Baines: We need to prove we're better than 1995 Blues

Lyndon Lloyd , 8 March, 22comments | Jump to most recent

Leighton Baines believes that Everton's current team is better than the one that won the FA Cup in 1995 but the only way to prove it is to win the trophy themselves.

The England international was at Wembley 18 years ago the last time the Blues won the famous old tournament and he says that he would fancy the current crop's chances against Joe Royle's "dogs of war" side that beat Manchester United 1-0 that day thanks to Paul Rideout's first-half header.

But he warned that David Moyes's present team will only remembered if they can land some silverware.

"I still remember going to the 1995 cup final," the left back says. "They had a good team then and we've got a good team now, but they will be remembered because of what they achieved and that surpasses anything.

"If anyone wants to stake a claim to being better than them well, then prove it — because they went there and did it, and unless we do that, we can't talk about being better than them.

"If you don't achieve anything then you are not going to get remembered."

And Baines echoes the pain at last season's disaster against Liverpool in the semi-final expressed by David Moyes and some of his players alike in recent interviews . Everton led their bitter rivals from across the Park through Nikica Jelavic's goal but ended up losing 2-1 after an uncharacteristic Sylvain Distin error had gifted the Reds an equaliser.

"It is hard to explain because losing a semi-final is a blow — and to lose to your biggest rivals made it worse. It took a while to get past it and we were probably licking our wounds for a little bit, but we are stronger for it and we don't want that feeling again," Baines continued.

"You draw on those experiences and emotions and use them as motivation. I think you should look back on those occasions because it brings back the hunger to get there again. You have to have it in the back of your mind at this stage to spur you on."

Everton can book a return visit to the national stadium with victory over Wigan Athletic tomorrow at Goodison Park.

Quotes or other material sourced from Click Liverpool

Reader Comments (22)

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Kevin Hudson
1 Posted 08/03/2013 at 19:11:25

Baines went to the 95' Final?

I thought he was a Red...

Peter Thistle
2 Posted 08/03/2013 at 19:15:57

He was probably supporting United.

Pete Anthony
3 Posted 08/03/2013 at 20:45:54

Probably went with family, or as a youth player as he may have been on our books then, before we released him.

Gavin Ramejkis
4 Posted 08/03/2013 at 20:49:39

Pete, he was never on the books, he had at least one trial and wasn't called back.

Declan Brown
5 Posted 08/03/2013 at 20:51:32

More to the point, he thinks this current everton team are better than Joe's Dogs of War.

Sorry but not in my books, Horne, Parkinson and Ebbrell would have Gibson and Osman bullied out of it in the tunnel. Howard or Big Nev? Big Nev for me everytime.

Unsworth / Watson (back then) would have Jelavic in their back pockets. Big Duncan being marked by Johnny Hardman? Ha ha ha!!! The current team can't defend free kicks and corners, which was a strength of Big Joe's team, Andy Hinchcliffe was one of the best corner kick takers we've ever had.

Think back to last season at Wembley, what do you think, would Big Joe's Dogs of War have thrown away that 1-0 lead, they would have gone toe to toe with that Liverpool team. I'd love to see Stevie Me's reaction to one of Parkinson's / Horne's / Ebbrell's full blooded tackling. Derby matches were made for Big Joe's team, they never let us down, even at Anfield.

Lastly Leighton, you want to compare yourselves to the Dogs of War? Big Joe was unbeaten in Derby's, beat Liverpool at Anfield (my 17th birthday, I remember that day so well, Limpar dancing through 4 liverpool players, a pinpoint pass and bang, Kanchelskis at the Kop End again and it's game over, does anybody remember Ian Rush gurning on TV that night about trying to pass us to death)? David Moyes in 11 seasons has 3-4 wins out of approx 25 games and not one away win. Long way to go yet Leighton.

But Leighton, I still think you're our best and most consistent player this season, the best left back in the country for the last 2 years at least, if Big Joe was your manager he would have told the media that!!!

If we get past Wigan, if we get City / Utd or Chelsea I suspect that will be our Cup Final. But here's hoping.

Dave White
6 Posted 08/03/2013 at 21:13:25

Agree with some of your post Declan (especially regarding Big Nev) but someone is sure to point out that side finished 15th.

I think you're remebering those days through rose tinted glasses. Much of the games under Royle were grim to watch, some of the worst football I've seen played by an Everton side.

I appreciate that things aren't perfect right now and the lack of tangible success hurts, but I believe we play better football these days.

Declan Brown
7 Posted 08/03/2013 at 21:24:01

Good point Dave White.

I remember Joe Royle coming in late November that season, we had won just 1 game by that stage, then Joe resurrected us, based over a whole season we would have finished top 6 based on form from when he came in.

That time from Joe came in it was all about survival, we were dead and buried by November, give the man and the team credit for how they turned it round, we didn't have quality in that team, but by God they had heart, desire, guts and the effort they put in to make up for the lack of quality made me a proud blue back then.

By the way in his 2nd season we finished 6th under Big Joe missing out on a UEFA Cup slot on the last day of the season.

