You can beat them but you can't join them... yet

It's going to take a small miracle to achieve... simply because we still sell our best players once we get a bit of momentum going...

Only time will tell if Silva can build a young squad capable of putting Everton back to were they should be...

As usual though its always next season hope... next seasons dreams... next seasons dissapointment...

I look forward to this season's analyses by all on ToffeeWeb.

On balance, if we have proved that we can match anyone on our day but were also guilty of being dross just when you think we have turned the corner...

I'm glad Silva turned it around and saved his job... I really hope he can build a squad capable of breaking into the top 4 over the next five years.

Sorry Lyndon, I only count six...

As Lyndon rightly points out, even though Spurs have only won one trophy over the past 10 plus years, the fact is that they have kept competing and made themselves a genuine contender, not just for CL places, but also title hopefuls.

And they consistently shown made the case that they should be the dominant power in their North London rivalry with Arsenal.

Liverpool was actually in danger of dropping out of the picture as a dominant force, until last season, when Salah joined them. Prior to Salah joining them, they were struggling to make top 4. And then in the space of one year, they made CL finals etc.

In this time and age of social media, if we keep winning, and with style, and are able to keep/attract players, it's unlikely that we won't get the due recognition when we start to win things.

Other than that error, good article, but perhaps not quite your very best.

At the end of the day, it's all about clicks and money. The top-6, particularly Utd and the Shite, have huge fan bases world wide. So the Guardian writing an article focused on Everton's improved tactical approach and use of the high press will get few clicks and 50 comments. A guardian article about crisis in Old Trafford will get massive clicks, retweets,shares, ans 754 comments.

So no, it's all part of the game and we need to do what spurs did. Break the barrier and join them despite the them.

David Moyes was brilliant for this club for 2-3 years and in terms of performance he must be given credit for the results and league positions he manged to dig out. . but he did untold damage not just to our image but to our self image.

Lets be clear here our fall from grace happened long before Moyes came along. If he "rescued us" - and he did, we clearly needed rescuing, but that "glass ceiling" he created ? It hurts to type the words.
Nobody dismissed Everton from footballs elite table, we simply made our excuses and left.

Many would argue we were a bigger club than Man United last time we won the league. How daft does that sound now ? but while they were demonstrating, vision, intent and desire to be an elite club by building an empire, we were mulling over whether to put a second tier on Park End stand. While clubs like Arsenal, United and The Shite aggressively marketed themselves globally, Anyone living outside Birkenhead, Crosby or Two dogs would find themselves having to drive here to buy an Everton mug.
We didnt just rest on our laurels, become a sleeping giant. We lay down and went into a coma.
We became a sitting duck for a predator - Enter uncle Bill.

We fell down the mountain. its no good moaning that people at the top don't want to talk about us. We haven't been part of the conversation for years. A few wins wont alter that.
When we do climb back up the mountain, I want us to climb back up the other side. I don't want Everton to be part of an elitist club I have come to despise. I never want Evertonians to sound like Chav's, I don't want us to become the media darlings like the Manc clubs. I don't want to see the sort of gobshiterey which now engulfs a once fine LFC to become attractive and desirable.

Fuck them. Fuck them all. These so called elite six represent everything that is wrong with the game. I have no desire to be part of them and I don't give a fuck if they don't talk about us.

I don't want us to be one of the pigeons. I want us to be the cat amongst them. I want us to do what Leicester City briefly did. . every week. Every year

When they do leave the league to be part of an elite European set up. I want us to have already established ourselves as their nemesis. I don't want them swaggering away, nor do I want to go with them.
I want them to be under no illusions that they have been fucked off and they are leaving with their tails firmly between their legs.

Very well put.

I totally agree.

I watched the game on Bein Sports, Andy Gray, Tim Cahill and Richard Keynes, The latter said several times and apologised to all blues fans in doing so, that Everton were terrific but the news story would be how bad Man ure were. He was right in his way but at least he had the balls to be honest about it.

