Andy Gray Appreciation thread

[jonesey10]

Wow, that team knew how to play the pressing game. Reid and Bracewell were just immense at times, agree with the Esk, those goals against Sunderland were typical Gray, I was lucky enough to be at that Sunderland game and the pass by Bracewell to Steven and the crowds reaction. you could actually hear the crowd saying as one, 'what a pass' then steven finishes the move by smashing it in the roof of the net. goose bumps.

 

[Moomin]

My first childhood Everton hero.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Wow, that team knew how to play the pressing game. Reid and Bracewell were just immense at times, agree with the Esk, those goals against Sunderland were typical Gray, I was lucky enough to be at that Sunderland game and the pass by Bracewell to Steven and the crowds reaction. you could actually hear the crowd saying as one, 'what a pass' then steven finishes the move by smashing it in the roof of the net. goose bumps.

So many great memories from that season and that Steven goal was defo one of them. I remember coming away from that game (was it 4-1?) thinking we didn't play particularly well but we scored some great goals and all the neutrals who watched the highlights were going wow!!

Another Andy Gray game that stands out that season was that Dutch side in the quarters of the ECWC, can't remember their name. We won 3-0 and if I remember correctly Gray got a couple of them and was absolutely unplayable. Remember Arnold Muhren played for them but for the life of me can't remember the team.

Strange thing about that season was Gray only played a bit part for the first 3/4 months. Inchy had been absolutely brilliant and when he got injured against Wednesday I feared the worst. But Gray came in and pretty much right away we went on an unbeaten run that culminated in league and European success.

 

[tommye]

Shithouse. Meh

 

[Jeff Jones]

Great,great player for us,fantastic attitude,brought Sharpy on a ton as a player,seemed to have "got" us as a club in his all to brief but successful stint with us which makes his attitude to Everton in the main as a pundit puzzling to me.

I haven't come across any attitude issues in his references to Everton. I rarely miss the Keys and Gray show and he always speaks about
Everton with pride and affection.

 

[dholliday]

just before my time. He got a lot of important goals, even if otherwise his scoring stats aren't up there with our best. Without him we may be one or two trophies lighter.

Probably become under-appreciated due to one cringe OTT reaction to a certain RS goal.

He probably woudn't have cut it as manager: knowledge of the game at pundit-level doesn't equate to success in the dug-out (see also Gary Neville).

 

[Dario Terracotta]

I haven't come across any attitude issues in his references to Everton. I rarely miss the Keys and Gray show and he always speaks about
Everton with pride and affection.

Maybe it's because he jibes us for SKY when the Managers job was up for grabs,I'm getting a touchy old sod as i get olderlol

 

[Jeff Jones]

Maybe it's because he jibes us for SKY when the Managers job was up for grabs,I'm getting a touchy old sod as i get olderlol

I don't think you're quite as old as me, mate.

 

[Khalekan]

Great, great player, absolutely idolised him in a blue shirt. Don't like him much on the telly though.

I think he suffers from being too closely associated with Richard Keys, the sleazeball's sleazeball.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

The day Howard signed Andy Gray, I thought he'd lost the plot. I remembered Gray scoring the odd goal here and there, and winning the league cup, but nothing special...how wrong I was about him.
He fitted our team perfectly. He brought out that extra bit of snide in our team and made Sharp an even better player.
His determination, his never say die attitude and his absolute will to win were infectious and he was a major part in those glory days.

I remember when he signed for us I was excited thought it was a great signing
Mind you I thought Mikey Walsh was also

 

[The Esk]

I was lucky enough to be at that Sunderland game and the pass by Bracewell to Steven and the crowds reaction. you could actually hear the crowd saying as one, 'what a pass' then steven finishes the move by smashing it in the roof of the net. goose bumps.

Still one of my all time favourite goals and Everton moments. the way we were playing at the time we could have taken on anyone and hammered them. Best team in Europe for 2 possibly 3 seasons.

 

[CrustySack]

If I was asked to describe Gray to an Evertonian who had never seen him play they I'd say think Tim Cahill, but a bit more mental and a better finisher. Gray had that rapport with the fans that Cahill had. As Esk alluded to, him and Reidy were the old heads in that young 85 team. Together, they influenced that dressing room and brought a fearlessness to that team.

 

[dave abrahams]

He was only here two seasons but in that time, pro rata, he gave as much as any player who turned out for Everton, brave
and performed for every minute he was on the field, Davie Hickson was my one idol for Everton, but Andy gave as much to Everton as Davie did. Not interested in pundits, mostly, so that side of Andy doesn't bother me.

 

[Gladystweet]

Wow, that team knew how to play the pressing game. Reid and Bracewell were just immense at times, agree with the Esk, those goals against Sunderland were typical Gray, I was lucky enough to be at that Sunderland game and the pass by Bracewell to Steven and the crowds reaction. you could actually hear the crowd saying as one, 'what a pass' then steven finishes the move by smashing it in the roof of the net. goose bumps.

I was in the Gwladys street that day, near the front and just right of the goal. That was the loudest I've ever heard a goal celebrated. Thought my head was going to explode with noise and pressure.
There used to be me and about 5 mates who went the match regularly. There was also a couple of RS mates, they said they'll go with us to watch the Sunderland game if we went to watch the RS..(YEAH RIGHT).
After that game, one of them is still a blue to this day...dirty turncoat, but still a blue.

 

[Gladystweet]

just before my time. He got a lot of important goals, even if otherwise his scoring stats aren't up there with our best. Without him we may be one or two trophies lighter.

Probably become under-appreciated due to one cringe OTT reaction to a certain RS goal.

He probably woudn't have cut it as manager: knowledge of the game at pundit-level doesn't equate to success in the dug-out (see also Gary Neville).

At the time I was gutted he turned us down, we needed him..we needed anybody..badly.
Looking back, it was a good decision. He obviously knew he wouldn't cut it as a manager, and apart from a couple of near death experiences, we survived.
I suppose pundits can't win. Show bias and they're blasted, show impartiality. I.e showing too much enthusiasm for a RS goal, and they're blasted.
Ask any opposing fans and they'll tell you he spoke very favourably about us. He also spoke the truth about us, which sometimes hurts.