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FAN ARTICLES

Time to Endure the Unendurable

By Peter Fearon :  17/03/2011 :  Comments (82) :
I almost tremble at the thought of starting to write this because I know all too well the sentiments I am about to unleash. As a lifelong Evertonian who has loathed Liverpool FC with almost as much passion as I have supported the Blues through five turbulent decades, I have thought for a long time about the question I am about to voice.

Is it time for Everton and Liverpool to merge into a single Merseyside super club?

There. I wrote it.

The fact is that, if Liverpool and Everton were car manufacturers or newspapers or restaurant chains or almost any business other than football, they would certainly have merged long ago.

It?s not just a matter of both clubs failing to meet the expectations of fans. Both clubs are coping with diminishing fan bases in a city that is losing population. Each has an old stadium that needs to be replaced. Both have histories of success but have been eclipsed in recent years by rival clubs in other cities. Both have to make massive re-investments they cannot really afford.

A merger would increase resources, double the fan base, significantly increase gates, help fund reinvestment, create space for a new stadium and eliminate wasteful competition. In any other business it would be a no-brainer. Clearly, keeping both clubs in separate competition could continue to work as it has in the past ? if, as has happened in Manchester, both clubs have major long-term investment. Right now, that?s not the case.

However, any future owners of both Everton and Liverpool, no matter how rich, will still have to deal one day with the decline of population of the region and therefore in the fan base and in revenue. All fans of my generation recall gates of 69,000. Seeing 60,000-65,000 at Goodison was not unusual. I would be surprised if either club could attract a gate of 69,000 today, no matter what the size of the stadium.

It may come down to whether fans want to see a single successful ?super club? on Merseyside, or two clubs continuing to struggle to compete against richer rivals... with limited success.

There are numerous examples of successful football club mergers, but most of those in England have been at the lower levels of football, such as Dagenham & Redbridge, or long ago, like the merger of two Newcastle clubs to form Newcastle United in 1892. However, Italy?s Sampdoria was formed by a merger in 1946 and a further merger with rival Genoa was proposed in 2003. In France, Stade St Germain merged with Paris FC in 1970 to form Paris St Germain. In Germany, Karlsruhe was formed by a series of mergers in the 1950s. Other proposed mergers, Arsenal and Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, Huddersfield and Leeds, Stoke and Port Vale, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, obviously have come to nothing even though they may make economic sense.

What would a merged Merseyside club be like? What would such a club be named? First, it would have to be a real merger. Obviously the heritage of both institutions would have to be acknowledged and recognized in the new entity. It would not work if either set of fans felt one club had been taken over by the other.

I?m not going to attempt to suggest a name. ?Merseyside? would be fair to both sets of fans but would sacrifice the advantage of the brand value of both clubs. Any made up portmanteau name sounds silly. Using both names - ?Liverpool & Everton? or ?Everton & Liverpool? risks the loss over time of the second name. Who says, ?Bournemouth & Boscombe Utd?? No-one. But these are details to be hammered out over time.

It would be a wrench at first. It would be sad, difficult, depressing. There would be grief, a sense of loss. It would go against every grain. But the first Premier League title would repair most of those feelings. The second? you know what I mean.

I fully expect this suggestion to be rejected ? even ridiculed ? by the vast majority of fans. If we can?t agree on sharing a stadium, what chance is there to go even further than that? I don?t exactly savor the prospect of a merger either. But I do think it is inevitable ? some day ? if we are to avoid becoming another Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.

And remember this: a future wealthy investor in either Liverpool or Everton is likely to see the advantages of there being only one club in the city ? and attempt a buy-out rather than a merger. That we don?t want.

