Everton fell to yet another defeat yesterday, losing 2-0 to Manchester United.
It was a match that played out the same way that so many have done for Sean Dyche’s side this season, where despite their dominance, they failed to make their chances count.
Then, inevitably, they were punished for their profligacy.
An acute inability to score has plagued this side for years now, but it really feels like this year, with the plentiful chances they are creating, such a lack of proficiency is worse than ever.
However, given the stars sold in recent years, that should come as no surprise.
What Mark Ogden said about Everton
Chatting on BBC 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, ESPN writer Mark Ogden outlined what he felt was the biggest factor behind Everton’s recent struggles.
He offered the following behind-the-scenes update: ‘I was speaking to somebody who works at Everton last season and they were saying to me, you can’t overstate how important it was that they didn’t replace Richarlison when he left.
‘Because he was the guy that, I think Frank Lampard found this in the second season he was at Everton, now Sean Dyche is finding it that, all these things that Sean Dyche is asking for, fighting spirit, toughness, that desire, he had everything and he basically kept them up when Frank kept them up two years ago now.
‘Since he went, they didn’t reinvest the money, Calvert-Lewin’s been injured a lot, Beto’s not good enough, basically Everton’s forwards aren’t good enough, or they aren’t fit enough. They’ve really really missed Richarlison. It’s 18 months since he left, but it shows you how big a hole it’s left.’
Everton miss Richarlison so much
It is not a groundbreaking statement to suggest that Everton miss Richarlison, but when he was sold for £60m in 2022, few likely knew just how big a blow that would prove to be.
And whilst that fee has been integral in somewhat easing their PSR woes, the damage it has done on the pitch is irreparable.
After all, it removed the last true goalscoring talisman from their side, and along with that a warrior who truly loved the football club.
He would have, and often did, give everything for Everton, and in the end he had earned his move to a Champions League club.
Now thriving once again for Tottenham Hotspur, he is the embodiment of all that the Toffees are lacking at the moment.
During his final campaign at Goodison Park, the Brazil international scored ten goals and assisted a further five for a side devoid of any creativity and quality. It was a miracle, the likes of which they are unlikely to see again.
After all, within this side there is nobody like him. Ogden hits the nail on the head when he traced back all of Everton’s woes to his sale.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
