This is what we?re all about

By Adam Cunliffe :: 02/09/2011

20 Comments (�Last) I was absolutely gutted when I found out Arteta had left. In my relatively few years as an Evertonian I?ve never seen a more talented player in the sacred royal blue.

Now that probably sound?s silly to the many people on here who?ve seen the like?s of Kendall, Harvey and Ball in full flow along with the fans who witnessed the all-conquering teams of the 80s. But I?ve not.

The closest thing to world-class I?ve seen at Goodison (Apart from Rooney, who in all honesty has only matured into the player he is now at Old Trafford) was Mikel Arteta before his injury curse struck two seasons ago.

To put it into perspective, my first heroes included the likes of Barmby, Campbell, Jeffers and Big Dunc. Apart from the big fella who I still love more than any other player, ever, Arteta knocks absolute spots of the others in terms of quality, skill and sheer ability. Technically he?s just outstanding. But this isn?t an obituary for our lost talisman. This is an article about hope in the face of adversity.

Our great club (I hate to say ?Once Great? because to me Everton is still the best club in the world) is on it?s arse. We know it, the media knows it, and Kenwright and Moyes both know it. Financially we?re up a certain creek without a paddle and on the field we?ve not looked much better.

The fan base is split. There?s the Blue Union on one side, and then the Kenwright and Moyes ?apologists? as they?ve been branded on the other. Personally I lean far more towards the Blue Union?s thinking, whilst not necessarily agreeing totally with the way they?ve gone about their business, I do think what they?re doing is for the good of the club.

We could (and have on this site) go on for day?s about who?s fault it is that we?re in this mess. Is it Moyes?s ?hoofball? tactics, Kenwright?s failings in terms of stadium, lack of investment and sheer incompetence or just plain and simple the player?s for just not performing. Either way, without trying to be too cheesy and quoting my younger sisters favourite film (High School Musical for those who are lucky enough NOT to have seen it), us as fans are all in this together.

Everton doesn?t do dynasty?s in the same way Liverpool and currently United do. We don?t do things the easy way. Are we a selling club? Probably if recent evidence is anything to go off. Rooney to United, Lescott to City, Arteta to Arsenal. Everyone does after all have their price ? everyone except Everton Football Club it seems.

Some (my dad being the major influence on this one) trace it back to Heysel; other?s the start of the Premier League and the Sky money. For me, it?s all I?ve ever known as an Evertonian. I?d love to see us win Championship after Championship, but that just wouldn?t be Everton.

Everton breaks your heart more than any girl could. Everton gives you hope, let?s you believe and then shits on you in the final hour. Everton takes away money, much like an addiction, and then, again in a similar way to an addiction, gives you some great highs but even worse lows. But we still keep coming back.

Dixie left, Ball left, Dunc (the 1st time), and Barmby all broke our hearts. But our heart?s still remain at Goodison. Winning the title in 1985 with the best team in Europe only to be denied entry thanks to the Shite across the park. Qualifying for the Champion?s League to be drawn against Villarreal, ?Don?t worry Dad, we?ve the best referee in the world in charge of our second leg? I naively said...

Scoring the quickest goal in FA Cup final history only to go on to bottle it against Chelsea. And more recently, beating Chelsea on pens in one round of the Cup only to be beaten by Reading next round. It?s a familiar story eh?

But it?s our story. A royal blue story. And the sooner we get back to the mentality of ?We are Everton, fuck the rest? the better. I?m going to buy tickets for me and my girlfriend for the Villa match tomorrow, and I?ll do so with a big smile on my face. Because we are Everton.

Thanks for the memories Arteta, you were the greatest player I?ve ever seen at Goodison. But we are Everton and life goes on. As it always has. We were there before, during and we?ll be there after. So, despite what?s going on off the field, and despite saying goodbye to a magnificent player, let?s get behind the lads. Double D? Drenthe and Denis!

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

Reader Comments (20)

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Shaun Laycock
2 Posted 02/09/2011 at 17:24:30

Maybe this is what will galvanise the players/Moyes/fans. Whilst we can't forget the mismanagement of the board we all need to get behind the players/manager. He has always been better when his back is against the wall and the team picks itself and choices are forced upon himself. If a return to a more direct style of play brings better results, then maybe it is a means to and end. Hopefully, Roy can be another Kanchelskis/Pienaar and Sasquatch another Big Dunc. COYB.......3 points against Villa.

