Fans Comment
Jim Potter

What a difference a year makes
31 Dec 2004

Cahill scores against City

On the back of a truly awful season we lose our own wonder kid, the guy we’d been hanging our bobble hats on to escape the doldrums.  Depression sinks in even deeper.  "What chance now?" we all feel.  No money, huge debts, the smallest squad in the Premiership.  I felt like a character from "Bleak House".  The opening game against Arsenal seemed to sum up what lay in stall for the rest of the season.

But the good thing about Dickens is that, no matter how bad things get, salvation is often close at hand.  Step forward our greatest asset, David Moyes.  For it is He, without doubt, who has resurrected the pride, belief and commitment in our club.  He has replicated the drive and passion felt by every Everton fan into the collective spirit and determination of the players.  Now, when we turn up at a game we know that, no matter the result, the team will give their all in the Blue cause.  And therein lies the big difference between last season and this.

Winning breeds confidence.  Look at the obvious team spirit in the celebrations after Bent’s winner against City. These are guys who are not only enjoying their football but want to go the extra mile for their colleagues, manager and for us, the fans. This spirit is epitomised by Stubbs. Not the most skilful player to wear the Royal Blue, but brave as a lion and 100% committed to the cause.  Give me a guy like him every time over some foreign prima donna happy to pick up his fat pay check before looking for his cut on his next lucrative transfer.

Perhaps the other players felt under-valued in the last campaign given the Rooney mania.  Perhaps Moyes was too much the disciplinarian.  Whatever!  Now the question is how to sustain this progress and ensure we move on in our development.  The sooner this Fortress Sport debacle is sorted the better.  (Surely we’re under selling the club?)  I know Kenwright has his critics (theatrical and footballing) but at least he’s blue and that beats Agent Johnson every time for me.  A bigger squad is a must, but not by bankrupting the club.  I don’t want to become the next Leeds.  I believe a playmaker is a pre-requisite, along with a proven goalscorer.  Moyesy will spend sensibly that’s for sure (and our league position makes us a more viable option to potential newcomers).

A world-class academy is the long-term answer to a lot of problems.  By investing in the best scouting system, utilising the huge well of local talent as well opportunities world wide, we can save millions in the long term.  Becoming a professional business would help.  A good few months ago, a friend of mine was looking to sponsor the matchday ball.  He tried to get through to Everton's promotions people on several occasions and the phone just rang off the hook.  He, and I, were appalled at the amateur attitude to business taken by a club in dire need of funds.  Apparently Mr Wyness has his financial head screwed on properly – let’s hope so.  South East Asia has opened their doors to the Premiership and we have a tentative foot over the threshold, let’s capitalise before others do at our expense.

2004’s biggest disappointment for me (Rooney aside) has got to be waking up and going to the front door to collect the Sunday Times, the headline of which read “Russian tycoon to buy Everton”.  I had to pinch myself to know I was awake (seriously) as I often dreamt about our own Abramovich coming to Goodison.  To see that rainbow disappear over the horizon into nothingness was a heartbreaker.

The best moment of 2004 – my Kopite mate’s face after our recent victory and him not even being able to point at a league table to undermine our achievement.  A treasured moment.

Well, 2004 draws to a close.  We’re 4th in the league and 6 points above Liverpool.  Happy New Year to you and yours — and of course to Moyesy and the boys!

Jim  Potter

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