Last week, Everton dropped their appeal over their two-point deduction for breaching financial rules, compounding an earlier ten-point penalty – cut to six points following an appeal – that plunged their season into a concerning quagmire.
The fact that Everton, who had spent the previous two campaigns embroiled in relegation battles, have tread above murky water with relative comfort despite this slash of gains in the Premier League bears testament to Sean Dyche's managerial might, instilling discipline and determination to great effect.
It hasn't been a smooth ride but the Toffees have navigated through treacherous conditions to record a 40-point season despite this setback, currently riding a five-match unbeaten streak containing four victories.
The most recent 1-0 win over relegated Sheffield United saw Abdoulaye Doucoure nod Dominic Calvert-Lewin's delivery into the back of the net, scoring Everton's final goal at Goodison Park for the second season running, volleying into the net to keep his side in the Premier League against Bournemouth one year ago.
Abdoulaye Doucoure's season in numbers
Doucoure has been a prominent and important member of the Everton team since signing from Watford in a £20m deal in 2020, scoring 17 goals and adding 11 assists across 129 appearances.
This season, he has maintained the goal threat that makes him such an impressive weapon from the centre of the park, bagging seven goals and an assist across 31 Premier League matches.
The 31-year-old might be a tidy goalscorer but he is not bringing it all together this season and faces an uncertain summer ahead.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
37
8
Abdoulaye Doucoure
34
7
Beto
36
5
Jack Harrison
35
4
As per Sofascore, the £130k-per-week ace is not proving to be the crispest in possession, completing only 78% of his passes, although he is maintaining a steady flow of creative support by averaging 1.1 key passes per game.
But Dyche's system calls for robust, rounded players to chug at full speed, and Doucoure is averaging just 0.7 dribbles, 1.4 tackles and 3.1 successful duels per match – the latter of which he is coming out on top only 35% of the time, hardly managing to assert his authority and maintain the combative sheen to the Blues brand.
Given that Doucoure is out of contract at the end of next term and has regressed from his impressive early-season performances, Farhad Moshiri might be wise to cash in while he can and recoup some of that hefty outlay.
The club would hope to replace the Mali international with a seasoned star but the current financial concerns could force Dyche to look inwards, and with Lewis Warrington pushing for a regular role in the senior squad, Everton might just find the perfect replacement.
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ByEthan LambMay 12, 2024