Fans Comment
Paul Bassett

Work to be done
20/05/05

1) The playing staff and best manager in the British Isles cannot be commended enough for the feat they have achieved over the course of a season. There cannot be enough written to put this in context as football increasingly goes, from the unexpected to the extremely probable in the modern day money spinning, profit margin madness. What they have done collectively as a group is sensational and has smattered smiles across the faces of many a glum Evertonian after a tumultuous pre-season. Well done lads you have stuck two fingers up at the rest this year and put the football club well and truly back on the footballing map.

2) The sensational performance is ever more enhanced when considering the incompetence that has been shown by the board in the past 7 years. With the impresario forever making broken promise upon broken promise- new training ground, new youth academy, and new stadium perhaps, new investment- but to mention a few failing to materialise it is surely time for Kenwright et al to have a moment of reflection on their own personal position and achievements. Now it is worth acknowledging at this point that there have been some progressive moves from the board- a CEO who actually has a modicum of initiative and is not just a glorified administrator (take a bow Michael Dunford), a manager worth more than his weight in gold, a silent director who has been compelled to act in his position and lest we forget a wonderful flag emblazoned outside our creaking ground. Ultimately not enough has been done or achieved under Kenwright’s tenure to justify the stranglehold himself and Mr Woods now have on the club. The more voices the better and a dilution of shares as has been mentioned on numerous occasions is the only way forward for the “peoples club”. You have had more than enough time to deliver and only for the team’s turnaround this season the discontent would have echoed if not reverberated on the terraces a long time ago.

If this does not happen- and now is the perfect time for all involved with the feel good factor and new found position surely going to increase the price of their shares and initial investment – Everton are in danger of letting an opportunity to truly get back amongst the big boys slip away. It needs to be grasped with both hands.

3) The state of the squad on paper leaves a lot to be desired and but for the miracles of Messiah Moyes and his backroom staff it would surely be a mid table outfit at best. Take the back four for example- with six first team defenders on the books we must count our lucky blessings that they all, particularly the 3 players over 30, stayed in form and relatively injury free or who knows how it would have gone . Now I appreciate the camaraderie that a small group and this one in particular generates but it is time to get organised and back Moyes to the hilt. We need serious re-enforcements in all departments as by and large the squad consists of perennial underachievers who have realised their potential together this season. To rely on it again is folly. Now we don’t want ego’s to upset the apple cart as has been stated by all and sundry but we surely will not get them as Moyes will no doubt blow away delusions of grandeur in any negotiations and reiterate the ethic that this club embodies. Therefore we need to go out on a limb and try to get the squad in shape for a top six push and a half decent run at Europe.

Basically well done lads for making this the best year of my life to date and I hope it becomes an annual celebration as we continue to move forward as a club and realise the potential all Evertonian’s know deep down we possess. It’s our time again so let’s not spoil it by a board caught in the past and the Big Six syndrome still in their memories-football has changed gents and so must you.

Bring ‘em on.

Paul Bassett

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