Sue Smith drops ‘absolutely unreal’ verdict amid Everton relegation claim
Sue Smith claimed the way Sean Dyche has galvanised Everton after the “psychological effects” of being thrust into a relegation scrap is “absolutely unreal”.
The Toffees were handed a contentious 10-point deduction for flouting the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, a decision the club have challenged.
Everton, though, have won four straight matches to put a seven-point buffer between themselves and the relegation zone.
Without the deduction Everton would be in the top-10 and Smith is hugely impressed by how Dyche and his team have responded after finding themselves in a “scrap” at the bottom of the table.
Speaking on Sky Sports News (18 December, 12:34pm), she said: “When you add on those 10 points, which I think a lot of Evertonians have done, you’d actually be looking at Europe with the form they’re in right now, which is absolutely unreal.
“Because I think the psychological effects of having that 10-point deduction that must have been tough for the players and the manager, suddenly you’re into relegation, suddenly you’re in a scrap, when before that you were pretty comfortable.
“But the way that Sean Dyche has galvanised that team and the way that he’s said you can only control what you can control and that’s the performances on the pitch.”
It goes back longer…
Without wishing to take too much credit away from Dyche or his side, it is almost a false narrative to suggest that the deduction has had a galvanising effect on the squad.
And I mean that as a compliment. The truth is, Everton have nine wins from their past 14 matches in all competitions, drawing one and losing the other three during that period.
So, yes it is hugely impressive how Everton have performed over the past few weeks, especially in the wider context of what is happening off the pitch, that is something that should be celebrated and applauded.
But they should be being celebrated and applauded for their performances for a period stretching way further than the past four games. This run isn’t necessarily a result of the deduction, but in spite of it. Long may the points continue to rack up.
In other Everton news, Burnley have launched an investigation after what happened versus the Toffees.