Reader Comments (82)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Dave Harrison
1 Posted 18/03/2011 at 06:47:48
If that happened, I can guarantee there'd be less fans than either club has now.
Jamie Connor
2 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:10:11
Just got as far as the 1st paragraph then switched off. Pointless article and however long it took to write was that long wasted. You'd have better used that time putting the kettle on.
Gerald Foo
3 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:08:41
If this actually transpired (although it probably won't like in a million years), we could be looking at a first team like this:

Reina
Johnson, Jagielka, Agger, Baines
Kuyt, Fellaini, Gerrard, Arteta?
Suarez, Carroll

Unfortunately, neither team has a decent left wing and we have no strikers worth contributing to the team. Not too sure "Merseyside FC" will win the league still.
David Jenkins
4 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:02:32
Well done, you have written the biggest load of tripe I have ever read on here.

You wouldn't dare suggest a name, but you would suggest merging two clubs which would end football in this city as we know it!!

For someone who has followed football as long as you have, you have made the fundamental mistake of thinking that football is a business in the eyes of true supporters.

We accept it is now a business in real terms. However in terms of what a supporter feels about their team and the reason they lose sleep after a defeat, feel on top of the world after a win or suicidal as another transfer window shuts, this could never be applied to business.

When was the last time you went on a forum discussing the shortcomings of the Manager of your favourite supermarket and why the shelf-stacker keeps dropping the tins? How many people have Tesco tattooed on their arm?

Sorry, but awful idea and very badly thought out. If anyone thinks it's a good idea then they must be missing the point of what football is all about.
Eric Myles
5 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:16:03
I'd support Tranmere if it ever happened.
Stephen Kenny
6 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:41:10
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

James I'Anson
7 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:47:19
How would Bill fit in?
Rupert Coghlan
8 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:52:50
It's not that bad.

Get a grip.
Adam Fenlon
9 Posted 18/03/2011 at 07:34:46
So what exactly is the point? If people want to support the most powerful club in the country at a point in time they can (and some choose to), but that?s not really the point of football supporting.

And re your last supposedly ominous warning: I?ve never once heard anyone suggesting that the Glazers looked to buy-out Man City straight after buying ManUre, or that Randy Lerner wanted to buy-out Birmingham City after taking over Villa in order to get some synergies from being the only club in the city. Utter codswallop.

And can you really imagine future "Merseyside-onians" reminiscing about when their club had a comeback in Istanbul, straight after how their club legend Dixie Dean scored 60 goals in a season!
Marc Williams
10 Posted 18/03/2011 at 08:02:52
Peter... Today is March the 18th, so I'm afraid you are a little previous.
Why don't you ask Michael & Lyndon if they can take this article down & repost it for you on April 1st .

Then we can all shout 'April Fool' at any idiot willing to consider such nonsense!

Chris Williamson
11 Posted 18/03/2011 at 08:15:08
Are you certifiable? "if Liverpool and Everton were car manufacturers or newspapers or restaurant chains ... they would certainly have merged long ago."

Competition might not be desirable for businesses intent on collecting money (although it IS desirable for the punters) but it is what sport is about! Or have we forgotten that in the PL's push towards its own obsession with money?

The answer ... (in the world inside my head) Make English football amateur again ? then we wouldn't have to worry!
Keith Edmunds
12 Posted 18/03/2011 at 08:37:52
Early start to the silly season!
Keith Webley
13 Posted 18/03/2011 at 08:43:30
I'm almost lost for words.

Michael, I can't actually believe that you gave space to this garbage.
Paul Olsen
14 Posted 18/03/2011 at 08:57:18
Oh my.....

Did you actually write this or is someone playing a cruel prank on you?
Richard Dodd
15 Posted 18/03/2011 at 08:58:46
Could only have been written by someone living a long way from Merseyside. Not worthy of any further comment.
Mark Murphy
16 Posted 18/03/2011 at 09:12:35
I agree with Richard Dodd!!!!!!!!!!!