Sky should for the sake of revamping a broken approach, refresh their pundit team weekly, game by game no regulars, the worst thing ever for us as viewers would be the RS winning the league, because that will only reinforce the entrenchment of Sourness and red coloured ego inflated ball bags that wallow in their own self importance.

Everton football club not only missed the boat but allowed the rats to devour the ship. We have been a shell of our former selves since the Premier league began, we lacked the vision, the muscle and we're complacent. That complacency turn into negligence and opened the door to the shark infested waters of shady money, asset strippers and tax exiles. It has been an awful chapter in a great club who now have to forge a different path to greatness once more.
I like Darren analogy of the cat amongst the pigeons, I don't want to be another sky club in the top six, I want to be the thorn in the side of everyone of them until they go and form a super league...The very thought of it makes me laugh, wouldn't it be good for our game if upon leaving the EU we were no longer eligible for the champions league or the Europe?

Just a brief note about Sky tv, when you argue with the arm chair Liverpudlians you are arguing with the opinions they have formed from watching tv they are brain washed by it.

We should not be concerned by the so called pundit experts, who don' t know what we know.

So almost justifiably why should sky or the media focus on us when we have been out in the wilderness.

What does annoy me with football coverage is the bias and lack of any recognition even when its your turn in the spotlight. When we are on TV the coverage before hand is generally about the more important match that follows on from us. Just some fair coverage would be nice and some honest recognition e.g. the 4-0 win.

What I do find puzzling is the infiltration of ex liverpool players into the media. Its almost as if there is an unwritten code to somehow protect and promote Liverpool FC from all angles of the media. They are everywhere and the Merseyside derby at Anfield the coverage was nothing short of a disgrace in its bias and favouritism to the reds.

Any chance to put Everton FC in the limelight is automatically cast aside due to the very nature of the presenters/pundits/commentators that are covering us.

The fawning and pitch side interviews with Liverpool after the Cardiff match was just disgusting, it was like watching Liverpools very own TV channel. This just highlights what we have to overcome just to get any moment in the media spotlight. I even feel the aftermath of the 4-0 Utd drubbing was also driven and fuelled by Ex reds taking glee at Utds hammering and fall from grace.

COME ON GUARDIOLA/CITY BLUE MOON AND ALL THAT!!!!

I agree with a lot of what you say especially when you say nobody dismissed Everton from footballs elite table we just made our excuses and left. I also think your comment about we didnt become a sleeping giant and rested on our laurels, we actually laid down and went into a coma.

But where I differ is I started watching us since 1956, so I have only ever seen us play our football in the top flight, whether it be called the old First Division or as now the Premier League. So if the elite go off and create their own European league to me it will feel like relegation. You say you don't want us to be like the top 6, well I have a lot of time for City fans they followed their team in great numbers into the 3rd tier. Yes its the Saudi wealth thats put them there, but having wealth is what we were used to under John Moores as they called us the Mersey Millionaires. Money has always been the main catalyst for success even going back decades. And it will always be the case going forward.

I think a new European league is virtually inevitable, I would imagine it will happen in the next 5 years, I am hopeful we can do a Spurs and replace either Arsenal or Chelsea in that elite group. When this league happens then every top player will want to be in it. So watching what the Premier league will become will result in watching average players playing for average teams. We wont be able to see the very best players live as we can now even if they don't play for us. We wont be able to play the Sky elite as we can now. Oh yes it would mean with the top 6 out of the way it would dramatically improve our chances of winning the Premier League, but would it feel like winning the 2nd Division if the top teams arent there.

Finally I hate the way Sky promote only the top 6 but they are a business who will pamper to the large sections of their viewers who follow the top 6. These because of their success have built up a fan base not only in this Country but World wide. So when selling the television rights abroad it makes it far more lucrative. So obviously because of their massive fanbase they are going to focus more on Man Utd failing to beat us that the other way around.

Liverpool's recruitment has been second to none. It has got them to where they are today.

Under Marcel Brand's I think we now have a leader off the field who can start to make inroads with regards this recruitment disparity. It is already happening and Lyndon you are right, what a big summer it will be in making sure we are stronger going into next season. Starting with a central issue.

Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Idrissa has been nothing short of amazing this year. What a player. Indispensable at the moment. I look at Man U over their recent 6 games without Anders Herrera and it is no coincidence they have been much weaker without him.

I think losing Gana would be a similar big loss for us, replacing him with the same or better is going to be a a massive challenge. We have to get that right to build and progress. I trust Mr Brands and Marco will be all over it.

Gary Neville said something in his interview about being outrun and outplayed by Everton, “Everton!!!?” he said with disgust. Yes Gary, that team (at the time) just behind you in the league, you cock, and that's having what most would consider a poor season.

We will never be the media darlings but I wish somebody, maybe within the club, would actually come out and state these facts. We've beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd at home in our last 3 games, give us some respect!!

Their 0-2 defeat to Man City was attributed to City's brilliance and resilience.

Says it all really.

As Dave rightly says, football only began with the introduction of Sky. It really pisses me off when they say, for example, the all-time leading goalscorer is (insert name). None of today's "all-time leading goalscorers" could hold a candle to the great Dixie Dean.

However, Everton haven't just beaten West Ham, Arsenal and Man Utd comfortably, they played them off the park. Given the turgid football we've endured this season, surely that aspect alone is news-worthy. I could even include Chelsea but that would be stretching a bit.

The answer of course is for the players to keep doing what they're doing, starting with Palace. If they don't see that anything like the intensity of their biggest wins leads to results like Fulham, they need their heads examining.

I don't think you'll ever change generations of bias in England. Everton, plucky little Everton, will be the monicker until we win.

I would say something about the USA here however.

Everton do not suffer the bias and lack of respect in America as they do in their home country. In fact, I'd argue the pundits here seem to almost want Everton to upset the apple cart a bit, and have been subtly supportive of the Toffees.

Robbie Earl on NBC is very fair minded. He is fair with his analysis, and often seems slightly flabbergasted when he states, "Everton are a striker away" from making a push for the Top 6.

Other pundits seem to be pulling for us. Ian Darke has given us very fair treatment over the years. Warren Barton, despite his unforgiving Newcastle love, always mentions Everton as a "massive" club. Steve McManaman, at who's name I mention I bet 1000 eyes just rolled on TW, was almost unabashedly pro-Everton when he did games in the USA. I'd actually argue he's a closet Blue, despite playing in red. He waxed lyrical about Everton.

The media over here sets the table for Everton of an emerging market. One that isn't biased, almost sympathetic, and supportive.

As so many say above, we just simply have to start winning to push the conversation.

Over on your island, it's a much different story and landscape. One that seriously pisses me off. The bias borders some type of weird, inexplicable "Blue racism" that is so obvious and overt, it's maddening.

I knew Steve MacMannaman was a boyhood Blue. Usually when they play for the rs, they turn and don't look back. He never, not a single time while commentating over here, even flinched when speaking so glowingly about Everton. Even though he played for them, sue me, I really like the guy. He was an excellent pundit / color commentator.

Peter -

I remember Robbie Earle saying Allardyce was a panic appointment and wasn't a fit. He also seemed disappointed and sad at Everton falling to such a depth that season. I distinctly remember him saying after a game that Fat Sam was saying how well Everton played and Earle was like, "Everton had one shot, a single shot, the entire game!" Earle didn't buy the "Allardyce to save Everton and keep them up" storyline most did.

When the possibility of a European League was first mooted, my reaction was let them go, and give us back our game. Also, let them know in no uncertain manner that as clubs they would never be allowed to compete in domestic competitions again. For what it's worth, these are still my reactions.

I wouldn't be too concerned about Everton 'always selling their best players, even the established top six follow the same fate eventually.

Our nearest and dearest across the park, have nearly always sold at least one major player each year, and have done very well financially out of it.

In no particular order, Coutinho, Sterling, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres etc.

Man U, Beckham and Ronaldo, Spurs Bale, the list is endless.

The clever part is utilising the money to build an even better team out of the proceeds.

At last we have an individual on board, Marcel Brands, who recognises this trait, and will try to utilise it as much as he can.