Barry Rathbone
8 Posted 08/03/2013 at 21:31:06

Sorry Leighton forget the cup final this present side and any Moyes side could never produce the semi final performance destroying media darlings Spurs so completely.

Big Joe and his "can do" team against Moyes "knife to a gunfight" outfit - lost before you come out the tunnel mate.

Dave White
9 Posted 08/03/2013 at 21:54:44

I have been thoroughty corrected!!! Apologies Declan, of course you are quite right, my memory is a little hazy these days.

However I stand by my view that the current side is stronger.

Dave White
10 Posted 08/03/2013 at 22:01:57

Yes, the more I reread what I wrote the more I realise it is generally arse.

Except the better football bit.

James Flynn
11 Posted 08/03/2013 at 23:11:32

Well, if they lift the FA Cup, "Moyes', Poorly-managed, Over-paided, Spoiled, Under-achieving, Lucked-into it, Bunch" will suit me. Less dramatic then "Dogs of War", no doubt.

But, I'll take it. Then, I'm easy. Just win, gents.

Peter Bell
13 Posted 09/03/2013 at 08:07:13

Declan Brown, you have got to be joking, Ebbrell couldnt bully anyone, thats a fuckin joke, Horne not in the same league as Gibson and only remembered for a goal against Wimbledon, Gibson can pass a ball to his own player for starters. Out of the three named only Joe Parkinson would get in this team

Peter Bell
14 Posted 09/03/2013 at 08:13:06

Stop calling them Joe`s dogs of war, he inherited that team. When he started to build his own team, he served us up some shite. Paul Gerrard, Earl Barrett, Mark Hottinger, Craig Short

Peter Bell
15 Posted 09/03/2013 at 08:27:21

I always thought his full name was John Ebbrellfour, cos every time I picked the sunday paper up that is what it said. Wasnt until many weeks later that I realised this was the player ratings. Yes thats it 4 out of 10 every week

Peter Bell
16 Posted 09/03/2013 at 08:30:07

Also forgot to mention, that Ebbrell didnt even make the bench for the 1995 final, so thats how good he was

Ernie Baywood
17 Posted 09/03/2013 at 11:37:34

Bit harsh on Horne above. Parky was a cracking player - underrated away from Goodison.

I liked Ebbrell. Always gave everything. Limited footballer but would run through walls for the club.

And he crippled McMahon. That's life membership stuff.

I loved the 95 team but the 96 side was much better. To be honest, I don't think either match the current side for technical ability... but they had spades of character.

Declan Brown
18 Posted 09/03/2013 at 12:20:17

Peter Bell, what age are you? I'm 34 so can remember that 94/95 team very well, I agree that the 96 side was better, Kanchelskis and Speed on the wings. That midfield trio (Horne, Ebbrell and Parkinson) lacked ability but to beat them you had to really put the effort in. They had courage, fought hard for us and were tough b@57ards proud to wear our jersey. I refer to the 94/95 season alone when they needed character.

Jackson, Ablett, Unsworth, Horne, Ebbrell, Amokachi, Stuart, Hinchcliffe, Rideout, all very very average players back in those days, but Royle's appointment changed them and brought out the fighting spirit in them.

They won the FA Cup despite being bottom of the league for 3-4 months. For a team that was bottom of the League in November 1994 with a few draws to their name they turned it round pretty quickly, nobody walked over that team, as Ernie says they had character in spades.

Anyway Peter, Osman or Gibson goes in for a 50/50 tackle with either Ebbrell, Horne or Parkinson, so who's going to win it? Easy answer. Personally it's a pity that Joe Royle wasn't 20 years younger because i'd love to see what he could do with this team if Moyes left in the summer.

With the technical ability we have in our team, I think we're not doing as well as we should be. To me Moyes will always be a survivor as a manager, but men like Joe Royle are winners. I hope that makes sense.

Ralph Basnett
19 Posted 09/03/2013 at 13:43:04

Obviously with today's score you are not.

Peter Fearon
20 Posted 09/03/2013 at 14:48:41

I think today's embarrassing performance and humiliating defeat by a team destined for relegation has answered that question. The big difference between the 1995 blues and today is that we had players like Paul Rideout and Daniel Amokachi and Duncan Ferguson who knew where the goal was, we had a manager who was committed to playing attacking aggressive football and players around them who knew how to pass. The 1995 team could have beaten today's blues with ten men.

Peter Bell
21 Posted 09/03/2013 at 17:40:25

Declan Brown,I have 20 more years of watching Everton than you, and Ebbrell couldnt get stuck into a good pan of scouse. Morrisey,Rioch,Reid, these are what you call hard players, everyone got caught up with hoping Ebbrell would be a local lad who became a hero, when in fact he turned out to be a major disappointment.

Mike Hughes
22 Posted 09/03/2013 at 20:21:23

This thread is one good reason why players should stick to playing and shut the hell up.

What next? Phil Neville: "We must man up". Shove it.

Jackie Barry
23 Posted 10/03/2013 at 19:00:42

Whatever you say about the teams that Royle built they had more fight in them than this current bunch Peter.

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