Well hats off to ya. Pub just out side the ground. Meet ya there.

Great to hear an honest, independent viewpoint.
When moaning, we just like to air our frustration at times.
Please continue to visit site now & then.

Typical British attitude to moan when you guys probably remain upbeat. We're not called whingeing Poms by the Aussies for nothing!

Just remember, James, some of us have families who have been following this club since 1878. My father's ashes are on the side of the pitch at Goodison Park.

That's the thing that really struck Landon when he came over here, the passion. It really isn't just a game. For many of us it's life.

Landon wanted to express to his father just what the game was like here. He really struggled to do so because it is such a unique experience.

Glad you enjoy the site. You've got the making of a real Evertonian.

Hi James, welcome aboard the whacky wonderful mogedon- fuelled ship that is TW — glass half empty? where's the fuckin glass, I can't see one!

One of the things that you've obviously picked up on is that the club's skint (as they say in this part of the world) and one of the areas that can be improved, mainly because it couldn't get much worse, is our commercial department.

One of the ideas is to buy Donovan, even though we can't afford him, on the back of a massive publicity campaign in the States, raising the awareness of both Everton and football in the States. But mainly to 'do a Ronaldo' (Real Madrid recouped the transfer fee on merchandising).

Therefore, as you’re our man in the States, could you see a publicity campaign taking off, even to the point of people wearing Donovan shirts, that have little interest in football similar to the people we see over here wearing baseball and basketball regalia?

Give it another year or so James, and you'll be constantly tearing your hair out in frustration like the rest of us. Optimism and Evertonians go together like sugar and horse shit.

David, I live in the US (I actually live about an hour from Dumfries, where it says James is from.) I see a kid wearing a Donovan jersey around my college all the time. Hopefully, we can sign him and that phenomenon will take off.

People do wear football jerseys over here fairly often. It's usually one of the Sky 4 or Barca, Real Madrid, AC, Inter, etc. It's unfortunate but those are the easy teams to root for.

If Everton sign him right after the World Cup, I could see a marketing campaign taking off. Soccer (I only called it that because we're talking about America) is going to be big here this summer. People who normally wouldn't watch the sport are excited about the World Cup. I imagine that after the tournament, people will want to find a club to support. That's when to advertise so hopefully PR will get on that.

James, you've been lucky so far because our form has been very good since Donovan came and left. This time last year all seemed rosey having finished 5th and made it to a cup final. I won't tell you what happened next because I think you'll get to experience it for yourself this summer.

Get ready to visit your doctor for some blood pressure medication.

James, I'd be interested to know where Landon Donovan is in the scheme of things in the States. How important is the World Cup? Do you think that it is worth Everton trying to build a fan base there?

Thanks James, I've enjoyed reading your contributions over the last few months and would never have guessed you were a new blue on the evidence of your posts. That is what excites me, you see... that there are 'New Blues'.

Being a true blue, I didn't choose this. For me it was a family thing as I was born in Liverpool to a bluenose family with not a red in sight.

When I was about nine, my family moved to Dublin (Irish mother) and I was dually enrolled in school, in a class of glory hunting Manure fans. Being the new English kid in school was tough enough. Being the new English kid that supported the worst team in the Premier League was shit (91-98).

But, when I think about it now, it was something that gave me a great sense of identity. Everton became symbolic of my home, my family, and my own personal underdog story.

Goodison on its day is a place like no other and I urge you to go. I promise you that after the 90 minutes you will feel a shift. You will be a TRUE BLUE.
COYB and Fuck Utd.

David Hallwood - The glass is always half-full Brother, never the other way round. And David, please don't tell me you only see the glass half-full when it's actually full.

Regarding Landon and money potential. For sure they could make the few million he'd cost. Really, he's already known as a Toffee in the States. And haven't we had in here EFC transplants State-side and even in China mentioning Americans they meet know EFC because DM signed Landon. I even recall somewhere here mentioning be surrounded by Yanks right there at Goodison once Landon was signed. How good would he be across a whole EPL season? Real good. Trust me; playing with a variety of scorers and ball-handling artists during the loan was one long wet-dream-come-true for Landon, after having to carry teams for most of his career. The constant double and triple team pressure off him. He wants to come back and everyone will love him.

Most here expect (and by expect, I mean fervently hope) he's in his last season with Galaxy. I'd go so far as to say he'd also generate merchandising sales right there in England. He really does have the charisma. Wait until he settles in.

Anyway, I see every reason EFC could make the money back pretty quickly or even cut a deal with Galaxy getting the profits up to some certain cut-off point.

Incidentally, no doubt Ronaldo generates many millions for Real Madrid. But they've already made back the ENTIRE price paid ManU, just on Ronaldo merchandise? I'd have to see the ledger proving that. Not to take away from their intelligent use of marketing and merchandising. EFC can do the same with Landon. Not to mention Cahill in Oz and Pienaar in SA. The money's out there.

Of course, we have to win. We have to win. Nothing sells like winning. Any country, any sport. Win. We have the team to do it.

Alan - I know it's been mostly good in the sort time I've followed. Let's not forget, though, that the reason is we've got a talented team. Next season, Oh Boy!!

Andy Crooks. Well, Landon is our singular star, if that's what you're asking. People in general know who he is, even though soccer is just leaving the crawl phase and entering the walk phase. For an American player in America, that's pretty significant.

Our 2002 WC showing was really our first big jump forward for the game and Landon was right in the middle of that (at 20 years old, no less). It took our whole country by surprise (except us diehards who knew we had a quality squad and a great manager in Arena) and Landon's star went straight up. I don't know if that answers your question, but he's the only really-well known American soccer player in America.

Is the 2010 WC big over here? It'll be the biggest yet. ESPN will spend more money and time promoting the Games than on any event they've ever covered. So, you know when the big boys are investing the big money......

Regarding EFC, Pat Finegan brought up an interesting point about Landon and EFC promotion in the States. He said, "People do wear football jerseys over here fairly often. It's usually one of the Sky 4 or Barca, Real Madrid, AC, Inter, etc. It's unfortunate but those are the easy teams to root for".

See, people here know the big teams because of their winning traditions. But no team has attempted to plant their Colors; not ManU, Real Madrid, etc. None of them. I think Everton would garner a major following here real easy and fast if they signed Donovan back. Don't forget, he wants to come back to EFC, not just any team in the EPL. EFC.

How's this: EFC starts a website called "New Everton" in some kind of italicized, old English font, in a long, curving arc over a replica of an American flag, except instead of our white stars on a blue background in the upper left-hand corner, there we put the EFC colors instead. Pretty cool, eh? We even get to keep the white on blue of that section of the flag.

That's right, America, soccer-wise, is now New Everton. Claim the whole place right up front. Big idea. Bold move. Very American. We have "New" states named for someplace English; York, Hampshire, and Jersey. Hell, the whole northern-east part of the country is called New England. So here's an ancient Anglo-American tradition carried on. New Everton.

Anyone's invited on the site of course, but it's aimed at selling Donovan (at least initially) because he's the obvious way to bring people in. Now the team has to win. There's no getting around that. But we have the team to do so and, again, Landon WANTS to be a Blue. So, I think it's very doable.

John Daly - I have little enough hair as it is. Besides, yeah I've been in here for only a half-season. But I've seen the same games as you, saw the same results. We should have garnered at least 10 more points. Frustrating? Of course. But I see a team on the verge of a big move up next season. You might see it another way and I won't argue if you do. But we BOTH want my view to be the correct one. And I think it can be. What the hell.

Oh and JD, on how well sugar and horseshit go together, I'll just assume you know best.