Nick Entwistle
3 Posted 02/09/2011 at 17:34:56

I think Sheedy was my first hero, but that's more into the late 80s.
Arteta is currently my favourite player and will continue to be so.

Nick Entwistle
4 Posted 02/09/2011 at 17:38:27

Oh, and if you're a 'Moyes Apologist ' it doesn't make you a fan on Kenwright. I wouldn't group those two together at all.

Dermot Ryan
5 Posted 02/09/2011 at 17:44:54

I genuinely like your sentiments, but we need a good season or it will be Fellaini and Baines next. If we can really challenge then this transfer market will turn out to have been a smart one for Everton. Cut down the debt (if that is where the money is going) and galvanize the team/fans. I'm certainly more interested in the Villa fixture now then before the transfer window closed.

Peter Laing
6 Posted 02/09/2011 at 18:14:28

I'm firmly in Blue Union's corner Adam, I also support David Moyes who in my opinion demonstrates a great deal of integrity for all the shit he has to contend with. He is undoubtedly paid a massive salary to steer the good-ship Everton and he will need all of his navigation skills and sea-legs as we batten down the hatches in the good old traditional Everton way in the coming months ahead.

I was fortunate to be attending secondary school during the mid 80s when Everton were in their pomp; glorious, glorious days. Those days should be a given for Everton though Adam, we are as you say Everton and are not mere mortals to the likes of Manchester United. The Cup Semi two years ago brought back that nostalgia, it also made me realise that we are still great ? very few equals in terms of the fanbase and support given what we have had to contend with.

We are a sleeping giant, Kenwright has taken us as far as he can and he is now feeding that giant sleeping pills, Ross is using brainwashing tactics and division to split the fan-base, it's time to wake from our slumber and it is to Blue Union, ToffeeWeb and others that I am thankful that we still have a fighting chance.

Anthony Jones
7 Posted 02/09/2011 at 18:39:34

What's your point? Football fans love their clubs and Arteta was a quality player? Don't we all know that already?

Anthony Crawford
8 Posted 02/09/2011 at 18:47:14

A rousing oration my friend, inspired me to pen this. Yes I know its a bit twee but seems to fit the mood.

(this should be read to the tune of Jerusalem. Note also that Nehimiah rebuilt Jerusalem in the face of his foes after it was almost destroyed by the Babyloneons).

Dix Dixies feet in ancient times
walk upon Goodisons green turf?
And big Duncs boots and brain and brawn
grace this sacred earth?
And were those Holy Kendalls boys
Stifled here, by bankers with no balls?

Bring me by bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my badge, Prince Ruperts hold
bold pledge, our best to conspire
And we will do our greatest deeds
Like a blue Nehimiah...

(I wonder does Blue Bill need a writer for one of his shows?. Don't call us, eh?)

Anthony Crawford
9 Posted 02/09/2011 at 18:50:13

Peter, I agree with you wholeheartedly and what you say reminds me of another ditty.

Rise, like lions out of slumber, in unvanquishable number.
Shake your chains to earth like dew, which in sleep had fallen on you.
Ye are many. They are few.
I wish I was going to Villa. Enjoy.

Dave Smith
10 Posted 02/09/2011 at 19:13:00

I'm in the same boat as you Adam. My first Everton hero was Peter Beagrie. His hop, skip & jump routine was awesome to a kid of my age.

Dalziel Kane
11 Posted 02/09/2011 at 19:33:21

I didn't get the Arteta news until after the transfer had occured, my initial reaction was one of surprise, coming when it did, seemed almost out of the blue, which indeed it may well have been, and why Arsenal?, the North London outfit have been missing for some time, haven't won anything for six years and only just come off the back of an 8-2 reverse in Manchester, and he won't be guaranteed a start every time with Wenger. I think all said, it was the timing of transfer more so than destination that caused such a shock to some people.

Obviously a little sad to see him go, he has made a statement on the official site stating 'it was the right time' for a Goodison departure . I realize at 29, Arteta is no spring chicken, but when players like Andrew Carroll go for £35 M or whatever it was, then £10,000,000 for Mikel seems a bit derisory in my eyes, I just can't keep up with some of the stupid prices players come and go for these days sometimes.

One can only hope Moyes spends the cash sensibly. Thanks for all the moments you have provided this club Mikel.

