A round-up of the latest Everton news as Jack Harrison opens up on the Blues players’ reaction to their 10-point deduction and Alan Shearer issues his verdict on relegation.
Holgate now explains what went wrong for him at Everton
Injury problems and the change in manager between Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche helped to scupper the Everton career of Mason Holgate. That is the opinion of the 27-year-old, after opening up on why his Toffees career stagnated before going out on loan to Southampton.
Everton agreed to let Holgate spend the 2023/24 season at St Mary’s in a last-gasp deal this summer. Although the move has not quite worked out with the centre-half only playing five times in the Championship so far. He has even made one of only four starts as a right-back.
Playing out of position is one of the reasons why Holgate feels his Everton career stalled. He would often play as a full-back and even in central midfield on Merseyside. While the arrival of Dyche to replace Lampard saw Holgate play just eight Premier League games last season.
“Obviously, the manager changed,” Holgate has told BBC Radio Solent. “Frank left and Sean came in and I didn’t really feel part of his plans. I think he’ll probably say [it] himself [that] I wasn’t quite his style of player. He was open and honest about it and told me himself, which is all you can ask for. Everyone’s got different ways of playing.”
But Holgate also believes his problems at Everton predated Dyche taking over from Lampard in January. Instead, the defender adds that the various injuries he would help to cover while at Goodison Park prevented him from establishing a continued rhythm and seal his position.
“Looking back at my time at Everton, it definitely worked against me because I’d get into a rhythm of games and then someone would get injured, so I’d move position,” he adds. “Then I might not have my best game because I can play there but it’s not my actual position and you’re judged off that. It’s something that I’ve always been very eager to get away from.”
Read more about what Holgate has had to say about his time at Everton, here.
Shearer issues his verdict on Everton facing relegation after a 10-point deduction
Premier League legend Shearer would have given Everton ‘no chance’ of avoiding relegation if they received a 10-point deduction before the start of term. But he now claims the Toffees may avoid dropping into the Championship having shown promise under Dyche this season.
Everton have slipped to 19th in the Premier League table through 12 games after receiving a points deduction for breaching the division’s financial sustainability rules. The Blues penned losses of £124.5m between the 2019/20 and 2021/22 terms but the allowed limit is £105m.
Everton were 14th in the table prior to their points deduction having won four and drawn two games this season. Now, they are only above basement boys Burnley on goal difference. But Shearer believes a raucous Goodison Park can help pull Everton clear of the relegation zone.
“I think they can do it,” Shearer told The Rest Is Football. “If you had said to me before a ball was kicked that they were going to be [on] minus-10, I’d have said no chance. I thought that they would just have enough anyway.
“But I’ve been impressed with the job that they have done. I think what will happen is that Goodison Park will be a horrible place to go for teams because it will be a siege mentality, us against the world. I think because of the standard of the league at the bottom, I think they’ll have enough to get out of it.”
Read more about what Shearer has had to say about Everton and the relegation fight, here.
Harrison admits the Everton squad were ‘surprised’ by the 10-point deduction
On-loan winger Harrison has admitted their 10-point deduction caught Everton ‘by surprise’. But the more shocking thing for the Leeds United man is how Dyche’s squad have reacted to the punishment. He believes the Toffees’ players are still in a strong mental state to respond.
“Obviously, we were taken by surprise,” Harrison told BBC Sport. “I don’t think the club was expecting that and that’s why the club are going through the appeal and everything. But I think I’m probably more surprised at the reaction of the players.
“Everyone I think is in such a good place mentally and it’s generating this feeling of… Even though we have had 10 points deducted and you can throw that at us, but we’re going to come back twice as hard and do everything we can to come back stronger.”
Read more about what Harrison has said about Everton’s 10-point deduction, here.
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