Would you accept £80m for Richarlison? I certainly would.

Onwards and upwards.

I also get fed up hearing about the RS on here. However, I am fortunate in that I live in Kansas city. The solitary red I know here is a bloke from Western Samoa who emails me abusive messages any time there is a derby. The folks back home are in and around reds every day so there is bound to be some spillover into discussions on ToffeeWeb.

Samoan bloke apart, I am lucky here also as most of the "fans" here support "Manchester" (I am never sure which one or if in fact they realize there are two teams) or Chelsea. When I say I support Everton I usually get "Oh I have heard of Everton, Tim Howard played there right?" Then they go on to talk about the MLS to which I usually reply "MLS? Oh I have heard of that, Tim Cahill played in that right?" So overall I am pretty insulated from local rivalries which allows me (though not the lads back home) the luxury of forgetting about the RS.

Go figure.

(Sorry eds - didn't want to get political here - but I didn't start it)

Europe = a big geographical continent we'll always be a part of.

EU = a club that a majority of people voted to leave vs remain.

As close to politics as we should ever get on here.

I wish particularly to congratulate Darren #8 for a concise and articulate summary of why Everton has not (yet) become a Premier League force. Heysel was the catalyst but everything after that was self-inflicted harm, starting with the abject capitulation of Carter to Thatcher.

Carter had two roles at the time of Heysel; one as Chairman of Everton FC and one as Chairman of the Liverpool Conservatives Association. It is not difficult to guess which one meant more to him as Tory Thatcher pressed for a ban on ALL English teams playing in Europe, as opposed to the ban on one with which UEFA would have been satisfied.

As a former President of the Football League and Chairman of the English Champions, Carter's opposition to an all-out ban would have been irresistible even to Thatcher, who could not believe her luck that nobody did bother to oppose her. Oh well, a few years later a knighthood came Carter's way and then the club named a stand after him.

The luvvies and their mutual love-in still dominate Everton Football Club. Until we put a proper business head on we shall continue to give everyone an opportunity to ignore, demean, and belittle the serious efforts to revitalise the team on the pitch.

The biggest outrage I had this season from a Sky "expert" was whilst watching Soccer Saturday on the Saturday following the home defeat to Manchester City at home, in February. We played Watford away and they'd just announced the teams. Thompson was livid with the Everton team because Silva had recalled Richarlison and Sigurdsson after dropping them both against Man City. The insinuation was that we threw the Man City game and then reverted to "full strength".

What annoyed me was that Richarlison and Gylfi fully deserved to be dropped for the ManCity game - they'd been poor for weeks. In fact, Man City got their 2nd goal when both of these players had been brought on as substitutes.

Carragher was saying the same thing last week about us leaving them out for the city game. It's stupid. Silva was under pressure at the time during a bad run. So we are supposed to believe his master plan was to change things by throwing a game to curry favor with Everton fans?

The other thing is that any time Arsenal drop Ozil, United drop Lukaku, or Chelsea drop Huguain, the reaction is “Haha — about time that idiot got dropped” as opposed to “OMG — they must be throwing the game to annoy their local rivals!”

When I am unfortunate enough to listen to Sky's coverage (which is seldom now since I cancelled by subscription 6 months ago), I can't help but be thankful that I live in Ireland where most of the pundits give a more balanced view – particularly on radio.

The English Premier League and the Football League are the bedrock of world football. So are its fans. If Everton (ever) had the opportunity to join them, I would sincerely hope they would decline.

Fans have no idea of the individual player qualities of PSG, Barcelona or Milan as they do the Premier League, it's what makes the Premier League interesting... and, for that matter, the Football League.

Spurs have done it without a great amount of investment. The Bale money was used to varied success but they also needed a few players to come through the ranks and l believe we are doing something similar.

Of course, our last few home games will be somewhat forgotten if we don't turn up for the remaining games. We have to perform that way every game; if we can't, then Silva has to have the squad to use. I think he has utilised the squad poorly at times.

