Richard Keys aims jibe at Everton despite Premier League survival, Andy Gray reacts
Richard Keys has aimed a jibe at Everton despite the club confirming their Premier League status with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Bournemouth on the last day of the season (28 May).
Sean Dyche’s side finished the 2022/23 campaign in 17th position and just two points clear of the relegation zone.
After the narrow victory at Goodison Park that was sealed by Abdoulaye Doucoure’s wonder strike, beIN Sports pundits Keys and Andy Gray debated whether celebrating Premier League survival should irritate the Toffees fanbase considering the magnitude of the club.
He said: “What should, after the relief, irritate every Evertonian should be that once again, on the last day of the season, they are celebrating staying in the league.
“And that, for a club of Everton’s size, just isn’t good enough.”
“No, it’s not,” Gray replied.
“I mean my biggest emotion is relief, without a shadow of a doubt, that we have got the job done today, the job that was needed to be done, but I take no great satisfaction in celebrating it.
“This club, when I was there, was at the height of its power, and to see us struggling in the Premier League, in the way we have done, over the last few years is hard to take.
“But my main emotion right now is relief that these unbelievable supporters will be watching a Premier League side and not a Championship side.”
Relief
The overriding emotion within the stands of Goodison Park upon the final whistle being blown was indeed relief.
After months of turmoil both on and off the pitch, the team and Dyche somehow managed to muster enough to get the club over the line on the last day of the season.
When Leicester City took the lead in the first half of their clash against West Ham, it wasn’t looking hopeful, but the Everton faithful never lost heart that their team would produce the goods.
When looking back on the season as a whole, though, finishing 17th in the Premier League simply isn’t good enough.
Considering the resources of the club, the size of the fanbase, and its glittering history, Everton should be among the upper echelons of the Premier League table.
Dyche and the club will take stock over the coming weeks and months and look to vastly improve the first-team squad this summer because they might not be so lucky third time around.