Salvation Achieved on a Night for the Ages

We left it late for comfort but what a block buster film the story of our season would make. We have had just about everything from the appointment of Rafa, Super Frank, referee howlers, mistakes a plenty, the emergence of three particular heroes in Pickford, Iwobi and Richarlison.

And finally of course us, the supporters who through their belief and will power have simply refused to lie down. We did it, together but let's hope we never have to go through it all again, onward and upwards from now.

The Richarlison moment with the smoke bomb the other week, was absolutely iconic to me, and definitely one of the best pictures I've ever seen taken at Goodison, but is there anything more iconic, than an Everton centre-forward scoring an absolute beaut of a diving header? So thank you very much DOMINIC CALVERT LEWIN🙏

The celebrations were, IMHO, akin to someone who's told that they've got a very serious illness with a poor prognosis, who then learns that they're gonna be alright after all.

If you can't take and enjoy what happened on Thursday, sit and think about the alternative outcome.

My comparison comes from first-hand experience so save your anger and embarrassment and just thank your lucky stars we haven't had to face the alternative. UTFT!

Some people want to take the emotion out of football e.g. VAR

For the thousands who live and die Everton and who's lives revolve around everything to do with the Club the spontaneous celebrations at the game were wholly understandable.

I can't believe there was one supporter there on Thursday who sat in his seat during the entire match, politely clapping as each goal went in!!
Yes in the cold light of day possibly we can look back at things but in the heat of the moment and the passion of the result and occasion most people reacted. How many hugged, talked and almost cried with people around us who we had never met before!!

It is a disgrace that we were put in this position and hopefully this will be rectified, however, the emotion of escaping those worse fears was as intense as winning a cup.

I remember us going 2-0 down against Sheffield Wednesday and not feeling as down as I did at half time on Thursday. The euphoria at the final whistle was even greater on Thursday night.

Football is all about passion and instant reaction. Too many people are trying to take that away. Never happen to Evertonians.

I've written about it before and will again in the coming days all being well but this was a celebration not of success but of a team and fanbase coming together to save an institution; of fans taking control of their football club in the face of near-catastrophic mis-management from the top.

We haven't won anything but a collection of fans refused to allow Everton to go down and I'm utterly convinced we'd already have joined Norwich and Watford before Thursday night's game if it weren't for our magnificent supporters.

I can't tell you how proud I am to be counted as one. That I was fortunate enough to be there at Goodison to witness the win over Palace will never be lost on me. I celebrated like we had won a trophy but I'm under no illusions about how far we've fallen or who was responsible.

No, you listen to yourself. I think I wrote, and meant, thank your lucky stars we don't have to face the alternative (the alternative being relegation itself).

We all want to be challenging at the top but we're a long way from that and Thursday wasn't about that. I don't know whether you're purposely missing the point I made or not. Either way, you don't seem to have grasped it.

So, simply, the celebration was all about beating the circumstances we found ourselves in at that time. The alternative was relegation!!

Yes, it's an absolute scandal that we should be in that position… but we were and we avoided it – if that's not cause to celebrate, then explain that to almost 40k Evertonians who did!

Expectations can only be based on the resources of the club and Everton's ability to achieve success in the next 5 years is very limited. If you demand success, then don't support Everton because the chances of achievement are tiny.

Success for me now is ridding the club of its deadwood at all levels and a sustainable improvement based on organic growth – not the illusion of big money buys. Very few clubs sell good players. Top 8 in 5 years would be a great achievement from a club that is effectively out of the transfer market.

I think we ARE entitled to expect decent attractive football, top 8 finishes and a return to our standing as many fans' favourite 2nd team.

It makes me very cross that the FFP rules baked in the advantages the money clubs had, together with 'coefficients' etc.

A Great Club like Everton should have never such a situation.

The fans did unite, and this definitely helped to save us, but we need to unite more, we need to get rid of the idiots who nearly took us on “the road to ruin” and get people in, who know how to run a professional football club, make us competitive, and get us to where Stu, is talking about, and especially because, this is a place where Everton football club, should truly belong, imo.

I'm sorry for bringing the jinx's name in once again, but I don't believe Everton will ever compete for trophies, until we have got rid of Mr Managed Decline/ Mr Good Times.