Ray Robinson
17 Posted 18/03/2011 at 09:18:53
I would never condone it but time may ultimately prove that only one major club is sustainable in Liverpool ? that's nothing to do with passion, that's economics ? and football is basically a business now.
Andy Walker
18 Posted 18/03/2011 at 09:24:12
I remember it happening, Bobby of the Blues played (and usually scored the winner) for Everpool City in Shoot magazine in the early 70s. Oh, we played in all blue and our derby match was against some team called Mersea City or sommat.

Jeez, the shoite that lodges in the back of my mind...

Nick Entwistle
19 Posted 18/03/2011 at 09:56:41
Didn't even bother to get to the end of the first paragraph.

I could give reasons, but it's best not to argue with idiots as passers by wouldn't know the difference.
Tony Hennessy
20 Posted 18/03/2011 at 10:25:02
YOU SHOULD BE BANNED FOR EVEN THINKING IT! SHAME ON YOU!! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING SUGGESTION!!!
Mike Rourke
21 Posted 18/03/2011 at 10:25:32
Ooooh, I know, I know; Why don't we get Man Utd and Man City involved with the merger?! That way we could form a COLOSSAL-MEGA-SUPER-CLUB!

Given that 'we' would win everything I could live with the name Chesterside ? although I would DEMAND a bit of royal blue piping around the tops of the socks to recognise the contribution of the club formerly known as Everton...
Kevin Gillen
22 Posted 18/03/2011 at 10:47:17
It would be far better if football in our country was properly regulated so that all the clubs don't rack up such enormous debts by spending all their income on the childish playboys that are Premier League footballers. The money could then be invested in modern, sustainable stadiums, cheaper entrance fees, youth development and anti-hooligan measures so that people could take their children in safety to the games and not have to endure foul and abusive language, prejudice and the obvious displeasures of restricted views, unsafe grounds and petulant want away football stars.

Or we could just carry on as we are in a declining industry in a sixties theme park in the capital of dogcrap.

Kevin Gillen
23 Posted 18/03/2011 at 11:01:28
Selling our best players to Manchester United.
Dennis Stevens
24 Posted 18/03/2011 at 10:48:00
Of course, Richard. We're all second class Evertonians outside of Merseyside!

You don't seem capable of making a constructive response to any article posted. Sniping at others appears to be your area of expertise. Perhaps you'll surprise everybody one day by writing an article of your own!
Dick Fearon
25 Posted 18/03/2011 at 11:22:48
I would like people to know that I am not related (at least as far as I know) to the originator of this topic.
Brian Price
26 Posted 18/03/2011 at 11:38:11
Are you having a laugh?????
Russ Quinlan
27 Posted 18/03/2011 at 11:56:49
I thought it was 1st April when I read that!

I hope you weren't serious!
Paul Rice
28 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:12:09
Sweet baby Jesus and the orphans.

I'd rather eat my own foreskin.
Daniel A Johnson
29 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:17:47
Rather cut off my nob and glue it to my head.
Kevin Tully
30 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:20:39
How is the weather in Kazakhstan?

Give my regards to Borat.
Norman Merrill
31 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:39:32
Well, the comments on this thread have not helped my aching sides, which are still recovering from that result from across the park.
Shaun Brennan
32 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:36:48
Fuck me ? I know it's rednose day but you're having a laugh!
Trevor Mackie
33 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:43:13
What a marvellous theory, just like Communism... great on paper; nonsense in reality.
Tony McNulty
34 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:40:06
Paul and Daniel (29 and 30). Be fair, he only tossed off the idea.

Peter - an escaped lunatic has gained access to your Toffeweb sign-on and has started posting.
Ted Smeethes
35 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:46:30
Nice one, Peter, your'e thinking outside the box. It's ideas like this that make the world go round. Brilliant.
Liam Reilly
36 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:42:15
Wow Peter,

You have managed the impossible, to get all Toffeewebbers to agree on a single issue.

Very radical suggestion, could never gain traction.
Ste Traverse
37 Posted 18/03/2011 at 13:00:50
Silly stupid thread.

