Why Everton are the World's best team

When I was young a football club's fortunes could ebb & flow, meaning that clubs could get promoted and immediately make their presence felt without years of yo-yoing and then consolidating. Also, clubs could challenge for honours merely because they had built a good team ? there wasn't a billionaires' closed shop.

They are correct in saying that money rules football and money dictates who wins the trophies, but I really do believe that at some stage in the not too distant future "poor old us" will get some financial backing and will ram it all down the throats of those "mutant" fans ? it WILL mean something those fans would not understand.

Keep the faith, we may not be the best team in the world, but we certainly are the truest supporters in the world...

I dream of a future for us where we solve the ground problem (it has to be a share with Liverpool) and FIFA make all clubs operate on sound finances. A future where our ability to develop young players and see value where no others see it puts us at a massive advantage.

Gerry is spot-on, Lee; keep the faith and you will be vindicated. Once we solve the ground issue, we are a mega buy, we have a massive future because in the end a club is the sum of its fans (even though we are only customers now) and we are genuinely the best. I'm as proud to be an Evertonian now as I was in 1970 when the footballing world was at our feet.

Picture the scene: On the far side of this earth, 12,000 miles from my old home, in the early hours of Good Friday morning, in one of my many Everton tops and cap that I will wear to the beach as soon as the sun comes up. The license plate of my car is EVERTON 2. A nod and smile to my minature Everton Father Christmas that is propped up just the right of the computer, with its Everton mouse and pad.

Surrounded at every turn by Everton bric brac, note pads, pens and a rubber blue nose.... I could go on and on about my passion for all things Everton and I have to admit it is a bit over the top. But hey, what better thing to go over board about?

Even when we weren't winning trophies, I counted myself lucky enough to appreciate some brilliant individual players or those I considered legends, the likes of Kanchelskis, Beardsley and Big Dunc plus others who may not have hit quite the same levels but just wore their heart on their sleeve for the cause, like Beagrie, McCall, Campbell, Carsley, Gravesen and Parkinson).

Of course I've seen some almost very lows; I was stood in the Gwladys on the last day win against Wimbledon and saw 4 of the 5 goals go in (including that Horne screamer and the slight (ahem) softer winner ? thanks Hans!), I was in amongst the clutch of away fans at Highbury as we 'celebrated' our Champions league slot by being thrashed 7-1 (still kept singing "Champions League, you're having a laff" mind) ? one of many fruitless away trips (being whipped by Spurs on New Year's Day, losing after going ahead at the Emirates and more recent capitulation at Craven Cottage... made all the worse by having to watch Jô in an Everton shirt).

Right now though I can honestly say I'm somewhere in-between. I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved over the last few seasons in raising our starting expectation to a European slot, of a first team squad featuring genuine sought-after stars (Cahill, Felliani, Arteta, Howard, Jags, Baines), some exciting youthful prospects (Rodwell, Coleman, Beckford, Gueye and Vellios plus prospects like Duffy, Baxter, Barkley and Mustafi) as well as homegrown locals (Osman and Hibbo) and a manager who's regarded by pretty much everyone else (outside Toffeeweb) as one of the best young talents in the league.

Like everyone else, I'm frustrated by the fact we haven't ben able to get those one or two extra players (striker/winger) to complete the team, by the fact we started the season so terribly (again) saving our run of form until it's slightly too late to challenge for top 4 and by the fact that we have no money to improve the squad in the summer and will need to sell to buy.

Ultimately though I'm still enjoying the ride and believe that things can and will get better (albeit with the sacrifice of 1 or 2 'stars' this summer) and that plenty more thrills and spills (ideally including a CL campaign or a shiny new trophy) lie ahead.

Err, so in summary, I'm with you, Lee, great post!

To me, emotionally, if not rationally, we are still "The Merseyside Millionaires", "The School of Science", I expect us to compete and beat Liverpool, United et cetera. I find it hard to be content with the odd good defensive performance and sneaking a goal at Man City. I expect us to be there and to win trophies.

In my way, I am another kind of Romantic to young Lee.

Despite Cattericks success, I never quite reached the same level of satisfaction. There always was a longing for what might have been under JC.

Being from Stoke, I also have to field questions of Why Everton? And as you say, with all the ups and downs, I cannot imagine the boredom of supporting anyone else.

Trevor (#23): I am the same age group as yourself; while I agree in what you say about Johnny Carey, it's all about opinions, and I for one will be forever grateful to Harry Catterick, in winning the Championship twice, and the FA Cup.

I would like to think that in my lifetime we might see the glory days return, Lee has time on his side, but I don't want to go into the problems, because they have been well documented on this website.

By the way I'm from Mauritius ? we do have diehard Everton fans.

COYB

Certain times in my relatively short time as an Evertonian have summed it all up: Fiorentina was the game that showed me that no-one ? and I mean no-one ? was more passionate about their club than the Evertonians; the Rooney saga told me that, no matter how much we love certain players or how important they are to our success, no-one is bigger than the club.

The days out at Wembley showed me the togetherness the supporters have and the atmosphere just blew me away and left me hungry for more. I believe we have the best supporters, the best ground (believe it or not, I love the atmosphere and look of the place) and, God help me, I'll never stop supporting this club.

Catterick injected steel but his style of football waned after 1963... that title-winning side was the best we ever had!!! Most of them were signed by John Carey who was also a great player.

I'm afraid that most of Catterick's football was played in a very poor EFC side (he fitted right in).