- Everton were hit with a ten-point deduction from the Premier League on Friday
- The club may be a broken place, but this moment could reunite it
- Southgate’s loyalty to his players is a problem and a weakness It all starts
Everton have been a broken club and at first this sloppily handled penalty felt like a devastating blow, but 48 hours later I am convinced that this moment will reunite the club.
Ask Sean Dyche, ask Frank Lampard and they will tell you that the supporters have kept Everton afloat over the last two seasons.
There is a good reason why Everton is called the people’s club and the people want to fight back because it is in their DNA. The harshness of this point deduction has created a siege mentality: it’s us against the rest.
I can’t wait for Manchester United to come to Goodison Park. I bet the fans will fill the streets around the stadium before kick-off to make sure the desire to fight carries over to the players on the pitch. It could revive the spirit of Bayern Munich from 1985.
Anyone who faces Everton between now and the end of the season will be in for a very difficult day.
Everton has been a broken club and at first this punishment felt like a crushing blow
However, 48 hours later, the 10-point deduction could be the moment the club reunites
Peter Reid says the harshness of the decision has led to a siege mentality at Goodison Park
On Friday I was with some of the club’s employees, ladies who work hard behind the scenes, and the news had shocked them. It might cost jobs, but by the end of our conversation even they said, ‘let’s show them!’
If Everton have broken the rules then the club must face the consequences, but the way this decision was leaked and handled was disgraceful. The club will appeal, but will the committee withdraw? I don’t see it happening.
The punishment is excessive and there is no doubt that other clubs will be concerned. We all agree that we need more transparency, so let’s take a look at the books of each football club.
It just seems wrong to me that some of Everton’s problems revolve around the construction of a new stadium that will also be used for the country’s benefit during the 2028 European Championship.
The football industry must be careful about alienating fans. Our sport is in danger because it is played by financial men and lawyers instead of as it should be, by players on the field.
Points deductions punish the fans and players – why not penalize those who make these mistakes: the finance guys? Hit them in the pocket, get the money circulating again and it should stop quickly.
I can tell you that the message to the Premier League from the streets around Goodison is now old-fashioned Anglo-Saxon!