There is nothing worse than a defeat like the one against Bournemouth and then not having a game for a couple of weeks.
The manager and players will have all wanted to put that right as soon as possible, but we now have to wait until next Monday evening before they get that opportunity against Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It’s clear with Manchester United‘s recent upturn in form that it won’t be an easy game either. However this club, this manager, and this team, as we know this season, are capable of proving us all wrong just when we least expect it.
What is going so wrong at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for Everton? 😳
It is now less than one win in every three following the loss against Bournemouth… 😤
A general exterior view of Hill Dickinson Stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Everton and Bournemouth.
Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA.
Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium form has been questioned by fans
The big debate to come out of the Bournemouth defeat was, of course, that of the home form, which I think everybody agrees has not been good enough, especially in contrast to the away form.
There was an immediate clamber on social media to question the new stadium, with some even suggesting they’d be happy to move back to Goodison Park. Of course that is nonsense, Hill Dickinson Stadium is – and will prove even more to be – the best thing to happen to the club for many years, the opportunities it presents are endless as the club seeks to progress away from the slumber it has been in for many a year now.
To the question whether or not it is having an impact on the home form, well, that can be debated in a sensible manner. I think it would be folly to suggest there isn’t some sort of influence moving to a new ground, in fact there is plenty of evidence to show that clubs do tend to lose more points in their first season at a new stadium.
Such moves have often seen a reduction in home victories and a rise in home draws, something which is currently happening at Hill Dickinson.
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Looking at a few examples, West Ham United were nine points worse off when they moved to the London stadium from Upton Park, Arsenal three points less, in fact only Derby County registered an increase in points when they moved from the Baseball Ground to Pride Park.
Forget the transport issues, if you could change one thing about the Hill Dickinson, what would it be? 🤔
Gary Lineker's comments on Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Credit: Getty Images/David Ramos/Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA.
Alan Myers suggests home form is thanks to opposition teams feeling more comfortable in ‘less hostile environment’
In a recent interview, David Moyes suggested that maybe the opposition were enjoying playing at Hill Dickinson instead of Goodison a bit more, and I actually think he has a point. Teams will enjoy a bit more space, brand-new dressing room facilities and a less hostile environment.
While some question Goodison‘s impact over a number of years – which incidentally reflected the team’s downturn in form – it cannot be questioned when it was called upon to give its best, against Palace, Bournemouth and indeed its final Merseyside Derby, the old lady definitely impacted the opposition on those occasions.
The transition of the club, the squad and the new stadium will all take time to come together, but all three will get stronger, will grow and will form the future of a club which should be back winning trophies and competing at the very top of the English game once again.
Everton fans need their confidence building back up again, and I can see signs that this will happen. There will of course be the proverbial bumps in the road, but I see hope and the stadium is a big part of that.
Yes there are issues to solve and I believe they will be. The recruitment team also has a huge part to play as we head towards the summer, the squad rebuild is at an embryonic stage, the signs are good but the owners will know that if they want to get to where Everton should be. There is still much work to do in that area.
A year or two ago after a defeat like the one against Bournemouth, I would’ve been down and very nervous heading towards a game against Manchester United, but I’m not now. I can’t wait to be under the lights on the banks of the river Mersey and, hopefully, David Moyes and his team can show us once again that there is a new resilience at Everton.
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