And hats off to Schneiderlin too who has reminded us all that he can be an important player for us. I'm hoping we can keep our players and add only two or three quality additions (on top of the loanees). We haven't yet seen the best of Gomes or Mina. Also those players not getting a game like Dowell etc should go out on loan at the start of the year. Good times ahead. If we keep winning it becomes impossible to ignore... but, unlike Leicester, we must build on what we have and not rip it apart again.

I suppose there will be some who regard me and people like me as "stick in the mud'' characters; this may well be true. I have seen so many changes to both the laws of the game, and rules of tournaments, changes to laws and rules that have stood the test of time.

The latest reports seem to suggest this "super league" idea is being almost entirely driven by Juventus. Seemingly the EPL, and the Bundesliga realize where their bread is buttered. e.g. if your Arsenal, you have packed houses for local derbies with Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham, Palace, Watford, Wimbledon, Brentford, Orient, Millwall, Fulham etc plus "rivlalries" with Man Utd, Liverpool, Everton etc.

In Europe, you have packed house versus Barce, Juve, maybe decent crowd versus Lyon, Sevilla, start to see lots of empty seats versus Lille, Porto, Leverkusen especially once those games become twice-a-year events.

In my view, having the top six break away would be the best thing to happen since the formation of the Football League. I would rather see Everton away at Huddersfield than Everton away at Barcelona in a European League.

I hate artificial sport. The world's strongest man, It's A Knock-Out. To me, a European League would be like Jeux Sans Frontieres. Their medals would be as worthless as those won by shabby seaside towns, cheered on by the odious Stuart Hall and the demented Eddie Waring.

We are authentic - yes I know that the players are multi-millionaires and all of that - and we should guard that spirit zealously. If we sell up to Sky we will become something else. So, yes, I'm with Darren Hind and everyone else it seems: fuck them, fuck the poseurs and the crooks and the frauds and let's adopt guerrilla tactics.

Nothing sentimental about that, we're just being self-possessed.

I don't watch Sky. I watch recorded bits of MOTD and miss out the punditry. So I don't get annoyed by them.

We'll never be a successful team because a few blokes on the telly like us. We'll be successful when we manage ourselves properly on and off the pitch.

I'd rather focus on the big things we can control, rather than the irrelevant sideshow we can't.

We don't need Sky, or the rest of the prejudiced, ignorant media cronies, to laud how good bad or indifferent we are as a team and football club.

If Everton, improves the results on the field, the rest will happen, but we will need backing heavy via the Uzbek, but whatever happens, as Everton, we have a rich history and tradition, with the best genuine football knowledgable supporters going.

The games changed, and in my view not for the better, but there's a price, to survival, and healthy growth.

Hopefully soon we can win a trophy and get the winning feeling and what it brings to maximum, potential, but that's going to be a massive challenge but it is possible.

Hammerings at home by Arsenal and Spurs (even Atalanta) in the past 2 seasons don't really make us a challenge to the Sky 6. Our League Cup record is simply pathetic. If we cant even win that, why would they want to talk about us?

As Darren said, we've been at fault for this for decades. Take a step back, take off the blue-tinted specs and look at what we've become. This season has finally shown a turn around in form and style but some of the other results have been dire. Start winning trophies or away at the big clubs first, then we'll finally get the credit we deserve.

As soon as Sky got involved football became more professional. Man U took full advantage due to having the best manager in British football at the helm. Without Fergie Man Utd could quite easily have swapped places with us. Likewise Wenger with Arsenal.

Abramovic bought Chelsea a place at the top table. If Jack Walker was still alive, Blackburn could be part of the big boys' party.

Managerial nous and money earns you a place at the top table and, for us, we haven't had both until recently.

I did expect the media reaction after the Man Utd game as that's their default position.

I loved the post-game analysis after the Manchester Derby. It was like a funeral for Man Utd. Neville was genuinely gobsmacked. Keane was fantastic. Souness was sick. Carragher was nowhere to be seen or heard.

I work in Manchester and they are genuinely for the first time in 30 years confused as to why they can't compete.

This all just whets the appetite for a few new signings and next season.