Everton are the worst run professional sports team in the world and, if those celebrating staying up don't quickly get back to reality and demand a total change of how the club is run, then all we've done is put off the disaster until a later date. You've been warned.

I honestly believe that no other fans in the country would have done what we've done over the past month to drag this unispiring and woefully inadequate squad over the line.

No other fans would have endured the chronic mismanagement at board level and the toxic and devisive appointment of Benitez but still gave our all and given our unconditional support.

The scenes at the end where cathartic. An outpouring of emotion for avoiding what could have been. I shed a tear when from my seat in the Upper Gladwys when I spotted my teenaged son dancing on the pitch. He's had a very hard year health wise and, unlike me, he's never been fortunate enough to witness us winning anything, but he's loyally and steadfastly given his support week in and week out and kept the faith when, at times, it would have been easier for him with everything else that's been going on to jack in watching Everton.

Finally, a word for Lampard. He's learning on the job and he's made mistakes but he gets the club and what we are about more than any other manager in a generation. Martinez talked the talk but I never really believed him. Frank has won everything in the game as a player and was a club legend at Chelsea but he's immersed himself in Everton bad understands that it means more to us than these so-called ‘big 6' tourist clubs. Let's give him time to rebuild the squad. It might not be pretty at times but he deserves the chance.

Def: demand - an insistent and peremptory (insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way) request, made as of right.

We have no right to success and can in no way demand it. I'd say that we have the right to request, hope and judge but not to expect or demand as of right. I'd say we perhaps have the right as supporters of a once big club to expect better but that is different.
I believe that we have the right to judge and criticise the product that we see but my view on that is the criticism has to be constructive and made in a way that it can be taken on board and acted upon.

Chris, a very good summary of what I believe Thursday meant to us.

You are right, semantics can be a bugger, but I would argue that, as a very powerful stakeholder group, supporters must be able to exert much stronger influence than the “request” or right to expect better that you advocate.

As you say, we have no right to be successful but we do have the right to judge and criticise constructively. Couldn't agree more!

I agree that just making the demand achieves nothing, but coming from such a powerful supporters lobby cannot surely be ignored by the powers that be.

Making it obvious that we as a group are not prepared to accept anything less than maximum effort on the part of the Board to make Everton competitive in the Premier League and on the European stage — I guess that is what I mean by 'demand'.

“We are not celebrating a victory but celebrating survival. A club like Everton with its massive fan base and fantastic history should not be in this position and we should make sure it does not happen again.”

Well, it has happened again, and – as good as it feels right now – we find ourselves celebrating something for all the wrong reasons. This may be Bill's idea of success but it's not the fans' idea of anything like success. That guy has to go.

We are all relieved after a total shit show of a season so let's put our trust in Frank Lampard to get this club back to hunting for trophies and proper success. It is not going to be quick and it's not going to be easy but I for one am sick of the managerial changes and shit recruitment at the club.

We have to put trust in him and a plan for the long term. A plan that would start with professional training techniques so the kids coming through are taught proper ball skills, high-level fitness, awareness, confident passing of the ball and anything else that we all assume top-flight players should have but, as we have witnessed for a few years, very few actually have.

I cannot imagine Frank Lampard with his background of skill, vision, prowess and all-out effort would entertain bringing in such average players as we have in our squad. At the least, he would only entertain players who have good basics and could be improved. I hope I am correct in this and players are not forced on him as our previous managers have been.

Finally. It has been the amazing effort of those tremendous supporters who got this team over the line and I know they will carry us on into the future. For the present, I hope they put pressure on Moshiri for an immediate board change as I was still in the midst of my celebrations when I saw that ugly mugshot of Kenwright in the directors box. There he was again basking in the glory of another one of his 'good times'. That spoilt my joy a little.

This guy is a poison to our club and we risk losing our chance to gain a foothold into the future by allowing him to remain as chairman. Keep the pressure on him.

Deep down Thursday night was relief. Relief what could have been. Relagation may have put us back 25 years. Relegation takes you out of the golden league, worldwide audiences, financial gain, fan recruitment.

No one gives you anything but unless players are sold and players brought in we will be fighting relegation next season. The mentality must change. Frank has won everything and worked under top management teams. Let him lead us into next season? Interesting what the board decides. Remember we will need patience. Premiership status will be success over the next few years. Anything more will be amazing. The gap between top and bottom is getting wider.

