Reid sees Man Utd irony after Everton docked 10 points - but he's not smiling
Peter Reid can see the irony in Everton's first game since being docked 10 points for financial misconduct being against a club with £1billion debts. But he isn't smiling.
Reid, the former England midfielder who graced Goodison Park during the Merseysiders' last glorious era of sustained success, will be in the directors' box when Manchester United arrive in town.
He expects the famous old stadium to become a bear pit, such is the sense of injustice that has gripped Evertonians since it was announced that failing to meet the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules by just £19.5million could cost them their place in the top flight.
Reid doesn't believe the punishment fits the crime - and questions how Everton owner Farhad Moshiri can be stopped from investing his money into his club while his counterparts at Old Trafford have stripped £1.5 billion from United's coffers in debt repayments and dividends while plunging them deeply into the red.
"The last few years have been a big struggle for Everton because of some very poor decisions in the management of the club," said Reid. "The amount of money that has been spent should mean they are challenging for the top four rather than fighting to stay out of the bottom three.
Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster
"But Moshiri has invested his own money. How much money have United's owners put into the club? I understand the idea behind financial fair play, but if one club can be docked 10 points for having an owner who has put money into his club, while another club can build top debts beyond £1billion without any punishment, then the system can't be working, can it?
"Football is big business. But if one owner is forced to operate with his hands tied behind his back while another owner is allowed to take money out of a club while the debt level is going up and up then that isn't fair play. Everton didn't stick to the rules so they had to be punished. I get that. I think everyone at the club accepts that.
"But 10 points is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime. I haven't spoken to anyone who thinks it does. Hopefully, Everton's appeal will be successful - but until then the club must use their sense of injustice as fuel to keep winning games like they have been recently."
Sean Dyche's Everton were deducted a record-breaking 10 points (Getty Images)Reid, 67, won two titles as well as the FA Cup and European Cup Winners Cup during a seven-year spell at Goodison when he was one of the best midfielders in the country.
He believes Sean Dyche has enough quality in his squad to ensure they don't get dragged into a third successive relegation fight. And he has warned United that they will run the gauntlet when they step out at Goodison.
"Scousers are never more fanatical than when they believe someone is taking liberties," said Reid. "I think the atmosphere will be ferocious - and I don’t care how good a team is, they will feel the pressure from the Everton fans.
"The game is live on TV and the Evertonians will show the world what they think about the points deduction. I know Sean well and he will use all the anger as motivation. He will be telling his players 'It's us against the world' and he will want them to thrive. It's a siege mentality.
"I think he's done a really good job with the investigation hanging over the club and losing those points will be a huge kick in the teeth. But I still think Dychey has got enough to keep Everton away from trouble this season. The only positive from all this is if the points deduction had happened in the last two seasons then the club would have gone down."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
