Bobby's last season. A blessing in disguise?

But this is certainly not something Roberto 'engineered'.

I actually think in many cases there's an opposite argument: a season (or two) of progression for some very talented key players have been clearly wasted while those players have fallen behind rather than advancing their careers.

Everton 2016 should be in a much better place than we find ourselves; if that were the case, you could argue that our better players would be doing far better for us and happy to continue, for an upwardly mobile, successful club in the Premier League, irrespective of the covetous eyes of others.

All that aside, the determination is that we keep our better players — something we have largely continued to do in recent years (eg, John Stones).

That's not to say the pain doesn't hurt and I won't make your M25 experience worse by talking of my view right now but if you have ever been to Port Douglas in far North Queensland that will suffice. Being up here helps to put things in perspective and too often, when we are close to something, we lose that skill. After living in Melbourne for 15 years, I now regard this time of year as Winter and a bit miserable when in actual fact compared to other places on the globe I should be counting my blessings. Maybe that's a bit like supporting Everton?

And so I would also like to offer a word of thanks to the much maligned Bill Kenwright. Despite being vilified on a regular basis, if things really are as positive as we think they might be (and I reserve judgement there), then maybe Bill's "24/7 search" really did pay off? Despite the clamour to be sold to anyone and everyone, he waited and waited until the right person came along for his beloved Blues.

So, as I sit with a coffee watching the waves role in, wrapped in my new sense of perspective, I have to say - "Thanks Bill and maybe even, thanks Roberto, too!"

Why?

Because, even briefly, he DID deliver entertaining positive football. We ALL saw that "The School of Science" was on it's way back. We did... We really did.

In doing that, Everton smashed the myth that the turgid, sterile and unimaginative dross we had been continually peddled was in any way justifiable; it never was. Never.

Our mindset now is entirely positive and hopeful. Not by any stretch of the most creative imagination is this solely down to "Bobby Brightside", but he DID, albeit briefly, demonstrate that our cap-in-hand, grateful-for-merely-existing attitude was over. He was the agent of his own destruction.

Did he let us down? Yes, yes he did. Thankfully he didn't take 11 years to achieve that.

Whether Ronald can do something with the players in the coming months is open to debate but the optimism of the fans is back and most of us have a sparkle in our eye – long may that be the case.

Everton FC did Roberto far more favours than he did for the club. He wasn't all bad; he just wasn't good enough... not a crime, but not what we needed. Hopefully we won't have to employ somebody so far out of his depth in such an important position in the near or far future.

I shudder to think where we might be if Bill hadn't have found his 'Fairy Godfather' – it would have been very very different and not at all pleasant.

The eternal optimist in me hopes the silver lining will be as bright as the cloud was (very) dark. The early moves so far are give me a feel of confidence.

He took us backwards when the opportunity was there to break the glass ceiling

Now we have to start rebuilding all over again with the loss of Ossie and Pienaar and age catching up on Barry, Jags and Bainesy never mind the potential loss of Stones, Barkley and Lukaku.

I do hope the likes of Dowell, Davis and Browning make the grade, for sure, Mr Koeman will cast his expert eye and make his judgement.

And Tony:

"... the turgid, sterile and unimaginative dross we had been continually peddled..."

You're talking about the most boring football ever served up by Bobby, yeah?

Going back to the original article. It's a bit like if you had Aids and then you were cured and life then seemed so much better, would you think 'so pleased I had Aids for a bit'? No I don't think you would.

I feel optimistic now, yes, but that useless buffoon ruined two seasons of my match going experience. This post is an insult.

Lukaku &#!50; I'd have paid £100 million... yeah sure and other diatribe that's escaped my notice. It was two-and-a-half seasons of complete and utter trash and really, Kim, you want to thank him?!? That clown has just walked into the sunset with a monumental pay-off. He must be pissing down his leg at the club. Oh I'd like to say something to him but it wouldn't be 'Thanks'.