The Dyche period is only a segment of this grim era - one of our very worst. O'Brien broke through towards the end of this grim time - over the last six months. If he didn't before, that's why I said "very unlucky or demonstrably crap." But over...
Anyone who hasn't been able to break into the side in what has been one of the worst periods in the club's history is by definition very unlucky or demonstrably crap.
And, you know, for those of us in Ireland who had Sky Channel on cable in 1986/87, it was only the dessert:
Maradona, Platini, Rummenigge, Boniek, Rossi, Conti, Brady, Passarella...
Not many tourists will be jetting in to see the Everton of the last 35 years, mate. That was one reason Goodison had "atmosphere" - neutrals had zero incentive to buy our tickets.
Of course, the whole Goodison atmosphere talk is wildly...
I'm honestly shocked by the number of people who can't or won't see this. Not only is he a walking disaster waiting to happen but he makes everyone playing around him a bag of nerves.
Yes, it's fine by me. He wouldn't sign a new contract without both a huge raise and a release clause that enables him to exit if we don't progress in the way the club will have sold to him. Down to the club to match his ambitions now.