Nice read, though despite declaring from the start they will not be patronising, it inevitably ends up sounding that way.

We?re forever getting good press for ?punching above our weight? etc. Hopefully we can finally have something to show for it.

COYB!

Didn’t agree with us being described as a semi-big club, but apart from that the sentiment was there...

The Daily Mail's Hatchet Man hits out at Everton yet again... First it was Jags picked out above all other Sheffield Utd ex-players for looking to sue for compensation out of West Ham.

Second was earlier this week on the back of the MOTD attack on Fellaini's elbows and how he must be brught to justice (as he's obviously the only player ever to use his arms for leverage).

And today we have Moyes and the whole team being attacked...

'Moyes rant over referee Riley will fire up Fergie as Manchester United face Everton'

David Moyes isn't exactly subtle is he? In typical Everton style, he dug into referee Mike Riley ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United like a playground bully.

He must hope that finding a way of accusing the official of being a United fan will mean his overly-physical side get away with putting the boot in at Wembley. But he will have done well if he ends up out-manoeuvring Sir Alex Ferguson on this one. Apart from the fact that Moyes' tactic is childish and has become cliched, having a dig at the referee in the build-up to the match will almost certainly bring a more effective outburst from Fergie. Moyes tried it earlier in the season and it just looks desperate.

I actually emailed a response for one of the first time's ever but it's yet to appear. The Mail is easily the most irritating paper out there and this column is the arse end of it.

I agree with your point Danny Broderick. I have just listened to interviews on Sky Sports News that I have found totally patronizing. Firstly, Alex Ferguson saying Everton are a big club despite the fat spanish waiter saying we are a small club. For Alex Ferguson who has been in the English top division and played Everton god knows how many times to call us just a big club is very patronizing.

He also said David Moyes has been building a big club over the last 5 years (everyone knows it's 7) Ferguson must be aware of Everton's history. Full respect to Jon O?Shea though who described Sunday's game as a match between 2 massive football clubs.

Speaking of O'Shea, I would not mind seeing him here next year. A top notch defender who can fill in anywhere at the back and midfield. EFC 2 Man Utd 1 on Sunday. 5 quid on it at 16/1.

Don?t be so senstitive guys. if we?re not a semi-big club what are we? Our attendances & buying power is exceeded by Newcastle, Spurs, Sunderland, Aston Villa, ManCity etc, and that?s without listing the Sky 4.

Some people are especially graceful & generous (e.g. O?Shea, but Joe Cole has said many good things about us in the past). But why hide from the truth. Our history reveals a great domestic club and, until about 1990, one of the big clubs.

Afraid that all changed with the start of the premier league. We have skirted with relegation numerous times and, until Moyes arrived, languished below half way almost every season.

There was nothing whatsoever patronising about the article, nor about Ferguson?s comments. Alex Ferguson is frequently generous about both Everton and David Moyes. We are not a big club any more. That doesn?t mean we can?t be and we do show signs of re-joining the elite. But get real. Factor in gate receipts, sponsorship, TV money prize money, and Champions League money and you will see the point.

However you cut the cake, we are the underdog. Too many Evertonians living on glories from decades back. We are on an upward curve and have done brilliantly to be where we are. It may get better, but enjoy the moment for what it is. There are at least 14 clubs in the EPL who are envious of us, not because we are big, but because we are good.

Rich Pemberton wrote "The Daily Mail?s Hatchet Man hits out at Everton yet again!" ? As it was the Daily Mail I?m surprised that they haven?t accused us of being gypsies/asylum seekers/single parents/dole scum/communists....

Never trust a paper that was sympathetic towards Oswald Mosley and the Blackshirts in the 1930s and had an owner, Lord Rothermere, who was a friend and supporter of Hitler and Mussolini....

in a similar vain, it was nice to hear Alex Ferguson assert that we are a big club "despite what Rafa says, in his arrogance."

