The ECHO understands that Farhad Moshiri has held face-to-face talks with potential owners 777 Partners in London this week after fresh doubt was cast on the deal being done. While the club’s Fan Advisory Board has called for the Premier League to dismiss the 777 takeover bid.

The Miami-based investment firm agreed to buy Moshiri’s 94% stake in Everton in September, but there has been growing uncertainty around the deal. And with that pressing matter, and the draw with Luton Town and the final home game of the season against Sheffield United in mind, our Blues jury members have had their say…

I still don’t think I’m over April, if I’m honest. After that rollercoaster of a month, starting with the embarrassing 6-0 defeat to Chelsea but ending with three back-to-back wins, including a Goodison derby victory, even I felt mentally done in. I couldn’t even imagine what the players and management were feeling, so I almost expected us to lose against Luton.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the willingness to fight. I think everyone knew it was going to be a hard game, with Luton fighting for their lives and Everton being safe and dry, but the manner in which Everton played was something I was particularly happy with.

The passion shown by Jarrad Branthwaite at the end when he blocked Luton’s final chance was great and showed the eagerness to win. While unlikely, I hope we can get at least one more season out of him.

Going onto Sheffield United, they are already relegated, and their performance against Nottingham Forest last week was poor. In a sort of meaningless, risk-free game, I am hopeful Sean Dyche will give an opportunity to some young players to see what they are made of – the likes of Mackenzie Hunt, Lewis Warrington and Jenson Metcalfe… even give Lewis Dobbin a start if he’s fit. Also, I wouldn’t be against Beto and Youssef Chermiti starting as a front two, as the duo’s cameo last week showed a bit of promise.

I’m glad that it’s now looking likely that Seamus Coleman will sign a new contract. I think what he brings with experience and commitment is invaluable to Everton. Also, for the first time since before Covid, Evertonians will finally be able to give an end-of-season lap of honour.

I think it’s been a very hard season with the point deductions, and Dyche and the players have really dug deep and continued to fight even though realistically we shouldn’t have even been discussing relegation. So, we can finally enjoy a final home game, and let’s hope it’s a nice, easy Saturday!

Paul McParlan – Football, finance and our future

On the football front, one of the things that Sean Dyche has some control over is that Everton continues to make progress.

When Sky Sports switched the Luton Town game to a Friday evening, they were no doubt hoping for a relegation six-pointer, with scenes of angry Blues vilifying the manager after a crushing defeat. The documentary makers at Disney, Netflix and Amazon would have been waiting to pounce with an Everton series about the club’s fall from grace. Sorry to disappoint you guys, but that’s not going to happen!

It was an unusual feeling watching Everton at Luton, knowing that the outcome did not matter that much. Instead of a nervy, nail-biting encounter, the Blues could sit back, relax and enjoy the football. Let’s face it, although it may have boosted the viewing figures on Sky Sports, no Evertonian wanted to live through another last-day relegation survival drama.

The game at Kenilworth Road certainly wasn’t a classic, but it was a battling performance and a well-earned point against an opposition desperate for a win. Despite conceding an equaliser, Everton generally coped well with the constant aerial bombardment from the Hatters, with James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite outstanding in the defence.

The 1-1 draw extended our current unbeaten run to four games with a return of 10 points from 12, making Everton one of the form teams in the Premier League currently. The home game against Sheffield United on Saturday gives Dyche the opportunity to build on the feel-good factor around Goodison Park and win our fifth home game on the bounce with another clean sheet.

It would seem like the perfect opportunity for the manager to experiment with his team selection, give some of the younger players, such as Lewis Dobbin and Youssef Chermiti, a starting role, and adopt a more adventurous attacking approach. Let’s make sure that our last home game is one to reward supporters for the undying loyalty they have shown this season.

And please, can we not have a pitch invasion by Insta-obsessed hordes at the end? I would prefer to see the players undertake a ‘lap of appreciation’ for the first time since lockdown. Some, like Andre Gomes, will be making their last appearance at Goodison and should be able to say their farewell to supporters.

However, away from football, it has been another chaotic and worrying week, with the ownership saga no closer to being resolved and reports growing that Mr Moshiri is to pull out of the deal with the controversial 777 group. Does Moshiri have another interested party lined up? Will he tell us what the hell is going on? With another season in the Premier League guaranteed and the new stadium nearly complete, the need for clarity on Everton’s financial situation has never been more urgent.

Everton are not a hedge fund for any dubious speculator. We deserve better! Do the right thing, Mr Moshiri!

Alex McMonnies – As difficult a season as it has been

And so we approach the final home match of the season. It’s a pleasant feeling to be heading into this game with the club not fighting for their lives and leaving us supporters positively quaking with fear. I’m pretty certain there was no lap of honour after Everton’s 1-0 win over Wolves at the end of the 2020/21 season, one of the few matches that campaign where supporters were allowed to attend, which would mean this Saturday’s match will provide the first opportunity for us to have one in four years.

As difficult a season as it has been, this group of players does deserve plaudits. While some may admittedly be lacking in the necessary ability for where this club wants to be, they have made it up for it with determination and hard work this campaign. This also reflects well on Sean Dyche, who won’t have hesitated in turfing out any players he felt weren’t prepared to give their all this season.

Saturday may also provide a chance for us to say goodbye to some players. There appear to be plenty of vultures circling around the pair of Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana, and given the financial situation Everton found themselves in, it would hardly come as a surprise to anyone if the Blues cash in on both in the summer. There has also been nothing confirmed when it comes to Idrissa Gueye’s contract situation, so it could well be the midfielder’s last match at Goodison Park in an Everton shirt.

Away from all this romanticism, there is still a game of football to be played and a chance for the Toffees to round off a stressful campaign with a fifth consecutive home win against a side that have conceded more goals than any other Premier League team before them. Now that would be the ideal send-off for the Grand Old Lady in her penultimate season.

Luke Davies – A gripe I had about Everton’s performance

Friday’s match against Luton had little riding on it, from an Everton perspective, at least. The players looked ‘on the beach’ and seemingly unwilling to go through the gears. Despite winning and scoring a penalty, the Hatters were fortunate to concede just one.

A gripe I had about Everton’s performance was the lack of bravery; bravery that could have won us the game. Luton are an abysmal football team, and that showed. I was frustrated we did not attack them more; their defence looked uncertain with any given attack. We do not get ‘stress-free’ games of football, though this should have been exactly that. Why can we never adapt? A constant way of playing with no plan has annoyed me and made me constantly want more. Although I absolutely loved Jarrad Branthewaite’s bellowing celebratory screams into the night sky as if he had just won the World Cup after his crucial last-ditch block – Everton that.

Moving forward, the Sheffield United game provides an opportunity to experiment with tactics and possibly personnel. Youssef Chermiti, although unrefined, looks keen to make an impression, and I would be tempted to give him a start against Chris Wilder’s side. If the younger players cannot get an opportunity in this game, they may be foreseeing their future elsewhere. Give Lewis Warrington, Jenson Metcalfe or someone else a chance. What’s the worst that can happen?

Off the pitch, the 777 takeover saga rumbles on into its eighth month. Is anyone else getting the feeling this will not happen? Because I think the Premier League have made their decision. The issue with that is, who will be funding Everton with Farhad Moshiri disinclined to provide funds?

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