Robbie Savage blasts back at ‘nonsense’ people are saying about Everton now
Robbie Savage has become dumbfounded with fans suggesting that now is as good a time as any for Everton to receive their 10-point deduction.
Having been found guilty of a profit and sustainability breach, the Toffees now find themselves one spot off the bottom of the Premier League table with only point difference separating them and 20th-place Burnley.
And despite Savage still believing that Sean Dyche can lead the club to safety for a second consecutive season, the former Wales international has hit back at those fans finding the positives in the “harsh” punishment.
Writing for The Mirror on Saturday 25 November (page 63), Savage said, “Some people say the points deduction has come at a good time because it gives the Toffees plenty of time to repair the damage.
“Nonsense – there is NEVER a good time to be docked 10 points. But Dyche has got the Mersey men firing again and, even if their punishment is harsh, I can’t see them going down when they have another 78 points to play for between now and the end of the season.”
In darkness, there is light
Of course, the taking away of 10 points is a huge setback for the Toffees, one that the club will appeal against. But even despite leaving the team on just four points, it may give the players that extra motivation to re-travel up the table and away from the relegation zone.
It is also more likely to bring the whole club and community closer together, creating an almighty atmosphere at Goodison Park on a matchday.
Important to note is the form of the teams now around Everton. It is one of the worst starts to a Premier League season by the three teams promoted from the Championship, which will give Dyche’s men the confidence that the bottom three is not where they belong, even despite the recent turmoil.
It is by no means ideal, as some fans attempt to paint over the cracks with positivity. But it is by no means a relegation sentence from the Premier League for the first time in their history; it will only spur the club on to fight back against the league.
In other Everton news, a government minister acknowledged the “audible agreement” in parliament as the Toffees case was raised.