FANS COMMENT

Oh Brother!

I enjoyed reading the article from Kevin Sparke in which he asks just how good were the 1980s. I feel I have to say this, as seeing as he is my elder brother I still have painful memories of being whacked over the knuckles with a rather large knotted stick being used as a substitute for the sword that Errol Flynn used to brandish with aplomb when portraying the dashing Robin Hood. (Why did I always have to be the Sherrif of Nottingham Kevin?)

Now before I get accused of joining my brother in drowning in a sea of fond nostalgia, let me point out something to the younger generation who may find all this reminiscing and sentimentality to be a pointless exercise. At the beginning of the 1980s we were bad — and when I say bad, I mean really bad. Kevin and I were one of the genuine 9,080 who stood freezing our tits off at a morbid Goodison Park in November 1983 as we eventually overcame a dour Coventry City. Isn’t it funny, though, I think I have spoken to about 45,000 Evertonians who all claim to have been at that match. That’s one hell of a tax fiddle if you ask me.

Times were hard in the 80s; going to the match was a cash burden that quite often couldn’t be met. It’s a good job that I had the said elder brother who often protested but nevertheless still dragged me along with him every other Saturday. Attendances all over the country were down, but we seemed to be suffering more than most, which was not entirely surprising as some of the football being played was simply awful. Yes, I admit to shouting “Kendall out” but who could blame me? I am so glad that the Board didn’t listen to my squeaky pubescent voice. How was I to know that somehow this shower of shite would suddenly start playing the type of football that my dad had often talked about?

Now fast forward 20 odd years, my voice maybe deeper and the current manager is called Moyes rather than Kendall, but should I be shouting “Moyes out”? Ok, at the present time we are lying seventh in the table, but a closer inspection of the table will reveal that if we have a few bad results our position could be much worse. Granted, a couple of good results will push us up into the top 6 and I really do want to be seen as a "glass is half-full" type of guy but, deep down in my heart I know that this team is so inconsistent, the style of football is very limited (if you can call “grab a goal then everybody panic” a style of football). I don’t like my manager stating that our first priority is to secure our top-flight status. Granted, he may be thinking that privately but keep it to yourself, Moyes.

So, going back to the point that my brother made, I have some questions:

1. What are the chances of this team finding the style of football that will help to recreate those glory years of the 80s?
2. Have we a potential Peter Reid in our squad who will suddenly take control of our meandering midfield, where is the young Trevor Steven waiting to take on the best fullbacks in the country?
3. Where is the left sided midfielder who will guarantee you at least 10 goals a season as Sheedy often did?
4. Have we got these types of players at our club already?
5. And if so, is it within Moyes's ability to get the best out of the players we have?

Arteta has quality, Cahill can score goals... other than that I think our midfield cupboard is dreadfully bare. Osman is far too lightweight, Carsley for all his effort is just not good enough. Davies is a joke, McFadden is neither a forward nor a midfielder, gives the ball away far too much and, to be quite honest, wouldn’t have got in the reserve side of that 80s team. And Neville is a converted fullback who can occasionally cross a decent ball. Don’t even get me started on AVDM!

So where does that leave us? If I hear one more fan accept the current mediocrity as good enough for Everton FC then I think I will tear up my season ticket and donate my money to the save the 3-legged, one-eyed donkey fund, or some other similar just cause. Just when did a “respectable” mid table position become a goal rather than an excuse for a poor season?

I live in hope that Moyes will turn us into a decent passing side, and on rare occasions some of the players have shown that they do have the quality to do this, but these times are few and far between.

So will I be shouting "Moyes Out" at the next match? No way; you never know, despite all my pessimism, things could be just about to get better. If not, I may well be borrowing that knotted stick from our Kev, and will use it to chase Moyes all the way up Goodison Road!

Responses:

Good post, Shaun! - Colm

Good stuff! By the way, I was one of the 9,080 - I've still got the "Kendall and Carter out" handsheets handed out on the night to prove it! and what a dire game (until we got 2 late late goals).
Toffee Dan

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