FANS COMMENT

Cup Ambition?

As a young blue, a part of my Everton education involved the memorising of our illustrious FA Cup history. As a 10-year-old attending my first (and only) cup final in 1995 I was made aware that we ‘the school of science’ had just set the record for semi-final appearances in the grand old competition. My Dad and Uncle talked of their last Wembley outing six years earlier and I recall thinking that length of time was an eternity for the great EFC. For several years after ’95, the opening week of January was the time for me to convince my Dad to back Everton for the cup. Whatever the odds.

That tradition died out a season or two ago. Firstly, my Dad got fed up of losing his money; and secondly, I began to realise that there was almost no chance of me heading to Wembley… or Cardiff… or Wembley again. Sadly, I fear another tradition has passed. That of Everton as a team to be feared in the cup. After the game today, Mark Hughes was asked if by, selecting a mixture of youngsters and non-regulars, he had devalued the FA Cup. Sparky’s reply revealed much about how far we have fallen.

In recent years, the FA Cup has somehow managed to cause me as much if not more pain than even our dire league performance has managed. Who could forget the hammerings at Boro and Newcastle at the quarter-final stage? Or perhaps the lowest point in our history — at home to Tranmere? Moyes isn’t responsible for those injuries or for our 12-ear wait for a cup final (or semi) but at least under Smith I felt the excitement of being in the cup draw on a Sunday afternoon, the adrenalin of possibility. With Moyes I have rarely entertained the thought that we could bring home a trophy and when I have those thoughts have been extinguished before March. People will no doubt point to draws against top team in recent years as defence of Moyes but ties like Blackburn (reserves) at home are a dream to any side with serious ambition. When did we say goodbye to our ambition?

Many people are grateful to Moyes for ridding us of survival battles on the last day and for guiding the ship to the safe waters of mid-table. Me? I miss the feeling I used to have that every result mattered. More than anything, I wish we could do what West Ham, Southampton and Millwall have done in recent years. I agree that if we release Moyes his replacement may be inferior. I agree that Moyes is a Premiership standard manager. But if your team has no hope of winning anything then it all seems rather pointless to me. I’m tired of settling for being Premiership standard.

If something doesn’t change soon then I fear that when the time comes, my son's Everton education will be ancient history. If Moyes remains in charge, I doubt I will ever have another cup final experience to pass on.

Responses:

I must admit to having moist eyes by the time I reached my car after Sunday's match. It was the realisation that the club has lost all ambition. Moyes job depends on keeping us up and not rocking the boat. A cup run? Not part of the job description.

As a kid, we were more often that not a poor-ish team, but when the cup came round you had grounds for optimism. 1981 - Arsenal came here in the 3rd round having been to the last 3 finals. Out they went. Next bring on Liverpool, they went the same way. Under Gordon Lee, Ipswich whacked us here 4-0, Come back a few weeks later and get knocked out of the cup.

Now, any half decent side turns us over even if they leave half the players out. No team should want to play us in the cup - now they're probably praying for it.
Alex May

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