Alex Iwobi may have saved £70m for Farhad Moshiri with Everton winner v Newcastle United
Farhad Moshiri owes a debt of gratitude to Alex Iwobi after the forward’s 99th-minute goal secured Everton a huge win against Newcastle on Thursday night.
In what was a rather dull game that was marred by a protestor tying himself to the goalpost and a ridiculous red card for Allan, Iwobi’s stoppage-time winner is arguably the biggest moment in Everton’s season so far.
Iwobi, 25, has been far from a hero in his time at Goodison Park with the ex-Arsenal attacker being one of many players to struggle to win over the affection of the Evertonians.
However, that goal against Newcastle feels like it could have been season-defining, it could have been the goal to steer Frank Lampard’s team onto the right path and guide them to Premier League safety.
Before kick-off against Newcastle, the Blues were level on points with 18th-placed Watford with their superior goal difference being the only thing between their place in 17th and the bottom three.
Now, after Iwobi’s late winner secured three more points, there’s a nice cushion between the Toffees and the relegation zone while Lampard’s side also has two games in hand on Watford, 16th-placed Leeds and 20th-placed Norwich.
Relegation was unthinkable before this season started but it has shown signs of being a real possibility due to the mess we’ve seen both on and off the field.
As reported by The Telegraph on 17 March, Everton face losing £70million in broadcast revenue if they are relegated, adding to the other worries regarding the finances at Goodison Park.
It is understood that relegation to the Championship ” would be a disaster for Everton” and the financial hit would “ask more of everyone involved, not least Moshiri” since the Iranian lost the support of sanctioned oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
Iwobi’s goal against Newcastle might not only be a turning point on the pitch, but it could be one off it too.
In other Everton news, Richard Keys wants the Blues to build a squad around this up-and-coming youngster.
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