Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
The Sweet Smell of Great Sorrow
By Dave Wilson :: 14/07/2011
34 Comments (»Last)
I really enjoyed the article submitted by James Martin the other day, I did'nt agree with everything in "I`d rather keep rags" but I found his contempt for the Nouveau Riche funny and his approach to the game in general, refreshingly honest. Unfortunately some readers rounded on him. To his credit James has stood his ground, labling his detrators elitists... was he right?
I always kind of cringe when I hear the more "mature" blue berate the younger fans, My first reaction is to think "shit" "do I sound like that?" I guess we all get a little less patient and a little more selective with the memory as we get older, that's natural, but I`ve noticed growing tendency for Evertonians of a "certain vintage" to want to place the blame for the clubs current plight at the doorstep of the youngsters.
"They`re a new breed of Evertonian"; they are too "easily pleased" . Apparently this "new breed" epitomise everything wrong with our club, not only do they "accept mediocrity" they apparently want to applaud it! ... "It wouldn't have happend in our day!!"
I'm chuckling to myself as I write this, because I could be talking about every matchgoer I`ve ever known since the mid-sixties, including me. And it's absolute bollocks.
"Seventh may be good enough for the "new breed" but thats not MY Everton" ... Really? What about the Seventies?
Despite starting the decade as runaway Champions, we spent the next nine seasons nearly drowning in our own mediocrity. Sure we had some good players: Dobbo and Dave Thomas were top notch, Duncan really was magic, and "Lee's Robots" ? as they were christened by the media ? did threaten to stifle every other team in the league but, for most of the decade, we were absolutely dire. By the end of the seventies, we were so desperate for even the tiniest spark of success we celebrated the Latchford's 30th goal as if we`d won the fucken Champions League. While the shite were rampaging around Europe, we were scraping poxy draws against the likes of Altringham... Altringham !?
"He's searching for the memory of a lost paradise."
"In his youth or a dream, he can't be precise."
"He's chained forever to a world that's departed"
"It's not enough, it's not enough"
And so to the eighties, Halcyon days ? I'll get to them ? but we still managed to finish OUTSIDE the top six more times than we finished in it. If the seventies were bad, they were nothing in comparison to the first 3½ years of the eighties, we may not have beaten the shite for seven years, but at least they hadn't twatted us 5-0 on our own midden. Crowds dropped, our manager, captain and central midfielder were all the same guy, even back then then we were scratching around for players, Blackburn's center half was brought in on a lone deal and boy did we pay.
They say the darkest hour is just before dawn, but fuck me, this was taking the piss... leaflets screaming "THIRTY THOUSAND STAY-AWAY FANS CANT BE WRONG" blew around the streets of Goodison. Kendall bore the look of a haunted man... who can forget the look on his face as the 12,000 or so who had bothered their arses to turn up, howled their derision as his team left the pitch after a desperate 0-0 draw with Coventry?
Thankfully, Kendall was able to turn things around and, for an all-too-fleeting period, we were kings. Unfortunately Colin Harvey ? Mister Everton in many people's eyes ? was unable to continue the success. Our decline was gradual to begin with, but we were soon to find ourselves hurtling towards the wrong end of the table. Years were spent flirting with disaster. We finished outside the top six NINE times during the nineties.
Everton don't do dynasties ? I read that on ToffeeWeb. We were once the biggest, once the best, once the prettiest and once most successful. But those days are gone. Modern-day glory-hunters give Everton a very wide berth... but we are STILL amongst the four most succesful teams in England.
I suppose that's why I was so gutted to hear young Adam (Cunliffe) and Doddy both express a lack of hope this week. I would urge them to keep the faith; study our history, Everton are different, we ARE unique. Our successes have often come when we least expecting them. When the wise and the knowledgeable were confidently predicting a duel between Shankly's Reds and Leeds for the 1970 title, we stunned them all by running away with it playing football fit for the gods.
Remember we only won our last title after enduring a summer of handringing despair and when Joe Royle took over with the simple instructions to avoid the drop, nobody dreamed we would be parading the cup through the city a few months later.
