Andy Gray has admitted that he fears for Everton this season.
In his playing days, Andy Gray spent two successful seasons at Everton. Between 1983 and 1985, the Scottish striker became a fan favourite at Goodison Park, scoring key goals for the Toffees in sides that won the FA Cup in 1984, and the league title and European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985.
Those glory days for the Merseyside club are now long in the past, though. In the present, Everton have made something of a habit of having to fight for survival in the Premier League.
Under Sean Dyche, they look to be in for another tough campaign. Everton have taken just one point from their four Premier League matches so far, having lost and failed to score in the first three outings of the season.
The squad is thin, lacking quality and depth in key areas, and struggling for confidence. Things need to improve dramatically, and quickly, if Dyche is to steer Everton clear of another desperate relegation scrap this season.
Andy Gray calls on Everton to back Dyche
Gray certainly believes his former club are in real danger. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the 67-year-old was asked how he feels about the situation the Toffees currently find themselves in.
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He said, “dismayed, distraught, whatever adjective you want to use. Everton are paying the price for years of mismanagement. They’ve been circling the plug for three years and of course I fear for them again this season.”
Despite the club’s current struggles, Gray still believes that the Toffees have the right man for the job currently at the helm in Dyche. Hd said, “this is the biggest challenge Sean has ever faced in management and that includes keeping Burnley in the Premier League. People talk about Graham Potter. Do me a favour, what could he do better than Sean with the current group of players.”
Potter’s reputation has certainly taken a hit since his disastrous stint in charge of Chelsea. It may well be the case that he could do no better with Everton than Dyche is managing. However, if results don’t improve, the club hierarchy could well get twitchy and decide that Dyche is the problem after all.
Gray has been bold to back Dyche above all other potential candidates. The manager, who earns around £96,000-a-week at Goodison Park, needs to start repaying that faith quickly.