FANS COMMENT

The Insidious Culture of Mediocrity

It's half-time and I trudge up the stairs in the Top Balcony, seething with anger at the pitiful performance I had witnessed as we a handed a very average but well-organised Blackburn team a 3-goal lead. I stop to look around at the groups gathered around the refreshment areas and am struck by how many are made up of smiling, joking, cheerful chappies. What they were talking about I couldn't tell - but what else was there to talk about? And in what other terms could you discuss it other than passion and anger? But it isn't like that anymore.

There seem to be too many people at the game for the 'Premiership experience' or something, who actually do think "it's just a game". Well, it isn't: for a few of us it's at the very core of our lives, a defining feature of who we are and where we come from. Ten years ago, this team would have been booed off the pitch and Moyes pilloried for what he is. Now, we just accept things and scurry on Lemming-like to leap over the cliff of the next false-dawn and stunted cup-run.

I am annoyed by many of the players, whose effort ill-matches their ludicrous remuneration; infuriated by Moyes and his stubborn, negative, minimal aspiration mentality; but most of all I am angered by the hordes of 'fans' who accept it all and don't care.

Moyes has not a single cup-run to his credit. He has recorded the lowest ever points total in an Everton season. The lowest number of goals in a season. A worse overall record than Walter Smith. He has no concept of how teams actually attack and score goals and his repetitive gesture of contempt towards the fans when transfer time looms is typical of the man.

If anyone retains doubts about him his nonsensical post-match comments say it all. This wasn’t a “funny game” this was a blindingly wretched summation of his negativity and stubborn inability to recognise what was obvious for 20,000 Evertonians. Oh for a breath of honesty and contrition — “Sorry, fans, that performance was rubbish and we apologise for it…” Take a leaf out of Neil Warnock’s comments after Sheffield United’s humiliating cup defeat. If we had any pride there would now be a crescendo of anger demanding that he goes now. But we won't and his departure will inevitably be at the time of his choosing, not the club's.

Finally, if any of you out there are minded to respond "he hasn't been given the money", "we are moving in the right direction", "we are just a couple of players short of a great team" (...or even "I think James Beattie will come good"!!!), please do seek some kind of professional help. Self-delusion is a debilitating and dangerous pre-cursor of more serious mental problems.

"Nil satis nisi optimum". What a joke. Anyone know the Latin for "any old crap will do for this set of mugs"?

Responses:

I think the phrase you are looking for is "Quaecumque vetus purgamentum volo satio id plebis levus", loosly translated (no Latin for crap, presumeably because they hadn't had to endure the 90 minutes that we did on Sunday).
Plastic Scouse

We could change the motto to "Quodlibet Satis" which simply means "anything at all will do"
Jim Lynch

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