Time to Stand Up and Be Counted!

I haven't given up all hope for a good result this season but, if the players and the coach have the belief, anything is possible.

Everton is a grand old team that was bourgeoisie for much of its existence. We were the Mersey Millionaires. When we bought Dixie Dean, we weren't exactly small timers. We had much of the many firsts: first to wear numbers; first to have underground heating; Goodison Park was the state of the art in the last century.

We attracted big names because we had resources and were forward thinking. Yes, it was less of a divide between the haves and the have-nots. But we were always part of the elite, not just in achievement but resources.

We might have achieved the 80s success on the back of a good youth team coming through, but a couple of inspired signings (Reid & Gray). But we were big spenders all the while. We bought Ball, Latchford, Lineker and Cottee et al at no small amounts.

Of course, one could say that, besides Ball, the rest weren't part of any winning team. However, we can't escape the fact that people didn't just come to us because we were successful but when they saw the potential to move ahead, which is supported by resources. If we want success based on good old values alone, then think Derby and Nott Forest.

My point is, if it takes a billionaire to get us the Chelsea success, then so be it. Because it's been proven that money alone cannot buy success. But it can play a big part.

Yes, we don't want to go down the route of Leeds, or potentially Liverpool, but we need a kickstart. This season promised to be the kickstart (it could still be, if we ended up the Champions League and win the FA Cup), but in this time and age, teams break up much faster than they are given the time to gel.

Unless we can reproduce a team of youngsters at the same time (Ferguson has about 4 of them, Kendall arguably had similar ? Sharp though not from the youth set up was about 22 to 23 yrs when Kendall took over; Mountfield was 21 to 22, Ratcliffe was 23 when he lifted the Cup, Stevens was 22 to 23, Steven was 21 when he won the cup), and get success soon.

In this time and age, once a youngster has potential, he does not survive more than one season without being linked to clubs elsewhere. Which brings me back to my point ? if we can get success the Chelsea way, I say go for it. Then we build the team later.

Saying that, I'll be up at 4am here in the Alaska darkness with resting heartrate of 120, pacing the house and hoping, hoping, hoping. This used to be my annual pilgrimage game from Alaska to Goodison but the heartless performances broke me down. Never worried too much about the result, just wanted to feel pride in the performance. That's all I'll look for this Sunday... but a result would be a bonus. I'd love to eat my words. COYB

Years pass and we find ourselves in the same situation but against Coventry and this time I feel fate has dealt its ugly hand ? partly because we escaped through the skin of our teeth against Wimbledon; partly because I always felt that Seggars had deliberately let in that goal from Stuart; partly because our most successful manager was at the helm and I could imagine, with the luck that we were getting, he would go down in history as the man that also took us down (that's not a dig at Kendall but at Johnson, who gave him fuck-all money to spend); and partly because I live in Coventry and watched the game in a pub with a lot of my friends who are Sky Blue fans... and believe me, I tried to watch the game on my own but they tracked me down.

Everything seemed to point to one thing and that was relegation. If we had've been relegated that day, I would have lost a lot of friends as my temper would've got the better of me, you see I'm a bit oversensitive when it comes to Everton. The feeling I had after that game was like winning the Champions League and I can remember thinking, now that we have survived, hopefully the Board will give Kendall some proper money to spend. For all the criticisms he was getting in his third spell, I could see the type of football he was trying to bring back and what he was trying to do (which was change the philosophy of long ball, dogs of war type rubbish into playing the ball on the ground and wing play amongst others things).

Like you, my enthusiasm for England died a long time ago and I hate just about every connection to the England team for example: Wembley, footballers from London teams, the FA, the media, and so on. However, I have to disagree with you, my friend, on the subject of Martin O'Neill and the fallout if Moyes would leave the club.

Firstly, I think O'Neill is an average manager who plays aggressive battling football with the ball launched in the air to the front man a lot (who is usually a big, technically limited striker). O'Neill would be extremely lucky to be offered a job of managing a club bigger than Everton as he is very limited in his ability as a manager.

Secondly, if Moyes does walk in the summer (which I hope he does), then it all depends on who replaces him as to wether there will be a player exodus. If the players respect the next manager, or even admire him and believe in him, then they will want to play for him. I have always liked Moyes as a person and have commented before how I believed we would have been in the Championship if it wasn't for him; but we have moved on, and rightly so, as we ARE a massive club and deserve better.

Cautiousness is THE word that sums up Everton under Moyes, from the style of play to the transfer money allocated, to the fans' expectations on the terraces. Kenwright must be thanking his lucky stars that we were involved in two last-day relegation battles and that the previous owner nearly destroyed us because neither him nor Moyes would be in the positions they are in today if none of that had happened.

I don't mean to be negative but I can only see one outcome from Sunday's game and it will be the same old story with some lightweight excuses being bandied around. Good article, though, mate.

Nope, no way, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, no,no, no, no ...

