#NSNO

Steve Carr 02/05/2016 16comments  |  Jump to last

1978. Nine Years old. My first visit to Goodison Park.

Having taken the first six years of my life to realise that I'd been 'chosen' to support the blue half of Merseyside as opposed to the dark side like many of my peers, by '78 I was very well educated in the School of Science. We're a long way from that now. In the words of one of our own, I salute you Mr Leighton Baines when you said that we lack chemistry. You can't have science without it!

On that cold winter's day, I watched in awe my heroes George Wood (I was enjoying a spell between the sticks at the time) and Bob Latchford, (legend). Even a 1-0 loss to Ipswich Town couldn't dampen my love for the club.

ADVERTISEMENT

About these ads

Fast forward to 2016 and I'm still visiting Goodison Park and still getting the same sensations as I did all those years ago. The excitement, the adrenalin and the disappointment. Maybe it's me, maybe it's the intervening 38 years or maybe it's just part of being a Blue that's made me cynical, but heroes in this current crop? No. My son on the other hand, does. Unfortunately for him, he'll learn soon enough.

Back in 1978, I'd have given an arm or a leg to play for the Toffees. Now, at an age even a veteran professional would view as old, I realise that my chances of being spotted are diminishing by the day. They say with age comes experience. This I believe is true. Today, the idea of donating a limb to fulfil my dreams is something I'd not willingly do. Partial dismemberment is not something to take lightly.

However, two kids down the line and the closest thing to a scout watching me play, is one that wears a woggle, there is another body part that I would give to be involved with the club I love, and that's a bollock.

And let's be fair, I won't be the first or the last to make this offer, as I've been watching a load of old bollocks for months.

This season has been my son's first with a season ticket, albeit a half season ticket, but a season ticket nonetheless. Having sat through the last ten league games (won 2, drawn 2, lost 6), you can see where his pessimism comes from. I made sure he was 'born not manufactured' as a blue and that 'we go the game', but none of that counts for anything if it's not enjoyable. This season has been harsh.

Roberto's first season was excellent, nobody can deny him that. Three great loan deals made the difference. Two years on and those same three players now on permanent deals which would suggest progression. As would the addition of three more players on permanent deals, especially when you list them as two ex-England internationals and an up-and-coming Argentinian international. Yet none of them have set the Premier League alight.

Don't get me wrong, Funes Mori and Lennon have done themselves proud (not taking the Anfield derby into account), and even Cleverley has impressed me at times. I was one that visited change.org a couple of years back voting for him not to be included in the England squad. In my defence he was playing for the Mancs at the time. What I didn't like in his play, was the constant sideways passing, which explains why he has slotted in so well to our current line-up. And before anyone says that I've forgotten Niasse, I haven't but don't get me started on him!

In all the years I've been watching Everton, we've had our ups and downs from the unforgettable Kendall inspired glory days to the forgettable uninspired days of Mike Walker, but this season has to be one of the lowest I can remember that didn't involve a relegation battle.

Everton Football Club is no minnow.

No player is bigger than the club (are you reading this Romelu? Champions League my arse!), no manager is bigger than the club (ditto Martinez), and no shareholder is bigger than the club. If you really are a 'true blue' (and you Kenwright), with only the club's best interests at heart, then do what is best for the club, no-one else. #MartinezOut.

My point, if you haven't guessed, is that although I was #BornNotManufactured and that my son and I, #WeGoTheGame, there's only one tagline that Messrs Kenwright and Moshiri need to take heed of, and that's the one on our shirts and closest to our hearts, #NSNO

Share this article

Follow @TheMagicBlues

Reader Comments (16)

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


Tony Draper
1 Posted 02/05/2016 at 08:28:20
I've read and re-read your outpourings 3x now Steve.

Flawless, just bloody flawless. Thanks.

Darren Hind
2 Posted 02/05/2016 at 08:41:38
Steve you must be pretty crap if you watched Niasse on Saturday and STILL believe your chance has gone.

Good article. I feel for your boy. What a pathetic run of results he has had to suffer

Pete Bridson
3 Posted 02/05/2016 at 09:30:57
Excellent post Steve. Being of a similar vintage to yerself, I too have given up hope of being 'discovered' and given a chance to play.
I also really feel for the youngsters who have had to wait for so long for that experience of winning. I don't remember 1970 to well so being at Wembley in '84 to see the Rat lift the cup happened a fair bit sooner than the 20 plus years we've had to wait for a sniff that's for sure.
Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 02/05/2016 at 09:41:56
Steve good post, anyone who doesn't agree whole heartedly with your assessment must be very easily pleased indeed. We all know it will get worse if Martinez is allowed to stay. As for Kenwright I've give up swearing for next years Lent.
Tony Abrahams
5 Posted 02/05/2016 at 09:53:48
Great post Steve, but the NSNO should have been removed from the badge the minute Kenwright became our chairman.

When you have to beg, steal and borrow to become the chairman, it can only lead to one thing. A club that continually punches above their weight.

Martinez has done one good thing, he's removed the words "plucky little Everton".

