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I owe Sean Dyche an apology as Richard Masters knows what he can do with Everton points deduction

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Sean Dyche of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brentford FC at Goodison Park on April 27, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Sean Dyche applauds the Everton supporters in yesterday's survival-sealing win over Brentford -Credit:Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images


Everton return to Premier League action tonight when they take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

The Blues guaranteed their Premier League survival with three games to spare by edging to victory over Brentford last time out. Idrissa Gueye’s goal was the difference between the two sides at Goodison Park, as Sean Dyche’s side made it three wins in a row.

Off the pitch, Everton’s protracted takeover by 777 Partners was brought into further doubt this week as an Australian budget airline owned by the American investment firm fell into administration. And with everything in mind, our Blues jury are back to have their say on things happening on and off the pitch.

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Luke Davies - Easy as pie

Well, that was unexpected, wasn’t it?

Before the Forest game, the fixture was dubbed a must-win to stay above the drop. Six days later, Everton were home and dry, able to put their feet up and watch Luton, Nottingham Forest and Burnley battle to preserve their Premier League status.

The last week has undoubtedly been one of the most enjoyable as an Evertonian for as long as I can remember; three wins, survival, clean sheets and a certain other team crumbling before our eyes - joyous.

The Blues may have been forgiven if they lacked motivation for Brentford after the demolition of Liverpool. But the hard work and desire to win were a testament to the group and coaching staff.

So, on to Kenilworth Road we go. A free hit in many ways. Part of me wouldn’t mind Luton staying in the League, as everything about them captures the imagination of lower league fans.

The other part of me wants Everton to put them to the sword and show them how we shouldn’t have been in the same conversation as them at any point this season.

I also want to apologise to Sean Dyche for all the times I doubted him; I was wrong, you were right (you are always right, Messiah).

Selection-wise, I would opt for an unchanged side against the Hatters; we would try to finish as high as possible. However, I wouldn’t be against blooding some youth; Lewis Warrington, MacKenzie and Jenson Metcalfe have featured in the squad lately.

Also, I would like to see the team try different tactics and experiments. Enjoy May, Evertonians.

Alex McMonnies - So we now find ourselves in the usual position

I don't think anyone could have anticipated an April like that.

Following a 6-0 trouncing away at Stamford Bridge, in which our entire team became Cole Palmer's playtoy for 90 minutes, many Evertonians were beginning to fear the worst. One week and three matches later, and the Toffees have mathematically confirmed their safety. We are a football club that is full of surprises.

Three games, three wins, and three clean sheets, including our first home derby victory in almost 14 years, and suddenly we are no longer looking nervously over our shoulders. Sean Dyche deserves so much credit. If we'd all known last summer that the Toffees would be officially safe with three matches to play, having earned 44 points and won more games than Brighton, we'd have been surprised but also delighted.

People will point to the horrible run the Blues went on in which they failed to win a league match from the middle of December until the start of April, but the fact the players were able to pick themselves up after such a run and the humiliation suffered against Chelsea is testament to just how much they respect the gaffer and were determined to repay his faith.

So we now find ourselves in the usual position where we are no longer in desperate need of a positive result. That will come as a relief to many, seeing as Friday night's clash against Luton Town would surely have brought with it a lot of nerves otherwise.

Dyche will be trying his utmost to ensure his players remain focused and end the season positively, even if it counts for very little, but it will be a difficult task coming up against a side who have already beaten Everton twice this season and who will have every reason to want it more.

While off-the-field rumours continue to look more and more bleak for the club, it would certainly be nice for the team to maintain the feel-good factor on the playing side of things. But it will also feel nice to not have to care about the outcome at Kenilworth Road.

Paul McParlan - That was the week that was!

When we faced Nottingham Forest on April 21, few Blues thought that six days later, we would have won all three matches, including a Merseyside Derby, kept three clean sheets and completely banished any lingering worries of being relegated.

Sean Dyche has been criticised by some supporters at times for his tactics and style of football, but when it mattered most, he absolutely delivered. After the epic exertions of the Merseyside Derby, nobody would have been surprised if the team laboured when playing Brentford last Saturday.

But after a faltering first half, the side hit their stride and deservedly won the game 1-0, despite being deprived of key players through injury. And who knew that Idrissa Gana Gueye would turn out to be the prolific marksman we have been waiting for?

And is it more than a coincidence that without Amadou Onana in midfield, results have improved dramatically? The recent resurgence has been remarkable, and the manager deserves every credit for engineering this winning sequence.

Suddenly, after four home wins without conceding a goal, Goodison Park has become a fortress again. The fans have also played their part with unstinting, vociferous support, which has transformed the stadium into a brutal bearpit!

Undeniably, Sean Dyche’s position is secure now. What he has achieved against a background of having limited funds to spend, an eight-point deduction, and the ongoing ownership saga is truly stunning. He is surely a strong candidate for the manager of the month award; I think we can discount Klopp’s chances!

The Blues boss has only one year left on his current deal. Surely, he needs to be tied down to a longer contract because there are certainly other clubs who would be interested in his services.

The challenge now is for Everton to change the image that they are perennially a club in crisis, lacking a coherent strategy and leadership at every level. The fans deserve better! We have been involved in far too many relegation battles in recent seasons.

Everton, with the right owners and finance, should be aiming for a top-half finish at the very least. It wasn’t that long ago that we were qualifying for Europe. The game at Luton Town on Friday will no longer be the survival dogfight that Sky Sports were hoping for.

Everton go there full of confidence, with a fourth consecutive win in their sights, which would prevent the Hatters from beating us for a third time this season. There are three matches left, and Evertonians no longer need to check the fixture lists and fret over how the results of other sides in the drop zone may affect us.

We can sit back and relax. There won’t be another last-day survival showdown. And Richard Masters, you know what you can do with your points deduction!