We've always been the same, even in the thirtys we came from another county to win the title . . twice
This is who Everton are. If there is an Everton Way, this is it. We've never made an appointment to win a trophy, nobody sees us coming, we've often come from much darker places than the one we are in now to win silverware ? ask Howard Kendall.
Ignore the grumpy arl men, Some of them seem to have forgotten the waiting they have endured, perhaps the painful memories were erased by the sheer joy and elation they felt when they finally saw an Everton captain hold a trophy above his head.
Never give up hope, boys... never.
Reader Comments (34)
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2 Posted 15/07/2011 at 03:28:14
I enjoyed the read.
3 Posted 15/07/2011 at 03:44:33
I think the current set up of the EPL and football in general makes it harder than ever for a club to storm the Championship.
I'm 25 and I'd follow us if we were in the third division but that doesn't mean I don't demand the club does everything in its power to win trophies.
But considering our current plight I'll keep hoping for us to be the dark horses that nobody saw coming.
4 Posted 15/07/2011 at 03:33:53
I was introduced to Everton Football Club in the early sixties by my father Len Hartley. Now if ever a one-eyed Evertonian walked this earth, it was him ? God rest his soul.
Many people forget that, despite the fact that we were then the "Merseyside Millionaires", the great Harry Catterick (God rest his soul also) introduced many of the Everton Academy players into his two great teams. Here is a list of a few of them:
Alan Whittle
Jimmy Husband
Tommy Wright
John Hurst
Joe Royle
Mick Lyons
From what I am reading, we have some great talent coming through the ranks and I have been impressed with the likes of Coleman and Gueye.
We probably won't have bought anyone by the time the season opens but if we can keep the key players we will have a settled squad.
Many these days take the view that money is everything in footbal and life and that might will always prevail. General George S Patton said:
"America loves a winner and will not tolerate a loser, this is why Ameriaca has never, and will never lose a war" ... Then along came another General by the name of Ho Chi Minh and sorted that out. Throughout history people with a fighting spirit and the will to win will eventually prevail.
For me as an Evertonian, hope always springs eternal. I always remember what my one-eyed Evertonian father told me: "We will be great again".
Bring it on!
5 Posted 15/07/2011 at 06:58:04
Just look at the winners of the EPL since its formation.
1992?93 Manchester United
1993?94 Manchester United
1994?95 Blackburn Rovers
1995?96 Manchester United
1996?97 Manchester United
1997?98 Arsenal
1998?99 Manchester United
1999?00 Manchester United
2000?01 Manchester United
2001?02 Arsenal
2002?03 Manchester United
2003?04 Arsenal
2004?05 Chelsea
2005?06 Chelsea
2006?07 Manchester United
2007?08 Manchester United
2008?09 Manchester United
2009?10 Chelsea
2010?11 Manchester United
Sadly, those mega rich teams are the ones who win it now, funded by the Champions League the gap is widening. Its the same in quite a lot of other European Leagues as well....
6 Posted 15/07/2011 at 09:00:07
The big spending teams can buy their way out of trouble if need be, whilst the rest of the mere mortals have to put up wih injury plagued squads.
They should scrap it now.
7 Posted 15/07/2011 at 09:41:55
8 Posted 15/07/2011 at 09:48:37
I do understand and agree with you that every Evertonian whether they like it or not experiences a rollercoaster ride which tests their emotions/nerves to the very limit.
However, writing as someone who also experienced the 70's,80's and 90's onwards, are you not genuinely concerned now about the state the Club is in ?
I must confess that if I had been writing a similar article I may have been tempted to us the title " The Pungent Smell of Great Fear".
9 Posted 15/07/2011 at 09:51:18
For my money, I believe that those days were better due to the fact that there were level playing fields and lots of teams won trophies instead of them becoming the devine right of the richer few....
Liverpool's trophy wins were of much more merit than todays winners because there was no influx of foreign stars and trophies were won by home grown stars and it was possible to have a punt on your favourites winning something with a chance of success.
We had as many league titles as Man Utd prior to the premier being formed.
However we have never had real foresight and our trophy wins have been mainly sporadic.