Read the first 4 lines and that was enough for me.
Chris Bannantyne
38 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:55:00
I know Toffeeweb likes to give everyone a fair chance at expressing their opinions, or sharing ideas... But how this one made it through the Editor is beyond me. Hahaha Jeeeesus.
Simon Lloyd
39 Posted 18/03/2011 at 13:00:58
No Fear, Peter!
Liam Reilly
40 Posted 18/03/2011 at 12:58:58
The new club would no doubt drop the name 'Everton' quicker than a hookers knickers.

Then born from the ashes would be FC Everton; competing in the lower echelons of the Football League under a new board and Chairman...err hang on.....
Chris Bannantyne
41 Posted 18/03/2011 at 13:02:14
Dick Fearon at #25. You may not be related, but it might be best to lay low for a little while till this one blows over... You know, just in case! Hahaha...
Alasdair Mackay
42 Posted 18/03/2011 at 13:07:29
NO!
Michael Lynch
43 Posted 18/03/2011 at 14:14:08
I've read some ludicrous posting's on this site, but this one takes the accolade for most ludricous. It's beyond ridiculous. Peter, use your inner voice in future. Then the world won't know you're thinking.
Andrew Laird
44 Posted 18/03/2011 at 14:18:56
Every man is entitled to their opinions and ideas.

As funny as a leper in a wind tunnel.
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
45 Posted 18/03/2011 at 14:41:59
When I see something like this come in, I have a choice, obviously. Peter is one of our longer serving contributors... I know that's no excuse for allowing him the space to make a complete fool of himself. And there's always a chance it will stir some good responses.

It's not as if this is denying space to some more worthy post, though; it's been slim pickings this week and
I blame the lack of Prem games last weekend... Why were there no games on the slate? There always used to be regular fixtures on 6th Round weekend, did there not?

Oh, and Doddy ? this blows a big hole in your sanctimonious posturing: Peter Fearon is from Liverpool. Surprised you're not one of his drinking mates.
Sam Hoare
46 Posted 18/03/2011 at 15:05:26
46 comments and all in agreement. That must be some sort of ToffeeWeb record!!

For what it's worth, I think a stadium share may be a good idea. It may be the only possible way we could afford a decent stadium in the next decade without that mystery investor finally turning up.
Terence Leong
47 Posted 18/03/2011 at 15:20:10
Well, Peter's got the guts and the willingness to voice his opinions. If we are think alike, there is no way we can go forward. Sometimes, positive changes comes from challenging the "un-thinkable". It's a crying shame that so many feel that they are so right that they can diss someone else. It's fine to speak in hyper-boles, but I'd like to see the response of those who claim that they'll multilate themselves should the "un-thinkable" happens.

And it just might, should either or both of the clubs end up in administration. That is not as "un-thinkable" as we think it is. The rumours surrounding our financial woes; the fairy-tale of the first American take-over of Liverpool ? nobody thought it would come to this then did it, for the banks to forcibly take over the club.

If that happens, do we think that the decision makers in the club would prefer to rather go out of business (be extinct) and survive and be re-branded?

How's that for "un-thinkable"?

Pete Gunby
48 Posted 18/03/2011 at 15:39:39
Open your eyes, readers. It will happen the day after The Celtic Rangers beat MilanMilan in the Champions league Final ? sponsored by PepsiCoke.
Tony Cheek
49 Posted 18/03/2011 at 15:40:01
Sorry Peter, but never in your life....There I wrote it!!!
Tony Cheek
50 Posted 18/03/2011 at 15:49:01
....and a team called Everpool playing at Goodfield Park in red and blue stripes would just be silly!!!
Declan Brown
51 Posted 18/03/2011 at 16:37:59
Holy Moses.

My response to that would be an instant No, with no room for negotiation sadly. But fair play to you for having a go and trying to explain it.

If the worst came to the worst, with Everton falling out of existence for whatever reason, that would be me finished with football as a proper genuine fan.

