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Fans Comment
Media Mafia
When are the broadcast media going to get off Everton's back and give them the credit they deserve for what they have done this season? As a journalist and broadcaster myself, I listen and cringe at some of the rubbish that is pouring from the mouths of commentators and pundits. There I was listening to the oh so self-opinionated Alan Green on the World Service here in Oz, ready to savour the Derby win when he said: "This will put Everton on 36 points, Jimmy (Armfield), three more and they'll be safe." I could not believe it. Nothing about Everton going second, closing the gap on Chelsea, extending the huge gap over the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle. Nothing above all about Everton's achievement based on spending 50p, compared to the club's around them and their millions. What's worse is the 'Green attitude' is catching. On SBS television over here they have a pundit called Tony Palumbo an Italian. His reaction to the Everton win and reaching second place "It won't last". What does he base that on? Take a look at the evidence and amazing as it might be for we Evertonians to grasp, but it really can last, such is the team spirit and organisation that David Moyes has built. Two years ago during the season of the magnificent 7th, I was living in Singapore. Same thing there as Everton produced the results, all the pundits could do was talk about when the run would end, how injuries and a small squad would catch up with the team. As we now know, it didn't. As I was musing on this wave of negative and unfair reporting, my mind harked back to the Nottingham Forest team of the Brian Clough era. I seem to recall that team was given similar treatment when it was promoted to the old First Division and won the title against the odds. That then just reinforces my belief that Everton really can stay up there to the end of the season and will make the Greens of this world eat their words. I recall he once was so insulting about Joe Royle when he was manager at Man City, Joe was, very unusually for him, prompted to respond in print. He suggested Alan Green should hold his next birthday party in a phone box, such was his lack of regard within the game. It saddens me when broadcasters can not give credit where credit is due. I suspect they have their own agendas. Personally I will continue to savor Sunday mornings here in Australia when my five year old son comes into the bedroom and whispers, "Dad, how did Everton do?" And of course I say, "They won Dan, they won." And I hope that will stick in the pundits throats for the rest of this season and many more to come.
Richard Ewart
2004 ToffeeWeb |
