Fans Comment
Kevin Latham

Ask what you can do...
12 November 2005

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”  Any American will be able to tell you that those words belong to their most famous President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy – JFK.

So what has JFK to do with Everton?  Well, apart from the fact that he was of Irish descent like many Evertonians, could we not with a little alteration apply what he said to our great club?  JFK struck gold with his comments because he played on the pride that Americans have for their country, a pride that they will shove in your face at any opportunity – God Bless America, Stars and Stripes Forever, America the Beautiful and so forth.  But does our pride in our club not compare to this?

It’s very obvious from the ToffeeWeb Mailbag that Evertonians’ pride is severely dented at the moment — maybe more so than it has ever been.  We’re hurting, and there’s no immediate prospect of any relief, with Spurs and Chelsea just over the horizon.  These are truly dire times to be a Blue. But lads, we ARE Blues.  Whilst we can (and do) blame Kenwright, Moyes, Irvine, Beattie, Walter Smith etc for the predicament we’re in, should we supporters not accept that we have a part to play in all of this?  Because, Kenwright apart – and I’m not attempting to defend him, just pointing out an obvious truth – none of the others I’ve mentioned know what it’s like to be a born Evertonian.  They are or were paid to be part of our great club.  We have it in our blood.

Yes, we’re hurting all right, and it’s only natural that people have a go at those in charge, even if it’s only out of frustration.  But maybe it’s time to think about what we can do for Everton, because if we want to turn the current shite around, we won’t do it by turning on those at the front end of the club.  We know from David Weir’s comments that morale is about as high as our league position so it’s obvious that the players need a lift.  Maybe this is part of what we can do for our club, tough as it may be.  Whatever you think of Moyes and the others, they’re not going to turn things around with the fans on their backs – show me a team that has ever turned the corner with their own crowd against them.

I have in the past been firmly in David Moyes’s corner, but I have to admit that right now my faith in him is being tested big-time. But on balance I'm still there... even though some of his decisions baffle me (and most other people) and our tactics are simplistic.  Would things improve if he took a taxi ride?  Well, would they?  How much would we – a club with no money - have to pay him off, for example?  Who would we put in this place?  Who would come? Some fantasists have suggested Martin O’Neill – wake up for fuck’s sake!  Or Peter Reid.  Great Blue, great bloke, great player – our best midfielder since the incomparable Alan Ball.  But do you really think that he’s our best bet to replace Moyes?

And what if we brought a new guy in and he didn’t fancy some of the players there?  We’ve just spent a shitload of money, so where would the money come from to fund new players?  And even then these new players may be no improvement.

So, while it’s easy to shout for Moyes’s head, it’s not so easy to think of the possible consequences.  Does anybody want him to fail?  Where would that leave us?  If we could be guaranteed that a new manager would put us where we belong then count me in, but we all know that there are no guarantees in this game, especially where EFC are concerned.

Therefore, it follows that, for the immediately foreseeable future, personnel will stay the same.  We can slag off anyone and everyone, but how far will that improve morale?  To my simple way of thinking it’s a question of putting our pet hates to one side (for me by the way, that’s Bent, who just isn’t Premiership class, and Osman who seems to be a boy in a man’s game) and getting behind those blue shirts.  We have a big, big part to play in helping this club climb the league.  Is it not in our own interests to stand as one?

The side have to start doing the business, but we fans also have to do our bit, whatever we think of individuals.  Get behind Moyes.  Let’s show Beattie that we have faith in him.  I’ll even shout myself hoarse for Bent and Osman.  Whoever wears the royal blue must – MUST – get our support now more than ever.

If they don’t then we’ve failed.  So let’s not fail.  When you think of JFK saying “Ask what you can do for Everton”, I hope that you will hold your head up (which is more than he can now, obviously, since some of it’s still on that car seat in Dallas...) and say that when the team really needed you, when it was easier to criticize than support, when things were darkest, you stood up to be counted.

Come on You Blues.  Always.

Kevin Latham

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