Sean Dyche feels Everton’s 10-point deduction is skewering perceptions of the progress they have made this season.
The Toffees sit one point outside the relegation zone ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Fulham and also suffered a disappointing FA Cup fourth-round exit to Luton on Saturday.
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Everton would have been in 12th place in the Premier League had it not been for their penalty for breaching the FA’s Profitability and Sustainability rules – an appeal is ongoing – and Dyche is frustrated that is masking what he feels is an improvement.
Asked if he felt his side had made progress in 2023-24, he said: “If you put the 10 points on then factually yes. And I think the feel of the team, yes.
“The energy and commitment, yes. Quality, generally yes. Flexibility of the side to try and find a win, yeah.
“So a lot of good markers but when the 10 points is not there, no-one tells the story – and rightly so.
“I don’t like harking on about it. Facts are facts. We are one point outside the relegation zone.
“Of course at the back of your mind you’ve got that nagging doubt, have we moved forward?
“I think we have as a club and as a team. We have in different ways but the facts remain the same and that’s where the table says we are.”
The boss says he is unlikely to have any players returning from injury in time for tomorrow’s game.@WEARFIGS 🔵 #FULEVE PIC.TWITTER.COM/J2TILLRRXC
— Everton (@Everton) JANUARY 29, 2024
Dyche is short of midfield options for the trip to Craven Cottage with Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure injured and Idrissa Gueye away with Senegal at the African Cup of Nations.
Gomes’ setback is a real blow for a player that has suffered terribly with injuries throughout his career at Goodison Park.
Dyche said: “He isn’t going to be fit this week. It is going to be a matter of time, we don’t know how long yet, but it’s definitely a calf injury, he’s had a couple of them over the last few months.
“It has been very difficult and it’s a loss to us because I think you’ve seen he was showing he wants to adapt to what we’re doing and play for us, and he scored a great free-kick and looked sharp as he was getting fitter, and now he’s injured again so it’s really frustrating for him and for us.”
