Richard Keys supports upset Everton fans amid ‘swipe’ from journalist after 1-0 loss to Fulham at Goodison Park
Richard Keys has backed the Everton supporters who were unhappy at the end of the 1-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday (12 August) at Goodison.
The BeIN Sports anchor said in his blog on 14 August that “you can’t lose at home to Fulham on the opening day”, and that while he likes Sean Dyche and hopes the manager turns it around the team will “struggle all season” if they don’t score more goals.
The Toffees had 19 shots and nine on target but went down to a Bobby De Cordova-Reid strike to finish empty-handed, and Keys understands the frustrations of fans already.
Keys said: “I read a piece by The Mirror’s David Maddock today that I felt was having a bit of a swipe at the Evertonians that booed their team off after the defeat by Fulham.
“His argument was that it’s a shame that fans only react to results – and that there was a lot in the game for Evertonians to be encouraged by.
“Ok. It’s an argument, but I’m with the Goodison die-hards. You can’t lose at home to Fulham on the opening day. I like Sean Dyche. I hope he gets Everton going, but his team have got to do a lot more than they did v Fulham.
“I said last week – the biggest problem Everton are going to have is scoring goals – and so it proved. If they can’t solve that issue they’ll struggle all season.”
Bad start
On the positive side it actually was a decent performance that would surely have been enough to take the points on many other days.
But on the other hand it is not a new problem for Everton to be short of goals, with only Wolves scoring less than the 34 managed last season.
So a fanbase that has weathered back-to-back relegation battles aren’t going to be overjoyed to see the team fall into the same old traps, when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was not risked for fitness reasons and new signing Youssef Chermiti was not in the squad either, while nothing can go right for Neal Maupay.
The club is straining to get deals done in the transfer market, with Jack Harrison becoming just the fourth in the early hours of Monday, and money only spent on one in Chermiti, it will feel like Everton have not learned their lessons.
If Dyche can land another goalscorer or get Calvert-Lewin into the side then there is every reason to believe that performances like the one against Fulham will turn into wins more often than not.
But a positive start is important given how low the feeling has got at times across the past two campaigns so throwing away a strong performance with a 1-0 loss will spark fears of a third season-long slog.
In other Everton news, the hierarchy is not working together to complete the signing of a talented striker with not everyone behind the scenes on board with the move.