Colm Kavanagh exalts in the rarified air of Everton success
WE DARE TO DREAM...
I sit here tonight wondering just what to type — stuck for words! My nerves are still shot to bits after that penalty shoot-out drama at St James Park, Newcastle.
Inside four days, from last Sunday to this Wednesday, I've witnessed not one but two records we'd prefer to forget absolutely shattered and laid to rest. Our record at Elland Road reads like a horror story — unless we're facing Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup semi-final! No wins for any visiting Everton side since 1951. No more is it an unwanted burden!
I was just out of nappies the last time an Everton side triumphed in a penalty shoot-out — Borussia Moenchengladbach being the hapless visitors to Goodison Park back in 1971. Tonight, that particular albatross around our necks has been consigned to history! Four days of unmitigated, unadulterated joy for Evertonians and, boy, does it feel good!
Our Club is ALIVE once more — arguably for the first time in a good number of seasons. We're seeing a spring in the steps of Evertonians both young and old. You cannot beat a little injection of self-belief, an ingredient sadly missing over recent seasons as we fell further and further away from the lofty position once taken for granted. It had become almost embarrassing to suggest a revival on the horizon but that's where we are today and I look no further than David Moyes himself and thank the Man Above for sending him our way. He has been a godsend.
We, collectively, have spent the past couple of seasons divided — no room for middle ground when the topic of "Walter Smith: Good Manager? Bad Manager?" came up for discussion. You were either for or against. I, for one, couldn't care less how nice a suit Walter wore or how well spoken in front of the camera he was — in my eyes he produced some of the most passionless football I think I've ever seen served up in the name of Everton Football Club. A team will always reflect the ways of any given manager. We were ultra-negative, dire to watch. Even in highlighted format!
We curbed the threat of others by narrowing our pitch. Twice. It didn't work. We dwelled on the negatives and never prospered. We suffered at the hands of braver teams from lower divisions who came to Goodison Park and were bold enough to put us to the sword. Last season, we saw Crewe Alexandra almost match the achievement of Tranmere Rovers from the previous season — utter despair for any Evertonian who cares deeply for the Club. The very life of Everton Football Club was slowly being drained away.
Our problems were blamed on a lack of finance and not crap management. I think, finally, most have seen through that one! I now look back on that week in March when we abjectly threw in the hat at West Ham and at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. Two inept performances leading to the sacking of the grey Walter Smith have proven to be blessings in disguise. Just how bad were we? Just how low were we about to sink as a Club? Pause for thought and pinch yourself now to realise it is but eight short months since those dark days. Good riddance to shite football and hello David Moyes!
Where do you start with this infectious Glaswegian then, eh? He is a total opposite to his predecessor — forever accentuating whatever positives he can. He exudes a confidence that has spread throughout the entire Club. I'm sure even the pies taste better at present! He has whipped our squad into shape in a matter of months. Not so long ago we were looking at a Walter Smith side littered with has-beens like David Ginola (mother of God, what was he thinking there?), Paul Gascoigne and Jesper Blomqvist.
It's almost overnight, thanks to Moyes, that we have a first-team squad (note the emphasis on the word squad) fully fit and fighting equally for a place in the side. As witnessed only last week, no player is guaranteed a first-team place, with the omission of David Weir from the starting line up at Leeds United. That can only benefit the squad, making the so-called fringe players feel more involved in matters.
For the first time in literally years I feel we're onto something good here at Everton — I genuinely feel that way. We've had our false dawns over the years but this time I really think we've hit the jackpot with the appointment of David Moyes. The media might well rave about the performances of a certain Wayne Rooney ("he who can't be named" — © Sky Sports) but Mr. Moyes is the main catalyst to this new emerging side.
Without trying to be too crude about it, I like the fact that Moyes takes no shit. Not in the door five minutes and he decided to resolve this goalkeeping problem we've had before our very eyes for the past few seasons. No fudging of the issue. Tonight, we saw just a slice more coming off that Wright transfer fee with two vital penalty saves seeing us through to another pay-day and, hopefully, a step nearer Cardiff and a day out in the Worthington Cup Final. Vital saves late in the day at Upton Park were also contributing factors to a great away win the other week — an important win following the Arsenal match considering that, so often in the past, Everton consistently followed a great result with an embarrassing capitulation. He's looking increasingly confident between the sticks and no doubt the media will soon be picking up on the chants from the terraces for "England's Number One" to be recognised.
Is it any wonder we're seeing Everton sides last the full 90 minutes (and beyond!) these days? Is it any great surprise to see a regular flow of late goals coming our way? Why is this so and why is it so patently obvious?! At last, we've a hands on manager who's coaching his side and working (successfully) on their fitness levels. Gone are the days of throwing a bag of balls at the players on a training ground and letting them do whatever. Moyes has instilled more of a work ethic amongst the players and the dividend is there for all to see — and good luck to them. Work hard; earn the rewards (hopefully!).
After persevering with garbage for the past number of seasons, it is almost impossible not to lose the run of yourself when thinking about what might lie ahead for David Moyes's Everton — but feck it, if you can't dream the dream then why follow football at all? It's a game for passion. Pride in your club — and we've most certainly got that at the moment.
It's great being an Evertonian at the moment and long may it continue. We have a collective spring in the step thanks to the efforts of David Moyes and this team of his who seem to have caught most unaware so far this season. We just might be witnessing the re-birth of a side ready to challenge for honours once again. No doubt it's a long road ahead still but at least we know what direction we're heading. At long last!
Tell me Ma, me Ma... put the champagne on ice, on ice..... Cardiff 2003 would be oh so nice!
We dare to dream....
Everton FC: on the way back?
Colm Kavanagh 6 November 2002