Fans Comment
John Coyne

Because we are Everton
13 July 2004

Radzinski: which direction?

As I am sure many of you will agree, being an Evertonian can be quite frustrating at times.  Indeed, these last few weeks have been almost unbearable.  ToffeeWeb, along with others, has commented on the supposed ‘unrest’ that is clouding David Moyes pre-season – and I guess I am not the only one who feels there is a witch hunt in certain areas of the media against Everton Football Club as a whole.

Let me start my rant by stating that if Wayne Rooney is sold this summer, I for one will be heartbroken.  He is an icon – and more importantly he has given hope to all the young blues in Merseyside and beyond.  If he himself wants to leave, then so be it.  No player is bigger than the club – not even Wayne Rooney.  I fully agree with David Moyes’s stance that he only wants players who want to play for Everton!

As a club, we have had some really bad press lately, not helped of course by ridiculous interviews given to The Mirror & the Official Everton Website by Tomasz Radzinski & Alan Stubbs.  If Radzinski really said all that, then pack the little sod off to Fulham and good riddance.  You would also think that Alan Stubbs should know better.  So he, and some of the other players feel hard done by?  To be honest, I think some players got off lightly – the attitudes of some for large chunks of the season were disgraceful.  Again, we only want players who want to play for Everton – this highlights the fact that everyone — from the CEO, down to the average supporter — needs to be pulling in the same direction.

[Err... I was going along with you quite well until I read that, but this I am afraid is something of an illusion.  On the field of play, clearly the players need to be pulling in the same direction — under the direction of the manager.  That is what was clearly not happening last season.  As far as the fans are concerned, we are all different individuals, and as you can see from this website, there is a wide diversity of views on any issue relating to Everton.  Yes, we all support Everton, but each in his or her own way.  This is the People's Club, not the People's Republic, where we all quote from Billy Boy's Little Blue Book of Everton Soundbytes... hmmm, actually, that might prove to be a massive seller...  — Ed]

We all know what needs to be achieved on and off the pitch in the coming months and I am sure we are in for a bumpy ride, and miracles won’t happen overnight.  Therefore, when I’m faced with another day's worth of lazy, uninventive Everton related news, I think back to what makes me want to read it anyway:

• Anfield 1984 - John Motson's - "I haven't seen a goal like that in a Merseyside derby for years"
• Goodison 1994  – Big Joe Royle’s first game and Big Dunc's first goal.
• Anfield 1999 – Who put the ball in the Liverpool net?
• Wembley 1995 - Dave Watson's face as he lifted the cup

Thinking of the above certainly puts a smile back on my face, especially when reading comments from has-beens like Bryan Robson sticking their nose in saying that Rooney should leave to better himself.

My point (finally), is that no matter how much abuse we have to take, how many laughs we have to ignore from snooping reds – we will be able to take it on the chin and move on.  Why?  Because we are Everton.  Wayne Rooney may leave, if so, we will move on.  Why?  Because we are Everton.

John Coyne

©2004 ToffeeWeb