Nowadays its the same as the SFA with only two or perhaps three teams with realistic chances of winning anything.
I truly believe that we have never had a winning combination or attitude, managers like Shankley and Ferguson are rare and until we have a board with the ability to back our manager financially we will continue with mediocrity or worse.
10 Posted 15/07/2011 at 10:30:51
11 Posted 15/07/2011 at 09:38:30
But ambition still burned back then, we had the infrastructure and wherewithal to do something.
We still paid record transfer fees and recognition of what Everton meant hadn't been consigned to the rubbish bin - cushions flying from the main stand and people not turning up to watch shite grabbed the attention far more than internet protest.
But the biggest difference is - we retained hope.
Tacit support of people who've overseen hopelessness pervade is absurd.
We need change not wistful "it'll be alright on the night" wishful thinking.
12 Posted 15/07/2011 at 10:16:13
This is exactly why our present predicament is so concerning. I can accept that we haven't got money to splash out on big name signings, or indeed, any signings! However, that we have a Board whose running of the club threatens to jeopardise our ability to retain a foothold in the Premier League is of the greatest concern. The Board have built up record levels of debt, despite hocking everything we have, & seem to have no strategy for the development & well-being of the club. Their only plan appears to be to await the opportunity to attempt DK Mk II, presumably as part of their exit startegy, with the focus very much on their own financial well-being.
While we remain in the top flight of English football, particularly if we can regain adequate control of our finances, there is always hope. Once we drop into the lower divisions we may not be back for a long, long time. For Everton relegation could well prove to be not third time lucky, but third time lucky if we survive!
13 Posted 15/07/2011 at 11:49:27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaBzhn6ecNY&feature=fvwrelWe got fourth place back then- with an worse team ? but they worked hard. Who's to say we cant do it again. COYB
14 Posted 15/07/2011 at 12:10:55
We only think it's a rollercoaster because we have been at the often enough. Many clubs have never and will never get to the top.
It does not excuse our board failing to provide even a mediocre level of transfer funds though, jus to give us a chance to form a balanced squad.
15 Posted 15/07/2011 at 11:33:17
I dont disagree witht he gist of it but I once again would like to spring to the defence of the much maligned Gordon Lee.
Where you there when we "stifled" Leicester away 5-0? And QPR the same score? And Coventry and Chelsea home 6-0?
That was the season we were the leagues top scorers and finished 3rd. The next year we finished 4th and Lees time was close at hand.
Lee finished 9th, 3rd and 4th in his 3 seasons here. At the time I wasnt his biggest fan cos he didnt like Duncan MacKenzie but he's unfairly lambasted in my opinion.
Trevors Mackie and Lynes see it about right for me!
16 Posted 15/07/2011 at 13:01:10
The lean periods were usually manager driven and the board could not be criticised for not providing funds and running the club into the ground AND Everton were never EVER considered a SMALL club.
The fans would frequently show their displeasure at team performances by throwing cushions onto the pitch in their thousands which resulted in cushions being withdrawn but still we were always considered a TOP team and a BIG club.
Today the best hope we have is the various fan groups and the power of the internet versus the apathy of a large number of supporters.
At the start of the PREMIER we were considered one of 5 top clubs but now we are considered similar to Stoke,Fulham,Sunderland etc.
Currently it is all about brands which is board driven and EFC's board have wasted every opportunity presented to them to improve the club's profile and standing e.g. Kings Dock, European Capital of Culture year, The Asian market, Tim Cahill, Tim Howard.
Instead of shouting about the positives the board constantly put it about that we are a poor club with no finances. Not exactly the image of the 4th most successful club in football league history is it.
Dave I would love to think we are dark horses to win something but after watching the blues for over 50 years I can honestly say I have never felt so discouraged and low about our chances of winning something and so concerned about our future.
17 Posted 15/07/2011 at 13:29:39
I think you hit the nail on the head about the Arl fellas who blame our younger fans.
Surely the "Village Elders" should be leading the way with the protests, driving up of standards, demanding the best etc.
