Sean Dyche must be sick of the false narrative emerging at Everton
Everyone at Everton deserves huge credit for the brilliant run of form they find themselves in right now.
But what is becoming absolutely infuriating is this false narrative that the Toffees are in this fine form because of the controversial 10-point deduction handed out to the club for a breach of profit and sustainability rules.
Don’t get me wrong, it is seriously impressive that the team have managed to stay so focused and perform so admirably amid a backdrop of off-field woe, no one is taking that away.
However, it feels incredibly unfair to suggest that their form is a reaction to the punishment, one that Everton have challenged.
Because the truth is their form stretches way back before that. Indeed, over the past 14 matches in all competitions, Everton have 10 wins, three defeats, and one draw (Soccerway).
Since the verdict was handed out, Everton have played five matches. The first ended in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United that really flattered the Red Devils, the following four have resulted in victories that have put an eight-point gap to the bottom three.
Sean Dyche must be sick now of answering questions about the galvanising effect the points deduction has had on his side.
It is a suggestion that really detracts from the fine job he has done at Goodison Park this season, well before the news dropped.
Moreover, Everton are playing some really good stuff. Yes all the tired old tropes about a Dyche side still apply, there’s plenty of physicality, plenty of running yada, yada, yada. But there’s some real quality in this team and they’re playing some great stuff in spite of the punishment, not because of it.
It really is time to change this already tired narrative that has developed and give Everton the genuine praise they deserve right now.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are reportedly back in the hunt to sign Iliman Ndiaye.