Everton’s 2023: Doucoure’s heroics, Dyche delivers – but uncertainty reigns

To say 2023 was eventful for Everton would be an understatement.

Off the field, the year ended in much the same way it began — with turbulence. 

Last month, the club were rocked by the decision of an independent commission to impose a 10-point deduction for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). 

How that plays out — Everton’s appeal and potential legal action from rival clubs — is the story that could define their 2024. In the meantime, Sean Dyche and his players have made solid progress in their bid to overcome this latest setback.

They survived last season by the skin of their teeth after a dramatic final-day win over Bournemouth, thanks in part to the decision to replace Frank Lampard with Dyche.

The hope this time around is that they can avoid such a nervy end to the campaign, even if their 10-point deduction stands on appeal.

Plenty else happened in between, with 777 Partners also agreeing a takeover from Farhad Moshiri in a year that will go as one of the most chaotic in the club’s history.

Here, The Athletic reviews Everton’s 2023.

The high point

The four wins on the spin at the start of December culminated in a 2-0 triumph at Dyche’s former club, Burnley, that briefly took Everton seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea had all been dispatched in style, without the concession of a single goal, ahead of that trip to Turf Moor, reiterating the progress made by the team.

That sequence also saw Everton’s puzzling form at Goodison Park turn for the better and two of the best home atmospheres this season. Dyche’s greatest success so far has been uniting the club and giving fans a sense of pride in the team.

The low point

There have been many knocks, but the decision by the independent commission to deduct 10 points for a breach of PSR was by far the most debilitating.

Just as Dyche and his side were starting to take strides on the pitch, events out of their control conspired to drag them back into the mire.

For all the justifiable fury at the decision (more of that later), it is worth remembering that Everton eventually admitted their guilt and are paying a heavy price for years of chronic mismanagement.

The sad fact is this — with Moshiri seemingly on the way out and other long-term board members no longer in situ, Dyche and his team have been left picking up the tab for mistakes elsewhere.

Most surprising moment

There is no getting away from the decision to deduct Everton 10 points. Nobody saw it coming and the backlash since has been furious.

Portsmouth were docked nine points for going into administration in 2010, but Everton lost 10 for an overspend of £19.5million over three financial years. That simply does not seem right. 

The club have since called it “wholly disproportionate”, with other high-profile figures in the footballing and political worlds joining the chorus of dissenting voices.

This one will run and run. 

Best player

Abdoulaye Doucoure. From peripheral figure under Frank Lampard to Dyche’s key man. 

Only Dwight McNeil, with 13 (seven goals, six assists), has registered more goal involvements since the former Burnley manager arrived, with the midfielder thriving in a more advanced role. 

Doucoure is tactically key to what Dyche is looking to do in and out of possession and they have not yet found a way to replace him when he is not there.

The scorer of the goal that kept Everton in the Premier League, he has more than deserved his new deal, which was signed in November. 

Best goal

Doucoure vs Bournemouth.

This category can be tricky to judge — are we looking for technical excellence? A screamer? A goal of real significance?

Thankfully, Doucoure’s strike had all three. 

With rivals Leicester City winning, Everton were on course to be relegated and needed a goal from somewhere.

Cue Doucoure and a finish reminiscent of Gareth Farrelly’s final-day goal against Coventry in 1998. The ex-Watford man’s finish was unerring — a perfect blend of control and power.

It will likely end up being the most important goal of his career. 

I’ll always remember the roar that greeted it. Unbridled emotion from everyone, including the goalscorer.

The stat that sums up 2023

This, from OPTA, shows that there is far more to Dyche’s side than the boring cliches would have you believe.

Leading Newcastle 2-0, the move started as a way of running down the clock, but then Goodison oles turned into cheers when Beto plundered his first goal at the Gwladys Street at the end of a 30-pass move.

A reminder that there are multiple strings to this Everton side’s bow and that their manager should not be so easily pigeon-holed.

Most memorable quote

Dyche after the win over Bournemouth. “There is no joy in it other than getting the job done. It’s a big club, make no mistake, but we are not performing like a big club. We have to find a way of changing that. This is two seasons now.

“There is a massive amount of change to build to a new dawn.”

It is not uncommon for the Everton manager to greet press conference questions with a straight bat, but here he was at his lucid best, offering an insightful critique of modern Everton and what needed to change.

Few will have disagreed.

Even in the wake of the defeats to Tottenham and Manchester City, the past couple of months have seen him make tangible progress towards that goal.

Piece you most enjoyed writing

Inside Everton’s pre-season: How Dyche prepares players for the Premier League. This was the product of days of conversations with staff, including assistant manager Ian Woan and first-team players, at the club’s pre-season training base in their picturesque Evian-Les-Bains base.

Good access, a great location and, at the end of it all, the kind of in-depth long-form piece I love putting together. 

A wish for 2024 is…

For Everton to just calm down. Even for five minutes. Please.

Give me a mid-table finish any day of the week — this is a club that craves stability after a damaging couple of years.

(Top photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)