Sadly a lot of them have fallen away. You only have to go into a pub on an Everton matchday to hear old fellas moaning about how they wont go until we are back at the top, how great supporting Everton used to be etc, you have just blew that myth right out of the water. They don't go because they can't be bothered anymore, simple as. Proper supporters don't consider Football a hobby.
How many of the TW members who have uttered all the cliched quoutes you mention in the OP have done anything about our current plight and started a group, joined KEIOC etc?
Look at the trails and tribulations that lads my age (27) have been through following the blues compared to an older fella who has seen us win the lot and ask who is the most loyal, hardcore and enduring? We haven't had nothing to sing about for near two decades. Yet we should be demanding all kinds from the joke of a board and a limited manager, Why?
What odds would it make?
If 40,000 of us turned up at Goodison when we play QPR and starting heckling the chairman, is he going to spend £100m on new players that we and he hasn't got? Only a fool would think so.
Is he going to sell the club to someone who can?
Considering he's been shown to be a bare-faced liar in court, embarrassed on numerous occasions at his own AGM, and a significant amount of his own shareholders tried to put pressure on him by calling constant EGMs and he's still here, then the fans turning on him would make no odds either, regrdless of thier age.
There's two people in the whole entire world who can make a difference to us, Bill Kenwright and David Moyes, I'm more than happy to hold both to account for their actions and make my feelings known. I don't for a second think it will make any odds to either.
18 Posted 15/07/2011 at 13:47:18
What I will say is that we've come close to having a chance a couple of times. Had we actually made the CL group stages after finishing 4th, we would have had top level competition and a lot more money that year, and there's a chance things could have built from there.
Also, I remember this time last year, a lot of people (myself included) thought that this squad had a genuine shot of pushing for 3rd or 4th last season, had things gone our way. As it happened, they didn't - our Manager made some poor decisions, our strikers all lost form and fitness simultaneously, etc.
But the second half of last season once again showed that this team has the potential to at least challenge for a spot at the CL trough. Or, it had - I think unfortunately our chance with this squad has now gone (unless we can somehow magic up a genuinely top level striker and midfielder, and Cahill, Arteta, Saha and other can somehow regain top form despite their age and injury history).
But even if our chance has gone now, there's still a chance of it coming back, especially if we somehow find outside investment. So I do agree with the general conclusion - hope springs eternal!
19 Posted 15/07/2011 at 14:17:05
"They say the darkest hour is just before dawn, but fuck me, this was taking the piss... leaflets screaming "THIRTY THOUSAND STAY-AWAY FANS CANT BE WRONG" blew around the streets of Goodison. Kendall bore the look of a haunted man... who can forget the look on his face as the 12,000 or so who had bothered their arses to turn up, howled their derision as his team left the pitch after a desperate 0-0 draw with Coventry? "
Could you imagine this happening today ? I couldn't.
20 Posted 15/07/2011 at 13:55:28
I just do not buy this talk of poverty...lets face it...we have never had an embargo put on transfers or been in real danger of administration....so why must we stand with our noses up against the window pane and do nothing????
EVERY TIME ANY CLUB BIDS FOR ANY PLAYER WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INTERESTED IN, WE DROP OUT OF THE BIDDING!!!
We only get players that no one else is after eg; Bily and Heitinga (despite Johnny's thoughts that he is worth a place at a bigger club)....how many bids have we received for either of those two???
Please get real and stop underlining the excuses made regarding our lack of money.
The fact is, we loaned out a whole football team last season and brought NO-ONE IN!! I have already said that I for one am angry, frustrated and desparing at the apathy and miss management of our great club.
Players who have real ability have ambition and want to win cups and medals, unfortunately our club cannot satisfy their ambition so we are just muddling through and hoping for a fairy godmother to bail us out (or that is what this board tries to make us believe)...
21 Posted 15/07/2011 at 15:10:45
Firstly you cannot question the loyalty of KEIOC's membership..... I can tell you without fear of contradiction that these fellas follow Everton everywhere (worldwide), no matter where we play, and they have done so for decades.