Most emotionally draining season for all. Rest over the summer and go again!!

However, relegation would have forced a clearout whereas heroic survival brings the temptation to give the benefit of the doubt.

Frank needs to avoid the sentimentality trap and be brutal these events will be forgotten in the blink of an eye if we continue uneventful, unchallenging mid table dross perfected in the Moyes era. Since then bar one season we've drifted aimlessly. Frank needs "it's now or never" by Elvis on a loop to remind him.

On the subject of songs what a difference having a catchy sing along anthem like "spirit of the blues" makes

I find myself agreeing with you both as you clarify your positions.

The elephant in the room is the current internal Management of the Club, that give rise to the current situation. I do think the Fans selected the right Manager and gave extraordinary support to get Everton over the line.

But as the Bright Future and Smart thinking article of a few weeks ago shows the current internal Management is determined to stay in place and are embedded in place to do so.

'How Everton's smart planning has built them a bright future – if they survive relegation'. - May 3rd.

That said, before the match on Thursday I hadn't slept well for days (like many Evertonians have described on these pages), going through permutations, wondering whether we'd play well, whether we'd get cheated by officials, etc. I was basically on edge and trying to hide it from my family. At half-time I probably looked a zombie, out of it, thinking that was it.

But then, in the second half, it was just astonishing, and when the third goal went in I just couldn't believe that this great thing was happening to Everton, that we'd pulled back as we seldom do. And then the sheer relief at the whistle, my whole body felt different, and I found myself in tears, a grown man in tears over a game of football.

So you're right, there are big problems to sort out. But, what happened on Thursday is beyond discussing, it just WAS. There's no argument for or against the feelings of misery then joy, they just WERE. That's it, it was a truly joyous occasion to be celebrated in that moment.

.

Stu says we haven't won anything or qualified for the Champions League, yet how many clubs, especially the owners and chairmen, celebrate just qualifying for the Champions League, with its vast fortune? Some clubs would rather qualify for the Champions League than win the FA Cup or League Cup.

For us on Thursday, that was like us qualifying for the Champions League, because to remain in the Premier League and the pot of gold for every club at the end of the season is something we simply cannot afford to miss out on.

It Doesn't Get Better Than That

Sadly, the manner in which it has been badly managed has beaten a generation or 2 into submission and resigned expectations.

This season became about getting it over the line so we can reset.

In the '60s, because we were a big club, Top 3 was expected and a trophy most years. 40 points is a genuine measure of success now because of the money the Premier League brings in.

What we need now is stability, very careful purchases, pray for a miracle, and keep our best players. Frank must now be allowed to clear out his deadwood and turn around the team, I'd hope that he gets less hung up on 5 at the back and just keeps it simple.

Stu, sorry mate, I didn't mean to be picky (but usually am) and understand what you mean. It's just that I associate "demand" with clenched fists and foot stamping... :-)

Here's to next season and our renaissance on the back of the best fans in the country and not a plastic in sight. I'm not the same now but one winter night many years ago, in another year of struggle, I went to a home game by bike from Horsham thinking "What a fan I am!" and I stopped at Oxford Services and met another lad who was also going up on bike but from Bournemouth – and he went every week.

Me too. 1st game I saw was Everton v Arsenal, October 1963. Everton won 2-1, Alex Young and Derek Temple scoring for us if memory serves me right. So I guess my expectations started there.

As I have said, I get the depth of emotions before, during and after the game and the sense of relief that came with it but, after the initial euphoria had died down, my thoughts turned to next season.

I don't want to see us going through a similar situation again – we've been through too many of them… and what had we actually achieved?The right to fight another day!

Just imagine what the fans' reaction would be if the team gave them any success to celebrate!

There is no conflict with this and anything I have ever said as the game has changed completely since Bill's type could be useful, even the Kenwright - Moyes double survival act wouldn't work now.

Football Clubs are big turnover businesses now and have to be run by professionals. Everton is run by amateurs at the very highest level and, until that changes, we will revisit our current situation every year.

We had become an average to small club when Moshiri came in with his money and we have gone down since then. We are effectively broke again now but we've survived.