Brent Stephens
6 Posted 02/05/2016 at 10:22:57
Steve, at least there's a bright side to this for your son. His first season ticket and he's seen dross. All upwards and onwards from here - new manager, some new signings, ground development, d'Ross and others firing on all cylinders.
Ian Hollingworth
7 Posted 02/05/2016 at 10:32:44
Steve, you have nailed it – that pretty much sums up how it is for a lot of us.

Eric Holland
8 Posted 02/05/2016 at 12:21:39
Brent, are you still drunk from last night?
Graham Mockford
9 Posted 02/05/2016 at 14:54:07
Steve

Trying to take the positives, see it as character building for your son. Especially as it seems he might have to display some more.

I am now more than convinced that Roberto will be in the dug out come August. If he was going this season it would have happened last week.


I guess there could still be a summer coup but Kenwright has always been a stubborn bastard. It's not like he's not got form for ignoring protest.

150 people, a fly by and a few banners are like water of a duck's back to him.

If it does play out that he is still in charge come the start of next season I fear for some on here as they whip themselves into greater and greater hysterical outrage.

I would try an Everton free summer.My advice would be watch the Olympics, Wimbledon and the Euros. Avoid fans websites and getting upset at every press report of what he may be saying. It won't change and it won't make you feel any better. Log back in first week of August and see who we have got in the first game.

That's my plan anyway as I take a long planned road trip across the States in July.

Dave Abrahams
10 Posted 02/05/2016 at 15:05:08
Graham (9) good advice, but for me and I think a few more on here all we want to know is Martinez going or staying. The reason is renewing my season ticket, I think the club owe us that much, I have the opposite view to yourself regarding the outcome of Martinez's fate but do I gamble on that.

I really want to continue my long time as a fan but not if Roberto is conducting the band.

Oliver Molloy
11 Posted 02/05/2016 at 15:26:40
Protest is the only way the club will know the situation is not up for debate.

Martinez goes or the fans stop going to the matches.
End of story - it is the only way.

No amount of pouring our hearts out and demanding he gets the the sack on endless threads on endless forums will make a difference, BK has seen it all before.
What will ramp up the pressure on the board is not turning up.
The final game of the season in a practically empty Goodison will send out the message.

Brent Stephens
12 Posted 02/05/2016 at 15:33:42
Eric #8 - can't I dream? hope for the future?!
Charlie Lloyd
13 Posted 02/05/2016 at 16:01:10
Martinez will see the season out. Summer will be pivotal. If Kenwright still has a big say he will ride out the break knowing the fans can't direct abuse via match days. A sort of not seen not heard mentality. If Moshiri wants the change and has serious influence then expect the change of manager to happen.

Would you, billionaire or not, invest your money into the current management.

This summer break will answer many questions for how we go forward over the next decade.

Tony Abrahams
14 Posted 03/05/2016 at 12:17:54
Don't renew your season ticket just yet then Dave. The football's shite, and your seat is not much better. In fact, the only thing worse, is your mood when you come out of Goodison Park these days.
Anto Byrne
16 Posted 04/05/2016 at 06:05:21
Kenwright just cashed in his shares in the club and makes a cool profit. Moshiri buys up 49.9% for 100mil give or take. Now the TV money flows in to the Everton coffers and as a 50% owner that's good for me. So long as we don't get relegated and finish midtable the money will still flow in, season tickets, merchandise, 38000 attendances. This is a nice little business and if we do manage to win something that's a bonus. Don't rock the boat, keep on the gravy train and all is well.

My insurance is I have some players worth good money should I decide to cash in. Has the manager done a good job? Well if you argue two semifinals and the possibility of a top ten finish with an end of season flourish its going to be hard to dispute. Its not like we had the same financial resources as the kopshites or manure, City or Chelsea although it didn't seem to make a lot of difference to Leicester they just had a really good season and when they sniffed a chance they just focused on the league.

I can't see them getting rid of Martinez if he has achieved what the board want, being safe from the drop, increasing the value of the assets, I'm sure Lukaku is worth more than the 29m we paid for him and Stones and Barkley is like winning the lottery. If you look at it from purely a business point of view and forget the football for a minute its going to be hard to justify getting rid of the man, especially as he was brought in to do what Moyes did for 11 years and that was purely to maintain the premiership status quo. Everything else is bullshit and spin.
Steve Carr
17 Posted 04/05/2016 at 13:52:03
Hi Darren (post 2),

You've convinced me not to give up on the dream. Having watched Niasse against Bournemouth, you're right, I do have a chance! I suppose when I take stock of my qualities, they should be knocking down my door for my signature.

I have better decision making than Stones, better distribution than Barkley and a better first touch than Lukaku. I could probably find something with each first teamer that I reckon I could do better.

And there, lies the problem. This current squad have not performed the basics at a level that they are capable of or a club of Everton's stature demands.

If anyone at the club had any balls (no pun intended), they should hold their hand up and admit this and sod Martinez if he asks for an apology. One week's Premier League wages, even at Everton, could probably be forfeited and pay back every season ticket holder for the shocking capitulations that we've seen this season.

Never mind #MartinezOut how about #PayItBack?


Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads



© ToffeeWeb