The Hill Dickinson Stadium deserves to host European matches, but the prospect of Thursday night football may come just too soon for Everton under The Friedkin Group.
A wide open Premier League has led to some Everton supporters dusting off their passports at the prospect of European qualification.
David Moyes has urged Everton to target a European finish and he would be wrong to do otherwise as the spokesman for the football club.
However, The Friedkin Group have only just got their feet under the table on Merseyside, with a lot of improvements still needed to the Everton squad.
European football should be a reward for an excellent season, but the Toffees find themselves spluttering along having not won a game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in almost three months.
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.
With so many factors to take into consideration, there is plenty to concern Everton fans about the prospect of the extra games European participation provides.
Everton v Manchester United - Barclays Women's Super League
Photo by Jess Hornby – WSL/WSL Football via Getty Images
The biggest concern among Everton fans is the quality of their squad on the back of what was an underwhelming winter window.
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A lot of areas still need improving, with Moyes admitting Everton have wanted a new right-back for 12 months now.
Adding to that, the lack of consistency up front is what will likely cost Everton European qualification, with Thierno Barry scoring just five goals in the Premier League this season.
Give us your gut feeling… will Everton make it into Europe? 🌍
Everton manager David Moyes on Europe.
Last summer offered Everton a lot of big decisions that needed to be made and this summer will be no different.
Everton will only sign Jack Grealish if Man City will negotiate either another loan or a considerably reduced fee.
There is also the future of players such as Vitalii Mykoelnko, Tyrique George, Michael Keane and Idrissa Gana Gueye which needs to be decided.
A lot of work is needed just to maintain this season’s squad for another year, never mind bolster it to compete with European football.
Everton hold Tottenham Hotspur concerns
Although Tottenham Hotspur have shown they are capable of competing in Europe for around two decades, the last two seasons have really seen the club unravel.
Everton have been no stranger to a mountain of injury issues to first-team players and that was seen over the festive period.
This is something that has seen Tottenham unable to balance their two-game-per-week schedule, with the Lilywhites now sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone.
It ties back into Everton’s squad not being deep enough, but the prospect of playing twice a week, with an injury crisis, should worry the Toffees.
Europa Conference League would not be a financial game changer for Everton
The Friedkin Group have stabilised Everton from their financial issues experienced under the leadership of Farhad Moshiri.
Everton News’ finance expert Adam Williams revealed Europa Conference League may only add £6m of revenue to Everton’s financial books.
That is the type of money that could potentially be generated through a new sponsorship deal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Of course, it is money better off in Everton’s pocket, but it may not stack up against the sum of money needed to transform the quality of the squad to compete.
Equally, failing to qualify the following year could leave the Blues with a bloated wage bill that would have to be managed well.
Everton fans need to see more consistency
The prospect of earning European football should be viewed as a reward for a strong season in the Premier League.
There have certainly been improvements made on Merseyside under the Friedkins, as Everton are not currently battling relegation like they have for years.
Without a big improvement in Everton’s home form, there may well be the feeling that the Blues could stumble into Europe this season.
Undoubtedly, some fans would take European football in any way or form, but Everton still have a lot more to show before they convince most fans they are ready to compete at that level.
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