Everton Face Relegation
Everton, one of the most storied names in English football, are in serious trouble with the threat of relegation now a distinct possibility.
Football, like life, can be a harsh and cruel place. Everton will be fully aware that their upcoming opponents definitely do not respect Everton's present or past reputation.
Everton's decline has been gradual though there have been many warning signs.
Everton's largest shareholder and owner Farhad Moshiri first purchased the Merseyside club in 2016 for USD$ 270 million.
The club has spent an incredible USD $674 million on the transfer market; levels of spending matched only by Manchester City. Players have come and gone and further expenditure has been made on the Toffees' new stadium project based in the Bramley-Moore Dock area of Liverpool.
The ownership's plans have been ambitious though sometimes ambitions and reality do not meet halfway. The current team's results have been disappointing, to say the least, and they have only clocked seven wins so far this season; relegation form.
Everton had a close call in 1994 when a last-ditch win over Wimbledon ensured top-flight football though the key difference is that Everton had a chance to survive on the last day; this season, they might meet their demise before May 22nd when they play their last game against Arsenal.
The glory days of the late Howard Kendall are a distant memory. Goodison fans pine for the steady hand of the late Walter Smith or the simple consistency of the long-serving and now high-flying, David Moyes.
The ship seemed steady under Roberto MartÃnez and then results became more and more inconsistent under the likes of Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, and Marco Silva.
As the money poured into player transfers, the fans' expectations have increased especially as Evertonians gaze over Stanley Park, to their neighbors.
Carlo Ancelotti was the perfect appointment for some fans though left when Real Madrid came calling.
In the same mold, Rafael BenÃtez was seen as a good replacement despite some fans disapproving of his Liverpool past.
The results were again disappointing and after a short stopgap in the form of Duncan Ferguson; Frank Lampard was brought in to revise the results.
The effect has been the opposite and after their recent defeat to a Burnley side who had not scored in four games prior, defeat to Manchester United this Saturday, would be devastating. Everton's long and proud stay in top-flight football would edge closer to reality and the remaining fixtures are not for easy reading.
Everton's Fixtures
-Manchester United (H)
-Leicester City (H)
-Liverpool (A)
-Chelsea (H)
-Leicester City (A)
-Watford (A)
-Brentford (H)
-Crystal Palace (H)
-Arsenal (A)
Soccerphile.com