The international break may have come at an important time as Everton prepare to stave off the threat of relegation.
Frank Lampard ’s side currently sit three points above the drop zone with 11 games left to play. Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the future of several players within the squad as the summer transfer window continues to edge closer.
To answer all your Everton questions, the ECHO’s Joe Thomas took part in a Q+A session. Here are some highlights of what was said in the live chat.
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EFC1997: Hello Joe is the board aware of fan unrest towards them? And if so, what is the plan or steps they are taking besides Bramley Moore? And as for the players, we all know the majority of them need to leave, and with Everton's financial state, how much would DCL and Richarlison cost if they were to leave?
Joe Thomas: I would be surprised if the board was unaware that supporters have concerns. While it is true there are significant caveats, the accounts did not make for great reading - though work to address some of the issues has already taken place/is taking place .
On the pitch, no-one should be in doubt about the threat of relegation. I think a lot now depends on how the season finishes. If we stay up there is no reason why DCL or Richarlison should lose value in the transfer market - both are young, under contract and clearly talented. If we go down they would still hold value, though factors like finances and their personal positions may have an impact on what is offered for them, and what the club might consider accepting.
LeeEFC: Why does Lampard constantly insist on a 3-4-3 formation when it clearly doesn't work? It's never worked with any previous managers, we don't have the players for it. You need two up-and-down wingbacks, which we don't have, and you also need three solid centre-backs, which we don't have. When we lose the ball it's basically three defenders against three strikers because our wing backs can't get back
Joe Thomas: I know this has been a source of frustration for quite a while and I suspect a lot of it is down to available personnel, with the squad having been hit by suspensions, illness and injury. One of the big questions going into this weekend is likely to be over the role of Nathan Patterson .
He impressed so much for Scotland that he has to be in contention, whether as a right-back or a right-wingback, potentially with Coleman slotting in behind him as a right-sided option in a central back three. Frank Lampard will have a press conference on Friday and I would be surprised if Patterson doesn't come up - it will be interesting to see what he says.
Bluelister: Hello Joe, any idea how much the accumulative salary savings we will be making from those departures of Sigurdsson, Tosun, Delph etc? I imagine there will be a further exodus of players if we drop but as it is, how much in total will be going back into the pot?
Joe Thomas: I don't know the exact terms but I think the weekly wages of some of those leaving may stretch into six figures, so I think the reduction in wages will be substantial from those three alone. That is one of the things worth bearing in mind when considering the accounts from this week. The wage to turnover ratio was incredibly high but will have dropped already since June 2021 and will drop again - a lot - this summer (dependent on who comes in of course). If we go down then the situation becomes a lot more complex, hopefully we won't have to cross that bridge.
MPBEFC: Staring the real possibility of relegation in the face having spent so much money, in your opinion who is really to blame for the position we are in ? We seemed to finally have so much to look forward to five-six years ago. Why did it go so wrong?
Joe Thomas: Firstly, you are right - the current situation is difficult and this next six weeks is huge not just in context of the season but in the context of the club's future. It's hard for me to place a finger on who is to blame as I've not had the inside track throughout that period (having only recently been given the privilege of covering Everton). But I think the club has been hit by a perfect storm of issues, ranging from manager turnover to Covid. It feels like a cliche to say luck as well, but Real Madrid coming for Ancelotti was an unpredictable event that destabilised the club as well.
One thing I would say is that this summer presents a massive opportunity, providing we can stay up. An ambitious young manager with, one would hope, good contacts (at least at Chelsea, who have a lot of talent that surely won't be hanging around for substitute appearances), and a number of players on big wages due to leave, does provide a chance to revitalise the club.
And that gap between about 8th and 17th is pretty small in reality - the right signings and a full, stable pre-season and with Goodison behind the players as next season starts could be the platform for a much brighter future. But first, Everton need to stay up, and to do that they have to take the threat of relegation seriously.
KopitePHD: Joe can you clarify why the club is only 'suspending' all sponsorships linked to banned Russian oligarch when it's illegal to deal with him in any manner - shouldn't it be cutting all links for good? Should the government be stepping in here Joe?
Joe Thomas: The club took a quick decision in suspending its ties and the suggestion is this is going to be a permanent one. My colleague, Dave Powell, wrote this and it gives an indication as to where we understand the club currently stands: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-take-260m-hit-stark-23532453
LeeEFC: We have some difficult games coming up. I'll be at Burnley next Wednesday and in my opinion that could easily be one of the biggest games in our history, and it will go a long way to how the rest of the season unfolds in my opinion. IF we could get three positive results in our next three games that could do wonders to confidence but more so the league table. Big week ahead.
Joe Thomas: Completely agree on that, Lee - I think there are points potentially to be gained from West Ham, Burnley and Man Utd and improving the tally sooner rather than later could be crucial for confidence and momentum.
