Pat Nevin makes ‘laughing again’ Everton prediction as appeal news emerges, ‘panic’ claim made
Former Everton winger Pat Nevin believes the club will be “laughing again” if their 10-point penalty is cut to five points.
The Toffees were handed a 10-point deduction earlier this season for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Sean Dyche’s side have now dropped into the relegation zone following their 0-0 draw with Fulham on Tuesday (30 January).
“They are in a worrying situation but Dyche cannot spread panic, there’s going to be enough panic around the club,” Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live (30 January), as quoted by BBC Sport. “He has to look at it and say had they not been deducted 10 points, they would be on 28 points just now, they would be cool.
“They are a good enough team, if they get everyone fit, to get out of this and he knows that. He’s got that out of them before. It’s not as if he’s trying to get a tune out of a team that’s never done it before, he knows they’re capable of doing it.
“So keep them calm and make sure he can get that team as strong as possible, the fans will be there for them when they need them – and then he just hopes that 10-point penalty will go back to five points and they will be laughing again.”
Hope?
There should be some hope for Everton supporters despite their worrying situation, with the club’s appeal against their points deduction beginning on Wednesday (31 January).
It remains to be seen exactly what will happen regarding the decision, with a reduction perhaps the best-case scenario.
There is, of course, a further charge hanging over their heads, but they can take some confidence from the superb run they went on following the 10-point deduction earlier in the campaign.
Dyche must once again galvanise his players following their drop to the relegation zone, which has come about thanks to Luton Town’s shock 4-0 win against Brighton on Tuesday.
The huge three points have lifted the Hatters into 17th place, one point and one place above the Toffees, with the former also having a game in hand.
Worryingly, Burnley also have a game in hand, with the Clarets currently in 19th place, although they are six points behind Everton.