If only Man City could win against Villa Sunday, I shouldn't say that because surely I would prefer Liverpool to win rather than a Manchester side. This year has really made me look on Liverpool badly because of the media obsession with them, their top Sky Club attitude and the snivelling patronising attitude of the plastic element of some of their fans.

I was aggrieved in a way to have missed Cov 98 (the pouring rain, the transistor radios tuned in to Five Live at Stamford Bridge) but that Palace game knocked it into a cocked hat from what I've seen.

I feel as though going 2-0 down was the best thing that could have happened, as was the case in Wimbledon 94. It gave a clear objective: attack. And Alli is arguably the reason, as much as DCL and Rich that the apocalypse was averted on Thursday.

Anyway, onto Arsenal tomorrow. With nothing on the line we'll probably win, or lose 4-3 in a ridiculous game (as we did 20 years ago at Highbury in the finale to Moyes' "bedding in" at the back end of 01/02. Let's hope Frank (of a similar age) can pull a few surprises as Moyes did in 2002/03.

It's strange how history can repeat. But we want it to repeat for the right reason. So who in your opinion should be first in and first out? The general consensus I'm getting is Gomes / Rondon first out, Tarkowski first in.

Not sure about Tarks TBH, still think we grossly overpaid for Keane. Just want to swerve lower-mid table signings altogether - though I wouldn't say no to Gallagher or Guehi.

ps. These reports did much to inspire me towards a career in sportswriting - strangely though, it was the defeats that did the most to expand my vocabulary and sense of occasion! Such is Evertonian life.

Tony Abrahams sent this. Not to be missed by any Blue in the world. Hair standing on back of neck…

How that wasn't a red for the VAR is an absolute disgrace.

No need to worry about being picky. It's good to have a debate and I'm sure we all want what is best for the club

I agree the club is run by amateurs in what has become a cutthroat big-money business. Just look at the so-called European Super League debacle where the so-called “Big 6” were prepared to sell out the Premier League for personal greed.

I cannot see things improving much at Everton, however, unless we have a change of ownership.

Anthony Taylor, you are an absolute disgrace and completely unfit for purpose. Dark forces indeed.

Every fan at every club at the beginning of each season will hope that his/her club will have a degree of success; unfortunately for every winner there is a loser.

The game on Thursday was basically our Cup Final, the scenes that followed were a celebration of relief, and I don't understand anyone who regards it as anything other than that. It appears that our fans from all around the world appreciate that, and I would say to them, "Multiply your delight X number of times and you will understand the euphoria that enveloped Goodison."

We have experienced many special nights at Goodison over the years but I think that this one was extra-special. I took pleasure from seeing the number of youngsters who were present,

Yes, Rob, some football owners would rather the team finish in 4th place, it's all about the money, and the sad thing about that is the fact the fans buy into it, as witness the attitude of Liverpool fans. Whatever happened to the saying, "First is first, second is nowhere"?

And like you, what struck me was the young fans.

I haven't quite had my time yet as I need that 10th league title and FA Cup. I don't like odd numbers.

Oh and a League Cup. That's always bugged me.

And Europe.

I'll stop now.

I have been banging on about this for ages. The amount of young lads and lasses I see on the train from town to Kirkdale and around Goodison is astounding given our recent history.

Loads of kids will have been hooked on Everton by the events of Thursday night. The lads dancing on the bus shelter by The Brick are just an example of our fanbase which covers all generations.

In 1963, I did what I wish I could have done on Thursday, that was when I trod on the 'Hallowed Turf', but my Grandson Josh represented me on Thursday, while I watched from the Park End.

I have followed Everton since 1978 as a 5-year-old lad (Duncan McKenzie's return to Goodison as a Chelsea player).

I have seen us win leagues, a European trophy, and FA Cups as a teenager and a young 20-something. I cried when Whiteside denied us a treble and when Rush denied us a double and an FA Cup in 1989.

I watched in awe as we dominated the league and Rotterdam as a 12-year-old lad and the fans played footy with the cops. I watched a decimated squad win the league in 1987.

I then watched as we declined into an also-ran and perennial relegation battles in the Premier League era only to watch us take three sides of the ground at Elland Road, destroy Spurs and the media's dream final in 1995. Against all odds, we beat Man Utd to win the FA Cup.

