Everton have been hit badly with injuries throughout this season, with key players suffering at key junctures of the campaign.
However, few have been as damaging as Abdoulaye Doucoure, who is the spearhead with which everything good the team does offensively.
The Mali international has enjoyed a mesmeric comeback, from outcast under Frank Lampard to Sean Dyche’s most important asset.
But, developing a huge reliance on one player can prove costly when they are not available, as the 31-year-old so often has been this term.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton FC – Premier League
Photo by Everton FC via Getty Images
Add to that the absences of Amadou Onana and Seamus Coleman, and there are three key positions left sorely weakened.
Negativity is rife at the best of times with Everton given their current appeal and takeover troubles, but at least Alan Myers is trying to stay positive.
What Alan Myers said about Everton’s appeal
As one of the club’s most-valued and well-informed reporters, his word is revered on Merseyside.
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However, in this instance it is not new information he shares, but instead his opinion on the upcoming appeal outcome, which is expected in the coming days.
It has been a long, arduous and disgracefully drawn-out process by the Premier League, and the hope is that this wait will merit a positive outcome.
That is at least what Myers is hypothesising, as when asked by a fan to offer some hope, he took to X to write: ‘I can’t give them a boost sadly but I am hopeful as it’s taken longer than I thought and maybe that could be a good sign, but I think we all just want to know what we have to deal with more than anything.’
What could this wait mean for Everton?
Well, this wait has only added to the speculative nature of this entire trial.
The Premier League have been accused of boasting subjectivity that is not appropriate for a ruling of such huge financial significance, and the lackadaisical deadlines and uncertain rules have only added to this frustration.
On one hand, this wait could be as positive as Myers suggests, as the independent commission is waiting so the Premier League can get their affairs in order to weather the parliamentary storm that would follow.
However, on the other hand, this wait could be a negative, with that preparation time being afforded instead to deal with the hellfire that Everton will bring down upon the division for standing beside their harsh and unjust deduction.
Either way, they need to make a decision soon, as Tony Cottee claimed earlier today, or else face fury regardless of the outcome.