Did I mention I’ve always liked old Fergie? ;)

Alain Kirwin - Spot on! Of course it all depends how you define "Big Club" and the debate will rage on since many people define it in different ways, but if we define it on the criteria that you listed, which makes a whole load of sense to me, then I defy many to disagree with your comments.

Upward curve is good enough for me for the moment, let’s hope that curve becomes trophies soon.

I can remember travelling up to Elland Rd with a couple of Spurs supporting colleagues in 95. We?d spent a couple of seasons floundering around the bottom of the table and all they talked about was how much bigger than us Spurs were, I simply replied "We?ll see..."

I can still remember their faces when they saw the incredible support Everton had all over the city, we had thousands and thousands locked out and it was even better inside we must have outnumbered them 3/4 to 1.

After taking their spanking, my Spurs colleagues were forced to admit they had never seen support like ours. I had ? who amongst us could forget Rotterdam? To say Everton are a "semi-big club" is idiotic.

We have just come out of the possibly darkest period in our club's history... but, unlike "Spurs, Newcastle, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Manchester City etc" we had our bad times in the Prem. Of all these "big clubs", only Villa come anywhere near close to matching Everton's tradition ? we?ve won more than the rest of them put together.

These clubs have had shrewd chairmen ? Hall and Ellis ? who built their stadiums up while our chairman was fucking up the Kings Dock and letting the GP capacity shrink, but that does not make them bigger.

Everton's away support is regarded amongst the best in the country. The clamour for tickets from Blues everywhere for tomorrow's game is evident. Just look a the difference between the prices the touts are charging for the Everton section to the prices they can charge for the Manure end?

The giant that is Everton will be awakened this weekend. Mark my words, huge pockets of Evertonians will be in the Man United section of Wembley on Sunday, we will outnumber the biggest club on earth. Evertonians are passionate and unlike the Mancs who may want to be there, Evertonians will HAVE to be there.

Semi-big club? Utter bollocks, our club may have been badly managed off the park down the years but it is a Monster with a worldwide fanbase that dwarfs the win-fuck-all clubs listed above.

Just read the Daily Star and a super article points out the same facts re the Champions League and the F A Cup.

Tim Taylor - nothing wrong with reading the Express (and thanks for this link - very interesting) but quite right not to buy it. And Richard Harris - I agree about the Mail, but similarly, know the enemy.

Speaking of which, I have never knowingly given money to the Murdock empire - Sky, Sun or even the moon if he owns it. That’s my choice of course, and a very small step against the monstrous march of the mafia that has hijacked our game.

The Mail really is the pits LOL. Express not that far behind. And I must be the same age as you Keith ?cause I never gave a penny to Murdoch either yet.

I just thought it was one of the better articles I?ve seen in the national press recently, seemed pretty heartfelt, and for most of what I would call the "right" reasons.

That Spurs semi at Elland Road is still one of my all time favourite games, purely for the way it stuck 2 fingers to the then current media orthodoxy. I can remember them now on the BBC beforehand "...Spurs.. blah blah blah... beautiful football... blah blah blah.. style blah blah blah..."... "Everton....blah blah blah.... dogs of war... blah blah blah... hard working... blah blah blah..." and we absolutely creamed them. Eat my goal (to coin a phrase from Alan Partridge). The look on their crestfallen little faces afterwards still makes me smile.

COYB!

Dave Wilson!!
fkin ell.. I agree with ya!! (glad I?m writing this sitting down)... enjoy the day out or 2 days if yer staying over..

You're right about the touts... latest info is there's around 50 tickets for the Everton end which they won't sell until Sunday coz they're like gold dust! They want £250 for them... Conversly there are around 500 in the Manc end going for around £110.

I always expected to outnumber them (as we did in 95) but I agree with your sentiment that this club is on the crest of something big here and we shouldn?t be afraid to take on the so called big boys. When it matters and where it matters, our support is second to none!!!

ONWARD EVERTONIANS!!!
(FOR ANY GOBSHITE READING THIS, THE CITY?S ALL YOURS... COZ WE?RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!!