ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Seeing is believing

I have been watching Everton since the early 70's, more years than I care to remember! In that time there have been many highs and too many lows.

For most of that time, if I am honest, I have travelled more in hope than any other emotion (apart from despair). The only exception was the mid 80s. League titles, cup finals and magical nights in Europe... marvellous.

Having spent most of the 70s and early 80s hoping for better times, the success of the subsequent years took some time to get used to. I just didn't expect us to win games, let alone whole competitions! I think I just about got there when it was suddenly all over.

Since then the FA cup in 95 has provided some silverware (more than most see in a lifetime) but I have all too quickly reverted to my 70's mindset; not expecting too much, not expecting us to win.

This season has changed my mindset back to that of the 80s. I now expect us to win every game. Of course we won't, but that's not the point.

The bar has been well and truly raised. We only need one trophy and I think more will follow. If it's not this season it will be next; but City twice is definitely on as is 4th. I believe again!
Steve Guy, Harrogate Posted 27/02/2008 at 20:16:17

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Stefan Tosev
1 Posted 27/02/2008 at 22:23:01

I am too young to remember the 80s, I was used to 90s and Moyes gave me the belief that we can achieve some success

He has his limitations but for me he is our best signing this decade.

Dan Parker
2 Posted 27/02/2008 at 22:36:52

I think we can now all safely say, In Moyes We Trust..

Jim Potter
3 Posted 27/02/2008 at 22:31:13

Good to see some optimists and pro Moyes voices speaking up. I often think it just takes one defeat (no matter what has preceded that game) for the anti-Moyes brigade to pipe up. What planet are they on? Can they not see what a fantastic job the man is doing on limited funds?! He is Godlike ... almost... but I’ll worship him any way!

Rob Gegenheimer
4 Posted 27/02/2008 at 23:04:06

I too have been a fan since 1970. I could not agree more with you Steve, I know exactly how you feel. While I may not be ready to expect us to win just yet, its certainly better now when you go in to any game (even against the big three and the shite) and feel you can win.

Martin Cutler
5 Posted 27/02/2008 at 23:55:32

I’ve been a fan since 1968 (jeez!)....

and all I can say is that:
IN MOYES WE TRUST
I firmly believe, I’ve stated it several times already on here, that we can win the UEFA Cup...in fact the only team I fear is Spurs although even them we can beat.

COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Hartle
6 Posted 27/02/2008 at 23:31:34

Good shout Steve.

My initiation was 1970,and the tears and hardship that followed that title winning side.
Then the glory times again, and the unforgetable trip to Rotterdam.
(and how the shite wrecked that dream)

Now, I'm getting that same buzz, that we can take anyone at this moment in time.

My take on these pathetic refereeing decisions is that DM is using them to motivate this side even further.
The more they try and keep us out of our rightful place, the more we come back stronger!

Let the good times roll!!!

Rob Jones
7 Posted 28/02/2008 at 01:38:02

I just want to say I have been watching the Blues every game since the 95-96 season and I have only ever missed a home game until this year because my job has taken me to America. It really kills to hear the team doing so well in a good way and its the first season I am missing becuase all I have ever watched is the poor football of the last few years untill the Moyes took over.

I have always had faith in Moyes; at times I have wondered but ever since he got the job I knew he could push us on to where we are now.

I wish I could watch more of this season; if we go to City twice, I'll defo be there.

Gerry Quinn
8 Posted 28/02/2008 at 02:08:24

I am celebrating my 50th year as an Evertonian and in all of that time I have never felt so proud as I do today with what I am seeing slowly but surely being built by Moysie. Over all those years many players have come and gone and just when we knew it "felt right" in the mid-80?s it was cruelly denied us.

I can?t explain exactly what it is about this team and this set-up being moulded by Moysie, but I am getting much more than a warm glow of pride inside of me making me believe that pretty soon the "feel right" factor will be back again.

Although a castaway in Houston for the last 7 years, I still trawl through every different Everton website and say to myself that if ever a set of fans deserved a successful team built in the way that Moysie has done, then it has to be the Everton fan - based on humour, patience (lots of), loyalty, and pride - not money alone.

Give yourselves a pat on the head lads ? and the "feel right" factor is on its way...

Sean Condon
9 Posted 28/02/2008 at 04:57:49

The optimism is definitely rising around these parts, I see. Steve, i?ve been a fan since ?74 (got an EFC kit with Tommy Wright?s number, an Everton record and a Subbuteo set for my 4th b?day and it was all over) and you more or less express my sentiments to the word.

I was nearly crying on Monday night, so moving was the performance. I thought that, in some way, this kinda made up for what happened at Ewood.

Fantastic to read comments like those above.
Stefan: DM is our best signing since Ballie.

...and that was beautiful, Gerry.
COYB!!!

John Sreet
10 Posted 28/02/2008 at 07:23:41

I just about remember the 50s side, Peter Farrell and all but they weren?t up to much, the 60s and 70s were good with 6 or 7 teams in with a chance of the title, the 80s brilliant, the best team of the decade. Only the 90s have been difficult escaping relegation etc.
Thing is in these days when only money buys and builds a team, love him or hate him David Moyes has done something exceptonal. Made his mistakes (but which manager hasn?t). It reminds me a little of that Scot who came to a ?never do anything? rubbish team in the early sixties, Bill Shankly, he went on to set the foundations and create a dynasty which sadly still stands today.
A difficult comparison I know, and probably not welcomed, but with very little by today?s standards, he has us competing at a real high level, I hope he can take us up one more and we can really compete at the very highest level, not easy but maybe, just maybe.
I know he has his critics, but which other manager with meagre resources has made the impact Moyes has with Everton.

Patty Beesley
11 Posted 28/02/2008 at 11:45:39

My first "real" match was watching Everton play Chelsea in 1957 at Goodison where Jimmy Greaves made his debut for Chelsea and our own Dave Hickson, a mere whipper snapper of a lad, ran riot and didn?t the crowd love him. We won 3 - 0 that day and I was accompanied by an RAF lad from Battersea who was a huge Chelsea Supporter.

Dave King, the then very popular comedian who was appearing at the Empire Theatre, sat in front of me flanked either side by two glamorous showgirls. Aren?t memories great!! After that I always had a buzz about Everton which has steadily grown and grown over the years to an extent where they have almost taken over!!!

Hey Gerry, you aren?t the same Gerry Quinn that used to go dancing at the New Brighton Tower are you?

Gerry Quinn
12 Posted 28/02/2008 at 13:09:02

Patty,
Sorry to disappoint, Crosby born and raised. To be honest, the only dancing I ever did was in 1963, 1966, 1970, 1984, 1985 (Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Twist, Funfy Chicken) and 1987....and soon to "Caramba" in 2008!
It’s always good to hear all the stories of players we watched....my favourite Alex Young against West Ham when he took on their defence in a mazy dribble, put his foot on and then under the ball and humped it over their goalie, Jim Standen - the fans immediately started singing "Standen on the goaline watching all the goals go by...." - brilliant memories.