Everton Champions 1986-87

What a managerial feat by Howard Kendall, fashioning a title wining squad from, amongst better known names, Bobby Mimms, Neil Pointon, Paul Power, Alan Harper, Neil Adams, Kevin Langley, Wayne Clarke and Paul Wilkinson. Genius.

I often wonder whether it would be as impossible now as you suggest. I think managers nowadays instill a very limited belief into their players' psyches, almost encouraging them to believe that they will be tired if they play 50 games a season, and that finishing "Top 6" is a success.

With Bracewell, Stevens, Reid, Sharp, Southall and Van Den Hauwe absent for periods due to injury/illness it was a testament to squad spirit, good coaching and some inspired bargain-bucket buys in Power, Langley, Adams, Wilkinson, Clarke et al.

The team was not as stylish as the 84-85 vintage but I recall a period around Christmas when the form was devastating. Sheedy and Steven were imperious at times during the campaign and Heath made a strong contribution before fading a bit late on in the season. Sadly the "make do and mend" approach could not continue to deliver silverware - whilst Howard Kendall left for Bilbao and Colin Harvey ascended to the hot-seat with no major incoming signings Liverpool went and acquired Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge. Personally, going against the opinion of some, I believe that the failure to keep hold of Lineker was the beginning of the rot (there were other reasons such as the two year absence of Bracewell as he battled bravely to recover from an ankle injury). Lineker may have upset the blend a bit in 85-86 but could have adapted his play to be slightly less direct given time.

Still, I enjoyed looking back on those happy times this evening after the FA Cup exit - thanks for the memories Howard, Colin and 86-87 squad.

If you’d have told me that night that Everton wouldn’t win the League again in my lifetime (I was 29 at the time) it would have seemed incredible. It’s all too credible now, given the shitty mire which is the Premier League.