Museum nightmare could be the least of Farhad Moshiri’s problems
It was perhaps fitting that Everton’s first game after Farhad Moshiri celebrated seven years with the club was Arsenal away.
Moshiri spent nearly 10 years at the Gunners before joining the Blues. The British-Iranian billionaire had apparently grown frustrated with the way things were going at the Emirates.
Fast forward and now Everton supporters are frustrated with the way he is running things at their club. They are calling for change.
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Unfortunately for them the only change could be the league Everton are playing in next season. It is a far cry from what was promised six years ago.
Speaking back in 2017, Moshiri delivered a message that was music to the ears of Everton supporters. It was everything, at the time, they wanted to hear.
“It is not enough to say 'we are special',” he said. “We don’t want to be a museum. We need to be competitive and we need to win. The gold standard is the Premier League.”
Moshiri made those remarks after Everton had finished 11th in the Premier League. What Blues supporters would give for that right now.
Everton, for the second season running, are mired in another relegation battle. Last night’s defeat cemented their place in the bottom three.
A long few months lie ahead, and with each passing week Blues supporters lose hope that their side can preserve their Premier League status.
Sunday’s game against Nottingham Forest is huge. It is one that Everton can simply not afford to lose.
A museum? Forget that, Everton could soon be playing in the Championship if things don't improve. The Blues need to start winning and fast.
First ruthless call backfires on Sean Dyche
Ruthless calls have so far not been a familiar theme during Sean Dyche's Everton tenure.
But on Wednesday night that all changed. Team news dropped at 6.45pm and eyebrows were raised.
Out went Conor Coady and in came Michael Keane. Coady being replaced was perhaps not surprising given he didn’t cover himself in glory for Emi Buendia’s goal on Saturday.
But Keane getting the nod was the real big call. Especially given Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey were overlooked.
Keane and Dyche of course have history from their time together at Burnley, but his lack of game time so far this season has been telling. A January departure had looked likely.
However, here he was, starting at the Emirates for Everton against Arsenal. It was a baptism of fire for someone making his first league start of the season.
And to start with things went quite well. Keane looked solid and was dealing with the threat of Arsenal’s fine array of attacking talent quite well.
But then suddenly things changed and Keane and his side found themselves behind. Bukayo Saka somehow managed to get himself in between the centre-back and Vitalii Mykolenko.
And in the blink of an eye he fired his side ahead. Firing a powerful strike past a helpless Jordan Pickford.
It was the sort of defending that Everton supporters have become accustomed to from Mykolenko. The calls for him to be dropped will only grow.
But Keane also failed to cover himself in glory. And from there things didn’t get much better for the defender, or his side.
The Blues would go on to concede another three times. The defending for all four goals was poor to say the least.
If Dyche was hoping the inclusion of Keane could help shore things up at the back, then he was terribly mistaken.
On this evidence, the Blues boss will be returning to the drawing board ahead of Sunday’s trip to the City Ground.
Neal Maupay change raises major question
Just over 30 minutes remained when Sean Dyche decided to change things up.
His side were 2-0 down and were in need of inspiration. So on came Demarai Gray and Ben Godfrey.
The introduction of the pair was not surprising. Most supporters have been calling for Gray to be given the nod to start.
However, who came off spoke major volumes. Neal Maupay was the man withdrawn, with Gray taking his place at the top of the pitch.
But the more you think about that change, the more it raises major questions. A side 2-0 down taking their only senior forward off.
Not for the first time this season, Maupay had endured a mixed night. He got himself into a number of good positions, but fluffed his lines when his big moment arrived.
Just before the half-hour mark, the forward collected Doucoure’s pass and just when it looked like there was an opening for him to shoot, the former Brighton man hesitated, took a heavy touch and then allowed Gabriel to get back and clear the danger.
It felt like a moment that Everton supporters continue to see time and time again. And as is the case for Everton at the minute, Sean Dyche and his side were later punished.
It is not Maupay’s fault that Farhad Moshiri failed to deliver on his promise that he would bring a centre-forward to the club during the January transfer window, but the Blues are certainly paying the price for not being able to get a striker over the line.
But the fact Dyche had no hesitation in bringing Maupay off so early, only raises further questions about where Everton go from here in their battle to avoid the drop.
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