I've watched frustrated as I was told we were punching above our weight, getting to semis and finals and bottling it.

I feel I am qualified to comment on what qualifies as success. I don't want to be celebrating avoiding relegation, especially after the money we have spent. However, what I will say is, what I have witnessed over the last couple of months in terms of support is something I have never experienced before.

Let's not forget, our neighbours have been successful the last 5 years. Our upcoming fanbase could easily have stepped over to the dark side. Yet we have men, women and children of all ages committing their heart to Everton's cause to pull the team up by its bootstraps.

We have secured a fanbase for generations to come with affordable football. And by God, they paid it back in buckets. I had my 16-year-old autistic son with me on Thursday. He came out of that ground with a smile so wide telling me "Wow, that was wild!" One of the best moments of my life.

Yes, we need to make sure it never happens again. Yes, significant changes need to be made. But don't criticise that magnificent fanbase for saving their club.

Seconded, Chris!

Yes, I have seen and spoke about the age of these kids (well, I'm 59, so they are to me). Tears welled up in me by the brick seeing the scenes.

You have to remember West Ham and Chelsea have decent sized fanbases but Frank will never come across this in his life if he makes it on our journey or not.

It's a real quirk and a freak of nature, the amount of kids and young people in this city especially who like my lads have hardly seen a derby win never mind a trophy.

This new ground will make us stronger and I hope Frank and his team do enough to still be around for that. God love Everton. Good luck, Carlo and Man City. See you all soon as.

My dad's last game was the 2-0 FA Cup win against Chelsea which was also my daughter's first game.

Even the Bayern game couldn't compare (for different reasons) with last Thursday. The outpouring of emotion and "we will not lose" attitude was incredible. I feel truly blessed to be a Blue but like the chosen one to have attended the game against Palace.

Then I swapped emotions with the Evertonian taxi driver who dropped me off at a pub behind St George's Hall. I think it was Doctor Duncan's but didn't look. The atmosphere was still going there for a good while.

They replayed the match and people were still acting as though it was live.

Unbelievable. We literally painted the city blue.

My guess is that any young person in the city, and possibly well beyond, not yet committed to a team and wondering who they should support, will have looked at the scenes over the last few weeks, the thrills, the cliff-hangers, Thursday's lows and highs, the camaraderie, the emotion, and will have made his or her mind up.

We might even have had a few converts from somewhere else. And anybody wavering would have had their convictions strengthened.

During the Palace game, it was at times eery up to half time, seeing the meccano ground over Stanley Park, and the sunset with the sky going red, and Everton struggling to get a grip on the match.

Old Nick spawning, passed through my mind, and I then thought about the old saying about the “Red Sky at Night, Shepherds delight”.

And thus was a majestic evening that ran into Friday morning, and sadly work.

What happened in the second half on the pitch and in the stadium, is immortal, what's been happening the last six weeks at Finch Farm with the Everton coach send offs, and at Goodison Park, is Everton Folklore.

I'm proud, to be an Evertonian, regardless of the shit Creek of a season, and this campaign in adversity has tempered the belief and hope for the future.

I've no doubt it's gonna be a very tough ride next season, all considered based on what we are told about the clubs finances etc, and potential sales of key players.

But the Sprit of Evertonians, of all ages and across the world, has provided the club with the most priceless commodity of the most loyal, fervent and gracious supporters in Football, with a lifetime guarantee.

The Everton Band of Brothers, Sisters, - the greatest..

“Whats Our Name?”

UTFT!

I hope Josh is still buzzing.

Watching back the footage. Players on the pitch with the fans belting out the songs in unity. Richarlison climbing amongst the crowd and making his way back down through the supporters. Frank with his arm around a supporter (I presume) looking down from the Main Stand, singing along with him to Spirit of the Blues.

Look at the footage in the changing room and how he has unified those previously fragile players.

No other club. We've got the best supporters in any football ground as long as they're behind us, as the words go.

Forever Everton.

Can't be posted often enough... here's to the next 1878!

Sitting so far away (for now) gives a little more perspective but also great pride and sadness on occasions such as these. A few observations I would make though:

1. The fans, for the past 10 years or so, many on here and other sites have commented that our fanbase was now mostly made up of "the older generation". Well, that myth got well and truly blown out of the water on Thursday night, so many youngsters and teenagers will never forget that night. Our future fan base has arrived!