Been an Evertonian since May 1986, my dad supports them so it was the obvious thing to do, I can't even imagine trying to support another football club, never mind one that merges with our greatest enemies.

I know supporters who do change their allegiance at the drop of a hat, I just couldn't support anyone else, it would feel like treachery of the highest order.

No other club or thing has got right inside my soul like Everton has, it's like family, you just couldn't imagine being part of another family.

But that's my opinion for all it's worth!!!
Eugene Ruane
52 Posted 18/03/2011 at 16:48:10
This post imo is already a TW classic.

Favourite line..

"It would be a wrench at first.."

DURRRRR y' think!?
Chris Bannantyne
53 Posted 18/03/2011 at 16:48:33
In all seriousness though, I suppose this sort of thing COULD happen... Not anytime soon though (certainly hope not anyway). And if it did happen, the new team would lose a ton of supporters from both sides of the park, it would have to look for the new generations of unborn football fans to support to said team. So, maybe 15-20 years after the conception, it may have a decent supporter base...

But if this happened in my lifetime I don't know what I would do. Would I support this "Everpool" team?? I dunno, maybe if there was a decent contingent of Everton players made the squad, but after they move on or retire? Probably not. I'd probably go watch Blackpool because at least they put on a show. Football would be dead without Everton ? for me anyways.

What a terrible idea.

Lee Mandaracas
54 Posted 18/03/2011 at 16:55:02
Steaming great river of horsepiss of a suggestion!
Lyndon Lloyd
55 Posted 18/03/2011 at 17:10:53
The idea is preposterous. You'd remove at a stroke the whole idea of following a football club... the emotion, the devotion, the passion, the history, the folklore, the brotherhood, the "extended family" tied to one 133 year-old institution. Now add in the fact that it's the loss of Everton FC we're talking about here (no ordinary club) and it's just a non-starter on every level. It would akin to changing which club you support, something I could never contemplate doing.

Following a football club is not about economic sense — how else do you explain thousands of fans spending thousands of quid a year for no tangible reward?

Seriously, I'd sooner follow Everton in League Two than Merseyside Merger FC in the Premier League.

Ray Said
56 Posted 18/03/2011 at 17:27:10
Peter,
I hate to tell you this but the drugs have stopped working, mate ? get to the doctors asap.
Brian Denton
57 Posted 18/03/2011 at 17:44:23
Last line of Lyndon's post says it all really. I can't imagine why I have wasted five minutes of my life reading this!
Trevor Mackie
58 Posted 18/03/2011 at 17:55:13
I didn't think it possible to get that drunk
Danny James
59 Posted 18/03/2011 at 17:44:39
It might be a good idea for you to start eating with plastic cutlery from now on...
Dave Lynch
60 Posted 18/03/2011 at 18:00:45
Being a psychiatric nurse, I have a full understanding of this man's mind.

Section him forthwith!
Declan Brown
61 Posted 18/03/2011 at 18:13:47
So it's a no-goer then? LOL
Oliver Molloy
62 Posted 18/03/2011 at 18:44:36
Wise up....
David Hallwood
63 Posted 18/03/2011 at 19:27:24
"The fact is that, if Liverpool and Everton were car manufacturers or newspapers or restaurant chains or almost any business other than football, they would certainly have merged long ago"

But that's the trouble, Peter ? isn't like any other business! I change cars, sometimes swap newspapers, and try as many restaurants as possible, but I've only got one team ? no matter how bad it gets. Still, everyone has a right to voice an opinion, no matter how fuckin cretinous.
Jay Harris
64 Posted 18/03/2011 at 19:18:38
Peter
trying to put some rationale to your thinking and using only economic considerations and not generations of emotional consideration I find myself falling at the first hurdle, which is: Why throw away one club's Sky and sponsorship income for the sake of still only putting 11 men out on the pitch?

The Premier League is the place to be with clubs falling over themselves to "join the club".

