The wave of euphoria that swept around Goodison Park just six weeks ago already feels like a distant memory.
Back then, during that dramatic comeback victory over Crystal Palace, the only goals were the ones that needed to land in the Eagles’ net. Now, though, thoughts turn to long-term ones. And it makes for grim - no, horrific - reading.
A complex web of problems has shown itself to be very real after Richarlison was sold to Spurs last week. Losing last season’s leading scorer is never a good look. It’s even worse when that defection is to a club that, not so long ago, would have been considered one of Everton's genuine rivals. Now, the north Londoners are so far ahead, they aren’t even in sight.
Worse could well follow. Tottenham have sunk their teeth into youngster Anthony Gordon too - a rare bright spot in an otherwise inglorious campaign for the Toffees last term. Gordon could go, too. Leaving behind him a motley crew of never has beens, never will bes and, bang average performers seriously lacking the X-factor. Look at the players released this week as their contracts expired.
Cenk Tosun, signed by Sam Allardyce four years ago as ‘the best striker in Europe’ has profited only in boosting his own bank balance. The cost? Around £40m once wages and his transfer fee from Besiktas was taken into account. That’s a lot of cash for five Premier League goals. Fabian Delph has been injured more often than not throughout his career. He was signed - at the age of 29 - for £8.5m. Total outlay? Probably £20m.
It’s decisions like these that have brought the club to its knees. Crass and ill-judged - the worst advice filtering into naive ears of owners and decision-makers who hadn’t got a clue what they were doing. The result is the jumbled wreck of a first-team squad, a half-built stadium and an unattainable vision with Frank Lampard - who has only completed one full season as a Premier League manager, remember - expected to work the oracle.
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What’s more - depending on who is to be believed - worse could be around the corner with the Premier League still keeping one beady eye on spending due to colossal losses of £372m during the past three financial years. If Everton fancy opening the cheque-book again - they are going to be asked to close it. There’s a reason James Tarkowski has been signed and Jesse Lingard is on the hit list. They’re free. The club has been mismanaged to a level of ineptitude not seen before during the modern era.
Hapless owner Farhad Moshiri is now desperately hoping someone, somewhere will take the bait and stump up the cash - not just to buy the club - but also to stem losses and foot the bill for the new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.
Clubs are cherry-picking Everton’s best talent, the manager is being asked to work with one arm behind his back due to restrictions in the transfer market and the owner is considering offers. That joy six weeks ago may be just delaying the inevitable. Unless Everton undertake radical and marked change, they can expect more of the same this time out.