2. "Never again", is the call I see and hear from the likes of the Echo, but where have they been in the last 20 years? When questions should have been made of the club and its management? The seeds of this season were planted all these years ago and have been allowed to grow unchecked.

3. A season like no other deserves to be wiped from our memory, but weeks and weeks ago, I said the time for an inquest is when we are safe. That the only topic of conversation should be supporting the team – which, my God, the fans did this club proud. What sights we have seen, made me cry with pride and homesickness.

4. The door to an inquest has been opened, not by us fans, but by two clubs, Burnley and Leeds, both now forever, and I mean forever, tainted by trying to take legal action. If they are going to do that, then every single club, top to bottom, has to be investigated the same way. It's never going to happen. But...

This is the kicker. For around 16 years, I have posted on this site my views on how badly the senior management and executives have run this club. We have been lied to, disrespected, ignored, but none of that mattered compared to the gross mismanagement both prior to Moshiri and more pointedly since.

The current claims by other clubs would, if successful, destroy for many years the respect, the standing and history of our club. It would also destroy FFP as a construct, no matter how false, as a concept. Its bias towards high-turnover clubs is built-in, any action should be taken against its in-built bias. But any action against the club would be the sole responsibility of its owner and board.

The years of Sir Philip Carter and Co and shady finance loans, 'Shadow Director' claims and such. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This road had only good intentions planned for a few, not the many. If the current threat of action goes ahead and is successful, it would be the most condemning confirmation of mismanagement of a club. Even if it is not successful, which is highly unlikely, the very thought of it should be enough to ensure the current executive stand down. I say 'should be'...

So, Thursday night proved again to me, we own this club. Not on paper perhaps, but every soul who was there, every supporter in faraway lands, everyone who has died and left a seat empty in the stands... If emotion and love for a club was a currency, we would be the richest people on this planet.

Let me tell you, in this bottom-of-the-world country, as far away as you can get from Goodison Park, the events and crowd scenes were shown on national news... and let's face it soccer has comes pretty low down the list of newsworthy sports here in New Zealand, but it made even the Kiwis sit up! Proud to be a blue!

Lampard has a tough job ahead and he will need every bit of that support. But, despite the pain of this year, new legends are being born.

I'm afraid I would've had to walk it in, I'm walking like an old man now. I first brought Josh to the match when he was six years old and he will be 18 in September, now it's his turn to look after me. I would like to bring him to the next get together at The Bramley Moore if God spares me.

Happy that you and Josh both got to see the game and Josh got on the pitch. Really wish I would have been there but my brother was there. I saw both the 1985 and 1987 Champion teams but not old enough to have seen the 1963 and 1970 title winners.

Out of the 4 title-winning teams, where would you place them in order 1-4?

Also would be interested to know what your best 11 would be from those 4 title-winning teams. My son is the same age as Josh and I hope one day he can see Everton win a League Title. Hope you are doing well and love to hear you attending games with your grandson.

Allan, who didn't play, happy as a lark.

Mina jumping around like a schoolboy absolutely thrilled.

Michael Keane belting out Sprit of the Blues with the crowd.

Calvert-Lewin mobbed by fans tilting his head back and bellowing a war-like victory scream.

Richarlison smiling – that doesn't happen all too often.

Ben Godfrey shirtless absolutely overjoyed.

The two Scouse boys in Gordon and Davies just completely on Cloud Nine.

Players who've taken a helluva lot of stick, absolutely Blue as Blue can be, celebrating with a pitch invasion peaceful mob.

The players wanted this, starters, subs, those who are injured, those who didn't dress, they all wanted it.

It was really cool to see Everton touch them and how they wanted the Club to survive because they care.

And everyone one of them, to a man, said the fans were the catalyst. Just awesome.

Anyway, I'm leaving for the coach to Arsenal soon, for a stress-free day out. See you down there, Danny.

COYB… and Pep and Carlo!

Its like having blue balls for 9 months then the relief or having a supermodel waiting at home every night just because you have a few quid in the bank.

I'll leave it upto ToffeeWeb to decide...