Why suggest "closing" one of the businesses because that is effectively what you are suggesting.

The only positive spin I could put on it would be that it will get rid of Kenwright.

The only kudos I can give you is that it's the first ever post to get a sensible response from Doddy.

Well done, Peter.
James Ryan
65 Posted 18/03/2011 at 19:47:42
Long time reader of this site; however, this is my first comment and I think a simple NO! will suffice.
Barry Thompson
66 Posted 18/03/2011 at 21:36:37
Sorry Peter but for me 10 Premier League titles wouldn't repair ANY of those feelings. Evertonians are a special breed and I wouldn't want to stand/sit on the same terrace as those shithouse redshite fans shouting for the same team. Think I'd rather have my bollocks smeared with jam and shoved into a wasps nest. Crazy idea mate, sorry.
Jim Lloyd
67 Posted 18/03/2011 at 21:37:24
I think it's a great idea. Well done, Pete, for a lengthy incisive article on the benefits of becoming the "One True Club."

We'd be the winners of course. We would automatically double our League Championship winners tally, plus loads of Cup wins (English and European).

We'd have the Council tripping over themselves to get us the premier site in Liverpool... the Kings Dock of course. We'd have the Echo actually writing about us again and Phil feckin Redmond as an ambassador. We'd have lots of friendly scandinavians as buddies, mind you, we wouldn't be able to get a seat.

D'you think we'd need to wear purple, like the corpy bins colour? Would the Kopite and The Toffee Lady have to get married? (Or would they live in sin?)
I've just had a nightmare 'ere! Kenwright in charge of the super club!

Andrew James
68 Posted 18/03/2011 at 21:37:12
I am phoning the Police.
Barry Thompson
69 Posted 18/03/2011 at 21:53:28
It's the men in white coats that need phoning...
Jamie Crowley
70 Posted 18/03/2011 at 21:53:22
I just ended an extremely busy work day hungover to the gills from festivities last night.

I needed a laugh badly - TY Peter.

The responses had me in stitches. I think I pissed myself when I read Dick's name-distancing comment. Priceless.
Andrew James
71 Posted 18/03/2011 at 21:52:20
It would be civil war.

"You'll Never Walk Alone" in one end whilst we are busy reminding them that "We Don't Care What The Redshite Say" in the other.

Plus people here have already put our teams together for the best 11. I could never get excited about any of that lot running around in purple or blue and red stripes.

Lastly, if we united under a new name, surely that would be chaos? The Prem would drop to containing 19 teams thus effecting relegation or promotion candidates.

We are more likely to see Celtic and Rangers in the Premier League than Merseyside FC
Andrew James
72 Posted 18/03/2011 at 22:06:19
Barry ? I was gonna call the boys in blue but this post suggest our boys might end up playing in purple.
Andy Crooks
73 Posted 18/03/2011 at 22:45:13
Peter. We have all posted things we regret. I would honestly like to offer some defence, but...... All I can do is suggest that the editor decides enough is enough.
Brendan O'Doherty
74 Posted 19/03/2011 at 01:48:28
It appears that Col Gadaffi has at last arrived on Merseyside
Peter Fearon
75 Posted 19/03/2011 at 02:43:22
Let me say this in my defence as so few of you read past the third paragraph:

1. Not long ago, the idea of leaving Goodison would have been just as controversial. Some of you who wrote with such offensive invective actually supported not just leaving Goodison but leaving the city itself. I think the Kirkby move would have been worse than a merger, frankly.

2. Not long ago, the likelihood of relegation seemed beyond impossible. Now it's an almost perennial possibility. That doesn't seem to make people half as angry as my highly speculative argument.

3. It's not like I'm suggesting this should happen tomorrow. I just think this will come up within the next several years if the economic situation doesn't improve. We have all seen things we never thought would happen with Everton.

4. Dick Fearon, come on bro, you know we are too right related. How's are the kids?

Eugene Ruane
76 Posted 19/03/2011 at 08:16:22
Maybe we could just have two teams... IN THE COUNTRY!