4-5-1, safe, conservative, no risk, tedious ... did I mention safe?

Mind you, word is that the new Scottish formation 4-6-0 has got him pretty excited. Now that really is the way to play.

I wonder what the Moyes fans will say when we get beat again at home by the poorest Liverpool side in years... Now where have I heard that before.....

Tony J: so you think their midfield would stroll through ours do you? Other than Gerrard what midfield have they got? It's got less creativity than ours and that is saying something! Don't tell me you're all frightened of Lucas, Babbel and whatever other defensive midfielder he wants to play? Kuyt, Agger and a few others are injured and Gerrard is way below par...

For fuck's sake, will everybody get a grip and get real! This is our best chance in years to give them a good wallopping! No, I don't have rose-tinted glasses on, I just look at the starting 11 we can put out and stack it up against theirs; other than two players (who we know who they are), we're a match ? if not better. Would anybody seriously have Jamie Bishop... sorry, Carragher ahead of Baines, or Reina instead of Tim Howard, Lucas instead of Arteta, and so on and so on?

Also, there was an extremely rich ex-pat in the US who is looking at buying/investing in us; he gave an interview on Radio City on Monday and the main sticking point is not Moyes or Kenwright but the stadium (or lack of it) as no potential investor wants to spend out on the team and a stadium. So, for all those who were dancing in the streets when DK got the KB (yes, KEIOC, I'm talking to you, you bunch of knobs...), well done! It looks like Robert Elstone was telling the truth after all, eh... no stadium: no investment... bleak future.

Charles @ 14, both the people you have mentioned, especially John Henry, are looking at redeveloping Anfield as a first choice.

Gavin, you would probably blame BK for the Kennedy assassination, the market collapse, 9/11 and 7/7 ..there's no talking to people like you who won't see both sides of the argument. And before anyone thinks I'm a BK apologist, I'm not; don't care if he stays, don't care if he goes, he's tried his hardest and fair play. End of.

Let's put the blame for the current state of affairs fairly and squarely where it belongs: on Moyses shoulders ? he picks the team, he picks the tactics and formation. End of.

Still my crystal ball says 2-0 with big Felli and fat Yak on the scoresheet; any takers?

And the quote I made about the potential investor saying the stadium was the main problem was broadcast on Radio City on Monday morning as part of an interview with the guy himself, who stated he had no problems with the current board, and would have no problems opening dialogue with fan groups and LCC. Blows your theory of it being Kenwright's fault right out of the water.

Oh and by the way, I go to watch the lads home and away as I have done since my grandad first took me to the match 40 years ago, so please don't try and patronise me, sunshine! Please also read my previous post re Bill Kenwright. I have no overiding emotions about him either way.

Oh and were KEIOC originally GFE, the idiots who didn't want to move to the Kings Dock in the first place; so, if by some miracle the council find us some suitable plot in the city but away from Goodison, I'm sure they (you?) will find some nonsensical objection to that.

I'm willing to listen to any reasoned logical arguments but, judging by your last posts, may I suggest a warm cup of Horlicks and a nap before you reply.

I myself can understand why Everton want to move from the ol' lady, but by the same token can understand the emotions that moving brings out in people. The problem is, WE the average Joe, even though we are in the majority in attendance at games, are not where the real cash is. Unfortunately it's corporate/hospitality were the REAL money is, and at Everton, quite frankly in that respect we're 2nd rate, even the likes of Stoke and Fulham generate more corporate money than we do.

Regenerating Goodison in an ideal world would be most people's preffered option but unfortunately other than the Park End it would mean we lose up to 15,000 off our capacity for 3-5 years and we are just NOT in a financial position to do so.

Think about it ? the Bullens Rd and Main Stand are both over 50 years old, God knows how old the Street End is. Those 3 parts of the ground would have to be gutted if not demolished and rebuilt. As I say, the Park End is fairly easy: lift the roof off and add another and maybe some boxes which could be done over the close season as modern structures like that are already pre made.

I hope we can stay at Goodison but the intervening revenue we would lose would set us back even further.

As for our ' commercial' department... don't get me started ? it's a joke! BK can be blamed for a lot of things but at least he's never stolen from the club coffers like DJ Spuddles did, that's were the real blame lies. One minute, we're spending like it's going out of fashion on class players like Speed, Limpar, Big Dunc etc...then Big Joe get's the KB for £400k to buy Flo, his mate, and Barry Horne. We then sell all our best players for massive profits by the way and are still skint!

If nothing else, BK was honest about having no cash; yes, I know he goes bleary eyed and bullshits at times but in this economic climate he's all we've got. Would you really want Tweedle dum and Tweedle dummer from acrooss the park?

As for a return for my investment, I have always enjoyed rollercoaster rides, Bill!

A few suggestions for a good scouse song would be appreciated. Especially when the RS are being schooled by the tricky blues at 3-0 !