Rob Hollis
12 Posted 02/09/2011 at 21:08:33

It was very sad to see Arteta go but we are very well off for centre mid. We also got two prospects, one with a bit of pace and took the pressure off the finances by offloading Yak and Beckford.

It might be that we made the very best of a bad situation and at least we have some change to look forwards to. Just a pity nobody came in for Neville. We might have two or three mill for a genuine right mid in January. Get Seamus at right back and have some hope on that side of the pitch as well.

Albert Perkins
13 Posted 02/09/2011 at 22:25:49

For those of us who want the youngsters to have a go, this is not a bad situation. As some have said, this is a backs-to-the-wall period and Everton usually do well at these times.
It could go either way. The team could be too weak to maintain our status, even PL status, or it could find a renewed successful surge and excite the hell out of us.
Rodwell, Barkley and Coleman might step up and make a name for themselves and the new boys might do the business, having a point or two to prove.
Hope springs eternal and I'm all for supporting the team. They will be shaky for a bit and need our unconditional love for a while. That's what family are for.
And thanks, Mikel, you were there when we needed your class and grace, and good luck at Arsenal. Just don't score too many free kicks against us.

Gerry Morrison
14 Posted 02/09/2011 at 22:54:13

Anthony Crawford.
Blake and Shelley in consecutive quotes. Am I on the right site?

Mike Gaynes
15 Posted 03/09/2011 at 00:00:32

Great comment, Gerry... we are an erudite, literary group, aren't we?

Adam, I sympathize... Sheedy was the player who made me an Everton fan from halfway around the world, and I almost quit the team when he left. But that's the fate of all our heroes. Eventually, they depart. Personally, I'm still learning about some of the team's past heroes... I have a video of all the FA Cup goals from the '80s and '90s, so I'm learning about guys like Ball and Sharpe, and even fine players I'd never heard of like Eastoe.

And Rob, forgive me, mate... but have you ever actually seen Coleman play right back? It's a grim sight. Yes, he's fast and a fine tackler, but he's also a ball-watcher and a poor marker with zero positional instincts. I say let him develop at right mid. He'll learn to finish his chances better. He'll never learn to mark in the box.

Rob Hollis
16 Posted 03/09/2011 at 00:12:03

Mike,
Point taken but have you ever seen Neville play anywhere?

Mike Gaynes
17 Posted 03/09/2011 at 00:11:37

And just as an aside, I hope everybody enjoyed watching Rodwell with the U21s today. He was calm and commanding at defensive mid... where he belongs.

Rob Hollis
18 Posted 03/09/2011 at 00:13:53

And on the subject whilst I have been lucky enough to see 69/70 and the mid-eighties Bob Latchford will forever be THE MAN.

Simon Watts
19 Posted 03/09/2011 at 00:56:56

DUNCAN McKENZIE. He was my hero all through school.

Mike Gaynes
20 Posted 03/09/2011 at 00:14:10

Rob, I guess it comes down to whether you think a fullback's first responsibility is attack or defense. Yeah, Neville is a nightmare going forward, but if you ask me whether I'd rather see him or Coleman at right back, it's no contest. Pip never loses his mark and is never out of position. And I've said before that I consider him the best captain in the Prem - his passion and leadership are extraordinary. Landon Donovan is downright reverent about what he learned playing in front of Pip.

Of course I'd love to see us get a real attacking fullback with speed. I hope we can find one in January. But it will never be Coleman. Never. I hope.

Stephen Kenny
21 Posted 03/09/2011 at 11:24:38

Players come and go, rarely do any transcend the club. Maybe none ever do.

Arteta was certainly nowhere near it. He's the best footballer I've ever seen in our blue but I don't think anyone on here would even dream of calling him a legend?

I only support Everton once they are gone they are gone.

It may hurt a bit seeing Mikel in thier kit but seeing Ross Barkley outplay him will soon put that to bed.

The transfer and how it happened may also wise a few more Evertonains up to the antics of our less than lovable Chairman.

Mike,

I think a fullback's job is at least 50/50 in terms of attacking and defending. Neville is atrocious going forward and the notion that he's a great defender is an absolute myth.

Time after time he gives silly fouls away on the edge of our box, get's booked early and loses his man. Hibbert is a much. much better fullback than Neville.

One thing I will give Neville which is important is he's a good communicator and organizer, that basically means Neville is a world class pointer and shouter. I think the centre half should always be the man to marshall the defence and it's only because ours are so quiet that he's in a position to do this.

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