Coyb

By Kenwright's time, survival was the only game in town; success only an unrealistic dream of us fans whose expectations were always way above what a bankrupt club could actually deliver.

This situation wasn't caused by Kenwright – the seeds of the decline were sown decades pre-Bill... he just inherited it, took it on when any sensible director would have walked away. BK's problem was that he promised more than he could ever deliver and fed the unrealistic expectations that we fans had.

We have a chance to progress as a club now because we at last have the investment that was needed but regeneration will still be a difficult process. We also need to remember who was instrumental in getting this perfect investment in place and who was responsible for the club surviving in a period where it was technically insolvent.

He is past his sell-by date now but that is only my opinion. The concept that he was responsible for the decline of the club is simply not correct. His only chance of arresting that decline was his being wealthy enough to provide the required investment. He wasn't... but that isn't his fault.

Absolute Pap.

Kenwright didn't just make promises he couldn't keep. He lied through his teeth. To just about everyone, even his so-called friends.

He may not have been in control at the start of the decline, but the carpet-bagging bastard certainly knew how to take advantage of it.

We don't ever get back to competing against United financially. Ever. It's gone. It went years ago. If we don't get this ground built n the next three years we will end up looking antiquated against Leicester and Brighton, let alone the top six. And even if we get it built, we never get back to where we were. Accept it. There's just too much money...

I see Bill Kenwright has left envelopes on two of the coaches going to Palace today, with a five pound note inside telling the fans to have a drink on him.

A magnificent gesture or a clever little token? Some see the good, but some of us just see a carpetbagger.

However, could someone please tell me what would have happened to EFC if

he hadn't stepped in ? I'm curious to see what people think .

As for the top six it is just going to give us all greater satisfaction when we break into it and another club drops out, we will just need then to do it on a regular basis until it becomes current history and thinking.

We can remember when Man City and Chelsea 20 years ago were mid-table and Man City were in League Two? So matters do change.

I see now the press are circling saying some of our players will be a target of and going to "top six" clubs in the summer, again a presumption that we are fodder, the fodder which other teams come to sort out their failings.

A good mention for Bill today, yes he can be a dreamer as his heart often rules his head, but let's not forget he loves the club dearly, brought in Farhad Moshiri who will preside over the biggest change to Everton in their history when they move to their new home.

This is all down to Bill Kenwright.

In answer to your question, Peter Johnson would eventually have sold out to someone else and then...who knows?

I hope that goes some way to satisfying your curiosity.

Bill Kenwright has presided over, and been instrumental in the longest trophyless period in the club's history. When he joined the Board in 1989, our position was firmly at the "top table" of English football clubs.

We are now considered also-rans with the poorest facilities, and income streams dwarfed by many others. A fiver in an envelope for a few coach loads of dedicated blues is an absolute miniscule pittance compared to the windfall that this carpetbagger has received while managing our decline for at least 20 of the 30 years he's been on the board.

If Peter Johnson had tried half the things this fella has got away with, he would've been shot, but not Bill Kenwright... Farcical nonsense!

We would soon have a more interesting competition with thrills and spills and we wouldn't have to listen to all of the legions of ex-reds who will be too busy talking to the armchairs with their half scarves.

The Champions League has been something of a divisive force ever since it expanded to include non-champions. It has helped cheapen some domestic league and cup competitions, and build monster clubs out of the chosen few who were lucky enough to be on the gravy train at the right time, or those rich enough to muscle in since.

30 years ago, we were at least on par with any of our so-called peer group. Now?

Meanwhile Bramley-Moore Dock is sold out as Everton take on Wolves as the top two battle it out 52,000 fans the Mersey lit with blue search lights and Z-Cars blaring out across the waterfront.

Meanwhile, Liverpool prepare to play Young Boys in front of the famous Kop. Manufactured banners of grizzled Glaswegians and Geordies confuse the Nordic hordes. I know which place I would rather be.

Perhaps, but rest assured, there will definitely be no BMD stadium without the type of TV money we now get, and that money will not exist without our biggest clubs being in the league too. So you might have to revise your dream somewhat if they bugger off.