Secondly, if you think you've had it hard supporting Everton, I can only state my own experience.... and that was growing up in the 70s with Liverpudlians having genuine bragging rites every year, and then there's the older Blues who had the joy of Division 2.... and we all endured the same as you in recent years too.
As far as your/our opinion not making any odds, I can assure you that in the past, when the likes of Johnson was "made aware" of our "opinion", he didn't hang around too long afterwards.... so who knows? If only 30,000 turn up for the QPR opener, the opinion of the missing 10,000 will be obvious. As regards what BK would do if the whole crowd suddenly chanted against him..... I think he'd have a very dramatic "funny turn" in disbelief!
22 Posted 15/07/2011 at 15:50:36
Unfortunately I was out of collar at the time so no, I wasnt there at Leicester or QPR . .but I clearly remember dancing around the radio as the stories came flooding back.
Tommy #19
I suspect you will have witnessed, or know somebody who witnessed the the angry exchange`s at Lisbon airport between supporters who had spent a fortune to get out there and an Everton squad who just had capitulated there for the second time in a matter of weeks. If the older fans hadnt acted to calm the young and "easily pleased " down, I reckon the tabloids might have thought it was chrimbo.
The Evertonian has never been slow to anger and today's "breed" are no different.
If there is to be mass demonstrations then mark my words, the guys in their late teens an twenties will be front and center.
It wasn't "New breed" who welcomed Kenwright as if he was a fucken Messiah.
That remains our legacy to them.
23 Posted 15/07/2011 at 16:48:41
If you re-read my comment you will see I never questioned the loyalty of KEIOC members, Only the hypocrisy of older blues blaming young blues for the state of a club they have done nothing to influence.
I'm not questioning KEIOC members or those who have gone out and taken it upon themselves to try and influence the future of the club for our mutual benefit. I hold them all in the highest regard.
There are however a number of people who would have you believe younger Evertonians are lesser simply because they don't demand success, as I said I think Dave hit the nail on the head in the original OP with regards to that.
I dont think I've had it hard supporting Everton at all. Much like the other piece which led to Dave writing this I consider it a privilege supporting Everton.
I only raised the point about the lack of success my era have seen to show the blind loyalty most of us apply to supporting Everton. Hardly the actions of people who dont care. For my generation Liverpool have had bragging rights every year bar one since I knew what a football was, I don't like it and I don't view it as the status quo, but like I said only two people have the power to change it.
There was a missing 10,000 against Chelsea at home in the cup. Bill, who purports to be one of us must surely know how highly Evertonians value the FA Cup, yet he sent Elstone out to blame it on the recession! I think you under-estimate how thick his skin is.
We will be sold when he or his master decree's it and not a second sooner IMO.
24 Posted 15/07/2011 at 16:48:41
If you re-read my comment you will see I never questioned the loyalty of KEIOC members, Only the hypocrisy of older blues blaming young blues for the state of a club they have done nothing to influence.
I'm not questioning KEIOC members or those who have gone out and taken it upon themselves to try and influence the future of the club for our mutual benefit. I hold them all in the highest regard.
There are however a number of people who would have you believe younger Evertonians are lesser simply because they don't demand success, as I said I think Dave hit the nail on the head in the original OP with regards to that.
I dont think I've had it hard supporting Everton at all. Much like the other piece which led to Dave writing this I consider it a privilege supporting Everton.
I only raised the point about the lack of success my era have seen to show the blind loyalty most of us apply to supporting Everton. Hardly the actions of people who dont care. For my generation Liverpool have had bragging rights every year bar one since I knew what a football was, I don't like it and I don't view it as the status quo, but like I said only two people have the power to change it.
There was a missing 10,000 against Chelsea at home in the cup. Bill, who purports to be one of us must surely know how highly Evertonians value the FA Cup, yet he sent Elstone out to blame it on the recession! I think you under-estimate how thick his skin is.
We will be sold when he or his master decree's it and not a second sooner IMO.
