Everton have boasted some rather high-profile fans over the years, inexplicably so, given just how poor they have been.
The Toffees are hardly the most attractive proposition in the world, especially for world-famous stars like Justin Bieber, Sylvester Stallone and more.
And yet, both have been pictured donning the famous royal blue shirt, much to the fanbase’s jovial delight.
However, in Joey Barton, they have a supporter who has been thrown into the headlines for all the wrong reasons of late, with his various tirades against women in football not winning him many fans.
He still clearly finds time to keep an eye on the Toffees though, amongst all the defamatory remarks he spews out at various female pundits.
Joey Barton sends message to Idrissa Gana Gueye
Taking to X to congratulate Everton, the much-maligned Barton was rather complimentary of one particular player, whose performances in recent weeks have garnered widespread praise.
Having previously come to the club’s defence amidst VAR controversy, it feels like despite his unrelenting controversy, he remains committed to supporting the Toffees.
Well, his latest comment was aimed at Idrissa Gana Gueye, as he sent him the following six-word message to express his adoration for the Senegal international.
He wrote: ‘The last 3 games you’ve been excellent’.
It’s fair to say that few could argue with this assessment of the £80k-a-week enforcer, whose two goals and three stunning showings have effectively secured Everton’s top-flight status.
Everton have overcome so much Premier League-enforced turmoil
On a day when the Premier League inexplicably tweeted that Sheffield United had been relegated subject to the outcome of Nottingham Forest and Everton’s appeals (a tweet which was swiftly deleted), the latter triumphantly strolled to safety once again.
It really felt like a huge show of defiance from the Toffees, who have been dealt hammer blow after hammer blow by their very own division and its CEO.
Richard Masters has made himself one of the most disliked men on Merseyside with his antics this season, and it really has felt like Sean Dyche’s side has been the subject of completely unwarranted attacks despite their obvious financial flaws.
Yes, they breached PSR, but to receive an eight-point deduction across two separate penalties in one campaign seems harsh. What is even worse is that the Premier League lobbied for 12 and five points across those two respective sanctions, inexplicably.
Seeking to make an example out of Everton whilst teams like Chelsea and Manchester City continue to spend freely, it feels like vindication to see them stroll to safety after such unrest.
Hopefully, this can mark the last of their relegation dogfights. It’s getting old now.