Some of Europe's biggest clubs might like the prospect, especially if they've already outgrown their respective domestic leagues. I'm not sure that'll be the case for any English clubs, so hopefully it's all rather moot point.

Just great to see and hear Leon Osman getting to ride shotgun today alongside Clive Tyldesley for the NBC live coverage from Turf Moor. And post-game, Leon continuing to do an excellent job in front of the cameras.

We are at last enjoying serious investment in our club after a long decline, and it is imperative that we aspire to join the “big six” and become one of the “big seven”, and I'm sure we'll get there soon. I'm surprised that some posters really believe it would be better to be the top team in an English League without them.

If a European League ever gets off the ground I don't believe English clubs would be involved as it would be self-destructive to leave the world's wealthiest and most watched competition.

The majority have the power to change things as it stands... but will they?

The beautiful game has turned very ugly since 1992... SO CHANGE IT!!! Boot out the greedy six and then start again with eight teams to replace them in a brand new competitive league. Jeez... the possibilities could be endless on this, just need some real vision and balls to achieve it. A slow start maybe but, five years on, folks will say it's nice to have OUR game back.

Yes, but he's a bit lightweight - Tyldesley dominated Osman too easily in the commentary.

It upset me, seriously upset me, I wasn't angry but in less than one minute Robbie Savage delivered a haymaker to the chin of every Evertonian and then put the boot in. For me it was the fact that in some respects he was right, but in reality he was merely emphasizing the bias the media have with regards to the top six or whatever the flavour of the month is.

Wolves? Fuck off, Savage.

The anger came later, not at Savage but at the standing of our club and how it has been allowed to fall to such an extent that we are ridiculed by the media and pundits. Why?

I don't want to look backwards but I don't want it to continue either. I am not bitter but bloody angry at the complacency of those who put us there. We will never know now, but we should never allow it to happen again. The responsibility of decisions lies with the Chairman and Directors. They make the calls. They made a lot of money. I don't care at what point in time you want to determine when the rot set in, but clearly its certainly been evident since the dawn of the Premier league in 1992. That's 27 years.

Its taken me till Monday night to express how upset I was and still am.. all because a plonker on 606 riled up another plonker who made fun of Everton as a club and ridiculed its fan base.

That's were we are. That's not where we are going to be. A thorn in their side? You bet.. its time we as a club delivered and tore up the top six.

I do not believe however that a European League will come about simply because the PL's Sky Six and their equivalents in Europe's major leagues see themselves as an elite with a God-given right to be winning or at least consistently challenging for honours.

A league by its very nature has "bottom feeders" and I doubt that many of these clubs will risk becoming one and thus over time, losing a worldwide fan base that currently provides each of them with an enormous income.

Then, when asked by the compare if Wolves, Everton or Leicester might challenge for the top 6 next season, he just couldn't bring himself to properly consider us, but simply said "only Leicester". No argument, no weighing-up the pros and cons... after all Leicester are now managed by his mate Rogers.

Laughable though, how the media still like to think of Leicester's title as an aberration, and that it could never happen again. I would dearly like, even Spurs to win it, to upset the apple cart. I hate those tossers on the radio, and if I ever meet Murphy, I will tell him what a Berkshire Hunt he is.

How many of us would like to be given a chance to sit in a studio and show these “jobs for the boys, but don't think for yourself” types how much shite they are getting away with telling us?

We have spent half a lifetime in the sporting wilderness and whatever reason you care to point to, and there are many, it's been unforgivable. We have no right to sit at the top table anymore, we were leaders once but we failed to change when our peers did. There has not been one singular decision alone that has left us where we are today, ridiculed by media, forgotten as an icon, but a wealth of bad management decisions, poor decision making and self-interest.

I believe we have for the first time in 30 years, a commercial board of directors who will make far better choices than before. I look forward to seeing a chapter close on a Chairman who promised much, delivered little of substance and made a packet in doing so. It is a chapter that needs to end before a new book can be written about how the Sky six were dismantled, about how the world once more recognised that the city of Liverpool is blue, not red.