North and South (draw a left-to-right line across Birmingham to get your N & S).

North play at Old Trafford, South at Wembley.

They'd only need to play one game home and one away to decide the league.

COYN!!!
Dave Brooks
77 Posted 19/03/2011 at 12:07:17
Well, I had a bit of time on my hands this morning, what with it being the weekend and all, so I cut my nob off and glued it to my head, ate my own foreskin and smeared my bollocks with jam and shoved them into a wasps nest (tricky in March, but it?s warming up over here).

Barry, Daniel, Paul ? it fucking hurt!!! I?m waiting for the ambulance and typing through the pain and I?ll see you three in court.

Dave Harrison (1) ? Agree.
David Jenkins (4) ? Agree.
Stephen Kenney (6) ? Agree.
Chris Williamson (11) ? Couldn?t agree more with your last paragraph.
Terence Leong (47) ? Stood up. Well done. And Declan (51) too.

In fact, I agree with what most of you have said.

Thanks Peter for a great article and thanks Michael for putting it up. Really.

Oh, but Liam (36), Sam (46) ? can you really say that the reaction is unanimous when Ray Robinson (17) and Ted Smeethes (35) don?t agree with everyone else? Knowsley Libraries do a free log-in for the Oxford English Dictionary. You can even get on in Kirkby! Sorry?

When I was 20, the funniest thing I ever heard was in the Enclosure and came from a bunch of cabbies who always took their lads to the match on a Saturday putting down the linesman. Reading the reactions to Peter?s article really took me back. You?re a funny lot when you get going.

For my part, if it happened, it wouldn?t make a lot of difference to my watching habits as I?m one of those second-class supporters who spent his youth ducking under police horses to get to Gwladys Street turnstiles but now lives a thousand miles away and, so, doesn?t count apparently. But I would never support the team that you?re proposing Peter.

If I wanted to support a team because they win trophies, I would have changed my allegiance years ago and wouldn?t have wasted all that time checking the results, listening to commentaries, reading ToffeeWeb, worrying about the club, talking to my old man about how thin the squad?s been and for how long, etc.

On the other hand, since stats seem to show that the only way the EPL can keep the gravy train rolling is to expand into overseas markets, and since stats seem to show that ? in developing markets ? fans associate more with the player than with the team, maybe Peter?s right?!

Peter ? print this thread out. You may be ?the forerunner?.

Thanks everyone. Biggest laugh I?ve ever had on this site.

Stephen Kenny
78 Posted 19/03/2011 at 12:14:36
If Everton went, I think most would just jib it all together to be honest. I know I would. I'd probably watch Barca for enjoyment but never "support" anyone else, how could you?
Dave Brooks
79 Posted 19/03/2011 at 12:27:43
Same for me Stephen. But not for everyone.

One of my bosses is 'from Liverpool' and supports LFC. Goes over a few times a season for a game. Can't pin down where he comes from really. Doesn't know anything about football (and even I can say that and I know next to nothing). He'd probably support anyone if they're on Sky often enough.

He's the future.
Maybe.
Stephen Kenny
80 Posted 19/03/2011 at 15:41:39
Dave,

We haven't got many of these fans thankfully, I couldn't sit next to one!!
Dave Brooks
81 Posted 19/03/2011 at 16:26:09
Never understood them myself Stephen...
James Hollister
82 Posted 19/03/2011 at 18:05:08
Peter there are other clubs in the prem you can support... daftest idea I've heard since that ground share... just No!

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The Unofficial Everton Timeline – 2014-2023 The Moshiri Years

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  Team Pld GD Pts
12 Brentford 17 0 23
13 Manchester United 17 -1 22
14 West Ham United 17 -8 20
15 Everton 16 -7 16
16 Crystal Palace 17 -8 16
17 Leicester City 17 -16 14
18 Wolves 17 -13 12

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