PL Stories - Ep 34
Mar 22Everton Fan’s Premier League Season Preview
Will ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez be able to win over fans at Goodison Park or will the Spaniard's return to Merseyside be short-lived?
Ahead of a brand new season of Premier League football on BT Sport, we spoke to fans of each and every team about their expectations for what lies ahead over the next nine months.
Talking all things Everton, BTSport.com sat down with Mike Richards from the Unholy Trinity podcast to get his thoughts on having an ex-Red at the helm.
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Hopes
You always have to be looking at European football.
We had chances time and again last season to establish ourselves in the mix but every time we thought we were going to kick on we slipped up.
If we keep the main core of the squad together with Lucas Digne, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Jordan Pickford then we should be knocking on the door of Europe.
My major hope is that we make Goodison Park a difficult place to visit again. It’s always been a tight ground that opposition players hate and our players thrive off that.
If we can turn our home form around and find some consistency then we should be in the race for Europe.
Fears
Rafa Benitez needs to have a half-decent start because if he doesn’t he will be in the firing line.
A lot of people weren’t happy with the appointment and the Liverpool connection will anger a lot of fans.
There’s also a worry that he has been out of the Premier League for a few years now.
I think he got a bit of an easy ride at Newcastle and his best days seem behind him.
The first six games are all games we should be taking points from, six games we should get a good foundation for the season but if we come out of those with six or seven points then the pressure will be on Benitez going into Manchester United – the first big team we face.
But all Everton fans need to get behind him, I’d love nothing more than to see him be successful and win a trophy.
Most Important Player
It has to be Calvert-Lewin. If he bangs them in like he did last season then we should end up in a good position.
He’s a big-game player who has really improved over the last 18 months. If he can score 20-25 goals then it will take a load of pressure off the team.
Benitez has already alluded to his strengths so it’s going to be another big season for DCL.
Rising Star
Anthony Gordon. He had a bit of game time under Ancelotti but he has the talent to play even more.
He’s a winger who likes to cut inside and make things happen. If Benitez is looking to play a counter-attacking game then he could be a valuable asset off the bench.
What I’ve missed the most
I’ve missed it all! Whether I’m meeting mates for a pre-match drink or going to the stadium alone, the atmosphere is always special.
If the pandemic has taught us anything it's that football without fans is nothing.
It’s about being with your mates, singing the songs and giving the referee stick!
It’s all about getting back into the ground and cherishing the last few games we’ve got at Goodison before we say goodbye.
Prediction
I’m trying to be realistic so I'll say 7th.
We won’t have enough to break into the Champions League places but, assuming we get bring in a few players in the summer, we should push for Europe.
Some of the sides in and around us, like Aston Villa and Leicester, have invested pretty well so we need to make sure we don’t slip too far behind those teams and our transfer business will dictate that.
