Realistic Hopes for Everton

With the new ownership group bedding in – and the chance for new recruits joining during the transfer window – the concerns raised earlier this season should hopefully disappear over the next months. But it has already been a frustrating campaign for Everton and the fans have voiced their opinion at the end of a number of games already.

Predicting anything that happens at Goodison Park has already been a risky pastime but the current perceived lack of direction will only temporarily be erased with the new owners. If results still refuse to come through for Sean Dyche’s men, there will be more than boos ringing out from the stands.

However, as Everton (hopefully) improves in the second half of the season, there will still be more than a few soccer sports betting markets suggesting the club will battle against relegation in the coming months. We Everton fans are usually matter-of-fact about how good or bad the team is performing – but what are some realistic hopes for the rest of the 2024-25 season?

New Man in Charge

If it hasn’t already happened by the time you read this, there is surely no doubt that Sean Dyche will leave his position soon. The new owners had already voiced their opinions on the possibility of David Moyes returning to the club even before the deal was rubber-stamped. A new head coach is definitely the way to go.

Dyche obviously did an excellent job last season as the club fought against points deductions as well as everything else. He was able to inspire the players to use the negatives as incentives and another top-tier status was achieved. Performances haven’t been good this year though, so a new man in charge is needed.

Keep Faith in DCL

Everton is one of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League this season, so there is no way that all of that should be heaped on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s shoulders. But it is a simple fact that, as the main striker, he should be scoring more goals. In a relative injury-free run, he has to be the main goal-getter.

It could be easily argued that he is not being provided with enough chances by his teammates, of course. But if Everton is to climb the table, it will be because DCL has started finding the net on a regular basis. With such an unfortunate injury history, it feels as though he has to score goals when he is fit.

But Give Beto a Chance

Beto has been a proven goal scorer in Portugal and Italy but has rarely been given the chance to prove himself in the EPL. With a striker with the talent of Calvert-Lewin, it is perhaps understandable that Sean Dyche has looked to the England international instead of Beto. But short run-outs are not going to bring results.

The way DCL plays, it is unfortunately likely that he will miss games through injury this season. Giving Beto more minutes early on is one way that Everton can prepare for that eventuality. That will also give the player more confidence and hopefully result in more players scoring goals for the team.

Forget About the Cups?

We would never want Everton to disregard the cup competitions. This is a club, after all, with a proud history in the FA Cup, in particular. This season’s EFL Cup campaign is already over but fans should be realistic about the prospect of departing the main cup competition as well. Extra games towards the end of the season might really affect Everton’s chances of staying up.

The players should obviously give it their all but there should be no hand-wringing or moaning if or when Everton is knocked out. A good cup run can sometimes have a knock-on effect on league form. But with EPL survival so important and the move to Bramley-Moore Dock imminent, the FA Cup should not be a priority.

17^th is OK

So, if we are willing to put FA Cup dreams on hold, should we then expect Everton to finish high up in the league? The top half of the table would be nice – and it is a feat only achieved once in the last five years – but the main thought on all Evertonian minds should be that finishing in 17^th position is fine.

That might sound a little defeatist to some but if we are thinking realistically, there is little hope of achieving much in the league again this season. Just like many US sports teams work on the idea of a “period of transition”, Everton finishing 17^th will mean the EPL again next season and a chance to start over with new owners, coaches, and players.

New Stadium, New Team

This has to be the most exciting part of being an Everton fan at the moment. After years of false starts and promises that were never delivered, the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock has now been built and the 52,888-capacity structure looks like being one of the best in the EPL.

There is no overestimating how much a gleaming new stadium can affect the performances of the players on the field. As much as Goodison Park will always be a much-loved part of our history, the new stadium is a chance to change the fortunes of the club entirely. The new players who will be taking to the field at the beginning of next season could change the course of the club for the better.