25 Posted 15/07/2011 at 18:18:31
26 Posted 15/07/2011 at 19:07:47
Apologies I did indeed misread your posting. Browsing on a phone is not always the best. As regards having a hard time off reds.... imagine if they won everythin every yr and even beat u 5-0 at home on your 18th. For most of your childhood they've been crap for most of mine they were champions.....haha. all relative I suppose
27 Posted 15/07/2011 at 21:01:27
28 Posted 15/07/2011 at 21:44:05
Fast foward nearly 30 years and I'm afraid/sorry to say that the same anger and frustration felt by those fans in the early 80's is now engulfing my thoughts.
Things will change, they always do and hopefully recent events will facilitate a change at Everton and we'll be off to a cup final next summer with a league title following shortly after...
29 Posted 15/07/2011 at 23:15:32
The problem with the 70s is that it came with a new phenomenon: the dominant team. In the previous decade the title was won by 8 different teams. Sadly, as we all know, the even worse news was that team was the RS, and the Everton job was probably the hardest job in management at the time.
It is probably the folly of youth but, at the start of the season in the 70s, I always thought that we were in with a shout for silverware; those days are long gone.
30 Posted 16/07/2011 at 07:46:31
Some of the finest players in the world now play in England, yet the current Everton side has come as close to winning a trophy as any of Bingham`s or Lee`s teams.
Sure we could still "pretend" to be top dogs by signing the odd top player in the seventies, but think harder. These top players were surrounded by absolute dross.
We were asking players like Darracott, Pearson, Robinson, Telfer, Micky Walsh, Nulty, O`keefe, Stanley, Davies, Lawson and many many other easily forgetable sub standard players to compete against the likes of Dalgliesh/Keegan, Mcdermott, Clemence etc.
We`d already fallen down the mountain and the hope Trevor Mackie claims to have had would have been dismissed as delusion at the time.
Andy
In my experience the real people with no ambition is the old twat who sits in the alehouse, folds his arms, twists his face and sneers "it wouldn't have happened in my day". Know why ? because it fucken did happen in their day. look at the facts.
Football can change in a heartbeat ? our board could be gone in a week , the manager could be right behind him for all we know.
Who are these people to tell the younger fan he has no ambition ? what right do they have to claim there is no hope ?
It wasn't they younger fan who stood idly by and watched our clubs spectacular fall from the games top table . . .it was his arl fella - I`ve done my best to stay away from words like Guilt and Hypocricy
The younger Evertonian is charged with the task of restoring our great club to it`s former glory. without hope that just wont be possible
31 Posted 16/07/2011 at 12:42:05
It's hard to hold out much hope these day's as an Evertonian. I was 11 months old when we won the cup in 95, and I was in tears as we lost to Chelsea not 2 yrs ago. If I wanted an easy ride I would support the shite or united, but I don't. I support who my Dad supports, who my Grandad supports and who my brothers, sister and uncle supports.
The problem is this, my earliest memories of Everton are off crying when Barmby and Dunc left. Of thinking 17th would be a succesful season. So compared to then, 7th is amazing. Yet it doesn't make it right to just accept it. I can't wait for the new season, Everton for the title? we've as much chance as anyone else at this moment in time!
COYB!
32 Posted 16/07/2011 at 22:20:39
You say the hill's too steep to climb
Climb it.
You say you'd like to see me try
Climbing.
You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb
That hill in my own way.
Just wait a while for the right day.
And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds
I look down, hearing the sound of the things you've said today.
There is always hope and I believe thats what keeps us supporting Everton through the bad times.
'Keep climbing lads'
33 Posted 17/07/2011 at 09:38:05
No reason why we cant do it again.
Like it Damian
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant
34 Posted 17/07/2011 at 20:40:44
I do not involve myself in the finances of the club...thats a professional job for a board to operate...BUT there is usually a budget set aside for investment in every ambitious business...where is OURS ???
Players are the assets at the club and they must be utilized correctly ie; as they get older or injury prone, plans must be in place to replace them.
No player (Baines) should be in a position where he has no competition and can play if he likes !! GOD help us if he gets injured.
Replacements are urgently needed for NEVILLE, SAHA and DISTIN....and shortly for CAHILL and ARTETA.....
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1 Posted 15/07/2011 at 03:33:45