Park, the iconic stadium of Everton Football Club.
The Toffees have been a part of the English top flight since 1954, meaning they haven’t been relegated to a lower tier ever since. Everton won their last trophy all the way back in 1995 after they managed to beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final 1:0.
Everton’s Struggle in Recent Premier League Seasons
Their journey ever since has seen a slight decline, especially during the past two seasons, the last one probably being their worst one ever since the Premier League formed in 1992. The Toffees managed to avoid relegation in their final game when they beat Bournemouth 1:0 at home with a goal from Abdoulaye Doucouré. But was that enough to keep the club afloat in the upcoming seasons?
Everton’s New Additions: What They Bring to the Table
Although the squad led by Sean Dyche has only started its summer transfer market window, the hopes are somewhat high – with the squad objectively looking much better compared to the one that fought relegation for the past two seasons. Dyche has bolstered the squad with an experienced England international Ashley Young, who will provide much-needed help on the right flank.
The former Aston Villa and Manchester United wingback is currently 38 years old and will most likely be a squad player. That still doesn’t change the fact that Young played the majority of Aston Villa’s Premier League games during the last two seasons. There’s no doubt that Ashley Young will have a huge impact on an already aging and experienced Everton squad.
Another signing that might make all the difference is Arnaut Danjuma. The Dutch winger was supposed to come to Goodison Park during the winter of 2022/23 season, but his transfer was hijacked by a Premier League rival – Tottenham Hotspur. The Spurs managed to snatch the signing of a former Bournemouth starter who helped the Cherries come back to the Premier League and also managed to get to the semi-finals of the Champions League with Villareal while scoring six goals in eleven games in the process. Danjuma should be able to help out in the attack since he could cover many different positions in the final third – striker being one of them. His loan spell during the upcoming season should help an injury-plagued Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
What sets Everton apart from other struggling sides is their mix of experience and youth. Players like Abdoulaye Doucouré and newly-signed Ashley Young bring a wealth of knowledge and on-field wisdom, crucial for crunch moments. Meanwhile, the young talents in the squad offer the dynamism and energy that every Premier League side needs. However, the key here will be for Dyche to find the right balance between these two elements. Mismatches in squad dynamics could lead to on-field inconsistencies, something Everton can ill afford if they are to avoid another relegation battle.
The Exit of Tom Davies: What Does it Mean for the Squad?
On the other hand, Tom Davies has left the club after spending all of his career at Everton. The, still somewhat young, English midfielder accepted the role of being a backup option but decided to pursue some first-team football after the expiration of his contract.
Sean Dyche’s Experience: Everton’s Wild Card
The Toffees will most likely still have a somewhat hard season ahead of them, but looking at the rest of the league, it seems like the relegation battle shouldn’t be as fierce as it was the season before. Everton’s decision to bring in Sean Dyche as their manager is already causing ripples in the football community. Dyche is an expert when it comes to not only saving clubs from relegation but also making them Premier League regulars and also, in some cases, taking them to Europe. That’s something that he managed to achieve with Burnley in season 2018/19. The Toffees have had a revolving door of managers in recent years, none of whom have brought sustainable success. Dyche could be the man to steady the ship and bring long-term progress to the club.
Everton has always been a staple in the Premier League and the club will look to improve their somewhat diminishing reputation.
Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities
Everton’s fixture list for the next season will be challenging, but it also presents several opportunities for gaining points against teams that are likely to be around them in the table. How they navigate these ‘six-pointers’ could define their season. Dyche’s past experience in leading Burnley through such crucial matches will be invaluable here.
Adding these perspectives to the analysis, it’s fair to conclude that Everton should be looking forward to a season where they can finally regain some lost dignity. While they will not challenge for the European spots, a comfortable mid-table finish is a reasonable expectation. What they need now more than ever is stability and a sense of direction, and under Sean Dyche, they might just find both.
